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'Great guy to have': Jaguars DB Darnell Savage fits in where he can in Nielsen's defense
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- 'Great guy to have': Jaguars DB Darnell Savage fits in where he can in Nielsen's defense
Darnell Savage is happy to be with the Jacksonville Jaguars and new defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen might be even happier to have him.
Savage, a defensive back drafted in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft by the Green Bay Packers , is being installed as one of the many key chess-piece players that will be in Nielsen's defense this year. His abilities are known, but what the team will do with him remains a bit of a mystery, in part due to his immense versatility.
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None of that bugs Savage, though, he knows his role.
"I feel like my role here is to make plays," he told the Times-Union shortly after the team's first Organized Team Activity of the offseason. Savage is among many of the team's 91-man roster that attended the voluntary practice. The OTAs are in place primarily for teaching, rather than simply making plays on the gridiron. Savage isn't worried about that aspect of things, either.
Jacksonville Jaguars safety Darnell Savage makes a catch during day one of organized team activities.
"I feel like that's why I was brought here. So wherever they put me, I'm gonna do my best to make plays. I'm pretty smart, so that's not hard to necessarily pick up on just new techniques and stuff like that," he said, noting that he's had a pretty smooth transition to Jacksonville so far.
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"I honestly love it here. What's not to love? We got a lot of guys in here that are young, hungry, dedicated, you know what I'm saying? And just look at the area, Jacksonville's beautiful. So it's not too hard to get used to it, honestly. I feel like it's been pretty seamless," said Savage.
Savage signed with the Jaguars in March during the first wave of free agency. He inked a reported three-year, $21.75 million contract that included a $5 million signing bonus.
It begins: Jaguars HC Doug Pederson opens OTAs, talks joint practices with Tampa Bay Buccaneers
While he's been on the field with the team, Savage hasn't taken all of the reps, still recovering after tearing one of his rotator cuffs in Week 13 against the Kansas City Chiefs last year, he told the Times-Union.
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"I finished out there a year, so I'm just recovering from that, but I feel great. It was just good to get back out there, and put on a helmet," he said, adding that he played with the injury because he never wants to let his teammates down.
Savage finished last season playing 10 games, including the team's final four games including the playoffs. He played the week after injuring his shoulder, too. In all, Savage accounted for 51 total tackles and one pass breakup in the regular season, adding eight tackles, two pass breakups and a pick-six in the playoffs.
In his career, Savage has started 69 games for Green Bay , accounting for nine interceptions, 302 total tackles, 32 pass breaks and two forced fumbles.
"I'm gonna give it everything I got every time I go out there. That's my goal in every team I've been on is to earn and maintain the trust and respect of everybody on the team. I take pride in that. These are my brothers, so I go to war with them," he added.
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'Great guy to have': Ryan Nielsen bullish on DB Darnell Savage
Jacksonville Jaguars safety Darnell Savage (6) participates in day one of organized team activities.
As the Jaguars continue to take form over the coming months, one piece of the puzzle will be Savage and where he's used in Jacksonville. That's the thing, though, Nielsen said Monday, that's what makes Savage so exciting — his versatility.
"He's aligning at nickel, at safety. In a pinch, he can run so we can put him in some man-coverage situations. So, he's a really great guy to have," Nielsen said. Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson said in March at the League Owner's Meetings that Savage will start in the slot at nickel, but has versatility. That's tracked thus far.
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"Really happy that our front office, [general manager] Trent [Baalke], and those guys, brought him in. The guy has been fantastic in terms of just being around, learning the system, where does he fit in? So today he'll be all over the place, which is fun. Really looking forward to getting out there with him and see where he's at and go from there."
Though Savage didn't move around too much in Green Bay, he did it enough and showcased his athleticism enough to get the Jaguars to bite.
"A little different system but [we] felt that he can really fit what we're doing here and have success," said Nielsen.
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Just as Savage has left an impression on Nielsen, Nielsen and his staff have left an impression on Savage.
"Our whole defensive staff, their biggest thing is energy and they're gonna bring that each and every day so we don't have a choice but to bring it as well. Having coaches like that, that are always excited and always just happy to be around us, it's a pleasure," Savage said of his new staff. "Honestly, it makes you want to come to work and get stuff done."
Savage says the defense is coming together so far. They're naturally gelling and meshing together as a group, learning from each other, which Savage said is a "group effort."
"Just challenging each other each and every day to communicate and be on little, fine details of everything," he said.
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Detailed-oriented is one of the hallmarks of Nielsen's defense, but another is the versatility of most of the players. While players like DaVon Hamilton will stick inside at defensive tackle, players like Savage, Josh Allen , Travon Walker , among others, can move around the defense, making it tougher on the opposing offense.
"I think it's tough on an offense, especially because guys aren't lining up at their traditional spots. It's just like it's tough for a defense. You got guys like 17 [TE Evan Engram ] on our team and he lines up at receiver, he lines up at tight end, he lines up in the backfield. So, we can do kind of the same things on defense as far as just putting guys where we want to and still make plays," Savage explained.
Ultimately, when asked what the City of Jacksonville and Jaguars fans are getting in him, Savage replied simply:
"You'll see."
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Demetrius Harvey is the Jacksonville Jaguars reporter for the Florida Times-Union. You can follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @Demetrius82 .
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This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Jaguars Darnell Savage on new defense, versatility, late-season injury
