“Sam, Mike and Will” (strongside, middle and weakside) are popular linebacker names, but there is also “Otto.” The name “Otto” was coined by Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Gus Bradley in 2014 and does not appear to represent any specific person’s name or any acronym.
 
“You’re looking for a traditional right end but with great speed and get off [at the snap]. He can be a little bit lighter than most 3-4 defensive ends,” Bradley said about the new “Otto” position in 2014.
 
   
Wikipedia: Gus Bradley
Paul Casey “Gus” Bradley (born July 5, 1966) is the current head coach for the Jacksonville Jaguars. He previously was the Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebackers coach from 2006 to 2008 and the defensive coordinator for the Seattle Seahawks from 2009 to 2012.
   
Big Cat Country (Jacksonville Jaguars)   
Gus Bradley’s 4-3 defense and the LEO position
By EricStoner @ECStoner on Jan 19, 2013, 8:12a
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The Elephant front turned into it’s own position, with Carroll eventually changing the name to “Leo.” The Leo isn’t particularly unique in and of itself. Most defenses have some kind of unique name for their weakside edge player (Buck/Whip/Jack), but Carroll plays him in a particularly loose alignment, and he’s the one player along the front who isn’t concerned with getting one-yard upfield and anchoring in this defense.
   
Big Cat Country (Jacksonville Jaguars)
Jaguars will run more ‘BEAR front’ on defense, introduce the “OTTO” linebacker
By Alfie Crow @AlfieBCC on May 22, 2014, 2:56p
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What is the OTTO linebacker?
The Jacksonville Jaguars will be introducing a new position to their defense this season called the OTTO linebacker. While I doubt that it’s entirely new position to the world of football, much like the LEO is a modified/renamed ELEPHANT end, it’s something in the Jaguars lexicon we’ll all need to be familiar with.
 
The Jaguars signed former Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Dekoda Watson in free agency, of which we thought would solidify their strong side linebacker (SAM) position, which also doubles as a pass rusher at times in Gus Bradley’s defense. The Jaguars plan to use Watson as their new OTTO linebacker going forward, as well as second-year linebacker LaRoy Reynolds, according to defensive coordinator Bob Babich.
 
“OTTO is kind of going to be on the edge, we’d like to have some pass rush ability, in a pinch he could go down in a third-down situation to blitz him off the edge,” Babich told Mark Long and Mike Dempsey in an interview with Jaguars Today on 1010XL.
 
Twitter
Brandon
‏@Youngbr2002
Could the OTTO role be named after Gus Otto? Linebacker who played for the Raiders? How fitting
1:25 PM - 22 May 2014
 
Jacksonville.com (The Florida Times-Union)
Jaguars introducing new Otto position to defense, hoping to improve against the run
By Ryan O’Halloran Sat, May 31, 2014 @ 11:03 pm
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This year, coach Gus Bradley has deleted the Sam linebacker from the playbook and replaced it with the Otto, a physical/athletic/versatile player who will be positioned along the line of scrimmage.
 
The goals in creating the Otto: Be more multiple in their looks without radically changing the personnel, help a run defense that was 29th in the NFL last year, provide another option for a pass rush that was tied for last in the league and have a player who is comfortable in coverage.
 
Twitter
William Gribin
‏@WillGribin
With this new OTTO position Gus Bradley is going to be incorporating in the Jag’s D, not picking Khalil Mack looks dumber and dumber. #NFL
5:42 AM - 3 Jun 2014
 
SPOT (profootballspot.com)
LEO and OTTO: Why Jaguars Fans Should Know Them
Jun 18 2014 07:20 PM | Frank Scaduto in Jacksonville Jaguars
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“He needs the ability to be a great pass rusher,” Bradley said via the Florida Times Union. “You’re looking for a traditional right end but with great speed and get off [at the snap]. He can be a little bit lighter than most 3-4 defensive ends.”
 
This is what the team terms the “OTTO”: The Jaguars are using the term for the linebacker whose primary job is to hold the edge against the run on early downs, then provide more of a pass rush and side to side coverage on third downs. That once was termed the strong-side linebacker position. Second-year veteran LaRoy Reynolds has worked there as first team since Memorial Day, and unrestricted free agent signing Dakoda Watson likely will start there once he returns from injury.
   
Blogging The Boys (Dallas Cowboys)
Cowboys 2015 Offseason: Dallas To Experiment With New Hybrid Linebacker Position - The OTTO
By rabblerousr @rabblerousr on Mar 26, 2015, 2:00p
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To explain where I’m coming from, I’ll have to start in Jacksonville. Last year, the Jaguars unveiled a new position on the defensive side of the ball, the OTTO linebacker (I have no idea what “OTTO” stands for, nor does anybody else as far as I can tell). Simply put, the OTTO replaces the traditional SAM linebacker in a base 4-3. In essence, the Jags coaches (who, we must remember, came from Seattle) saw the OTTO as a hybrid position that combines the attributes of a traditional 4-3 SAM linebacker, a 3-4 OLB and a 4-3 DE.