Recent editions of the Jacksonville Jaguars have been highlighted by intriguing offensive talent and an inability to get out of the top-5 of the NFL Draft. Gus Bradley was hired to coach the Jaguars in 2013 mostly because of the successful four-year run that he had as the coordinator of the smothering Seattle Seahawks defense. In his three years leading the Jaguars, Bradley has posted 4-12, 3-13, and 5-11 records. Despite the underwhelming won-lost totals the Jaguars are considered by many to be a team on the rise. Much of that has to do with that intriguing offensive talent. A lot more of it has to do with the explosive potential of several players that has been added to the defensive side of the ball.
Here's an early look at the Jaguars possible defensive starters.
DE Malik Jackson
DT Sen'Derrick Marks
DT Roy Miller
DE Dante Fowler Jr.
LB Telvin Smith
LB Paul Posluszny
LB Myles Jack
CB Davon House
CB Jalen Ramsey
S Jonathan Cyprien
S Tashaun Gipson
First of all, the Jaguars benefited greatly from the unfortunate draft day fall of UCLA linebacker Myles Jack. He was supposed to be one of the top picks but dropped out of the first round due to uncertainties with the knee that he injured early last season. He's ready to go now and the Jaguars were the lucky ones to land him early in the second round. With Dante Fowler Jr. returning from a training camp knee injury that wiped out his 2015 rookie season this defense will basically be boosted by the addition of three top-5 rookie talents. Fowler, Jack, and Jalen Ramsey. If those three players stay on the field all season this defense can only improve.
Dante Fowler Jr. was the first non-quarterback taken in the 2015 NFL Draft. That basically means that he was the best football player in the draft. At least in the eyes of the Jaguars decision-makers. He was supposed to provide an immediate impact as an edge rusher for a team that desperately needed one. That hope ended early in training camp when Fowler was lost for the season with a knee injury. If his recovery is complete and he can stay healthy he has the talent to terrorize quarterbacks off of the edge. In passing situations third-round pick Yannick Ngakoue could come in to provide a speedy pass rushing compliment opposite Fowler. The Jaguars added defensive lineman Malik Jackson in free agency. After playing a significant role in the Denver Broncos drive to the Super Bowl title, Jackson was one of the biggest prizes in the offseason bidding wars. The Jaguars had more than enough money to add him to their defense. His addition also gives the Jaguars an incredible number of versatile, end/tackle-combo defensive linemen. Jackson, Sen'Derrick Marks, Tyson Alualu, Jared Odrick, Mike Bennett, and rookie Sheldon Day. All six can play anywhere along the line. Players of this sort can give a defensive line tremendous flexibility and a rotation that will give an opposing offensive line fits. Marks has been the Jaguars best defensive player and one of the better interior linemen in the entire league for a few years now. Unfortunately he's coming off a knee injury that kept him out of the first five games of the 2015 season and a torn triceps injury that ended his return after four games. If he's healthy and stays healthy, this line should be a nightmare for opposing offensive coordinators.
At linebacker, there's probably no team in the league that can match the speed and explosiveness of the outside duo of Telvin Smith and Myles Jack. Those two can cover so much ground that middle linebacker Paul Posluszny probably only needs to cover the spot on which he's standing. That really isn't fair to Posluszny as he's a tremendously instinctive linebacker. His speedy partners don't really have to cover for him. The great thing about this trio of linebackers is that none has to leave the field in passing situations. Smith and Jack have the size and speed to cover tight ends and backs. Jack was even used as a nickel corner at UCLA on occasion. This versatility gives Bradley and defensive coordinator Todd Walsh the ability to disguise their intentions and their coverages Not only are the Jaguars extremely flexible on the defensive line they are extremely flexible at linebacker.
Jalen Ramsey isn't the only new addition to the secondary. Tashaun Gipson was added in free agency. He had a down year last year but it was a rough year for the entire Cleveland Browns defense. If he plays to the level that he played in the previous two seasons he should be an excellent addition. Jonathan Cyprien has had some great moments and some not so great moments. If he can play with more consistency the Gipson-Cyprien safety duo could be one of the better duos in the league. Davon House was a free agent addition in 2015. He's a talented corner with very good size and he had a solid first season with the Jaguars. In his first four years with the Green Bay Packers House always looked the part of a starting corner. He just never got the chance to be a starter. The Jaguars were more than happy to give him that chance. He should only get better. Then there's Jalen Ramsey. He can do it all in the secondary. Some draft analysts saw him as the best safety in the draft. Others saw him as the best corner in the draft. He was both. There were times last season in which Arizona Cardinals do-everything defensive back Tyrann Mathieu rivaled J.J. Watt as the most disruptive defensive player in the NFL. Several people compared Ramsey to Mathieu. Watching Ramsey play actually rekindled my memories of Kenny Easley. No matter the comparison, Ramsey should be a disruptive player in the back of the Jaguars defense for a long time. He can do all the things expected of a top corner and all the things expected of a top safety,
Gus Bradley was hired as the coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars because of the work that he's done with defenses. The defensive results haven't been that great through hist first three seasons in Jacksonville. The Jaguars now have the players to field a solid, if not dominant, defense. On paper, they look great. Now, they have to look great on the field. The common theme through each level of this defense is versatility. The excessive number of defensive linemen that can play multiple positions should be illegal. The ability to keep all three linebackers on the field in nearly any offensive situation allows the coaches to better disguise their intentions. The secondary became more versatile the moment Ramsey was selected with the fifth pick of the draft. The offense has received any attention that has been directed towards the Jaguars in recent years. It's now time for the defense to get some.
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