With training camp almost here, and the roster-building of the offseason largely behind us, what is the biggest remaining need that the Jacksonville Jaguars could still look to fill?
Josh Edwards of CBS Sports recently answered this question for each NFL team, and when it came to the Jaguars, not all that surprisingly, he selected the defensive tackle position.
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“There is a lot of wish-casting in regards to Jacksonville’s defensive interior; hoping that DaVon Hamilton and Arik Armstead return to form and that second-year defensive tackle Maason Smith builds upon last campaign,” Edwards wrote.
As a collective defensive front last season, the Jaguars ranked 32nd in ESPN’s pass rush win rate metric and 27th in run stop rate. Jacksonville was also 30th in pressure rate and 28th in sacks.
So the thought this offseason was that at some point, we would see the defensive tackle position added to, whether that be in free agency or during the draft. However, that never happened. The biggest change, personnel-wise, to this position group is that Arik Armstead will be moving from end to tackle.
This approach this offseason by GM James Gladstone clearly shows the confidence that he has in the players on the roster, along with Anthony Campanile’s defensive scheme to help elevate this unit.
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As Maason Smith described, this will be a more attacking Jaguars’ front under Campanile. Movement, blitzing, and simulated pressures could also be a part of the equation to help get more out of this unit.
“We certainly look forward to seeing guys being in different positions than they’ve been in the past and that being an element that activates different sides of them,” Gladstone said of the defensive line earlier this offseason. “Their whole approach has been great so far, so we’re looking forward to it.”
When it comes to improved play from the Jaguars’ defense as a whole, better play from the interior defensive line can do wonders. The best way to wreck any offensive play is with a quick push up the middle, and when it happens regularly, every other defender on the field benefits.
“They’re working their tails off right now, and you can tell that there’s a connective element that’s coming to life in a short period of time,” Gladstone added.
This article originally appeared on Jaguars Wire: Jaguars’ biggest remaining need with training camp on horizon