Jacksonville’s defense faces a tall task come Sunday: containing Miami quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and his two speedster receivers, Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle.
After ranking No. 26 in passing yards allowed per game (239.8) in 2023, the Jaguars look to limit the dynamic Dolphins offense and start their 2024 campaign on the right foot defensively.
Given Miami’s offensive potency, all eyes will be on Jacksonville’s secondary to see if those in black and teal can keep up with the weapons in the Dolphins’ arsenal, making the group the X-Factor for a Jaguars victory on Sunday.
Last season, the Dolphins wide receiver duo of Hill and Waddle combined for 2,813 receiving yards on 191 catches and scored 17 touchdowns. On the back of the offense, Miami finished the regular season 11-6 before being ousted in the playoffs by the eventual Super Bowl Champion Kansas City Chiefs.
Newly extended cornerback Tyson Campbell and free agent addition Ronald Darby sit atop the Jaguars’ depth chart, likely seeing most snaps against Miami.
Behind Campbell and Darby, the Jaguars feel comfortable in their cornerback depth, comprised of third-year player Montaric Brown and rookies Jarrian Jones and De’Antre Prince.
Filling in at nickel, former Green Bay Packer Darnell Savage Jr. could play a pivotal role in his new position, as the Dolphins could work the slot to get their playmakers into middle-of-the-field space. Safeties Antonio Johnson and Andre Cisco will similarly have their hands full, attempting to halt the Dolphins’ vertical game.
The lone player on the injury report, safety Daniel Thomas, who has been on the mend from a hurt Achilles, could also be helpful. On Friday, Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson said he is “optimistic and hopeful” that Thomas can play Sunday.
While facing such a high-powered offense early in the season could be considered unlucky, the Jaguars’ staff embraces the challenge for first-year defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen’s new-look 4-3 defense.
“We treat each game as one unit,” Nielsen said Thursday. “And so each game is going to present a different challenge and it’s really good that this team is, just how the schedule falls and we don’t pick it. We’ve got to go out there and we’ve got to play.”
Pederson highlighted the incessant speed of Miami’s pass-catchers this week, noting the fits it could cause for both Jacksonville’s coverage team and its run defense, as the threat of receivers pushing wide and deep can open the Dolphins’ explosive rushing attack by drawing attention elsewhere.
“Speed, speed, speed. And a lot of misdirection, a lot of motions and shifts,” Pederson described Miami’s offense Wednesday.
“Obviously, they do a great job with that in their run game as well and it kind of can cause you to just distort your eyes a little bit, and get off your cues. That’s where some of the big plays have come for them.”
Discipline and staying on assignment will be vital for the Jaguars’ secondary to keep their offense in the game and avoid explosive plays from Miami’s multiple explosive-play threats.
“Obviously, we know Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle and the guys,” Pederson said. “There’s just a lot of speed and something that we’ve got to be able to at least try to match; otherwise, we’ll be in the right position.”
Should Jacksonville struggle to keep up with Miami on the backend, it will need production from its pass rush — headlined by edge-rushing tandem, Joshua Hines-Allen and Travon Walker, and former 49ers defensive tackle Arik Armstead — to remain competitive defensively.
Nielsen hopes the defensive front can generate enough pressure to disrupt Tagovailoa’s rhythm, leaving him uncomfortable in the pocket and allowing the Jaguars defensive backs to play more aggressively.
Yet, Nielsen is aware of Tagovailoa’s ability to quickly get the ball out of his hands, potentially putting Jacksonville’s defense on its back foot and opening up the deep ball.
“He gets the ball out. He knows where to go with the ball. The guy gets out the ball lightning-quick out of his hands,” Nielsen said of Tagovailoa Thursday. “We’ve got to do a really good job in our coverage and disrupting him in the pocket, things like that, things you’ve got to do every week.”
Nielsen understands his defense will face an immense challenge in his first game in Jacksonville, but he is confident in the Jaguars’ preparation ahead of the Week 1 AFC showdown.
“They’re well-balanced,” Nielsen said. “Obviously one of the high-power offenses of the league, No. 1 passing offense, things like that. It’ll be a really good test; our guys are going to be ready.”