Category: Josh Allen

Air Force at Colorado State: How the Falcons can defeat the Rams

Air Force at Colorado State: How the Falcons can defeat the Rams The Battle for the Ram-Falcon Trophy Contact/Follow @Sean or @MWCWire Can Air Force win their 7th straight against the CSU? WEEK 9: Air Force Falcons 7-0 (4-0) vs. Colorado State Rams …

Air Force at Colorado State: How the Falcons can defeat the Rams

The Battle for the Ram-Falcon Trophy

Contact/Follow @Sean or @MWCWire

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Can Air Force win their 7th straight against the CSU?

WEEK 9: Air Force Falcons 7-0 (4-0) vs. Colorado State Rams 3-4 (1-2)

WHEN: Saturday, October 28th — 5 P.M. MT/ 4 P.M. PT

WHERE: Canvas Stadium (Fort Collins, CO)

WEATHER: Snow in the evening will give way to lingering snow showers overnight. Low 19F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 80%. 1 to 3 inches of snow expected.

TV: CBS Sports Network
Rich Waltz (play-by-play), Aaron Taylor (analyst), Brandon Baylor (sidelines)

RADIO: KVOR AM 740 in Colorado Springs, 104.3 the Fan in Denver, SIRIUS XM 380, SXM 970
Jim Arthur (play-by-play), Jesse Kurtz (analyst)

SERIES RECORD: Air Force leads the series record 38-21-1

WEBSITES: CSURams.com, the official Colorado State athletics website | GoAirForceFalcons.com, the official Air Force athletics website

GAME NOTES (PDF): CSU | Air Force

SP+ PROJECTION: Air Force by 17.3

FEI PROJECTION: Air Force by 18.6

PARKER FLEMING PROJECTIONS: Air Force has an 72.25% chance to win (27.17-18.31)

Don’t blink, somehow we are already at week 9 of the college football season. Wedged in between games against Air Force’s primary rivals Army and Navy, is a “trap game” versus the CSU Rams.

The Falcons have been rolling through the season like a finely tuned F-22 Raptor. The most recent victim enroute to Air Force’s 7-0 start was their rival brethren of the sea. If you look at the score, nothing about their win over Navy is really eye popping. If you watched the game, your eyes would affirm what the story of this season has been telling you; The Falcons have an elite defense, completely suffocating the Mids. Navy wouldn’t have recorded a score, or even much more than 50 yards of offense were it not for Air Force playing an overtly conservative final drive to wind down the game. And news flash; their offense is not one dimensional.

Zac Larrier was a masterful conductor of the offense in a game that by most accounts, he was not expected to play. He was surgical throwing the ball completing 4/5 passes for 151 yards, which included a 94 yards touchdown pass to Dane Kinamon. He’s yet to throw an interception on the season. All of this couched with the obligatory nod to the fact he is the Mountain West Track champion. Larrier is playing his position at a level equal to or above anyone else in the MWC, period.

Awaiting the Bolts in Fort Collins is a more than capable Colorado State Rams team. Understanding the term capable is in no way a promissory note for victory. CSU has been very up and down this year, and in typical Jekyll and Hyde fashion, it’s going to be a matter of which variety of the Ram’s team shows up Saturday that will dictate how much of a threat they are to hand Air Force their first L of the season.

Jay Norvell and Matt Mumme seem to have settled on their quarterback now, which is essential in their pass heavy approach. Braden Fowler-Nicolosi has gotten a lot of attention for the statistics he’s posted in his time as a starter. And a major factor in those numbers would be the plethora of weapons he has to throw to. There are Bonafide Biletnikoff and Mackey award candidates on that CSU offense in Dallin Holker and Tory Horton. The production doesn’t stop there though, they have great depth in their pass catchers.

Air Force have not faced the kind of passing attack like they will this week. However, weather doesn’t look like it will be endearing to a pass heavy approach. And conversely, CSU has not faced a team like Air Force on either side of the ball. That’s not to inflate the greatness of the Falcons, it’s more of a reference to their unorthodox offense, and unprecedentedly stifling defense.

HERE’S HOW AIR FORCE CAN TOPPLE THE RAMS

The talent on the CSU offense is well documented. This isn’t the first time they have featured tandems of wide receiver and tight end quality that rival anyone nationally. It’s almost what we have come to expect from the Rams. What we haven’t come to expect is wins as a result of the talent. One of the major reasons they’ve struggled to peak above mediocrity is their defense.

One of the worst defenses in the nation, the Rams are as bad as anyone at defending the pass, and their run defense is nothing to write home about. Air Force is not going to be met with the same resistance to the run as they did last week, in particular allowing their fullbacks to be the catalyst to their offense. CSU ranks 91st in run defense, surrendering 160 yards per game on the ground. Take a look at their schedule, there aren’t many elite rushing attacks on that schedule. Air Force must impose their will, leaning on the country’s number one rushing attack to lead the way.

If the stable of fullbacks don’t have a big game on the ground, it probably means John Lee Eldridge has some eye popping yards per carry numbers getting the ball on the edge. It is also likely that the 131st pass defense is taken advantage of by Larrier and crew while they load the box to try and contend the run.

Historically, even when Air Force has had a good defense, their achilles heel has been the secondary exposed by an effective pass game to open things up. It seems contrary to make that remark considering they rank 4th nationally at defending the pass, but their dominance at time of possession helps skew that statistic. This could be one of those games that the numbers don’t tell the story. Success defending the pass is going to be a group effort, getting after the quarterback and communicating at the second and third level. The experience of an Alec Mock and Trey Taylor will key in that regard.

The last area of focus is going to lean in on the Falcons strength, which is in the trenches. CSU has done a great job of getting after the quarterback, averaging three sacks per game. They have also protected the quarterback very well, especially when you consider how often they throw the ball.

The Air Force defensive front has line wreckers in Bo Richter and Peyton Zdroik. They need to be able to generate pressure on Saturday so Nicolosi isn’t comfortable working through his reads to these talented receivers. Meanwhile, the ‘Diesels’ up front for the Falcons need to keep Mohammed Kamara and company out of their backfield. Expect a blocking scheme that accounts for the Rams strength to be deployed to allow for steady gains in the snow.

It’s really interesting looking at the how the Rams have fared defensively, despite four of the better defensive players in all of the conference. This lends a lot of credence to the reality that teams that function as a unit are often far more formidable than one that might have highly talented individuals but lack communication or are more significantly flawed at other positions. Air Force feasts on a defense that is not on top of its’ game communicating.

You are in for a treat especially if you enjoy good secondary play as four of the best safeties in the conference will be featured in Jack Howell, Henry Blackburn, Trey Taylor and Jayden Goodwin. Unfortunately for CSU fans, I don’t see this game setting up to end their losing streak to Air Force at six. Weather could be a factor for both teams, but precision and execution will be the biggest factor. And no one has proven better than Troy Calhoun’s squad at that thus far.

Air Force 28 – Colorado State 20

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Air Force at Annapolis: How the Falcons can sink Navy

Air Force at Annapolis: How the Falcons can sink Navy The Battle for the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy Starts in Annapolis Contact/Follow @Sean or @MWCWire Can Air Force win their 4th straight against the Midshipmen? WEEK 8: Air Force Falcons 6-0 …

Air Force at Annapolis: How the Falcons can sink Navy

The Battle for the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy Starts in Annapolis

Contact/Follow @Sean or @MWCWire

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Can Air Force win their 4th straight against the Midshipmen?

WEEK 8: Air Force Falcons 6-0 (4-0) vs. Navy Midshipmen 3-3 (2-2)

WHEN: Saturday, October 21st — 10:00 A.M. MT/ 9:00 A.M. PT

WHERE: Navy-Marine Corp Stadium (Annapolis, MD)

WEATHER: Rain showers early with some sunshine later in the day. High 63F. Winds WNW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 50%.

TV: CBS Sports Network
Rich Waltz (play-by-play), Aaron Taylor (analyst), Amanda Guerra (sidelines)

STREAM: FuboTV

RADIO: KVOR AM 740 in Colorado Springs, 104.3 the Fan in Denver, SIRIUS XM 380, SXM 970
Jim Arthur (play-by-play), Jesse Kurtz (analyst)

SERIES RECORD: Air Force leads the series record 33-22

WEBSITES: NavySports.com, the official Wyoming athletics website | GoAirForceFalcons.com, the official Air Force athletics website

GAME NOTES (PDF): Navy | Air Force

SP+ PROJECTION: Air Force by 17.6

FEI PROJECTION: Air Force by 17

PARKER FLEMING PROJECTIONS: Air Force has an 80.67% chance to win (26.18-13.2)

The biggest game of the Air Force season is being played in Annapolis this Saturday. Coincidentally, it’s also the biggest game of the year for Navy as well. Yes, by Sunday, the biggest game of the year for one of these two teams will have changed and involve that Military Academy in New York, but that game has little relevance until Air Force plays Navy.

This is where the battle for the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy begins!

Navy has looked underwhelming more times than not, with an up and down 3-3 start to the year. By some though, three wins at this point in the season may be a tic above expectation. Despite a revolving door of quarterbacks, and generally inconsistent output from their offense, the Mids are still in bowl contention, as well as vying for the all important CiC Trophy.

Navy will likely be relying on a very experienced Senior Tai Lavatai at quarterback on Saturday. He’s been the on and off again starter for what seems the last three seasons. But this is the same guy that last beat Army for Navy, so he’s no stranger to big games. Expect to see Braxton Woodson, the Freshman direct enrollee to see some playing time as well.

The quarterback situation at Air Force got very interesting late in their thrilling win over Wyoming last week. Jensen Jones entered the game when Zac Larrier went down with a knee injury. The offense stumbled at first with the change under center fumbling twice, but settled after under Jones control, masterfully executing an option pitch to the boundary that John Lee Eldridge II took to the house from 70 yards out. Jones also put the game on ice with their last possession, getting tough yards inside converting a first down to put the game on ice.

As if this game needed any additional juice, Navy is going to be honoring All-Time great Roger Staubach with a ceremony at the game. If the Falcons want Staubach’s jersey number adorning the field to be the only cause for celebration for the Mids, they had better come prepared for four quarters of football. Otherwise, Air Force’s stint being ranked, along with their possession of the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy may be abbreviated.

HERE’S HOW AIR FORCE CAN SINK THE MIDS

There is likely to be precipitation at some point during Saturday’s game. Ball security is always critical when you run some version of a time consuming option offense. I know many at Navy contend they have changed from the conventional triple option offense, but ultimately both of these teams have very similar philosophies. They run a lot, and they run very well.

Which brings up the biggest threat that the Falcons need to take inventory of, Alec Tecza. The Navy fullback is in a similar mold to Brad Roberts, minus a career suggesting he’s an all-time great at the program. Yet. Tecza is just a sophomore and has been a game changer with the ball in his hands.

Averaging over 230 yards per game on the ground, 5th best nationally, Navy has a lot of talent in their backfield. The fullbacks are an absolute strength with Daba Fofana and Tecza. The Air Force front seven have got to limit what the Mids backs are able to do on early downs especially.

Another area of the game to pay close attention to is turnovers. In games like this, the impact of a turnover seems to be magnified. Despite some very lopsided losses, Navy is one of the best at creating turnovers, forcing 12 of them. That’s twice as many as Air Force on the season. Neither team has thrown an interception this year, it will be interesting to see how many times the Falcons put the ball in the air with Jones getting his first start. The Falcons need a clean game in Annapolis.

I suspect the biggest deciding factor in this game is going to come through sustainability. The ability to keep drives alive, even if to flip field position, and conversely the ability to get off of the field. Both of these teams feature strong third down defenses. But where Air Force really stands out among the competition is in their ability to convert third downs. They are the best in the country, converting almost 60% of their third downs.

That defensive unit of Brian Knorr’s, not Newberry, is one of the best in the country. They aren’t going to make it easy for Navy to find daylight, a rhythm, conversions or points.

Even if the Navy run defense which allows double (148 yards per game) what the Falcons surrender on the ground, I don’t see it being sustainable. Eventually the dam is going to break from fatigue, as Air Force has shown a much better ability to maintain drives offensively and end them defensively. A slow suffocation.

I realize much of this relies on a quarterback making their first start on a critical stage. But all those diesels in front of Jensen Jones have experience to spare, and the supporting cast in the backfield is as dynamic and deep as any. Ask Wyoming if Jensen Jones can make a play to put you out.

And even if the game does come down to special teams, thankfully for Air Force, they have a dynamic kicker in Mathew Dapore who is perfect on the year.

Air Force Sings Second.

Air Force 20 – Navy 15

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Air Force vs. Wyoming: How the Falcons can win

Air Force vs. Wyoming: How the Falcons can win Can Air Force Remain the Lone Unbeaten in the Mountain West? Contact/Follow @Sean or @MWCWire It’s Double Chin Strap Time as the Pokes Invade Colorado Springs WEEK 7: Air Force Falcons 5-0 (3-0) vs. …

Air Force vs. Wyoming: How the Falcons can win

Can Air Force Remain the Lone Unbeaten in the Mountain West?

Contact/Follow @Sean or @MWCWire

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It’s Double Chin Strap Time as the Pokes Invade Colorado Springs

WEEK 7: Air Force Falcons 5-0 (3-0) vs. Wyoming Cowboys 5-1 (2-0)

WHEN: Saturday, October 14th — 5:00 P.M. MT/ 4:00 P.M. PT

WHERE: Falcon Stadium (Colorado Springs, CO)

WEATHER: Sunny. High around 55F. Winds NE at 10 to 20 mph.

TV: CBS Sports Network
Rich Waltz (play-by-play), Aaron Taylor (analyst), Justin Walters (sidelines)

STREAM: FuboTV

RADIO: KVOR AM 740 in Colorado Springs, 104.3 the Fan in Denver, SIRIUS XM 380, SXM 970
Jim Arthur (play-by-play), Jesse Kurtz (analyst)

SERIES RECORD: Air Force leads the series record 30-27-3

WEBSITES: GoWYO.com, the official Wyoming athletics website | GoAirForceFalcons.com, the official Air Force athletics website

GAME NOTES (PDF): Wyoming | Air Force

SP+ PROJECTION: Air Force by 10.9

FEI PROJECTION: Air Force by 13.8

PARKER FLEMING PROJECTIONS: Air Force 93.61% Win Probability (31.3-11.45)

For the second week in a row, the Wyoming Cowboys find themselves battling another Mountain West contender. Coming off of an impressive win over Fresno State, Wyoming packs their bags, leaving the comforts of Laradise as they head South to Colorado Springs.

The Pokes are usually a difficult draw for Air Force, defeating Troy Calhoun’s squad in Laramie last year. So they will not be lacking for confidence coming to Falcon Stadium on Saturday, fresh off of a very impressive performance. Typically, a physical team that likes to run the ball, paired with good defense (sound like another team you know?), the Pokes got a boost from their quarterback, Andrew Peasley who had a very good game.

Peasley is no stranger to Air Force, as he’s had some of his best performances against the Falcons. Brian Knorr’s defensive unit could have their hands full with the Mountain West’s reigning offensive player of the week. If they aren’t able to do a better job than the prior two years, Air Force may be handed their first conference loss of the season by Andrew Peasley for the third season in a row.

HERE’S HOW AIR FORCE CAN DEFEAT THE COWBOYS

It wasn’t just that Wyoming beat the defending conference champs last week, but how they did so that should have the attention of Air Force, and the rest of the Mountain West. Outside of an uncharacteristic, missed 47 yard field goal from their Lou Groza Award Watchlist kicker, John Hoyland, the Pokes were dominant in all aspects of the game.

To avoid the same fate as Fresno State, the Falcons can’t let Wyoming’s passing game catch them off guard early. Andrew Peasley tossed three touchdowns in the first half last week. In similar fashion, he took advantage of generous cushions offered by the Air Force secondary in last year’s game. As one of the nation’s best defenses, their pass defense being 4th best in the country, the Falcons have to play like it early.

Craig Bohl wants his team to impose their will by running the ball. And they are very good at it, racking up over 170 yards per game on the ground. But it’s when the passing game is going that the Cowboys are really dangerous, because the honesty with which the defense has to dignify the pass attack leaves them vulnerable to an already imposing rushing attack. It’s not that dissimilar from Air Force’s approach.

There is going to be a lot of pressure on C.J. Boyd at spur and the standout safeties, Trey Taylor and Jayden Goodwin to consistently defend the run and the pass. Thankfully, this is a collective that has been up to the task week in and week out.

Now to the offense. Air Force has been as good as anyone in the country coming away with points every time they have the ball. They will be facing the best defensive front this week though, that is probably the best they’ll play all season. The Wyoming defensive line is insanely deep and talented. And it doesn’t get any easier when you get to their linebackers, with two of the best in the conference in Easton Gibbs and Shae Suiaunoa.

This unit was the leading cause of what was largely an ineffective Air Force offense last year. They can’t let that be the narrative in 2023. Quarterback Zac Larrier is a different kind of problem with his speed. They are going to be relying on his legs and timely gashes through the air to keep drives alive. One of the nation’s best on a per carry average, John Lee Eldridge II is going to have to continue with his impressive numbers. With what has become a relentless and multiple offense, it should afford these playmakers opportunities to make a difference in situations that simply weren’t there last year.

Last and certainly not least, they cannot turn the ball over. They’ve done a great job taking care of the rock the last few weeks and it will be critical that continues this week. That includes recovered fumbles because getting behind the sticks because of a poor pitch or penetration can be a drive ender.

My good friend and writer for the Mountain West Connection Nittany Falcon said something that stuck with me as we were discussing this game. Wyoming isn’t doing anything that impressive. They gave up a lot of points to New Mexico, looked underwhelming against Portland and their win against Appalachian State looks less and less impressive each week.

I think my friend and Falcon contributor is right. There is matching mediocrity to the moments of brilliance for Wyoming. But despite that, I simply cannot see how Air Force is a two-score favorite. It was a very similar story last year, and we’ve documented ad nauseam here. Maybe I respect that defensive front too much, but I see this as a closely contested affair to the very end. The Air Force offense is better though, their defense is better, and they are going to prove that their (lack of) strength of schedule is an overblown narrative.

Air Force 24 – Wyoming 20

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Josh Allen ready to ‘move forward’ after first meeting with coach Doug Pederson

“We want to move forward, we want to put last year and the last couple years in the past,” Allen said.

Shortly before Doug Pederson was formally announced as the new head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars in a press conference on Saturday, he had the opportunity to meet with several key players. One of those players was Josh Allen, a former top-10 pick who just finished up his third season in the league.

Though the pair weren’t able to get into the nitty-gritty, Allen had positive things to say about his first interaction with the new head coach.

“It went good,” he said. “It sucks that we can’t really talk football because I’m still kind of in that mode, wanting to move on and keep going. But great introduction meeting. Can’t wait to be around him a little bit more, just get to know him. He already seems like a good person, seems like somebody that’s going to help a lot of people build up.”

Allen wasn’t the only hopeful franchise player to meet with Pederson on Saturday. Among the others was quarterback Trevor Lawrence, who said he also had a productive first meeting with the coach.

The one-time Pro Bowler said that the enthusiasm among the team about Pederson’s arrival is a sign that the team is ready to look to the future and put a disastrous 2021 season, which saw a 3-14 record and the early firing of Urban Meyer, behind it.

“We want to move forward, we want to put last year and the last couple years in the past,” Allen said. “We want to move forward, we want to win now. We want to get this ball going… I’m excited about this.”

“Now we can move forward, now we can just stay focused on what we need to do.”

Pederson is the seventh full-time head coach in Jaguars history, and he doesn’t exactly have big shoes to fill. Of those seven, only inaugural coach Tom Coughlin has a winning record in Jacksonville, and Pederson is already just three wins away from passing Meyer and Mike Mularkey as the fifth-winningest coach in franchise history.

It’s been a rough decade for the Jags, but the players seem to think they’ve finally gotten it right with Pederson.

Will the Jaguars pick up Josh Allen’s fifth-year option?

The Jags have until May 3 to decide whether to pick up Allen’s option.

Some draft analysts had Josh Allen as the best prospect available in the 2019 class when he was coming out of Kentucky, and it was viewed as a steal when the talented edge rusher fell to Jacksonville with the No. 7 pick.

His rookie season certainly backed up that evaluation, as he burst onto the scene with 10.5 sacks. Injuries limited him to just eight games and 2.5 quarterback takedowns in Year 2, but he appeared in all but one game this season and was one of the team’s few bright spots. His sack total was 7.5, but he stepped up against the run with a career-high 71 tackles (including 12 for loss).

Now, it’s decision time. As Allen is poised to enter his fourth season, the team only has until May 3 to make a decision on whether it will pick up his fifth-year team option. Since joining the team, he’s gone to the Pro Bowl once (in 2019 as a rookie and alternate) and has been a Jags team captain from 2020-21, which clearly is a reflection of how his teammates view him. Per Over the Cap, his fifth-year option would cost the Jags $10.2 million, which may not be that steep for a team that has the cap space that the Jags have (at least for now).

While crazier things have happened, it seems almost certain that the team will look to pick up that option. He has been very productive when healthy, and this team has so few promising defensive players to build around. The Jaguars will likely look to hand Allen a long-term deal next season, let alone extend his contract to a fifth year, and he should be around in Jacksonville for a while, if he chooses to.

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Josh Allen lobbies for Joe Cullen to return as defensive coordinator

Allen said he wants Cullen to stick around so the defense can build on the system that was put in place in 2021.

Urban Meyer’s decision to hire Joe Cullen as defensive coordinator was certainly a bit of a questionable one. Cullen had no experience as a defensive play-caller, which made him a bit of a head-scratching choice for a coach that had no experience at the NFL level himself. However, the former Baltimore Ravens defensive line coach asserted himself as one of the most competent assistant coaches on the staff.

Despite still battling talent discrepancies, the Jaguars’ defense improved consistently throughout the season, especially rookie cornerback Tyson Campbell. Cullen got the most out of a unit that still needs to add more contributors, and for that reason, it’s been speculated that he could return under the new coach.

He has at least one supporter in the locker room in edge rusher Josh Allen, who said he wants to see Cullen retained by the new head coach.

“I would love to see [Defensive Coordinator] Coach [Joe] Cullen [come back],” he said. “I feel like [it’s] just another thing that I feel like would be best for us. I know we might get the new coach or whatever, but with Coach Cullen, I feel like it’s the consistency. We have the team and majority of the defense is under contract to come back another year. So, it’s like if we have the same group, we have the same plays, we know the same philosophy.”

Allen said that the unit’s improvement throughout the year was a result of building on the systems that Cullen put into place, and he feels like the group could be set to take a big leap forward in 2022 if kept within the same scheme. He said he’d like to see several other defensive assistants return as well.

“Now we had that year to work at it, especially with all the younger guys, we know all the work so now we can improve just how we can play the game and install what Joe Cullen has already taught us in this system,” Allen said. “I feel like we can take that next step in becoming a way better defense. We can become the defense that you saw yesterday [against Indianapolis] every week, so I would love to see Coach Cullen back, I would love to see [Outside Linebackers Coach] Zach Orr, I would love to see [Assistant Defensive Line Coach] Sterling Lucas back. I wish [Defensive Line Coach] Tosh [Lupoi] nothing but the best in his journey, but I would love to see those guys come back and see how far we can grow.”

Coordinator retentions aren’t exactly common during coach changes, but if the Jaguars decided to hire an offensive head coach (which comprises the majority of the candidate pool), it would be more likely that Cullen sticks around. If they choose to go with a defensive coordinator like Indianapolis’ Matt Eberflus, that coach may want to make their own defensive coordinator hire.

Cullen’s unit was far from great in 2021, but it showed steady signs of progress, which is more than can be said for the offensive unit that was more or less a disaster throughout the entire season. The Jags could do worse than to give him another year to build off of those improvements.

Brian Baldinger breaks down Josh Allen’s stellar first half against the Colts

This film breakdown of Allen’s play shows why the stat sheet doesn’t tell the whole story.

Just looking at the numbers from Sunday’s 23-17 loss to the Indianapolis Colts, it looks like Josh Allen had a bit of a pedestrian performance after notching the best game of his career against the Buffalo Bills. Though he was credited with three quarterback hits, he only had two tackles and didn’t manage to get a sack.

But the numbers don’t tell the whole story about how disruptive Allen was in this one, especially in the first half. In his film breakdown of his play during that period, NFL analyst Brian Baldinger said that Allen’s first half was “as good a half as any defensive end/outside linebacker in the NFL in Week 11 (note: It was actually Week 10).”

Watching the film breakdown, it’s hard to argue that point.

Baldinger also said that, in spite of Jonathan Taylor’s big game on the ground, the Jags’ defense outplayed the Colts’ offense. For a unit that began the year looking like one of the worst in the NFL, it’s playing much better in recent weeks and has held the opposing quarterback under 200 yards passing in two of the last three games.

While the offense, led by a rookie passer in Trevor Lawrence, has lagged behind a bit, the defense is making very real strides. Allen is a major reason for that, and he could be set up to have a monster second half of the season. If that happens, his sophomore slump in 2020 will feel like a distant memory.

Who is Jacksonville’s most improved player in 2021?

Josh Allen is having a fantastic third season after a bit of a sophomore slump in 2020.

Jacksonville entered the 2021 season with fairly low expectations. The team was coming off a franchise-worst 1-15 finish, and even with a new quarterback in Trevor Lawrence and a slew of additions on both sides of the ball, this is still a young team that needs to add more talent.

But the Jags are getting better play out of some of their players over the last few weeks, and when trying to answer the question of who the most improved player is on this roster from a season ago, there’s one clear-cut answer: third-year edge rusher Josh Allen.

Allen totaled 10.5 sacks in a stellar rookie campaign, but injuries limited his production in 2020, and he totaled just 2.5 sacks. However, he already has 5.5 sacks in 2021 with 12 quarterback hits (one more than he had last year), and he had the best game of his career in the win over Buffalo two weeks ago.

Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox agrees, naming Allen Jacksonville’s most improved player in 2021.

Jacksonville Jaguars pass-rusher Josh Allen experienced a sophomore slump last season, due in part to a knee injury that landed him on injured reserve. After amassing 10.5 sacks and making the Pro Bowl as a rookie, Allen appeared in only eight games and finished with just 2.5 sacks.

However, Allen is back on the rise this season and is becoming more than just the situational edge-rusher he was as a rookie. Allen has already produced 5.5 sacks, 17 quarterback pressures and eight tackles for loss.

Allen has also started all nine contests and has played a career-high 76 percent of the defensive snaps. He’s only three tackles shy of the 44 he had in 16 games as a rookie and has notched the first two takeaways (one interception, one fumble recovery) of his career.

While Allen isn’t regularly used in pass coverage, he’s held his own. He’s allowed an opposing passer rating of only 61.9 and has four batted balls after logging only one in his first two seasons.

The hope was that under new defensive coordinator Joe Cullen’s system, which mostly implements a 3-4 base defense, Allen would find success in a similar scheme to the one he ran in college. While he had a bit of a slow start to the season, he’s playing at a dominant level right now, and his sack numbers don’t even fully reflect how disruptive he’s been in the backfield.

This team doesn’t have many players it can build around, especially on defense, but Allen is proving to be one of them.

WATCH: Jags’ Josh Allen forgets he’s mic’d up during win over the Buffalo Bills

Josh Allen was mic’d up during Sunday’s win, a detail he unfortunately forgot in the middle of the game.

Jacksonville Jaguars’ edge rusher Josh Allen had a historic game on Sunday, and fans can get a firsthand look at what it was like to be on the field with him on Sunday, as the third-year player was “mic’d up” by the league. Unfortunately for Allen, that’s a detail that he forgot.

Allen notched an interception against Buffalo quarterback Josh Allen (who he made history by sacking, becoming the first player in NFL history to sack a player with the same name) despite lining up on the opposite side of the formation and having to move across the entire field in pass coverage to make a play.

Following the pick, Allen had a, shall we say, colorful exchange with his teammate, defensive tackle Malcom Brown, in the end zone. In a subsequent exchange on the sideline, Allen admitted he forgot he was mic’d up.

“Josh must be mic’d up,” someone said. Defensive end Dawuane Smoot asked Allen if he was the one who was mic’d up.

“I don’t think so,” Allen replied, before quickly realizing his mistake.

“Oh, s—, I am mic’d up.”

Allen apologized to Brown for his error, and while his teammates likely weren’t too pleased about being caught on a hot mic without warning, it’s hard to imagine much of a grudge was held considering the game Allen had.

Fans didn’t need a mic to hear Allen after his sack, as he stood on the bench and addressed them directly.

“What they talking about,” he said, “What they talking about? Come on!”

Allen was also a part of one of the biggest defensive plays of the afternoon when the Jags stopped the Bills after Allen recovered a fumble. He wasn’t particularly close to the ball, but he entered the scrum like a homing missile and came away with it.

“I got that s—,” he said when he recovered the ball. “I’m turning up, I’m turning up. We about to turn up.”

Sunday’s 9-6 win over the Bills was one of the biggest this franchise has had in a long time, and it will certainly have some memorable moments from Allen, even if he didn’t remember he was being recorded during them.

Jags DE/OLB Josh Allen named AFC Defensive Player of the Week

A dominant and historic Week 9 performance has earned the #Jaguars’ Josh Allen the AFC Defensive Player of the Week award.

After a stellar performance against the Buffalo Bills Sunday, Jacksonville Jaguars pass-rusher Josh Allen has been named the AFC’s Defensive Player of the Week for Week 9.

Allen had already been playing great as of the last few weeks, but turned it up a notch Sunday with an MVP front-runner, also named Josh Allen, lining up at quarterback  on the opposite side of the field. In the process, the Jags’ Allen made history by being the first to sack, intercept, and recover a fumble from a player with the same first and last name.

Allen also had a busy day as a tackler, garnering a career-high of eight. That figure was good for a team-high Week 9.

Allen joins placekicker Matthew Wright as one of two Jags to win a conference Player of the Week award in 2021. Wright was named the AFC’s Special Teams Player of the Week for Week 6 after he hit a walk-off game-winning field goal to give the Jags their first win of 2021 against Miami.