Tag: Chad Muma

Foye Oluokun says Travon Walker, 2022 rookies are primed for ‘big jump’

Foye Oluokun says Travon Walker, Devin Lloyd, and Chad Muma have a chance to be much better players in 2023.

Foye Oluokun brought much-needed leadership to a Jacksonville Jaguars defense that was severely lacking in experience during the 2022 season. On one side the veteran linebacker had No. 1 overall pick Travon Walker next to him, and on the other he had rookies Devin Lloyd and Chad Muma splitting time in the starting lineup.

Last week, Oluokun was asked what kind of transition those 2022 draft picks could make from year one to year two in their NFL careers.

“A big jump, just because you understand where you’re supposed to be on every play,” Oluokun told reporters. “You’re going to watch all of this film, all these cut ups of plays you might have messed up on technically. Now, you’re going to see the same formation next year, so now it’s like, ‘Alright, I know I’m going to be here. I remember from last year they ran these kind of plays out of this formation.’

“Just being one step ahead of the game now. Making sure you’re retaining information, learning from your mistakes, and just kind of applying that to be a better second year player. That’s how it goes.”

Oluokun, 27, didn’t become a full-time starter with the Atlanta Falcons until his third season and led the NFL in tackles in year four. When the Falcons allowed the linebacker to reach free agency in 2022, the Jaguars scooped him up with a three-year, $45 million deal.

While Walker, Lloyd, and Muma all got valuable experience during their rookie seasons, none was particular effective on the field. Walker was the highest graded of the trio on Pro Football Focus at 58.0. The No. 1 overall pick had 3.5 sacks and an interception, Lloyd had three interceptions and two fumble recoveries, and Muma had 1.5 sacks.

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Jaguars rookies ranked as 6th best class of 2022 by ESPN

Travon Walker got all the attention, but it was Jaguars rookie center Luke Fortner who impressed ESPN most this season.

The Jacksonville Jaguars didn’t get a Defensive Rookie of the Year season out of No. 1 overall pick Travon Walker, but the collective performance of the team’s rookies was among the best in the league this season, according to ESPN.

In a ranking of all 32 NFL teams’ rookie classes, the Jaguars came in at sixth.

Walker was part of the reason, as were linebackers Devin Lloyd and Chad Muma, but it was Luke Fortner who was highlighted by ESPN as the most notable of the group.

No. 1 overall pick Travon Walker had all the attention, but he was not the Jaguars’ most valuable rookie. Instead, third-round pick Luke Fortner went directly into the starting lineup at center, played all 17 games and finished second among offensive linemen in SIS total points. He had a low 1.8% blown block rate and just one sack allowed.

Fortner, 24, was the 65th overall pick in April and beat out Tyler Shatley in training camp for the starting center role. He never missed a snap during the regular season and earned rave reviews from his coaches and teammates.

“The way he communicates and carries himself … if you told me he is a rookie, I would have told you you were crazy, because he’s one of the smartest rookies I’ve ever played with,” Jaguars veteran guard Brandon Scherff said earlier this month.

Walker finished the regular season with 3.5 sacks, five tackles for loss, one interception, and one forced fumble. Lloyd had three interceptions and Muma had 1.5 sacks and three tackles for loss.

Jaguars activate OLB K’Lavon Chaisson off injured reserve

K’Lavon Chaisson is back on the Jaguars’ active roster, two months after landing on IR.

Jacksonville Jaguars outside linebacker K’Lavon Chaisson is back on the team’s active roster after a stint on the team’s injured reserve.

On Saturday, the Jaguars announced the move, just over two weeks after Chaisson was designated to return. The 2020 first-round pick landed on the injured reserve in October due to a meniscus injury.

The Jaguars are in desperate need of some pass rushing help as they rank 30th in the NFL in sacks through the first 13 weeks of the season. Chaisson may not provide much relief, though, as the highly-touted draft prospect has managed only two sacks in 35 career games.

In four games earlier this season, Chaisson played only 31 defensive snaps and recorded three tackles with no quarterback hits.

Jacksonville had an open spot on the active roster after waiving running back Darrell Henderson on Friday. The team also announced that linebacker Ty Summers has been elevated from the practice squad with rookie Chad Muma set to miss the team’s Week 14 game against the Tennessee Titans.

Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence listed as questionable vs. Titans

Trevor Lawrence is questionable and Chad Muma is out, but the Titans’ injury report looks much worse.

Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence is listed as questionable for a Week 14 matchup against the Tennessee Titans due to his sprained toe.

Lawrence missed practice Wednesday and Thursday, but returned to participate on a limited basis Friday. All indications are that he’ll likely play as Lawrence has said that’s his plan and Jaguars coach Doug Pederson has mostly downplayed the severity of the injury.

Out of action for the Jaguars will be rookie linebacker Chad Muma, who took over as the starter in Week 12.

With Muma sidelined, first-round rookie Devin Lloyd will return to the starting lineup.

Safety Andre Cisco and wide receiver Zay Jones are both listed as questionable, but Pederson told reporters Friday that both are trending in the right direction.

The Tennessee Titans are dealing with several injuries and ruled out six players for Sunday.

The losses for the Titans are especially rough on defense with David Long Jr, Denico Autry, Kristian Fulton, and Tre Avery all out of action. Tennessee also listed defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons as questionable.

Trevor Lawrence, Chad Muma sit out again Thursday

Trevor Lawrence still hasn’t returned to the practice field.

Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence sat out practice again Thursday as he works to recover from a sprained toe suffered in the team’s 40-14 loss against the Detroit Lions.

While both Lawrence and the Jaguars coaching staff have sounded optimistic about him playing Sunday against the Tennessee Titans, the outlook for rookie linebacker Chad Muma seems a little more bleak after he missed Thursday with an ankle injury.

Altogether, there was no difference between the Wednesday and Thursday reports from the Jaguars with Lawrence and Muma sitting out and two other players — Andre Cisco and Zay Jones — still limited.

The Titans only had a few changes with center Ben Jones and quarterback Ryan Tannehill both returning to practice after limited participation Wednesday. Star running back Derrick Henry sat out, although it wasn’t injury-related.

The biggest question mark for Tennessee is defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons, who was limited with an ankle injury Wednesday and then missed all of Thursday.

Simmons was a first-round pick in 2019 and earned Pro Bowl honors in 2021 when he finished with 8.5 sacks and 12 tackles for loss. In 11 games played this year, Simmons has 6.5 sacks, eight tackles for loss, and one forced fumble.

Jaguars DC Mike Caldwell: ‘The talent is here’

Mike Caldwell says the Jaguars defense can be good with the players it already has.

The Jacksonville Jaguars defense allowed 40 points in Week 13, never forcing the Detroit Lions to punt or turn the ball over in a blowout loss that dropped the Jaguars to 4-8.

With much of the talk this week centered around what Jacksonville can do to right the ship, defensive coordinator Mike Caldwell said Thursday that the team isn’t in need of an infusion of new players.

“I think the talent is here,” Caldwell said in a press conference. “We’re happy with the players here. We just have to get them understanding that when you do the right way, you have to do it the right way over and over and over again.

“There are times when we’re right on point. Then there are times when we’re not. That’s part of coaching, we all own that, we’ve got to get those guys playing the way they need to play over and over and over.”

The Jaguars used a pair of first-round picks on defensive players, Travon Walker and Devin Lloyd, in April, as well as a third-round pick on Chad Muma. Jacksonville also added defensive lineman Folorunso Fatukasi, linebacker Foye Oluokun, and cornerback Darious Williams in free agency.

After solid results from the new-look defense early in the season — including a shutout of the Indianapolis Colts in Week 2 — the unit has regressed as the year has gone on. It has now allowed at least 27 points and 400 yards in three straight weeks.

Caldwell may be hesitant to throw his players under the bus by saying they’re not good enough and new talent is needed. But the results tell another story and it’s hard to imagine the Jaguars not addressing their defensive woes with more draft picks in 2023.

Trevor Lawrence, Chad Muma sit out Wednesday practice

Chad Muma joined Trevor Lawrence in sitting out of practice Wednesday.

Jacksonville Jaguars rookie linebacker Chad Muma joined second-year quarterback Trevor Lawrence in sitting out practice Wednesday due to injuries suffered in a Week 13 loss against the Detroit Lions.

Lawrence not practicing isn’t a surprise as Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson said earlier in the day that he wouldn’t due to a toe sprain. Lawrence was spotted wearing a protective shoe Tuesday, but told reporters Wednesday that he intends to play against the Tennessee Titans.

Muma, 23, is dealing with an ankle injury that he suffered during a 1.5-sack and 11-tackle performance against the Lions. On Monday, Pederson said that Muma will be day-to-day this week.

The other two players on the report — safety Andre Cisco and wide receiver Zay Jones — were both questionable to play Sunday. Cisco was declared inactive before kickoff and Jones had his worst game with the Jaguars, dropping several passes in the first half against the Lions.

Tennessee listed 13 players on its Wednesday injury report with six sitting out and seven limited.

Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill missed two games earlier in the season due to injury. The team went 1-1 with rookie Malik Willis starting in his place.

Doug Pederson defends DC Mike Caldwell after defensive fiasco

Is Mike Caldwell’s seat starting to get warm after the Lions scored at will Sunday?

The Jacksonville Jaguars defense didn’t do anything well Sunday against the Detroit Lions.

It forced no turnovers, no punts, and allowed the Lions to score points on all of their offensive drives before Detroit kneeled out the clock on its last possession. There was plenty of criticism to go around after the Jaguars’ 40-14 loss and Mike Caldwell was at the center of it.

On Monday, Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson defended the first-year defensive coordinator, but also acknowledged that the coaching is going to need to improve.

“It takes time,” Pederson said of Caldwell on Monday. “I can remember back when I was a first-time coordinator and you’re trying to do a lot of different things, and then you realize you back off a little bit. We’ve done that, we have. We’ve scaled back a little bit and we’ve got some talented players, we’ve got some good players. Again, as a staff, we’re just making sure that we put these guys in the right positions and that’s on us to do that.

“I think Mike has done a good job of organizing and really keeping things together. On the same side of that is that we’ve got to do a better job of coaching and teaching and making sure everybody understands their jobs.”

Caldwell, 51, previously spent over a decade as a linebackers coach for the Philadelphia Eagles, Arizona Cardinals, New York Jets, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers before he was hired by the Jaguars in February.

Jacksonville allowed 313.8 yards and 16 points per game in the first five weeks of the season. The team has allowed an average of 408.6 yards and 27.4 points in the seven games since.

Chad Muma played well enough to keep starting role, says Doug Pederson

The starting job still belongs to Chad Muma, says Doug Pederson.

Jacksonville Jaguars rookie linebacker Chad Muma got his first career start Sunday against the Baltimore Ravens and coaches liked what they saw.

On Wednesday, Jaguars coach Doug Pederson said Muma will stay in the starting lineup for a Week 13 matchup against the Detroit Lions. That leaves fellow rookie linebacker Devin Lloyd set to continue to play a rotational role.

“I think moving forward, I think Chad did enough in that game to give him another opportunity,” Pederson said. “Still making sure that Devin’s ready and prepared and still having the rotation available if need be. I think both players are in a really good place, especially headspace right now. They’re young players, long season, six games left, and we’ve got to make sure that both of them are well-prepared as we make these next six games.”

Muma, a third-round pick in April, was on the field for 100 percent of the Jaguars’ 72 defensive snaps in the 28-27 win against the Ravens. Lloyd, who was the 27th overall pick in the first round, was on the field for a season-low 27 defensive snaps.

Last week, Lloyd told reporters that he’d prefer to stay in the Jaguars’ starting lineup, but said “it’s all about growth” and that his focus is on continuing to progress as a player.

Muma finished his first start with nine total tackles while Lloyd finished the game with two tackles off the bench.

Devin Lloyd: ‘I don’t want to go out, but it’s all about growth’

Devin Lloyd would rather play, but he’s trying to make the most of the times Chad Muma is playing.

Jacksonville Jaguars first-round linebacker Devin Lloyd had a strong start to his rookie year before struggling through a rough stretch. Those difficulties came to a head when Lloyd spent much of Week 10 watching the Jaguars’ 27-17 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs from the sideline while fellow rookie Chad Muma got a career-high amount of snaps.

On Wednesday, Jaguars coach Doug Pederson said Lloyd and Muma will continue to share play time. Lloyd told reporters he understands the decision even if it isn’t his favorite.

“Doug had mentioned that sometimes the perspective from the sideline, you get a little bit different perspective,” Lloyd said Wednesday, via 1010XL. “Me personally, I love playing. I love playing the game, obviously I don’t want to go out. But for me, it’s all about growth.

“As perfect as we want it to be, it’s never going to be perfect. For me, it’s just about learning from my mistakes and making sure they don’t happen again, continuing to progress every day.”

Lloyd, 24, started the year with two interceptions and six passes defended in his first three games. Since then, he’s recorded a pair of fumble recoveries, but has been a liability in coverage with just one pass defended in the Jaguars’ last seven games.

Against the Chiefs, Muma played the entire fourth quarter and finished the game second on the team in tackles with six.

“I think both guys have shown us enough that they can both play, play in there and play well,” Pederson said Wednesday. “I think this back third of the season or half of the season, I think you’ll see more of a rotation with those two guys. It’s a great opportunity for both of them. This week, in particular, because of the unique style of Baltimore’s run offense. You’re going to have to use probably as many of those linebackers as possible.”

On Wednesday, Lloyd told reporters he’s feeling refreshed and rejuvenated both physically and mentally after the team’s Week 11 bye. The Jaguars traded up into the first round in April to pick Lloyd with the 27th overall pick. Muma was selected two rounds later at 70th overall.