X-Factor: Jaguars pass rush faces ailing Browns OL
The Jaguars’ pass rush should be licking its chops ahead of its Sunday matchup, hoping to replicate Dallas’ six-sack performance in Week 1 against an ailing Cleveland offensive line.
The Browns on Friday ruled out left tackle Jedrick Wills Jr. for a second consecutive game, while right tackle Jack Conklin is considered questionable for Sunday’s contest.
Additionally, Cleveland left guard Joel Bitonio was listed as limited during the week.
With the Browns’ offensive line banged up, the Jaguars are in prime position to unleash their pass rush behind edge rushers Travon Walker and Josh Hines-Allen.
Jacksonville’s pass rush could be crucial in helping out its backend, as the secondary is down two key defensive backs due to injury, safety Darnell Savage Jr. and cornerback Tyson Campbell.
Walker hopes to replicate the success that found him in the backfield against the Dolphins when he twice brought down Miami quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, generating 67% of Jacksonville’s Week 1 sacks.
Jaguars defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen felt the edge duo showed flashes of their potential in Week 1 but wants each player to continue on an upward trajectory when facing the Browns.
“Those guys did a good job on the edge, they really did,” Nielsen said Thursday. “Travon getting off of blocks. I mean, there were times Josh, his awareness in terms of the blocks and his block reaction, things like that.”
“There’s some disruption; there’s some things that you didn’t see on the stat line that he did during the game in the run game and the pass-rush game that showed up on the tape on the toss plays in the backfield, taking two guys where Tyson [Campbell] can make a tackle.”
In addition to the homegrown edge tandem, Nielsen acknowledged the addition of free-agent defensive tackle Arik Armstead in the middle of the defense. The former 49er got home in his first game as a Jaguar, bringing down Tagovailoa for a loss of five.
Nielsen says the fit was evident for Armstead, who moved around the front depending on personnel and down and distance, a tactic the Jaguars will continue to employ.
“We knew exactly where we were going to do when he got here: play some ends, play some tackle,” Nelsen said. “And then how we rotated it was personnel packages, things like that. So, it wasn’t a big [deal], and you’ll see the continuation of that, moving him around, things like that for the rest of the year.”
Nielsen’s unit generally performed well in Week 1, yet the Dolphins’ big play threat proved detrimental, changing the tide of the game once Miami receiver Tyreek Hill went for an 80-yard touchdown one play after Jacksonville running back Travis Etienne Jr. fumbled in the red zone in the third quarter.
In Jacksonville’s second contest of the season, head coach Doug Pederson wants to see improvement from the defense in giving up explosive plays against the Browns offense, which only posted 169 passing yards on 45 attempts against the Cowboys.
“To me, it just came down to those three plays,” Pederson said Monday. “It was like 182 yards on three pass plays. The first third-and-eight screen went for 39, I think, then the 63 and the 80. So those are the plays we have to eliminate, and I think it’s a different outcome.”
As Pederson looks ahead from the Jaguars’ dramatic Week 1 loss, he is not concerned with the laundry list of Browns’ offensive linemen named on the injury report. He said his team’s strategy remains the same: trust the game plan and execute.
Jacksonville’s pass rush fared well in that respect a week ago. It is crucial the unit does so again to beat Cleveland.
“You’ve got to still go out and play whoever’s out there for them, whoever’s out there for us. I mean, they’re not going to change, we’re not going to change,” Pederson said Friday.
“I just think you have to go execute and play and study the man that you’re going up against and study his tendencies. I think that’s the most important thing.”