Tag: maason smith

Jaguars vs. Titans: Key matchups

Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Tennessee Titans: key matchups

The Jacksonville Jaguars enter their next-to-last game of the season against the Tennessee Titans, fighting to end their campaign on a high note following their loss to the Las Vegas Raiders last Sunday.

The Jaguars take on the Titans in their home finale and hope to give their fans something to cheer about in a battle between two teams in contention for top-five selections in the 2025 NFL Draft.

Jaguars Wire takes a closer look at the key matchups Jacksonville must win to beat Tennessee.

Jaguars QB Mac Jones vs. Titans defense

On the bright side, Jones didn’t turn the ball over last week. On the downside, he is still a below-average signal-caller who cost his team the game when he was too passive in a critical spot.

Jones is who he is; he’ll do just enough to put the ball where he needs it to go before making a few bone-headed decisions and turning the ball over at the most opportune time.

However, the former Alabama Crimson Tide standout had some success against the Titans three weeks ago despite throwing two interceptions, notably setting up a touchdown drive with three completions to rookie wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. for 57 yards.

The Jaguars would benefit from a clean game from Jones, who took over for the injured Trevor Lawrence almost two months ago. The Titans brandish the No. 3 defense in the NFL in yards allowed per game and they aren’t the easiest unit to throw against.

If Jones can more efficiently get the ball to his best playmakers, Jacksonville will have a clear path to victory.

Jaguars WR Brian Thomas Jr. vs. Titans WR Calvin Ridley

This is not a true offense versus defense matchup, but it’s an important battle nonetheless: Which wide receiver can be the most effective for their team this weekend?

Thomas has had an excellent rookie season, breaking rookie franchise records left and right. He has a 36.1 percent target share and a 52.5 percent air yard share with Mac Jones under-center since Week 14, the third-highest rates in the league, according to Next Gen Stats.

Ridley’s production in the Titans’ offense didn’t spike until DeAndre Hopkins was traded mid-season, but his numbers have been sound this season with 857 receiving yards and four touchdowns.

Both receivers could have productive days, although their matchups vary in intensity. Ridley will be going up against the bottom-ranked passing defense in yards allowed (263.0) and Thomas will likely be force-fed the ball to create yards after the catch against the top-ranked passing defense (178.3) in football.

Whichever one has the biggest impact on Sunday could be a determining factor in the game’s result.

Titans offense vs. Jaguars defense

As highlighted in this week’s All-22 review, rookie defensive lineman Maason Smith flashed with some great pass rush and run-defending reps against the Raiders and could see his production spike against a below-average Titans offensive line.

Tennessee has gone through a couple of quarterback changes between Will Levis and Mason Rudolph. The latter will be the starter for the remainder of the season. Getting pressure on the journeyman Rudolph will be key for a Jaguars defense that has held several opposing offenses in check in recent weeks.

In their previous matchup, Jacksonville held Tennessee to six points and could see a similar result this week. With the Titans offense struggling altogether this season, this is a favorable matchup for defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen and his unit, spelling an opportunity for win No. 4 on the season.

All-22 review: Diving into Jaguars’ film vs. Raiders

All-22 review: Diving into Jaguars’ film vs. Raiders

The Jacksonville Jaguars head into the final two weeks of the season still in contention for the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL Draft.

Following their loss to the Las Vegas Raiders, the Jaguars currently possess the No. 3 overall selection and, with help, could land themselves a top-of-the-order choice for the third time in five years.

But there are some positives to take away from Jacksonville’s defeat on Sunday. Jaguars Wire takes a deep dive into the All-22 film to look at some of the bright spots from the team’s 12th loss of the season.

Maason Smith flashes brightly as a possible key 2025 piece

The decision to keep Smith sidelined early in the season when the defense began to struggle remains questionable at best. The second-round pick from the LSU Tigers has seen more time on the field with the Jaguars on their way to a potential top-five selection in the NFL Draft.

Smith may not have blown up the box score against the Raiders, but he was disruptive in what was the best game of his young career with a sack and two tackles for loss.

Smith flashed the raw power and functional athleticism that made him a Top 50 selection. He showed a nice bull rush that was effective when he kept his pad level low and maintained adequate leverage at the point of attack.

With his long arms and wingspan, Smith used it to his advantage to push blockers into the backfield and create penetration in the run game. He also did a good job of working laterally at the line of scrimmage and staying disciplined in his respective gap.

Smith must learn to keep his pads low and not expose his chest as often as he did Sunday on top of adding more moves to his pass rush arsenal. However, he has a bright future with the team and with continued development, he could be a key asset for Jacksonville in 2025.

Montaric Brown offers a serviceable performance in place of Ronald Darby

With Darby having been benched and inactive against Las Vegas, Brown stepped in on the perimeter and performed. There were some questionable moments from the former Arkansas Razorback but there were plenty of positive ones as well.

Brown was often sticky in man coverage reps while displaying sufficient change of direction to stay in phase with his primary receiver. When playing press, he more often played feet-first and allowed himself to stay stride for stride with his man.

Brown’s reps in zone coverage were also impressive. He offered sufficient spacing and spatial awareness to make plays within his vicinity. There were moments when his eyes were caught in the backfield but he would later rebound, showing he can be someone the Jaguars can lean on as a depth piece in the secondary in the future.

Mitch Morse is a key cog in the middle of the Jaguars OL

The Jaguars have gotten exactly what they were hoping for when they signed Morse from the Buffalo Bills this past offseason.

Morse has remained consistent at center throughout the season and is a crucial aspect of why the Jaguars’ interior offensive line has the second-lowest pressure rate in the NFL, according to Next Gen Stats.

On Sunday against the Raiders, Morse was sufficient on the field. There were a couple of mishaps, including some early miscommunication along the line and getting beat in the run game on occasion.

Yet, the veteran middleman of Jacksonville’s line was steady enough to keep the interior of his unit as rock solid as it could be. He helped his teammates in their sets and got his eyes around fast when dealing with looping rushers. Morse’s functional movement ability allows him to seamlessly work to the second level in the run game.

Extra Notes

  • Brian Thomas Jr. is a complete game-changer and was a big reason why the Jaguars were still in the game late in the fourth quarter. His size, explosiveness, ball skills and run-after-catch ability have made him a fearful playmaker for any defense to play against.

Jaguars vs. Lions: Inactive lists

Jaguars vs. Lions: Inactive lists

Find Jacksonville and Detroit’s inactive lists for Week 11 below.

Jaguars inactives

  • QB Trevor Lawrence
  • RB Tank Bigsby
  • OL Javon Foster
  • DL Maason Smith
  • DL Esezi Otomewo
  • LB Yasir Abdullah
  • CB De’Antre Prince

Analysis: The Jaguars ruled starting quarterback Trevor Lawrence out of Week 11 on Wednesday, running back Tank Bigsby out on Friday and backup linebacker Yasir Abdullah out on Saturday.

Not on Jacksonville’s inactive list, importantly, is starting left guard Ezra Cleveland, who will return to action after missing the Jaguars’ last two games with an ankle injury. He was labeled questionable for the contest on Friday.

Lions inactives

  • TE Sam LaPorta
  • OL Colby Sorsdal
  • OL Christian Mahogany
  • OL Giovanni Manu
  • DL Al-Quadin Muhammad
  • S Loren Strickland

Analysis: Detroit’s most notable inactive player is starting tight end SamLaPorta, who was ruled out of Week 11 with a shoulder injury on Friday. The Lions otherwise scratched three reserve offensive linemen, one backup defensive lineman and one depth safety against the Jaguars.

Doug Pederson: Jaguars OL, DL ‘probably’ out vs. Vikings

Doug Pederson: Jaguars OL, DL ‘probably’ out vs. Vikings

Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson said Friday that starting left guard Ezra Cleveland and rookie backup defensive tackle Maason Smith will likely be ruled out of Jacksonville’s Week 10 matchup with the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday.

Cleveland is tracking to miss his second game since hurting his ankle in Jacksonville’s Week 8 loss to the Green Bay Packers. Smith has been inactive for the Jaguars’ last three games, Weeks 8-9 due to an ankle injury and Week 7 as a healthy scratch.

“Ezra and Maason probably [will not play],” Pederson said. “Maason’s still probably a week and Ezra’s probably another week too. When I say Maason, could be ready next week. So those two right now, as far as injury goes.”

Cleveland has started 13 games for the Jaguars since Jacksonville acquired him via trade from Minnesota last season.

Smith, Jacksonville’s second-round pick in this offseason’s NFL draft, has recorded five tackles, one sack and one defended pass in five games this year.

Jacksonville vs. Minnesota will kickoff at 1 p.m. ET Sunday at EverBank Stadium.

Doug Pederson explains surprising Jaguars inactive vs. Browns

Doug Pederson explains surprising Jaguars inactive vs. Browns

While his sidelining quickly fell under the radar as news of star Jaguars tight end Evan Engram’s hamstring injury surfaced minutes later, defensive tackle Maason Smith appearing on the inactive list for Jacksonville’s Week 2 matchup with Cleveland came as a surprise.

Smith, the Jaguars’ No. 48 overall pick in the second round of the 2024 NFL draft, was not listed on Jacksonville’s injury report last week, making him a healthy scratch for the contest.

The rookie logged 29 defensive snaps in his NFL debut in Week 1 against Miami but did not appear on the box score.

Asked about the decision Monday, Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson explained that Smith’s game status was not determined necessarily by his performance, but by that of others in practice last week.

“You’ve got 53 players each week and I get a chance to select the 48,” Pederson noted. “Obviously, I visit with the defensive staff and it kind of goes too off of the prior week.

“So, it’s not necessarily what Maason did. I think guys like [defensive tackles] Big O [Esezi Otomewo] and Jeremiah [Ledbetter] also had good weeks of preparation and practice.”

Ledbetter and Otomewo were active for Week 2 after not dressing against Miami, with defensive tackle Tyler Lacy, who played against the Dolphins in Week 1, out Sunday with a toe injury.

Ledbetter and Otomewo respectively recorded 36 and 25 defensive snaps against Cleveland, combining for five tackles.

Lacy’s status for Week 3 could impact the number of, and which, defensive tackles Jacksonville keeps active against Buffalo on Monday night. Pederson acknowledged the opportunity Smith will have in preparation for the matchup to earn one of those spots.

“It’s just an opportunity for Maason to learn and put himself in a position this week to try to be elevated. So, it was nothing that he didn’t do. I just think it was a fact that Jeremiah and Big O had opportunities to be up this week.”

How LSU rookies performed in their first preseason games

Here’s how LSU’s rookies performed in their preseason debuts.

The NFL preseason is underway. As we get closer to playing football that matters, we’re getting our first real look at rookies on a professional field.

As usual, LSU has several former players starting their NFL careers in 2024. The Tigers’ draft class was headlined by QB [autotag]Jayden Daniels[/autotag], who the Washington Commanders selected with the No. 2 overall pick. Daniels was joined in the first round by receivers [autotag]Malik Nabers[/autotag] and [autotag]Brian Thomas Jr.[/autotag]

Later in the draft, three defensive tackles were taken out of LSU. The Jaguars took [autotag]Maason Smith[/autotag] and [autotag]Jordan Jefferson[/autotag] while [autotag]Mekhi Wingo[/autotag] landed in Detroit with the Lions.

Five of the six made their preseason debut in the last several days with Jefferson being the only holdout.

LSU’s put a few stars in the NFL in recent years and there’s hope this group produces a few more. Here’s how they performed in their pro debuts, starting with Daniels.

Jayden Daniels

Daniels played just one series but made a strong impression in a few plays. In three dropbacks, Daniels completed two passes for 45 yards.

We saw Daniels excel with ball placement downfield last year and it was more of the same in his pro debut.

The drive was capped with a Daniels rushing score.

Malik Nabers

Nabers played 12 snaps in his debut, but he wasn’t targeted, leaving his stat line empty.

Despite the numbers, Nabers ran routes at an NFL level. If New York can get him the ball, he’ll make plays in 2024.

Brian Thomas Jr.

Thomas wasted no time putting his perimeter playmaking skills on display. His lone catch was a 42-yard shot down the sideline that saw Thomas fight for position to haul it in as he went to the ground.

Thomas posted an impressive 79.2 PFF grade in limited action.

Mekhi Wingo

Wingo played 31 defensive snaps in his debut with Detroit. He didn’t record a tackle but he did manage one pressure.

After the game, Lions head coach Dan Campbell spoke highly of Wingo’s performance.

Maason Smith

Maason Smith played 21 snaps in his first game and according to PFF, was the 11th best-graded rookie defensive tackle in the first week. Smith was only on the field for nine rush plays, so it was tough to make an impact there.

Like Wingo, he added one QB pressure.

How did some of the UDFAs do?

The draft picks weren’t the only LSU rookies to make their debut. LSU had some undrafted free agents take to the field as well.

[autotag]Charles Turner III[/autotag] played 10 snaps for the Patriots and allowed two pressures but still posted a 75.0 PFF pass block grade.

[autotag]Ovie Oghoufo[/autotag] made a good first impression, recording four tackles, a pressure, and a batted pass for the Giants.

Linebacker [autotag]Omar Speights[/autotag] was one of the top-graded rookie linebackers after making four tackles and pressuring the quarterback twice with the Rams.

In his debut with the Eagles, safety [autotag]Andre Sam[/autotag] played 19 snaps and made a tackle.

As for players who didn’t play, Jefferson and [autotag]Noah Cain[/autotag] are awaiting their debuts.

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LSU continues rebuild of defensive tackle room with 2 commits

LSU’s two newest additions on the defensive line are two more steps in the right direction.

When LSU hired [autotag]Bo Davis[/autotag] in January, I wrote about just how massive the addition was. It’s rare that a position coach can completely move the needle for a program, but that’s what Davis did at Texas.

Davis provided the Longhorns with the best interior defensive line in the country, headlined by T’Vondre Sweat and Byron Murphy II. According to PFF, the duo were the top two graded defensive tackles in the country. After working with Davis, both went on to be NFL draft picks.

Sweat and Murphy were both highly touted recruits, but neither was the slam-dunk prospect that some five stars are. Per 247Sports, Sweat was a three-star and the No. 27 ranked DT in his class. Murphy was a four-star but sat outside the top 250.

On July 4, Davis and LSU landed two DT prospects that fit similar criteria. Two composite four-stars in [autotag]Brandon Brown[/autotag] and [autotag]Zion Williams[/autotag]. Brown ranks as the No. 324 overall prospect in the 247Sports Composite Rankings. Williams isn’t that far behind, sitting at No. 298.

They are the first two defensive tackle commits in LSU’s 2025 recruiting class which is sorely in need of interior defensive linemen. That’s why Davis was brought to LSU, to address that need at defensive tackle. Brown and Williams are the first steps to getting this room where it needs to be.

LSU hit the transfer portal to add depth for the upcoming year. The Tigers missed on top targets like [autotag]Damonic Williams[/autotag] and [autotag]Simeon Barrow[/autotag] but added [autotag]Jay’Viar Suggs[/autotag] and [autotag]Gio Paez[/autotag]. The top piece is rising fifth-year senior [autotag]Jacobian Guillory[/autotag], but he’ll be off to the league after this year.

The Tigers have some prospects in the pipeline with [autotag]Dominick McKinley[/autotag], [autotag]De’Myrion Johnson[/autotag], and Ahmad Breaux, but you need to stack classes to get the needed depth.

A dominant interior defensive line can change the outlook for a defense. LSU thought they had that heading into 2023 with [autotag]Maason Smith[/autotag] and Mekhi Wingo, but poor defensive coaching mitigated that.

LSU got here because the defensive line coaching position has been a volatile spot for the Tigers. Just when LSU thought it had stability with [autotag]Jamar Cain[/autotag], he took an NFL job with the Broncos. It’s hard to find consistency and build relationships in recruiting when there’s a new face coaching the room every year.

LSU paid a heavy price for Davis, a former LSU defensive lineman in his own right. They’re hoping this is more than just a one-year thing. Davis has coached at LSU before, he was a part of national titles at Alabama and helped lead Texas to the playoff in 2023. The goal is for Davis to stick around and build something.

We’ve seen the job [autotag]Brad Davis[/autotag] has done with the offensive line. He took a mediocre unit and built it into one of the best offensive lines in the country. If Bo Davis can have a similar impact on the defensive line, LSU will be competing for SEC titles year after year.

The skill positions will never be much of a question. Louisiana has a way of producing elite receivers and running backs. Quarterback isn’t an issue that plagues the program anymore either.

Defensive tackle is, by far, LSU’s biggest question mark entering the year. It’s the one thing holding LSU back. With additions like Brown and Williams, that’s on its way to being fixed.

There’s a strong defensive tackle group within the state in 2026. That gives Davis and company the chance to keep up the momentum.

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Jaguars rookie projections: DL Maason Smith

Jaguars rookie projections: DL Maason Smith

The Jaguars exited the 2024 NFL draft with nine new contributors, bolstering their roster with potential after signing eight free agents between March and April in their offseason-long effort to reclaim postseason status this year.

How impactful might Jacksonville’s rookie class be as the team chases a playoff spot?

Jaguars Wire is projecting roles and rookie production for each of Jacksonville’s 2024 draft picks, continuing the series by focusing on the Jaguars’ second-round, No. 48 overall selection, defensive lineman Maason Smith.

Jaguars rookie projections: WR Brian Thomas Jr.

Maason Smith’s projected role with the Jaguars

Smith’s top-50 selection by Jacksonville was initially met with surprise, considering both the Jaguars’ noted need for cornerback help and Smith’s consensus third-round projection by NFL draft media.

But the Jaguars coveted Smith with the future of their defensive line in mind and got in on the second round’s defensive tackle run, with four taken before Smith and two after.

Jacksonville was fascinated by his measurables, too. Smith stands at 6-foot-5 1/8-inch (92nd percentile among NFL combine defensive tackles since 1999), 306 pounds (54th percentile), with 35-inch arms (94th percentile) and an 84 5/8-inch wingspan (95th percentile).

He posted a 5.01-second 40-yard dash result (70th percentile), a 31-inch vertical jump (71st percentile) and a 7.62-second 3-cone drill run (56th percentile) during the combine’s athletic testing.

Jaguars general manager Trent Baalke highlighted Smith’s physical profile, his height and length, specifically after making the pick.

“To me it’s a huge advantage, especially if they use it. He’s a young man that uses it,” Baalke said in April. “When I was in San Francisco we drafted [DeForest] Buckner and [Arik] Armstead, both taller interior players. We studied Chris Jones, one of the better interior players in the league right now with that kind of size and that kind of length.

“I’m not saying this guy is going to be any of those three, but he certainly has a chance to be a very good football player. I think all those traits play to his advantage, but now you’ve got to take advantage of them and use them.”

Jacksonville won’t necessarily rush Smith into utilizing his traits before sharpening his technique.

While Day 2 draft status often foreshadows a significant role as a rookie, Smith will likely occupy a rotational function in year one with Armstead, a free-agent signee, and three-year Jaguar Roy Robertson-Harris starting and/or playing significantly at his projected positions, between the three and five-technique alignments on the defensive line.

Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson believes Smith will benefit from developing behind established veterans before taking on a bigger role in the future.

“I think it’s huge to have guys that have been there, done that, have battled adversity themselves through the course of their careers,” said Pederson. “It’s a really good room, there’s some great leaders in there. [Smith is] coming into that room and he can just soak up all of that knowledge and just learn from those guys.”

Still, Smith could find himself playing meaningfully as a rookie with Armstead and Robertson-Harris each turning 31 years old this year. He could help keep the veterans fresh by factoring into specific packages such as early-down run support, where his frame and power can do a lot of heavy lifting.

Maason Smith’s projected rookie stats

Projection via Jaguars Wire

  • 25 total tackles
  • Two sacks
  • 4.5 tackles for loss
  • Two batted passes

25 total tackles would have ranked No. 10 among rookie defensive linemen (including defensive ends) in 2023, two sacks would have been tied for No. 13, and 4.5 tackles for loss would have ranked No. 8, per StatHead.

Rankings for batted passes weren’t available for rookie defensive linemen. But considering Smith’s height and wingspan, it wouldn’t be surprising to see him knock a few passes down at the line of scrimmage.

Quarterback pressures are quantifiable but not as easy to project individually as other statistics (considering volatile factors such as snap share). Smith’s pressure rate will be worth monitoring and should be more revealing than his sack number regarding his ability to rush the quarterback as a rookie.

Maason Smith signs rookie contract with Jaguars, per report

Maason Smith signs rookie contract with Jaguars, per report

Jacksonville’s second-round selection in the 2024 NFL draft, defensive tackle Maason Smith., signed his rookie contract with the Jaguars on Thursday, according to ESPN’s NFL transaction wire.

The Jaguars took Smith with the No. 48 overall selection in April’s draft, coveting the defensive lineman’s high upside after his inconsistent but promising college career,

From Houma (La.) Terrebonne, Smith was a consensus five-star prospect in the 2021 recruiting class, peaking as the No. 19 overall player by the 247Sports composite rankings.

He collected 31 scholarship offers from across the country but committed to his home state’s blue-blood program, LSU, on Early Signing Day in Dec. 2020.

Smith was the prize of Ed Orgeron’s last recruiting haul as the Tigers’ head coach. Accordingly, Smith appeared in nine games and made four starts as a freshman, producing 19 tackles including five for loss and four sacks, en route to Freshman All-American and Freshman All-SEC honors.

However, the momentum Smith quickly generated at LSU was halted at the beginning of the 2022 campaign.

He tore the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his left knee against Florida State in Week 1 after jumping to celebrate a tackle by his teammate, forcing him to miss the rest of the year.

Following a one-game suspension to begin the 2023 season, related to a pre-Name, Image and Likeness autograph session, Smith returned to start 12 games at defensive tackle for LSU as a junior. He posted 28 tackles with 4.5 for loss, 2.5 sacks and two defended passes before entering the 2024 NFL draft.

Over three seasons with the Tigers, Smith compiled 47 tackles, 6.5 sacks, 9.5 tackles for loss, 39 quarterback pressures (per Pro Football Focus) and two defended passes.

He primarily aligned at defensive tackle but earned playing time at defensive end and nose tackle, too.

Although there were mixed reactions to Jacksonville selecting Smith in the second round, considering his need for further development and Jacksonville’s positional needs elsewhere, the Jaguars believe they secured a potential long-term difference-maker for their defensive line based on the impact Smith made on the gridiron at full health.

“I think there are a couple of things. The first one being his tape as a freshman, as an 18-year-old freshman in the SEC and how his physical traits really exploded off there. The sophomore year obviously he had the injury, then he was kind of working back to health,” Jaguars assistant general manager Ethan Waugh said about Smith on May 10.

“If you look at the very beginning of his tape, the very end of his college tape, and then the health and the performance at the private workout we held with him, I think you can see the progression of how he’s kind of getting back to himself and getting back healthy. I think the sky’s the limit.”

With Smith reportedly under contract, only first-round wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. remains unsigned among Jacksonville’s 2024 draft class.

LSU misses out another top defensive tackle transfer target

The Tigers are running out of options in the portal after Simeon Barrow Jr. committed to Miami.

LSU has a big need at defensive tackle in the spring transfer portal window, but its list of options is quickly dwindling.

After [autotag]Damonic Williams[/autotag] committed to Oklahoma on Thursday night, the Tigers got more bad news on Friday night when Michigan State defensive tackle transfer [autotag]Simeon Barrow Jr.[/autotag] committed to Miami, a move that many analysts predicted.

Without an addition to the defensive tackle room to this point, the Tigers are down to just two players who have game experience in [autotag]Jacobian Guillory[/autotag] and [autotag]Jalen Lee[/autotag] after [autotag]Mekhi Wingo[/autotag] and [autotag]Maason Smith[/autotag] left for the draft.

The need at the position persists, and it’s getting to be slim pickings. Barrow ranked as the No. 7 defensive lineman in the portal, one spot behind Williams.

In four years with the Spartans, the Grovetown, Georgia, native appeared in 34 games with 30 starts. He had 110 career tackles with 18.5 for loss and 10.5 sacks. He also blocked a pair of field goals, forced two fumbles and recovered one.

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