Ryan Nielsen – Page 2 – Syndication Server

Key matchups for Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Cleveland Browns

Coming off a tough loss in South Florida, the Jacksonville Jaguars are set for their home opener against the Cleveland Browns on Sunday as both teams look to avoid an 0-2 start.

This week Jacksonville looks to be more consistent with its offensive production while Cleveland is again forced to deal with quarterback Deshaun Watson and his off-field issues as the Browns await the return of all-world running back Nick Chubb.

Week 2 will give both teams a better picture of what and who they are moving forward into the 2024 campaign. The Jaguars hope for better execution in their offensive approach following their blown lead to the Miami Dolphins.

With that in mind, Jaguars Wire is here to identify some key matchups for Jacksonville’s Week 2 matchup with Cleveland. Here are three matchups the Jaguars must win to avoid a winless start to the season.

Cleveland QB Deshaun Watson vs. Jacksonville’s defense

One of the key takeaways from this past Sunday was the Jaguars’ admirable defensive performance against the explosive Dolphins offense. They mostly limited significant explosive plays and generated four-man pressures through their front four.

Browns head coach and play-caller Kevin Stefanski is known for his offensive creativity and has put Watson in positions to succeed. But since returning from suspension nearly two seasons ago, the former Clemson standout has yet to return to his pre-2021 form.

Watson’s performance against the Dallas Cowboys offered a clear sign of his current abilities.

According to Next Gen Stats, Watson was pressured on 44.6% of dropbacks, finishing 5-of-17 for 22 yards against pressure while being sacked six times. His 23.2 percent dropback success rate was the lowest in a game in the Next Gen Stats era.

Watson has declined, and the Jaguars have the defense to force him off his spot and into bad decisions. Plus, Jacksonville has the athletic defenders necessary to stick with Watson in quarterback contain.

If defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen’s unit can generate pressures and rattle Watson early, it should be a good day for Jacksonville.

Jacksonville’s offensive line vs. Cleveland’s defensive line

The trenches will be a key matchup in this game but none more crucial than the Jaguars offensive line against the Browns stellar pass rush, led by All-Pro defensive end Myles Garrett.

Jacksonville’s front five did a decent job of protecting franchise quarterback Trevor Lawrence against the Dolphins, allowing a pressure rate of 32%, ranking No. 14 in the NFL in Week 1.

However, Cleveland defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz is arguably the best in the game at his position and finds ways of consistently getting to the QB. Against the Cowboys, most of the Browns’ pressures came from a defensive front featuring three defensive ends and one defensive tackle.

Having an extra edge rusher lined up at the three-technique could prove disadvantageous for Jacksonville’s guards due to the speed and quickness of Cleveland’s rushers. Schwartz will likely deploy this fairly often in passing situations.

The biggest concern will be if the Jaguars can limit Garrett, arguably the best pass rusher in the world. This offensive line will also have to account for defensive tackles Dalvin Tomlinson and Shelby Harris, and defensive ends Za’Darius Smith and Alex Wright.

Jacksonville seems up for the challenge considering its Week 1 performance. Right guard Brandon Scherff must have a better game after an up-and-down showing in Miami. However, left guard Ezra Cleveland and center Mitch Morse held their own against the Dolphins and can build upon their performances this week.

Tackles Cam Robinson and Anton Harrison will have a lot on their plate Sunday, but another solid day from these five linemen could signal success for the Jaguars in Week 2.

Jacksonville’s skill players vs. Cleveland’s back-seven

Once again, the Jaguars’ group of offensive skill players will face another tough secondary only this time on their home turf.

The Browns have a defensive unit that allowed a negative .20 expected points added (EPA) per play allowed. Their back seven is led by star linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah and three-time Pro Bowl cornerback Denzel Ward with more quality defenders roaming the second and third level.

For most teams, including Jacksonville, facing Cleveland’s back seven is a tall task. Nevertheless, the Jaguars have last week’s first-half performance to go off of when it comes to taking on other stout back seven defenders.

Rookie wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. must be a focal point Sunday. The offense was humming when he was being targeted and he adds a level of explosiveness and playmaking ability this unit has not had in quite some time. His zero targets in the second half were inexcusable.

This weekend could be a good time for the Jaguars to deploy Evan Engram into the passing game in his new versatile role as the F-move tight end and fullback. He could be the X-factor against a tough Browns secondary.

Finding explosive plays and getting the ball to the team’s best playmakers will be another crucial aspect in their pursuit of a home-opener victory.

All-22 review: Jaguars vs. Dolphins

The Jacksonville Jaguars are off to a rough start to their 2024 campaign following an embarrassing defeat on the road against the Miami Dolphins, 20-17.

At one point, the Jaguars held leads of 14-0 in the first half and 17-7 in the second, leaving many to wonder what happened after such a great start to the game.

Jaguars Wire broke down the matchup’s All-22 film to digest Sunday’s events with better context, sharing its biggest takeaways below.

Defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen impressed in his first game with the Jaguars

Jacksonville Jaguars defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen talks to the media ahead of the second day of an NFL football training camp practice session Thursday, July 25, 2024 at EverBank Stadium’s Miller Electric Center in Jacksonville, Fla.

One of the key matchups Sunday was Ryan Nielsen’s Jacksonville defense versus arguably the most explosive offense in football. One key concern was capping the big plays Miami has been known to produce throughout the last two seasons.

Despite Dolphins receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle producing crucial explosive plays late in the contest, Nielsen otherwise called in a great game. Jaguars defenders on all three levels of the field flew around the field but rarely appeared out of place outside of a couple of occasions.

One of the most impressive things from this unit is that it rarely got caught in Miami’s barrage of shifts and motions, staying disciplined and on task while forcing quarterback Tua Tagovailoa off his spot and forcing throws.

Jacksonville’s linebackers were stout in their run fits. According to Next Gen Stats, the run defense held Miami to just 69 yards of offense on 23 touches and negative 44 rushing yards over expected, the lowest since Week 9 of 2021.

Linebacker Foyesade Oluokun played terrific in coverage and against the run. He made an excellent play in the second quarter on fourth & short by shadowing double slants on the front side and nearly secured the interception.

Other defensive players such as safety Darnell Savage Jr. and defensive lineman Arik Armstead had quality performances.

Before leaving the game with an injury, star cornerback Tyson Campbell played with sound technique in press-man and zone shells. Rookie Jarrian Jones had a couple of one-on-ones with Hill and held his own.

Edge rusher Travon Walker’s season is off to a great start. He piled up two sacks in Week 1 with elite explosiveness, power at the point of contact, an impressive bull rush, and the rare athleticism he has been known for since he was drafted No. 1 overall in 2022.

Jacksonville’s first-half offense displayed a glimpse into the future…

MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA – SEPTEMBER 08: Trevor Lawrence #16 and Brian Thomas Jr. #7 of the Jacksonville Jaguars celebrate after a touchdown during the second quarter against the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium on September 08, 2024 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images)

Sunday offered a peak into what the 2024 Jaguars offense could become under whoever is calling plays in Jacksonville, head coach Doug Pederson or offensive coordinator Press Taylor. There were more under-center, vertical passing concepts that opened up the offense to an extent. The operation seemed steadier and smoother.

Franchise signal-caller Trevor Lawrence had a quality first half, making a terrific throw seemingly every series. He had a couple of middle-of-the-field darts for big completions, including the beautiful bucket drop to rookie wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. to go up 14-0 in the second quarter.

Lawrence did a great job using his eyes to manipulate second and third-level defenders while maintaining his progressions.

The Jaguars have the potential to field a consistently explosive offense. Second-string running back Tank Bigsby broke off a couple of nice runs. Thomas also looks as advertised as a deep threat, showing vertical separation almost consistently with subtle movements to create space and opportunities for Lawrence to make accurate, on-time throws.

Jacksonville could have continued to mash its foot on the gas and attack Miami’s secondary with vertical play-action attacks from under-center and route concepts to put its players in positions to succeed. As the score later showed, it didn’t.

…but the second-half offense offered a not-so-good blast from the past

Sep 8, 2024; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson looks on from the sideline against the Miami Dolphins during the first quarter at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

As soon as the Jaguars’ offense took the field in the second half, there was an easy tell to the momentum swing that began to occur. What went from an explosive and dynamic first 30 minutes to a stale and conservative final 30.

Pederson or Taylor let their foot off the gas almost entirely, especially after running back Travis Etienne Jr. fumbled in the red zone.

The offense reversed back to what led to its demise late in the 2023 season. There were very few concepts that allowed Lawrence to attack the middle of the field and several play-action rollouts that only allowed for the short area of the gridiron to be attacked.

Thomas received no targets in the second half, a head-scratching reality considering his earlier production paired with Jacksonville’s late offensive stalls. The Jaguars offensive line largely held its own throughout the game, allowing Lawrence to navigate the pocket and reset his base when needed.

The lack of aggression from the offense was staggering and it allowed Miami to take the field for just enough plays, including the 80-yard touchdown by Hill, to stage a successful comeback.

There was also too much faith placed in the Jaguars’ rushing offense and defensive performance to secure the victory. This kind of approach has far too often put coaches at a disadvantage against explosive teams such as the Dolphins or Kansas City Chiefs.

Jacksonville will host the Cleveland Browns in the Jaguars‘ home opener this weekend. They have the offense and personnel to be an aggressive, explosive offense. If the Jaguars learn to keep mashing the gas pedal when up 10 or more points, this could be a potent team throughout the season.

X-Factor: Can the Jaguars’ secondary slow down the Dolphins?

X-Factor: Can the Jaguars’ secondary handle the potent Miami offense?

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.”

Three key matchups for Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Miami Dolphins

The Jacksonville Jaguars kick off their regular season with a road trip to South Florida to take on the Miami Dolphins in a significant early-season game on Sunday.

Both teams enter the 2024 campaign with eyes toward the postseason. Jacksonville is looking to return to the playoffs after squandering a healthy record late in the season while Miami is eyeing a third consecutive trip.

Week 1 does not always offer a clear snapshot of a team’s strengths and weaknesses. However, it will allow the Jaguars to assess theirs against an opponent some consider possible Super Bowl contenders.

Identifying the key battles this weekend is important. With that in mind, here are three matchups the Jaguars must win to pull off a victory in Miami Gardens.

Jacksonville’s defense vs. Miami’s offense

These two units are the strengths of their respective teams and should provide an enticing head-to-head matchup.

The Dolphins have one of the most explosive offenses in the league due to the brilliance of head coach and offensive play-caller Mike McDaniels. He takes after his former coach in San Francisco, Kyle Shanahan, with exotic formations, route concepts, shifts and motions that generate chaos and confusion with opposing defenses.

One thing that should comfort Jaguars fans is that Jacksonville has a defense that is more than capable of slowing down the speedy talents of Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle.

Defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen is one of the few in his position that gets his players to elevate their play while remaining disciplined, as seen in the tremendous growth of Atlanta’s defense under his leadership last year.

While the Jaguars have some depth questions at cornerback, Nielsen has a defensive line capable of generating pressure off four-man rushes alone.

No matter how it’s put, Miami’s offense remains a tough one to tame. The biggest question around this unit is whether it can become more physical up front despite losing guard Robert Hunt in free agency offseason.

Bringing a physical element versus the run and remaining even-keeled against a terrific wide receiver duo will be a significant key in Jacksonville’s hopes of winning this game.

Protecting Trevor Lawrence from the Dolphins’ pass rush

When a team has a franchise quarterback as Jacksonville and Miami do, protecting its star is of utmost importance. Having a capable offensive line is a necessary step in that direction.

The Jaguars’ offensive line looks to be a much more steady group after last season’s debacle. The team signed former Buffalo center Mitch Morse in the offseason, shoring up the middle of their line and giving Trevor Lawrence an added layer of protection.

This offensive line will take on a group that lost two key defensive linemen this offseason, Christian Wilkins and Andrew Van Ginkel. It’s unclear if star pass rusher Jaelan Phillips will be playing at full speed coming off a torn Achilles last season.

Yet, Miami’s defensive front and pass rush still feature a fair amount of talent for Jacksonville to contend with.

The Dolphins will likely deploy first-round selection Chop Robinson in sub-packages as a third-down pass rusher, using his speed and explosiveness to get by the likes of tackles Cam Robinson and Anton Harrison.

Defensive tackle Zach Sieler, meanwhile, could prove to be a handful for guards Ezra Cleveland and Brandon Scherff.

If the Jaguars can limit the Dolphins’ pressures while adding some creativity to their offensive scheme, their chances of victory will increase.

Trevor Lawrence vs. Tua Tagovailoa

While it’s impossible for quarterbacks to have a legitimate one-on-one matchup, the dual between these two signal callers will be quite intriguing for fans of both teams and those of the wider NFL.

Lawrence and Tagovailoa were on the receiving end of historic contract extensions this offseason, with the former receiving a five-year, $275 million extension and the latter four years, $212.4 million.

Now, the two quarterbacks will go toe-to-toe to showcase why they deserved their top-dollar contracts.

The biggest question with Lawrence entering the season is if he can remain consistent and play to the level that got Jacksonville off to an 8-3 start in 2023.

The former No. 1 overall selection is looking to prove he is still one of the better signal-callers in the game. The former Clemson standout had issues last season with protecting the ball and some have questioned whether he still be an elite quarterback in the NFL.

This will be a good first test for Lawrence against a defense coached by new defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver. There’s no question he’s a better talent than Tagovailoa, but both have their own approaches to how they play.

Tagovailoa understands how to operate the offense he plays while being a high-level processor to distribute the ball to his playmakers. Lawrence has the same capability but with a gunslinger mentality, inviting risks. Who makes the biggest throw in the biggest moment will be key on Sunday.

The Dolphins will likely be another strong defensive unit that will likely give any quarterback fits, especially with safety Jevon Holland and, if he is available, cornerback Jalen Ramsey in the secondary.

A win and a strong outing by Lawrence & Co. at Hard Rock Stadium will give Jacksonville a bolt of confidence heading into their home opener against the Cleveland Browns.

Three takeaways following Jaguars roster cuts

The Jacksonville Jaguars completed their initial roster cutdowns a few hours before the NFL’s 4 p.m. deadline on Tuesday.

While the bottom of the group is expected to change over the next 24 hours, the moves to get the team from 90 to 53 players have given people a better idea of what the 2024 roster could become.

Below are three initial takeaways from the Jaguars’ roster cuts.

Edge rush depth is lacking

Jul 24, 2024; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Arik Armstead (91) participates in training camp at Miller Electric Center. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports

The Jaguars made a surprise move Monday by trading offseason acquisition Trevis Gipson to Seattle, leaving the pass rush rotation in an underwhelming state of affairs.

Following the releases of D.J. Coleman and Joe Graziano, the team now has just three true edge rushers: Josh Hines-Allen, Travon Walker and Myles Cole.

Free-agent signee Arik Armstead is listed as one of four defensive ends on the roster. He will likely see playing time as both a 3-technique and 5-technique to allow defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen to rotate what is expected to be a fairly deep defensive tackle group.

This also helps Walker and Hines-Allen by reducing their respective payloads. Yet, having Cole as the team’s lone depth rusher presents concerns.

It is possible that general manager Trent Baalke is not done with how he addresses the bottom of the Jaguars’ roster, especially the lack of depth at edge rusher. Look for him to scour the waiver wire or free agency to address the room, even if it is just one player.

Wide receiver could be a strength after all

Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. (7) reacts to his reception during the first quarter of a preseason NFL football game Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024 at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]

With training camp in the rearview mirror and roster cuts completed, the Jaguars may have a steady group of wide receivers after all.

The team kept six wideouts, including Tim Jones and Devin Duvernay, who will occupy significant roles on special teams as a core-four player and return specialist, respectively.

They also provide depth to a room that might pose a question mark or two heading into Week 1 versus Miami, Duvernay specifically, who has 94 career receptions.

Christian Kirk, Gabe Davis and rookie Brian Thomas Jr. are expected to be the three starting wideouts of the group. Davis has had an impressive summer while Thomas continued to stress defenses on vertical planes as he did in college, especially on slot fades, where he dominated with LSU.

Offensive coordinator Press Taylor will look to find ways to generate explosive plays with this trio, paired with tight end Evan Engram. This flashed with some of the Jaguars starters on the field Friday night in Atlanta and could be a sign that Thomas could have a fairly productive rookie campaign, in particular.

Yes, the Jaguars would benefit greatly from having a superstar playmaker for franchise quarterback Trevor Lawrence. But at this juncture, it looks like the team is confident in the playmakers on the roster.

Ryan Nielsen’s defense could be fun to watch in 2024

Aug. 4, 2024: Jaguars defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen during Day 10 of Jacksonville’s 2024 training camp. [Credit: Zach Goodall – Jaguars Wire/USA TODAY SMG]

Despite concerns about the team’s edge rush depth, the Jaguars’ defense could make for an exciting group if everything comes together.

Nielsen, who joined Jacksonville from Atlanta in February, is expected to implement an aggressive man coverage base 4-3 system.

This should allow cornerbacks Tyson Campbell and Ronald Darby to play to their strengths while helping the rest of the defense become more opportunistic with takeaways.

During his lone season with the Falcons, Nielsen’s defense forced 18 fumbles, the second-most in the league.

The Jaguars have a group of players on all three levels that can create disruption and takeaways. Campbell, linebacker Devin Lloyd and ball-hawking safety Andre Cisco should come to mind when it comes to this area of expertise.

Nielsen also has a defensive line capable of generating pressure consistently and could force opposing QBs into bad decisions.

This may not be the elite defense that carried the Jaguars to the AFC Championship in 2016 but it is a unit that could be formidable in a division featuring bright and promising signal-callers.

There may be some lingering questions with the depth at edge rusher and a young cornerback room behind Campbell and Darby. Even so, the Jaguars could be competing for the AFC South crown once again should Nielsen’s defense meet expectations.

ESPN coaching staff rankings: Jaguars in NFL’s bottom-half

The Jaguars’ coaching staff has something to prove this season, at least in the eyes of ESPN’s Benjamin Solak.

Ranking every NFL coaching staff ahead of the 2024 campaign — “It’s about optimization on any given Sunday, while keeping a long view on development,” and not necessarily wins and losses, he wrote — Solak placed head coach Doug Pederson and his Jacksonville staff at No. 18 on Thursday.

He largely cited the Jaguars’ offensive regression last season compared to the year before, given Pederson’s reputation as a respected play-caller from his Super Bowl-winning days as Philadelphia’s head coach, as his reasoning.

Pederson awarded those duties to Press Taylor, who coached alongside him with the Eagles, last season.

Pederson is one of only three head coaches on this list to have won a Super Bowl in the past 10 years. The other two (Andy Reid, Sean McVay) have staffs that are in my top five. Yet here are the Jaguars, all the way down at No. 18.

Pederson hasn’t done in Jacksonville much of what made him successful during his early years in Philadelphia (2016-20). He was on the crest of the run-pass option wave then, which made offense simpler for his quarterbacks, but now the Jaguars ask Trevor Lawrence to run a fairly traditional West Coast offense without many of the bells and whistles other quarterbacks get to enjoy. They still run RPOs and use play-action and send players in motion, but nothing is weaponized the way elite offenses do it in today’s NFL.

Taylor, who has long been connected to Pederson, has been the subject of offensive frustration. He took over playcalling in 2023 and it looks like he’ll keep it in 2024 even though the offense declined in success rate, points per drive and expected points added per play once he manned the headset. Of note was a huge decline on late downs, where Pederson’s offenses have typically been excellent: In 2022, the Jaguars ranked ninth in third-down conversion rate and 15th in fourth-down conversion rate. In 2023, they were 17th and 26th, respectively.

Jacksonville’s decline in advanced offensive statistics was reflected in the box score, as well.

The Jaguars’ offense fell to a slightly above-average No. 13 in the NFL in yards (339.5) and points (22.2) per game in 2023 after finishing No. 10 in those departments under Pederson the year before (357.4 and 23.8, respectively).

Jacksonville’s rushing production dropped by 27.7 yards per game and from No. 14 in the league to No. 24. The Jaguars’ total yards per play decreased by half a yard (down from No. 8 to No. 15), and its turnover count increased by eight (up to fifth-most from 14th-fewest).

The Jaguars nearly matched their points per game from the 2022 season over last year’s first six games, before quarterback Trevor Lawrence suffered the first of three injuries he played through and four he experienced on the campaign (knee, ankle, concussion and shoulder).

Jacksonville averaged 20 points per game after leading receiver Christian Kirk suffered a season-ending core muscle injury in Week 13, too.

So long as Taylor maintains the play-calling role, the Jaguars are banking on Lawrence and Kirk’s returns to full health and a few tweaks to their personnel to get their offense back on track.

Additions include free-agent signees, center Mitch Morse and wide receiver Gabe Davis, and first-round draft pick, receiver Brian Thomas Jr. Davis and Thomas replace Calvin Ridley, who signed with Tennessee in free agency, and Zay Jones, who was released; Morse takes over for Luke Fortner as Jacksonville’s starting snapper.

Solak shared his belief that Jacksonville’s offense can rebound so long as Pederson is heavily involved in the unit’s strategizing.

Praising Jacksonville’s offseason defensive coordinator swap, when Pederson replaced Mike Caldwell with Ryan Nielsen in February, Solak suggested the head coach can lean into the strengths he displayed with Philadelphia this season.

I still think Pederson is a good manager of players and has a sound offensive system, but he needs to be more hands-on in reviving this offense — and he can be. Nielsen, his new defensive coordinator, was one of the pleasant surprises in last year’s coaching carousel. As a first-year DC for the Falcons, he got substantial overachievement out of a thin roster. I expect big things in Jacksonville, where he has a bit more talent to work with.

Bleacher Report’s new Marshon Lattimore trade isn’t much better than its last

Bleacher Report’s new Marshon Lattimore trade offer isn’t much better than its last. The four-time Pro Bowl cornerback is worth more than a mid-round draft pick:

We’ve discussed before how a Marshon Lattimore trade isn’t likely, but also how that isn’t going to stop speculation about the former four-time Pro Bowler getting moved any time soon. NFL trade rumormongering is in full swing now that training camps have kicked off for all 32 teams. And this newest trade offer proposed by Bleacher Report isn’t much more compelling than their last offer.

B/R’s Alex Ballentine suggested the Jacksonville Jaguars make a play for Lattimore’s services, which isn’t a bad idea. The Jaguars defensive coaching staff knows him very well. Former Saints defensive line coach Ryan Nielsen is their new coordinator and he has several of his old coworkers coaching the secondary, including Kris Richard and Cory Robinson, who both worked with Lattimore directly.

Here’s why Ballentine argues a deal between New Orleans and Jacksonville would make sense, swapping Lattimore for the Jaguars’ third-round pick in 2025 (coming to them from the Minnesota Vikings):

The Saints restructured Lattimore’s contract in a way that makes it much easier to trade him before the season starts. With Paulson Adebo due for a contract extension in 2025, the Saints might be willing to part with the older, more expensive Lattimore.

L’Jarius Sneed was traded for a third-rounder and a seventh-round pick swap. That could put Lattimore’s value as a third-rounder straight up. The Jags would be on the hook for most of his 2024 cap hit and the remainder of his five-year, $97.6 million contract.

That might be the cost of keeping up with the Joneses in an extremely competitive AFC right now.

Look, we get what Ballentine is doing here. Using recent deals to project future trades — essentially going with what the market value appears to be — is fine. But just because teams are undervaluing the position doesn’t mean we (or the Saints) have to play ball. If the best offer the Saints could get for Lattimore is a third-round pick in next year’s draft, they simply shouldn’t trade him.

Even if he’s currently missing time with another injury after being sidelined for 17 games over the last two years. Lattimore is a rare talent and arguably the best player on the team when healthy. And he’s proven time and again that he’s worth waiting for when he’s injured. If a split is inevitable, wait it out until a better offer appears. He’s shown a willingness to suit up and go to work that other players haven’t when they want out.

He’s worth more to the Saints than, what, maybe the No. 87 overall pick in next year’s draft (based off this year’s draft order)? Unless a team is willing to make a really strong offer and put at least a second rounder on the table, Lattimore should spend the 2024 season in black and gold.

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Jaguars’ Ventrell Miller eyes year two debut: ‘Itching to make a play’

September 8 has been circled on linebacker Ventrell Miller’s calendar for some time. A fourth-round NFL draft selection by Jacksonville over a year ago, Miller has long eyed his regular season debut in black and teal.

He was about two weeks from it last August when he suffered an Achilles injury in the Jaguars’ final preseason game before the 2023 campaign. It ended his rookie season before it officially began.

“Man, it was definitely tough,” Miller described his hurt to Jaguars Wire. “But I done been through it before.”

Indeed, Miller entered the pros with an injury to the same foot, a Jones fracture, which he played through during his final season at Florida and addressed via surgery during his draft process.

Miller was determined to miss as little playing time as possible in his final campaign with the Gators, as a bicep tear limited him to two appearances the year before. He started all but one regular season game and produced 74 tackles with 8.5 for loss in 2022, before entering the draft.

“It definitely was a grind. But I’m passionate about the game,” Miller said. “I wanted to go out my last season playing, that was my goal.”

Now fully healthy, Miller is motivated to remind people of the kind of player he was in orange and blue; to prove his impact on a defense can translate to the NFL, beginning in Jacksonville’s Week 1 matchup at Miami.

“I’m so excited for this,” Miller expressed.

“The work I’ve put in this whole offseason, it’s just flowing in. I came back bigger, faster, stronger, excited for the year, ready to make a play. It’s been a year since I played football, so I’m itching to make a play.”

He came back to a new scheme, too.

The Jaguars replaced Miller’s first NFL defensive coordinator, Mike Caldwell, with Ryan Nielsen earlier this offseason, while the linebacker continued his recovery process. Without ever logging a regular season snap in his first pro scheme, Miller is already onto another.

Coaching transitions aren’t a new concept for Miller, though. He was led by three different head coaches at UF — Jim McElwain, Dan Mullen and Billy Napier — and including interims, he was overseen by five defensive coordinators.

“I’ve had my share of coaching changes,” said Miller.

Miller believes this one will benefit him.

He continues to learn the specific terminology of Nielsen’s defensive scheme, but given his experience with coaching turnover, he has quickly adapted to its general philosophies and is convinced they will highlight his strengths as a linebacker.

“I’d just say getting into the football, blitzing and stuff like that. I feel like I’m just [able to play] sideline to sideline,” Miller stated. “So really, [I can play] wherever they need me. Special teams, as you know. But wherever they need me to fill in at.”

Although Miller’s practice reps over the past year have been limited, Foyesade Oluokun and Devin Lloyd’s guiding presence in Jacksonville’s linebacker room have helped him keep up through his injury and the Jaguars’ coordinator change.

The veterans, who combined for 300 total tackles last season, have set a strong example for Miller to follow and have been there to answer any questions that come to his mind.

“They’re pros, I know what they expect. I always observe those guys throughout practices and stuff like that, just being vocal with them and asking questions,” Miller shared. “Them guys are always open to answer any questions. Definitely been a good group of guys to have in the room to learn from.”

They’re keeping Miller inspired while he prepares for his pro premiere, as well.

“Foye spoke to me, like, ‘Just go hard,’ ” Miller recalled. “The guys see what I can do. So, [I have] got to keep the same mentality every rep.”

‘One-on-one game’: Jaguars’ Ryan Nielsen on Josh Allen, matchups

Of Josh Allen’s 869 snaps along the Jaguars’ defensive front in 2023, 797 (91.7%, per Pro Football Focus) were logged on the right side of the line, against the left side of the opposing offensive line.

While Allen reached a single-season career-high 17.5 sacks last season and, as a result, received the biggest contract extension in Jaguars’ history in April, his positional snap-split should be expected to change moving forward.

New Jaguars defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen said as much Monday, discussing the versatility his scheme will demand of players with reporters before Jacksonville’s first offseason team activity (OTA).

“We don’t want [Allen] just to be on the right side and they know he’s right here all the time and they can chip or put a tight end to his side and take what he does away,” Nielsen explained when asked about Allen’s deployment.

“Then we’ve got to beat two guys to get to the quarterback. So if we move him, it makes him a little bit harder for an offense to find out and identify where he’s at every snap.”

Nielsen’s comment about Allen represents his big-picture approach to coordinating Jacksonville’s defense.

The 45-year-old, first-year Jaguars play-caller spoke about the importance of avoiding placing players in “pigeonholes,” instead allowing them to test multiple positions within his defensive scheme throughout the offseason, specifically during OTAs.

The thought process applies across the board, whether that’s edge rushers flipping sides or sliding into the interior defensive line; off-ball linebackers rotating between the middle, weak-side and strong-side spots; or defensive backs aligning at nickel corner in addition to cornerback or safety duties.

“We’re going to put them at these different positions in OTAs because it’s a great opportunity to see what guys can do,” Nielsen said. “Then as we see their job and if they can do certain jobs [and] then we’ll start to fine-tune a package more for their skill set.”

This isn’t a new practice for the rising second-season NFL defensive coordinator. Nielsen followed the same philosophy throughout his pro-play-calling debut campaign with Atlanta in 2023.

Of the Falcons’ 11 most-frequently deployed defenders under Nielsen last year, four spent at least 25% of their defensive snaps away from what could be considered their primary position, per PFF: Defensive tackle David Onyemata, inside linebacker Kaden Elliss, and safeties Jessie Bates III and Richie Grant.

Accounting for field-side (snaps at left vs. right inside linebacker, for example), all 11 defenders would qualify.

The Jaguars retooled their defense this offseason in addition to their change at coordinator.

The club allowed several starters and key contributors to leave via free agency or release before adding veterans in defensive lineman Arik Armstead, Ronald Darby and Darnell Savage to the unit in March.

Draft prospects, defensive linemen Maason Smith and Jordan Jefferson, cornerbacks Jarrian Jones and Deantre Prince, and EDGE Myles Cole, followed in April.

Paired with Allen, former first overall EDGE Travon Walker, linebacker and two-time NFL leading tackler Foyesade Oluokun, and vested starting defensive backs Tyson Campbell and Andre Cisco, among others, these players will occupy various roles in the months to come as Nielsen determines optimal personnel packages for the Jaguars’ defense.

“It’s a matchup game, right?” Nielsen pondered. “We want to have the best matchups for our guys to have success. So, we’ll manipulate the front, covers, and things that we’re doing to put our guys in the best matchups for them and then ultimately play our best defense and win games.

“Football, a lot of it is a one-on-one game.”

The Athletic envisions big jump from Jaguars defense under Nielsen

The Athletic calls Jacksonville’s hiring of defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen its best offseason move: “This could become a top-five unit.”

Could Jacksonville’s hiring of Ryan Nielsen to coordinate the Jaguars’ defense propel the unit toward potentially elite heights? Mike Sando of The Athletic isn’t ruling out the possibility.

Breaking down his favorite offseason move by every NFL team this year, Sando highlighted Nielsen’s appointment as Jacksonville’s best.

Of the 32 transactions analyzed, seven included coaches, although Seattle’s was split between new head coach Mike Macdonald’s impact on the Seahawks defense and the club’s trade for quarterback Sam Howell. Nielsen’s hiring by Jacksonville and Mike Zimmer’s hiring by Dallas were the only defensive coordinator highlights.

Ryan Nielsen’s addition as defensive coordinator stands out. Nielsen made his coordinating debut with the Falcons last season. His defense ranked 10th in EPA [expected points added] per play, the Falcons’ highest ranking since at least 2000, per TruMedia. That was up from 29th in 2022. There’s less room for improvement in Jacksonville, where the Jaguars ranked 11th last season, but Nielsen is inheriting more talent than he had in Atlanta. This could become a top-five unit.

The Jaguars brought Nielsen in after firing former Jacksonville defensive coordinator, Mike Caldwell, and several other defensive staff members in early January.

Jacksonville ranked No. 22 in total defense (342.8 yards allowed per game) in 2023, slightly improved from its No. 24 (353.3) finish in 2022 but still in the bottom half of the NFL.

The Jaguars’ 21.8 points per game allowed in 2023 ranked league average, standing at No. 16. But the unit allowed opponents to eclipse that mark in five of the last six weeks of the campaign, including three 30+ point showings. Jacksonville went 1-5 in that stretch and fumbled its postseason positioning.

While Jacksonville might have fielded a respectable defense relative to EPA in 2023, as Sando noted, the Jaguars were aggressive in reconstructing the unit this offseason beyond acquiring Nielsen, lending credence to Sando’s projection.

The Jaguars signed three projected starting defenders during free agency: Former San Francisco defensive lineman Arik Armstead, former Baltimore cornerback Ronald Darby and former Green Bay safety Darnell Savage.

They also added several experienced depth pieces in former Tennessee safety Terrell Edmunds, former Atlanta cornerback Tre Flowers and former Tennessee edge rusher Trevis Gipson.

Five of Jacksonville’s nine 2024 NFL draft selections were defenders, including two defensive tackles, Maason Smith and Jordan Jefferson; two cornerbacks, Jarrian Jones and Deantre Prince; and edge rusher Myles Cole.

Perhaps most importantly, the team locked franchise edge rusher, Josh Allen, in on the biggest contract in franchise history between free agency and the draft. He signed a five-year, $141.5 million extension with the Jaguars in April after accumulating 17.5 sacks with Jacksonville in 2023.