Quote:This, it's actually quite simple, any "zone based scheme" (cover 2, Tampa 2, cover 3) is going to get picked apart by the most average of QB's if you can't get home with 4, you don't necessarily have to "rack up sacks" but it's important to at least effect the QB, make him uncomfortable and force the ball to come out quick. The Jaguars don't have the personnel on the defensive line to run Gus's "scheme" effectively, it renders it useless if you can't effect the QB with 4 down linemen. Gus is simply too stubborn and lacks the requisite creativity to do anything different, the Jaguars (because of it's lack of pass rushers) are better off playing a defensive scheme similar to Arizona, James Bettcher (Cardinals d-coordinator) recognized his defenses inefficiencies last year in the pass rush department, so he decided to adjust. First by bringing more SPEED to the field by (unorthodoxically) moving their young SS (Deon Buccannon) into a hybrid Mike-linebacker role, he then decided to play man PRESS coverage across the board while blitzing on obvious passing situations.

 

This move has played huge dividends as its successfully masked their pass rush ineffectiveness, the Jaguars defense is actually built similar to the Cardinals in terms of personnel. Both teams are usually stout against the run (this creates more 3rd and longs), both have good secondaries, and both teams have the required defensive speed (although the Jaguars for some reason refuse to utilize one of its best defensive weapons by keeping Myles Jack on the bench) to disrupt the timing of opposing offenses. When the Jaguars failed to add a veteran edge rusher this off-season, Gus should've immediately adjusted his scheme to fit it's personnel, they're essentially relying on 2 rookies to bring pressure off the edge, history tells us that this strategy is all for naught as rookie edge rushers RARELY generate consistent pressure.

 

This won't happen, but I'd like to see Jonathan Cyrpien moved into a hybrid Mike-linebacker role similar to Deon Buccanon, our starting linebackers should be Telvin, Cyrpien, and Jack (that's a fast core). On obvious passing situations we should play man press coverage across the board while blitzing, forcing the QB to get rid of the ball QUICK.  Davon House, Prince, Jalen, (and when he eventually returns) Aaron Colvin is an impressive and deep group of corners, all of those guys have the ability to hold up in coverage for 2-3 seconds. We need to get exotic in our blitz packages which should free up Yannick, Dante, and Malik, or at a minimum give them one on one pass rush opportunities. The Jaguars have 3 Swiss army knives on its defense in Jalen Ramsey, Myles Jack, and Dante Fowler, I'm willing bet most D-coordinators would salivate at the opportunity to maximize the skill-set of all these players, it's a shame we have a guy in Gus Bradley that doesn't possess the creativity to utilize these players all at once. This defensive scheme that I'm suggesting isn't perfect, but (imo) its better solution than what we have right now, this defense needs more speed and needs to be more aggressive in its "attempts" to effect opposing QB's.