There have been no shortage of disappointments in our 1-3 start. However out of the ashes of that start, there is one thing that has Jaguars fans excited: the emergence of Fowler and Ngakoue as viable pass rushers. After 4 games, they have combined for 5 sacks two forced fumbles, and two other INTs. But are we getting too excited too soon for these guys?


Some additional context might be helpful.


Compared to their highly drafted predecessors, at this admittedly early stage, Fowler and Ngakoue are looking more like Brackens than they are Derrick Harvey.


After his 3 year career ended, Derrick Harvey notched a total of eight (8) sacks and zero forced fumbles, with a single season high of 3.5 sacks. After four games, Fowler has two sacks and forced two INTs. Ngakoue has 3 sacks and 3 forced fumbles.


Groves registered 2.5 sacks and 1 forced fumble his entire rookie year.


Lest you think I am simply picking on the disastrous 2008 draft class. Andre Branch suffers by comparison as well. Branch has been a little more productive than Harvey and Groves. Still active, Branch has 15 career sacks and 6 forced fumbles, including the memorable game changing FF, FR, and TD in the fiddy burger we put on Indy last year. But he only registered 1 sack, PD, FF & FR his rookie year, numbers already surpassed by Fowler and Ngakoue.


Yeah, they out paced the busts thus far, but how do they compare to the gold standard of Jaguars pass rushers, Tony Brackens? Despite starting only one game in 1996, Brackens produced a lot of game changing plays, registering seven (7) sacks, five (5) forced fumbles, three (3) FR, and an IN.  T Both Fowler and Ngakoue are on pace to meet or exceed Brackens' rookie year performance.


Now I urge caution. There is still a lot of football left to play. Opposing Tackles now have tape on these guys and down the road will have a better understanding of how to block them. Not only will Fowler and Ngakoue have to stay healthy and overcome the proverbial rookie wall, but they will have to learn how to study film and develop a greater array of moves and rushes to beat those tackles more consistently. As opposing offenses devise blocking schemes to neutralize their effectiveness, Wash will need to stay a step ahead.


Furthermore even if both Fowler and Ngakoue have sustained success over the course of their rookie seasons, it doesn't mean one or both will be longer-term answers to pass rushing DE. Bobby McCray had a ten sack season for us in 2006, then promptly fell off the face of the earth.


But I can't lie. It's exciting to see two pass rushing catalysts so far. I hope they can keep it up and improve in the games and seasons to come. Our ascent to our rightful place of dominance depends on it.


All stats courtesy of profootballreference.com

 

Edited for clarification.

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