Ryan Davis – One Hungry Man

In case you haven’t noticed, the man who sealed the two wins over Houston for us was Ryan Davis #59.  In the first win, playing Right Defensive End, he dropped into coverage and made some freaky interception to close out the game. In the second win, he busted through the line from his defensive end position to sack Matt Schuab. Houston had no timeouts left and his sack kept the clock moving until time expired.

That Thursday night game is the last time I am going to ask who is #59. Ryan Davis has been putting up some interesting numbers. Here is how Pro Football Focus sees his performance:

• This season he has been in 63 plays
• PFF credits him with 2 sacks, 3 QB hits, and 4 QB hurries.

The official box score credits him with 1 sack, 2 tackles for losses, 3 QB hits, 1 pass defended, and 1 interception. I am not going to quibble over whether he has one or two sacks, he has done well.

I like Jason Babin a lot, but let’s compare Ryan Davis to Jason Babin according to PFF:

• This season,  Jason Babin has been in 631 plays
• PFF credits him with 6 QB sacks, 14 QB hits and 26 QB hurries.

Let’s compare Ryan Davis to Jeremy Mincey’s numbers according to PFF:

• This season, Jeremy Mincey has been in 243 plays
• PFF credits him with 2 QB sacks, 1 QB hit and 16 QB hurries.

Ryan got his chance when coach Bradley left Mincey home on the Houston trip. Ryan took Jeremy Mincey’s rotation spot and promptly won the game. He got another chance in Cleveland when Mincey was inactive. He took the opportunity to work his way into the rotation and sealed the victory again.

Ryan Davis was a free agent signed to the 2012 and 2013 practice squad. He is 26 years old making $400,000. He is an exclusive rights free agent meaning the Jaguars don’t have any competition in signing him and they only have to offer league minimum.

Let’s watch Ryan Davis in the last three games, he might be a real Gus Bradley success story in the making. His play count should rise and Jeremy Mincey may have foolhardily opened a door for someone to take his job.

Terry O’Brien