3 Jacksonville Jaguars Defenders Ready to Step Up
By Terry Lane
The Jaguars will have three starters out on defense, and could be down a fourth defender, against a Miami Dolphins offense that looked impressive in it’s 24-17 road win at Chicago last Sunday.
In addition to injured linebacker Paul Posluszny and defensive end Andre Branch, veteran cornerback Alan Ball will also miss the game with an injury. His backup, Dwayne Gratz, is also questionable for Sunday’s game. That will put pressure on defense that’s coming off its best game of the season.
Here are three defensive players who can help the Jaguars win the game with big performances on Sunday:
Sen’Derrick Marks
Dolphin quarterback Ryan Tannehill is good on the run, but there are questions about how well he performs in the pocket. He sometimes holds the ball too long and take unnecessary sacks, as he did twice in Miami’s win at Chicago last weekend. That will put the onus on the defensive line to put pressure on the quarterback, especially Sen’Derrick Marks, who has 18 tackles and two sacks on the year. Marks was a Pro Football Focus all-star for week 7.
After last week’s victory, Marks said winning for the Jaguars had to be “above the neck.” He’ll need to play smart against a mobile quarterback in Tannehill, but if Marks can help the defensive line keep him contained, the Jaguars can force him into making mistakes.
Will Blackmon
Sep 29, 2013; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback Will Blackmon (24) is congratulated by safety Chris Prosinski (behind him), cornerback Alan Ball (23) and safety Johnathan Cyprien (37) after making an interception in the first quarter of their game against the Indianapolis Colts at EverBank Field. The Indianapolis Colts beat the Jacksonville Jaguars 37-3. Mandatory Credit: Phil Sears-USA TODAY Sports
The Dolphins like to run the read option offense, where a nickel cornerback’s role can be crucial, especially on passing downs. Nickel cornerback Will Blackmon has shown he can make a big impact in games, like he did last season strip-sacking the quarterback and scoring at Tennessee, sealing the game for the first Jaguars win. Blackmon, who has 27 tackles and a sack this year, will be called on to keep slot receiver Brian Hartline in line while not losing sight of Tannehill.
Jeremy Harris
If Gratz isn’t able to go on Sunday, second-year player Jeremy Harris will get the start at right corner. It will be his first NFL start, with Demetrius McCray manning the left corner. These two will be responsible for stopping a receiving corp that is on the rise. Mike Wallace, the former All Pro, has five touchdown catches this year and has been an integral part of the Dolphin offense. And second receiver Jarvis Landry is also putting up a good season, with 22 catches for 232 yards. If Harris makes the start, look for Tannehill to pick on him, giving him a make-or-break moment for the second year player. If Harris embraces the opportunity and makes big plays, it could be crucial for a depleted defense.