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Dante Fowler Jr. and Myles Jack key to Jacksonville Jaguars improved defense

By Daniel Lago

Jan 3, 2015; Birmingham, AL, USA; Florida Gators defensive lineman Dante Fowler (6) looks to the crowd at the close of the game agains the East Carolina Pirates in the 2015 Birmingham Bowl at Legion Field. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 3, 2015; Birmingham, AL, USA; Florida Gators defensive lineman Dante Fowler (6) looks to the crowd at the close of the game agains the East Carolina Pirates in the 2015 Birmingham Bowl at Legion Field. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports /
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While the Jacksonville Jaguars will have plenty of new faces on the roster in 2016, the most important player might be someone who was around but didn’t play a down in 2015.

When the Jaguars were on the clock in the 2015 NFL Draft, they had their choice of the best non-quarterback prospect with the third overall pick. After the pre-draft process had run it’s course, general manager David Caldwell decided the best prospect was Florida defensive end Dante Fowler Jr., so he made him the team’s first round pick.

Then the unthinkable happened – Fowler fell to the ground not even an hour into the Jaguars’ first rookie minicamp practice. It was later confirmed he tore an ACL and would miss the entirety of the 2015 regular season.

While his absence was discouraging for the 2015 season, Fowler’s return in 2016 gives the Jaguars an influx of young talent on the defensive side of the ball. Along with Fowler, 2nd round pick Myles Jack is another young prospect expected to make an immediate impact as he returns from a serious knee injury.

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Elliot Harrison over at NFL.com thinks the health of Fowler and Jack

is going to play a big role in the outcome of the AFC South.

"Jacksonville Jaguars: Will Dante Fowler Jr. and Myles Jack be healthy and ready to go?If they are, the Jags’ defense could go from breaking to bending. Gus Bradley’s unit finished 31st in points allowed last year, ahead of only the Saints. Simply moving up the ladder from 31st to, say, 17th would make a huge difference with an offense that can score in bunches and a division where 9-7 is the high-water mark. The front seven has killed plenty of grass chasing guys around over the last few years — with little to show for their efforts. But with Fowler a year removed from a ridiculously unlucky knee injury and Jack being “a medical” — plummeting in the draft like R. Jay Soward jersey sales in the new millennium — we don’t know if these guys can contribute 16 starts. On the other hand, if Fowler racks up pressures and hurries, and Jack’s knee holds up enough to post 90 tackles, the AFC South crown might reside in Jacksonville."

Harrison has a good point – among all the key additions made on defense, contributions from Fowler and Jack might be the most vital. Fowler is the only legitimate high-end option as an edge rusher on the defense, with the rest of the guys being mostly unproven, late-round rookies. He doesn’t have to produce double-digit sacks, but Fowler needs to be around the quarterback often.

Myles Jack is important for another reason – the Jaguars absolutely need more speed on defense. The Jaguars were one of the slower teams in the NFL last year particularly at linebacker. Pairing Jack with Telvin Smith gives the Jaguars a startlingly athletic linebacker corp.

For the Jaguars’ sake, hopefully Jack and Fowler stay healthy.

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