Jacksonville Jaguars: Can Calais Campbell lead Jags’ young talent?
By Luke Sims
Calais Campbell instantly helps turn the Jacksonville Jaguars defensive into a more impressive unit, but can he lead the young talent to the next level?
Despite finishing the 2016 season with a team defense that ranked sixth in yards allowed, the Jacksonville Jaguars didn’t sit on their heels through free agency. Key additions like cornerback A.J. Bouye and strong safety Barry Church go a long way to helping the Jags defense become true contenders.
Signing Bouye, in particular, was big for the Jags. The young cornerback will be paired with 2016 stud rookie cornerback Jalen Ramsey to make one of the best young duos at the position in the NFL.
Factoring in other young players like linebackers Myles Jack and Telvin Smith as well as edge rushers Yannick Ngakoue and Dante Fowler Jr. and the Jags have a talented young team poised to not only stop teams in yards but also limit points (25th in the NFL in 2016). That young talent was a key factor in bringing in a veteran defensive line menace like Calais Campbell.
Campbell told MMQB that the young talent was a reason he came to the Jaguars, saying, “I looked at the roster and said, Oh, wow, this is a team that could really use a guy like me; an older vet who’s been to the playoffs, been to the Super Bowl.” That experience is critical for the Jaguars.
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Over the last four seasons under former head coach Gus Bradley, the Jags were complacent with “rookie mistakes” made by young players. Unfortunately, those young players never had a top-flight veteran to help guide them to growth. Now, the Jags have Campbell.
Campbell and defensive tackle Malik Jackson both figure to lead the Jags to higher heights in 2017 and beyond. Jackson helped turn the Jags defense into its better half of football last season. Now Campbell can help take it over the top.
It won’t be easy. The Jags aren’t nearly as established as the Denver Broncos were when Jackson was there and they aren’t even as good as the Arizona Cardinals were with Campbell. But Campbell has been in that leadership role before and with a support like Jackson to help make it happen, he should be able to help turn the Jags into winners on the defensive side.