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The Jaguars Must Fix the Run Defense in 2020

By David Levin

JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 27: Calais Campbell #93 of the Jacksonville Jaguars tackles Le'Veon Bell #26 of the New York Jets during the game at TIAA Bank Field on October 27, 2019 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)
JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 27: Calais Campbell #93 of the Jacksonville Jaguars tackles Le'Veon Bell #26 of the New York Jets during the game at TIAA Bank Field on October 27, 2019 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images) /
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No matter who is the team’s defensive coordinator this coming season, the Jaguars have some work to do on the run defense in 2020.

This quote by ESPN.com’s Michael DiRocco is exactly why I am a bit baffled why many NFL analysts have the Jaguars taking a wide receiver with their first pick (No. 9) in the NFL Draft.

"“The Jaguars finished 28th in rushing defense and gave up more than 200 yards on the ground four times. They’re not bringing back defensive tackle Marcell Dareus ($20 million cap savings), and 2018 first-round pick Taven Bryan, who played well in the season finale, has been largely disappointing,” DiRocco writes.“Jacksonville has major needs at other positions (linebacker, left tackle, receiver and cornerback), but the defensive front is the key to the team’s resurgence in 2020.”"

There were times when the defense created holes so big up the middle of the line of scrimmage, my 76-year-old father could have walked through them unscathed. Yes, it was that bad. And when teams like Carolina, Indianapolis, Houston, Tennessee, and the Los Angeles Chargers had their way with this team in 2019, it sent up a bat signal that the entire NFL saw.

To beat the Jaguars was as easy as running right at them.

If Jacksonville is going to fix its issues on defense, the interior of the line must be plugged with big, immovable objects who are brought in to specifically help with run defense.

More from Jaguars Draft

The Jaguars gave up a combined 480 yards in the two games in Week 9 and 11 to the Texans and Colts. With a weak offensive line and quarterback play that wobbled like one of those passes from Blake Bortles, there was no way the team could recover from the early shock and awe of being abused on the ground.

Now, with an offseason to determine who stays and who goes, the decisions made in free agency and the NFL Draft are the ones that will help determine the futures of general manager David Caldwell and head coach Doug Marrone.

Derrick Brown of Auburn and Javon Kinlaw of South Carolina must be at the top of the Jaguars wish list of interior linemen in the Draft. Jeff Okudah from Ohio State, C.J. Henderson from Florida, and Grant Delpit of LSU and his tag team partner Kristian Fulton are some names to watch in the secondary.

The Jaguars should monitor Isaiah Simmons of Clemson and Kenneth Murray of Oklahoma to address their needs at linebacker. There are plenty of players to choose from. Finding the right fit as the team addressed in 2016 and this past draft class is crucial moving forward.

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