Jacksonville Jaguars D.C. shows he is unwilling to change

Will the fact Jacksonville Jaguars defensive coordinator Todd Wash has not changed his stance on his defensive scheme become the reason why they fail?

Because of his unwillingness to change his scheme, is Jacksonville Jaguars defensive coordinator Todd Wash sitting on the hottest seat inside TIAA Bank Field?

After listening to Wash speak to the local media on Friday via Zoom, the Jaguars defense will continue to use a 4-3 base with some changes to it as part of sub-packages. But the fact remains that Wash will continue to use a base that has been exposed the previous two seasons here in Jacksonville.

Head coach Doug Marrone alluded to change on the defensive side of the ball in April around the NFL Draft. The team made moves this offseason to add more speed outside at linebacker and at rush end. And the personnel draft indicates that there would a move to a 3-4 package to accommodate these moves.

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Still, Wash has dug his heels in the sand a appears unwavering in his approach this coming season.

"“It’s funny everyone says we’re going to a 3-4 and all that kind of stuff,” Wash said Friday via the Florida Times-Union. “But you’re going to see many of the fronts that we have run through years of this system that just matches our personality and the skill set of our players.”"

So much has been made about the jobs both Marrone and general manager David Caldwell have been doing and whether or not this would be their last season in Jacksonville should the effort on the field lack improvement. It might be Wash who has the biggest bullseye on his chest right now.

The Jaguars’ front office released Marcell Dareus in a money-saving move before the start of free agency. Then both Calais Campbell and A.J. Bouye were traded for draft capital used in April.

Jacksonville signed Rodney Gunter, Al Woods, Cassius Marsh, and Aaron Lynch to help with defensive line depth. As Marrone talked about on Friday, Yannick Ngakoue is still part of the plan for the team this coming season.

The team drafted C.J Henderson out of Florida to play cornerback, selected K’Lavon Chaisson to play outside linebacker, and selected DaVon Hamilton in the third round to play nose tackle. And the secondary was fortified with veteran Rashaan Melvin and several defensive backs through the Draft.

In the middle of the defense, they signed former Cleveland Browns middle linebacker Joe Schobert and moved Myles Jack back outside to his natural position.

"“The Jaguars ended up as one of the worst run defenses in the league in 2019, allowing 139.3 yards per game that ranked as the fifth-highest in 2019,” John Reid writes. “They also allowed 23 rushing touchdowns — the second-highest total behind Carolina’s 31.”"

There were no answers as teams piled on the points over course of 17 weeks, with no end in sight other than a 6-10 record. What does this all mean for the roster this season and what happens if the 4-3 scheme falls flat once again?

"“We are a 4-3,” Wash said. “That is what we always have been. As long as I’m here, that’s what we will be.”"

Unless there is more pressure from the front office to make that change. The Jacksonville Jaguars made a change to the offensive coaching staff in 2018 when Marrone fired offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett because of a lack of score production and atrocious quarterback play. Another season like 2019 and there could be changes before the end of the 2020 campaign. It looks as though this will become a crossroads season for Wash as well.

The team could improve on offense, but should the defense misstep or stumble mightily, there could – and should be – a change at the top of the ladder.

"″We’re still going to be gap accountability, one gap, single high,″ Wash said. ″It’s just going to be leverages and alignments that are going to be a little bit different in our scheme. We’re not a true 3-4, two-gap team. That’s not how we are built upfront.”"

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