By Jeff Moeller, Florida Sports Wire
JACKSONVILLE – Jaguars’ head coach Doug Pederson likely summed up the challenge facing his secondary in Miami Sunday
“Speed, speed, speed,” said the head coach. “And a lot of misdirection, a lot of motions and shifts.”
It will be a major challenge for Jags’ unit that was ranked 29th in July by Pro Football Focus for the 2024 season.
Last season, the Jags allowed 239.8 yards per game and 27 touchdowns, which ranked them 26th in the league. Discipline problems – avoiding the senseless penalties – also plagued them throughout last season.
Solving the problem is on the secondary, but speed can be tempered by pressure.
Pederson realizes quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, wide receiver Tyrek Hill and Jalen Waddle, and running back
Raheem Mostert are among the main weapons in the Dolphins’ arsenal
You can also throw in Odell Beckham Jr., whom the Dolphins await to see what he can bring to the table.
Hill and Waddle have accounted for 191 catches for 2,813 yards with 17 touchdowns last season.
“Obviously, we know Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle and the guys,” added Pederson. “There’s just a lot of speed and something that we’ve got to be able to at least try to match; otherwise, we’ll be in the right position.”
Being there will depend on new addition corners Ronald Darby and Darnell Savage Jr. Darby will be a starter and Savage will begin as a nickel.
Antonio Johnson and Andre Cisco will open at safeties.
Third-year corner Montaric Brown, and rookies Jarrian Jones and De’ Andre Price should see some time.
Yes, the pressure will on the secondary, but their issue can be solved with their pass rush.
The Jags had 40 sacks in 2023, paced by Josh Hines-Allen’s17.5 and Travon Walker’s 10. This certainly wasn’t balanced.
Former 49er lineman Arik Armstead is seen as a new part of the solution.
It will be a main priority under new defensive coordinator’s Ryan Nielsen’s 4-3 scheme. He knows it all begins with corralling Tagovailoa.
“He gets the ball out,” said Nielsen of the Dolphins’ quarterback. “He knows where to go with the ball. The guy gets the out ball lightning-quick out of his hands.
“We’ve got to do a really good job in our coverage and disrupting him in the pocket, things like that, things you’ve got to do every week.”
This week, Nielsen’s secondary and pass rush have to take the crucial first step in Miami.
