By Don Coble, Jax Sports News
JACKSONVILLE (www.thefloridasportswire)– Jaguars Defensive Coordinator Athony Campanile has a problem. There may be too many good defensive backs on the training camp roster.
With the return of two-way start Travis Hunter, the additions of free agents Jourdan Lewis and Corey Ballentine and rookies Jabbar Muhammad, Jaylen Husky and Preston Hodge, Campanile said he has more flexibility to move people around to best utilize their abilities.
The team also hired Defensive Pass Game Coordinator Mathieu Araujo, and he’s brought an additional swagger to a secondary that improved from being the worst against the pass in 2024 (274,4 yards a game with only nine takeaways) to 21st (218.1 yards and 31 takeaways) a year ago.
Counting returners Jarrian Jones, Antonio Johnson, Eric Murray and Rayuan Lane III, Campanile and Araujo had the luxury to move Hunter permanently to corner and are working Johnson, Caleb Ransaw and Murray at safety.
“I feel like the most difference from last year to this year is us really understanding the defense and the scheme,” Johnson said. “So, now we can make it our own and we’re manipulating the offense now because we’re not just learning the defense. We understand it, we know what our issues are, so we’re dictating what we want the offense to do.”
The defensive backfield will get a new looking Thursday and Friday when they practice with the New Orleans Saints. Then, both teams will play in Week1 of the preseason on Saturday at 4 p.m. in the Caesar’s Superdome.
Now in his fourth year, Johnson has worked his way up the depth charts from primarily being used on special teams to competing for a spot in the starting lineup. He credits Campanile schemes and a demand for “greatness.”
“I think Coach Camp [Campanile] does a really great job of teaching the scheme – not only teaching the scheme, but demanding greatness out of us as a defense,” Johnson said. “And as you see each day, we go out there and we work hard. He’s going to coach us hard, but I feel like most importantly, the players have really taken on the culture that he instilled into this defense and we’re an aggressive, attacking team.”
Head coach Liam Coen said the starters won’t play in the preseason opener, which means rookies and undrafted free agents trying to make the 53-man roster will have an extended opportunity to impress the coaches.
“I think he’s (Muhammad) got a good chip on his shoulder, too,” Campanile said. “He’s really taken in all the teaching that Mat [Araujo] is bringing to him. There are some things that, fundamentally, I think he’s really gotten better at, and that doesn’t happen unless you’re totally bought in and you’re doing it every day. It’s a muscle memory game.”
As the first wave of cutdowns approach, Campanile said deciding who goes won’t be easy.
“We love guys that are competitive, first and foremost,” he said. “They’re out there, they’re competing. Job one is whoop the man. That’s their job. The guys that do that every play, guys that you can trust, guys that love to play football, so we’re team-first guys. That’s really how you develop a culture on defense, and I think we have a lot of guys that fit that mold here.
“At the end of preseason, we’re going to have a tough deal because we’re going to have to cut some guys we really like and some really good football players. That’s a good thing. That’s a sign of having the right people in the building, but it doesn’t make it any easier. That’s why these preseason games guys are going to be going all out, and in some of these joint practices. They’re important for these guys and we’re trying to treat it that way.”
Quotable
Fourth year tight end Brendon Strange on being pushed by younger players, especially rookies Nate Boerkircher and Tanner Koziol: “here are times and moments that they make you feel old, but no, I feel like I’m just going into my prime. I feel like I’m just getting started.”
Short yardage
• Jacksonville released its first “unofficial” depth chart ahead of Saturday’s preseason game. The starters included wide receivers Parker Washington, Brian Thomas Jr. and Jakobi Meyers, left tackle Anton Harrison, left guard Ezra Cleveland, center Robert Hainesy, right guard Patrick Mekari, right tackle Walker Little, tight end Brenton Strange, quarterback Trevor Lawrence and co-running backs Bhayshul Tuten or Chris Rodriquez Jr. on offense; nose tackle DaVon Hamilton, defensive tackle Arik Armstead, ends Josh Hines-Allen and Travon Walker, linebackers Foye Oluokum, either Ventrell Miller or Branson Combs,mDennis Miller at linebackers, cornerbacks Montaric Brown, Montaric Brown, Travis Hunter and Jourdan Lewis at cornerback, Eric Murray at safety, placekicker Cam Little, punter Logan Cooke, long snapper Ross Matiscik, punt returner Parker Washington and kick returner Bhayshul Tuten.
• The Jaguars signed linebacker Amari Burney. To make room for him, the team waived cornerback Keni-H Lovely.
Up next
Following Wednesday’s training camp practice at the Miller Electric Center, the Jaguars flew to New Orleans for a joint practice on Thursday, After taking Friday off, they will play Saturday’s preseason opener against the Saints at 4 p.m. Jacksonville will be off again on Sunday, before returning to the practice field on Monday at 8:30 a.m.
