The Jacksonville Jaguars are a couple of weeks away from kicking off Doug Pedersons first training camp at the helm, giving us plenty of time to take a look at each of the teams position groups before the 2022 season.Jacksonville wasnt afraid to make a number of big moves on both sides of the ball this offseason, both via free agency and the draft. Now, they have a new-look roster that contrasts in a big way from the roster we saw the team field in Week 1 of 2021.Next up: the edge rusher group.What does it look like today, what changes did the Jaguars make, and what needs to be addre sed ahead of camp?The Depth ChartJosh Allen71 tackles7.5 sacks12 TFL14 QB hits23 pre sures13.0% pre sure rateIf there is any player the Jaguars need to play at a Pro Bowl level in 2022 (other than Trevor Lawrence), it is Josh Allen. The fourth-year pa s-rusher had a solid season last year, but the expectations for him entering 2022 are much higher than the 7.5 sacks he produced last year.The fourth-year pa s-rusher had his fifth-year option exercised by the Jaguars, but both he and the franchise are hoping he can get back to his rookie form to help rebuild the Jaguars' defense. Allen came in fourth in AP Defensive Rookie of the Year voting in 2019, earning a nod as a Pro Bowl
Miami Marlins Custom Jersey alternate as he set a Jaguars rookie record in sacks (10.5) while recording 11 tackles for lo s and 23 quarterback hits, along with two forced fumbles. He became the first Jaguars rookie to ever appear in the Pro Bowl.Since then, though, Allen has played in 24 games and recorded 10 sacks, 14 tackles for lo s and 25 quarterback hits. He exploded as a pa s-rusher as a rookie, but the last two years have seen his production barely match what he did in one year as a rookie.I mean thats just it, just be
Miami Marlins Hoodie consistent, just be who he is. Dont try to do anything other than just be Josh Allen," Pederson said this offseason."Let his talent speak for itself and feed off of the guys around him and step up as a leader, which weve seen him do since hes been back. Hes an excitable player, someone that can make a lot of plays on defense, and I think with some of the new additions that hell be able to get back to that."Travon Walker (R)The No. 1 overall pick, Walker will have all eyes on him as a rookie. He is set to start acro s from Josh Allen at outside linebacker in the Jaguars' 3-4 defense, giving him his first chance to really grow as a stand-up pa s-rusher in his entire career. Walker enters the NFL with the perception that he is a raw athlete who is still learning how to rush the pa ser, but the No. 1 pick is going to be given every chance to prove that wrong as a rookie.Walker had a succe sful first season at Georgia, earning Freshman All-SEC honors in 2019 as he was named a co-winner of Georgia's Defensive Newcomer of the Year award. In 12 games, Walker finished with 2.5
Miami Marlins Hats sacks, 3.5 tackles for lo s and one pa s deflection while also contributing on kickoff coverage units.In 2020, Walker played in nine games and recorded 1.0 sack, 2.0 tackles for lo s, one interception, and one forced fumble. Walker then had a career season in 2021, starting all 15 games as Georgia finished the year as National Champions. During Georgia's title run, Walker recorded 6.0 sacks, 7.5 tackles for lo s, two pa s deflections, one fumble recovery, and a team-high 36 quarterback hurries.Walker then had arguably the best combine performance of any defensive player in 2021, measuring at 6-foot-5 and 272 pounds but still running a 4.51 40-yard dash (98th percentile), a 36-inch vertical jump (80th percentile), 123-inch broad jump (87th percentile), 6.89-second three-cone (93rd percentile), and a 4.32 20-yard shuttle (76th percentile).Dawuane Smoot36 tackles6 sacks7 TFL16 QB hits30 pre sures11.7% pre sure rateA true breakout player the last few seasons, few defenders on Jacksonville's roster have elevated their game like former third-round pick Dawuane Smoot. In 48 games the last three years, he has recorded 17.5 sacks, 18 tackles for lo s and 40 quarterback hits. He is a legit piece of Jacksonville's pa s-rush rotation and is just 27.Smoot was moved down a peg on the depth chart following the selection of Walker, but a No. 3 role actually suits him potentially even better than a true every-down role. He has produced at the highest rate of any Jaguars pa s-rusher the last two years and is now playing with the most support around him on the defensive line as he has in any of the last three seasons. Considering he is gifted at not just creating his own plays but also cleaning up plays after others get some pre sure, this is good news for Smoot.K'Lavon Chai sonScroll to Continue31 tackles1 sack3 TFL4 QB hits8 pre sures13.2% pre sure rateThe No. 20 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, K'Lavon Chai son is sometimes the forgotten man in the Jaguars' outside linebacker room after the team selected Walker at No. 1 overall and picked up Josh Allen's fifth-year option. The drafting of Walker signaled the Jaguars
Miami Marlins Jersey were not going to enter 2022 relying on Chai son to make an impact"Yeah, even for players I think its good to have sort of a fresh start, but at the same time he understands that theres competition here too now at the position," Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson said about Chai son this spring. "Thats a good thing because it allows him to play and utilize his strengths to really showcase what he can do. Again, it just adds the depth that youre looking for at that position.Chai son has appeared in 31 games (11 starts) over the last two years, playing 952 defensive snaps -- including 51% of the defensive snaps as a rookie and 39% last year. In that span, he has recorded two sacks, six tackles for lo s and 13 quarterback hits. Chai son has been a victim of the Jaguars' constant turnover, with him now entering his third defensive scheme in three years in the NFL after being in Todd Wash's defense as a rookie and in Joe Cullen's defense last year.Jamir Jones10 tackles2 QB Hits2 pre suresJamir Jones is a big-bodied edge defender who thrived at Notre Dame thanks to his ability to set a physical edge and stick his nose in the run game. Jones played in 15 games in 2021: three games with the Steelers, 10 games with the Rams and two games with the Jaguars. He will have to battle for a spot on special teams and the bottom of the edge rusher depth chart, but he has more NFL experience than several others in the room.De'Shaan Dixon (R)A long and physical edge defender, De'Shaan Dixon recorded nine sacks as a senior at Norfolk State in 2021. Dixon is the Jaguars' second rookie at the position behind Walker and has been seen working out with the rest of the Jaguars' front seven this offseason, a good sign
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