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“Jaguars” are ready to use dangerous weapons “Eagles”

Posted on by L. Dreeye
“Jaguars” are ready to use dangerous weapons “Eagles”

The Jacksonville Jaguars have many issues that have plagued the team this season.

While they have struggled on both sides of the ball at various points this season, the defense has cost the team several games over the past few weeks and nearly cost the team one of its two wins on the season.

The defense has legitimate reasons for their recent failure, but the group of professional athletes is still expected to improve their game.

Jacksonville’s defense ranks near the bottom of the league in numerous critical statistical categories as the team was plagued by injuries early in the season. Injuries and general poor play have plagued the Jaguars defense throughout the season.

Four of the Jaguars’ six losses have come by five points or less, but their defense has allowed 27 points or more in four of their last five games.

After a narrow loss to the Green Bay Packers last week, the Jaguars face the Philadelphia Eagles on the road this Sunday. Jaguars defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen knows the weapons the Eagles have on offense can give defense fits, especially a weak defense like Jacksonville’s.

“They have some really good talent, some really good talent,” Nielsen said. “He’s been playing at a high level since he came back. Physical receiver, really physical, catch point, strong hands. He’s really good at press coverage and getting off the line, and he has great speed. So it will be a good challenge.

“We just need to play our game. We have to go in and make a physical play for him. We need to work a little bit on the lighting so it’s not just catching faded balls and things like that that people do.

The Jaguars have one of the worst defenses in the league. The unit will be tested against a talented Eagles offense that includes quarterback Jalen Hurts and wide receivers DeVonta Smith and AJ Brown. Nielsen knows defenses must be prepared to handle the dynamic receiver duo.

“But two really good receivers,” Nielsen said. “And then the speed that DeVonta has, he can get the most out of any coverage. So, just executing, we’ll have to run some kind of shell for it. Definitely going to have to stay on top of these guys and then mix them up. Just keep mixing up the coverage on him so he doesn’t get single reads and go to X or Z every game.”

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