A season long weakness for the Jacksonville Jaguars cost them big in Sunday’s loss to the Texans.
The Jacksonville Jaguars have struggled to generate a steady pass rush for much of the season, and their inability to do so on Sunday played a key role in the Houston Texans‘ comeback win.
“That’s something we definitely need to talk about as a staff and as a group,” Liam Coen said after the loss, via ESPN. “That hasn’t been good enough all season and wasn’t good enough [Sunday].
“It’s never one group’s fault when you lose a game. That’s not what we’re going to do here, but it definitely is a challenge for us.”
The Jaguars entered this Week 10 game ranked 20th in ESPN’s pass rush win rate metric and last in the NFL in sacks.
Despite Houston’s backup quarterback, Davis Mills, throwing the ball 45 times in Sunday’s game, the Jaguars mustered only two sacks and four quarterback hits.
As Coen mentioned, defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile did dial up some blitzes to help manufacture some pressure, but the downside to that is it leaves the defensive backfield exposed.
Also not doing the pass rush any favors was the Jaguars’ struggles to slow the Texans’ running game, which averaged 5.9 yards per attempt as a team.
Success on the ground keeps the offense ahead of the sticks, out of predictable passing situations, and allows the quarterback to lean into the quick passing game.
Without a consistent pass rush, the quarterback has time to go through his reads and operate within the timing and rhythm of the play. This can then expose the secondary, resulting in explosive plays, which was the case on Sunday.
The name of the game in the NFL is affecting the quarterback, and Jacksonville has struggled to do that. Improved play from the defense during this second half of the season starts with the front being more disruptive.