Jaguars defensive line focused on containing Patrick Mahomes
Ask Calais Campbell about how you attack Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and he just laughs. He knows what every other defender in the NFL knows — you do the best you can and just hope he doesn't pull out any tricks.
"He has the ability to stop on a dime and throw the ball 50 yards on the rope, and a little bit more than that. (It can be a) perfect spiral and right on the money," Campbell said. "So we just have to keep attacking him and try to keep him uncomfortable."
Mahomes will turn 24 in a few weeks, but despite his youth, he has done things only NFL Hall of Famers have demonstrated the ability to do before. Mahomes torched defenses throughout the league on his way to winning the MVP award in 2018, a season where he threw for 5,097 yards, 50 touchdowns and had a passer rating of 113.8 last year. He also dropped 30 points on Jacksonville in week 5.
Jaguars head coach Doug Marrone and defensive coordinator Todd Wash didn't mince words this week when it came to explaining how to contain Mahomes when the Jaguars and Chiefs clash 1 p.m. on Sunday. Marrone said the hype around Mahomes is warranted because it is simply the reality of the challenge.
"You know, there’s a reason when you get named MVP in the league. You’re the most valuable player. You’re the best player in the NFL. And that’s what he’s done," Marrone said.
In last years 30-14 loss, the Jaguars only totaled one sack despite pestering Mahomes with a flurry of pass rushers. From Yannick Ngakoue to Calais Campbell to Malik Jackson, the defense would get close to Mahomes but he, somehow, found ways to get out of trouble.
Wash said this is one of the challenges when you are playing a quarterback like Mahomes. He can beat you from any spot on the field and as a result, some defense may slow down their pass rushes to contain him. But not the Jaguars, and not on Sunday.
“But the last thing you want to do is go in there and slow your rush down. All of a sudden you get out of the game, and they sit and say if we just would’ve went harder and we didn’t have to worry about the scrambling," Wash said. "You know, we’ve got a plan, but we still want those guys to go in there and get after it; and just have an idea that we try to keep him in the pocket as much as we can.”
The Jaguars defensive line room has been preparing for weeks, if not longer, for the challenge that is sacking Mahomes. And as defensive tackle Abry Jones explained, how well the pass rush can contain Mahomes and keep him from scrambling will affect the rest of the defense behind him.
"Like everyone knows he has a great arm, and we have great help in the (secondary) with our cornerbacks and safeties and stuff like that, and we can't hurt them by letting him run around the backfield and give his receivers time," Jones said.
"So we just have to got to do our job, keep him in the pocket and don't let him extend plays as good as he does."
Jaguars defensive end Dawuane Smoot did not play in last year's game vs the Chiefs, but that won't be the case Sunday. Smoot will be a part of the rotation tasked with wreaking havoc on Mahomes, and he said the key to defending the quarterback is making him aware the defensive line is there and ready to attack.
"We have to be able to contain him, be able to control him and be able to keep him in the pocket. And also be able to put him on the run as well and put him in uncomfortable situations," Smoot said. "I mean, he can really throw it from anywhere on the field. So we just have to be able to contain him as much as possible, hit him as much possible and let him know we are there."
Unlike Smoot, Campbell knows all too well what it was like to chase Mahomes around the field for four quarters last season. He, like the rest of the team's pass rushers, is eager to get another shot to bring down the quarterback. But, he explained, it won't be as simple as keeping Mahomes in the pocket.
"He is better when he is in the pocket clean. So if I had a choice between him being clean and him scrambling around, I am (going with) him scrambling around," he said. "He is a tough challenge."
