Think Takeaways: Why Turnovers Are Inspiring the Jaguars' Defensive Resurgence
The Jaguars are rolling, winning three straight games to move to 4-2 on the season and in sole possession of first place in the division. While the offense has certainly picked up the pace, especially against the Bills and Colts, it’s been the defense that has been incredibly impressive.
The Jaguars' defense through six weeks is allowing opposing offenses to score just 1.58 points per drive, run 5.5 plays per drive, and have just 2:24 mins per drive. Those are good for eighth, fifth, and third best in the league. They also are allowing just 75 rushing yards a game.
While those are notable statistics, it’s the takeaways that separate the good defenses from the great defenses. Right now, the Jacksonville defense is as great as they come.
In 2021, the Jacksonville Jaguars finished dead last in takeaways, mustering just nine the entire season. Fast forward two seasons and the Mike Caldwell-coached defense has an NFL-best 15 turnovers through just six weeks, eight by way of interception, and seven by fumble.
Both safety Andre Cisco and cornerback Darious Williams are tied for the NFL lead with three interceptions a piece. They almost seem contagious.
Linebacker Foye Oluokun agrees, “We’ve been having that thought since last year. I think it helped us out through that seven-game stretch that we had last year, starting to take the ball away. I think we finished fourth last year. We saw how cool that was for our team, so we had that thought all through training camp; takeaways and turnovers really help the game. When you see that taking part in and it working for you, that’s what we pride ourselves on right now.”
This past Sunday against the Colts and quarterback Gardner Minshew, who had yet to throw an interception, the Jags came away with three of them. Rayshawn Jenkins, Williams, and Cisco all snatched balls from the Jaguars’ former quarterback. To pile on, outside linebacker Josh Allen had a takeaway himself. That came in the form of a fumble off of a strip sack, his seventh sack of the year.
It seems the pass rush is getting going as well with the return of Dawuane Smoot. Travon Walker now has nine pressures the last two weeks and looks much improved from early this season. Additionally, Josh Allen’s seven sacks are tied for third best in the league. Pressures create turnovers and we are seeing the fruits of their labor.
Williams now has an interception in three straight games and is looking to be in the midst of a career year. Last year he led the league in dropped interceptions, this year he’s hauling them in on a weekly basis.
When asked about Williams, Doug Pederson had this to say, “It seems like the ball ends up his way and he makes plays on it. He’s such a smart player, savvy player. He’s got really good hands and good ball skills; he’s just been making the plays when they come and that’s what you want. It was a huge play against Atlanta with the pick-six and then last week Buffalo and again Sunday. Just keep that going.”
Whether it’s Cisco, Williams, Allen or someone else, this defense is in rhythm and on the hunt for turnovers at every turn. If they can lead the league by season’s end, no doubt expect Jacksonville to be in the postseason and maybe beyond.
