The Jacksonville Jaguars’ 2018 campaign on offense was a lackluster one, but the defense has said they could’ve been better, too. After previously ranking second in total defense in 2017, they dropped to fifth last season and were 29th in takeaways — down 24 spots — which most would say was their biggest issue.
However, with a fairly productive offseason in the books, NFL Network analyst Kyle Brandt believes the unit will bounce back in a big way. On a recent episode of Good Morning Football, he told his co-hosts that he believes the Jags will be the NFL’s top defense in 2019, which would be huge after the letdown 2018 was.
In a nutshell, Brandt stated that the addition of an elite talent like pass rusher Josh Allen will only help the Jags’ defense, which was already respectable. He also said quarterback Nick Foles should help alleviate some pressure off the defensive side, which was constantly under pressure to lead under Blake Bortles.
It’s possible the Jags could be the No. 1 defense in the NFL, but I personally think a lot of that may hinge on the development of defensive lineman Taven Bryan, especially at defensive tackle. With Malik Jackson gone, the Jags need someone else to generate pressure from the interior and protect the middle as it could be weaker than it was before. It would also help if he shows promise on the edge, too, as defensive coordinator Todd Wash has indicated Bryan will continue to play two positions heading forward.
