JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Defense was a priority for the Jacksonville Jaguars in the offseason. General manager Dave Caldwell signed defensive tackle Malik Jackson, cornerback Prince Amukamara and free safety Tashaun Gipson, then drafted cornerback Jalen Ramsey and linebacker Myles Jack with the team’s first two picks. Those moves should make the Jaguars' defense better in 2016, but to be honest it had nowhere to go but up: it ranked 31st in points allowed (28.0), 29th in pass yards per game (268.2), and 31st in third-down conversions (46.3 percent).
Defense/Special Teams
ESPN Fantasy Projection: 32.2 sacks, 15.7 INTs, 9.1 fumble recoveries, 4.1 TDs
Over or under: Pass rush has been the Jaguars' biggest weakness over the past three seasons, and though the addition of Jackson should help on the interior, the Jaguars are relying on second-year player Dante Fowler Jr. (who missed his rookie season with a torn left ACL) and rookie Yannick Ngakoue to provide pressure off the edge. Fowler had a great camp, but expectations should be tempered because he’s essentially still a rookie and only 12 rookie pass-rushers have hit double digits in sacks since 2001. That being said, take the over on the sacks. Do the same thing on the interception total because of the addition of Gipson (14 in four seasons with Cleveland) and Amukamara. Cornerback Davon House, who led the Jaguars with four last season, has had a great camp, too. The secondary has been the weak link when it comes to interceptions over the past three seasons. Defensive backs have just 14 of the team’s 26 interceptions during that span. As for touchdowns, that’s hard to predict, but consider that the defense has scored just seven TDs and special teams has accounted for one over the past three seasons.
