3 Jaguars Who Need to Improve vs. the Titans In Week 2
While the season is just a week old, the Jacksonville Jaguars (1-0) are already facing a crucial test this upcoming Sunday. And in that test, they'll need some key players to step up and answer the challenge.
The Jaguars will be hitting the road to face the Tennessee Titans, a bitter AFC South rival that is entering the game as the only other team in the division who escaped Week 1 with a victory. This means the Jaguars will have a chance to create a one-game lead in the AFC South with a victory, a position the Jaguars haven't found themselves in many times over the last several seasons.
But if the Jaguars are to pull off the road upset against the Titans just one week after upsetting the Colts at home, they will need improved play from several key members of the roster. While the Jaguars walked out of Week 1 with a victory thanks to several mistakes by the Colts, they can't rely on the Titans to make the same various missteps. Instead, the Jaguars will need the following three players to step up and have better games in Nashville than they had against Indianapolis.
CB D.J. Hayden
While most of Jacksonville's secondary outside of CJ Henderson had their struggles on Sunday, it was nickel cornerback D.J. Hayden who had the worst outing. Hayden has been Jacksonville's most consistent cornerback for each of the last two seasons, but against the Colts he simply looked a step too slow and was too often the victim of Philip Rivers' explosive plays.
According to Pro Football Reference Hayden allowed six completions on six targets for 60 yards, as well as a 108.3 passer rating when targeted. For the Jaguars to win in Week 2, they'll need Hayden to step up his game against another productive and slippery slot receiver in Adam Humphries. While Humphries isn't as athletic and explosive as Colts' slot receiver Parris Campbell, he's quick enough to give Hayden fits if he doesn't have a sharper game.
RT Jawaan Taylor
If there is any reason the Jaguars struggled to move the ball on the ground in the second half of Week 1 (six carries for one yard) it was the ineffectiveness of Jacksonville's offensive line vs. the Colts' athletic and aggressive front. And maybe no other lineman had the struggles that right tackle Jawaan Taylor experienced.
While Taylor is arguably Jacksonville's most athletic and naturally talented lineman, he has had to deal with bouts of inconsistency as a run blocker dating back to his rookie season in 2019. Such was the case vs. the Colts, with Taylor earning a 46.9 run blocking grade from Pro Football Focus -- the lowest grade on the team. Jacksonville's entire failed rushing attack in the second half obviously can't be blamed on Taylor, but they will need him to be more effective in Week 2 considering the Titans will have Jadeveon Clowney at their disposal.
DE K'Lavon Chaisson
It isn't fair in the slightest for the expectations to be for rookie first-round pick K'Lavon Chaisson to be a game-changing pass rusher from the very start of his NFL career. It took Josh Allen until Week 3 of his rookie year to notch his first sack, after all. But for the Jaguars' defense to improve as the season progresses, they will need Chaisson to be more disruptive than he was in Week 1.
Chaisson recorded two tackles during his 46 snaps, but he also recorded the team's lowest PFF papss rush grade. His explosion off of the line of scrimmage is obvious, but Chaisson was too easily handled on first contact, with his biggest issue being an inability to get off of blocks. Chaisson has the speed to beat some offensive tackles with just his athleticism, but veteran tackles will have an easier time with him until he develops counter moves. For Jacksonville's defensive line to generate more pressure Sunday, Chaisson will have to take a step forward.
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