Dolphins’ Brian Flores Weighs In on Jaguars’ Pass Rush Situation
This time last season, the Jacksonville Jaguars were needing to jumpstart their pass rush entering a Week 3 showcase on Thursday Night Football. Now, the Jaguars are looking to do the same before their game against the Miami Dolphins.
In 2019, the Jaguars recorded three sacks in the first two games, with no defensive lineman recording a sack. In 2020, the Jaguars have just two sacks and only one has come from a defensive lineman (K'Lavon Chaisson).
“I think it’s a combination of all of it. We went in obviously versus Tennessee, early on we were rushing four and we weren’t having success with it. Then we came with the pressure and got the ball out a little bit quicker on third down," defensive coordinator Todd Wash said during a Tuesday media conference.
"But I think a lot of it is, we have to do a better job on first and second down of trying to get them in a little bit of third-and-7 plus situation. I think when the playbook is open as big as it is on a third-and-3 to 6 and stuff like that, I think it’s hard to really just pin your ears back and rush the quarterback. So, a lot of it has to do with the down and distances that we’re in and we just have to continue to get better, which I think we are.”
Jacksonville has struggled mightily at getting to the quarterback this season, with none of their defensive linemen providing consistent pressure. Josh Allen leads the team in quarterback hits (three) and has gotten some nice pressure at times, but he has been just a step too late when it comes to getting a sack or simply landing a quarterback hit.
In Week 3 last season, the Jaguars fixed this problem against the Tennessee Titans by recording a staggering nine sacks. Now, the Jaguars are going to hope they can have a similar resurgence this week.
But Dolphins head coach Brian Flores doesn't exactly see a pass rush that is struggling. Instead, he sees a unit that has faced two quarterbacks (Philip Rivers and Ryan Tannehill), that have been able to neutralize Jacksonville's defensive line with quick and decisive throws.
"I mean, they've played against two good quarterbacks. They've gotten the ball out, you know, those guys, they do a good job avoiding pressure. And I think they've got some, you know, between the young rookie Chaisson and Allen, I mean, they've got some pass rushers," Flores told Jacksonville media in a press conference on Monday.
Chaisson and Allen give the Jaguars an extremely young and athletic set of bookend pass-rushers. While the two just have one sack between them through two games, they are presences that need to be monitored at all times. They haven't gotten hot yet, but the Dolphins will do everything they can do to ensure they don't do it in Week 3.
"So we've got to block them. That's kind of where I'm at. They got some young talented guys. We've got to block them. I expect a good rush from these guys. And that, you know, that's coming in time. And that's something I'm sure they're working on just like we are," Flores said.
"In other words, whether it's perimeter pressure or pressure up the middle or you know, just better edge rush. I'm sure they're working on it. So I'm expecting a good pass rush."
