Jaguar Report

What Big Revelation Came Out Of Jaguars' Mock Game?

A major improvement may have become apparent for the Jacksonville Jaguars in their mock game Friday Night at EverBank Stadium. What was revealed?
Travis Hunter’s helmet sits on the table before the start fht press conference. The Jacksonville Jaguars first-round pick, Colorado Buffaloes wide receiver and defensive back Travis Hunter answered questions during a press conference Friday, March 25, 2025 at Miller Electric Center in Jacksonville, Fla. [Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union]
Travis Hunter’s helmet sits on the table before the start fht press conference. The Jacksonville Jaguars first-round pick, Colorado Buffaloes wide receiver and defensive back Travis Hunter answered questions during a press conference Friday, March 25, 2025 at Miller Electric Center in Jacksonville, Fla. [Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union] | Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

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Despite having two of the most dynamic pass-rushing specialists in Josh-Hines Allen and Travon Walker, the Jaguars ranked very close to the bottom of the National Football League in sacking opposing quarterbacks in a tie for 29th overall.

The Jags also found themselves at the very bottom of the ledger at No. 32 with 257.4 passing yards allowed as well. A poor pass rush contributes to that abysmal ranking, also.

It's hard to place fault on the aforementioned duo of Walker and Hines-Allen, as the duo accounted for 58% of the get, with Walker knocking down passers 10.5 times, and JHA doing the deed eight times. The standouts were left alone on an island, so the obvious solution is that the pair absolutely needs help, and a whole lot of it.

Travon Walker and Josh Hines-Allen
Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Josh Hines-Allen (41) and defensive end Travon Walker (44) pray before a preseason NFL football game Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024 at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla. The Jacksonville Jaguars defeated the Kansas City Chiefs 26-13. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union] | Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union / USA TODAY NETWORK

With so much for the Jaguars' new Head Coach, Liam Coen and his staff, having to address in their preseason practices at training camp, first-year Defensive Coordinator Anthony Campanile is tasked with ramping up the pressure. After Friday Night's mock game under the lights at EverBank Stadium, Liam Coen spoke to the media regarding the defense, specifically the pass rush.

Coen on how he felt the Jaguars' pass rush performed on Friday, "I thought I felt it."

Head Coach Liam Coen
Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Liam Coen gets his team up during an NFL training camp second session at the Miller Electric Center, Thursday, July 24, 2025, in Jacksonville, Fla. [Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union] | Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

There's a problem, though, in evaluating the pass rush in a scrimmage environment. The goal is to try to show everything that you can while not going at breakneck football speed. An injury is the worst-case scenario in these situations. Coen reviewed his disadvantaged defense's performance.

“I thought I felt it. You definitely felt it. We were chipping," said Coen. We were trying to help and it was getting home. We definitely felt it. He wasn't pressuring much either. This was being played kind of like a Pro Bowl from a scheme standpoint, specifically on defense. Just trying to let them go get lined up and go play, so he was only bringing really single backer pressure. And then in the red zone, he brought the one-zero, so you guys didn't see any of the blitz packages or any of that stuff, which was nice for nobody to see."

The future began on Friday Night for all concerned with football in Northern Florida, and if the mock game revealed anything, it's that the pass rush could be back in a big way.

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Bryan Anthony Davis
BRYAN ANTHONY DAVIS

Bryan Anthony Davis is a successful journalist with extensive experience as both a broadcaster and a writer. A graduate of Pittsburgh, he joins the On SI team as a contributor covering college football and the NFL.

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