JaguarMaven Week 9 Mailbag: DeAndre Hopkins and other Jaguars-Texans questions
Each week following a Jacksonville Jaguars game, JaguarMaven will take Jacksonville Jaguars-related questions from our readers across social media and answer them in a question-and-answer format, giving readers a chance to have their voices heard.
You can submit your questions every week by tweeting them to the JaguarMaven twitter handle or our Facebook page.
Question from @E_Dilla: How do you expect the Jaguars to limit Hopkins without Ramsey for the first time in years? And on the other side of the ball. Who has the advantage in the rematch? The Texans defense vs a rookie QB they’ve played before or Minshew who was severely handcuffed (coaches gameplan/decision) when we played them in week 2?
This is exactly why the Jaguars shelled out all that money to A.J. Bouye, for matchups like this. I fully anticipate Bouye drawing Hopkins, who I consider to be the best receiver in the NFL, in coverage on Sunday. I suspect the plan will be for him to travel with D-Hop, and have some safety help over the top. I like Bouye’s length and hand technique in that matchup. Expect Hopkins to win his share of battles, but I think A.J. will hold his own with Ramsey gone.
To your second question, I actually think the fact that Minshew was handcuffed in Week 2 favors the Jaguars. For one, the Texans don’t have a ton of film to go off of. I expect to see some new wrinkles. Minshew has also come a long way since the first meeting, affording DeFilippo to open up the playbook, and he now has an innate rapport with his wide receivers. Additionally, he has a better understanding of how to read elaborate NFL defenses.
Question from @zach_goodall: Who is the most important player on this team that doesn’t get that credit?
I’m going to avoid the trendy pick and say Jarrod Wilson. He quietly goes about his business on gameday and his communication on the backend has been phenomenal. His role has become even more important now, with Ramsey now in LA. Wilson is solid in run support and provides adequate coverage over the top. A lot of what he does doesn’t always appear on the stat sheet, but he is an unsung hero on defense.
Question from @Demetrius82: What would be your plan to cover DeAndre Hopkins now that Jalen Ramsey is no longer in the fold?
I think you’ll see A.J. Bouye on Hopkins for most of the game, with safety help over the top to limit any big plays. Bouye was brought to Jacksonville for moments like this, and I believe he will hold his own – provided the pass rush gets off to a fast start.
Question from @BoozyMcHound: Where does Jordan Brown fit in and how will he see the field? Why was he the addition and/or why was he still available?
Good questions.
At 6-foot-1, 201 pounds, JB fits the lengthy, physical mold that the Jaguars look for in their cornerbacks. The former South Dakota State standout potentially gives the Jaguars another young defensive back to develop, and his size offers the versatility to play the boundary or perhaps safety. Studying him throughout the pre-draft process, I really like his game.
Like I said, Brown is a big-bodied, athletic cornerback that will eventually thrive in the Jaguars defensive scheme. JB fell victim to a numbers game in Cincinnati, but he’s garnered significant buzz throughout the season, working out for at least seven other teams that I know of. As a senior, his list of accolades included Associated Press FCS All-America Third Team, STATS All-America Second Team, HERO Sports FCS All-America First Team, and American Football Coaches Association FCS All-America First Team honors, and he impressed at the Senior Bowl and the NFL Scouting Combine.
Question from @JvilleJaguars: What are the reasons for him not staying on a roster so far after getting drafted? What are his best/worst traits as a zone guy?
Well, the Bengals had an inordinate number of defensive backs in camp, which limits the reps that the younger players get. Less reps, fewer opportunities to prove what you can do. He performed well in the preseason games with the limited snaps he did get, however. I believe their plan was to sign him to the practice squad, but it didn’t pan out. I think the fact that he’s had seven other workouts through October is quite telling as to what teams around the league think of him. He can play.
On tape, some of his strengths are his eye discipline, closing ability, fluidity in and out of breaks, and ball skills (he came to SDSU as a WR).
