Why Foye Oluokun Believes in the Development of the Jaguars’ Young Defenders
The Jacksonville Jaguars know they will need big steps taken by their young second-year defenders in 2023.
The hope is, those steps will happen naturally now that each has a year of extensive experience under their belts. For first-rounders Travon Walker and Devin Lloyd and third-year linebacker Chad Muma, the Jaguars will need last year's rookie bumps to translate into growth.
“A big jump, just because you understand where you’re supposed to be on every play," Jaguars linebacker Foyesade Oluokun said on Thursday.
"You’re going to watch all of this film, all these cut ups of plays you might have messed up on technically. Now, you’re going to see the same formation next year, so now it’s like, ‘Alright, I know I’m going to be here. I remember from last year they ran these kind of plays out of this formation.’"
Walker (17 games, 788 snaps), Lloyd (19 games, 926 snaps) and Muma (18 games, 286 snaps) each started and played big roles for the Jaguars during their rookie campaigns. They all had their highs and their lows. Now, the hope for the Jaguars is that they will each be better for it.
"I think the biggest thing for both of those players, Chad (Muma) Luke (Fortner), you throw those guys in the mix, is the fact that they’re finally going to have an offseason to themselves," Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson said in March. "They can rest, they can heal, they can begin to go back and watch their performances within the defense.
"I think all three of those guys, all four of those guys, put Luke in there, too, they’re going to be so much better this year from the standpoint of knowing, understanding the game, how it has to be played, how it has to be practiced during the week, how to be a pro, how to study, how to take care of your body. I think those are all aspects of becoming a professional football player, and so all of those guys, that’s what they’re going to take away, and that’s what they can lean on moving on to ’23.”
The Jaguars will need that to be true. Walker will be leaned upon heavily as a pass-rusher after the Jaguars lost Arden Key in free-agency, while Lloyd and Muma will have to be more consistent next to the always-steady Oluokun.
If they are, then the Jaguars will be a tough out for anyone. And the Jaguars have seen it happen before.
"Just being one step ahead of the game now. Making sure you’re retaining information, learning from your mistakes, and just kind of applying that to be a better second year player," Oluokun said. "That’s how it goes.”
