How Todd Wash's Defenses Have Historically Performed Against Rookie QBs

Rookie quarterbacks can be a tricky thing for defenses. Sometimes, the young and immaturity of the passers come out early and often as they try to get a feel for the league. Other times, they have enough raw talent and play-making ability to cause a headache for everyone involved.

When it comes to Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow, the rookie No. 1 overall pick the Jaguars will face off against this weekend, the latter is what will apply. And for defensive coordinator Todd Wash and his struggling unit, they will have to be at the top of their game to slow down the ascending talent.

"Doug [Marrone] and I were talking, he’s wise beyond his years already. You’ve got to give a lot of credit to him, obviously, their coaching staff, of how well he’s prepared going into games," Wash said on Thursday.

"But obviously, the key is we’ve got to get pressure. When it’s a passing situation, we’ve got to put them in some calls where they can pin their ears back. And then same thing on third down, we’ve got to affect him. He’s a very tough man, he’s already taken some big-time shots already."

So with Burrow so far completing 64.5% of his passes with five touchdowns and just one interception, it is natural to think a struggling Jaguars pass defense may have some worries this weekend.

With that said, we have decided to take a look at how Wash's defenses have played against five other rookie quarterbacks dating back to his first year as coordinator in 2016. While none of these quarterbacks or situations are the same as Burrow, it is still worthwhile to see how the games stack up.

Rookie No. 1: Paxton Lynch, 2016

Context: The Jaguars entered this game 2-9, while the Denver Broncos were 7-4. Paxton Lynch, the No. 26 overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, was starting just his second game. It was also the final start he made as a rookie.

Game result: The Broncos won 20-10 after entering the third quarter with a 17-3 lead. A late Blake Bortles rushing score helped the Jaguars threaten, but ultimately the Broncos were able to beat the Jaguars by two scores.

Defensive performance: By all accounts, this was a really good performance from Wash's defense. The Broncos' passing offense had a -7.11 expected points total and Lynch's stat line was rather porous. Lynch completed just 12-of-24 passes for 104 yards (4.33 yards per attempt) and a quarterback rating of 61.8. Lynch got nothing done and the Broncos only really won because of Blake Bortles turnovers.

Rookie No. 2: Deshaun Watson, 2017

Context: Deshaun Watson, the No. 12 pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, opening this game as Houston's backup quarterback. Instead, Tom Savage started the game for Houston and threw the first 13 passes. Watson would play the second half.

Game result: The Jaguars won 29-7 thanks to three field goals from Jason Myers and a Dante Fowler fumble return for a touchdown. The Jaguars led 19-0 at halftime, and this game was mostly over by then.

Defensive performance: The season-opener of 2017, this was the first time we got a look at the dominant defense the Jaguars had that season. They harassed Houston's quarterbacks, recording 10 sacks and four turnovers. Four of those sacks and two of those turnovers came against Watson, with Jacksonville forcing a fumble and also picking him off. Wash's unit limited Watson to 12-of-23 passing for 102 yards (52.17%, 4.43 yards per attempt and a 60.4 quarterback rating.

Rookie No. 3: DeShone Kizer, 2017

Context: The Jaguars entered the game 7-2 while the Cleveland Browns were 0-9. DeShone Kizer, the No. 52 overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, was making his 10th start of the season.

Game result: The Jaguars won 19-7, an ugly performance against a team that wouldn't win a game. They scored just one offensive touchdown, with the second touchdown of the night coming from a Telvin Smith fumble recovery in the final minutes.

Defensive performance: The Browns had an expected points figure of -27.30 when it came to passing, so fair to say the Jaguars were ferocious against Kizer. The rookie 16-of-32 passes for 179 yards (5.59 yards per attempt) for one touchdown and two interceptions. Kizer was also sacked five times and fumbled three times, losing two fumbles. Kizer had zero answers for Jacksonville's defense for essentially the entire game.

Rookie No. 4: Sam Darnold, 2018

Context: With the Jaguars entering the game at 2-1 and the Jets entering the contest 1-2, No. 3 overall pick Sam Darnold made his fourth start as a rookie.

Game result: In a game in which the Jaguars had leads of 18, 25 and 19, this one was never close. The Jaguars were able to dominate the Jets for the majority of the game, winning 31-12 in what was one of their final wins that season.

Defensive performance: Another great performance by Wash's defense against a rookie quarterback, Darnold completed only 17-of-34 passes for 167 yards and one touchdown. This gave Darnold 4.91 yards per attempt and a quarterback rating of 74.0. The Jets' passing offense wasn't good, having an expected points of -12.13, but it wasn't the disaster that other passing offenses had been against the Jaguars from that period.

Rookie No. 5: Josh Allen, 2018

Context: A game between two teams without many win, the Jaguars and Bills were each 3-7 entering this game. The No. 7 overall pick, this was Allen's sixth start as a rookie.

Game result: In a game that is better remembered for Leonard Fournette being ejected after a dustup on the field with Shaq Lawson, the Jaguars went back-and-forth all game with the Bills before losing 24-21. Jacksonville scored a late touchdown but going down 14-0 to start the game put Jacksonville behind the eight ball.

Defensive performance: The Bills were the only team to have a positive expected points against Wash with a rookie quarterback, earning a 4.78 mark. Jacksonville didn't sack Allen once, nor did they force a single turnover. Ultimately, Allen was only 8-of-19 passing (42.11%) for 160 yards (8.42 yards per attempt) and one touchdown, giving him a quarterback rating of 89.8. He also rushed 13 times for 99 yards and one touchdown, making him undoubtedly effective vs. the Jaguars.