SPORTS | Jaguars defense shining as preseason opener approaches

It is still early in the Jaguars’ camp, but the early returns on new defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen and his new scheme have been very positive.

Nielsen came to the Jaguars this offseason after spending the previous season in Atlanta as the Falcons’ defensive coordinator and defensive line coach. When he was hired, Nielsen promised to instill an attacking defensive approach to the Jaguars. So far, he has delivered on his word.

The Jaguars’ defense has outplayed the offense through the first week and a half of training camp. That is not an unusual state in the NFL, where offenses operate on timing and must develop a feel for one another as the season approaches. But the frequency of big plays made by the defense has been remarkable.

Nielsen has changed the defensive front to utilize more four-man lines, but the shift in mindset seems more substantial. He came to Jacksonville with a fresh set of eyes and new energy.

“We’ve told the guys, ‘Hey, look, everybody’s going to get an opportunity, so what you do with your opportunity, with what you do with your reps, it doesn’t matter who it’s against.’ That’s what we’re looking for,” Nielsen said. “You’re seeing a lot of guys go out there with the different groups, ones, twos, threes, whatever. We don’t have that. Coaches put down the rotation, guys go out there, you’re seeing different defensive combinations every day. It’s what those guys do with their reps and that’s how we evaluate them, and that’s kind of the whole process.”

The Jaguars will have their first litmus test of the new defensive approach on Saturday in the preseason opener against the Kansas City Chiefs. The game will also provide a chance to see how new leaders are developing on defense. Josh Hines-Allen and Foye Oluokun have established themselves in leadership roles, but others continue to step up.

“I think we’re seeing Tyson Campbell and his growth in and what he’s now bringing to the football team,” Pederson said. “One of the things that I’ve challenged him to is a little more of a leadership role on defense because it’s still kind of a young secondary in a way. Devin Lloyd has been another one on defense that that’s been more of a presence out there in a leadership role.”

Nielsen said that he continues to develop the players and the scheme while he is learning each player personally. Understanding players both on and off the field is important to his coaching approach.

“It just means more. You have more fun with the guys when you actually know them and you know them as people, not just the players,” Nielsen said. “I think our staff does a good job at that. Our players have been very receptive, and have good conversations with the guys about anything. One of our favorite things about coaching is that relationship part and being able to talk to the guys about those certain different things.”

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