Jacksonville Jaguars: Expectations for Dante Fowler

With no Jacksonville Jaguars’ defender registering more than 8.5 sacks in 2014, the Jags addressed a pressing need on defense by selecting Dante Fowler Jr. third overall in the 2015 NFL draft. The former first-team All SEC defender brings some much needed intensity and play making ability to Jacksonville’s front seven.

At six-foot-three inches and 261 pounds, Fowler looks like a human projectile when chasing down opposing quarterbacks. Fowler has a knack for exploding off the line of scrimmage and possesses the athleticism and range to quickly close the gap in backside pursuit. Also, Fowler’s instincts to know when to time a blitz and attack the line of scrimmage is remarkable. In my opinion, Fowler’s supreme football instincts allows him to play even faster than what his 4.6 40 yard dash time would indicate. That being said, what can Jaguars’ fans expect from Fowler in year one?

Jan 20, 2015; Fairhope, AL, USA; South squad head coach Gus Bradley of the Jacksonville Jaguars watches practice as he coaches the South squad at Fairhope Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports

I think Jaguars’ head coach Gus Bradley will be able to plug Fowler into the starting lineup immediately. While at the University of Florida, Fowler did not have one set position and lined up in various spots along the front seven of the Gator defense. Some people view this as a negative aspect to Fowler’s game because he did not thoroughly learn one single position on the field. However, I see this element as a positive sign that Fowler’s skill set is scheme diverse. Therefore, I think Fowler has a greater chance of fitting into any defensive alignment.

Aside from knifing into opposing backfields with feline quickness, the thing I like most about Fowler is the fact that he got better with each year at Florida. Playing mostly a reserve role in his freshman year with the Gators, Fowler worked his way into the starting lineup in his last two seasons in Gainesville. Before Fowler’s final collegiate season, he shed roughly 15 pounds in an effort to become a quicker, more explosive athlete. By all accounts, the dedication to improve his game shows that Fowler truly loves the game of football.

Sep 13, 2014; Gainesville, FL, USA; Florida Gators defensive lineman Dante Fowler Jr. (6) reacts against the Kentucky Wildcats at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Florida Gators defeated the Kentucky Wildcats 36-30. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Like every prospect, there are flaws to Fowler’s overall game. According to NFL.com’s scouting report on Fowler, his pass rush approach “lacks efficiency and includes too much wasted motion”. While Fowler’s technique can be a bit sloppy at this point in his career, I find it easy to bet on a guy if I believe he is dedicated to improvement the way that Fowler is. Fowler’s technical flaws will likely prevent him from being an instant superstar Florida Gator pass rusher in the mold of a Jevon Kearse. However, I do think Fowler has Pro Bowl potential in two or three years.

With Indianapolis’ Andrew Luck already in the mix, the Jacksonville Jaguars will likely be squaring off against two new starting quarterbacks in their division. The Jags face a brand new set of potential match-up issues with the extremely mobile Marcus Mariota in Tennessee and the battle tested Brian Hoyer in Houston. As the quarterback position continues to evolve within the AFC South division, I feel that obtaining a top-flight pass rusher was an essential counter move by Jacksonville.

Stew Milne-USA TODAY Sports

Since defensive front seven help was indeed on Jacksonville’s mind, the argument could have been made for Vic Beasley of Clemson or Leonard Williams of USC. However, none of us will really know what the right answer was until three or so years down the road. But what we do know is that Jacksonville eventually settled on a high motor player with great instincts, athletic ability, and a willingness to sacrifice and improve. Having taken all of this into consideration, I can’t find much fault in Jacksonville’s selection of Dante Fowler Jr.

Next: Bright spots for the Jacksonville Jaguars

More from NFL Spin Zone

Home/Jacksonville Jaguars