Jacksonville Jaguars: New-Look Secondary Will be X-Factor

The Jacksonville Jaguars have been a bottom-feeding team for a while now. However, the team’s new-look secondary will help the team reach new heights.

The Jacksonville Jaguars play in the AFC South, which means they have to deal with Andrew Luck, Brock Osweiler and Marcus Mariota a combined six times a year.

Since the Jags need stop some potent passing attacks, defending against the pass is paramount. Jacksonville hasn’t finished outside of the bottom 15 for passing defense since 2011. It’s no coincidence the team’s record from 2012-2015 has been an abysmal 14-50.

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However, these aren’t your older brother’s Jaguars, especially with regard to the defense. The team spent a lot of money in free agency to ink former defensive end Malik Jackson, who’s fresh off a Super Bowl 50 victory with Denver.

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The team also gets Dante Fowler Jr. back from a torn ACL, so the pass rush will be lethal compared to years prior.

The secondary is also going to be abundantly improved in 2016, and the unit will prove to be the defense’s X-factor.

In addition to adding Jackson, the Jaguars also signed cornerback Prince Amukamara and free safety Tashaun Gipson.

Amukamara, who spent his entire career with the New York Giants, still hasn’t reached his full potential. Amukamara always flashed his potential at times with the Giants, but injuries were always his downfall.

He was in the midst of an impressive 2014 before he tore his pectoral muscle, which cost him the remainder of the season. It was the same story last year, as Amukamara was having a year even better than ’14. However, the injury bug once again bit Amukamara, and he was a bit of a liability upon returning from his injury.

When he’s healthy, Amukamara is a positive difference-maker. He’s one of the best tackling cornerbacks in the NFL, as he’s never shy about making contact with ball-carriers. Amukamara doesn’t have Patrick Peterson-like athletic ability, but he has good speed and range.

Amukamara gives the Jaguars a big upgrade, as well as tremendous depth. I’m not entirely sure if Amukamara will play outside or in the slot, but he’ll prove to be an upgrade wherever he’s lined up.

For what it’s worth, head coach Gus Bradley isn’t worried about Amukamara’s injury history, according to Tom Rock of Newsday.

Amukamara isn’t the only talented corner on the roster, as Davon House figures to maintain a starting role. Aaron Colvin is also a quality depth player, though he’s suspended for the first four games of the season.

The corners should be fine, and the safety group could be just as good.

Signing Gipson was one of the most underrated moves in all of free agency, although he had an off-year in 2015 — can you blame him? Which skill position player other than Travis Benjamin didn’t have an off 2015 in Cleveland? — he’s the ball-hawking presence the Jaguars have sorely lacked on defense.

From 2013-14, Gipson racked up a combined 11 interceptions, tying or leading the AFC in that department both years. His outstanding play in 2014 earned him his first Pro Bowl berth.

What makes Gipson a unique player is his ability to be in the right place at the right time. He’s a playmaker, and that’s just what Jacksonville needs. As good as Amukamara can be, he doesn’t possess Gipson’s playmaking ability.

Gipson figures to pair up nicely with Johnathan Cyprien, who finally has a competent free safety to help complement his box-safety style.

Of course, it’s impossible to talk about Jacksonville’s improved secondary without mentioning the team’s first-round selection Jalen Ramsey.

One could certainly make a realistic argument that Ramsey was the steal of the first round.

NFL draft expert Mike Mayock gushed about Ramsey, calling the selection a ‘dream scenario.’

"“This is a dream scenario for the Jaguars. Ramsey is arguably the best position player in this draft. Jaguars coach Gus Bradley comes from Seattle, where they covet long corners. He’s a special athlete; he ran track, won the ACC long jump title, ran the opening leg of the 4×100-meter relay. He’s got catch-up speed like I haven’t seen. He has a different skill set. This is a different cat, and he’s got a ‘wow’ factor.”"

Unfortunately, Ramsey sustained an injured meniscus. However, NFL media inside Ian Rapoport reported the injury shouldn’t prevent Ramsey from participating in training camp.

Getting Ramsey back will be crucial for Jacksonville’s defense. I consider Ramsey to be the X-factor of the secondary, so the X-factor’s X-factor, if you will. If he can come in and produce like he projects to, then the Jaguars will boast one of the better cornerback trios in the league.

I don’t think it’s a stretch at all to think Ramsey could have the same kind of immediate impact Marcus Peters had for the Chiefs last year. He’s got ideal length for a Bradley cornerback, and he’s a top-tier athlete.

The cornerback group has the potential to be very good. They’re all lengthy corners, as no member of the top four CBs is under six foot.

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So when you combine the triad of Amukamara, House and Ramsey with the duo of Gipson and Cyprien, you have (on paper) arguably the best secondary in the AFC South. The best part about this unit is that each member is relatively young. Amukamara and House will both be 27 by August. Colvin is 24, Ramsey is 21 and Gipson and Cyprien will both be 26 by kickoff.

Let’s see if youth in served this season in Jacksonville.