Jacksonville Jaguars: Jalen Ramsey faces elite receivers in 2018
By Larry Brake
Jalen Ramsey will be covering elite receivers throughout the 2018 season when you look at the Jacksonville Jaguars schedule.
The Jacksonville Jaguars will play a tougher schedule this season due to winning the AFC South division. Six of their opponents were playoff teams in 2017. Most of all, Jacksonville will play both Super Bowl teams in the first half of the regular season.
It’s no secret that the Jaguars have a ferocious defense. Jacksonville has the best pass defense. Jalen Ramsey is the face of the pass defense. As the top corner, he gets to cover the opposing top receiver.
Since his rookie season, he has had some dubious battles. Remember his duel with Steve Smith? How could you forget Ramsey getting blindsided by A.J. Green? He has a way of getting under the opponent’s skin.
In this upcoming season, Ramsey faces elite receivers beginning in Week 1. Jacksonville travels to face the New York Giants. Ramsey will get to blanket Odell Beckham Jr. However, Beckham played in just four games last season. Yet, Beckham should be healthy when the new season starts. Prior to his 2017 injury, Beckham scored 35 touchdowns in three seasons. He has 4,424 career receiving yards. Ramsey will have his hands full will Beckham
New England arrives for a Week 2 showdown. Ramsey might draw Rob Gronkowski as his cover assignment. Julian Edelman will be back, but will be the slot receiver.
Ramsey will face Tyreek Hill in Week 5 at Kansas City. Hill is an explosive player. Last season, Hill averaged 15.8 yards per reception with seven touchdowns. Ramsey will have to watch the double move routes. The AFC South opponents will have their top receivers in top form as well. Houston’s DeAndre Hopkins is the best of them. Ramsey has been able to keep tabs on Hopkins.
Week 11 is the marquee matchup to watch. Ramsey will continue his dominance over Antonio Brown in Pittsburgh. This will be the third meeting, all in Pittsburgh, in two seasons.
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Ramsey enters his third pro season and has performed at an elite level. Pro Football Focus ranked Ramsey as the third best NFL cornerback. Let’s hope that Jacksonville will play more press man coverage and less zone. Now is the time to show everyone that he is the best corner ever from Florida State.