Should the Jaguars Consider Bringing in a New Defensive Coordinator This Offseason?

The Jaguars May Have To Consider A Change At Defensive Coordinator

A disappointing loss against the Detroit Lions has made many fans reconsider whether the right choice was made with Mike Caldwell being added to the staff in the offseason. The Jaguars defense, which was a vaunted unit early in the season, has become completely ineffective and lost arguably since the matchup against the Indianapolis Colts. It's very rare that first season coaches and coordinators should be on the hot seat, but the level of regression taking place across the entire defense has unfortunately made this a prevalent question. What is wrong with the Jaguars defense?

There was a great point made by Generation Jaguar earlier this week that Mike Caldwell simply doesn't have the guys to run his defense properly. The Jaguars have found no answer at boundary cornerback opposite of Tyson Campbell, although there may be an answer already on the roster, and are consistently exposed at that spot. In addition, the Jaguars defensive interior lacks a player who can be effectively used on both run and pass plays. Dawuane Smoot and Arden Key are essentially limited to passing downs while the rest of the interior defensive line finds their clear strengths in run blocking. Ultimately, this leads to opposing offenses knowing what the Jaguars are preparing for on each down.

There are simply issues on the Jaguars that are killing this defense, but Mike Caldwell has undoubtedly been at fault for not making more adjustments to help his defense. Devin Lloyd needs to be played to develop and should genuinely be considered as a player who could line up on the defensive line. Lloyd was an effective pass rusher in college and even a great run blocker, moving him up front and using him will do more to disguise what the Jaguars are doing on defense. As mentioned previously too, Darious Williams needs to get a trial on the boundary at cornerback. The Jaguars need to know what they have at cornerback before addressing the needs in the offseason. Regardless of the bad cards in Caldwell's hands, he has to present challenges to opposing offenses and give the Jaguars a chance. If he can't learn to do that, the Jaguars will need to seriously consider going another direction after finishing the season.

Vic Fangio Could Once Again Emerge As A Favorite In Jacksonville

Not that long ago, it was expected that Vic Fangio would be the Jaguars defensive coordinator in 2022. He was interviewed by the Jaguars' brass and seen as a clear favorite for the job, but Mike Caldwell ended up beating him out. Fangio has taken a role as a defensive consultant on the Philadelphia Eagles and would clearly be getting an upgrade if he was hired by a defensive coordinator. Similar to Doug Pederson, this could be an extremely underrated option that teams overlooked.

In addition, having a bad tenure as an NFL head coach does not mean that someone can't be an effective coordinator. Leslie Frazier is a fantastic example of this. He was an awful head coach according to the witness of Minnesota Vikings fans, yet a decade down the road he's leading Buffalo's defense to be one of the best units in the NFL. Vic Fangio could be the next example after a bag of mixed results in Denver.

Vic Fangio's last stint as a defensive coordinator was with the Chicago Bears from 2015 to 2018 where he led the Chicago Bears defense from being third worst to third best in the league. In 2018, Chicago's defense led the NFL with 27 interceptions and 36 forced turnovers. Following his last season in Chicago, he was signed as the head coach of the Denver Broncos where he transformed the Broncos defense into one of the best units in all of football. In his final season, the Denver Broncos were considered the third best defense across the entire league.

Having already interviewed in Jacksonville for a position on their staff, Vic Fangio would likely be considered once again as a candidate if Mike Caldwell was released after this season. Following a year of stepping away from a prominent role on an NFL team, Fangio could be a great option as a refreshed candidate that could bring success to a struggling Jacksonville defense. Fangio would have some foundational pieces to work with on defense and if he could revive some of the younger players on the roster, Jacksonville would quickly start rising as one of the better defenses in the NFL.

The Jaguars Need To Give Mike Caldwell At Least Another Season If He Shows Improvement

Continuity is arguably one of the biggest reasons the Jaguars haven't won nearly as many games as they used to. There have simply been too many changes over each offseason in recent history for players and coaches to get comfortable and improve. Unless the Jaguars are virtually presented with no other choice, they need to retain Mike Caldwell after this season. There is a plan for the Jaguars defense and when Mike Caldwell has had the ability to properly deploy his scheme, the Jaguars defense has been good.

The Jaguars need to change up where players are being deployed, implement stunts, and work to confuse offenses in order to make improvements. Once this season is over, they need to evaluate each position and clear up cap space in order to fill roster holes. Shaquill Griffin and Roy Robertson-Harris will almost undoubtedly be replaced and perhaps the Jaguars can restructure Rayshawn Jenkins contract to keep him around. A creative mindset towards roster construction in the offseason could set things back on track and create the foundation for a new era defense.

As fans, we are undoubtedly tired of the struggles this team has endured without end. It's alright to overreact and be upset about games like the one we just had, but we have to consider the whole picture and make fair assessments of the roster. Right now, Mike Caldwell doesn't deserve to be fired from the Jaguars. He'll have the opportunity to adjust and grow as a coordinator which will be evaluated in full after the season comes to an end.

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