The second-half collapse by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the regular season led to head coach Doug Pederson parting ways with defensive coordinator Mike Caldwell. After having multiple interview requests blocked by other NFL teams, it appears the Jaguars have turned their focus to their next target.
Jacksonville’s defense wasn’t its biggest problem late in the year, but it regressed after performing like a top-10 unit in the first half of the season. In their final seven games, Jaguars’ opponents averaged a 42 percent third-down conversion rate, while averaging nearly 350 total yards per game.
- Jacksonville Jaguars defense stats 2023: 5.4 yards per play allowed (20th), 32.3% scoring rate allowed (10th), 22.6% pressure rate (12th), 89.8 QB rating allowed (17th), 6.1% sack rate (26th)
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However, the Jaguars’ early attempts at finding a top defensive coordinator have been thwarted. Jacksonville wanted to speak with Carolina Panthers defensive coordinator Ejiro Everon and Atlanta Falcons defensive play-caller Ryan Nielsen, but both interview requests were denied.
With their top options off the board, Jacksonville has scheduled an interview with former New York Giants defensive coordinator Wink Martindale and NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports he’s one of the options the Jaguars are most interested in.
Martindale isn’t leaving New York on the best of terms. He clashed with Giants’ head coach Brian Daboll during the regular season and then unleashed an expletive-filled tirade on Black Monday after learning Daboll fired two of Martindale’s assistants.
Despite his issues in New York, the 60-year-old defensive coordinator is well-liked around the league by players and is widely viewed as a quality play-caller. While the Giants defense wasn’t ever a top-14 unit with Martindale, that had more to do with the lack of talent on the roster.
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If Martindale takes over in Jacksonville, the Jaguars’ defense could change dramatically in 2024. Last season, the team posted the ninth-highest blitz rate (30 percent) in the NFL. Martindale is far more aggressive, with the Giants’ defense posting a 45.4 percent blitz rate in 2023 and a 40 percent blitz rate in 2022.
For a Jaguars’ defense that struggled last season at turning pressures into sacks, Martindale would be the type of defensive coordinator who fixes that problem. Plus, his reputation among players for running an extremely aggressive defense could restore more confidence in Jacksonville’s defense within the locker room next season.
