Moeller: Anthony Campanile's Defense Ready To Reach New Heights
Normally if Cincinnati’s Joe Burrow throws for 414 yards, there’s a very good possibility that his team will win the game, In fact the Bengals accumulated 437 yards of offense.
Did the Bengals win?
No, in fact, they lost the game in question to the Jaguars, 22-17, Sunday.
The Jags finally won a game over the Bengals. In the last three meetings, the Bengals won by a winning touchdown with 18 seconds left in the game, a last-second field goal, and an overtime field goal.
Sunday’s win was another testament to the Jaguars’ defense that appeared ready to break again in Cincinnati. Rayuan Lane III made a leaping, first-down saving tackle that gave the Jags the win.
It was another sign that this defense continues to look like it will be something special. This unit succeeds with a true team effort.
Yet, to the naked eye, their defensive stats can be somewhat deceiving.
On paper, the Jags’ defense likely doesn’t look like one that is considered one of the league’s elite, and a unit that has helped them to a 3-1 record. They are ranked 31st against the pass, but second against the rush. They are 25th overall in total yards.
More importantly, defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile’s unit is second with points allowed per game with a stingy 13.3 mark. They are second in takeaways, averaging two per game, and eighth in sacks.
Is Campanile’s unit a mirror image of the 70’s Steelers, ‘85 Bears , or the 2000 Ravens? They’re not there yet.
However, they have definitely started on the road.
They are certainly in unison and Josh Hines-Allen and Travon Walker have had slow starts. Ventrell Miller has relieved any doubts about replacing linebacker Devin Lloyd, who is having an All-Pro season in Carolina.
Arik Armstead is playing like his 49er days, and Jourdan Lewis looks like his old Cowboy days. Foyesade Oluokun still is a tackling machine.
They have kept a low profile and are relishing the role. The league may finally be realizing their potential as possibly the best -kept defensive secret.
Their lone blemish was a second-half breakdown in Denver, where they gave up 392 yards. They handled Cleveland and New England, who ironically have looked like playoff-caliber teams since they were man-handled by Campanile’s defense in front of the Jaguars’ faithful.
Playing at a high level, the Jags are running the risk of playing two trap games in their second home, London, where they are 7-7 overall.
Once seen as two daunting games against the Eagles and Texans have turned into games they can’t afford to come out flat and lose. Philly is a MASH unit with numerous injuries and an inept offense, while winless Houston has been victimized late in three of its four games.
Like they have through their first four games, Campanile’s boys will have to prove it again. Even though the Jags already are beginning to take control of the AFC South title with their lackluster division opponents with an overall 2-10 record, the Jags need to stay on the gas on both sides of the ball.
A win across the pond against the reeling Eagles, and the Jags’ defense will take another major step toward reaching another level.
It can be another example where yards allowed don't truly reflect this unit’s status.
