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Jaguars' position group on defense has 'improved drastically' says Coen

One position group that Jacksonville Jaguars' head coach Liam Coen believes has improved greatly is the secondary.

And there are a few reasons why Coen feels that way, starting with the addition of Matt Araujo to the defensive coaching staff, who took over as the cornerbacks coach this offseason after previously coaching in Miami.

"I feel like the secondary's improved drastically from where we were," Coen said. "I think the combination of Matt Araujo and Anthony Perkins have done a phenomenal job in the secondary, collaborating with what Campy's vision is back there. But what Matt brought has been some swagger, some confidence."

One would also think that the continuity of being in Anthony Campanile's defensive scheme for a second season is also contributing to the improved play.

And with that, there is a concerted effort from the second and third levels of the defense to be tighter in coverage on underneath routes in an effort to take those more high-percentage throws away.

"We're trying to play a little bit stickier underneath," said Coen. "And look, make people throw the ball over your heads. The percentages of completions of just a go-ball versus a hitch or a curl, it's so much smaller. The margin for error is so much smaller to say, man, the ball has to get completed 45 yards down the field on the red line one-on-one. So we're trying to just continue to take the air out of the coverage."

At cornerback this season will be Montaric Brown, Travis Hunter -- who is not yet practicing as he rehabs from last season's knee injury -- and Jourdan Lewis. At safety will be Eric Murray, Antonio Johnson, and Caleb Ransaw could see playing time as the third safety.

If the Jaguars play on the back end can take a step forward this season, which should then benefit the pass rush, giving the defensive front additional time to get to the quarterback.

"The rush and the coverage are always tied together, and if we can be a little bit more sticky, a little bit tighter coverage, even when we're in zones, I think it's only going to help our cause," added Coen.

This article originally appeared on Jaguars Wire: What is behind improved play from Jaguars' secondary this offseason?

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