Impressive that the Rams beat them.
http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap300000 ... on-unfolds
http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap300000 ... on-unfolds
Yannick Ngakoue and the other guys on the Jaguars' defense
Jacksonville's defense is so good that I could highlight a different player every week and not run out of worthy subjects before the end of the season. Free-agent pickup Calais Campbell and star cornerback Jalen Ramsey are both worthy Defensive Player of the Year candidates, and the world at large has finally caught up to how good linebacker Telvin Smith is. But Sunday's performance against the Browns by underrated second-year pass rusher Yannick Ngakoue was a reminder that Jacksonville has so many different players capable of taking over a game.
Ngakoue finished with 2.5 sacks and was officially credited with two forced fumbles, although he was involved in three, including back to back fourth-quarter plays to seal the game. He has incredible burst off the line for a defensive end and swoops in to knock fumbles out like a power forward blocking an opponent on a fast break. On most defenses, he'd be a breakout star, having amassed 45 total pressures on the season, according to Pro Football Focus -- that's only two fewer than Campbell. On the Jaguars, he's probably not among the five most valuable defensive players.
Guys like Ngakoue, linebacker Myles Jack and safeties Barry Church and Tashaun Gipson have all quietly done their jobs well this season for a Jaguars defense as deep in talent as any in recent memory. It's a defense good enough to make tackles Malik Jackson and Marcell Dareus, two of the highest-paid players at their position, into quality role players. Every week is a chance for a new player to take his star turn.
