Preseaon Game 1 vs New Orleans Saints August 9 Saints_Digital_LAYOUT | Page 74
The Jaguars defense is brimming with confi dence
entering 2018 after putting up one of the best
defensive seasons in franchise history in 2017.
“We have a chance to be really, really good – we
know that, everybody in the locker room knows
that,” All-Pro defensive end Calais Campbell said
early in camp.
“I’m glad we have high confi dence. At the same
time, we have a lot of work to do. A team as
talented as we are and as hard as we work, we
should be very good.”
For fi rst-team All-Pro cornerback Jalen Ramsey,
fi nding improvement on defense is pretty simple.
“At the end of the day, win games,” Ramsey said
on the fi fth day of 2018 training camp. “We can
always ask for more – more turnovers, more
touchdowns, more opportunities giving the ball
back to the offense. Just more of everything.”
The only major departures on defense from a year
ago are nickel cornerback Aaron Colvin (in free
agency to the Houston Texans) and linebacker
Paul Posluszny (retirement).
With so much experience returning on the
defensive side, Campbell did not hesitate to show
his faith in the group’s work ethic to take things a
step further in 2018.
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“I’m pretty confi dent when I say we’re probably
the hardest working team in the league. That’s a
big statement because a lot of teams are working
hard right now and doing things… they ask a lot
of us, but the guys sit there and respond.
“We go out there, we push ourselves and with
that talent and that mentality and the work ethic,
we should be pretty good.”
Spotlight players for tonight
With varying playing times expected for the
Jaguars starting units, here are a few Jaguars
to keep an eye on in tonight’s game against the
Saints (in numerical order):
• #6 Cody Kessler, QB: After Chad Henne
departed in free agency, the Jaguars traded a
conditional seventh-round pick to the Cleveland
Browns for the third-year signal caller out of
Southern California. He made eight starts in 2016
with Cleveland and had brief glimpses of solid
play. Can he solidify the backup quarterback
position in Jacksonville?
• #13 Rashad Greene Sr., WR: The 2015 fourth-
round pick out of Florida State splashed with
punt returns his rookie season, but has seen
limited action since with several injuries –
including missing the entire 2017 season on
injured reserve. Can he break through in what
has become a very crowded wide receiver room?
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