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          NFL Nation

          Ineffective pass rush limited defensive line's effectiveness

          • Michael DiRocco, ESPN Staff WriterFeb 1, 2016, 12:00 PM
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              Michael DiRocco is an NFL reporter at ESPN. DiRocco covers the Jacksonville Jaguars. He previously covered the University of Florida for over a decade for ESPN.com and Florida Times-Union. DiRocco graduated from Jacksonville University and is a multiple APSE award winner. You can follow DiRocco on Twitter at @ESPNdirocco.
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          Each day for the next two weeks we’ll review how each position group performed in 2015 as well as taking an early look at 2016. Monday we’ll examine the defensive line. We’ve already done quarterback, running back, tight end, wide receiver, and offensive line.

          Defensive line

          Breakdown of starts: Jared Odrick (16), Roy Miller (16), Tyson Alualu (13), Andrew Branch (10), Chris Clemons (7), Sen’Derrick Marks (2).

          Recap: Odrick (23 tackles) and Miller (22 tackles, 4.0 sacks) played well in 2015, and coach Gus Bradley said at one point that it would be hard to imagine a nose tackle in the NFL playing any better. Odrick got off to a bit of a slow start adjusting to being the big end, whose primary responsibility is setting the edge against the run game, but thrived in the second half of the season. He ended up leading the team in sacks (5.5). Alualu moved inside to the 3-technique tackle spot because of Marks’ injuries and had another solid season (18 tackles, 2.0 sacks). The leo (pass-rushing end) was the problem. Branch and Clemons combined for 7.0 sacks and had long stretches during games and over multiple weeks where they were practically invisible. Bradley praised Clemons for his work against the run, but that spot is designed to generate pressure on first and second down without blitzing. Not having Marks really hurt the pass rush. He led the team with 8.5 sacks in 2014 and his presence on the interior forced teams to adjust inside and gave the edge rushers more opportunities for sacks. Because of the lack of pressure in 2015 the Jaguars were forced to blitz 182 times, which was the 14th-most in the NFL, according to ESPN Stats & Information. The Jaguars had the fewest blitzes in 2013 (110) and 2014 (95). It didn’t help that the Jaguars didn’t have first-round pick Dante Fowler Jr., who tore his left ACL on the first day of rookie minicamp.

          Looking ahead to 2016

          Players under contract: Odrick, Clemons, Chris Smith, Marks, Miller, Alualu, Michael Bennett, Richard Ash.

          The skinny: The Jaguars are expected to pursue pass-rushers in free agency so that will help. So will the return of Fowler, who will have had more than a year to rehab his injury. It’s important to keep in mind that expectations for Fowler should be tempered because it’s rare that a rookie pass-rusher (which is essentially what he’ll be) has double-digit sacks. According to ESPN Stats & Information, only 12 rookies have done that since 2001. A healthy Marks will help, too, though the Jaguars are going to be careful in terms of monitoring his reps. It’s unlikely the Jaguars bring Clemons and Branch back. Other players’ spots may be in jeopardy depending on how many pass-rushers the Jaguars sign or draft.