Brian Sexton Breaks Down Jacksonville Jaguars’ Defensive Scheme

In the world of NFL analysis, few voices carry as much authority on the Jacksonville Jaguars as Brian Sexton—a longtime sportscaster and insider who has covered the team for over two decades. With a career spent dissecting Jaguars’ games, interviewing coaches, and studying film, Sexton has a unique ability to translate complex defensive strategies into understandable insights for fans and analysts alike. As the Jaguars head into the 2025 season with a revamped defensive unit—featuring new additions like defensive tackle Arik Armstead and top draft pick Travis Hunter—Sexton’s breakdown of their defensive scheme has become a must-read for anyone looking to understand how the team will compete in the tough AFC South. His analysis doesn’t just focus on X’s and O’s; it connects the scheme to the players’ strengths, explaining why certain alignments and plays will maximize the Jaguars’ potential. This expert perspective is why Brian Sexton Breaks Down Jacksonville Jaguars’ Defensive Scheme has become a key resource for fans and football insiders ahead of the new season.

Brian Sexton Breaks Down Jacksonville Jaguars’ Defensive Scheme gains depth when examining the foundation of the Jaguars’ defense: their hybrid 4-3/3-4 alignment. According to Sexton, defensive coordinator Mike Caldwell designed this flexible system to adapt to opposing offenses, rather than forcing the Jaguars to stick to a single formation. “Caldwell doesn’t want to be predictable,” Sexton notes in his breakdown. “He’ll line up with four defensive linemen on early downs to stop the run, then shift to three linemen and add an extra linebacker in passing situations—keeping offenses guessing.” This flexibility is critical in the modern NFL, where teams frequently mix run and pass plays on any down and distance. Sexton highlights that the scheme relies heavily on “gap responsibility” —each defender is assigned a specific gap to defend, ensuring there are no holes for running backs to exploit. For example, in base 4-3 sets, defensive tackles Arik Armstead and DaVon Hamilton are responsible for the A-gaps (between the center and guards), while edge rushers Josh Allen and Roy Robertson-Harris handle the C-gaps (outside the tackles). This structure, Sexton explains, “turns the defensive front into a cohesive unit, rather than a collection of individual players.” By breaking down these basic principles, Sexton makes it clear how the Jaguars’ scheme sets the stage for success.

A critical part of Brian Sexton Breaks Down Jacksonville Jaguars’ Defensive Scheme is his focus on the scheme’s pass-rush strategies—an area where the Jaguars aim to improve after finishing 16th in the NFL in sacks in 2024. Sexton details how Caldwell uses “stunt packages” to create mismatches and generate pressure without relying on blitzes. “The Jaguars don’t want to send extra defenders often, because that leaves the secondary vulnerable,” Sexton explains. “Instead, they use stunts—where defensive linemen swap positions mid-rush—to confuse offensive lines.” One example Sexton highlights is the “tackle-end twist”: Armstead (a defensive tackle) will loop around the edge, while Allen (an edge rusher) will cut inside, forcing the offensive tackle to choose which player to block. This creates a free rusher, as the offensive guard can’t react quickly enough to pick up the twist. Sexton also notes that the scheme leverages Armstead’s versatility—he can line up at tackle or end—to keep offenses off-balance. “Armstead’s ability to play multiple positions is the key to these stunts,” Sexton says. “Offenses can’t prep for just one look; they have to account for him everywhere.” By breaking down these specific plays, Sexton reveals how the Jaguars’ scheme is designed to maximize the talents of their star pass-rushers.

Brian Sexton Breaks Down Jacksonville Jaguars’ Defensive Scheme is particularly illuminating when Sexton connects the scheme to the Jacksonville Jaguars’ secondary— a unit that got a major boost with the addition of Travis Hunter. Sexton explains that the Jaguars’ coverage schemes are designed to complement their pass rush, with a focus on “zone coverage” in early downs to prevent big plays. “Caldwell wants the secondary to hold up for 3-4 seconds, giving the pass rush time to get to the quarterback,” Sexton says. In zone coverage, the Jaguars divide the field into areas, with each defensive back responsible for a specific zone—Hunter, for example, might cover the slot in nickel sets, while veteran Tyson Campbell handles the outside. Sexton highlights how Hunter’s versatility makes him a perfect fit: “Hunter can play cornerback, safety, or nickelback, so Caldwell can shift him around to cover the opponent’s best receiver—whether that’s a wideout or a tight end.” The Jacksonville Jaguars’ secondary struggled with consistency in 2024, but Sexton’s breakdown shows how the scheme, paired with new talent, will fix that. “The scheme doesn’t ask the secondary to do the impossible,” Sexton notes. “It gives them clear responsibilities, and with Hunter’s talent, they’ll be able to execute at a higher level.” For the Jacksonville Jaguars, this synergy between scheme and personnel is what will make the secondary a strength in 2025.

Another vital angle of Brian Sexton Breaks Down Jacksonville Jaguars’ Defensive Scheme is his analysis of how the scheme adapts to divisional opponents— a key factor in the Jacksonville Jaguars’ quest for an AFC South title. Sexton breaks down how the Jaguars will adjust their approach against teams like the Indianapolis Colts (a run-heavy offense led by Jonathan Taylor) and the Houston Texans (a pass-heavy offense with quarterback C.J. Stroud). Against the Colts, Sexton explains, the Jaguars will use “eight-man boxes” (eight defenders near the line of scrimmage) to stop the run, with linebackers Foyesade Oluokun and Yasir Abdullah filling gaps. “They’ll sacrifice some coverage depth to shut down Taylor,” Sexton says, “because if he gets going, the Colts’ offense becomes nearly unstoppable.” Against the Texans, the Jaguars will shift to more nickel and dime sets (five or six defensive backs), using Hunter and Campbell to cover the Texans’ wide receivers and tight ends. “Stroud likes to spread the field,” Sexton notes, “so the Jaguars will spread their defense to match, preventing him from finding easy targets.” The Jacksonville Jaguars’ ability to adapt, Sexton emphasizes, is what will separate them from other teams in the division. “Caldwell doesn’t have a ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach,” Sexton says. “He tailors the scheme to each opponent, and that’s why the Jaguars will be competitive every week.”

Finally, Brian Sexton Breaks Down Jacksonville Jaguars’ Defensive Scheme wraps up with a look at how the scheme will impact the Jaguars’ overall success in 2025. Sexton argues that the scheme’s strength lies in its simplicity and clarity—qualities that will help the team avoid the communication errors that plagued them in 2024. “Defenses win games when everyone knows their role,” Sexton says. “Caldwell’s scheme doesn’t overcomplicate things; it puts players in positions to succeed.” He also notes that the scheme’s flexibility will allow the Jacksonville Jaguars to grow throughout the season, as coaches can add new plays and adjustments based on what works. “The Jaguars aren’t locked into one way of playing,” Sexton explains. “If a certain stunt or coverage works well in Week 1, they’ll build on it. If something fails, they’ll adjust.” For fans, Sexton’s breakdown provides a roadmap for understanding the Jaguars’ defense in 2025—what to watch for on game days, which players to focus on, and how the scheme will impact key matchups. Brian Sexton Breaks Down Jacksonville Jaguars’ Defensive Scheme isn’t just an analysis of X’s and O’s; it’s a guide to understanding why the Jaguars’ defense has the potential to be one of the NFL’s best this season—and how it will help the team chase a championship.