Anthony Campanile’s Scheme Aims to Fix Jacksonville Jaguars’ Defense

When the Jacksonville Jaguars hired Anthony Campanile as their defensive coordinator in January 2025, the move came with a clear mandate: fix a defense that had held the team back during their 2024 playoff push. Anthony Campanile’s Scheme Aims to Fix Jacksonville Jaguars’ Defense encapsulates the core mission of the former Michigan linebackers coach—overhauling a unit that ranked 22nd in total defense (358 yards per game) and 26th in run defense (132.8 yards per game) last season. Campanile’s scheme, a hybrid blend of aggressive 3-4 and 4-3 looks, is designed to address the Jaguars’ biggest weaknesses: inconsistent pass rush, vulnerable run stopping, and coverage busts that led to 21 passing touchdowns. For a team with Super Bowl aspirations and a star-studded offense led by Trevor Lawrence, a improved defense is the missing piece—and Campanile’s strategy is built to deliver just that. Anthony Campanile’s Scheme Aims to Fix Jacksonville Jaguars’ Defense isn’t just about X’s and O’s; it’s about unlocking the talent of players like defensive end Josh Allen and safety Andre Cisco, turning individual skill into collective dominance. This article explores the key elements of Campanile’s scheme, the problems it targets, and how it’s taking shape in training camp.

Anthony Campanile’s Scheme Aims to Fix Jacksonville Jaguars’ Defense starts with its most urgent priority: shoring up the Jaguars’ struggling run defense. Last season, opposing teams exploited Jacksonville’s inconsistent gap discipline, averaging 4.7 yards per carry and scoring 16 rushing touchdowns—numbers that often forced the offense to play from behind. Campanile’s solution? A “gap-control” system that assigns specific run-stopping responsibilities to every defender, eliminating the missed assignments that led to big gains. Defensive tackles DaVon Hamilton and Roy Robertson-Harris are now tasked with clogging interior gaps, while linebackers Foyesade Oluokun and Devin Lloyd focus on “spilling” runs to the sidelines (forcing ball-carriers out of bounds instead of letting them cut upfield). Campanile has also added “run-blitz packages,” where edge rushers like Allen drop back into run support instead of always rushing the passer. “Run defense is about discipline first—you can’t have guys out of position,” Campanile said during a training camp press conference. “We’re teaching our players to trust their assignments, so even if a running back makes a cut, there’s always someone there to make the tackle.” Early signs are promising: during the Jaguars’ first preseason scrimmage, they held the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to 3.2 yards per carry, a significant improvement from last season’s average.

Anthony Campanile’s Scheme Aims to Fix Jacksonville Jaguars’ Defense also focuses on reviving the Jaguars’ pass rush, which managed just 32 sacks last season (tied for 20th in the NFL). Campanile’s approach here is twofold: diversifying blitz packages and maximizing the talent of Allen, who had 10 sacks in 2024 but often faced double teams. The scheme introduces “variable blitzes”—different combinations of defenders (linebackers, safeties, even cornerbacks) rushing the quarterback on any given play—to keep opposing offensive lines guessing. For example, in one package, Cisco (a safety) lines up as a “blitzer” off the edge, while Allen drops back into coverage—a twist that forces quarterbacks to adjust mid-play. Campanile has also emphasized “hand placement” and “rip moves” in pass-rush drills, helping players like second-year edge rusher Travon Walker (who had 4 sacks last season) beat blockers more consistently. “Pass rush isn’t just about speed—it’s about technique and timing,” Campanile explained. “We’re teaching our guys to win with their hands first, then their feet. That way, even if they’re facing a double team, they can create pressure.” During a recent practice, the Jaguars’ defense recorded 5 sacks in a single team period—proof that the scheme is starting to click. Allen, for his part, is excited about the new approach: “This scheme lets me use my strengths. I’m not just a pass rusher anymore—I’m a playmaker, and that’s exactly what Coach Campanile wants.”

Anthony Campanile’s Scheme Aims to Fix Jacksonville Jaguars’ Defense underscores the Jacksonville Jaguars’ focus on hybrid defensive roles to add flexibility and confuse opposing offenses. Campanile’s system doesn’t lock players into traditional positions; instead, it lets them switch roles based on the play. For example, cornerback Tyson Campbell—who’s 6’2” and has great ball skills—now lines up as a “nickel linebacker” in certain packages, covering slot receivers or blitzing the quarterback. Safety Rayshawn Jenkins, meanwhile, splits time between deep coverage and box safety (lining up near the line of scrimmage to stop runs). This versatility makes it harder for offenses to predict the Jaguars’ defense, as they can’t rely on standard personnel groupings to signal coverage or blitzes. “Hybrid roles keep offenses off balance,” Campanile said. “If a team thinks they know where a player is going to line up, we can switch it up and make them adjust. That’s how you create turnovers.” The Jacksonville Jaguars’ focus on hybrid defensive roles has been especially beneficial for young players like rookie cornerback Jaylen Ramsey Jr. (no relation to the former Jaguar), who’s learning multiple positions and getting more reps in camp. “Coach Campanile wants us to be ‘football players, not position players,’” Ramsey Jr. said. “It’s a lot to learn, but it makes us more valuable—and it makes the defense better.”

Anthony Campanile’s Scheme Aims to Fix Jacksonville Jaguars’ Defense also highlights the Jacksonville Jaguars’ investment in coverage drills to eliminate the busts that plagued the team last season. In 2024, the Jaguars’ secondary allowed 11 touchdowns on “coverage busts”—miscommunications that left wide receivers wide open. Campanile has made “communication drills” a daily part of practice, where players run through scenarios (like wide receiver motion or tight end crosses) and call out coverages in real time. He’s also added “film study sessions” specifically for the secondary, breaking down past coverage busts and teaching players to read quarterback eyes and receiver routes. For example, in one drill, the secondary practices “switching assignments” when a receiver goes in motion—ensuring no one is left uncovered. “Coverage is about trust and communication,” said secondary coach Deshea Townsend, who works closely with Campanile. “If one player misses a call, the whole play breaks down. We’re making sure everyone is on the same page, every single play.” The Jacksonville Jaguars’ investment in coverage drills is paying off: during a preseason game against the Miami Dolphins, the Jaguars’ secondary didn’t allow a single coverage bust, and Cisco recorded an interception off a tipped pass. “We’re not perfect yet, but we’re getting there,” Cisco said. “Coach Campanile’s drills have made us more disciplined, and that’s showing on the field.”

Anthony Campanile’s Scheme Aims to Fix Jacksonville Jaguars’ Defense concludes with the Jacksonville Jaguars’ goal of turning defensive improvements into playoff success. For the Jaguars, a better defense isn’t just about stopping teams—it’s about giving Lawrence and the offense more opportunities to win games. Last season, the defense forced just 18 turnovers (tied for 12th in the NFL); Campanile’s scheme is designed to increase that number by creating more pressure and forcing quarterbacks into bad decisions. With a defense that can stop the run, rush the passer, and avoid coverage busts, the Jaguars believe they can compete with top AFC teams like the Kansas City Chiefs and Baltimore Ravens. “This defense has the talent to be elite,” Campanile said as camp neared its end. “We just needed the right scheme to unlock it. Now, it’s up to the players to execute.” The Jacksonville Jaguars’ goal of turning defensive improvements into playoff success is shared by the entire team—from Lawrence, who knows a better defense will take pressure off the offense, to Allen, who’s eager to lead a dominant pass rush. Anthony Campanile’s Scheme Aims to Fix Jacksonville Jaguars’ Defense isn’t just a training camp story; it’s a promise to Jaguars fans that the team’s missing piece is finally in place. As the regular season begins, all eyes will be on Campanile’s defense—waiting to see if it can turn potential into dominance, and lead the Jaguars to their first Super Bowl appearance in franchise history.