The Jacksonville Jaguars are hitting their Week 9 bye with all the positive momentum in the world, particularly on defense.
Through eight games, the Jaguars lead the NFL with 18 takeaways and defensive coordinator Mike Caldwell's unit ranks No. 4 in EPA/Play, up there with the other elite defenses in the NFL in the Baltimore Ravens, Dallas Cowboys, Cleveland Browns, and Kansas City Chiefs.
The Jaguars have gotten Pro Bowl-level play from at least one player in all three units of the defense, but it has been cornerback Darious Williams who has been especially impressive for the resurgent Jaguars defense.
Williams leads the NFL with 14 passes defended -- four more than the next closest defender. He has also recorded three interceptions and a pick-six, all coming during the Jaguars' five-game winning streak.
Williams' spectacular play deserves national recognition, and he got just that this week with PFF announcing that he is the NFL's highest-graded cornerback entering Week 9.
“Starting with Darious, he’s a veteran guy that seems like the ball is going his way, but he’s making those plays," Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson said on Monday. "It’s good for his confidence and it’s great for the defense. He’s playing at an extremely high level and it’s good to see."
Williams is in his second season with the Jaguars after signing as a free-agent last offseason. After starting his tenure in the slot, Williams moved outside after Week 6 last season and ended the year as one of the NFL's most efficient outside cornerbacks in coverage.
“I think just the hard work. He came in last year and had the shoulder a little bit, he was playing inside and we moved him outside," Jaguars defensive coordinator Mike Caldwell said earlier this season.
"I think he’s comfortable in the system, comfortable with what we’re asking him to do and he’s showing that he has good hands. Former basketball player, good eye coordination. So he’s a guy that if the ball is around him, he’s going to be able to make a play on it.”
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