NFL Week 2 Preview: Titans at Jaguars

Each week, the PFF analysis team will bring you break downs of the most important matchups for each game of the NFL season.

Coverage by: Sam McGaw

RT Jack Conklin vs. EDGE Calais Campbell – Following a Week 1 performance in which he gave up five total pressures, right tackle Jack Conklin must turn around and attempt to stifle edge defender Calais Campbell. Conklin posted a PFF pass blocking grade of 24.4, which tied for 57th out of 59 offensive tackles. Campbell led all edge defenders with a pass-rush productivity of 23.0 last week. While four of his five sacks were applied from the interior of the defensive line, he logged six of his 10 total pressures from the left edge. His PFF pass-rush grade of 91.3 was the best among edge defenders. Conklin will also see a lot of defensive end Dante Fowler, who applied five total pressures from the left edge last week.

WR Eric Decker vs. CB Aaron Colvin – With Titans receivers Rishard Matthews and Corey Davis facing difficult matchups against Jaguars cornerbacks A.J. Bouye and Jalen Ramsey, quarterback Marcus Mariota may often look towards targeting receiver Eric Decker out of the slot. Decker caught three of a team-high five passes out of the slot for 10 yards in Week 1. He ran 28 of his 39 routes out of the slot. Jaguars cornerback Aaron Colvin played a team-high 36 snaps in slot coverage last week. In the three targets against him in the slot, he gave up two catches for nine yards. Last season, he allowed an average of .78 receiving yards per slot coverage snap.
TE Delanie Walker vs. S Tashaun Gipson – After ranking first at his position with a PFF overall grade of 88.1 last week, Titans tight end Delanie Walker will likely be leaned on, once again, against the Jaguars. Walker averaged 2.05 yards per route run against the Oakland Raiders, which was the fourth-highest rate among tight ends in Week 1. Mariota averaged a passer rating of 101.9 when targeting him. Walker did most of his damage from the slot, catching four of six targets for 52 yards. He averaged 2.60 slot yards per route run. Walker will likely see a heavy dose of safety Tashaun Gipson in coverage. Gipson allowed just two catches on six passes thrown in his coverage for 30 yards and an interception last week. All six of the targets thrown against him were to tight ends.

Coverage by: Aaron Resnick

RB Leonard Fournette vs. LB Wesley Woodyard – The Jaguars didn't waste time getting Fournette the ball in his NFL debut. As he showed in college, Fournette can create yards after contact, as he recorded 68 of them while forcing four missed tackles. In the past two seasons, Woodyard has had a grade of 82 or higher in run defense, and in 2016 Woodyard's 20.5 tackles per missed tackle attempt ranked 18th among qualifying inside linebackers. It is almost certain the Jaguars will try and get Fournette the ball early and often in this matchup, so if Woodyard rebounds from his Week 1 grade of 37.4 against the run that could prevent the Jaguars offense from establishing a rhythm.

G Patrick Omameh vs. DI Jurrell Casey – In Week 1, Omameh recorded an overall grade of 38.4, ranking 57th among qualifying guards. While his pass-blocking efficiency of 96.4 was a plus, Omameh's run-blocking grade of 34.2 is something the Jaguars will need him to build on and things don't get easier this week. Casey recorded a Week 1 grade of 35.2, but that was a rare off game. In 2015 and '16, Casey graded as a top ten player at his position and has a PFF grade of 82 or higher in each of his six full seasons. In 2016, Casey's 51 total quarterback pressures ranked second among 3-4 ends, and his run stop percentage of 8.2 percent was tenth best. Omameh's ability to contain a player who in multiple ways can bring drives to a halt would certainly be a huge plus for the Jaguars.
WR Marqise Lee vs. CB Adoree' Jackson – With Allen Robinson out for the year, Lee is slated to take his place in two receiver formations. After a breakthrough in 2016, Lee figures to see plenty of another USC product in Jackson this week. Like many rookie cornerbacks, Jackson struggled in his NFL debut. His Week 1 grade of 37.2 was 83rd out of 91 eligible corners, and the Raiders targeted him seven times and completed four passses for 47 yards and a touchdown. The Jaguars only had 21 dropbacks in Week 1, but it wouldn't be surprising if they looked for Lee often. In 2016, Lee's 1.55 yards per route run and his 78.4 passer rating when thrown to led all qualifying Jaguar receivers.