WATFORD, England — Jacksonville Jaguars defensive ends Josh Hines-Allen and Travon Walker got off to the kind of pass-rushing start that created a lofty standard and even loftier expectations. The duo combined for 2 1/2 sacks, one knockdown and four pressures in Week 1 win over the Cleveland Browns.
But since then? Plenty of close calls, but only a combined half sack (by Walker in Week 5 against the Philadelphia Eagles).
According to the Times-Union’s charting, Walker has 14 disruptions (1 1/2 sacks, four knockdowns and 8 1/2 pressures) and Hines-Allen 13 1/2 (1 1/2 sacks, four knockdowns and eight pressures).
“When you talk about effecting the quarterback, it comes in different ways and those guys have done a nice job of creating it when we needed
it,” coach Liam Coen said before practice on Oct. 16.
Coen noticed the impact being made by Hines-Allen and Walker while assembling a video of clips for his Saturday team meeting ahead of the Jaguars’ game against the Houston Texans.
“I can say they’re effecting the quarterback a ton and we know we’re going to need it a ton this week,” Coen said.
Through Oct. 16, the Jaguars’ 11 sacks were tied for 12th in the NFL and the Texans’ 14 allowed sacks were tied for seventh-most.
In addition to the sacks, the T-U has charted the Jaguars’ defense with 18 knockdowns and 50 pressures for 79 total disruptions.
Through five games last year, the Jaguars had seven sacks, 18 knockdowns and 44 pressures for 69 total disruptions.
As run defenders, Hines-Allen and Walker aren't perimeter spectators in helping the Jaguars climb to the top of the run defense rankings (63.8 yards per game). Per the T-U's charting, Hines-Allen has 5 1/2 "stuffs" (gain of 1 or fewer yards) and Walker has 3 1/2 "stuffs."
Houston’s running game is broken (30th in yards per game at 79.0 and 31st in yards per carry at 3.2) and will be without David Montgomery. The Texans may opt to jump on quarterback C.J. Stroud’s shoulders instead of trying to poke through the Jaguars’ top-rated rush defense.
“We can’t let C.J. stand back there and hang out and be able to pick us apart and get those the guys on the perimeter too quickly,” Coen said. “It’s a great challenge this week.”
If Hines-Allen and Walker rise up and have the kind of game they did in Week 1, the Jaguars will fly home from England with a 5-1 record.
Around the Jaguars
1. A 4-1 start equals playoffs: This is the sixth 4-1 start or better in Jaguars history and they have made the playoffs every previous time. They went 11-5 in 1997, 11-5 in 1998 (5-0 start), 14-2 in 1999, 11-5 in 2007 and 13-4 in 2025. Those teams lost in the wild card, divisional, conference title, divisional and wild card rounds, respectively.
2. Have pillow, will travel: Center Robert Hainsey brings his pillow on road trips, including this extended stay in England. He picked up the idea his rookie year in Tampa Bay from quarterback Tom Brady.
“(I thought), ‘That’s not a crazy idea,’” Hainsey said. “It’s been a game-changer because you can overcome a bad bed, but it’s really hard to overcome a bad pillow in a hotel.”
Hainsey’s preferred brand is Pillow Cube — he has bought some and also received a few from the company after he tagged them on social media.
3. Second ejection for Thomas: Rookie defensive end Bryan Thomas Jr.’s first international game lasted one play after he was ejected for wrestling (not fighting) with Eagles linebacker Jeremiah Trotter on the opening kickoff last week.
“It was two guys just trying to play hard and set the tone and it turned into something nobody expected,” Thomas said. “If I can go back and change it, I wouldn’t physically as far as my mentality of how I wanted to start the game. But nobody wants to be ejected.”
Thomas said he was ejected from a game in high school.
4. Merriweather gets promotion: Safety Kaevon Merriweather was promoted to the active roster after making his Jaguars debut (21 snaps, one tackle) against Philadelphia as a practice squad elevation. His girlfriend, mother and grandmother were with him in England when he got the call on Oct. 13 and they celebrated at dinner.
“So much fun getting back out there,” he said. “I just leaned back on the things I’ve done previously with different teams. I have a lot of knowledge and I took that and added it to the things I was able to learn about his defense over the past five weeks. That calmed my nerves.”
Merriweather played 42 games for Tampa Bay (seven starts) from 2023-25 (Coen was the Buccaneers’ offensive coordinator in 2024) and one game with Houston last year. The Texans cut him on Aug. 30 and he was signed to the Jaguars’ practice squad on Sept. 1.
Promoting Merriweather is a sign the Jaguars don’t think Jalen Huskey is ready to contribute on defense (no snaps in his pro debut last week).
Ruining college football
I like the 12-team College Football Playoff. I could live without the conference championship games. I like watching important games in September-October. I hate Power 4 teams playing FCS competition.
But the imminent 24-team playoff? Yuck, yuck, a thousand times yuck.
Under the expected format, the season would start a week early (every game should be played at night because of the heat), the conference title games would be eliminated (that is a lot of lost revenue) and the bracket would have 19 at-large teams, the Power 4 league champions and one Group of 6 team. The top eight teams would receive a bye.
Sorry, it’s just not interesting.
An SEC team could go 8-4 and make the CFP. The coaches should be thrilled because they could sell making the CFP as a successful season and grounds for retainment or an extension.
I would have expanded to a 16-team field with four rounds and no byes.
Weekend selections
Jaguars (minus 2 1/2) vs. Houston in London: Coen should draw up seven-man pass protection concepts on every second- and third-down Trevor Lawrence drop-back to slow down the Texans’ pass rush. Texans 23-17.
Dallas (plus 1 1/2) at Green Bay: A lousy NFL schedule this weekend means Cowboys-Packers is one of the marquee games. Desperation is bringing in a coaching consultant in-season, which is what the Cowboys did with Mike Pettine to help the defense. Packers 37-27.
Ohio State (minus 3 1/2) at Indiana: A preview of the Big Ten Championship Game although UCLA may have something to say about that. Ohio State 28-24.
Florida (plus 10 1/2) at Texas: Was it just a few weeks ago I thought UF would storm into Austin undefeated and in the top 5? Yep. Texas isn’t great, either, for what it’s worth, but the Gators are broken. Texas 27-17.
Florida State (plus 21) at Miami: That “21” jumps off the page (if you’re reading the print edition) and the computer screen (if you’re reading online), doesn’t it? Miami 48-17.
Records: Straight — 3-2 last week (21-14 season). Spread — 2-3 (11-24 season. I would be better off walking into a local Bet Fred here in England burning money on Champions League soccer matches).
Contact O’Halloran at rohalloran@gannett.com or on X at @ryanohalloran. Listen to Ryan on 1010AM on Tuesdays (6:35 p.m. on “Into The Night"), Thursdays (1:15 on "XL Primetime") and Fridays ("First Coast Football Friday" 4-7 p.m.).
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Should Josh Hines-Allen, Travon Walker have more sacks for Jaguars?
