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USA Today
a day ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Jacksonville Jaguars' Arik Armstead ranked among PFF's top defensive tackles in 2025
Jacksonville Jaguars' Arik Armstead ranked among PFF's top defensive tackles in 2025 The Jacksonville Jaguars' Arik Armstead is among PFF's top defensive tackles heading into the 2025 NFL season. The Jacksonville Jaguars' Arik Armstead is among Pro Football Focus' top defensive tackles heading into the 2025 NFL season. PFF has been putting together its ranking of the top 32 players at each position group. At defensive tackle, Trevor Sikkema had Armstead at No. 23 on his list. "Armstead has moved from interior defender to edge defender throughout his career, but he plans to move back inside in 2025 and be an 'elite player' once again," wrote Sikkema. "He's not wrong, as he did post a near-elite single-season PFF overall grade (89.6) in 2019. He recorded just 36 quarterback pressures last season, but that could have very well stemmed from playing out of position." The 2024 season was Armstead's first with the Jaguars, and he was moved to defensive end, despite coming off several highly productive seasons at tackle while with the San Francisco 49ers. After recording 58 pressures and eight sacks in 2023 at defensive tackle, Armstead produced just 36 pressures and two sacks in 2024 by PFF's metrics. In addition to that, Armstead went from ranking ninth among defensive tackles in pass rush win rate in 2023 to ranking 32nd among edge defenders in 2024. This season, under new defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile, Armstead will be making the move back inside. "I think that's where I'm best," Armstead said of the tackle position while appearing on the O-Zone Podcast. "I've played both in my career and had success at both, but I can have the biggest effect on the quarterback playing and rushing against guards and centers. That's what I do best." The defensive tackle position as a whole was thought to be a pressing need for the Jaguars this offseason. However, no addition was made there in free agency or in the NFL draft, showcasing the confidence that GM James Gladstone has in the players that were already on the roster and Campanile's ability to maximize their skill sets. Maason Smith has mentioned that this will be a more attacking Jaguars' front in this new defense, while Gladstone alluded to there being more movement up front as well, which can help put players in advantageous situations based on their skill sets and what the matchup dictates.
USA Today
02-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Jaguars' Arik Armstead discusses moving back to defensive tackle for 2025 season
Jaguars' Arik Armstead discusses moving back to defensive tackle for 2025 season Appearing on the O-Zone Podcast, Jaguars' Arik Armstead discussed moving back to defensive tackle for the 2025 season. Jacksonville Jaguars' veteran defensive lineman Arik Armstead will be moving back to defensive tackle this season, a position where he has experience and is quite comfortable. "I think that's where I'm best," Armstead said of the tackle position while appearing on the O-Zone Podcast. "I've played both in my career and had success at both, but I can have the biggest effect on the quarterback playing and rushing against guards and centers. That's what I do best." The 2024 season was Armstead's first with the Jaguars after signing with the team as a free agent, and he was asked to make the switch from defensive tackle to defensive end. During his tenure with San Francisco, which spanned from 2015 through 2023, Armstead played defensive end early on in his career, but since the 2021 season, the majority of his snaps had come at tackle. So, along with joining a new team and navigating a new defensive scheme last season, Armstead was also back at a relatively new position as well. Amrstead went from producing 58 pressures and eight sacks in 2023, to only 36 pressures and two sacks in 2024, per PFF. He went from ranking ninth among defensive tackles in pass rush win rate in 2023 to ranking 32nd among edge defenders in 2024. "When I'm playing defensive tackle full-time, now I have more opportunities to affect the game on first, second and third down," he said. "I'll have more opportunities to have a big impact on the game." The defensive tackle position was thought to be one of the Jaguars' biggest needs this offseason, but GM James Gladstone didn't address this unit during free agency or in the NFL draft. This showcases the confidence he has in the players on the roster and Anthony Campanile's scheme to elevate that unit, but also a likely part of that equation is Armstead being back inside. "We certainly look forward to seeing guys being in different positions than they've been in the past and that being an element that activates different sides of them," Gladstone said after the NFL draft. "Their whole approach has been great so far, so we're looking forward to it." There may still be instances where we see Armstead at defensive end. Movement along the defensive front is an element that's a part of Campanile's defense. But for the most part, Armstead is going to be back at defensive tackle, where he's had some of his most productive seasons in his career. "I think we're on the forefront of a promising season," Armstead said. "There's a lot of newness, which I think is great. There are a lot of first-timers – a first-time head coach, a first-time general manager, a first-time defensive coordinator. With the first-timers, they bring a refreshed energy. You know they want to get it right. "They're doing everything they can to make sure we're heading in the direction we need to be."
