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Is the Jaguars Safety Room Good Enough?! · Duval Daily: A Jacksonville Jaguars Podcast

• 0:00
  [SPEAKER_00]: Texanville Jaguar's fans, welcome in to Duval, daily presented by jing Jack.com.
• 0:03
  [SPEAKER_00]: I'm Jordan Lua, thanks so much for being here Tuesday.
• 0:05
  [SPEAKER_00]: May 19th again, shout out to the little bro, happy birthday right now.
• 0:11
  [SPEAKER_00]: We are talking more about the Jaguar's secondary.
• 0:14
  [SPEAKER_00]: Earlier today, I talked about why I believe the Jag's secondary has
• 0:21
  [SPEAKER_00]: and not secondary, but defense as a whole has the potential to be in elite coverage unit.
• 0:27
  [SPEAKER_00]: A lot of that stems from the way they played down the stretch last year, like the last eight games, plus the playoffs, and then
• 0:35
  [SPEAKER_00]: Also, the fact that you're something out Greg knew some for Travis Hunter.
• 0:39
  [SPEAKER_00]: I mean, that makes me feel pretty good.
• 0:40
  [SPEAKER_00]: Plus, you're adding Matthew Eruja to the picture, and you still have an elite run defense, which does help your past defense for sure, put them in better situation.
• 0:48
  [SPEAKER_00]: So with all that said, I wanted to talk about specifically the safety group right now, and we'll probably do something like this for every position group.
• 0:58
  [SPEAKER_00]: Throughout this offseason leading up into training camp and stuff like that.
• 1:02
  [SPEAKER_00]: Just talking about these position groups and doing a little bit like a deeper dive Is this group this safety group for the Jaguar is good enough?
• 1:12
  [SPEAKER_00]: For this defense to be an elite pass cover to defense Fair question right?
• 1:17
  [SPEAKER_00]: That's a question I'm going to be trying to answer.
• 1:19
  [SPEAKER_00]: I kind of already spooled it by saying I do think they can be in a leap past coverage unit.
• 1:23
  [SPEAKER_00]: So I do think the Jaguar's safety is honestly are good enough, but we'll dive into it a little bit deeper, excited to talk about this safety group beyond the current projected starters, because I think there is some excitement for excitement, beyond the current projected starters.
• 1:37
  [SPEAKER_00]: for 2026.
• 1:38
  [SPEAKER_00]: So really appreciate y'all be in here.
• 1:40
  [SPEAKER_00]: If you enjoy the content, please like and subscribe.
• 1:42
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• 1:44
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• 1:46
  [SPEAKER_00]: You can also hit that high button, helps out a ton.
• 1:49
  [SPEAKER_00]: Thank y'all so much for being here.
• 1:50
  [SPEAKER_00]: So right now, talking about these safety.
• 1:53
  [SPEAKER_00]: The current projected starters would be Eric Murray and Antonio Johnson.
• 1:57
  [SPEAKER_00]: And now keep in mind, the jag wars, they did in 2025 and they probably will move in forward,
• 2:07
  [SPEAKER_00]: They did that a lot.
• 2:08
  [SPEAKER_00]: They like to get guys down in the box that can do some safety things, coverage things, run defense things, like versatility, right?
• 2:17
  [SPEAKER_00]: They like to have that Antonio Johnson and Eric Murray are the current projected starters.
• 2:22
  [SPEAKER_00]: I think they both bring that to the table.
• 2:24
  [SPEAKER_00]: So the most exciting player to talk about here is clearly Antonio Johnson, like without question.
• 2:32
  [SPEAKER_00]: And I do want to give a lot of credit to Anthony Perkins.
• 2:35
  [SPEAKER_00]: He's Jaguar's defense of backscode towards works more with the safety, he's used to play safety himself.
• 2:42
  [SPEAKER_00]: The amount of safety the Jaguar has had to play last year, and him combined with Anthony Campnile and the rest of the defense of staff, having those guys ready to play was really impressive.
• 2:55
  [SPEAKER_00]: Really impressive.
• 2:56
  [SPEAKER_00]: So big shout out to Anthony Perkins who coaches up the safety is a good bit.
• 2:59
  [SPEAKER_00]: So,
• 3:01
  [SPEAKER_00]: Like again, you had Andrew Winger, you know, love the guy doing.
• 3:06
  [SPEAKER_00]: not a Jacksonville Jaguar anymore, he played a lot.
• 3:09
  [SPEAKER_00]: You had obviously Eric Murray played a lot.
• 3:12
  [SPEAKER_00]: Antonio Johnson played a lot.
• 3:14
  [SPEAKER_00]: Ray on Lane had to play at safety as well.
• 3:16
  [SPEAKER_00]: Like they had a lot of guys out there playing safety and playing well for them.
• 3:20
  [SPEAKER_00]: And so Anthony Perkins deserves a lot of credit so does Anthony Campanile.
• 3:24
  [SPEAKER_00]: But when you look at Antonio Johnson, he didn't even start off like when he had to get in the game a lot because of injuries.
• 3:32
  [SPEAKER_00]: He didn't start off that hot, but he quickly started playing good football.
• 3:36
  [SPEAKER_00]: He had a couple games where he was playing a lot and was a little shaky, I thought, and then, boom, you're playing like a probal level safety.
• 3:46
  [SPEAKER_00]: And the cool thing about him is complete, he was complete last year and he can get better.
• 3:54
  [SPEAKER_00]: It was just first year with meaningful snaps in this system at safety.
• 4:01
  [SPEAKER_00]: He can absolutely play better.
• 4:03
  [SPEAKER_00]: He's still a young player, and he's 24 years old.
• 4:06
  [SPEAKER_00]: He's going into a contract year.
• 4:07
  [SPEAKER_00]: You could get that contract year bump and play out of Antonio Johnson this year.
• 4:13
  [SPEAKER_00]: I don't know how he's gonna get more than 500 sessions, but he could, if 500 sessions last year, tied for the AFC lead with Devon Lloyd, shout out Devon Lloyd, got himself a bag.
• 4:24
  [SPEAKER_00]: Antonio Johnson played the ball extremely well.
• 4:29
  [SPEAKER_00]: He was consistent in coverage for the most part.
• 4:32
  [SPEAKER_00]: A lot of times, safety is like, yeah, the completion percentage allowed in primary coverage isn't gonna be a leat because of the position that safety's are put in.
• 4:44
  [SPEAKER_00]: But if you can prevent rack or yack, your guards after catch, if you cannot have coverage bus to wear like somebody's running wide open behind you, keep it in front of you.
• 4:54
  [SPEAKER_00]: And then also be able to, again, make plays on the football, five-interceptions, three more pass break ups on top of that.
• 5:02
  [SPEAKER_00]: And also, he was a really good run defender and a good blitzer, and he played in the post.
• 5:10
  [SPEAKER_00]: He played in the box.
• 5:11
  [SPEAKER_00]: He played all over the place for the jacks.
• 5:15
  [SPEAKER_00]: His missed tackle rate, 4.8% elite, absolutely elite.
• 5:21
  [SPEAKER_00]: So, just really, really good for the Jag last year, Antonio Johnson was, and there's no reason for me to believe that he won't be even better this year, in year two of this system, Campanilei knowing him better, him knowing the system better, playing next to Eric Murray for longer, you know Eric Murray, it was his first year in Jacksonville last year.
• 5:44
  [SPEAKER_00]: I think the sky is the limit for Antonio Johnson.
• 5:46
  [SPEAKER_00]: And he was PFF's highest rated safety.
• 5:50
  [SPEAKER_00]: I don't really care that much about PFF grades, but that means something, man.
• 5:53
  [SPEAKER_00]: I mean, he played incredibly well.
• 5:57
  [SPEAKER_00]: So Antonio Johnson, yes, fired up for it.
• 6:01
  [SPEAKER_00]: And then when it comes to Eric Murray, his current running mate, like in two safety sets, like those are gonna be the two starters, as of right now, it's possible that Caleb Ransal could overtake Eric Murray at some point, but Eric Murray played well too.
• 6:14
  [SPEAKER_00]: He wasn't perfect, but he was very good, like just solid all around in every area.
• 6:22
  [SPEAKER_00]: I thought Eric Murray just did a pretty good job, and he also had some big moments where he baited a quarterback or just red red a play extremely well.
• 6:32
  [SPEAKER_00]: Got his hands on the football, either gotten interception or helped lead to an interception for someone else.
• 6:37
  [SPEAKER_00]: I think the Eric Murray is a quality safety next to
• 6:44
  [SPEAKER_00]: Antonio Johnson.
• 6:45
  [SPEAKER_00]: He's up there in age 32 years old.
• 6:48
  [SPEAKER_00]: Um, obviously the Jaguars have a team out in his contract after the 20, 26 season.
• 6:53
  [SPEAKER_00]: So this could be his last season with the Jags.
• 6:55
  [SPEAKER_00]: He could be playing for his NFL future this year.
• 6:57
  [SPEAKER_00]: So like obviously he's got a lot to play for as well.
• 7:00
  [SPEAKER_00]: I mean, he's played for a long time since 2016.
• 7:03
  [SPEAKER_00]: So I mean, if he had to hang it up, he probably, you know, be high, right?
• 7:07
  [SPEAKER_00]: But like,
• 7:08
  [SPEAKER_00]: I think he wants to keep playing football.
• 7:10
  [SPEAKER_00]: There's no reason he shouldn't.
• 7:11
  [SPEAKER_00]: He's a good football player.
• 7:12
  [SPEAKER_00]: So Eric Murray and Antonio Johnson, like super high expectations then hope for Antonio Johnson and a floor with Eric Murray that I can be, okay with.
• 7:27
  [SPEAKER_00]: But then you get beyond Eric Murray.
• 7:29
  [SPEAKER_00]: And that's where I get really fired up because we're talking about Kayla Branson and Jalen Husky two day two picks from the last two seasons.
• 7:36
  [SPEAKER_00]: And Kayla Branson, he missed his entire rookie year with an injury, unfortunately.
• 7:41
  [SPEAKER_00]: But what we saw from him in college was that he could play outside corner, he could play nickel, he could play overhang.
• 7:47
  [SPEAKER_00]: Like he was the guy taken on lead blocks from tight ends and full backs when Kayla, when two lane played Navy.
• 7:56
  [SPEAKER_00]: Like, he has that dog in him, and then he went to the senior bowl, played safety there, did a really good job in that regard, comes to Jacksonville, and play in safety.
• 8:07
  [SPEAKER_00]: He's a guy that doesn't miss tackles, he's a guy that doesn't shy away from physicality, he is in a elite athlete, like unbelievable explosiveness and speed, good size.
• 8:20
  [SPEAKER_00]: and he played well during training camp before he got hurt.
• 8:22
  [SPEAKER_00]: So I'm really excited to see what he can do.
• 8:24
  [SPEAKER_00]: And then Jalen Husky, another guy they really valued in a big, big way, they went and got him in the third round of this draft.
• 8:30
  [SPEAKER_00]: Another guy who just, I mean, he plays with his hair on fire.
• 8:34
  [SPEAKER_00]: He's a ball hawk, picked off a ton of passes in college, loves to hit.
• 8:39
  [SPEAKER_00]: He says he's not trying to make any friends out there.
• 8:41
  [SPEAKER_00]: So I'm really excited about the Jaguar as top four.
• 8:44
  [SPEAKER_00]: And a lot of people might look at them and say it's unproven beyond the top two.
• 8:49
  [SPEAKER_00]: Quite frankly, it is, but I believe in those two kids.
• 8:53
  [SPEAKER_00]: I believe in Kayla Branson, Jalen Husky.
• 8:55
  [SPEAKER_00]: I like him a lot, and the fifth safety, round lane, great special teamer.
• 9:02
  [SPEAKER_00]: He had to play as a rookie and he did a pretty darn good job.
• 9:05
  [SPEAKER_00]: So I think you're in a great spot with your safety group.
• 9:07
  [SPEAKER_00]: I strongly believe that it would be really cool if at some point,
• 9:13
  [SPEAKER_00]: During 2026, you're seeing a lot more of Caleb Ransal on the field, even getting Jalen Husky out there more as he builds more confidence and understanding in this system because I think that those guys are the future.
• 9:27
  [SPEAKER_00]: I mean, I think my best guess is Antonio Johnson is probably gonna play himself into a contract somewhere else like where some other team is going to be more willing to pay him more than the Jaguar as well at safety, especially considering
• 9:42
  [SPEAKER_00]: they drafted guys on day two and back to back seasons, back to back off seasons.
• 9:48
  [SPEAKER_00]: So that's my best guess.
• 9:50
  [SPEAKER_00]: I would love to see Antonio Johnson in Duval for a very long time, but I just don't know that that's going to happen because I think he's going to play great and he's going to get himself a big back and I think that's going to be elsewhere and it's my best guess, but he's still got him right now.
• 10:04
  [SPEAKER_00]: He can still utilize him to the best of his ability within this
• 10:12
  [SPEAKER_00]: with the combination of Eric Murray and the steadiness consistency and poor that he can bring to your back end.
• 10:19
  [SPEAKER_00]: So I'm really excited.
• 10:20
  [SPEAKER_00]: Let me know how you're feeling about the safety group in the comment section below.
• 10:23
  [SPEAKER_00]: If you enjoy the content, please like and subscribe.
• 10:26
  [SPEAKER_00]: Y'all have a good one.