To add some pass rush juice to the defensive tackle position this offseason, the Jacksonville Jaguars acquired Ruke Orhorhoro in a trade with Atlanta that sent Maason Smith to the Falcons.
A former second-round pick, Orhorhoro, who primarily was on the field for passing downs, generated 30 pressures and four sacks last season. Among 121 defensive tackles, he ranked tied for 51st in PFF’s pass rush productivity metric.
Helping to facilitate that disruption is Orhorhoro’s athleticism, which has already stood out to defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile. But in the early going of OTAs, Orhorhoro is showing that he can impact the game in other ways, outside of pressuring the quarterback.
“He’s really athletic, man,” Campanile said. “I think the thing that’s jumped out to me just in the short time he’s been here is he’s really improved a lot of his skills in the run game. (He) had a couple plays so far where just kind of grabbing on guys and shedding and he’s really super strong. Like he’s another guy who’s weight room strong.
“He does play that way and I think he’s done a good job of playing with his hands. The D-line coaches are doing a really good job with him and he’s got a ton of athletic ability. So that that definitely is something that gets you excited because he’s got a little twitch in there in the rush which is awesome.”
Generating a more consistent pass rush from the interior defensive line position is a must for the Jaguars this season.
Beyond filling his own column on the stat sheet, a steady and strong interior pass rush presence can do wonders for the rest of the defense.
Orhorhoro may not start while playing behind Arik Armstead and DaVon Hamilton, but he should carve out a regular rotational role, and he has the ability to make an impact in a key area for the Jaguars this season.
This article originally appeared on Jaguars Wire: Jaguars coach details how offseason addition can make quick impact
Reporting by Paul Bretl, Jaguars Wire / Jaguars Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
