Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback Jabbar Muhammad found himself on an island with wide receiver Jalen Moreno-Cropper. Two plays earlier he was the subject of a defensive pass interference call that extended the New Orleans Saints’ drive.
The penalty was a play that mirrored the struggles he had throughout the first preseason game as pass catchers were able to bring in several catches with Muhammad defending them.
With one second on the game clock and a must-have rep, Muhammad was targeted one final time.
Quarterback Hunter Dekkers tossed the ball towards the back corner of the endzone, but Muhammad got a hand up to swat away the pass as time expired. He trotted off, celebrating the win in defiance as the entire Jacksonville sideline mobbed the former undrafted free agent.
It’s the type of competitiveness that has Muhammad potentially in line for a main roster spot with Jacksonville’s secondary. And the type of play he’s become accustomed to making throughout the offseason and start of training camp.
Muhammad had another pass breakup last week during practice when he found himself covering rookie tight end Tanner Koziol. Koziol is listed at 6-foot-7, 250 pounds and was drafted for his strong hands and good ball skills.
Muhammad, listed at 185 pounds on a 5-foot-10 frame, gave up the size and weight advantage. But his drive is something that you can’t measure in numbers.
He sprung into the air and knocked the ball away as the defensive sideline erupted with cheer, a sight that’s been common throughout the offseason when Muhammad is targeted.
“That’s the competitiveness of the guy,” defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile said of the practice play. “You hope those situations show up in practice. You hope they show up in a game for guys.”
Inside the heart of a competitor: Jaguars’ Jabbar Muhammad makes plays with and against starters
Muhammad was a member of Jacksonville’s undrafted free agent class last year and spent the season on Jacksonville’s practice squad. He didn’t get any game reps last season, forced to be an onlooker as the Jaguars faced injury issues in the defensive back room.
Muhammad came out in the spring and took advantage of the extra reps he got due to Travis Hunter and Jourdan Lewis being injured. He consistently made plays, seemingly logging at least one per practice session.
Head coach Liam Coen called him one of the most improved players through the offseason program, but he said he wanted to see if it translated to game settings. It looks like it did.
The penalty at the end of the game could’ve provided the Saints with the break they needed to take back the lead. He could’ve kept the flag in his mind as he was targeted on the final pass, opting to tone down his physicality in hopes of not being penalized again.
But he didn’t.
Instead, he kept a short memory and stayed in the moment. Which enabled him to come away with the game-sealing deflection.
“No matter what it is, I’m going to try my best to rise to the occasion,” Muhammad said. “I feel like that’s been me over my career. Whether that’s in college or now I’m trying to prove myself up here. Whenever those opportunities arise, I just know that I got to get myself to rise to the occasion.”
Jabbar Muhammad’s versatility could be key to earning roster spot with Jaguars
The Jaguars are emphasizing versatility across the defense.
From up front to the backend, the Jaguars want players who can play in different roles. Muhammad has displayed an ability to do that as a nickel and corner this offseason.
It’s something that the NFL overall has prioritized as defensive backs are asked to align themselves all over the field to disguise coverage. Muhammad has been able to get extra reps thanks to his versatility, something he called a strength.
“Something I root myself on, being able to play inside and outside so they can’t keep you off the field,” he said. “The league is going to that and some people get paid the big bucks to go and do it. That’s the end goal. It definitely plays into my strengths.”
His versatility is just one area where he’s shown growth. The Jaguars hired a new defensive back coach this offseason, Mat Araujo. Muhammad is one of the players who frequently seeks out coaching from him after practice.
Some days they’ll stay on the field for more than a half hour after the scheduled practice ends. It’s typically an entire group of players working, but the extra reps have shown up largely for Muhammad.
“Jabbar, probably as much as anybody on our defense, has developed from where he was at this time last year in camp to where he is now,” Campanile said. “He’s just done a lot of really good things. He’s been a good football player for us.”
Muhammad’s spot on the roster isn’t solidified. As veteran defensive back Christian Braswell returns from an injury, Muhammad’s reps could be decreased. In fact, he’ll likely have to beat out Braswell for the final spot in the defensive back room.
Him playing deep into the game can be seen as a positive, getting extra opportunities to put reps on tape for the coaching staff to review. However, his reps could see a decrease during the week as the team gets set for more joint practices.
Regardless of who he’s playing with or against, Muhammad is going to compete as best he can. It’s just how he’s wired.
“I don’t get too high, I don’t get too low. I try to stay even-keeled, especially as a [defensive back],” he said. “Just study my notes, get in. Whatever coach calls, execute at a high level and try to put some stuff on tape.”
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Jabbar Muhammad’s game-saving deflection helps his main roster chances
Reporting by Juston Lewis, Jacksonville Florida Times-Union / Florida Times-Union
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Juston Lewis, Jacksonville Florida Times-Union | USA TODAY Network
