JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) -The Jacksonville Jaguars have committed more than $200 million to their defensive starters, a group that has a combined four Pro Bowl appearances and about the same number of postseason wins.
Coach Jack Del Rio expects both numbers to increase. He built the defense around tackles Marcus Stroud and John Henderson, complementing them with speedy linebackers, capable pass-rushing ends and instinctive and opportunistic defensive backs. His four-year project was challenging, time-consuming, often frustrating and a constant work in progress.
Until now.
With the addition of cornerback Brian Williams and the return of safety Donovin Darius from injury, the Jaguars finally feel like the defense is complete and capable of carrying them deep into the playoffs. The starters are young, talented, confident and well paid. They're also poised to give the team a significant return on its biggest investment.
``We've been good, but now it's time to take the next step and be great,'' linebacker Mike Peterson said. ``I'm tired of being ranked in the top 10 and in the top five. I want us to be a dominant defense, one that teams fear when they come to play us.
``We can talk about it all day, but it's just talk. We've got to go out and get it done. We've been talking about it for four years now, and we haven't gotten to where we want to be, where we know we can be. It's time now. There are no excuses.''
Jacksonville ranked sixth in the league in total defense and scoring defense last season, giving up 291 yards and 16.8 points a game. The unit also ranked third in third-down efficiency, allowing opponents to convert less than 33 percent, and tied for third with 47 sacks.
The Jags believe they can be better, starting with the Sept. 10 season opener against Dallas.
``When you look around at all the talent, anything short of great will be a disappointment,'' Williams said. ``We can be great. We can be the best defense in the league. We just can't talk about it. We've got to grind every day and go after it.''
The defense may need to be great considering the offense lost running back Greg Jones, the primary backup for oft-injured starter Fred Taylor, and has to replace five-time Pro Bowl receiver Jimmy Smith.
The team drafted receivers Matt Jones, Ernest Wilford and Reggie Williams and tight end Marcedes Lewis in anticipation of Smith's retirement. But none of them has shown the ability to fight through bump-and-run coverage, beat double teams and become Byron Leftwich's go-to guy.
Leftwich showed progress last season, throwing 15 touchdowns and just five interceptions, but he still has to prove he can stay healthy behind an inconsistent line. Taylor, meanwhile, might be the team's No. 1 cause for concern. He has missed seven of the last 18 games with knee and ankle injuries and turned 30 years old in January.
The defense was molded to pick up the slack.
``We have developed a core on defense,'' Darius said. ``We've been in the system for a few years, the coaching staff has gotten more comfortable with us and we've been able to do things differently and advance every year. We expect - we know - it's going to pay dividends.''
Jacksonville has spent millions to keep its core defense intact and add a few key players.
Stroud signed a five-year, $31.5 million contract extension last year that included $14 million guaranteed. Henderson signed a similar deal in March, locking up both cornerstones of the group.
The Jags gave cornerback Rashean Mathis a five-year, $25.5 million extension that included $9.4 million guaranteed. They also added free agent defensive end Reggie Hayward before last season and then completed the overhaul by signing Williams.
Hayward got a five-year, $25 million deal with $10 million guaranteed, and Jacksonville lured Williams, a backup in Minnesota last year, away with a six-year, $32 million contract that included a $10 million signing bonus.
The five contracts total $57 million in guaranteed money, a huge payout on one side of the ball, even by NFL standards. The Jags also have the other six starters - Peterson, Darius, safety Deon Grant, defensive end Paul Spicer and linebackers Daryl Smith and Nick Greisen - signed at least through next season.
``We're looking to be special,'' said Del Rio, whose team finished 12-4 last season before losing at New England in the first round of the postseason. ``We feel like we've added pieces to a really strong group, and now they have to put in the work. There's nothing easy about it. You're not going to talk about making a play. You're going to have to go make a play.''
The Jags will get an early look at their defensive investment. They follow the opener with games against Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh, AFC South rival Indianapolis and Washington.
``Defensively, we feel like we have the nucleus to be a dominant unit,'' Darius said. ``We want to show that our ability matches our paychecks.''
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