Jaguars DC: Don't look for Jalen Ramsey against Rob Gronkowski

Jaguars defensive coordinator Todd Wash is throwing cold water on the idea that they might utilize cornerback Jalen Ramsey against Rob Gronkowski.


Speaking with Jacksonville media on Thursday, Wash sounded like a DC intent on using Ramsey anywhere but against the big tight end.

“In a basketball game, I think we would,” Wash said. “But Jalen is a corner. … I think the last thing you can do is to go into a game like this and you try and reinvent the wheel. We got to where we are at as a team – not just a defense, but as a team – doing what we do.

“We run the football, we create takeaways and we play sound defense and special teams. We’re not going to change that. Jalen is a good corner, and he plays against wide receivers.”

Of course, this could all be pure gamesmanship on the part of Wash -- it wouldn’t exactly benefit the Jags to tip their hand when it comes to something like this. But it is clear the idea of trying to slow Gronkowski presents the most sizeable challenge of the week for Wash and his defense. He said Thursday that when it comes to how to defend Gronkowski, it’s a question that has puzzled the rest of the league.

“We have a lot of different players and we’re fortunate that we’re talented,” Wash added. “We have to get the right guy on him in man situations and obviously know where he is at in zone coverage. Nobody around the league has stopped him, so we have to have a plan.”