Chiefs vs. Jags: Four Jacksonville players to watch in Week 10
By Jacob Milham
![Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16) looks to handoff to running back Travis Etienne Jr. (1) during the second quarter of a regular season NFL football matchup Sunday, Nov. 6, 2022 at TIAA Bank Field in Jacksonville. The Jacksonville Jaguars held off the Las Vegas Raiders 27-20. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]Jki 110622 Raiders Jags Cp 144](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_1080,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape%2Fcover%2Fsport%2F448d46fae5cce059932123e1ed44bc65e32e1a54d859d7cd4c97cd5b36e18263.jpg "Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16) looks to handoff to running back Travis Etienne Jr. (1) during the second quarter of a regular season NFL football matchup Sunday, Nov. 6, 2022 at TIAA Bank Field in Jacksonville. The Jacksonville Jaguars held off the Las Vegas Raiders 27-20. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]Jki 110622 Raiders Jags Cp 144")
![Jacksonville Jaguars linebacker Foyesade Oluokun (23) takes to the field before a regular season NFL football matchup Sunday, Nov. 6, 2022 at TIAA Bank Field in Jacksonville. . [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_1080,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape%2Fcover%2Fsport%2Fec0501c37b100a847c1b18350588ab73532c1e39f269e4b379da2f77deed5e43.jpg "Jacksonville Jaguars linebacker Foyesade Oluokun (23) takes to the field before a regular season NFL football matchup Sunday, Nov. 6, 2022 at TIAA Bank Field in Jacksonville. . [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]")
Linebacker Foyesade Oluokun
Linebacker Foyesade Oluokun is the anchor of the Jaguars’ defense and a key player in stopping the Chiefs.
Oluokun is in his first year in Jacksonville and is living up to his three-year, $45 million contract. He currently leads all NFL middle linebackers in tackles, quarterback hits, and PFF’s “stops” metric. He is currently a Pro Bowl favorite and is having a career year in many ways. The former sixth-round pick is a great NFL success story and a leader of a younger Jaguars defense.
However, the stats only go so far. He can be a liability in the run game, being easily blocked between the tackles. However, his athleticism and instincts keep him in most plays. His sideline-to-sideline speed comes in handy against running quarterbacks and might keep Patrick Mahomes in the pocket on Sunday. It also helps shut down opposing screen plays, whether inside to running backs or even out wide to receivers. Oluokun would have been Jacksonville’s best chance at stopping jet sweeps from Hardman, who scored three times on such plays against the San Francisco 49ers. That speed may neutralize such sweeps from Moore, Toney, or any other speedy Chiefs wide receiver.
The Jaguars use Oluokun in the pass rush in a variety of ways, mostly to force opposing blockers to respect his closing speed. The Chiefs certainly have to know where Oluokun is on passing plays and not allow the veteran any clean shots at Mahomes. Oluokun will be the difference against the Chiefs if he gets pressure or affects the passing game in any way.