Jacksonville Jaguars

Jaguars searching for end to sack drought

Published Jun. 25, 2015 1:59 p.m. ET

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The Jacksonville Jaguars' search for a pass-rushing threat hasn't been endless. It just feels that way. The Jaguars are in the midst of an eight-year streak without having a player reach double digits in sacks.

The last Jaguar to reach double digits was former defensive Bobby McCray, who had 10 sacks in 2006. As ESPN's Mike DiRocco pointed out, Jacksonville's pass rush has been the worst in the NFL over the last eight seasons. The Jaguars recorded just 233 sacks between 2007-2014.

And it's not for lack of trying at the defensive end position. The team has spent high draft picks on the likes of Derrick Harvey and Andre Branch and brought in free agents like Aaron Kampman, to no avail. 

This year was supposed to be different with the drafting of No. 3 overall pick Dante Fowler from the University of Florida, but Fowler injured his knee in his first practice with the team and is out for the season.

With Fowler no longer an option, the Jaguars' three best options for breaking the streak are likely Branch, Chris Clemons and Ryan Davis.

Branch, the team's second-round pick in 2012, had three sacks in an injury-shortened year last season, but did have six sacks in 2013.  Davis has 6.5 sacks in limited snaps last year. Clemons had 8.0 sacks in 2014 and is perhaps the most likely to reach double digits.

To put Jacksonville's struggles in further perspective, the 10-sack plateau has only been reached five times in franchise history. Whether this is the year someone else finally does it, remains to be seen.

Otherwise, the search for an elite pass rush may need to wait until next season, when Fowler is healthy and back on the field.

(h/t ESPN)

Photo credit: Eric Hartline/USA TODAY Sports

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