One of the biggest surprises in 2025 was the Jacksonville Jaguars’ defensive dominance under first-year playcaller Anthony Campanile. In 2024, the defense had fully collapsed, finishing 31st in DVOA (FTN), and was not projected to be anywhere near the top ten in Campanile’s rookie campaign.
In his lead-up to calling defense in Jacksonville, Campanile worked under Brian Flores, Vic Fangio, and Jeff Hafley, giving him a rich tapestry of schemes to draw from. For most around the league, how Campanile would style his defense was a complete mystery.
The Jaguars are once again at the top of the defensive charts, ranking third in DVOA and #1 against the run through five weeks. Jacksonville’s defensive scheme is largely built on Campanile’s time with Hafley or a Saleh-based system, featuring a Nickel-based defense (61%) and low levels of Base (22%).
The Fangio elements of the Jaguars scheme show up in the coverage menu, where Jacksonville ranks third in Cover 6 usage through five weeks (19%). Quarters is also run at ~19%, making the Jaguars one of the NFL's top split-field coverage teams (47% when adding Cover 2).
Flores’s influence shows up clearly: the blitz menu. Last season, the Jaguars were one of the NFL’s best blitzing teams. Over five weeks, they rank eighth in EPA/blitz (-.181).
Jacksonville’s Blitz Rate sits at 27%, below the league average, and 24th overall. 20% of Campanile’s blitz calls are simulated (#12), meaning only four defenders will rush the passer regardless of stacking the box or sending a second- or third-level defender.
In the clip above, Campanile pairs split-field coverage behind pressure with the popular “Sand Deuce” concept. But the “all-up,” double-mug alignments Jacksonville features are what truly keep protections guessing.
So far, the Jaguars are eighth in double-mug usage (x23) and, in comparison, were ninth in ‘25. Campanile’s style is to keep the offense guessing as to who might be coming on a blitz while maintaining a stable structure on normal downs.
Against the Eagles, Campanile ran his “all-up” menu six total times. With Jalen Hurts at quarterback, Philadelphia is the league's #1 double-mug offense so far this season (x37) and ranks 28th in EPA/play when facing the look (-.606).
Currently, only the Browns’ Deshaun Watson carries a worse completion rate than Hurts (48%) against these all-up looks. Overall, the Eagles rank 29th in EPA/play against the blitz (-.236). So it's no surprise Campanile’s Blitz Rate against Hurts rose by almost 7%.
One of the main features against the Eagles in London was the signature all-up alignment that is a hallmark of Campanile’s Flores background. Against these looks, Hurts went 2-of-5 for 17 yards and only one 1st Down, which was against an all-up Quarters pressure.
After two early completions, Campanile turned up the heat. Below, we examine the Jaguars’ double-mug menu versus Jalen Hurts and the Philadelphia Eagles.
This also appears to be a weekly trend:
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