Aug 31, 2015
Jaguars giving Bortles tools to succeed
Blake Bortles was only okay last year. He'll need to have a much better sophomore campaign for the Jacksonville Jaguars, who are giving him the tools to succeed, or his starting tenure could be short.
The Jacksonville Jaguars maintained their spot in the basement of the NFL standings, finishing 3-13 a year after a 4-12 finish, which came a year after a 2-14 record. The Jaguars enter the season with some hope on offence, banking on Blake Bortles and the team’s young receiving corps growing together, but there is little expectation the team eclipses the four- or five-win mark.
Offence
Notables: QB Blake Bortles, TE Julius Thomas, RB TJ Yeldon, WR Allen Robinson
2014 Ranks
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Pass Yards/Game187.6 (31st)
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Rush Yards/Game102.1 (21st)
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Points/Game15.6 (32nd)
Defence
Notables: DE Jared Odrick, LB Paul Posluszny, CB Davon House, SS Jonathan Cyprien
2014 Ranks
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Pass Yards/Game243.7 (22nd)
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Rush Yards/Game127.1 (27th)
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Points/Game25.8 (26th)
Offensive Breakdown
Bortles will need to impress in second year, and Jaguars are giving him the help he'll need
Blake Bortles underwhelmed as a rookie last year. Not to the point where the Jaguars gave up on him – he’s far from EJ Manuel – but the UCF product will need to show strides this year, because with the toys assembled for him, he won’t have many excuses.
Entering their second years alongside Bortles are receivers Allen Robinson, Allen Hurns and Marqise Lee. The rookies showed promise, save for maybe Lee, and will need to continue growing alongside Bortles. The Jags are heavy on pass-catching tight ends as well, with former Denver Bronco Julius Thomas joining Marcedes Lewis. Nobody expects Thomas to put up Peyton Manning numbers playing with Bortles, but the 27-year-old red zone guru makes it five bona fide targets for the Jags to cycle through.
Jaguars rookie receivers (2014)
Player | Receptions | Targets | Yards | Average | Touchdowns |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Allen Hurns | 51 | 97 | 677 | 13.3 | 6 |
Allen Robinson | 48 | 81 | 548 | 11.4 | 2 |
Marqise Lee | 37 | 68 | 422 | 11.4 | 1 |
The offensive line and running game was beefed up for Bortles too, the lucky guy! Luke Joeckel will probably never justify his second overall draft status but he’s an important part in a capable offensive line that also features solid free agents Stefen Wisniewski and Jermey Parnell, and possibly promising rookie A.J. Cann.
The selection of T.J. Yeldon in the second round solidifies Jacksonville’s run game. Yeldon has the chance to be a foundation back and pushes the game-breaking but gimmicky Denard Robinson into a complimentary role, which better suits the former college QB.
PLAYER TO WATCH: TE JULIUS THOMAS
Some believed Thomas’ 1,282 receiving yards and 24 touchdowns in 32 career games was solely a byproduct of being the top tight end on the depth chart in a Peyton Manning offence. Others believed Thomas’ size and ability was worth a five-year, $46-million contract. The Jaguars, of course, fall into the latter. Thomas is unlikely to score double digit touchdowns in Jacksonville, especially now that he's expected to miss the first three games of the regular season after undergoing hand surgery, but it will be interesting to see just how much he can improve the 31st-ranked offence. Thomas suffered a broken middle finger in the preseason, but is expected to suit up in Week 1.
IN: OT Jermey Parnell, TE Julius Thomas, C Stefen Wisniewski
OUT: WR Cecil Shorts
Defensive Breakdown
Loss of Fowler Jr. for the year disappointing for Jags
The Jaguars’ built a defence this off-season that certainly has some solid pieces, but that’s also very fragile. With a few injuries the unit could quickly look uninspiring. And, because they’re the Jaguars, they’ve already suffered a big one in third overall draft pick Dante Fowler, out for the year with a torn ACL.
Jacksonville can likely sustain that injury, with Chris Clemons moving up to replace the rookie in the starting lineup opposite strong free agent addition Jared Odrick. And with Sen’Derrick Marks in the middle, it’s not a bad defensive line at all, but not nearly as scary as it could have been had Fowler avoided the IR.
The linebacking corps is solid but thin as well, with starters Dan Skuta, Telvin Smith, and Paul Posluszny, while the secondary has a chance to be a strength – provided no injuries of course!
Free agent signee Sergio Brown is solid at safety while Johnathan Cyprien can be very good. The Jags also have a number of talented corners, including Demetrius McCray and Aaron Colvin, that are now led by former Green Bay Packer Davon House.
The unit may still be leaning more towards potential than production, but there’s reason to believe Jacksonville now has some building blocks for the future.
IN: S Sergio Brown, CB Davon House, DE Jared Odrick, LB Dan Skuta
OUT: CB Alan Ball, LB J.T. Thomas
Draft
The team’s 2016 Draft haul got a boost when Fowler was lost for the year, at the expense, of course, of this year’s. Jacksonville’s mid-round picks still have a chance to salvage it however.
Second-rounder Yeldon will likely lead the team in carries and be complimented by the exciting Robinson. Third round guard A.J. Cann will be a starter someday, possibly this year, and fifth-round receiver Rashad Greene could make noise in the slot.
2015 Draft Class
Round | Overall | Player | Position | College | Height | Weight |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 3 | Dante Fowler Jr. | OLB | Florida | 6'3 | 261 |
2 | 36 | T.J. Yeldon | RB | Alabama | 6'1 | 226 |
3 | 67 | A.J. Cann | OG | South Carolina | 6'3 | 313 |
4 | 104 | James Sample | SS | Louisville | 6'2 | 209 |
5 | 139 | Rashad Greene | WR | Florida State | 5'11 | 182 |
6 | 180 | Michael Bennett | DT | Ohio State | 6'2 | 293 |
7 | 220 | Neal Sterling | WR | Monmouth (NJ) | 6'4 | 235 |
7 | 229 | Ben Koyack | TE | Notre Dame | 6'5 | 255 |