Jaguars offseason report: Time for young team to start paying dividends
There are no guarantees in the NFL, and the Jacksonville Jaguars are finding that out the hard way.
Entering Year 3 under general manager Dave Caldwell and coach Gus Bradley, the team, which has spent the last few offseasons taking a calculated approach to building the roster, has yet to parlay a commendable front office approach into success on the field.
The Jaguars are coming along slowly.
Yet this is not the same franchise it was in 2011, when new owner Shad Khan began a needed overhaul to restore the Jags to health from a business perspective.
The only thing left to do is put a winner on the field.
This offseason, the front office took a few more steps toward making that happen. It started in free agency, where the Jags complemented one flashy buy — signing former Denver Broncos tight end Julius Thomas — with a number of smart purchases, including right tackle Jermey Parnell, cornerback Davon House and defensive end Jared Odrick.
Jacksonville continued its fine work in the draft, finding value with nearly every pick. Losing third overall pick Dante Fowler Jr. on the first day of rookie camp is a blow, but the draft class is deep enough to help this team in 2015.
In running back T.J. Yeldon, guard A.J. Cann, safety James Sample and defensive tackle Michael Bennett, the Jaguars found four players who will see significant playing time this season — and that's after losing their first-round pick.
Adding Yeldon and Cann should help the development of quarterback Blake Bortles, who had an up-and-down rookie season and will need to take a step forward if the Jaguars are going to be competitive. New offensive coordinator Greg Olson, who helped Derek Carr find success in his rookie season with the Oakland Raiders, is a fine choice to expedite that process.
Bortles was sacked a league-high 55 times in 2014. Too often, the Jaguars' protection scheme left a running back or tight end one-on-one with an edge rusher. That should change under Olson.
With a solidified offensive line, a young, capable running back and an emerging receiving corps, a good year from Bortles could elevate this offense from 31st in the league to middle of the pack.
Such a climb, combined with continued improvement on the other side of the ball, could land the Jaguars in the six- or seven-win range, which should be enough to save the Caldwell-Bradley brain trust for at least another season.
But a lot is riding on young players. That's the risk the Jaguars have taken by doing things the right way and building through the draft.
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Quarterback
Bortles' rookie season was a mixed bag. He showed flashes of potential, but his footwork deteriorated as the season progressed — in part because he was compensating for a tired throwing shoulder — leading to inconsistent accuracy. To rectify the issue, Bortles worked with renowned quarterback coach Tom House in the offseason. The Jags have a solid veteran backup in Chad Henne.
Running back
Jacksonville's backfield is crowded after the team took Yeldon in the second round. The rookie will compete with Denard Robinson, who made the most of his opportunities last season, and disappointing signing Toby Gerhart. Free agent pickup Bernard Pierce figures to be in the mix, as well.
Wide receiver
If Bortles is going to succeed, one of the team's three second-year receivers will need to take a big step forward. Allen Robinson is the best bet. He was among the rookie leaders in receptions before going down for the season with a broken foot in Week 8. Undrafted Allen Hurns put up solid numbers, but his route running remains raw. Marqise Lee could be Jacksonville's best playmaker, but he needs to be more consistent. Suspended former first rounder Justin Blackmon remains out of the picture.
Tight end
The Jaguars are banking on Thomas being more than just a product of Peyton Manning's brilliance after signing the Pro Bowl tight end to a five-year, $46 million deal. He is a matchup nightmare and should allow Olson to get creative with formations and personnel groupings. Backup Marcedes Lewis gives the Jags a solid blocker in two-tight-end sets.
Offensive line
The only two locks are Luke Joeckel at left tackle and Parnell at right tackle. The three interior spots will be up for grabs. Brandon Linder is the favorite at right guard after a promising rookie season. Cann will compete with veteran Zane Beadles at left guard. And free agent signing Stefen Wisniewski and Luke Bowanko will battle for the starting gig at center. Competition should produce a much better unit than the one the Jaguars had last year.
Defensive line
The outlook would have been much brighter with a healthy Fowler, but this is still a solid unit — especially if Sen'Derrick Marks comes back strong from an anterior cruciate ligament tear. Aging Chris Clemons was productive at the LEO spot (a defensive end-linebacker hybrid in Bradley's defense). Roy Miller is the line's rock on the interior. And Odrick is a vast improvement over Red Bryant at left defensive end, where Bradley likes to deploy a stronger run defender.
Linebacker
The Jaguars lack playmakers at the second level. Middle linebacker Paul Posluszny is a tackling machine but a liability in coverage. Telvin Smith is athletic but cannot shed blocks in the run game. And free agent Dan Skuta, brought in to play an edge rusher-linebacker role (called the OTTO in Bradley's terminology), is best in a reserve role and on special teams. Jacksonville had a good draft, but not taking a linebacker might have been a mistake.
Secondary
The Jaguars have a lot of young talent here but no sure things. Demetrius McCray should start at cornerback on one side with House on the other, leaving Aaron Colvin in the slot. Johnathan Cyprien will start at strong safety, and veteran free agent Sergio Brown and Sample will compete for the starting spot at free safety.
Special teams
Josh Scobee has long been one of the league's best kickers. Accuracy on field goal attempts and a strong leg on kickoffs make him doubly valuable. Bryan Anger hasn't lived up to his draft position — he was taken in the third round in 2012, before Russell Wilson — but he is a solid punter. Ace Sanders is a shifty kick returner but has underwhelmed in his two years, and he could be out of a job by the start of the season.
Coaching
The Jaguars need to get better defensively. Bradley and defensive coordinator Bob Babich are working with their most talented unit since arriving in Jacksonville, and they've had a couple of years to help the young defenders develop. There are no more excuses for this coaching staff. Olson takes over the offense after two seasons on the Raiders staff.