The season is approaching. The editorial staff of DNA of Sports invites you to take stock of the strengths and weaknesses of the 32 franchises. Today, the 2023 Jacksonville Jaguars. You can find all the presentations by clicking on this link.
After four negative seasons (15-50), the Jaguars had a little better than average in 2022. They even went to the playoffs and won a game there! Like their coach, Jacksonville will not necessarily be spectacular but should be effective in 2023. Yes, but how much?
Last season: 9 wins – 8 losses, 1st in AFC Sud, loss in the 2nd round of the playoffs
Movements in the off-season
Notable arrivals: Calvin Ridley (WR), Brandon McManus (K)
Resignatures: Evan Engram (TE), Dawuane Smoot (DE), Andrew Wingard (S), Adam Gotsis (DT), Tre Herndon (CB)
Draft: Anton Harrison (OT), Brenton Strange (TE), Tank Bigsby (RB), Ventrell Miller (LB), Tyler Lacy (DT), Yasir Abdullah (Edge), Antonio Johnson (S), Parker Washington (WR), Chris Braswell (CB), Eric Hallett (S), Cooper Hodges (OG), Raymond Vohasek (DT), Derek Parish (FB).
Notable starts: Arden Key (Edge), Marvin Jones (WR), Shaquill Griffin (CB), Dan Arnold (TE)
Very few changes, whether in terms of arrivals or departures: Jacksonville is banking on continuity. The projection of holders 2023 is edifying: 9 out of 11 holders in attack were already in 2022, 10 in defense! To rely on automatisms as well as on the acquisition of offensive and defensive systems.
The strong points)
State of mind ! It sounds like a cliché, but “not giving up” until the final whistle is a real quality in sport. In 2022, the Jaguars have won their last five home games. Yet each time they were behind in the score: 17 points against the Raiders (week 9), 9 points against the Ravens (w12), 17 points against the Cowboys (w15), 10 points against the Titans (w18) and 27 points against the Chargers in the first round of the playoffs. Each time they were able to come back to win!
Trevor Lawrence experienced meteoric progress in 2022, it must be said that he started from afar with an abysmal first season! In 2023, he can rely on a quality aerial quartet: Christian Kirk (1,108 yards in 2022), Calvin Ridley (photo, 28 touchdowns in 35 NFL games), Evan Engram (73 receptions in 2022) and Zay Jones (3,000 career yards averaging over 11 yards per reception).
Above all, he will conduct the same attack and with a year of experience in this system.
“Playing in the same system, with the same staff and with almost the same players, it’s so much more comfortable! This allows me to focus on my mechanics and my game in general and not on the specifics of the playbook or partners. says Trevor Lawrence to Bleacher Report
Another asset of the Jaguars, the explosiveness of Travis Etienne: 9 races for 25 yards or more in 2022! 1125 yards on the ground as well as 35 receptions for one who has developed automatisms with his quarterback since university.
Tyson Campbell, in two seasons, has become a quality cornerback in the NFL: a good tackler (143 in two regular seasons) and effective in coverage (25 passes defended including 5 interceptions). After drafting CJ Henderson in the top 10 (draft 2020) then paying Shaquill Griffin in 2021, these two failures gave way to a quality duo in the cornerback positions: Tyson Campbell and Darious Williams.
The weak spots)
The youth of the offensive line is detrimental. In the five major, Walker Little is 24 years old, Ben Bartch and Luke Fortner are 25. Especially since the suspension of Cam Robinson (4 games) forced the staff to change their plans for the 2023 draft. Aged only 21 years old ( 22 years old in February 2024), rookie Anton Harrison will have to take on an important role.
How can a 300 pound man run 40 yards in 4.98 seconds? Anton Harrison is a player who knows how to move in mirror of the attackers. But like any NFL rookie, he’s still a developing player. Become more consistent technically will be the mission of his position coach: Phil Rauscher had been able to work the same kind of profile at the Vikings with Christian Darrisaw. But in the end, only Brandon Schreff is an experienced player ahead of Trevor Lawrence!
Age is also a problem in defense: 6 of the 11 starters are 26 or younger! And that’s not counting the substitutes who will have a lot of playing time like Chad Muma and rookies Tyler Lacy, Yasir Abdullah and Antonio Johnson. The Jaguars defenders have talent but are probably still a little soft: it shows when you have to finish the job!
X factor: finishing the job
In 2022, the Jaguars defense was 3rd in number of quarterback pressures and 10th in QB Hits. Yes but only the 26th in number of sacks! Putting pressure is good but putting the quarterback on the ground is better: it stops the game and above all causes the opposing attack to lose yards.
In attack, same problem! In 2022, the Jaguars were the 10th NFL offense in yards gained per game and the 7th in 1st attempt gained. Yes, but only 17th in touchdowns scored when in the Red Zone (last 20 yards). Advancing on the field is good, but it is in the crucial area that you have to know how to score six points.
The Jaguars are almost there, in attack as in defense. So if they manage to be just a little more realistic, the 2023 season will be victorious.
Player to watch: Calvin Ridley (WR)
In 2022, Jacksonville had a group of good targets but lacked a number 1 receiver, the one capable of making a difference in all games. 5-star recruit in 2015, then double university champion with Alabama and finally choice of the 1st round of the 2018 draft, Calvin Ridley has had a straight sporting career. On the contrary of his life story!
“Since I was eight years old, I have to manage myself! I still remember it was October 31, 2002 when my aunt picked me and my three younger brothers up from school and left us in a shelter SOS Children’s Village. », theplayerstribune.com
He will not see his mother again until six years later and never his father again. Born in a very poor environment, his two parents had sunk into delinquency to earn a living but, as often in this situation, it turned out badly for them. This childhood in a home, and in addition having to be “the adult” for his three young brothers, forged him a foolproof character. Or almost !
After 6 games in 2021, he asks his team to be able to retire to take care of failing mental health, in particular after his home was robbed: terrified, his wife couldn’t sleep and he no longer felt able to leave her and their daughter to go play. And it was during this period of depression that he began betting on basketball games…and on a Falcons game! Suspended for the 2022 season because of this, Calvin Ridley is more than ever hungry for receptions and victories.
2023 Jacksonville Jaguars Schedule
@Colts, Chiefs, Texans, Falcons (London), @Bills (London), Colts, @Saints, @Steelers, BYE, 49ers, Titans, @Texans, Bengals, @Browns, Ravens, @Buccaneers, Panthers, @Titans
A constant in the 2023 Jaguars calendar: facing the new generation of quarterbacks. Most already affirmed like new NFL stars Patrick Mahomes, Joe Burrow, Josh Allen, Deshaun Watson and Lamar Jackson. Also, those in the making like CJ Stroud, Bryce Young, Kenny Pickett and Anthony Richardson.
Their schedule is therefore difficult, even more so with Titans armed with confirmed players like Derrick Henry, DeAndre Hopkins and Jeffery Simmons. But winning the AFC South division seems possible or at least finishing among the top 7 records in the AFC conference (to secure a place in wild cards).
The audio preview
In summary
It’s good. Good but it does not look fantastic! If they reach the playoffs are they equipped to go all the way?
Jacksonville still seems to be behind Buffalo, Kansas City, Miami and Cincinnati in the AFC conference. But hope is back with an experienced staff and young quality players.
