The season is coming. The DNA of Sports editorial team offers you an update on the strengths and weaknesses of the 32 franchises. Today, dive into the pool at the Jacksonville Jaguars stadium. You can find all the presentations by clicking on this link.
Everyone is waiting for it: the Trevor Lawrence rocket takes off! Praised since he played in high school and phenomenal with Clemson University, the number 1 pick in the 2021 draft does not (yet) justify the enormous expectations.
Will he progress in 2024? Is he in the best position to do so? There are many questions for the Duval County franchise in Jacksonville.
Last season: 9 wins – 8 losses, 2nd in AFC South
Off-season moves
Notable Arrivals: Arik Armstead (DE/DT), Gabe Davis (WR), Ronald Darby (CB), Mitch Morse (OC), Terrell Edmunds (S), Darnell Savage (S/NB), Adrian Amos (S), Mac Jones (QB), Devin Duvernay (WR), Tre Flowers (S/ST).
Re-signings: Trevor Lawrence (QB), Josh Hines-Allen (Edge), Tyson Campbell (CB), Foye Oluokun (LB), Erza Cleveland (OG)
Draft: Brian Thomas (WR), Maason Smith (DT), Jarrian Jones (CB), Javon Foster (OL), Jordan Jefferson (DT), Deantre Prince (CB), Keilan Robinson (RB/KR), Cam Little (K ), Myles Cole (Edge).
Notable departures: Calvin Ridley (WR), Darious Williams (CB), Rayshawn Jenkins (S), Zay Jones (WR), Jamal Agnew (KR), Tre Herndon (NB), Adam Gotsis (DT), Brandon McManus (K)
On offense and defense, the staff has strengthened the center of the field. Arik Armstead and two rookies bring their skills to the interior of the defensive line. On offense, Mitch Morse was a solid starter for nine seasons, with two of the best offenses in the NFL: Chiefs and Bills.
Fullbacks Rayshawn Jenkins and Darious Williams have left for other skies. A duo that leaves the Jaguars orphaned by 101 tackles in 2023 for the former, 35 passes defended in two seasons for the latter! Their replacements do not give the same guarantees.
Receiver Gabe Davis arrives from Buffalo to replace Calvin Ridley who left for a division rival (Tennessee). On the coaching front, the most notable change is the signing of defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen from Atlanta.
The 2024 team does not seem any less solid than the 2023 team, but is it better?
The Jacksonville Jaguars All-Star Team
Quarterback: Trevor Lawrence Runner: Travis Etienne Receivers: Christian Kirk, Gabe Davis, Brian Thomas Tight end: Evan Engram Offensive line: Cam Robinson, Erza Cleveland, Mitch Morse, Brandon Scherff, Anton Harrison Kicker: Cam Little
Defensive Line: Travon Walker, Arik Armstead, Roy Robertson-Harris, Josh Hines-Allen Linebackers: Devin Lloyd, Foye Oluokun Cornerbacks: Tyson Campbell, Ronald Darby, Darnell Savage (NB) Safeties: Andre Cisco, Antonio Johnson Punter: Logan Cooke
Jacksonville Jaguars Highlights
The Jaguars gave Josh Hines-Allen $141 million ($76M guaranteed). After two average seasons in 2021 and 2022, the pass rusher justified that price by producing 17.5 sacks in 2023!
The defensive scheme will oscillate between 4-2-5 and 3-3-5. Five players are guaranteed to have a lot of playing time: the Allen-Armstead-Walker trio on the Dline and the Oluokun-Lloyd tandem on the second curtain. Depending on the option chosen, Roy Robertson-Harris on the line and linebacker Chad Muma will share the last “starter” position.
The tight end position is not considered the most valuable on a football field. However, the 49ers and Chiefs have shown that a player at this position is capable of having a very significant impact. While he may seem a level below George Kittle and Travis Kelce, Evan Engram has nothing left to prove. His 114 receptions in 2023 are the 2nd most in NFL history at this position.
The special team impact is real! The Jaguars started their possessions on average from their 31 yards: compared to their 28 yards for their 17 opponents. In 2023, only the Baltimore Ravens offense had a better average starting position!
Punter Logan Cooke has been able to push opponents as far as possible: 29 punts within 20 opposing yards in 2023 (12th NFL). And to quickly stop opposing returns, Tre Flowers complements the good tacklers Daniel Thomas, Andrew Wingard, Caleb Johnson, Chad Muma and Ventrell Miller.
Finally, you also have to know how to get the ball back when the opponent clears. That's why the Jaguars signed Devin Duvernay and then drafted Keilan Robinson.
Jacksonville Jaguars Weaknesses
Travon Walker isn't bad with 59 pressures and 10 sacks in 2023. But everyone expects a lot more from a number one pick in the draft! Especially when compared to the one chosen behind him in 2022: Aidan Hutchinson (Detroit). Coach Doug Pederson is counting on his progress. And to help him do that, he wants to use a larger rotation, as he told the Daytona Beach News-Journal:
“It's over the seasons with Josh and Travon playing 80% of the snaps ! The year we won the Super Bowl with Philadelphia, Fletcher Cox only played 60% of the games (58.93%). We want to reproduce this winning formula. Eight quality defensive linemen will allow us to have different combinations.
Will Roy Robertson-Harris, Trevis Gipson, DaVon Hamilton and rookies Maason Smith and Jordan Jefferson be able to respond when they take the field?
Since Jalen Ramsey left in 2019, Jacksonville has been looking for a leader for its backline. Cornerback Tyson Campbell was given a lucrative contract extension. However, in 2023, he has allowed a whopping 9 touchdowns in 11 games played!
At the safeties positions, the Jaguars signed two former first-round draft picks. Terrell Edmunds (2018) and Darnell Savage (2019) are however two disappointments not meeting the expectations of picks 16 and 21. For his third season, Andre Cisco showed good things (4 interceptions and 62 tackles), but also less good things by conceding 7 touchdowns! The Jaguars hope for progress from him and another young player: Antonio Johnson.
Attacking depth is a problem the Jaguars are looking to solve. The drafting of Gabriel Davis goes in that direction: four NFL seasons and none with an average below 15.5 yards per reception (16.7 over 4 years). Same strategy with the draft in the 2024 first round of another receiver: Brian Thomas and his time of 4.33 seconds on the 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine.
Jacksonville Jaguars X-Factor: Trevor Lawrence (QB)
In 2023, the Jaguars played eight games before their bye week: six wins and two losses. Then they collapsed with a dismal 3-6 record! Trevor Lawrence threw only 4 interceptions in the first eight games and 8 in the next eight! (he missed one game due to injury)
Trevor Lawrence must limit his turnovers in 2024: his interceptions and also his fumbles (12 in 2023)! When a quarterback has had so much success in high school and then in college, he naturally tries to reproduce the hero's pattern. In the NFL, a thrower must sometimes know how to get rid of the ball to avoid a more impactful injury than the loss of an attempt!
With the confidence of the management who made him the highest paid quarterback in the NFL, “Sunshine” has the potential to be a radiant leader. He must now demonstrate this theorem still unsolved at the NFL level.
Player to watch: Arik Armstead (DT)
In 2015, the Jaguars manager, then at the San Francisco 49ers, drafted Arik Amrstead. In 2024, Trent Baalke insisted on recruiting him. The interior of the defensive line was clearly a weakness for Jacksonville last year.
The player is recovering from an injury (meniscus) by doing a lot of yoga. His professionalism, as well as the quality of his game, will be exemplary for the young Maason Smith (2nd round pick in 2024) and Jordan Jefferson (4th round in 2024).
Although very often taken by two players, Arik Armstead knows how to put pressure. On both sides, Josh Hines-Allen and Travon Walker will benefit from his presence in 2024. Enough to announce the return of Sacksonville ? (nickname given to the Jaguars defense in 2017)
Jacksonville Jaguars 2024 Schedule
@Dolphins, Browns, @Bills, @Texans, Colts, @Bears (London), Patriots (London), Packers, @Eagles, Vikings, @Lions, BYE, Texans, @Titans, Jets, @Raiders, Titans, @Colts
You'll have to be ready right away with four first games against very good opponents! The confrontations outside their AFC South division offer the formidable Eagles, Lions and Jets. As well as emerging Packers.
The audio preview
In summary
A difficult schedule and uncertainties in key positions worry fans, even if the squad has quality.
But the cold analysis of strengths and weaknesses, in a very competitive AFC conference, is not to their advantage.
