Like every year, Touchdown Actu offers you its traditional pre-season files. You can find them all by clicking on this link.
In the NFL, things can go really fast. In a good way as in a bad way. And in Jacksonville, there is nothing positive about the spiral. AFC conference finalist in 2017, the Florida franchise has never confirmed the hopes placed in it. The reasons, as diverse as they are (family problems and early retirement of Telvin Smith, injuries to Cam Robinson, repeated tussle with senior players, such as Jalen Ramsey, Leonard Fournette and most recently Yannick Ngakoue) ended up weakening the head. coach Doug Marrone, with 11 small successes in two years.
However, the owner Shahid Khan believes in it and left the umpteenth (and final?) Reprieve to the 56-year-old technician. In an AFC South as open as it is competitive, what are the coach’s chances of keeping his place? What can Felines in full transition decently envision?
Last season: 6 wins – 10 losses
Offseason movements
A page has clearly turned in North Florida. A symbol of the franchise’s insolent success in 2017, the defensive line saw quite a few of its last glorious soldiers leave the ship. Marcell Dareus was not extended and the iconic Calais Campbell was ceded, for a pittance, to the Baltimore Ravens. To replace them, General Manager Dave Caldwell has above all relied on players of duty, more discreet, supposed to accompany the new local nugget on the pass rush, Josh Allen. This is the case of Adam Gotsis, former hopeful Broncos, Cassius Marsh, edge rusher discovered in Seattle or Al Woods, imposing nose tackle but who will skip the season, to protect himself from COVID. Enough to put rapid pressure on the Ohio State prospect, DaVon Hamilton, recovered in the third round, and on the ultra-hybrid profile K’Lavon Chaisson, announced as a strong side linebacker, at first, but who could have a voice to the chapter as the main rusher, depending on the conflict situation with Yannick Ngakoue.
Jalen Ramsey and AJ Bouye left, the Jags had to add new blood. Nine is precisely the position to which local CJ Henderson was selected during the last draft. Three cornerbacks and a safety were also “fished” to boost a sector in clear reconstruction. We will of course note the big signing of the offseason, linebacker Joe Schobert (128 tackles), to improve a run stop in perpetual suffering in 2019.
Offensively, retouches are not legion, but they have the merit of existing. Most notable is new coordinator Jay Gruden. Fired from the post of head coach in Washington last year, against a backdrop of various scandals (sexism, medical failure in the Trent Williams case) and mixed results, Jon’s brother is trying to revive and relocate a system that had raised its rating in Cincinnati. He brought in a loyal lieutenant, runner Chris Thompson, who will bring his experience to the locker room and his value out of the backfield. Tyler Eifert, whom he rubbed shoulders with during his rookie season, in 2013, is another bet. Gruden loves the impact of receiving tight ends, and has already proven it in the federal capital, with duo Jordan Reed-Vernon Davis.
Notable arrivals: Chris Thompson (RB), Tyler Eifert (TE), Al Woods (DL), Cassius Marsh (DL), Joe Schobert (LB), Rashaan Melvin (CB).
Re-Signature : Tyler Shatley (OL).
Draft : CJ Henderson (CB), K’Lavon Chaisson (LB), Laviska Shenault (WR), DaVon Hamilton (DL), Ben Bartch (OL), Josiah Scott (CB), Shaquille Quarterman (LB), Daniel Thomas (S), Collin Johnson (WR), Jake Luton (QB), Tyler Davis (TE), Chris Claybrooks (CB).
Notable losses: Nick Foles (QB), Calais Campbell (DL), Marcell Dareus (DT), AJ Bouye (CB).
They gave up the season because of COVID-19 : Lerentee McCray (OLB), Rashaan Melvin (CB), Al Woods (DT)
Joe Schobert, one of the key reinforcements to counter the ground game.
–
Le(s) point(s) fort(s)
In this clearly revised training, the strengths are still difficult to define with confidence. One of them could be the receivers. Certainly, on paper, DJ Chark, revealed last year with 1,008 yards and 8 touchdowns, may appear alone. But Jay Gruden arguably has more weapons than he looks. Dede Westbrook has proven to be a solid No. 2, with at least 660 yards in his last two drills. He probably lacks a little more efficiency in the in-goal. Recovered from Kansas City, Chris Conley was the second most productive receiver in 2019 (775 yards, 5 touchdowns) and will count on competition from the physical phenomenon Laviska Shenault, as quick as it is difficult to tackle, despite an irregular end of the course in Colorado. Capable of being a poison in the middle areas and in the backfield, with an aptitude for playing Wildcat, he should appeal to his new coordinator.
One of the other unsuspected strengths of the Jags are special teams. The kicker Josh Lambo was also the most effective in the league on field goal last year, with a ratio of 33 to 34 and a lot of decisive successes offered to his family. He will not be too much to help his team once again get out of a bad situation.
The weak spots)
What is the defense of the Jaguars worth now? A benchmark time in the league, the group seems to lack benchmarks and the coordinator Todd Wash, like his head coach, is more threatened than ever. Result: a reorganization begins, with undoubtedly more varied patterns, as suggested by the draft of the defensive end / linebacker K’Lavon Chaisson. Josh Allen also already knew this role on the Kentucky campus. The goal will be to put more pressure on the quarterback and less on a young defensive backfield. Signed during the offseason from Detroit, Rashaan Melvin has also stepped back from the Covid, leaving rookie CJ Henderson and sophomore Tre Herndon in charge of the cornerback position. DJ Hayden, the former first round draft, does have veteran status, but he seems more destined for a nickelback role.
Against the race, Joe Schobert was signed and his finish became vital. Because last year, the opposing riders had fun against Jacksonville. As proof, the two best tackles in the franchise in 2019 are safeties, and only Carolina conceded more touchdowns on the ground last year. Defense has often been the barometer of the team’s level since 2017 and this season should be no exception.
X factor (s)
Completely unknown to many NFL fans a year ago, Gardner Minshew is set to take sole responsibility for the Jags attack. No small feat for a player who came out in the sixth round of the 2019 draft and who has experienced good and bad, with 21 touchdowns but 6 interceptions and especially 7 lost fumbles, often in delicate areas. His competitor from last season, Nick Foles, flew to Chicago and, beyond the media and charismatic figure he represents, Minshew will have to show even more maturity in a second professional season than often knows perilous. With Jay Gruden, the collaboration is exciting on paper, with a game more focused on “play-action” and faster reading windows. Prerogatives he already knew when he played with Mike Leach in Washington State.
He is an undeniable X factor, as is his offensive line. One of the most interesting O-Lines on paper, but terribly disappointing since 2018. Left tackle Cam Robinson is slow to return to his best level after his injuries and questions his ability to remain on the blind side. And what about the two guards, far too inconsistent, like the flop and former big recruit Andrew Norwell. Integrated at the start of last season, offensive line coach George Warhop undoubtedly needed time in a young attack and not always seasoned (many changes to the position of quarterback, for example). But the development of rookie Jawaan Taylor and the return to form of center Brandon Linder are signs of hope on a line little regarded in the offseason. The draft of the versatile defector of the second university division Ben Bartch provided the only reinforcement.
Last X factor, and not the least: Doug Marrone. Able to boost his group after the failure of Gus Bradley, Sean Payton’s former assistant has shown a cruel lack of leadership in recent months, to the point of alienating many executives and creating embarrassing situations internally, like the current Ngakoue affair. The Jags will only be able to get back on the water with more intensity from their technical boss, in a year where the latter has little to lose!
Gardner Minshew-Leonard Fournette, a collaboration made to work?
–
Player to watch: Leonard Fournette (RB)
He is perhaps, inherently speaking, the most talented of the workforce. The most capricious, too. Despite a season over 1000 yards last year, Leonard Fournette does not really assume a leadership role, and this is what pushed his franchise not to activate its one-year contract option. Since his arrival with great fanfare, the former LSU star has struggled to string together the right matches. The end-zone, he only rubbed shoulders with it three small times in 2019. Worse, he has often distinguished himself in the wrong way, such as when he was excluded from Buffalo in 2018 or his recent calls from the foot to Cam Newton, as Gardner Minshew was announced as the new incumbent. In a year when he is preparing to test free agency, Fournette is a player who can, by his burst of pride, show that he is not a usurper in Florida and that his status as the fourth choice of the draft was not overused.
Calendar
Colts, @ Titans, Dolphins, @ Bengals, @ Texans, Lions, @ Chargers, Texans, @ Packers, Steelers, Browns, @ Vikings, Titans, @ Ravens, Bears, @ Colts.
The podcast audio preview
In summary
The construction site is vast in Jacksonville and in a season where a lot of people are playing their game (Doug Marrone, Dave Caldwell, Leonard Fournette, Andrew Norwell, Taven Bryan), the slightest spark could be double-edged. Yes, the attack has something to become more explosive, with a more aerial game and more able to correspond to the faculties of Gardner Minshew.
Yes, defense can become more unpredictable and less dependent on strong individuals. But the reconstruction is such, in a somewhat nauseating environment, that it seems difficult to envisage a turnaround this season. It will above all be necessary to find new strong figures and their own identity, but the road looks long …
The prognosis: 4 wins – 12 losses
–
News, analyses et résultats de la NFL"/>–
–
