-By: Nick Capodice
Disclaimer: It’s time for me to start the Jaguars preview but whatever you do, don’t look directly at their helmets. Seriously, it’s almost as if whoever designed those helmets is trying to get their own fan base to turn against them so they can peacefully move to LA.
Anyway, besides the new digs, I’ve been impressed by the offseason new head coach Gus Bradley and GM Dave Caldwell were able to put together. They had a fantastic draft where they added the best player available in each round, and every guy they drafted brings an element of toughness to a team that desperately needed it. It doesn’t take much to draft better than former GM Gene Smith (remember all the way back in 2012 when he selected a punter in the 3rd round ahead of guys like Russell Wilson, Nick Foles, Olivier Vernon, TY Hilton, and Muhammad Sanu? Oops), but it seems like this new regime has an actual plan and is sticking to it.
OFFENSE
It’s a pick they didn’t make that may have been the Jaguar’s smartest decision in the 2012 draft. Despite having an absolutely dreadful quarterback situation, the Jaguars did not draft a signal caller even though the fans may have been begging them to do so. You don’t just draft a QB for the sake of drafting a QB. You invest in one when you are convinced that he can become the future of your franchise and Jacksonville was not convinced there was anyone worthy of that designation in the draft pool. I happen to agree with them. So instead of reaching for someone they’d probably be looking to replace a few years down the road, they selected the best player available. While this may not translate to many wins this year, it’s a big picture decision that will help them in years to come.
The Jaguars opted to take Texas A&M offensive tackle Luke Joeckle with the #2 overall pick. Along with Eugene Monroe (assuming he re-signs at the end of the year) Jacksonville will have two superb tackles to protect their franchise quarterback, once they find him. The rest of the line isn’t too shabby either, with Brad Meester and Will Rackley excelling at busting holes open for their all-pro running back, Maurice Jones-Drew.
MJD will be fine in 2013 but he’s starting to reach senior citizen status as a running back if you consider how much of a pounding he’s taken in his eight-year career. However, all hope is not lost in Jacksonville once MJD starts to break down as they have quietly began to assemble some young fire-power on the offensive side of the ball.
Cecil Shorts and Justin Blackmon (if he can stay out of Goodell’s principal’s office) are two talented outside threats and TE Marcedes Lewis is more than capable of making some plays. It’s rookie “offensive weapon” (OW is the position he’s actually listed as on the Jacksonville roster) Denard Robinson that is the most intriguing. He’s had a great preseason so far where he has lined up as a running back, wide receiver and wildcat quarterback. Robinson also has kick return ability. Additionally, let’s not forget that Robinson was the Michigan Wolverine’s QB, so you better believe the Jaguar’s offensive coaches have some trick plays up their sleeves.
DEFENSE
The Jaguars defensive line should be able to get to the quarterback on occasion this year. Jason Babin is still effective and he’ll play alongside newcomers Sen’Derrick Marks (a disappointment in Tennessee who has tons of untapped potential) and Roy Miller. Miller and Marks upgrade the defensive tackle position and allow Tyson Alualu to slide permanently outside. Although this front line appears more talented than last year’s, the real reason for optimism is head coach Gus Bradley. Bradley is an intense defensive mastermind who was the architect behind Seattle’s vaunted front wall. In a few years, I expect Bradley to build a bullying stop unit in Jacksonville.
The rest of the D still needs work. Linebackers Paul Posluzsny, Russell Allen and Geno Hayes don’t scare anyone. In the secondary, Jacksonville lost their best (yet oft-injured) corner, Derrick Cox. He’ll be replaced by hard-nosed rookie Dwyane Gratz. Although I think Gratz has a chance to develop into a very good player, third-round rookie corners rarely step in right away. It’ll take some time for him to develop.
The rest of the cornerback group is made up of older vets that no one else wanted like Marcus Trufant, Alan Ball and Dwight Lowery. Not exactly a group that’s going to set the world on fire.
My favorite draft pick for the Jaguars was second round safety Jonathan Cyprien. This small school product has a ridiculously high-ceiling and he’ll be coming into his prime by the time this team finds a real quarterback. He’s the type of player you can build a defense around. Unfortunately, he’s not going to have much help in the secondary this year, so expect him to take his lumps as a starter. Just don’t panic if he’s not a pro-bowler right away.
CONCLUSION
You know the expression “it’s always darkest before the dawn”? That’s the best way I can describe the 2013 Jaguars. I see hope on the horizon, but it’s still a ways off.
Jacksonville has quite possibly the worst quarterback dept chart the NFL has seen since Dave Brown and Danny Kanell were duking it out for the starting job as members of the 1996 New York Giants. A team full of young, inexperienced players who are trying to find their way in this league and a first year head coach who is learning on the job is not going to overcome the lack of talent at the game’s most important position.
The Jaguars have much growing to do, and hopefully with Gene Smith out of the picture, they’ll continue to move in the right direction. However, it looks like it’ll be more of the same for the Jaguars in the 2013 season.
PREDICTION: 3-13 (no playoffs)
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