JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — There have been a number of explanation why the Jacksonville Jaguars gained simply three of 9 video games to complete the 2023 season, a collapse that price them a playoff spot. However the purpose that bothered common supervisor Trent Baalke essentially the most was the ineffectiveness alongside the road of scrimmage.
Each the run sport and the run protection fell considerably over the ultimate six weeks of the season. Jaguars working backs ran for 26.5 fewer yards per sport, and the protection gave up 44.4 extra dashing yards per sport in Weeks 13-18 than it did in Weeks 1-12.
Baalke’s concentrate on strengthening the offensive and defensive strains was the crew’s No. 1 precedence this offseason. And because the Jaguars head into the OTAs (that start Could 20), it appears to be like like — on paper, no less than — they’ve completed that.
On the offensive line, Jacksonville signed Professional Bowl middle Mitch Morse — a nine-year starter for the Payments and Chiefs — to switch a struggling Luke Fortner. Whereas Fortner ranked thirty first in go block win charge (87.9%) final season, Morse ranked 14th (93%) — an apparent improve. Morse additionally did not permit a sack final season, whereas Fortner allowed 4.5, per NFL Subsequent Gen Stats. For depth, the Jaguars drafted offensive deal with Javon Foster (Missouri) within the fourth spherical.
On protection, they signed former 49ers defensive deal with Arik Armstead and drafted defensive tackles Maason Smith (second spherical) and Jordan Jefferson (fourth spherical) out of LSU.
Armstead is among the NFL’s finest defensive linemen when wholesome, and he’ll begin alongside nostril deal with DaVon Hamilton. Armstead additionally gives an inside pass-rush presence (5 sacks and 20 QB pressures in 12 video games final season, and 33.5 profession sacks) that can ease the burden off edge rushers Josh Allen and Travon Walker.
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Smith principally lined up as a three-technique deal with (46% of his snaps) final season at LSU, and his 20 pressures when lined up as a defensive deal with in 2023 have been the second most within the SEC, per ESPN Stats & Info. His 84 5/8-inch wingspan was the largest of any defensive deal with on the scouting mix, and he was clocked at a quickest velocity of 19.2 mph final season. He’ll play a number of spots within the deal with rotation.
Although he has performed at a number of spots in his profession at West Virginia and LSU, Jefferson will play nostril deal with for the Jaguars, based on Baalke. Jefferson was one of many strongest gamers on the mix: His 34 reps of 225 kilos on the bench press have been the second most of any participant, behind solely Arkansas middle Beaux Limmer (39).
“We have to get larger. We have to get stronger,” Baalke mentioned at his end-of-season information convention. “We have to get extra bodily within the trenches. If you wish to compete for championships you need to do this. I feel we have got some good items in there [and] we now have some good, younger gamers in there however we now have to get higher.”
The Jaguars have additionally been busy in different areas making an attempt to enhance and construct depth as they head into the 2024 season. Listed below are three extra takeaways from the Jaguars’ offseason to this point.
Go-rush depth
Whereas the Jaguars took care of enterprise by signing Allen to a five-year contract extension properly earlier than the NFL draft, discovering edge rusher depth was nonetheless a necessity.
The Jaguars did not draft an edge rusher till the seventh spherical, once they chosen Texas Tech’s Myles Cole with the 236th general decide. And Baalke thinks Cole wants some work, so it may very well be no less than one season earlier than he has an opportunity to get on the sector on any form of common foundation.
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That leaves Trevis Gipson, whom the crew signed in March, because the clear No. 3 pass-rusher. He has 11 sacks in his profession, but seven of these got here in 2021. Subsequent is second-year participant Yasir Abdullah, who tallied 45 snaps in 2023. The Jaguars opted to not re-sign Dawuane Smoot (23.5 sacks in seven seasons with the crew) and 2020 first-rounder Ok’Lavon Chaisson (5 sacks in 57 video games).
If Jacksonville desires so as to add one other rusher between now and the beginning of the season, there are alternatives. Bud Dupree (53 profession sacks), Yannick Ngakoue (69), Shaq Lawson (26), Carl Lawson (27) and Bruce Irvin (56.5) are free brokers, although all besides Ngakoue and Carl Lawson can be 30 or older when the 2024 season begins. Would any be amenable to a diminished position because the third or fourth edge rusher within the rotation?
The Jaguars have the third-most wage cap area obtainable ($35.26 million), per Roster Administration System. Would they use a few of that cash on an growing old participant so as to add depth to the place?
At this level, it appears to be like just like the Jaguars are content material to go along with Allen (17.5 sacks in 2023), Walker (10 sacks in 2023) and Gipson (one sack in eight video games in 2023) as their primary edge rushers.
Secondary shuffle
The Jaguars did not do a whole overhaul of their secondary, however they made vital adjustments that they imagine will present an improve from what they placed on the sector in 2023. There are 4 new gamers — together with two draft picks — anticipated to play key roles, together with at two beginning spots after the releases of cornerback Darious Williams and security Rayshawn Jenkins earlier this spring.
The 2 returning starters are cornerback Tyson Campbell and security Andre Cisco, however their future in these roles past this season is not clear. Each are getting into the ultimate yr of their rookie contract and neither has performed constantly at a excessive sufficient stage to be thought of a no brainer for an extension.
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After these two, nonetheless, it is wait-and-see on how new defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen places the items collectively.
The Jaguars signed security Darnell Savage Jr. in March, however coach Doug Pederson mentioned on the homeowners conferences that Savage would begin out because the crew’s nickelback. Savage performed there at occasions in Inexperienced Bay, so it isn’t an unfamiliar spot for him, however the Jaguars drafted Jarrian Jones within the third spherical and think about him additionally as a nickelback (he primarily performed there at Florida State) who can play exterior.
Veteran journeyman Ronald Darby is ready to be the starter on the different cornerback spot, however he has battled accidents all through his nine-year profession and performed a full season simply as soon as (2020). Jones might transfer exterior if Darby goes down with an harm, however so might fifth-round decide Deantre Prince, who additionally will get a have a look at nickelback.
Relying on the look Nielsen desires, second-year participant Antonio Johnson or Savage might begin at security subsequent to Cisco. Johnson noticed work as a giant nickel at occasions final season and he might additionally get time there in 2024 as properly.
The Jaguars allowed 18 passing touchdowns to large receivers in 2023 (fifth most within the NFL) and cornerbacks accounted for under six of the crew’s 16 interceptions (Williams had 4). An improve was wanted, and whereas the Jaguars did not go for a cornerback within the first spherical when Alabama’s Terrion Arnold was obtainable once they picked twenty third, Baalke and Pederson are assured that Nielsen can put the puzzle collectively to enhance within the secondary in 2024.
“Ryan and his workers, we have had an excellent dialogue,” Baalke mentioned. “We have spent plenty of time when he first obtained right here going by precisely what he was searching for on the completely different positions. How we have been going to play the corners on this scheme versus how we performed them previously, how the linebackers are going to suit and the way we have been going to get the Sam linebacker place stuffed from inside. So we had plenty of nice dialogue and it has been enjoyable to study what he is searching for in gamers.”
OT succession plan
The draft permits groups to replenish depth at key positions which are primed for turnover. Offensive deal with was a type of positions.
Left deal with Cam Robinson and swing deal with Walker Little are each getting into the ultimate yr of their contracts, which leaves second-year proper deal with Anton Harrison the one offensive deal with with vital beginning expertise on the roster. Harrison performed each snap as a rookie after beginning only one sport at proper deal with in his profession at Oklahoma.
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Robinson has began 84 video games in seven seasons with the Jaguars however hasn’t performed a full season since 2020. He is attributable to make $16.25 million in 2024 and the Jaguars are unlikely to re-sign him for that form of cash.
Little has began 17 regular-season video games in three seasons (13 at left deal with and 4 at left guard). It is unclear at this level if the Jaguars are excited about bringing him again to be a starter in 2025.
Now they welcome fourth-rounder Foster to the group. He was Missouri’s beginning left deal with for the previous three seasons and a third-team All-American and first-team All-SEC choice in 2023.
“You begin him out in a swing place,” Baalke mentioned. “That is for the coaches to settle in on what his position goes to be. However actually like the scale, the size, two-time captain, chief within the SEC, 31-game starter. Plenty of issues that performed into the decide.”
In the event that they like what they see, nonetheless, the Jaguars might choose to not re-sign Robinson or Little and go along with Foster as a starter at both deal with spot in 2025, relying on the place the crew thinks Harrison’s finest spot can be.
