Jacksonville Jaguars Fan Forums

Now that the initial frenzy of free agency has diminished, we are basically looking at the pre-draft 2015 Jaguars team. For the most part, I’m happy with the moves that were made in free agency. We have heard a lot about the Jaguar’s defensive needs, and how the Jags are projected at No.3 to take a defensive player. However, have we done enough, in conjunction with the anticipated additions of the 2015 draft, to the adequately address our anemic offense of 2014?




We have added a premium TE, and acquired 1 additional OL, to compliment arguably one of the worst offensive lines in the league last year. Is it enough? I will be the first to say that Jedd Fisch needed to go, but at what price? For all the misery we had to endure last year, it appears the Raider’s offensive stats are more atrocious. Under Greg Olson’s offensive in 2014, the Raiders’ offense was:




32nd in yards/game (decline from 2013)


32nd in first downs/game (decline from 2013)


32nd in yards/play (decline from 2013)


32nd in rushing yards/game (decline from 2013)


32nd in rushing TD’s/game (decline from 2013)


32nd in passing yards/completion (decline from 2013)


31st in points/game (decline from 2013)


30th in TD’s/game (decline from 2013)




(source: www.teamranings.com)




So what is my point in bringing up these stats? As you know, the Jaguars were not that more impressive than the Raiders’ stats for last year. But now we have the same offensive coordinator that the Raider’s had. We have added a TE and OL to our offense. Is this enough? Enough to see these numbers rise drastically?




My answer is …”I don’t know exactly”. But my suggestion is…draft offensive playmakers with the 1st and 2nd picks. I know this is not the general consensus, and I certainly won’t be “upset” if we draft a Williams/Fowler. However, my point is that the offense might be in more need. I am liking our receiver corps, and I think we are finally getting the caliber of receivers that this team needs to compete. How about one more…a genuine 1st receiver? If we do well this year, who knows when we will have a chance to get another top receiver off the draft board, if we are not one of the first to make a draft selection. I’m talking about the chance to either take Amari Cooper, or Kevin White, who will be snatching balls out the air, away from defenders. My personal preference is for Kevin White. I think this is what the team could have had with Justin Blackmon, and has been missing since he has been suspended. Imagine Blake in the shotgun, with Kevin White, Marquis Lee, Allen Robinson, Julius Thomas, and Allen Hurns or Denard Robinson all lined up as receivers. We have not “arrived” at the receiver position. Unfortunately, I don’t expect Blackmon back. Or if he does make it back, I’m not sure how well his layoff will translate to this current play (sorry if you’re reading this Justin…just use it for motivation out on the field...kind of like Bobby Boucher in the Waterboy). WR with the first pick, then best available RB with our second pick. Olson would have to be happy with this. I think we’ll need all the offensive manpower we can get.

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I actually wouldn't be shocked if Cooper was the pick at 3. I feel like if they stay at 3, it will be between Cooper, Beasley, and Fowler.

Basically. Should I have donned my flame retardant suit before posting?

Quote:I actually wouldn't be shocked if Cooper was the pick at 3. I feel like if they stay at 3, it will be between Cooper, Beasley, and Fowler.

 

This is my sentiment as well.

Quote:Basically. Should I have donned my flame retardant suit before posting?

I'm just being a jerk cuz this should be in the college forum


Edit: dang you mods are on it!

What would make the bigger impact on the team as it currently stands.  A game breaking #1 receiver, or defensive line.  I'd say wide receiver.  

Quote:I actually wouldn't be shocked if Cooper was the pick at 3. I feel like if they stay at 3, it will be between Cooper, Beasley, and Fowler.

I think it will be one of those 3 also

Quote:I'm just being a jerk cuz this should be in the college forum


Edit: dang you mods are on it!

Lol. NP. Wasn't sure where to post it. The post is just as much about Greg Olson and the team's current "challenges", for lack of a better word. Mods took care of it though I see.

Quote:What would make the bigger impact on the team as it currently stands.  A game breaking #1 receiver, or defensive line.  I'd say wide receiver.  

DL, unless Borles sucks, then it doesnt really matter we are doomed for another 3 years

 

If Borles is good, are WR/TE are good enough and young enough to get better with him

Our best pass rusher is 33, we need a young pass rusher, where as best receiving weapons are 21,23, and 26

Quote:What would make the bigger impact on the team as it currently stands. A game breaking #1 receiver, or defensive line. I'd say wide receiver.

A double digit sack monster who commands constant double teams would do wonders to elevate this defense to a new level. A stacked DLine is what won the Giants a SB. I have faith that either Robinson or Lee can break out as our #1 WR.

Quote:I have faith that either Robinson or Lee can break out as our #1 WR.

Whether it was the O Line, Bortles' play, or the receivers fault, Lee and Robinson had 3 TD's combined last year. Another aggressive vertical threat could do wonders also

I think it's Cooper, Beasleyyyy, or Williams. I don't think Fowler is in the top 3 (or 5 for that matter) players in this draft.

Quote:What would make the bigger impact on the team as it currently stands.  A game breaking #1 receiver, or defensive line.  I'd say wide receiver.  

Maybe game breaking #1 WR, but Cooper is not that. He'll be quite good but never a Dez/Julio/Green/Megatron/etc. White could be maybe.

Quote:Whether it was the O Line, Bortles' play, or the receivers fault, Lee and Robinson had 3 TD's combined last year. Another aggressive vertical threat could do wonders also

I think you've got a couple of good points here.


Our OLine wasn't good enough (that's an understatement !) and if it inproves, that will help Bortles find his receivers.


Robinson, Lee and Hurns weren't good enough, but they were rookies in injury-hit first seasons and there is no reason why they shouldn't improve.


And Bortles wasn't good enough. He can improve too.


So yes, Cooper will probably help, but is he really necessary if the offense is expected to improve anyway ?


I think the argument for a WR at 3 is very similar to the argument for Williams at 3 - it's not a position of great weakness for us, but if Cooper/Williams is so good you can't miss him, then he has to be taken.


One more thought, the two Super Bowl teams (one of them Gus's old team of course) managed to muddle through without a top WR. Maybe they're not as crucial as we think, if the team as a whole is good enough ?

Here's my case against a WR at three:

 

The three key positions in Gus Bradley's defense are (imo) Leo, MLB and FS. The Jaguars are in rough shape at each spot. Our Leo is 33 years old and could fall off a cliff at any time. Our MLB is 30, coming off a season-ending injury and runs like he's wearing cement shoes. Our free safety situation...let's just not talk about that.

 

It goes without saying that there are no MLB or FS prospects worth drafting anywhere near pick three. There are, however, a couple of Leo prospects who would fit in there. There will be MLB and FS (conversion from CB) prospects available to us in the second and third rounds. A lot of attention was paid to the offense last year, and while I certainly wouldn't complain if an offensive lineman or running back landed in Jacksonville in the second round, I'd err towards defense at least in the first. If Amari Cooper or Kevin White are the best player on the board, by all means, draft them. If there are equal (or very close) grades on, say, Cooper and Fowler, Fowler would be my pick. Drafting heavy on one side of the ball year after year is a good way to ensure the other side falls apart, especially when the other side has old and/or ineffective players in key positions.

 

This, of course, assumes that Williams is gone before we're on the board. He wouldn't fill an immediate, instant need, but he's too good to pass.

Fixed. Richard Sherman is more important to that style defense than Bobby Wagner, but it's close. You could make the case that MLB is more important than a single LEO if you have a solid rotation of LEO players. I think there are strong developmental LEO candidates after the first round, or if the Jags trade down a little, they could nab Dupree since it's a crapshoot at that position this year. 

 

Quote:Here's my case against a WR at three:

 

The three key positions in Gus Bradley's defense are (imo) Leo, MLB CB and FS. The Jaguars are in rough shape at each spot. Our Leo is 33 years old and could fall off a cliff at any time. Our MLB is 30, coming off a season-ending injury and runs like he's wearing cement shoes. Our free safety situation...let's just not talk about that.

Quote:Fixed. Richard Sherman is more important to that style defense than Bobby Wagner, but it's close. You could make the case that MLB is more important than a single LEO if you have a solid rotation of LEO players. I think there are strong developmental LEO candidates after the first round, or if the Jags trade down a little, they could nab Dupree since it's a crapshoot at that position this year. 

I'm not as worried about corner, and I doubt we draft one high with McCray, Colvin and House all on the roster and virtual locks to man the top three spots. There are two main reasons I'd argue that MLB is more important in Bradley's defense: one is that the corners he worked with were drafted late and developed, whereas Bobby Wagner was, iirc, a second-round pick. Two, the corners were left in a zone rather than assigned to a man. Even Richard Sherman, arguably the best corner in the game, is glued to his side rather than the opponent's top receiver.

 

I like Dupree a lot, and he'd be high on my list if we end up trading back to 12.

Quote:I'm not as worried about corner, and I doubt we draft one high with McCray, Colvin and House all on the roster and virtual locks to man the top three spots. There are two main reasons I'd argue that MLB is more important in Bradley's defense: one is that the corners he worked with were drafted late and developed, whereas Bobby Wagner was, iirc, a second-round pick. Two, the corners were left in a zone rather than assigned to a man. Even Richard Sherman, arguably the best corner in the game, is glued to his side rather than the opponent's top receiver.

 

I like Dupree a lot, and he'd be high on my list if we end up trading back to 12.

 

Good points on Wagner's draft spot. I'd love to see an upgrade over Posluszny in the 2016 draft, but he's basically here another year to tackle and teach. Let's hope Jeremiah George can stay healthy and work himself into the starting role.  

Cooper is an easy call if Williams is gone and no trade available.

 

Too easy.