(07-04-2023, 09:42 PM)JagFanatic24 Wrote: [ -> ] (07-04-2023, 05:56 PM)jj82284 Wrote: [ -> ]If this group plays well, given what we have stacking up @ the skill positions, I think this offense could be special!
I’m right there with you. I can’t remember this many legit offensive weapons since the 1999 season.
We added Bigsby and Ridley to an offense that had a 4,000 yard passer, 1,000 yard receiver and a 1,000 yard rusher and a TE that broke the all time franchise single season receiving yards for a TE.
(Empnasis added)
Hmmm....wheels in my head are turning.
A player for player comparison might me warranted.
QB: !999 Mark Brunell vs. 2023 Trevor Lawrence-
I'd give the edge to Trevor Lawrence. Brunell had good mobility, though not quite as good as he was pre 1997 knee injury. He had a good arm, threw a good deep ball and was a good leader with a 6-1 frame. Trevor Lawrence has better mobility with a 6-6 frame. He has a stronger arm, throwing good passes at all three levels. I think he's better in the red zone than Brunell. This is his second year in the offense. I expect his numbers, which surpassed anything Brunell did as a Jaguar, to be even better this year.
RB: 1999-Fred Taylor and James Stewart vs. 2023 Travis Etienne and Tank Bigsby. -
Edge: 199 Fred Taylor and James Stewart. Though Taylor was out much of the year due to injury, he was still far more explosive than Travis Etienne was last year, and Etienne was explosive. But Etienne doesn't seem to have DT's long distance speed. James Stewart had good size and seemed a little stiff, but he had his moments and was very good in the red zone. Bigsby is yet unproven.
WR:1999 Jimmy Smith, Keenan McCardell & Willie Jackson vs 203 Christian Kirk, Zay Jones, Calvin Ridley-This one is tougher then you might think. From a speed perspective, I'd give the edge to the 2023 group. All three are capable of getting deep. Route running goes to the 1999 group. The 2023 group runs good routes, as does the 1999 group. I think if you are looking at just the two starters, the 1999 group would have the edge. Going three WRs, I'd give the edge to 2023.
TE:1999 Kyle Brady vs. 2023 Evan Engram-Blocking would go to Brady.
Receiving goes to Engram. He creates more mismatches and gets more separation on his routes than Brady did. Better hands, too. Even though Brady had his career year, he was known for a lot of drops.
LT: Tony Boselli & Ben Coleman vs 2023 Cam Robinson/Walker Little/Anton Harrison-
The 1999 duo gets the edge here. While this year's group goes three deep (two of which are proven at LT in the NFL), the 1999 duo of Hall of Famer Tony Boselli and Ben Coleman gets the edge. Boselli constantly shut down Pro Bowl DEs/OLBs like Bruce Smith, Jason Taylor, Kevin Green, Derrick Thomas (all Hall of Famers), and Coleman got some good games too. WHile both Robinson and Little have had their moments, neither have the pedigree/resume of Boselli.
LG: 1999 Ben Coleman vs, 2023 Ben Bartch
-1999 Coleman easily. While he was tall and almost lanky for a G, he pass protected well. As I indicated, he had long enough arms and good enough feet and balance to slide over to LT and shut down a top pass rusher. Bartch? Not so much.
C: 1999 John Wade v. 2023 Luke Fortner-I'd call that a push, though Fortner could end up being better long term.
RG: 1999 Zach Weigert vs. 2023 Brandon Scherff-
Edge-2023 Scherff. Scherff has a better overall resume than Weigert. Scherff is big, strong and powerful with a broad bse. While Weigert's power is good coming out of Nebraska, he seemed stiff.
RT: 1999 Leon Searcy vs. 2023 Walker Little/Anton Harrison.
Edge: 1999 Searcy. Searcy was a physical and nasty RT with a borderline devastating hand punch. Little is more versatile, and in my estimation has performed well (though I hear the occasional speculation that the coaching staff may not be sold on him). But if he continues to shake the rust off, stay healthy and play as well as he did last year or better, he could make it close.
Thoughts?