Some players will arrive early for rehab - and rookies arrive early for more classroom work and orientation, but camp officially hits the grass on July 26.
20 days away from this post.
What are the things you hope to see or learn from these weeks of more intense practice and player evaluation?
- Plenty of depth storylines to watch
- A number of players coming back from injury to evaluate
- A few starting or rotational roles still to be determined as well
Share your expectations, hopes, and questions in this dead zone thread.
I'll be most interested in:
- Nickel Competition
- LG shake out / Bartch health and performance
- Harrison progress reports
- Bigsby looking the part to spell ETN and/or perform in short yrdg situations
- Ridley being Ridley
- ILB personnel usage
- Strange looking like a viable and versatile option + Do they line him up creatively? Does he acclimate?
- Statements from Cam Robinson - does he finally humble himself after a not-so-great year being highly paid and a suspension? Or will he stick to his "not playing guard" song and dance?
- Does Fortner look stronger when the pads come on?
- Mike Caldwell - Would like to hear from him by the end of camp regarding this defense and its identity - I know it's evolving and he's learning on the fly - but it would be good to enter September knowing there's a focus based on how he's evaluated the talent and how he'll use them
For me, it's the following:
1. Edge rush in general. Want to see how well that unit operates, veteran and newcomers across the board. My concerns in the secondary will dim if these guys shine bright.
2. Tank Bigsby, Brenton Strange & Derek Parrish in the backfield. Seems like a push was made in the off season to get a little bit more physical and stronger from out of the backfield to play more "complimentary" football that Doug Pederson was coining a lot last year.
3. The Ridley effect. Him being the clear, cut X receiver out there has a staggering effect in a positive way on Kirk and Jones. I want to see this.
4. The entire offensive line unit really. Little, Harrison, Bartch at LG, Fortner in year two, Scherff getting up there in the age. This is a vital unit to this team's success. If they cannot protect Lawrence. Our whole season falls apart really.
5. The nickel slot. Baalke went after three interesting prospects in this draft. Braswell in particular out of Rutger's is more of an outside CB, but, the Antonio Johnson & Hallett selections are interesting due to the slot experience in college along with them being safeties.
(07-06-2023, 10:13 AM)Caldrac Wrote: [ -> ]For me, it's the following:
1. Edge rush in general. Want to see how well that unit operates, veteran and newcomers across the board. My concerns in the secondary will dim if these guys shine bright.
2. Tank Bigsby, Brenton Strange & Derek Parrish in the backfield. Seems like a push was made in the off season to get a little bit more physical and stronger from out of the backfield to play more "complimentary" football that Doug Pederson was coining a lot last year.
3. The Ridley effect. Him being the clear, cut X receiver out there has a staggering effect in a positive way on Kirk and Jones. I want to see this.
4. The entire offensive line unit really. Little, Harrison, Bartch at LG, Fortner in year two, Scherff getting up there in the age. This is a vital unit to this team's success. If they cannot protect Lawrence. Our whole season falls apart really.
5. The nickel slot. Baalke went after three interesting prospects in this draft. Braswell in particular out of Rutger's is more of an outside CB, but, the Antonio Johnson & Hallett selections are interesting due to the slot experience in college along with them being safeties.
Good stuff.
I totally left pass rush out of my list. But it should be there.
Personally, I tend to think in our situation, the secondary is going to need to help this pass rush more than the pass rush needs to help the secondary, but it's not that important a distinction. They need to feed each other. Chicken or egg debate.
Travon Walker developing at OLB and from the inside will be a huge factor.
Who steps up to create interior push and penetration will be a big unanswered question as well.
Someone needs to collapse the pocket more often than last years' IDL rotation managed.
I fully expect Josh Allen to have an uptick in consistency.
Quote:NYC4jagsSome players will arrive early for rehab - and rookies arrive early for more classroom work and orientation, but camp officially hits the grass on July 26.
20 days away from this post.
What are the things you hope to see or learn from these weeks of more intense practice and player evaluation?
- Plenty of depth storylines to watch
- A number of players coming back from injury to evaluate
- A few starting or rotational roles still to be determined as well
Share your expectations, hopes, and questions in this dead zone thread.
I'll be most interested in:
- Nickel Competition
- LG shake out / Bartch health and performance
- Harrison progress reports
- Bigsby looking the part to spell ETN and/or perform in short yrdg situations
- Ridley being Ridley
- ILB personnel usage
- Strange looking like a viable and versatile option + Do they line him up creatively? Does he acclimate?
- Statements from Cam Robinson - does he finally humble himself after a not-so-great year being highly paid and a suspension? Or will he stick to his "not playing guard" song and dance?
- Does Fortner look stronger when the pads come on?
- Mike Caldwell - Would like to hear from him by the end of camp regarding this defense and its identity - I know it's evolving and he's learning on the fly - but it would be good to enter September knowing there's a focus based on how he's evaluated the talent and how he'll use them
In no particular order...
1. Now that the Jaguars are established as a 3-4 team, I want to see the development of last year's rookie linebackers-Travon Walker, Devin Lloyd and Chad Muma. I also want to see how this year's rookies are added to the mix. If all goes according to plan, LB will be a deep and versatile group that will be much more of a catalyst than they were the past two years.
2. How Ridley is incorporated into the offense. How has the layoff impacted him? Will he show signs of rust, or will he be healthy and rejuvenated. If it is the former, I reiterate that at minimum, he should be an improvement over Marvin Jones. If, however, he shows no fall off from his 2020 form, I look forward to some great things from the passing game.
3. Will the secondary produce some pleasant surprises? Last year, the secondary was problematic. By the time it showed any semblance of stability, a lot of damage was done. On top of that, the team didn't make anything resembling substantial investment in the secondary in terms of free agency, trades, or early draft choices. We will need guys from unexpected
sources-mid to late round draftees-to step up. My money is on Antonio Johnson to win a roster spot and eventually replace the current nickel back. But this area will have me holding my breath for much of the early part of cemp and the early regular season until they prove consistent ability.
4. I think an underrated and pleasant surprise will be the depth of the RB corps. I don't think Etienne will get many carries in the preseason. But I think the backups will get plenty of snaps behind the starting OL. I also think our backups will have some good runs.
5. As odd as it is for me to type this, I think the kicker we got from Denver will be under a lot of scrutiny after the local kid from last year-Riley Patterson- got traded to Detroit. In most instances, teams switching kickers or bringing in a new kicker gets barely a mention in most fan bases. But there were many fans here who groused over the change, even though McManus has proven to have more experience and a much stronger leg. If there were such a thing as a kicking controversy, this is the closest thing we'll have to it. Let's hope McManus puts that to bed really quickly in camp.
6. How will the offensive line shake out with Cam Robinson's 4 game suspension and the drafting of Anton Harrison? If the OL performs well in Cam's absence, will Cam get his starting job back? Will the team void his signing bonus, making it easier to trade or cut him? If so, which of the pending free agents coming up next off season become a priority to re-sign? My guess? Evan Engram or Josh Allen.
7. Any picks for surprise cuts?
(07-06-2023, 10:25 AM)NYC4jags Wrote: [ -> ] (07-06-2023, 10:13 AM)Caldrac Wrote: [ -> ]For me, it's the following:
1. Edge rush in general. Want to see how well that unit operates, veteran and newcomers across the board. My concerns in the secondary will dim if these guys shine bright.
2. Tank Bigsby, Brenton Strange & Derek Parrish in the backfield. Seems like a push was made in the off season to get a little bit more physical and stronger from out of the backfield to play more "complimentary" football that Doug Pederson was coining a lot last year.
3. The Ridley effect. Him being the clear, cut X receiver out there has a staggering effect in a positive way on Kirk and Jones. I want to see this.
4. The entire offensive line unit really. Little, Harrison, Bartch at LG, Fortner in year two, Scherff getting up there in the age. This is a vital unit to this team's success. If they cannot protect Lawrence. Our whole season falls apart really.
5. The nickel slot. Baalke went after three interesting prospects in this draft. Braswell in particular out of Rutger's is more of an outside CB, but, the Antonio Johnson & Hallett selections are interesting due to the slot experience in college along with them being safeties.
Good stuff.
I totally left pass rush out of my list. But it should be there.
Personally, I tend to think in our situation, the secondary is going to need to help this pass rush more than the pass rush needs to help the secondary, but it's not that important a distinction. They need to feed each other. Chicken or egg debate.
Travon Walker developing at OLB and from the inside will be a huge factor.
Who steps up to create interior push and penetration will be a big unanswered question as well.
Someone needs to collapse the pocket more often than last years' IDL rotation managed.
I fully expect Josh Allen to have an uptick in consistency.
Yeah. Agreed there above in bold. A lot of ways to look at it whether we're strictly talking front three, four looks or front seven in general. Goes back to your last question regarding Mike Caldwell as a defensive coordinator. It's now his 2nd year, a lot of these guys are coming back from last year with maybe a handful of new faces rotation wise. So, expectations are there as they should be. He needs to coach these younger players into positions of success. We know what we have in Josh Allen, he's in a contract year so I agree, he'll be pushing himself harder to hit paydirt in the backfield.
I think for me, it'll be fun seeing how he approaches Abdullah. I compared him to Riddick coming out of Louisville because of his size and build. However, he's got some uncanny qualities to his game that some people may have forgot. He can drop back in coverage, something we saw Caldwell doing with Allen and Walker last year from time to time with some hits and misses there. Walker had some interesting plays made in coverage from what I can recall. The interior pass rush has to shine more in 2023. I want to see more out of Fatukasi. I want to see more creativity from Caldwell. Use Oluokon's nose for the football and tackling ability to our advantage and let him knife in from time to time more.
(07-06-2023, 10:43 AM)Bullseye Wrote: [ -> ]Quote:NYC4jagsSome players will arrive early for rehab - and rookies arrive early for more classroom work and orientation, but camp officially hits the grass on July 26.
20 days away from this post.
What are the things you hope to see or learn from these weeks of more intense practice and player evaluation?
- Plenty of depth storylines to watch
- A number of players coming back from injury to evaluate
- A few starting or rotational roles still to be determined as well
Share your expectations, hopes, and questions in this dead zone thread.
I'll be most interested in:
- Nickel Competition
- LG shake out / Bartch health and performance
- Harrison progress reports
- Bigsby looking the part to spell ETN and/or perform in short yrdg situations
- Ridley being Ridley
- ILB personnel usage
- Strange looking like a viable and versatile option + Do they line him up creatively? Does he acclimate?
- Statements from Cam Robinson - does he finally humble himself after a not-so-great year being highly paid and a suspension? Or will he stick to his "not playing guard" song and dance?
- Does Fortner look stronger when the pads come on?
- Mike Caldwell - Would like to hear from him by the end of camp regarding this defense and its identity - I know it's evolving and he's learning on the fly - but it would be good to enter September knowing there's a focus based on how he's evaluated the talent and how he'll use them
In no particular order...
1. Now that the Jaguars are established as a 3-4 team, I want to see the development of last year's rookie linebackers-Travon Walker, Devin Lloyd and Chad Muma. I also want to see how this year's rookies are added to the mix. If all goes according to plan, LB will be a deep and versatile group that will be much more of a catalyst than they were the past two years.
2. How Ridley is incorporated into the offense. How has the layoff impacted him? Will he show signs of rust, or will he be healthy and rejuvenated. If it is the former, I reiterate that at minimum, he should be an improvement over Marvin Jones. If, however, he shows no fall off from his 2020 form, I look forward to some great things from the passing game.
3. Will the secondary produce some pleasant surprises? Last year, the secondary was problematic. By the time it showed any semblance of stability, a lot of damage was done. On top of that, the team didn't make anything resembling substantial investment in the secondary in terms of free agency, trades, or early draft choices. We will need guys from unexpected
sources-mid to late round draftees-to step up. My money is on Antonio Johnson to win a roster spot and eventually replace the current nickel back. But this area will have me holding my breath for much of the early part of cemp and the early regular season until they prove consistent ability.
4. I think an underrated and pleasant surprise will be the depth of the RB corps. I don't think Etienne will get many carries in the preseason. But I think the backups will get plenty of snaps behind the starting OL. I also think our backups will have some good runs.
5. As odd as it is for me to type this, I think the kicker we got from Denver will be under a lot of scrutiny after the local kid from last year-Riley Patterson- got traded to Detroit. In most instances, teams switching kickers or bringing in a new kicker gets barely a mention in most fan bases. But there were many fans here who groused over the change, even though McManus has proven to have more experience and a much stronger leg. If there were such a thing as a kicking controversy, this is the closest thing we'll have to it. Let's hope McManus puts that to bed really quickly in camp.
6. How will the offensive line shake out with Cam Robinson's 4 game suspension and the drafting of Anton Harrison? If the OL performs well in Cam's absence, will Cam get his starting job back? Will the team void his signing bonus, making it easier to trade or cut him? If so, which of the pending free agents coming up next off season become a priority to re-sign? My guess? Evan Engram or Josh Allen.
7. Any picks for surprise cuts?
None spring to mind.
I think we could see a trade for Cam Robinson or an inside linebacker if a contending team suffers an injury at one of those spots and needs a serviceable option to keep their playoff hopes alive.
I think the biggest cut related disappointment lies in the fact that we weren't able to package any of our 8 picks after round 4 into a higher selection.
And now - 5 or 6 of those picks will likely be camp fodder and cut in fewer than 8 weeks from today.
(07-06-2023, 10:43 AM)Bullseye Wrote: [ -> ]Quote:NYC4jagsSome players will arrive early for rehab - and rookies arrive early for more classroom work and orientation, but camp officially hits the grass on July 26.
20 days away from this post.
What are the things you hope to see or learn from these weeks of more intense practice and player evaluation?
- Plenty of depth storylines to watch
- A number of players coming back from injury to evaluate
- A few starting or rotational roles still to be determined as well
Share your expectations, hopes, and questions in this dead zone thread.
I'll be most interested in:
- Nickel Competition
- LG shake out / Bartch health and performance
- Harrison progress reports
- Bigsby looking the part to spell ETN and/or perform in short yrdg situations
- Ridley being Ridley
- ILB personnel usage
- Strange looking like a viable and versatile option + Do they line him up creatively? Does he acclimate?
- Statements from Cam Robinson - does he finally humble himself after a not-so-great year being highly paid and a suspension? Or will he stick to his "not playing guard" song and dance?
- Does Fortner look stronger when the pads come on?
- Mike Caldwell - Would like to hear from him by the end of camp regarding this defense and its identity - I know it's evolving and he's learning on the fly - but it would be good to enter September knowing there's a focus based on how he's evaluated the talent and how he'll use them
In no particular order...
1. Now that the Jaguars are established as a 3-4 team, I want to see the development of last year's rookie linebackers-Travon Walker, Devin Lloyd and Chad Muma. I also want to see how this year's rookies are added to the mix. If all goes according to plan, LB will be a deep and versatile group that will be much more of a catalyst than they were the past two years.
2. How Ridley is incorporated into the offense. How has the layoff impacted him? Will he show signs of rust, or will he be healthy and rejuvenated. If it is the former, I reiterate that at minimum, he should be an improvement over Marvin Jones. If, however, he shows no fall off from his 2020 form, I look forward to some great things from the passing game.
3. Will the secondary produce some pleasant surprises? Last year, the secondary was problematic. By the time it showed any semblance of stability, a lot of damage was done. On top of that, the team didn't make anything resembling substantial investment in the secondary in terms of free agency, trades, or early draft choices. We will need guys from unexpected
sources-mid to late round draftees-to step up. My money is on Antonio Johnson to win a roster spot and eventually replace the current nickel back. But this area will have me holding my breath for much of the early part of cemp and the early regular season until they prove consistent ability.
4. I think an underrated and pleasant surprise will be the depth of the RB corps. I don't think Etienne will get many carries in the preseason. But I think the backups will get plenty of snaps behind the starting OL. I also think our backups will have some good runs.
5. As odd as it is for me to type this, I think the kicker we got from Denver will be under a lot of scrutiny after the local kid from last year-Riley Patterson- got traded to Detroit. In most instances, teams switching kickers or bringing in a new kicker gets barely a mention in most fan bases. But there were many fans here who groused over the change, even though McManus has proven to have more experience and a much stronger leg. If there were such a thing as a kicking controversy, this is the closest thing we'll have to it. Let's hope McManus puts that to bed really quickly in camp.
6. How will the offensive line shake out with Cam Robinson's 4 game suspension and the drafting of Anton Harrison? If the OL performs well in Cam's absence, will Cam get his starting job back? Will the team void his signing bonus, making it easier to trade or cut him? If so, which of the pending free agents coming up next off season become a priority to re-sign? My guess? Evan Engram or Josh Allen.
7. Any picks for surprise cuts?
As for #7, though some are not surprise, I think these vets are let go (replacement):
Definite:
K'lavon Chaisson (Abdullah) Salary guaranteed but still...it's time to move on.
Trey Herndon (Braswell, Johnson, Wilson, Hallett) He signed a 1 year guaranteed deal, but I can't see them cutting a high performing drafted guy over $2.5 million.
Chris Claybrooks (ditto) Time's up
Shaq Quarterman (Miller) Roster churn
Jordan Smith (Abdullah) A never was
Snoop Conner (Bigsby, Parrish) Bad pick
D'Ernest Johnson (Bigsby) Replaced before he got here
Daniel Thomas (Johnson, Hallett) Roster churn
Bubble/Surprise:
Cam Robinson (Wells, FA) Significant savings and no long term plan.
Jamal Agnew (Washington) Significant savings and not enough balls to go around.
Tyler Shatley (Hance, CVL, Hodges) He's not expensive but he's topped out, and at 32 the age of decline is here.
(07-06-2023, 10:43 AM)Bullseye Wrote: [ -> ]Quote:NYC4jagsSome players will arrive early for rehab - and rookies arrive early for more classroom work and orientation, but camp officially hits the grass on July 26.
20 days away from this post.
What are the things you hope to see or learn from these weeks of more intense practice and player evaluation?
- Plenty of depth storylines to watch
- A number of players coming back from injury to evaluate
- A few starting or rotational roles still to be determined as well
Share your expectations, hopes, and questions in this dead zone thread.
I'll be most interested in:
- Nickel Competition
- LG shake out / Bartch health and performance
- Harrison progress reports
- Bigsby looking the part to spell ETN and/or perform in short yrdg situations
- Ridley being Ridley
- ILB personnel usage
- Strange looking like a viable and versatile option + Do they line him up creatively? Does he acclimate?
- Statements from Cam Robinson - does he finally humble himself after a not-so-great year being highly paid and a suspension? Or will he stick to his "not playing guard" song and dance?
- Does Fortner look stronger when the pads come on?
- Mike Caldwell - Would like to hear from him by the end of camp regarding this defense and its identity - I know it's evolving and he's learning on the fly - but it would be good to enter September knowing there's a focus based on how he's evaluated the talent and how he'll use them
In no particular order...
1. Now that the Jaguars are established as a 3-4 team, I want to see the development of last year's rookie linebackers-Travon Walker, Devin Lloyd and Chad Muma. I also want to see how this year's rookies are added to the mix. If all goes according to plan, LB will be a deep and versatile group that will be much more of a catalyst than they were the past two years.
2. How Ridley is incorporated into the offense. How has the layoff impacted him? Will he show signs of rust, or will he be healthy and rejuvenated. If it is the former, I reiterate that at minimum, he should be an improvement over Marvin Jones. If, however, he shows no fall off from his 2020 form, I look forward to some great things from the passing game.
3. Will the secondary produce some pleasant surprises? Last year, the secondary was problematic. By the time it showed any semblance of stability, a lot of damage was done. On top of that, the team didn't make anything resembling substantial investment in the secondary in terms of free agency, trades, or early draft choices. We will need guys from unexpected
sources-mid to late round draftees-to step up. My money is on Antonio Johnson to win a roster spot and eventually replace the current nickel back. But this area will have me holding my breath for much of the early part of cemp and the early regular season until they prove consistent ability.
4. I think an underrated and pleasant surprise will be the depth of the RB corps. I don't think Etienne will get many carries in the preseason. But I think the backups will get plenty of snaps behind the starting OL. I also think our backups will have some good runs.
5. As odd as it is for me to type this, I think the kicker we got from Denver will be under a lot of scrutiny after the local kid from last year-Riley Patterson- got traded to Detroit. In most instances, teams switching kickers or bringing in a new kicker gets barely a mention in most fan bases. But there were many fans here who groused over the change, even though McManus has proven to have more experience and a much stronger leg. If there were such a thing as a kicking controversy, this is the closest thing we'll have to it. Let's hope McManus puts that to bed really quickly in camp.
6. How will the offensive line shake out with Cam Robinson's 4 game suspension and the drafting of Anton Harrison? If the OL performs well in Cam's absence, will Cam get his starting job back? Will the team void his signing bonus, making it easier to trade or cut him? If so, which of the pending free agents coming up next off season become a priority to re-sign? My guess? Evan Engram or Josh Allen.
7. Any picks for surprise cuts?
Good points. In particular, I bolded your 4th and 7th points because these are good ones. I think the RB room got really, really good this off season. I am excited to see Etienne in his 2nd year truly off of that injury from his rookie season. He's very quick and I hope they use him more in the passing game. I think we know what we have in Hasty and he's also a capable playmaker when we need him to be in moments. I think Bigsby is going to turn some heads, my only concern is his ball security. We had enough of that last year. That needs to be tightened up heavily in the RB room by the RB coach this summer and all year long. Cannot put the football on the ground. It absolutely killed us last year at crucial moments.
Johnson, Hasty and Conner are probably duking it out for that odd flex role as a 3rd man. That player will more than likely have to cut his teeth on special team's and it's very well likely neither one of them makes it this year because of Etienne's abilities, because of Bigsby's overall selection in the draft. Hasty has the advantage of being in the system last year, making splash plays for the team, etc. It will be a very fun group to watch this summer as the weeks progress here shortly.
I think, surprise cut wise, that's a tough one. I really can't think of anybody that would jump off the page as a surprise cut. Even if they decided to cut Cam Robinson at some point this month or next month. I wouldn't really consider it a surprise. Maybe if one of these rookie safeties clearly separates himself and gives Jenkins a run for his money? Or Wingard? Maybe a surprise cut happens in the safety room. That would be about it for me.
(07-06-2023, 12:29 PM)Caldrac Wrote: [ -> ] (07-06-2023, 10:43 AM)Bullseye Wrote: [ -> ]In no particular order...
1. Now that the Jaguars are established as a 3-4 team, I want to see the development of last year's rookie linebackers-Travon Walker, Devin Lloyd and Chad Muma. I also want to see how this year's rookies are added to the mix. If all goes according to plan, LB will be a deep and versatile group that will be much more of a catalyst than they were the past two years.
2. How Ridley is incorporated into the offense. How has the layoff impacted him? Will he show signs of rust, or will he be healthy and rejuvenated. If it is the former, I reiterate that at minimum, he should be an improvement over Marvin Jones. If, however, he shows no fall off from his 2020 form, I look forward to some great things from the passing game.
3. Will the secondary produce some pleasant surprises? Last year, the secondary was problematic. By the time it showed any semblance of stability, a lot of damage was done. On top of that, the team didn't make anything resembling substantial investment in the secondary in terms of free agency, trades, or early draft choices. We will need guys from unexpected
sources-mid to late round draftees-to step up. My money is on Antonio Johnson to win a roster spot and eventually replace the current nickel back. But this area will have me holding my breath for much of the early part of cemp and the early regular season until they prove consistent ability.
4. I think an underrated and pleasant surprise will be the depth of the RB corps. I don't think Etienne will get many carries in the preseason. But I think the backups will get plenty of snaps behind the starting OL. I also think our backups will have some good runs.
5. As odd as it is for me to type this, I think the kicker we got from Denver will be under a lot of scrutiny after the local kid from last year-Riley Patterson- got traded to Detroit. In most instances, teams switching kickers or bringing in a new kicker gets barely a mention in most fan bases. But there were many fans here who groused over the change, even though McManus has proven to have more experience and a much stronger leg. If there were such a thing as a kicking controversy, this is the closest thing we'll have to it. Let's hope McManus puts that to bed really quickly in camp.
6. How will the offensive line shake out with Cam Robinson's 4 game suspension and the drafting of Anton Harrison? If the OL performs well in Cam's absence, will Cam get his starting job back? Will the team void his signing bonus, making it easier to trade or cut him? If so, which of the pending free agents coming up next off season become a priority to re-sign? My guess? Evan Engram or Josh Allen.
7. Any picks for surprise cuts?
Good points. In particular, I bolded your 4th and 7th points because these are good ones. I think the RB room got really, really good this off season. I am excited to see Etienne in his 2nd year truly off of that injury from his rookie season. He's very quick and I hope they use him more in the passing game. I think we know what we have in Hasty and he's also a capable playmaker when we need him to be in moments. I think Bigsby is going to turn some heads, my only concern is his ball security. We had enough of that last year. That needs to be tightened up heavily in the RB room by the RB coach this summer and all year long. Cannot put the football on the ground. It absolutely killed us last year at crucial moments.
Johnson, Hasty and Conner are probably duking it out for that odd flex role as a 4th man. That player will more than likely have to cut his teeth on special team's and it's very well likely neither one of them makes it this year because of Etienne's abilities, because of Bigsby's overall selection in the draft. Hasty has the advantage of being in the system last year, making splash plays for the team, etc. It will be a very fun group to watch this summer as the weeks progress here shortly.
I think, surprise cut wise, that's a tough one. I really can't think of anybody that would jump off the page as a surprise cut. Even if they decided to cut Cam Robinson at some point this month or next month. I wouldn't really consider it a surprise. Maybe if one of these rookie safeties clearly separates himself and gives Jenkins a run for his money? Or Wingard? Maybe a surprise cut happens in the safety room. That would be about it for me.
I thought about mentioning the Saftey spot as well.
definitely a possibility since Jenkins is a coverage liability and there are three late rounders hanging around camp this year that might push him (and Wingard).
Wingard's mention introduces a good topic in the "big nickel" role. (and back seven strategy in general)
Last year - the usage of Wingard at the big nickel in ~3 games appeared to be a combination of trying to mitigate the poor performance when in a more traditional formation of personnel, + a way for Caldwell to get more out of his "zone-oriented" players, and a response to certain teams' anticipated method of attack.
THIS YEAR - do we see that role being utilized more in certain matchups, or in response to various formations from an offense? Will one of these young rookie safeties be more suited to the coverage aspects of the big nickel role?
Is Caldwell fully embracing a large percentage of zone play from his secondary in 2023, or does he want to get more "man-coverage-capable" personnel on the field?
Considering the pre-bye-week approach by Caldwell with his back seven compared to the latter half adjusted approach in 2022, I think Caldwell is at a bit of a crossroads here where he must find the best way forward with the talent available in a way that doesn't need a mid-season adjustment to be effective. They need to come out of the gate in better form in year two of his system.
Agnew would be a surprise. I don't see him leaving as he has so much value on special teams. I don't think he gets re-signed next year though
(07-06-2023, 12:46 PM)imtheblkranger Wrote: [ -> ]Agnew would be a surprise. I don't see him leaving as he has so much value on special teams. I don't think he gets re-signed next year though
Yeah - cap hit of 5.8mil this year is likely worth the probability of a half dozen explosive returns that could translate easily to points.
The value as a receiver is secondary. Not enough of a factor to cut him IMO.
There are only a handful of returners with his skillset and track record in the league. He's worth it for this season.
Now, if a rookie returner shows up and shows out, the conversation might change, but I find it unlikely.
(07-06-2023, 12:46 PM)imtheblkranger Wrote: [ -> ]Agnew would be a surprise. I don't see him leaving as he has so much value on special teams. I don't think he gets re-signed next year though
This would be a cut I am not a fan of, but, it wouldn't surprise me. Agnew still has some untapped potential as a player on offense. There were so many opportunities last year that were botched when he had the ball in his hands or around him that I think maybe just one more summer it could potentially turn into moments of gold for him.
The fumble in the Kansas City play-off loss was massive. However, he also showed some redeeming qualities in that very same game. He broke a nice field flipping return on a kick-off in that game. He also did something similar in the home win against the tacks to seal up the divisional crown. So, that would be tough to see him go.
There were some other opportunities in the regular season. A bomb of a potential TD pass that went threw his arms in a diving attempt from Lawrence. There was a uniquely designed running play that had him going in reverse motion that was botched in the backfield by Lawrence in another contest. He had plenty of green and daylight ahead of him to make a huge play.
Those are things that we know we can get out of Agnew just on design alone. It was right THERE. The execution just has to be better and that should happen in year three for Lawrence and Agnew entering year two in Pederson's offense along with better players installed like Ridley, Strange, Harrison and Bigsby, etc.
Parker Washington would have to clearly, in my opinion:
A. Clearly separate himself on the depth chart as a receiver. He has to be the clear cut number four favorite on this current roster.
B. Show some patience and game breaking ability early on special teams.
That's the only way I could see the team justifying his release this summer. Agnew is a pretty viable and versatile player. The last thing you would hate to see is us cutting him, only to see him get snapped up by a team like Kansas City, Buffalo, Baltimore or Cincinnati. Because that's exactly what will end up happening.
These are the threads and posts I really enjoy reading on this board. Please keep them coming as training camp unfolds.
Thanks!
If they lose Agnew that would be a tough loss. Ridley is already going to cut into his touches on offense and then you add Bigsby in the mix.
It’s always tough losing a Pro Bowl player. I’ve been keeping an eye on him throughout the offseason. We need him if we’re going deep in the playoffs.
The guys I’m watching in camp will be Bigsby, Harrison, Litttle, Fortner, Walker, Strange, Miller, Lacy, and Abdullah.
A guy like Parker Washington could make Agnew expendable, and a player like Strange could make Engram’s days in Jacksonville short. But gotta wait and see how they play against the best players in the world and if they can find a role within the team. You could really say that about any player, just like Abdullah could push Walker to the inside, which I hope happens. I’ll be watching Muma and Lloyd to see if they are more comfortable than their rookie seasons. We need big things from Lloyd this season (he led all LB’s in the NFL with 5 takeaways in 2022). He also led the team in assist.
With so many rookies, this camp is going to be lit. If we go back to last preseason, I would have never guessed a guy like Tim Jones would do what he did. This year is pretty much the same for Tim. He’s going to need a big time camp to stick around.
I’ll have my eye on McManus and Little too. I’ve seen articles saying he will play RT and I’ve seen the Jaguars depth chart on their website with him listed as the LT. I’ve also seen about 3 or 4 different websites that have him listed as a RT. One thing is certain, he will get a chance to shine, and I hope he shines bright. I just want the kid to block until the echo of the whistle on every play and improve his feet and strength no matter what position he ends up playing.
But the Ferrari in the garage is going to be Ridley….scored 26 TDs in his first 3 seasons with Atlanta, but only has one 1,000 yard season in his career. He will either fit right away, or Kirk and Jones will keep doing their thing. I think Kirk and Jones are still the captains of the WR group and Ridley will have to turn up. As Madden used to say, this guy can put up points in bunches.
I’ll keep an eye on the hometown kid Hodges too. Even if he makes the practice squad that would be cool, but if he makes the roster, that would be a great story.
Then there is the man…Trevor Lawrence. His legacy is growing already. It’s a great time to be a Jaguars fan. Him and Pederson could be the next great duo along side Andy Reid and Mahome Boy, Manning and Dungy, Tom and Bill, Brees and Peyton, etc.
I hope the fans are supporting by going to the games and being loud like the 2022 Titans game. That place was electric and on par with the bruiser 9-0 game against Pittsburgh.
The Jaguars will be the darlings of the NFL media to start the season and there will be tons of pressure to answer the call of the best team in the AFC South and across the league.
And I’ll be hoping we can stay healthy and not lose any guys for the season. We’re going to need guys like Campbell, Williams, Oloukon, Scherff, Hamilton, and Allen to just find ways to take the next step. Campbell is on the verge of becoming a star along with Etienne.
Another cool story line is can Parish make the team as a FB and help spring board the running game to that next level.
With all that said, it’s important to know that this is still the NFL and a rookie QB or a veteran backup can still go out there and hang 40 points around your neck on any given day. The league is t going to crown us in week 1, we still have to go out there and make plays and find ways to win ball games. A team like the Titans could battle the Jaguars for the division or even a team like Indy who just drafted Richardson. This kid is oozing with Lamar Jackson type talent. The Texans just drafted two guys in the 1st couple of picks that could make a huge impact on the division. We don’t need none of that talk about “games were supposed to win.” We’re supposed to win every game we play but those guys are getting paid just as much as our guys so we could lose every game we play. They run 4.3’s and can hit just as hard and tackle just as good, etc. Prossor made a good point on 1010 today, we still gotta play against Henry. He’s literally broke our defense in the past. He can still churn out 200 and 3 on you. We gotta play Cleveland. KC with Mahome Boy. The Ravens and Lamar Jackson. Bills and Josh Allen, Joe Burrow and the Bengals. We gotta play long time rival Pittsburgh who always plays us tough and we still have all of our division games. I hope we go 6-0 in the south but doubt it.
Dobbs almost ruined our playoff chances and he was a backup. We handled the Jets last year, but we didn’t break any team records or hang 50 points on them. One practice at a time, one game at a time, one play at a time. This ain’t college with Florida playing South Dakota State so please none of that “we should win this game.” The best teams in the league lose to the worst teams in the league every year. Sorry for the long post, but I’m hyped for 2023 and I’m ready to roll. Tons of playmakers on offense. Tons of rookies getting after it. Defense is deeper already than last season. I expect playoffs and hoping for a chance at our 1st Super Bowl. We have the pieces right now to make it happen. Last year felt like 1996, this year feels like 1999.
Next month is preseason. Wow. Finally.
(07-06-2023, 10:25 AM)NYC4jags Wrote: [ -> ]I fully expect Josh Allen to have an uptick in consistency.
Considering it's his second season n this scheme, should be playing with more leads, against more rookie QBs, for a new contract either from this team or in free agency, I'd say so.
(07-06-2023, 10:10 PM)Jag88 Wrote: [ -> ]Next month is preseason. Wow. Finally.
Less than 3 weeks away from the start of NFL training camps!
Most of the hard part is over!!!!
(07-06-2023, 06:55 PM)JagFanatic24 Wrote: [ -> ]If they lose Agnew that would be a tough loss. Ridley is already going to cut into his touches on offense and then you add Bigsby in the mix.
It’s always tough losing a Pro Bowl player. I’ve been keeping an eye on him throughout the offseason. We need him if we’re going deep in the playoffs.
The guys I’m watching in camp will be Bigsby, Harrison, Litttle, Fortner, Walker, Strange, Miller, Lacy, and Abdullah.
A guy like Parker Washington could make Agnew expendable, and a player like Strange could make Engram’s days in Jacksonville short. But gotta wait and see how they play against the best players in the world and if they can find a role within the team. You could really say that about any player, just like Abdullah could push Walker to the inside, which I hope happens. I’ll be watching Muma and Lloyd to see if they are more comfortable than their rookie seasons. We need big things from Lloyd this season (he led all LB’s in the NFL with 5 takeaways in 2022). He also led the team in assist.
With so many rookies, this camp is going to be lit. If we go back to last preseason, I would have never guessed a guy like Tim Jones would do what he did. This year is pretty much the same for Tim. He’s going to need a big time camp to stick around.
I’ll have my eye on McManus and Little too. I’ve seen articles saying he will play RT and I’ve seen the Jaguars depth chart on their website with him listed as the LT. I’ve also seen about 3 or 4 different websites that have him listed as a RT. One thing is certain, he will get a chance to shine, and I hope he shines bright. I just want the kid to block until the echo of the whistle on every play and improve his feet and strength no matter what position he ends up playing.
But the Ferrari in the garage is going to be Ridley….scored 26 TDs in his first 3 seasons with Atlanta, but only has one 1,000 yard season in his career. He will either fit right away, or Kirk and Jones will keep doing their thing. I think Kirk and Jones are still the captains of the WR group and Ridley will have to turn up. As Madden used to say, this guy can put up points in bunches.
I’ll keep an eye on the hometown kid Hodges too. Even if he makes the practice squad that would be cool, but if he makes the roster, that would be a great story.
Then there is the man…Trevor Lawrence. His legacy is growing already. It’s a great time to be a Jaguars fan. Him and Pederson could be the next great duo along side Andy Reid and Mahome Boy, Manning and Dungy, Tom and Bill, Brees and Peyton, etc.
I hope the fans are supporting by going to the games and being loud like the 2022 Titans game. That place was electric and on par with the bruiser 9-0 game against Pittsburgh.
The Jaguars will be the darlings of the NFL media to start the season and there will be tons of pressure to answer the call of the best team in the AFC South and across the league.
And I’ll be hoping we can stay healthy and not lose any guys for the season. We’re going to need guys like Campbell, Williams, Oloukon, Scherff, Hamilton, and Allen to just find ways to take the next step. Campbell is on the verge of becoming a star along with Etienne.
Another cool story line is can Parish make the team as a FB and help spring board the running game to that next level.
With all that said, it’s important to know that this is still the NFL and a rookie QB or a veteran backup can still go out there and hang 40 points around your neck on any given day. The league is t going to crown us in week 1, we still have to go out there and make plays and find ways to win ball games. A team like the Titans could battle the Jaguars for the division or even a team like Indy who just drafted Richardson. This kid is oozing with Lamar Jackson type talent. The Texans just drafted two guys in the 1st couple of picks that could make a huge impact on the division. We don’t need none of that talk about “games were supposed to win.” We’re supposed to win every game we play but those guys are getting paid just as much as our guys so we could lose every game we play. They run 4.3’s and can hit just as hard and tackle just as good, etc. Prossor made a good point on 1010 today, we still gotta play against Henry. He’s literally broke our defense in the past. He can still churn out 200 and 3 on you. We gotta play Cleveland. KC with Mahome Boy. The Ravens and Lamar Jackson. Bills and Josh Allen, Joe Burrow and the Bengals. We gotta play long time rival Pittsburgh who always plays us tough and we still have all of our division games. I hope we go 6-0 in the south but doubt it.
Dobbs almost ruined our playoff chances and he was a backup. We handled the Jets last year, but we didn’t break any team records or hang 50 points on them. One practice at a time, one game at a time, one play at a time. This ain’t college with Florida playing South Dakota State so please none of that “we should win this game.” The best teams in the league lose to the worst teams in the league every year. Sorry for the long post, but I’m hyped for 2023 and I’m ready to roll. Tons of playmakers on offense. Tons of rookies getting after it. Defense is deeper already than last season. I expect playoffs and hoping for a chance at our 1st Super Bowl. We have the pieces right now to make it happen. Last year felt like 1996, this year feels like 1999.
Very good points made through and through but I highlighted the bold for emphasis. We were very, very fortunate last season with the injury bug not being too heavily rooted throughout the roster. It's rare that happens in the NFL. That's something to keep an eye on. Especially during training camp this year. It's going to be hotter than usual this summer. Expect a lot of guys cramping up, getting tired and getting lazy from time to time during practice. Laziness can lead to injuries.
Also agree with you there regarding the QB's. It's the NFL. It can go either way in most games and you don't always need a top shelf QB to win in the NFL. It helps. However, even the best in the business can sometimes get taken down because a defense can make a play here and there, the opponent's offense takes control of the clock, the special teams unit makes a field flipping effort, etc. We should not assume anything in the NFL. We're being heavily favored to win the AFC South.
I understand that from the media's perspective. However, I think it's still going to come down to a potential dog fight, a slug fest in 2023, just like last year. I don't see us running away with this division with a giant lead in the W column overall. Dobbs and the tacks made us work hard last year in the season finale at home. That was not easy by any means. I remember being furious when they converted a pair of 4th downs on one drive. They used the same exact play on the 2nd conversion, they just flipped it.
It'll be an exciting year though as long as we have Lawrence standing upright and within a clean pocket more times than not. Parish though, that's the guy I cannot wait to see out there running around. I expect his name to come up a lot during training camp and preseason. I expect to hear a lot of shoulder pads popping when he gets squared up on somebody and jars them or trucks them. Two way athletes with his size and speed are fun to have on the roster. He can play FB, DE and ST's as a blocker, an edge setter or rusher on FG attempts, etc.
(07-06-2023, 12:20 PM)flsprtsgod Wrote: [ -> ] (07-06-2023, 10:43 AM)Bullseye Wrote: [ -> ]In no particular order...
1. Now that the Jaguars are established as a 3-4 team, I want to see the development of last year's rookie linebackers-Travon Walker, Devin Lloyd and Chad Muma. I also want to see how this year's rookies are added to the mix. If all goes according to plan, LB will be a deep and versatile group that will be much more of a catalyst than they were the past two years.
2. How Ridley is incorporated into the offense. How has the layoff impacted him? Will he show signs of rust, or will he be healthy and rejuvenated. If it is the former, I reiterate that at minimum, he should be an improvement over Marvin Jones. If, however, he shows no fall off from his 2020 form, I look forward to some great things from the passing game.
3. Will the secondary produce some pleasant surprises? Last year, the secondary was problematic. By the time it showed any semblance of stability, a lot of damage was done. On top of that, the team didn't make anything resembling substantial investment in the secondary in terms of free agency, trades, or early draft choices. We will need guys from unexpected
sources-mid to late round draftees-to step up. My money is on Antonio Johnson to win a roster spot and eventually replace the current nickel back. But this area will have me holding my breath for much of the early part of cemp and the early regular season until they prove consistent ability.
4. I think an underrated and pleasant surprise will be the depth of the RB corps. I don't think Etienne will get many carries in the preseason. But I think the backups will get plenty of snaps behind the starting OL. I also think our backups will have some good runs.
5. As odd as it is for me to type this, I think the kicker we got from Denver will be under a lot of scrutiny after the local kid from last year-Riley Patterson- got traded to Detroit. In most instances, teams switching kickers or bringing in a new kicker gets barely a mention in most fan bases. But there were many fans here who groused over the change, even though McManus has proven to have more experience and a much stronger leg. If there were such a thing as a kicking controversy, this is the closest thing we'll have to it. Let's hope McManus puts that to bed really quickly in camp.
6. How will the offensive line shake out with Cam Robinson's 4 game suspension and the drafting of Anton Harrison? If the OL performs well in Cam's absence, will Cam get his starting job back? Will the team void his signing bonus, making it easier to trade or cut him? If so, which of the pending free agents coming up next off season become a priority to re-sign? My guess? Evan Engram or Josh Allen.
7. Any picks for surprise cuts?
As for #7, though some are not surprise, I think these vets are let go (replacement):
Definite:
K'lavon Chaisson (Abdullah) Salary guaranteed but still...it's time to move on.
Trey Herndon (Braswell, Johnson, Wilson, Hallett) He signed a 1 year guaranteed deal, but I can't see them cutting a high performing drafted guy over $2.5 million.
Chris Claybrooks (ditto) Time's up
Shaq Quarterman (Miller) Roster churn
Jordan Smith (Abdullah) A never was
Snoop Conner (Bigsby, Parrish) Bad pick
D'Ernest Johnson (Bigsby) Replaced before he got here
Daniel Thomas (Johnson, Hallett) Roster churn
Bubble/Surprise:
Cam Robinson (Wells, FA) Significant savings and no long term plan.
Jamal Agnew (Washington) Significant savings and not enough balls to go around.
Tyler Shatley (Hance, CVL, Hodges) He's not expensive but he's topped out, and at 32 the age of decline is here.
I could easily see Chaisson, Herndon, Claybrooks, Smith, Connor and Thomas being cut. I think Johnson will stay though it'll depend on whether the Jaguars decide to keep a FB on the roster/how many RBs. As for Quarterman, I think the 3-4 will reequire the team to keep a lot of LBs-maybe 9-10. I think that works to Quarterman's advantage. I do want to finally see Jordan Smith to see what he can do.
Bubble/Surprise
I think Cam gets cut only if Harrison makes an immediate strong impression, he and the remaining OL remains healthy, and the team decides to sign one of the future free agents like Ridley now.
Agnew stays IMO. I can see him cut only if a couple of rookie WRs like Parker Washington and/orElijah Cook make a huge positive impact, and/orthe team finds the new kickoff/fair catch rules take kickoff returns out of the game.
Shatley started camp poorly but I think he still played decently for us. However, at that age, a drop off can't be far away I still trust him more than I do Bartch. I sincerely hope that changes soon, because Bartch could easily be our starter at LG.
I am looking forward to watching the offensive line develop as a group and think that they will develop into a strength of this team.
Wait—the secondary was problematic? I thought our only weakness back there was the nickel position. Tyson Campbell is one of the best young corners in the game. Williams played well. Cisco had his moments, and I expect him to be better this year. As for Jenkins, we don’t go to the playoffs without him. So what am I missing here?