(05-01-2022, 02:33 PM)TheDuke007 Wrote: I hear some say that the Jaguars didn't do much this off-season for offense.  When Trevor steps onto the field this year, he will typically have Kirk, M. Jones, Z. Jones, Engram and Etienne as receiving options.  4 out of the 5 will be new to him this year.  As for the group protecting him, they added an All Pro offensive lineman in Scherff.  Many believe that Little will take over and upgrade our right tackle position.  If our rookie center earns a starting role, that could be 3 out of our 5 linemen upgraded.  That's a lot of change in one off-season.  I also think we'll have far better coaching.

I'm also one who believes that preventing a touchdown is just as valuable as scoring a touchdown.  I also think a good defense helps your offense.  Not being behind 0-7 or 0-14 to start the game allows the offense to maintain better balance and be less predictable.  Additionally, better field position helps an offense score points.  More possessions helps an offense score points.  Getting to face a tired defense because the other team just went three and out helps an offense score points.  We made major upgrades to our defense which besides lowering our opponent's score should also help our offense score points.

Just because these players are new to Trevor Lawrence doesn't necessarily make them improved enough to get the desired results.  Of the entire group of new starters, only Engram and Scherff could even remotely be considered a dominant player or represent a match up advantage.  Perhaps if Walker Little assumes the RT spot over Taylor, he will prove to be a dominant player.  Etienne is still unproven.  Kirk and Zay Jones are like the offensive versions of our DL signings from last year, although nobody argues we dramatically overpaid for any of our DL signings.

I agree that the improved defense should help the offense.

It's possible for the offense to be improved from last year.  in fact, it's almost impossible for there to not to be any offensive improvement from last year.  But a lot of that improvement will simply come from Pederson and his influence on Trevor Lawrence.  I'm not sure how much will come from improved personnel, but at this point, I can't say this is a playoff personnel grouping offensively.

Of course, I hope like hell I am wrong about that.

---