(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:

1. Nickel Competition 
   
2. LG shake out / Bartch health and performance
   
3. Harrison progress reports
   
4. Bigsby looking the part to spell ETN and/or perform in short yrdg situations
   
5. Ridley being Ridley
   
6. ILB personnel usage
   
7. Strange looking like a viable and versatile option + Do they line him up creatively? Does he acclimate? 
   
8. 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?
   
9. Does Fortner look stronger when the pads come on? 
   
10. 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.

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