Last year, 2014, the Jaguars lost 3 games by 20 or more points - by 31 to Washington and then by 27 and by 20 to the Colts.  Yes, the Colts, a team in our own division, beat the Jaguars really badly last year.  Jaguars lost 4 games by 8 or less points.

 

The Jaguars defense will be better against the run with Miller adding strength and Odrick and Skuta on the strong side.  The pass defense will be better with the younger DB's gaining a year of experience and better play at FS.  I am not suggesting large gains, but a little better against the run and a little better against the pass.

 

The offense I am expecting to have larger gains.  Bortles will be better, but, yes, that still has to be played out.  The OL will be much improved both in pass protection and run blocking.  Yeldon and Gerhart will be able to run downhill instead of sideways like it was last year.

 

To get those additional wins, though, will not be easy.  For the Jaguars to go 8-8 they should win the first two games against the Panthers and Dolphins.  Both of those games will be difficult.  The Panthers game will be Newton vs Bortles and the Miami game could be determined by Jaguars DL vs Dolphins OL.  I just don't see any easy wins this year.  The offense just absolutely has to go for the Jaguars to have a winning year.

 

Yes, Thomas, Yeldon, Cann, and Parnell will have a lot to do with how many games the Jaguars win this year, but more important will be the play of Bortles.

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