There have always been great debates on this message board over the years.

 

Leftwich v. Garrard

Tebow or not Tebow

In Gene We Trust or not

 

More recently, the subject of whether Caldwell and Bradley have had enough talent and time to succeed has been a major point of contention.  One side has been eager to fire both Bradley and Caldwell because the team has not come close to being a winning team in their tenure here.  The other side felt the first has been hasty, and that the team hasn't had time enough to accumulate enough talent to win.  Being a member of that "other side," now that the board has basked in the glow of the coup that represents the Jaguars first two picks this year, I thought it would be a good idea to examine the opening day starters of 2013 vs the projected opening day starters of 2016.

 

2013 offense                    2016 Offense 

 

QB-Gabbert                        QB-Bortles

RB-MJD                               RB-Yeldon

FB-Ta'ufo'ou                        TE Lewis or WR Lee

WR-C. Shorts                      WR-Allen Robinson

WR-A. Sanders ®              WR-Allen Hurns

TE-Lewis                             TE-Julius Thomas

LT-Monroe                           LT-Joeckel/Beachum

LG-Rackley                          LG-Cann

C-Meester                            C-???

RG-Nwaneri                          RG-Linder

RT-Joeckel ®                      RT-Parnell

 

2013 Defense                      2016 Defense

DE Jason Babin                     DE Dante Fowler, Jr.

DE Tyson Alualu                    DE Jared Odrick

DT Roy Miller                         DT Roy Miller

DT Senderrick Marks             DT Malik Jackson

LB Geno Hayes                     LB Telvin Smith

LB Poz                                   LB Jack ®

LB Russell Allen                     LB Skuta

CB Gratz ®                           CB-Ramsey ®

CB Ball                                   CB-House

FS Lowery                              FS-Gipson

SS Cyprien ®                       SS-Cyprien 

 

2013 starting lineups per http://www.pro-football-reference.com/bo...080jax.htm

 

Examining both starting lineups, certain questions arise.

 

1.  If these two squads played against each other, is there any way the 2013 squad is even close to being competitive with the 2016 squad?

 

2.  Are there any more than 4-5 players from that 2013 team that definitively starts over the 2016 team?

 

3.  Is it possible for this team to have gotten as talented as it is now any faster than it did?  If so, how?

 

I think a rational and objective comparison of the two rosters shows that at minimum, Caldwell has taken this team in the right direction from a purely talent perspective.  Furthermore, any rational and objective analysis would show that Bradley was completely hamstrung with a lack of talent his first two years.  Now that the team is stocked full of talent (which is not to say it is without weakness, but it is a night and day difference between 2013 and now), it is on Bradley to finally win.

 

But given the comparison between the two squads, I'd like to see the argument that Bradley/Caldwell could have won any earlier than 2015 expressed by their detractors.

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