I hope so.  I'll say it again, for all of the fans that said the offensive line was one of the worst in the league in 2023, adding a $5.25M per year C is simply not enough.

It’s a start and a huge one. 

How many times were the Jags stymied in the red zone and short yardage plays bc the center is getting shoved straight backwards?

Yes.  That.  In the last game of the season, with the playoffs and division title on the line, 4th and goal on the 1 yard line in the 4th quarter, Fortner got pancaked.  Trevor tried the reach-over, and came up a foot short because Fortner got shoved into him.  I'll never forget that play.

Not to mention, the 120 times (yes, that is the accurate number) last season when we ran the ball for zero of less than zero yardage?  SEVEN times per game.  That's an awful statistic.  

That's why upgrading the Center was the most important move we could make this offseason.

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It’s a start and a huge one. 

How many times were the Jags stymied in the red zone and short yardage plays bc the center is getting shoved straight backwards?

Yes.  That.  In the last game of the season, with the playoffs and division title on the line, 4th and goal on the 1 yard line in the 4th quarter, Fortner got pancaked.  Trevor tried the reach-over, and came up a foot short because Fortner got shoved into him.  I'll never forget that play.

Not to mention, the 120 times (yes, that is the accurate number) last season when we ran the ball for zero of less than zero yardage?  SEVEN times per game.  That's an awful statistic.  

That's why upgrading the Center was the most important move we could make this offseason.

I was in the stadium for the sunday nighter against the ratbirds and at some point went to the concessions and was watching the game from one of the TVs there while in line.  They did a slo-mo replay of a particular play from a camera angle parallel to the line of scrimmage and offensive line so that all you could see was the right tackle and who he was engaging and everyone else was lined up right behind him (beside him on the field) and out of view.  

I'll never forget it because a second later a Jaguars lineman got almost instantly shoved back about 2 yards like he was on roller skates and was now in frame.  The whole line is at the line of scrimmage and not visible from this angle outside of the right tackle and now 1 other guy appears in a flash (guess who?).   And it was a really bad look as there was the line holding up on the play, then there was a patch of grass behind them all and then behind the patch of grass in the back field was Fortner and whoever the defender was (probably Madabuike).

I'm not sure if this was just an in stadium replay or if the TV broadcast got it as well, but I had to chuckle a bit while shaking my head because this issue had already been well diagnosed on these forums and to see it live or almost live and somewhat zoomed in was something.

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It’s a start and a huge one. 

How many times were the Jags stymied in the red zone and short yardage plays bc the center is getting shoved straight backwards?

Yes.  That.  In the last game of the season, with the playoffs and division title on the line, 4th and goal on the 1 yard line in the 4th quarter, Fortner got pancaked.  Trevor tried the reach-over, and came up a foot short because Fortner got shoved into him.  I'll never forget that play.

Not to mention, the 120 times (yes, that is the accurate number) last season when we ran the ball for zero of less than zero yardage?  SEVEN times per game.  That's an awful statistic.  

That's why upgrading the Center was the most important move we could make this offseason.

Totally agree

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I would still draft another one who can also play guard if needed.

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Yes.  That.  In the last game of the season, with the playoffs and division title on the line, 4th and goal on the 1 yard line in the 4th quarter, Fortner got pancaked.  Trevor tried the reach-over, and came up a foot short because Fortner got shoved into him.  I'll never forget that play.

Not to mention, the 120 times (yes, that is the accurate number) last season when we ran the ball for zero of less than zero yardage?  SEVEN times per game.  That's an awful statistic.  

That's why upgrading the Center was the most important move we could make this offseason.

Totally agree

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I would still draft another one who can also play guard if needed.

Personally I'd go the other way and get the best guard I can would could also play center.

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“An empty vessel makes the loudest sound, so they that have the least wit are the greatest babblers.”. - Plato

“If you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll always get what you’ve always got”

- Albert Einstein

Also Einstein, “Pigs don’t know pigs stink”

Baalke, that’s you , the clown pig

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"If you always do what you've always done, You'll always get what you always got"