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| MJD is still one of the best running backs in the NFL |
I know, I know...I know exactly what some readers are thinking. Who wants to hear about the Jacksonville Jaguars? I do. There are 32 teams in the NFL and the Jags are one of the most intriguing of them all heading into the 2013 regular season. Owner Shad Kahn promised to turn around one of the NFL's worst franchises and everything seems headed in that direction so far. New head coach Gus Bradley comes from the Seattle Seahawks as a former Defensive Coordinator and looks to turn around a team that lost their identity without Maurice Jones-Drew. Speaking of the team's best player, how will he do this Fall and has he lost a step coming off last year's foot injury? More than likely he won't rush for 2,000 yards like Adrian Peterson, but a healthy Maurice Jones-Drew is a top 5 RB in the NFL, if not top 3. The team also lists 5th rounder Denard Robinson as the 3rd RB on it's depth chart, but also have Robinson running the wildcat and read-option in training camp. With Eugene Monroe and Luke Joeckel manning the offensive tackle positions, you can expect there to be a lot of rushing yard to go around this year in Jacksonville. The Jags already had a potent attack with Jones-Drew before arguably drafting the best player from this year's class. Denard Robinson at QB, MJD at RB, Justin Blackmon at WR (After he serves his 4 game suspension) and you can have a play-making offense.
So what does all this mean for the current QB, Blaine Gabbert? It means he has less pressure to play on every down, and with a solid running game he should be extra accurate than most. Heck, he should have less of a role than Chad Pennington did when Miami was running the Wildcat with Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams. And that means he is on his way out...literally. "Blame" Gabbert is not a franchise QB and doesn't even have the accountability of a grown man. Until Jacksonville drafts a better QB, it will be hard to see them beating out the Texans or Colts for a division title. Don't get it twisted, Jacksonville lost two AFC championships in 1996 & 1999, so the fans still expect to win regardless of how good the rest of the NFL is. But do you know what else the Jags needs to win the division? An ENTIRE Defense.
Earlier, I mentioned how Gus Bradley was a Defensive Coordinator before being hired as Jacksonville's head coach this year. Here is how his Seattle defense ranked last year in a few categories:
Passing Yards Given Up Per Game: 5th
Rushing Yards Given Up Per Game: 10th
Total TDs Given Up: 1st
Total Points Given Up: 1st
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| Johnathon Cyprien appears to be worth his draft status |
Sacks: 18th
Those are some impressive numbers and prove to be the reason why Shad Kahn hired Gus Bradley. The Jags statistically had the 3rd worst overall defense in the NFL and needs a defensive minded coach to turn the team around. Jacksonville currently lacks a top notch pass rusher but that could change this Fall under Bradley's defensive scheme. Jason Babin heads a list of DEs that put up a total of 11 sacks last season. Whoah....to put that into perspective there were 16 players in the NFL last year that put up 11 sacks or better BY THEMSELVES. The LB core is headlined by Paul Posluzny and Russell Allen, whom both topped the 100 solo tackle mark last season. There should be more consistency with this group than the D-Line and hopefully more turnover for Jaguars fane. Speaking of turnovers, who will intercept passes? Word on the street is that John Cyprien has been everything the Jags thought and more ever since they selected him with the 33rd pick in the this year's draft. Look for Cyprien to be a playmaker all over the field and bring a nice presence to the defensive backs unit. My guess on the Jaguars record at the end of the 2013 regular season...8-8
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