JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS
2020 Record - 1-15-0
Head Coach - Urban Meyer
Key Additions - Phillip Dorsett (WR), Shaquill Griffin (DB), Marvin Jones (WR), Malcom Brown (DL), Jihad Ward (DL), Damien Wilson (LB), Carlos Hyde (RB), Rudy Ford (DB), Rayshawn Jenkins (DB), Chris Manhertz (TE), Ray Robertson-Harris (DL), Chapelle Russell (LB)
OFFENSE - Trevor Lawrence (Clemson), the top draft pick in the NFL this year, will be the starting quarterback and with the trade of Gardener Minshew to the Philadelphia Eagles, C.J. Beathard will be the backup. Running back James Robinson went for 1,070 yards last season (4.5 ypc average) and seven touchdowns and he also had 49 receptions for 344 yards and three touchdowns. Carlos Hyde (356 rushing yards, 4.4 ypc and four TD with Seattle), Devine Ozigbo and Dare Ogunbowale (145 yards rushing) are also available in the running game.
Wide receiver Marvin Jones (76, 978, nine TD) comes over from the Detroit Lions and will team with Laviska Shenault, Jr. (58, 600, five TD) and DJ Chark, Jr., who made 53 receptions for 706 yards and five scores a year ago. Phillip Dorsett is also in the mix. Tight ends include James O'Shaughnessy (28 receptions for 262 yards) and Chris Manhertz.
The Jaguars offense ranked 28th last season, gaining 326 yards per game while scoring 19.1 points per game. The passing game averaged 231 YPG (21st) and the running game averaged 95 YPG, which was 28th overall.
DEFENSE - Roy Robertson-Harris, Malcom Brown and DaVon Hamilton are the men up front while Josh Allen, Myles Jack, Joe Schobert (three interceptions and a team leading 141 tackles) and K'Lavon Chaisson are the linebackers. Dawuane Smoot (5 1/2 QB sacks). Damien Wilson, Jihad Ward and Leon Jacobs add depth to the linebacking unit while rookie Jay Tufele (USC), Adam Gotsis and Taven Bryan will play on the defensive line.
CJ Henderson will be joined by either Tre Herndon or Shaquill Griffin at the corner position in the defensive backfield and Rayshawn Jenkins and Jarrod Wilson are the safeties. Sidney Jones IV, Tyson Campbell, a rookie from Georgia will be ready at the corners while Daniel Thomas and rookie Andre Cisco (Syracuse) will back up at the safety spots.
The Jaguars allowed 30.8 points per game on defense last year and finished 31st in the league in total defense, allowing 418 yards per game. The run defense allowed 153 YPG (30th) and the pass defense gave up 265 YPG, which ranked 27th overall. Jacksonville only had 18 sacks last season and intercepted twelve passes.
2021 SEASON OUTLOOK -While Urban Meyer takes over as the Jaguars new Head Coach this season, there will be another new face at the starting quarterback spot in Trevor Lawrence, who will likely go through the ups and downs of a rookie year in the NFL.
The team made no bones about it by trading last year's primary starting quarterback (Gardner Minshew) to Philadelphia. Lawrence will have a good tandem of wide receivers to throw to and a solid running back with James Robinson. Fellow rookie and former teammate of Lawrence at Clemson, Travis Etienne was lost for the season with a foot injury, so that will take away some from the running attack. Jacksonville needs to improve the numbers with the rushing game to balance the offense.
Defensively, the Jaguars added some new faces throughout the starters and hope to see better results from a unit that was among the best in the NFL just four year ago. In 2020, Jacksonville ranked near the bottom of the league in every major defensive category. Getting more turnovers and pressure on opposing quarterbacks would definitely help this season.
All in all, it is definitely a rebuilding year for the Jaguars as they look to improve from a disastrous 2020 season and win more than just one game. That should happen as they battle Houston to avoid the cellar in the AFC South division. Figure on a 4-13 finish for the 2021 season as the team gets going on what they would like to be a better future in the coming years.
2021 SCHEDULE
Week 1 - at Houston
Week 2 - vs. Denver
Week 3 - vs. Arizona
Week 4 - at Cincinnati
Week 5 - vs. Tennessee
Week 6 - vs. Miami (in London, England)
Week 7 - BYE
Week 8 - at Seattle
Week 9 - vs. Buffalo
Week 10 - at Indianapolis
Week 11 - vs. San Francisco
Week 12 - vs. Atlanta
Week 13 - at L.A. Rams
Week 14 - at Tennessee
Week 15 - vs. Houston
Week 16 - at N.Y. Jets
Week 17 - at New England
Week 18 - vs. Indianapolis
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