JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Subsequent week, the Jacksonville Jaguars open coaching camp for the 2024 season. After an offseason of extensions and signings, the Jaguars hope to maneuver on from the late-season collapse that noticed them miss the playoffs.
Listed here are 4 under-the-radar storylines to observe when the Jaguars start coaching camp on Wednesday:
New and skilled faces
Head coach Doug Pederson discovered an vital lesson from his crew’s late-season collapse: The Jaguars did not know the right way to deal with being atop the AFC.
It is a totally different mindset fully to be the crew that is being chased, fairly than the underdog. There’s extra strain, much less room for errors and selections — particularly people who do not work properly — appear to get magnified exponentially. Only a few gamers on the Jaguars roster had been in that state of affairs earlier than, and it confirmed with a 1-5 end that left them out of the playoff image.
So the Jaguars entrance workplace acquired gamers with playoff expertise in free company. The crew’s six main free agent signees all got here from perennial playoff groups and have appeared in convention title video games or a Tremendous Bowl.
“I suppose, now we’re going again to [being] the hunter once more,” Pederson stated. “That is the tradition that I wish to set up in Jacksonville and that is the explanation why you go get guys like Mitch Morse and Arik Armstead and the Darnell Savages, and guys which have been to the postseason. These guys have been captains on their groups and so they’ve been to Tremendous Bowls, they have been to AFC Championship Video games. These guys know the right way to win and that is the inflow of expertise that we wish to convey onto our younger roster.”
Morse, Armstead, Savage, returner/receiver Devin Duvernay, receiver Gabe Davis and cornerback Ronald Darby have been to a mixed 49 playoff video games, which incorporates 12 convention championship video games and three Tremendous Bowls. Armstead has 4 of these convention title recreation appearances and two of the Tremendous Bowl appearances.
Armstead was a four-time captain with San Francisco, which was one other factor Pederson appreciated concerning the former 2015 first-round draft choose.
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“They’re the head of our sport and I want guys on our crew which have had accolades and awards like that,” Pederson stated, “in order that our guys can see precisely what that appears like.”
In 2022, the Jaguars had been chasing the AFC South-leading Tennessee Titans and needed to win 5 consecutive video games to win the division and make the playoffs. Then a come-from-behind postseason victory over the Los Angeles Chargers and an in depth loss in Kansas Metropolis despatched the Jaguars into the offseason with some momentum and the tag of “the crew to beat” within the AFC South.
The momentum carried on after beginning 8-3 in 2023, and the Jaguars had been in competition for the No. 1 seed within the AFC. However the crew suffered accidents to its extensive receivers and quarterback Trevor Lawrence, and the run protection gave up 44.4 extra yards per recreation within the remaining six weeks of the season than it did the primary 12. The Jaguars misplaced 5 of their final six video games and missed the playoffs.
Probably the most damning indictment of that collapse was how pass-rusher Josh Hines-Allen, whereas within the locker room following the season-ending loss at Tennessee, described the ultimate six weeks: “I really feel like final yr [2022] we had a spark and we lit [it] and we simply adopted that and rode that wave. After which this yr we had been trying ahead an excessive amount of hoping that it was going to return and it by no means got here.”
The Jaguars went out and obtained six gamers they’d be relying on to supply that spark.
“I believe what we have been by way of the final two years, I believe these gamers are understanding you can’t simply wait, you’ll be able to’t wait round,” Pederson stated. “We had been sitting there at 8-3 and we had an opportunity to maintain our foot on the gasoline and preserve pushing. Among the gamers we have gone out and delivered to this crew…These guys are winners.
“We’ve a younger soccer crew, however the tradition is not off course and simply having extra guys like that in your roster, who’ve been there and have completed it, might help the gamers.”
The Jaguars drafted a operating again in April — Texas’ Keilan Robinson — however GM Trent Baalke stated they chose him primarily as a kick returner. Kickoffs are altering considerably with the brand new guidelines that can be carried out within the preseason and one of many issues groups are planning on making an attempt is having two returners on the sector on the identical time.
Robinson averaged 23.6 yards per kickoff return on 39 profession returns, however he had simply 37 carries mixed the final two seasons. Free agent signee Duvernay was a two-time Professional Bowler (2021 and 2022) and first-team All-Professional (2021) as a returner in his 4 seasons with Baltimore. He has averaged 12.8 yards per punt return and 24.8 yards per kickoff return in his profession.
With Robinson deliberate as a kick returner, the Jaguars are content material to do what they did in 2023: Go together with Tank Bigsby and D’Ernest Johnson as the highest two choices behind Etienne. However that did not actually work out too properly, with Etienne having 75% of the operating again carries and 76% of the operating again touches final season. Bigsby and Johnson each averaged simply 2.6 yards per carry.
However Pederson appreciated what he noticed from Bigsby throughout spring exercises and is assured the second-year participant can rebound from a disappointing rookie season.
“Tank has completed a fantastic job going into yr two,” Pederson stated. “He is a sensible participant. For him now, it is simply understanding what he’s seeing notably within the run recreation, anticipating the place the outlet goes to be.”
The Jaguars additionally selected to re-sign Johnson to a one-year contract in March, and solely assured him $200,000. With no different offseason strikes on the place, the Jaguars appear assured of their present backfield.
Backup QB battle
The Jaguars acquired former first-round choose Mac Jones in a commerce with New England Patriots this offseason. He’ll battle incumbent C.J. Beathard in camp to be Lawrence’s backup.
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Beathard has been the veteran presence Lawrence wanted throughout his first three seasons as a professional. However after Lawrence’s 4 accidents final season — knee, ankle, concussion and shoulder — the Jaguars wished a backup with extra expertise if Lawrence does get damage once more.
Jones began 42 video games for the Patriots after being drafted within the first spherical in 2021. He accomplished 66.1% of his passes, threw 46 landing passes and 36 interceptions in three seasons. Beathard has began 13 video games in six seasons, accomplished 60.4% of his passes, and thrown 19 landing passes and 14 interceptions. And Jones is youthful (25) than Beathard (30).
“Mac’s completed a fantastic job simply getting in right here and studying the offense,” offensive coordinator Press Taylor stated. “He is a sponge. He loves studying soccer, speaking soccer. He is continually within the constructing, he is continually asking questions. … He is performed a number of soccer. All of the ideas we run he is run sooner or later in time. A few of it’s translating and then you definitely attempt as shortly as you’ll be able to to get away from the previous language you’ve.”
One of the best ways for the battle to play out for the Jaguars is have Jones out-play Beathard as a result of it is doubtless the crew might re-sign Beathard to the follow squad in the event that they reduce him. If the Jaguars reduce Jones, it could be a shock if he wasn’t signed by one other crew.
Kicking battle
An attention-grabbing kicking battle? Say no extra. One of many extra compelling place battles can be between veteran kicker Riley Patterson and rookie Cam Little.
Patterson has historical past with the Jaguars — he hit the game-winning area aim within the Jaguars’ playoff victory over the Los Angeles Chargers in January 2023 earlier than the crew traded him to Detroit in Could 2023. Final season, the Jaguars wished to go together with a kicker — Brandon McManus — who had a stronger leg. McManus labored out for essentially the most half, with 10 area targets of fifty yards or longer in 2023 however was solely enjoying on a one-year contract.
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The Jaguars signed Patterson again this offseason whereas McManus signed with the Commanders in free company, however then was launched shortly after allegations of sexual assault on a Jaguars crew constitution surfaced.
Little, whom the Jaguars drafted within the sixth spherical, is essentially the most correct kicker in Arkansas historical past and his seven area targets of fifty or extra yards is second in class historical past. He provides a stronger leg than Patterson, who has made simply three area targets of fifty or extra yards in his 39-game NFL profession.
“When now we have kicking days they’re getting equal photographs, whether or not it is the sector targets or kickoffs,” Pederson stated. “Sure, it is competitors, however on the identical time, we’re getting all people some work and seeing the place they’re. Each guys have completed a fantastic job. Cam, clearly we’re nonetheless studying him and what he can do, however he is obtained some leg expertise. So does Riley. It’s going to be attention-grabbing in camp to see the place it performs out.”
