Hidden Gem: A Jacksonville Jaguars Franchise (Madden 17)

[saintrules]

2017 NFL Draft is as follows:

Chicago Bears
1. DE/OLB Ryan Anderson (81) - Alabama
2. S Malik Hooker (71) - Ohio State
3. QB Mason Rudolph (57) - Oklahoma State
4. WR Amara Darboh (64) - Michigan
5. OG Isaac Asiata (68) - Utah
6. CB Fabian Moreau (66) - UCLA
7. OT Jon Heck (68) - North Carolina

Bengals
1. WR John Ross (76) - Washington
2. DE/OLB Devonte Fields (68) - Louisville
3. WR Fred Ross (64) - Mississippi State
4. OG Damien Mama (63) - USC
5. HB Kareem Hunt (68) - Toledo
6. WR Zach Pascal (66) - Old Dominion
7. OG Chase Roullier (66) - Wyoming
8. OG Jonah Pirsig (64) - Minnesota

Bills
1. C Ethan Pocic (76) - LSU
2. DE/OLB Dane Booker (64) - Ohio State
3. DT Elijah Qualls (67) - Washington
4. WR Damore'ea Stringfellow (66) - Ole Miss
5. DT Taco Charlton (67) - Michigan
6. OG Johnny Caspers (66) - Stanford

Broncos
1. DE/OLB Tim Williams (78) - Alabama
2. CB Marshon Lattimore (68) - Ohio State
3. WR Artavis Scott (68) - Clemson
4. WR James Quick (66) - Louisville
5. DE/OLB - Lewis Neal (68) - LSU
6. S Nathan Gerry (68) - Nebraska


Browns
1. QB DeShone Kizer (76) - Notre Dame
2. QB Mitch Trubisky (76) - North Carolina
3. DE/OLB Carl Lawson (77) - Auburn
4. TE Evan Engram (76) - Ole Miss
5. QB Davis Webb (72) - California
6. HB Donnel Humphrey (72) - San Diego State

Buccaneers
1. TE OJ Howard (78) - Alabama
2. CB Desmond King (70) - Iowa
3. OT Eric Magnuson (71) - Michigan
4. CB Brandon Facyson (64) - Virginia Tech
5. DE/OLB Calvin Munson (63) - San Diego State
6. WR Josh Reynolds (69) - Texas A&M
7. CB Des Lawrence (66) - North Carolina

Cardinals
1. DT Jonathan Allen (78) - Alabama
2. OT Ryan Ramczyk (68) - Wisconsin
3. TE Jake Butt (76) - Michigan
4. OG Jessamen Dunker (66) - Tennessee State
5. DE/OLB Paul Maggiore Jr (63) - Arizona
6. WR Kenny Golladay (66) - Northern Illinois

Chargers
1. C Pat Elfein (76) - Ohio State
2. DT Chris Wormley (67) - Michigan
3. DT Montravius Adams (67) - Auburn
4. HB Jeremy McNichols (70) - Boise State
5. DE/OLB Joe Mathis (66) - Washington
6. DE/OLB Kylie Fitts (65) - Utah
7. QB Cooper Rush (56) - Central Michigan
8. DE/OLB Larry Ogunjobi (61) - Charlotte

Chiefs
1. CB Quincy Wilson (78) - Florida
2. MLB Reuben Foster (64) - Alabama
3. HB Alvin Kamara (77) - Tennessee
4. DT Lowell Lotelelei (72) - Utah
5. DT Vita Vea (58) - Washington
6. DE/OLB Noble Nwachukwu (64) - West Virginia
7. FB Sam Rogers (73) - Virginia Tech

Colts
1. HB Leonard Fournette (79) - LSU
2. DE/OLB Marquis Haynes (65) - Ole Miss
3. OG Greg Pyke (70) - Georgia
4. WR Travin Dural (68) - LSU
5. CB Channing Stribling (66) - Michigan
6. S John Jonhson (71) - Boston College

Cowboys
1. OT Ryan Ramczyk (68) - Wisconsin
2. TE Jordan Leggett (70) - Clemson
3. CB Cameron Sutton (68) - Tennessee
4. OG Sean Harlow (70) - Oregon State
5. HB Matthew Dayes (66) - NC State
6. DE/OLB Brandon Bell (65) - Penn State

Dolphins
1. WR Mike Williams (75) - Clemson
2. TE Bucky Hodges (76) - Virginia Tech
3. OT Dion Dawkins (68) - Temple
4. OG Danny Isidora (72) - Miami
5. WR Gabe Marks (68) - Washington State

Eagles
1. CB Jourdan Lewis (68) - Michigan
2. QB Luke Falk (59) - Washington State
3. CB Marquez White (68) - Florida State
4. WR Ryan Switzer (66) - North Carolina
5. TE Cole Hikutini (66) - Louisville
6. DE/OLB Joshua Posley (72) - Ball State
7. CB Jalen Myrick (66) - Minnesota
8. TE Darrell Daniels (74) - Washington

Falcons
1. WR Isaiah Ford (76) - Virginia Tech
2. OT Adam Bisnowaty (66) - Pittsburgh
3. S Armani Watts (76) - Texas A&M
4. OT Conor McDermott (64) - UCLA
5. C Mason Cole (68) - Michigan
6. CB Ed Paris (64) - LSU
7. S Lorenzo Jerome (71) - Saint Francis PA
8. DE/OLB Psalm Wooching (67) - Washington
9. OT JJ Dielman (63) - Utah

49ers
1. DE/OLB Derek Barnett (79) - Tennessee
2. QB Patrick Mahomes (72) - Texas Tech
3. DE/OLB Daeshon Hall (67) - Texas A&M
4. S Budda Baker (68) - Washington
5. DT Jarron Jones (65) - Notre Dame
6. CB Jordan Thomas (70) - Oklahoma
7. FB Freddie Stevenson (69) - Florida State
8. HB Marlon Mack (70) - USF
9. DE/OLB Jordan Burton (64) - Oklahoma State
10. FB Emmanuel Holder (75) - Towson

Giants
1. QB Brad Kaaya (72) - Miami
2. CB Corn Elder (66) - Miami
3. WR Zay Jones (68) - East Carolina
4. DE/OLB Dylan Cole (65) - Missouri State
5. WR Amba Etta-Tawo (64) - Syracuse
6. CB Jeremy Cutrer (62) - Middle Tennessee

Jaguars
1. S Jabrill Peppers (78) - Michigan
2. S Marcus Maye (73) - Florida
3. HB Nick Chubb (70) - Georgia
4. MLB Raekwon McMillan (66) - Ohio State
5. WR Travis Rudolph (66) - Florida State
6. CB Cole Luke (64) - Notre Dame
7. WR Billy Brown (66) - Shepherd
8. S Tony Conner (71) - Ole Miss

Jets
1. CB Jalen Tabor (78) - Florida
2. DE/OLB Jordan Willis (61) - Kansas State
3. WR Dede Westbrook (66) - Oklahoma
4. HB Brian Hill (68) - Wyoming
5. DE/OLB Ken Ekanem (65) - Virginia Tech

Lions
1. CB Gareon Conley (79) - Ohio State
2. DE/OLB Charles Harris (74) - Missouri
3. DE/OLB Ejuan Price (66) - Pittsburgh
4. WR Jehu Chesson (64) - Michigan
5. OT Avery Gennesy (66) - Texas A&M
6. WR Taywan Taylor (64) - Western Kentucky
7. DE/OLB Torrodney Prevot (60) - Oregon
8. WR Corey Smith (66) - Ohio State

Packers
1. DT Malik McDowell (81) - Michigan State
2. CB Tre'Davious White (66) - LSU
3. DE/OLB Davis Bellamy (66) - Georgia
4. OG Tyrone Crowder (70) - Clemson
5. OG Kyle Kalis (63) - Michigan
6. C Tyler Orlosky (73) - West Virginia
7. HB De'Veon Smith (64) - Michigan
8. TE George Kittle (72) - Iowa

Panthers
1. OT Cam Robinson (76) - Alabama
2. HB Christian McCaffrey (70) - Stanford
3. HB Joe Mixon (66) - Oklahoma
4. DE/OLB James Onwualu (68) - Notre Dame
5. CB Damontae Kazee (66) - San Diego State
6. OG Cameron Lee (68) - Illinois State

Patriots
1. OG Billy Price (77) - Ohio State
2. DT Caleb Brantley (76) - Florida
3. DE OLB Josh Carraway (66) - TCU
4. S Eddie Jackson (69) - Alabama
5. WR Darren Carrington II (66) - Oregon
6. TE Pharaoh Brown (70) - Oregon
7. S Johnathan Ford (69) - Auburn
8. OT Dan Skipper (69) - Arkansas

Raiders
1. S Jamal Adams (78) - LSU
2. DT Charles Walker (65) - Oklahoma
3. TE Jeremy Sprinkle (66) - Arkansas
4. QB CJ Beathard (61) - Iowa
5. DE/OLB Deatrich Wise Jr (62) - Arkansas
6. DE/OLB Derrick Nnadi (65) - Florida State

Rams
1. DE/OLB DeMarcus Walker (68) - Florida State
2. DE/OLB Tyquan Lewis (67) - Ohio State
3. DT Carlos Watkins (67) - Clemson
4. HB Elijah Hood (64) - North Carolina
5. HB Elijah McGuire (68) - UL Lafayette
6. DE/OLB Jaleel Johnson (68) - Iowa

Ravens
1. DE/OLB Myles Garrett (79) - Texas A&M
2. HB Dalvin Cook (77) - Florida State
3. CB Adoree' Jackson (68) - USC
4. OT Chad Wheeler (63) - USC
5. HB Corey Clement (77) - Wisconsin
6. S David Jones (69) - Richmond
7. WR Devonte Boyd (66) - UNLV

Redskins
1. WR Corey Davis (78) - Western Michigan
2. DE/OLB Solomon Thomas (74) - Stanford
3. S Justin Evans (69) - Texas A&M
4. CB Kevin King (68) - Washington
5. DE/OLB Deon Hollins (64) - UCLA
6. OT Julie'n Davenport (64) - Bucknell

Saints
1. CB Sidney Jones (79) - Washington
2. MLB Zach Cunningham (66) - Vanderbilt
3. TE Blake Jarwin (74) - Oklahoma State
4. HB Samaje Perine (75) - Oklahoma
5. DE/OLB Tarell Basham (72) - Ohio

Seahawks
1. OG Quentin Nelson (77) - Notre Dame
2. CB Chide Awuzie (68) - Colorado
3. DE/OLB Keionta Davis (65) - Chattanooga
4. OG Zach Banner (70) - USC
5. S Quin Blanding (69) - Virginia
6. DE/OLB Derek Rivers (76) - Youngstown State
7. TE Gerald Everett (68) - South Alabama
8. TE Josiah Price (70) - Michigan State
9. S Xavier Woods (68) - Louisiana Tech

Steelers
1. QB Deshaun Watson (76) - Clemson
2. CB Corder Tankersley (68) - Clemson
3. HB Wayne Gallman (64) - Clemson
4. HB Tarean Folston (70) - Notre Dame
5. DE/OLB Tyus Bowser (68) - Houston
6. C Kyle Fuller (68) - Baylor
7. TE Phazahn Odom (64) - Fordham

Texans
1. OG Dan Feeney (77) - Indiana
2. OG Dorian Johnson (73) - Pittsburgh
3. OT Roderick Johnson (69) - Florida State
4. MLB Jarrad Davis (63) - Florida
5. OG Caleb Peterson (66) - North Carolina
6. DT Jake Replogle (69) - Purdue
7. DT Eddie Vanderdoes (65) - UCLA
8. DT Ryan Glasgow (69) - Michigan

Titans
1. DE/OLB Dawuane Smoot (78) - Illinois
2. DE/OLB Takkarist McKinley (78) - UCLA
3. WR James Washington (71) - Oklahoma State
4. HB Royce Freeman (68) - Oregon
5. S Josh Harvey-Clemons (71) - Louisville
6. WR Stacy Coley (66) - Miami
7. HB Jahad Thomas (66) - Temple
8. WR Mack Hollins (64) - North Carolina

Vikings
1. Juju Smith-Schuster (76) - USC
2. CB Marlon Humphrey (68) - Alabama
3. HB D'Onta Foreman (70) - Texas
4. DE/OLB Bryan Cox (60) - Florida
5. DE/OLB Matt Milano (68) - Boston College
6. OG Nico Siracusa (68) - San Diego State
7. WR Quincy Adeboyejo (66) - Ole Miss

[saintrules]

Below are my thoughts regarding the Jaguars 2017 NFL Draft:

Round 1
S Jabrill Peppers (78) - Michigan

Being a defensive minded guy, I had to take the best defender available and that was none other than Heisman candidate Jabrill Peppers. He will immediately step into the starting role in place of current FS, Tashaun Gipson. With an already strong defensive line, corner wall, & linebacking core, Peppers will be the safety net to patrol the air in this pass heavy league.

Round 2
S Marcus Maye (73) - Florida

I had a tough decision here as the second round was looking like bust city. Everyone I scouted was well under their projected round so I zero'd in on the best player out there, Marcus Maye. Though we just drafted Peppers to take the starting FS job and have Johnathan Cyprien (83) starting at SS, Maye can step into the nickel role when we need him and be our contingency plan for injuries. I'll likely take the steps to move Gipson to the trade block.

Round 3
HB Nick Chubb (70) - Georgia
MLB Raekwon McMillan (66) - Ohio State

With our struggles at scoring TD's, I wanted to add a HB who could power the ball into the end zone once we got there. Nick Chubb fit my ideology quite well & will compliment Yeldon (81) and Ivory (79). There have been thoughts about putting Ivory up on the block as he is regressing, which would leave me with two, young talented backs. Paul Poslulszny (79) is regressing as our MLB so I need a plan, unfortunately McMillan's talent was much lower than I anticipated getting for this role, so he will serve as a backup and develop.

Round 4
WR Travis Rudolph (66) - Florida State

After letting Arrelious Benn and Brian Walters walk I wanted to secure depth again in the passing game. With guys like Allen Robinson (90), Allen Hurns (88), and Marqise Lee (79), there won't be a ton of opportunity for Rudolph, but he will be critical for depth.

Round 5
CB Cole Luke (64) - Notre Dame

Luke will serve as the second backup at corner behind Doran Grant (70). With Jalen Ramsey (86) and Prince Amukamara (85) holding down their spots, Luke will sit pretty for some time.

Round 6
WR Billy Brown (66) - Shepherd

Billy Brown has some lightening quickness with 96 speed, so he'll be huge in the slot spot to backup Marqise Lee.

Round 7
S Tony Conner (71) - Ole Miss

Oh the good ole round 7 pick, thankfully I found the best player available in Conner. He will backup Marcus Maye and serve on an as needed basis. If we are able to move Gipson, he will be the secondary backup.

[saintrules]

SEASON 2
2017-2018

[saintrules]

The 2017 NFL Season is officially underway in my franchise! Here is the official regular season depth chart for the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Quarterback:
1. Blake Bortles (82)
2. Chad Henne (67)
3. Brandon Allen (65)

Franchise man Blake Bortles returns in 2017 as our lead signal caller to guide our Jags to glory. Blake's 2016 campaign was a mixed bag, full of moments to remember & forget. Most notably, he was electric in the final two games of the season totaling 10 TD's and just 1 INT during blowout victories of division rival's, Titans and Colts. Chad Henne and Brandon Allen remain as pure backups, both riding the trade block at the moment.

Runningback:
1. TJ Yeldon (81)
2. Chris Ivory (79)
3. (R) Nick Chubb (70)
4. Josh Robinson (68)

With a very dominant passing game, the running game for the Jags has taken the backseat. Unfortunately, it's taken too much of a backseat. We failed to have a 1,000 yard rusher in 2016 and only put up 2 TD's by season's end, not good. I still don't love the feel of my running game, as I can't necessarily rely on either back to get solid yardarge and punch it through when I need it. Yeldon, however, has been a better receiving back thus far and really explodes on screens, so he will get the start. Ivory has the opportunity to take the starting role if Yeldon is unable to put up any rushing yards. Third man deep is rookie Nick Chubb out of Georgia. Chubb is a bowling ball with electric speed and a lot of toughness. As our current kick/punt returner we will be able to see what he is made of. Who knows, maybe he is the answer to our run game struggles.

Wide Receiver:
1. Allen Robinson (90)
2. Allen Hurns (87)
3. Marqise Lee (78)
4. Rashad Greene Sr (76)
5. (R) Travis Rudolph (66)
6. (R) Billy Brown (66)

With a beastly receiving core, the Jags will rely heavily on these young guns as our point makers and game winners. Allen Robinson reached 1,044 yards receiving last season, but just missed double digit TD's. We look to get him the ball early and often in this one, eventually being double covered, opening up opportunities for Allen Hurns & Marqise Lee to slip by and score. If three beasts wasn't enough, Rashad Greene Sr brings a solid overall to help rest our big guns when we need it. Rookie's Travis Rudolph and Billy Brown may not see a ton of playing time this season, but they add depth to an already deep core.

Tight End:
1. Julius Thomas (82)
2. Marcedes Lewis (76)
3. Brian Parker (64)

Julius Thomas led the Jags in receptions for 2016 and I don't see a whole lot changing in 2017. With the size of a linebacker and speed of a receiver, Thomas is able to run drag routes all day on defenders to make big plays. We will absolutely utilize him in the redzone & on third downs, he's a playmaker.

Offensive Tackle:
1. Kelvin Beachum (80)
2. Bryce Harris (73)
3. Jeremy Parnell (71)

There is not a whole ton of depth here at Offensive Tackle, and that may be what is holding back our running attack. Beachum and Harris will start for us, but with both at 28 years old and barely scraping starter ability, their position may need to be addressed sooner rather than later.

Offensive Guard:
1. Luke Joeckel (77)
2. A.J. Cann (77)
3. Luke Bowanko (77)
4. Chris Reed (66)

After an injury riddled 2016 campaign, newly resigned Luke Joeckel takes the reigns along side A.J. Cann at guard. Joeckel and Cann aren't quite at starter ability yet, but with both under 26 we have a lot of time to grow and develop them. Bowanko will be on the trade block & Chris Reed will likely not be resigned.

Center:
1. Brandon Linder (84)

No option at center other than Brandon Linder. At an 84 overall he sits pretty as capable starter at this position and I look to develop and retain him for the longhaul. We do need to sign a backup, just in case.

Defensive End:
1. Dante Fowler Jr (81)
2. Yannick Ngakoue (78)
3. Jared Odrick (72)
4. Chris Smith (70)
5. Johnathan Woodard (66)

With both 2016 starters returning at end, the 2017 campaign will be a true test of what Fowler Jr and Ngakoue are made of. Both failed to reach double digit sacks last year, as Fowler Jr led DE's with 7.0 and Ngakoue with just 4.5. They have a lot of time and room to grow, but we need some progress.

Defensive Tackle:
1. Malik Jackson (81)
2. Roy Miller III (76)
3. Sen'Derrick Marks (74)
4. Sheldon Day (72)
5. Michael Bennett (67)

Former Superbowl Champion, Malik Jackson, had a pretty poor 2016 season after all the hype he got coming from Denver. Jackson tied rookie DE Yannick Ngakoue with 4.5 sacks, and was our third best tackler, but failed to make big impact plays. Roy Miller III returns after missing the 2016 season completely, taking the starting job from Sen'Derrick Marks, who led the team in sacks with 7.5 last season. If Miller is unable to perform, Marks will absolutely step back into the starting role. Sheldon Day remains at bay, patiently waiting for his opportunity.

Middle Linebacker:
1. Paul Posluszny (81)
2. (R) Raekwon McMillan (66)
3. Hayes Pullard III (68)

Leading interceptor, and second in tackles, Posluszny returns as the defensive captain for 2017 at Middle Linebacker. At 32, he regressed 3 points going from an 84 to an 81 during the offseason, but he remains fully capable of handling the starting job. Behind him lies the rookie from Ohio State, Raekwon McMillan who was a bit of a draft bust.

Outside Linebacker:
1. Telvin Smith (84)
2. Myles Jack (83)
3. Dan Skuta (74)
4. Sean Porter (70)

Leading tackler, fifth best interceptor and sacker, Telvin Smith comes into 2017 hungry for more. He is a big hitter and completely capable of making big plays to change the course of the game. Myles Jack will start on the other side, we hope to see more production from him as he was nearly non-existent on the stat sheet in 2016.

Cornerback:
1. Jalen Ramsey (87)
2. Prince Amukamara (81)
3. Doran Grant (70)
4. (R) Cole Luke (64)
5. John Johnson (66)

Jalen Ramsey is one of the best young corners in the game & will look to shut down each team's best wide out this season. Newly resigned Prince Amukamara will protect the other side, with the silent threat of Doran Grant looming in the nickel. Grant was electric last season as he tallied 4 INT's, good for best of all DB's. Rookie Cole Luke will get playing time in certain formations.

Safety:
1. Johnathan Cyprien (83)
2. (R) Jabrill Peppers (80)
3. Tashaun Gipson (76)
4. (R) Marcus Maye (71)
5. (R) Tony Conner (71)
6. James Sample (71)

Cyprien landed a solid contract at the end of the 2016 season, bringing him back to start for 2017. Heisman candidate, first overall Jaguars selection, rookie Jabrill Peppers enters the 2017 season starting at Free Safety. Peppers showed incredible versatility in college and will be vital to stopping both the air and ground game. Gipson takes a back seat this season, landing himself on the trade block. Behind him sits Florida rookie, Marcus Maye, and Ole Miss rookie, Tony Conner. Both will see limited playing time but will be vital for depth.

Special Teams:
K. Jason Myers (79)
P. Brad Nortman (83)
KR/PR. (R) Nick Chubb (90)

Jason Myers was all I needed and more last season as he split the uprights for a game winner and proved to be reliable. Georgia rookie, Nick Chubb, will start as our returner.

[saintrules]

Week 1 Jaguars (0-0) vs. Cincinnati Bengals (0-0)
- Score: 14-26 Loss
- Game MVP: Giovani Bernard (33 attempts, 153 yards)
- Game Thoughts: Starting off the 2017 season with a loss is tough, I have to admit. However, through the bad I will find the good, so let's start with that. After a quieter 2016 season, Dante Fowler Jr (11 tackles, 2.0 sacks), led both teams and tackles and recorded the only two sacks on the day. He was nasty on the end and proved he is here to play this season. Allen Hurns (6 catches, 117 yards, 1 TD) had a very solid day, while Julius Thomas (8 catches, 80 yards) led the team in receptions. Now with the bad, Blake Bortles (20/37, 278 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT) turned the ball over at a critical point in the redzone & outclassed by opposing QB, Andy Dalton (15/21, 236 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT). Dalton didn't need to throw as much as Bortles as Game MVP, Giovani Bernard racked up 153 yards on the ground. TJ Yeldon (10 attempts, 17 yards, 4 catches, 52 yards, 1 TD) was way too quiet on the ground, though he did record six through the air. We start this season 0-1, time to regroup in Week 2.

Week 2 Jaguars (0-1) vs. Arizona Cardinals (1-0)
- Score 28-23 Win
- Game MVP: Allen Robinson (6 catches, 184 yards, 1 TD)
- Game Thoughts: Atta boy Jags, way to recover after Week 1! The Cards are a great team with a ton of playmakers on both sides of the ball, but at the end of the day, we made the plays necessary for the W. Allen Robinson had a monster day, 16 yards shy of a 200 yard performance. Blake Bortles (20/28, 338 yards, 3 TD) came to absolutely play today as he looked like a top tier franchise guy. Julius Thomas (10 catches, 97 yards, 2 TD) was the main target from Bortles who already has 18 receptions through two games this season, adding his first two scores on the year. TJ Yeldon (18 attempts, 74 yards) was quiet again, so I decided to stick in Chris Ivory (11 attempts, 55 yards, 1 TD) and it paid off. Ivory will be our starting back moving forward due to his ability on the ground. Dante Fowler Jr (4 tackles, 2.0 sacks) had another FANTASTIC day getting after Ryan Fitzpatrick (25/45, 271 yards) twice and pressuring him many more times. The Jags run defense had another tough outing, as David Johnson (28 attempts, 123 yards, 2 TD) had a great performance. Fortunately, we our air defense held strong and kept Larry Fitzgerald (6 catches, 80 yards), rookie Jake Butt (6 catches, 78 yards), and Kenny Golladay (5 catches, 46 yards) relatively quiet. On to Week 3!

Week 3 Jaguars (1-1) vs. Houston Texans (1-1)
- Score: 36-30 (OT) Win
- Game MVP: Rashad Green Sr (2 catches, 97 yards, TD)
- Game Thoughts: What a game, what a game! Let me lay this out. Jags are up 30-27 with a minute to go in the 4th quarter. Brock Osweiler (27/48, 274 yards, 3 TD, 2 INT) leads his Texans down the field, eventually finding C.J. Fiedorowicz (6 catches, 50 yards, 2 TD) in the endzone as time expires to send it to overtime! After winning the toss, the Jags got the ball and on the second play Bortles (30/45, 364 yards, 3 TD, 1 INT) found Rashad Green Sr for a 75 yard bomb down the left sideline to win it! Incredible resiliency from our Jags today, improving us to 2-1 and 1-0 in the AFC South. Chris Ivory (22 attempts, 85 yards, 1 TD) contributed his second rushing TD on the season, doubling what he had in 2016. Allen Hurns (8 catches, 75 yards), led the team in receptions, but it was Marqise Lee (7 catches, 55 yards, 2 TD) who really came to play in this one. Lee is a very underrated receiver for us, as he is critical to our passing attack. On the defensive side, we finally held a run game as Alfred Blue (13 attempts, 50 yards) was very quiet. Rookie Jabrill Peppers (6 tackles, 1 INT) recorded his first career INT and Doran Grant (6 tackles, 1 INT) also snagged one off Osweiler. Sacks were plentiful today as Jadeveon Clowney (7 tackes, 1 TFL, 1.5 sacks) led the charge with Malik Jackson (2 tackles, 1.0 sacks), Yannick Ngakoue (2 tackles, 1.0 sacks), Telvin Smith (6 tackles, 0.5 sacks), and Doran Grant recording their first in 2017.

Week 4 Jaguars (2-1) vs. Cleveland Browns (2-1)
- Score: 24-27 Loss
- Game MVP: Josh Evans (6 tackles, 2 Fumble Recoveries, 2 TD)
- Game Thoughts: If Week 3 seemed crazy, just wait until this one. In Week 4 the Jags faced off against Notre Dame rookie, DeShone Kizer (19/32, 246 yards, 1 TD, 2 INT) and the much improved Cleveland Browns. On two occasions, the Jags lined up to kick field goals, eventually being blocked and returned for TD's by Josh Evans, unreal. The madness did not end there, however, as DeShone Kizer led his Browns down the field with one minute left, eventually finding Corey Coleman (4 catches, 67 yards, 1 TD) diving in the endzone for a one handed game winning TD as time expired! This game was insane, to say the least, and the Browns are absolutely a threat in their division this season as they have playmakers all over the field. Bortles (19/35, 230 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT, 6 attempts, 19 yards, 1 TD) did not have a whole lot of success against the Browns' secondary, only hooking up with Marqise Lee (4 catches, 34 yards, 1 TD) for a score and driving one in himself. Allen Robinson (6 catches, 74 yards) and Julius Thomas (6 catches, 88 yards) led the team in receptions, but were unable to find the endzone. Chris Ivory (18 attempts, 92 yards, 1 TD) scored his third rushing TD on the season, making it three games straight. The Jags were able to hold off the Browns' ground game, limiting Isaiah Crowell (23 attempts, 92 yards). Both teams got after the QB well, recording sacks on the game, one each coming from Jamie Collins Sr (3 tackles, 1.0 sacks), Carl Nassib (6 tackles, 1.0 sacks), Telvin Smith (7 tackles, 1.0 sacks, 1 INT), Emmanuel Ogbah (4 tackles, 1.0 sacks), and Yannick Ngakoue (4 tackles, 1.0 sacks). Dante Fowler Jr (3 tackles, 0.5 sacks) and Malik Jackson (6 tackles, 0.5 sacks) added to the sack stats, Fowler Jr leads the team with 4.5 sacks through 4 games this season.

[saintrules]

Below are the 2017 NFL Standings heading into Week 5:

AFC North
1. (#1) Cincinnati Bengals (3-0)
2. (#7) Cleveland Browns (3-1)
3. (#9) Baltimore Ravens (2-1)
4. (#11) Pittsburgh Steelers (2-2)

With no team under .500 & all 4 nearly in the top 10 NFL rankings, the AFC North is the hardest division thus far for 2017. Led by the undefeated Bengals, the North boasts a loaded Browns team, and two always tough franchise's in the Ravens & Steelers. I would not be surprised if we find one or possibly two Wild Card teams in this group.

AFC South
1. (#17) Jacksonville Jaguars (2-2)
2. (#18) Indianapolis Colts (2-2)
3. (#19) Tennessee Titans (2-2)
4. (#25) Houston Texans (1-3)

Home sweet, home. We currently lead our wide open division at 2-2, tied with the Colts & Titans. I took a look at the injury list and the Colts are blasted with injuries to starting QB Andrew Luck & backup QB Matt Cassel. I know they've got LSU rookie sensation Leonard Fournette, but in a passing league they need Luck back. Mariota and Tennessee started off last year 5-2 but lost their remaining schedule landing them 5-11, they are reloaded and hungry this year. Houston has had a tough time stopping anything on defense, ranked #32 in the NFL.

AFC East
1. (#5) New England Patriots (3-1)
2. (#6) Buffalo Bills (3-1)
3. (#10) New York Jets (2-1-1)
4. (#31) Miami Dolphins (0-3-1)

The post Tom Brady era is officially underway in New England as Jimmy Garappolo leads the Pats in 2017. What's new, they are still at the top of their game. Poised to make another run at the Superbowl, the Pats have the talent to do so. Buffalo wants a repeat of the 2016 regular season, if not better, to get into the playoffs and win some hardware. The Jets nearly missed the playoffs last season, but will have another tough time getting in with the Pats and Bills in front of them. Miami continues it's 2016 woes.

AFC West
1. (#20) Denver Broncos (2-2)
2. (#21) Oakland Raiders (2-2)
3. (#24) Kansas City Chiefs (1-3)
4. (#27) San Diego Chargers (1-3)

The West is pretty open so far with all four teams bringing solid teams into 2017. The Chargers and Raiders were big surprises in 2016, specifically San Diego who made it to the AFC Championship. Like the North, any of one these teams can be a contender.

NFC North
1. (#12) Chicago Bears (2-2)
2. (#13) Detroit Lions (2-2)
3. (#15) Green Bay Packers (2-2)
4. (#26) Minnesota Vikings (1-3)

The NFC North was definitely down last year, as Minnesota was the sole playoff team and was dispatched in the divisional round. With a couple great draft picks coming into the division, such as: OLB Ryan Anderson (81), DT Malik McDowell (81), CB Gareon Conley (79), Juju Smith-Schuster (76), and D'Onta Foreman (70), the North has some solid young talent to build off of.

NFC South
1. (#3) Atlanta Falcons (3-1)
2. (#14) New Orleans Saints (2-2)
3. (#29) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-3)
4. (#30) Carolina Panthers (1-3)

The Saints were a big surprise in 2016 as they won their division over the Falcons. Brees and company look to repeat that performance in 2017, but it will be very difficult against the always potent Falcons offense. Tampa Bay and Carolina continue their 2016 struggles and rebuild.

NFC East
1. (#2) Dallas Cowboys (3-0)
2. (#4) Philadelphia Eagles (3-1)
3. (#22) New York Giants (2-2)
4. (#23) Washington Redskins (2-2)

The 2016 Superbowl Champion Dallas Cowboys are off to a great start in 2017. They currently hold the #1 ranked defense & #2 ranked offense in the NFL, a true dual threat with the ability to win it all yet again. The Eagles, Giants, and Redskins, all have some good talent, but with such a rock solid team leading the division it's likely their sights will be on a Wild Card spot.

NFC West
1. (#8) Arizona Cardinals (3-1)
2. (#16) Seattle Seahawks (2-2)
3. (#28) Los Angeles Rams (1-3)
4. (#32) San Francisco 49ers (0-3)

With the #1 ranked offense and top 10 ranked defense in the NFL, the Cards have the tools on both sides of the ball to compete for some hardware in 2017. After a very disappointing 2016 campaign, it's a must win year for them. Their challenge will come in the form of a solid Seahawks squad who lost in last year's divisional round. Los Angeles and San Francisco are having troubles on both sides of the ball, led by two young QB's in Jared Goff and rookie Patrick Mahomes.

[saintrules]

Week 6 Jaguars (2-2) vs. Buffalo Bills (3-1)
- Score: 31-21 Win
- Game MVP: Julius Thomas (8 catches, 132 yards, 1 TD)
- Game Thoughts: Coming into Week 5, we needed a big win to help propel us to 1st in the AFC South over Indy & Tennessee. Things started out for the worst as we lined up for an early FG attempt, only to have it blocked and returned for a TD, the third time it has happened in the past two weeks. We rallied back shortly after that, finally hitting a FG, then pouring it on with a couple TD's. Blake Bortles (28/42, 340 yards, 3 TD, 1 INT) had another fantastic outing, recording his third 300+ yard performance in five games. His main go-to was none other than Game MVP, Julius Thomas, who once again led everyone in receptions, adding 132 yards to his season with a TD. Thomas is quickly becoming not only one of the most dynamic TE's in the league, but receivers all together. Speaking of receivers, Allen Robinson (1 catch, 10 yards) was injured & will be sidelined for 3 weeks, a big loss, but thankfully not season ending. Rashad Greene Sr (6 catches, 64 yards) stepped in for Robinson, while Marqise Lee (5 catches, 45 yards, 1 TD) continued his great season. On the ground, I decided to give a majority of touches to Georgia rookie, Nick Chubb (17 attempts, 53 yards, 2 catches, 20 yards, 1 TD). It was obvious Chubb is not quite ready to take any majority load, but that is quite alright as Chris Ivory (10 attempts, 38 yards) can still handle the starting job. Chubb did, however, score his first career TD on a redzone screen play to net 6. With solid speed, Chubb will be utilized for screen & dump off plays like TJ Yeldon is. Our defense held Tyrod Taylor (18/34, 222 yards, 2 TD) to a mild outing, limiting his completion percentage by pressuring him often. Paul Posluszny (12 tackles, 1.0 sacks), Dante Fowler Jr (4 tackles, 1.0 sacks), Sen'Derrick Marks (2 tackles, 0.5 sacks), and Malik Jackson (6 tackles, 0.5 sacks) all got after Taylor nicely, a big contribution to the win.

[saintrules]

Below I have listed the Jaguars up for 2017 contract negotiations and my interest level on resigning them. The first category, Highly Interested, means I will pursue signing them at all costs within a realistic manner. The second category, On the Fence, means I am uncertain on whether or not I will pursue them & their play over the next few weeks will bring me to a conclusion. The final category, Let Him Walk, speaks for itself & I won't be pursuing them. All offers include signing bonus.

Highly Interested

WR Allen Robinson (90)
- Age: 24
- Development: Quick
- Fair Offer: 44 Million Over 4 Years
- Thoughts: Allen Robinson is our number one priority this offseason. His young age, quick development, playmaking abilities, and stud talent, make him one of the best receivers in the entire league. I intend to make Allen Robinson a Jag for life.

OLB Telvin Smith (84)
- Age: 26
- Development: Normal
- Fair Offer: 52 Million Over 6 Years
- Thoughts: With a fair offer spanning over the course of 6 years, it's likely Telvin Smith is going to be a Jag for life if this deal goes through. Telvin racked up 135 tackles last season, leading the Jags, and provided some solid sacks and INT's to his resume. He is a big hitting outside guy who can stop both the air and ground game, let's sign him.

C Brandon Linder (84)
- Age: 25
- Development: Normal
- Fair Offer: 36 Million Over 5 Years
- Thoughts: Linder is our only option at Center at the moment and we don't need much else. He is not an elite lineman, but at an 84 overall he will get the job done and that's all we can ask for. 5 years secures him for the longhaul, let's do it.

QB Blake Bortles (82)
- Age: 25
- Development: Quick
- Fair Offer: 62 Million Over 4 Years
- Thoughts: While there have been some shaky games over the last 2 seasons, Bortles for the most part has been fantastic. He is the leader of our offense & the main weapon to feed our electric receivers. He will be resigned or tagged with the franchise, either way Bortles is our guy.

K Jason Myers (80)
- Age: 26
- Development: Normal
- Fair Offer: 22 Million Over 5 Years
- Thoughts: I don't feel like finding another kicker, and Myers has been solid for us.

WR Marqise Lee (78)
- Age: 25
- Development: Normal
- Fair Offer: 15 Million Over 3 Years
- Thoughts: Marqise Lee, as aforementioned, is one of the most underrated players on this Jags team. Last season he was third best in receptions, yards, and TD's on the Jags, and this season he is having a breakout year. It's vital for us to resign Lee to maintain our air dominance.

On the Fence

MLB Paul Posluszny (81)
- Age: 32
- Development: Normal
- Fair Offer: 9 Million Over 2 Years
- Thoughts: With the trade deadline approaching I need to make a decision on Posluszny. He is 32, one of our best tacklers, but is regressing quickly. He has already gone from an 84 last season to an 81, and I am concerned it will only dip greater in 2018-2019. We don't have any depth at MLB, so if we ended up trading him, we would likely need to sign a FA at MLB since rookie Raekwon McMillan (66) is not starting material. This is a big decision that can change the course of our defense. I am slightly leaning on resigning and retaining him, as a regressing Posluszny is better than a mid-low 70's FA.

OG Chris Reed (68)
- Age: 25
- Development: Normal
- Fair Offer: 960K Over 1 Year
- Thoughts: Chris Reed can backup for Luke Joeckel (77) & A.J. Cann (77), he is cheep and can get the job done if needed.

Let Him Walk

OG Luke Bowanko (77)
- Age: 26
- Development: Normal
- Fair Offer: 7 Million Over 3 Years
- Thoughts: Bowanko is our current backup at guard, but at a 77 overall he is just hanging out there. Bowanko will ride the trade block & if he isn't moved by the deadline we will let him go.

DT Sen'Derrick Marks (74)
- Age: 30
- Development: Normal
- Fair Offer: 5 Million Over 1 Year
- Thoughts: Marks has resumed starting duties for Roy Miller III (76), who has been practically non-existent this 2017 season. Marks led the team with 7.5 sacks in 2016, but as he is aging we will see him regress. Over the next few weeks I will see if we get offers on Marks, but this will likely be his last season as a Jag if we can't move him. Sheldon Day (72) is primed to take the starting job.

OLB Sean Porter (72)
- Age: 26
- Development: Normal
- Fair Offer: 4 Million Over 2 Years
- Thoughts: Sean Porter is fourth in line behind Telvin Smith (84), Myles Jack (83), and Dan Skuta (74). There is no immediate need to retain Porter.

DE Chris Smith (70)
- Age: 25
- Development: Normal
- Fair Offer: 1 Million Over 1 Year
- Thoughts: Smith is also fourth in line behind a young group of defensive ends, no need to retain him.

QB Chad Henne (67)
- Age: 32
- Development: Normal
- Fair Offer: 3.5 Million Over 1 Year
- Thoughts: Brandon Allen (65) will be our main backup at QB, Chad Henne can take a walk.

CB Josh Johnson (66)
- Age: 26
- Development: Normal
- Fair Offer: 2 Million Over 1 Year
- Thoughts: With Doran Grant (70) & rookie Cole Luke (64) in the picture, there's no need for another CB.