09-09-2016, 10:22 PM
|
#8
|
MVP
|
Re: On The Prowl | Jacksonville Jaguars Football
2016 NFL Season Preview
2016
http://walterfootball.com/offseason2...jpbKO3TqkDU.99
Jacksonville Jaguars
2016 Jacksonville Jaguars Defense:
Veteran Additions:
RB Chris Ivory, OT Kelvin Beachum, OT Jeff Linkenbach, G Mackenzy Bernadeau, DE/DT Malik Jackson, CB Prince Amukamara, S Tashaun Gipson, P Brad Nortman.
Early Draft Picks:
CB Jalen Ramsey, LB Myles Jack, DE/OLB Yannick Ngakoue, DT Sheldon Day. Jaguars Rookie Forecast
Offseason Losses:
RB Toby Gerhart, G Zane Beadles, C Stefen Wisniewski, DE Chris Clemons, S Sergio Brown, P Bryan Anger.
As mentioned earlier, Bortles won't have to force the issue in second halves of games if his defense improves and allows him to actually function with a lead consistently. Based on the moves the front office made this offseason, Jacksonville's stop unit will be much better than it was in 2015.
The big acquisition was No. 5 overall pick Jalen Ramsey. Thanks to the Cowboys' incompetence in terms of thinking that non-elite running backs are still worth top-five selections, Ramsey, arguably the top prospect in the 2016 class, fell right into Jacksonville's lap. Dallas even acknowledged that Ramsey would erase half the field - the team inexplicably deemed that unimportant because teams would just throw away from Ramsey - so the Jaguars' secondary improved markedly because of just one horrible decision. This was crucial, as Jacksonville's defensive backfield was an abomination last year.
Even without Ramsey, Jacksonville's secondary would've been better. The team made two upgrades in free agency. The first was Prince Amukamara, formerly of the Giants. Amukamara hasn't been able to stay healthy - he has missed 13 games the past two years - but he's been an effective player when on the field. He's projected to start in the slot, with Ramsey and Davon House getting the nod for the outside jobs. The mediocre House isn't a huge liability, but Jacksonville could do much better at the position.
The other upgrade was Tashaun Gipson, who was signed away from the Browns. Gipson is one of the better safeties in the NFL, and he's the sort of ball-hawking play-maker Jacksonville's secondary needed. Gipson will start next to John Cyprien, who has been a major weakness. However, perhaps the former second-round prospect will improve with much better talent around him.
The Jaguars made upgrades via free agency on their defensive line as well, giving former Bronco Malik Jackson a $90 million contract. Jackson isn't worth that sort of money, but he's a talented defensive end who will upgrade both the run defense and the pass rush. He'll start across from Dante Fowler, the team's first-round selection in 2015. Fowler didn't play at all as a rookie because of a torn ACL, but he'll also bolster the team's ability to put heavy heat on opposing quarterbacks.
No interior players were added, but that wasn't necessary. Roy Miller, Sen'Derrick Marks and Jared Odrick form a great trio. Marks is the best pass-rusher of the bunch, but played in just four games this past season because of torn triceps. Miller is a fierce run-stuffer, while Odrick is a jack-of-all-trades skilled player.
Moving on to the linebackers, much like the first round, a talented player dropped into Jacksonville's lap in the second frame. Myles Jack, projected to be a top-15 selection, dropped a whole round because teams were scared that he would need microfracture surgery. He was cleared of that going into the second day of the draft, so Jacksonville clearly obtained a steal. Had Jack not been dealing with an injured knee, he might have been the third-overall pick in the entire draft, and he certainly wouldn't have fallen out of the top five. It's unclear when he'll be able to play, but he'll be a high-impact play-maker when he takes the field. The Jaguars will need him to do so soon because Paul Posluszny has become a big liability. Posluszny is currently slated to start next to Telvin Smith and Dan Skuta, both of whom were just average last year.
Read more at http://walterfootball.com/offseason2...jpbKO3TqkDU.99
|
|
|