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2015 NFL Preview: Jacksonville Jaguars

2014 Record: 3-13

2015 Non Division Schedule:  AFC East, NFC South, San Diego, and Baltimore

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2014 in Review:   The Jaguars had a plan last season.  They were going to use veteran quarterback Chad Henne as their bridge to rookie Blake Bortles.  As Mike Tyson once said, “Everybody has a plan until they get punched in the face.”  That’s exactly what happened to the Jags last season, as they lost their first four games by 17, 31, 27, and 19.  By then the season was over, and the rest of the campaign was to get as many reps for Bortles as possible.  Bortles experienced many growing pains, and turned the ball over quite a bit.  His 17 interceptions were one behind the league leader, but his numbers got better as the season went on.  Fifteen of those interceptions were thrown in his first nine games, and Jacksonville went 1-8 in that span.  The Jags went 2-3 in the final five games, and Bortles only had two interceptions in those contests.  Obviously ball security is important, and Bortles made strides as the season went along in that department.

2015 Free Agency:   Jacksonville was very active in free agency, with their biggest signing being Tight End Julius Thomas.  The Jags made Thomas a priority and made him the highest paid tight end in the league with a five year 46 million dollar contract ($24 million guaranteed).  They signed Jeremy Parnell to bolster the offensive line.  The Jags OL was one of the worst in the NFL last year, leading to Bortles’ being sacked a league leading 55 times.  They also signed Jared Odrick away from Miami, who was not retained after Miami signed Ndamukong Suh.  Odrick singed for five years and 42.5 million and is slated to start as the Left Defensive End this season.

2015 Draft:  The Jaguars draft is tough to grade.  Opposite Odrick was supposed to be Dante Fowler Jr out of Florida, but Fowler tore his ACL in his first professional workout and is out for the year.  Second round pick T.J. Yeldon and third round pick A.J. Cann are expected to push the starters at running back and Guard, respectively.

Player on the Hot Seat:  Toby Gerhart, Running back.  Gerhart parlayed four years of being a change of pace back in Minnesota into a 3 year, $10.5 million contract from the Jags last offseason.  Gerhart struggled mightily as the lead back, and lost his job to former Michigan Quarterback Denard Robinson midway through the season.  Gerhardt is the de-facto lead back in Jacksonville as training camps approach, but nothing is guaranteed.  He will need to earn his job, and may even need to earn a roster spot as the preseason moves on.

 

Players you want on your fantasy team:  I’m not going to lie; there aren’t many sexy players for your fantasy team in Jacksonville.  Bortles ceiling this year is competent quarterback.  Gerhardt’s ceiling is competent running back.  Neither is worth drafting.  I would take a flier on T.J. Yeldon.  He should be the man in Jacksonville by week five.  Stash him late and hope for the best.  Julius Thomas will be fine as a low-end TE 1.  You can get some good WR bye week production out of Allen Robinson and/or Allen Hurns, but neither should be your every week starter unless you’re in a 20 team league.

Season Prediction:  2015 will not be a great year for Jacksonville, but that’s not what 2015 is about.  Last year the Jaguars were outscored by 163 points en route to a 3-13 record.  The official SFTB prediction for 2015 is the same, 3-13, but progress will be made.  Get last year’s blowouts to be this years close losses, and then build on that in 2016.

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