The NFL is back, and Sportsnet is breaking down everything you need to know about each of the 32 teams—including why you should or shouldn’t be rooting for them this season—in the month leading up to kickoff on Thursday, Sept. 10. Today, the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Last year’s record: 3-13
Head coach: Gus Bradley
Core players: Blake Bortles (QB), Julius Thomas (TE), Allen Robinson (WR), Allen Hurns (WR)
2015 is about… Five or more wins. Blake Bortles didn’t have the spectacular rookie season that some thought he would have, but it was something for the Jags to build on. Unfortunately for Jacksonville, their re-build has been so long in the process—the team has finished with four wins or fewer the past three seasons. It won’t be easy, but that’s got to end. A goal of five wins sounds reasonable enough and will certainly be an improvement over recent years.
They lost… Cecil Shorts (WR). While he was a bundle of potential, he never could seem to reach it in Jacksonville. So this won’t hurt all that much. Losing 2015 third-overall pick Dante Fowler (DE) for the season due to an ACL tear, however, hurts a lot more. The six-foot-three defensive end from Florida was projected to be a strong pass rusher for Jacksonville.
Yeah, but they got… Julius Thomas (TE), Bernard Pierce (RB) and T.J. Yeldon (RB). The Jaguars’ big splash in free agency was locking up free-agent tight end Julius Thomas to a five-year deal. Thomas is coming off two huge seasons with the Denver Broncos, hauling in 12 touchdowns in each. The big question, however, is just how much of his production was a result of having Peyton Manning throw him the ball? Pierce never got much of a fair shake in Baltimore so he should get some opportunity with Jaguars, while Yeldon was Jacksonville’s second-round pick from this year’s draft—he’s a dynamic back who most figure to be the team’s starter.
Growing from within: The rookie wide receiver duo of Robinson and Hurns showed flashes of brilliance last season and after another training camp of working with Bortles the pair’s productivity should only increase. Both have the ability to burn guys at the line of scrimmage and to go up and compete for jump balls. The Jaguars could really have something on their hands if these two continue to develop. Speaking of Hurns, here’s his first career receiving TD (and Bortles’s first passing one) from Week 1 of the 2014 season:
Why this team? So you can be the NFL’s equivalent of a hipster. It often feels like absolutely no one likes the Jaguars, so why not start supporting them now just to be different? Outside of that, the team has some intriguing skill players that may translate into something substantial.
Why not? Because this is the Jaguars we’re talking about here. Outside of a surprisingly fast start for an expansion franchise—they made the conference finals in 1996 in their second year en route to four consecutive playoff appearances—they haven’t done much of note since. In fact, they’ve won only 14 games in the last four years combined. Unless you live in Northern Florida, there’s very little reason to cheer for this team.
Perfect for fans of… Teams forever stuck in the doldrums. Every NFL team—okay, maybe not the Patriots, at least not lately—has a bad run now and then. But the Jaguars have been stuck in a kind of purgatory for far too long now.
How much hope? 4/10. Point: Their skill players have game-breaking potential and Bortles showed flashes of good quarterback play. Counterpoint: They’re never really in games long enough to allow their skill guys to take over, and every young quarterback shows flashes—besides, it’s still an unknown if he can do it consistently. Bottom line: There’s a sliver of hope with this team where, given some calls and bounces, they could end up with five or six wins. That’s where the hope dissipates, though. This team still isn’t very good.
Will you be mocked for front-running? No, but you’ll definitely be mocked. Just comes with the territory of 14 wins in four years. (Note: That’s three wins fewer than Tampa Bay over the same span. It’s five fewer than Oakland. It’s six fewer than Cleveland!) (Also note: This is just a sampling of what you’re in for, prospective Jacksonville fan.)
A Meme to Remember: Have mercy, NFL—they’re just Jaguars.
