Between now and the end of August, TGS will offer up a quick snapshot of every NFL team heading into the 2016 regular season. Today, the Jacksonville Jaguars.
2015 in a nutshell: Despite a breakout season from the talented offense, the Jags surrender 28 points a game on D and finish with five or fewer wins for the fifth straight year.
Why 2016 could be different: Blake Bortles, Allen Robinson, Allen Hurns and T.J. Yeldon are one year older, and now they have Malik Jackson, Prince Amukamara and Tashaun Gipson on defense.
Major additions: They spent big bucks on Jackson, Amukamara and Gipson while also bringing in offensive linemen Mackenzy Bernadeau and Kelvin Beachum, both of whom could start. Top 2015 pick Dante Fowler Jr. is also ready to make his debut after missing his rookie season, while top 2016 pick Jalen Ramsey should start from the get-go at corner.
Major losses: They lost center Stefen Wisniewski, but Bernadeau and 2014 third-rounder Brandon Linder should handle things. So yeah, they’ve gained a lot more than they’ve lost.
Breakout watch: Fowler is the obvious candidate in his delayed first year, but it’ll be interesting to see if Jackson can live up to that massive new contract and become a superstar in 2016.
Position to watch: Yeldon was good, not great, in his rookie season, averaging 4.1 yards per carry. Now, he’s got company, with the veteran Ivory joining the backfield on a five-year, $32 million contract. The 28-year-old averaged 4.3 yards per carry and had over 1,000 yards last year with the New York Jets, so look for both to get plenty of reps behind Bortles. The Jags had the sixth-worst running game in the league last year, so they need a boost.
Prediction: The Jags are now the second-best team in the AFC South, and they should be ready to post a winning record in 2016. Not sure if that’ll be enough to win the division or get to the playoffs, but they’ll be in contention this season.
