2016 Lions Opponents: Did They Improve?
By Al Stahl
Jacksonville Jaguars
Jacksonville has been widely praised for the moves they made this offseason. But how many of those moves will impact the team in 2016?
The offense:
| 2015 Offensive Starters | Proj. 2016 O Starters | |||
| Pos. | Player | Pos. | Player | |
| LT | Luke Joeckel | LT | Kelvin Beachum | |
| LG | Zane Beadles | LG | Mackenzy Bernadeau | |
| C | Stefen Wisniewski | C | Brandon Linder | |
| RG | A.J. Cann | RG | A.J. Cann | |
| RT | Jermey Parnell | RT | Jermey Parnell | |
| TE | Marcedes Lewis | TE | Julius Thomas | |
| WR | Allen Robinson | WR | Allen Robinson | |
| WR | Allen Hurns | WR | Allen Hurns | |
| WR | Marqise Lee | WR | Marqise Lee | |
| RB | T.J. Yeldon | RB | T.J. Yeldon | |
| QB | Blake Bortles | QB | Blake Bortles |
The Jaguars signed T Kelvin Beachum from Pittsburgh in free agency along with G Mackenzy Bernadeau from Dallas. The two linemen should compete for starting positions up front and provide solid depth if they don’t earn the starting spots. At center, Wisniewski is gone, replaced by OG turned C Brandon Linder. At best, the offensive line will be significantly upgraded. At worst, the unit as a whole will have a lot more depth.
As for the rest of the offense, Julius Thomas wasn’t involved enough last year, in part due to injury. This year, hopefully he can take on a bigger role in an offense that produced well without him.
So how does the Jags’ defense look?
| 2015 Defensive Starters | Proj. 2016 D Starters | |||
| Pos. | Player | Pos. | Player | |
| DE | Jared Odrick | DE | Jared Odrick | |
| DT | Abry Jones | DT | Sen’Derrick Marks | |
| DT | Roy Miller | DT | Malik Jackson | |
| DE | Ryan Davis | DE | Dante Fowler | |
| OLB | Telvin Smith | OLB | Telvin Smith | |
| MLB | Paul Posluszny | MLB | Paul Posluszny | |
| OLB | Dan Skuta | OLB | Myles Jack | |
| CB | Dwayne Gratz | CB | Prince Amukamara | |
| FS | Sergio Brown | FS | Tashaun Gipson | |
| SS | Johnathan Cyprien | SS | Johnathan Cyprien | |
| CB | Davon House | CB | Jalen Ramsey |
Jacksonville could have as many as seven new starters on defense. The high turnover is in part due to injuries. DE Dante Fowler blew out his knee in OTAs last year, Sen’Derrick Marks was hurt for almost all of last season after tearing a ligament in his knee in the last game of the 2014 season, and the front office was able to grab Myles Jack in the second round of the draft because of concern over a knee injury.
In addition to those three joining the starting lineup, Jacksonville also added CB Jalen Ramsey through the draft, FA S Tashaun Gipson from Cleveland, and CB Prince Amukamara from the Giants. Amukamara will fight it out with Davon House to see who tops the depth chart, but the secondary, long considered Jacksonville’s biggest deficiency, has received quite the makeover.
Add in the NFL’s biggest free agency signing in Malik Jackson, and it’s clear that the defense in Duval is heading places.
Verdict
Offensively, Jacksonville added offensive line help for a young corps of skill position players that are just as talented as most teams. On defense, head coach Gus Bradley has put together the makings of a really good unit that could be good for years to come. This year might be a little early to expect big gains, but Bradley can’t afford to wait on players to develop. His seat gets warmer every week. For a squad that went 5-11 last season, Jacksonville is definitely on the rise. They should be close to a .500 team this year.
Lions’ chances for a home victory: 73%
Next: Up Next: Tennessee Titans