Jacksonville Jaguars Pro Football Focus 2013 Review – Guard and Center
By Daniel Lago
Sep 30, 2012; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars guard Uche Nwaneri (77) runs out of the smoke before a game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Everbank Field. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports
With free agency on the horizon, it is as good a time as any to take an in-depth look at the performance of each position group on the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2013. As a standard metric to start the conversation, Pro Football Focus grades were used to get an initial look at how each player fared in the 2013 regular season. Specific information about how Pro Football Focus comes up with their grades is available in their FAQ.
Today we take a look at the interior offensive line, a position group that will likely be overhauled extensively this offseason.
| Snaps | Sacks | Hits | Hurries | Pass Block | Run Block | Overall | NFL Ranking | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brad Meester | 1082 | 5 | 1 | 13 | 0.9 | -11.8 | -11.2 | 30 (out of 35) |
| Uche Nwaneri | 1082 | 4 | 5 | 18 | 6.4 | -10.4 | -0.3 | 65 (out of 144) |
| Will Rackley | 666 | 4 | 7 | 19 | -13.6 | -17.5 | -32.7 | 142 (out of 144) |
| Mike Brewster | 230 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1.1 | -6.2 | -4 | 97 (out of 144) |
| Jacques McClendon | 188 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3.4 | -4.2 | -0.9 | 72 (out of 144) |
The Jaguars will be losing two players who played every offensive snap in 2013 in center Brad Meester (retirement) and right guard Uche Nwaneri (released). While neither player was an elite or high-level talent at their position, they provided serviceable play and some much needed experience to the offensive line.
The left guard position was a complete mess as 3 players rotated in and out throughout the year. Will Rackley was an abject disaster at left guard and might have been the worst offensive lineman in the entire NFL in 2013. Finding an upgrade over him shouldn’t take too much effort. Mike Brewster is a little small, but he was fairly competent and could contribute if he comes back healthy. Jacques McClendon also provided decent play and will probably be brought back at his low price.
The Jaguars should and will be investing heavily in the 2014 draft to replenish the interior offensive line. They need depth in addition to starters, especially if they want to protect whichever young quarterback they bring in next year.
2013 Position Grade, Guard/Center- D
-Daniel Lago
Yell at me on Twitter @dlago89