(h/t) mtiller wildanimalphotos.co.uk

Bleacher Report comes out with “what to watch for” at OTAs

Neither Blaine Gabbert nor Chad Henne were able to secure the Jaguars’ starting quarterback role last season, which forced general manager David Caldwell to add competition before the offseason workouts.

The quarterback battle may be the most exciting one to watch, there is no doubt it’s the most important. The team’s success rides on the quarterback, and it will be another long season if one of them fails to step up.

A look at linebacker Geno Hates, from the Florida Times-Union

“My wife and I talked about that the other night. She said, ‘Your body is probably fresh,’ ” he said. “I got some playing time, but not as much as I was used to. But it gave my body time to heal and rest and I just feel more refreshed.

“I can run all day like I used to. Last year was a negative but a good thing at the same time.”

 

November 8, 2012; Jacksonville FL, USA; Indianapolis Colts outside linebacker Jerry Hughes (92) sacks Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Blaine Gabbert (11) during the second quarter at EverBank Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

It’s no secret that the Jacksonville Jaguars’ offensive line was lacking in 2012.  It was a rough season for Blaine Gabbert and Chad Henne under center.  Things like this happen to bad teams on occasion.  We need look no further than the Arizona Cardinals to see just how terrible a season can become due to poor offensive line play.  The 2-14 Jaguars just didn’t get a chance to win four games early like the Cardinals did.

In looking at the problem we can see if the quarterback or the offensive line was at fault.  Well, more importantly, Pro Football Focus can look at the numbers and give us what they perceive as accurate from their well trained eyes.  Gabbert and Henne were sacked 22 and 28 times, respectively.  We’ve had a field day suggesting that the quarterback play could be better.  We’ve looked at the best numbers available as to how the quarterback does better with more time.  The truth is, however, that the team just wasn’t that good at protecting their quarterback…and according to numbers from Neil Hornsby of PFF, most of those sacks are on players not under center.

Gabbert and Henne accounted for all of one sack and one pressure on themselves all season long.  In 705 dropbacks Jaguar quarterbacks actually outperformed many others…by not harming themselves.  Henne is the only quarterback with 300+ attempts who, according to PFF, didn’t get sacked, hit, or pressured because of himself.  Hornsby notes that this is in no way a “positive” indicator of quarterback play as some players at the top of the list may hold onto the ball longer to make something happen.  So, Horsby took a look at the small sample size that is quarterback play when holding onto the ball for four seconds.

Blaine Gabbert landed at ninth in “rating per dropback.”  Chad Henne landed at 21, just below the NFL average.

We’ve made excuses in the past about how the team has problems and how this is so much bigger than just the quarterbacks.  As the offensive line has improved this offseason, I think we’ll see better quarterback play.  There’s no way that Gabbert and Henne are able to hold onto the ball for more than four seconds on every dropback, but with some better play perhaps they can become those guys that make something happen.

- Luke N. Sims

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(h/t) mtiller wildanimalphotos.co.uk

What do all the defense changes mean for the Jaguars?  Per Bleacher Report

Bradley is a proponent of a 4-3 “under” front, where the defensive line shifts away from the strong side of the formation. As Jene Bramel of FootballGuys pointed out for The New York Times, the weak-side defensive tackle aligns between the guard and tackle, while the weak-side end plays outside the tackle (often well outside).

Jaguars’ new jerseys are getting hard to find (VIDEO)

PK’s “Eight In The Box”

Running back Maurice Jones-Drew is likely to be the team’s top offensive weapon again, provided he makes it all the way back from a serious Lisfranc injury in his right foot that cost him 10 games last season and ultimately required surgery. His extensive rehabilitation is ongoing. This week at OTAs, The Florida Times-Union reported he was running 30-yard dashes at three-quarter speed. “Lately it’s been one day on, a day off, two days on, a day off — it’s part of the process,” he said. “I’m closer than I think. I just want to take my time and make sure we do it the right way.” The Jags need his production. He needs a big year because he’s in the final year of his deal.