Jacksonville Jaguars training camp is coming up rather rapidly. From July 27th – August 12th, the Jags are going to be focused on one thing: getting better.
With the team once again staying home for training camp, we’ll be able to go watch 10 practices that are open to the public. For the others, we’ll have to sift through coach-speak and all the hype surrounding guys like Blake Bortles, Allen Robinson, Luke Joeckel, and others.
Before it all begins, I’ve got three positions for us all to keep an eye on. There are less position battles than last year when the Jags had young players competing all over. Now with some veterans it may be harder for the young guys to get into the starting lineup. There are still spots where it can happen, however.
May 28, 2015; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars guard A.J. Cann (60) holds a blocking pad during OTAs at the Florida Blue Health and Wellness Practice Fields. Mandatory Credit: Phil Sears-USA TODAY Sports
1) Guard: A.J. Cann vs Zane Beadles
A.J. Cann was brought to the Jaguars to either push Zane Beadles to be better or to take the starting job away from him. The third round pick is a formidable opponent for the veteran and while Beadles should be able to fend off the competition, it’s anything but certain.
Beadles is among the most overrated Jaguars (if that’s even possible) according to CBS Sports’ Pete Prisco, saying:
"They gave him a big-money deal as a free agent last season and he played poorly for the first half of the season. He did come on late, but rookie A.J. Cann will push him for his job."
The thought that Cann can push Beadles, as a rookie, just one year after Beadles was brought to the Jaguars to be a long-term solution to the guard position is almost farfetched. And yet it’s the situation that Beadles finds himself in almost purely because of his unimpressive play. He wasn’t terrible, but he wasn’t what general manager Dave Caldwell wanted out of him. So, Beadles finds himself in competition.
To Cann’s credit, he is a beast of a guard. Projected to go in round two, Cann fell to the Jags early in the third and there really wasn’t much better value than that selection. He’s got the size to bully the opposition and he is an explosive athlete for the position. He could be an instant starter on many NFL teams and the fact that he has to beat out Beadles is a testament to both Beadles’ ability and the respect the team has for the veteran. If anyone can force him out, though, it’ll be Cann.
Guard position battles may not be the sexiest thing in the world, but this one could have a major impact for both the passing and run game. With Brandon Linder manning the other guard spot and on a Pro Bowl trajectory, it’s important to get this side right too. At this point, it’s a toss up. I think it’s clear that Cann is the future, though.
Next: Will free safety finally be settled?
May 28, 2015; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars safety James Sample (36) runs a blocking drill during OTAs at the Florida Blue Health and Wellness Practice Fields. Mandatory Credit: Phil Sears-USA TODAY Sports
2) Free Safety: James Sample vs Sergio Brown
Sergio Brown is one of the better free agent bargains for the Jacksonville Jaguars during the offseason. Just $7 million over three years for the services of a guy who can man the free safety spot competently. It was a major need for the Jags and while they missed out on Devin McCourty, really anybody who can be in the right place at the right time is an improvement over the players manning the spot over the last couple of years.
So Brown looked like the perfect fit for the Jags, coming in to instantly bolster the secondary.
Then the Jags threw a bit of a curveball by selecting Louisville strong safety James Sample in the fourth round of the 2015 NFL Draft and stating he would be competing for the free safety job.
Suddenly Brown’s spot wasn’t so comfortable and he’s forced into a battle with the best coverage safety in college last year. If there ever was a player who had to seize his role and run away with it, it’s Brown.
Fortunately for Brown, Sample happened to break his arm this offseason. Unfortunately for Brown, Sample is expected to return in time for training camp. The takeaway from the unfortunate injury is that Brown should be head and shoulders more prepared for the season than Sample because of his additional offseason preparatory time. Whether that’s enough for him to lock up the job is yet to be seen. Frankly, Sample is a talented athlete and I expect he’ll still give Brown a run for his money.
It will be incredibly tough for Sample to transition to free safety, recover from a broken arm, and transition to the NFL level. It’s a lot to accomplish for a young athlete. If he can do it then he may just be the best thing to happen to the Jaguars secondary in a long, long time. If he can’t, expect him to keep competing with limited opportunities through the 2015 season.
What makes the free safety competition so interesting isn’t just watching Sample compete against Brown, it’s seeing what they both bring to the table for strong safety Johnathan Cyprien. Cyprien hasn’t been able to be used as intended because of free safety deficiencies and with a solid presence he may finally be able to find success. Expect big things from the strong safety position once the free safety slot is settled.
Next: Can a center step up?
Dec 18, 2014; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars center Luke Bowanko (70) against the Tennessee Titans during the second quarter at EverBank Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
3) Center: Luke Bowanko vs Stefen Wisniewski
Luke Bowanko played his heart out as a 2014 sixth round draft pick with the Jacksonville Jaguars last season. He won the starting center role and manned it as competently as he could while the offensive line struggled to come together as a unit. Big things were expected for his development during this offseason.
Then the Jacksonville Jaguars went out and secured the services of former Oakland Raiders starter Stefen Wisniewski.
Wisniewski is an experienced center with mediocre success during his time with the Raiders. His familiarity with new Jags offensive coordinator Greg Olson is a big plus for the Jaguars, but whether he can be anything special remains to be seen. He’s only on a one-year deal with the Jags, suggesting an uncertainty as to his long-term viability with the team.
He’ll have his work cut out for him fending off Bowanko, though. Wisniewski’s strength is adaptability along the offensive line, being able to play guard or center. At this point, it’s uncertain if he can power through a shoulder injury to beat out Bowanko and return to starting form.
The most interesting part of the center training camp battle is that the outcome will greatly impact the play of the entire offensive line. Right now it seems that Bowanko has much more upside than Wisniewski, but if the team wants to put together a more competent line then they may go with whoever is more polished immediately. That could give the veteran an edge here, allowing the offensive line to become a more cohesive unit more quickly.
Next: 5 players who will be much better in 2015
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