Take a look at the Jacksonville Jaguars 2017 team
By Kathy Clark
This is your 2017 Jacksonville Jaguars football team. It has some positives and some negatives. There are some changes but are they enough? Time will tell.
Its time to look at the Jaguars 2017 team. We have watched free agency, the NFL draft, the practices and the preseason. There may be changes to the roster but for the most part, this is the team. Coach Doug Marrone says that the Jaguars will be on the lookout for improved players at each position. In fact, he added five free agents almost immediately. However, the new players probably won’t have a huge impact due to the lack of practice time and the inability to fit into established starting lineups.
MANAGEMENT
The owner Shad Kahn and Jaguars general manager David Caldwell remained the same. In addition, they added Tom Coughlin to oversee football operations. He is a proven winner and previous Jaguars coach. The head coach is Doug Marrone. He replaced Gus Bradley at the end of the 2016 season. The offensive coordinator is Nathaniel Hackett and the defensive coordinator is Tom Walsh. They had the same positions last season so they need to step it up. Additionally, the lack of huge changes in management personnel is not a good sign. However, reports from training camp indicate a more hard nosed approach to the game. The players and coaches will be held accountable. This is a welcome change from previous years.
OFFENSE
The Jaguars offense was a weak area for the team the past few years and remains weak on paper. The quarterbacks are the same and the Jags no longer have a third signal caller. The wide receivers depth chart much like last season with the welcome addition of Dede Westbrook. The running back corps added rookie Leonard Fournette. The offensive line was a major problem last season according to Brett Davis of USA Today it remains basically the same. Michael DiRocco of ESPN.com said
"“The Jaguars failure to aggressively upgrade the offensive line the past two seasons has been one of managements biggest mistakes and it will keep the team from being competitive in the division in 2017.”"
An adequate offensive line is the key to victory in the NFL. Hope is that they will learn to play as a unit. The team captains are Marcedes Lewis and Brandon Linder.
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DEFENSE
The Jags defense was a strong unit last season and will continue to be successful this season. The Jags added three free agents for 2017. Calais Campbell will improve the defensive line. Moreover he can serve as a mentor for the younger players. Dante Fowler will add a pass rush. A.J. Bouye combined with Jalen Ramsey make one of the better corner back duos in the league. Barry Church will add depth and experience to the safeties. The returnees at linebacker will continue to be a strength of the team. Myles Jack will be taking over the play calling from Posluszny. That is a situation to watch. The team captains are Paul Posluszny and Telvin Smith, both linebackers.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Brad Nortman is a solid punter and Jason Meyers has kicked successfully in the NFL. The best news has to be our reserves. Reserves make up the bulk of special team players and our reserves proved to be more than adequate during the preseason. Arrelious Benn is the captain.
COMMENTS
The biggest criticism of the Jaguars off season has been their inability to improve the offensive line or upgrade the quarterback position. The suggestion by Larry Brake of Black and Teal.com and others is a plan to tank the season for a high draft choice in 2018. It is hard to imagine Marrone or Coughlin as a party to this. There may have been no upgrades available. This is certainly true at quarterback.