Jacksonville Jaguars position-by-position breakdown: Offensive line
By Billy Long
Part five of breaking down each positional group for the Jacksonville Jaguars heading into 2018.
Offensive line is focus of this edition of examining the roster for the Jacksonville Jaguars. The group for the most part flew under the radar last season, and ultimately held up better than what it was given credit.
The Jaguars had the number one rushing attack in 2017, and allowed just 24 sacks all season. That doesn’t happen without an effective effort from the offensive line.
Let’s take a look ahead to 2018, and how the unit shakes out right now, and what could happen as the season approaches:
As it stands right now
Starters: Cam Robinson, Patrick Omameh, Brandon Linder, A.J. Cann, Jermey Parnell
Reserves: Josh Wells, Chris Reed, Tyler Shatley, William Poehls, Josh Walker
When all five starters were in tact, the offensive line was a formidable unit. The Jaguars used their second round draft pick to take Cam Robinson, and the rookie showed considerable upside at the all-crucial left tackle position.
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Brandon Linder continued to prove to be one of the league’s best centers, and is the building block of the line moving forward. The weakest link of the group is inside at guard. It’s not that Patrick Omemah and A.J. Cann played particularly terrible, but the push just wasn’t there at times in the running game.
What could happen for 2018
Robinson and Linder are anchored in for the future, and Jermey Parnell will also likely return as a starter in 2018 at right tackle.
The Jaguars will undoubtedly make moves to shore up the guard positions, potentially in free agency but most likely in the draft. Omemah is set to be a free agent and may not return next season, and Cann will probably end up as a backup in 2018 when all is said and done, given the likeliness Jacksonville brings in new talent.
In the early rounds of the draft, look out for Billy Price out of Ohio State, or Will Hernandez out of UTEP. Both are guards, and both would essentially be plug and play guys immediately for next season.