Can the Jaguars follow the 49ers footsteps to a Super Bowl berth?
By David Levin
The Jacksonville Jaguars have the makings of an NFL team that could surprise the league next season. Should they use the 49ers’ plan to do it?
Bill Barnwell of ESPN.com isn’t always a fan of the Jaguars, but the NFL writer did throw some love toward Jacksonville in his most recent feature, “Five teams that could be the 49ers of 2020, and all the similarities.”
The Jaguars have been bad – horrifically bad – the past two seasons, winning just 11 games over a 24 months span after running to the screeching halt at the doorstep of the Super Bowl in 2017 thanks to one bad call by the referees and the second-half magic of Tom Brady.
Since then, injuries, a suspect offense, three offensive coordinators and a failing defensive coordinator have been the reason for such a dramatic drop.
Barnwell listed the Jaguars as one of those teams that could turn the ship around in dramatic fashion like the 49ers, who just two seasons ago were standing on the short plank while considering a long walk out to sea.
"“If you’re a fan of a team that struggled in 2019, chances are the 49ers are giving you hope for 2020,” Barnwell writes. “I mentioned last week that the 49ers ranked among the most unlikely Super Bowl teams in league history, and while there were plenty of reasons to think they would improve, no one at this time last year projected them to make it to Super Bowl LIV.”"
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There have already been some changes with the team’s coaching staff and a mandate (where have we heard this before?) from team owner Shad Khan. The front office of general manager David Caldwell and head coach Doug Marrone should work well together – after all, they know this is their last chance to make things right.
There are plenty of similarities to the 49ers run to Miami and the Jaguars, potentially for next season, as Barnwell weaves his thoughts on the 4-letter website. It starts at quarterback where Jimmy Garoppolo and Nick Foles share more than a trip to the Super Bowl.
"“Nick Foles was literally in the middle of throwing a touchdown pass to DJ Chark when a hit broke his collarbone, costing Foles the next 10 games,” Barwell adds. “He came back for 2½ middling starts before the Jags benched him for rookie sixth-round pick Gardner Minshew, ending Foles’ season. Foles has thrown just 117 passes for the Jaguars, and there is a chance that Jacksonville eats a ton of money this offseason to cut bait on the Super Bowl LII MVP.”"
It’s highly unlikely it will happen since the Jaguars are almost on the verge of salary cap hell and are treading water in a very deep pool. Foles figures to remain in the competition for the starting job with Minshew, who engineered all six wins last season.
Under the circumstances, hiring Jay Gruden was probably about as good a selection as #Jaguars HC Marrone could have made for his OC. Gruden has pretty good track record, but remember, it's about players, not play-calls.
— Eugene Frenette (@GeneFrenette) January 22, 2020
"“The most plausible scenario, however, is that Foles returns to the Jags for another season and competes with Minshew for the starting job in camp. Given that Jacksonville invested millions in Foles and thought he was a franchise quarterback, my guess is also that a healthy Foles would win the competition,” Barwell writes."
Another way the Jaguars will look to improve their roster is through the NFL Draft, which is something 49ers general manager John Lynch has done well. Thanks in part to a poorly played out soap opera this season, the Jaguars benefit mightily despite losing their best player on either side of the ball.
Jacksonville has two picks in the first round – ninth and 20th – and two in the first round next season. That’s plenty of help to begin the patchwork to this roster.
“The 49ers didn’t really have any meaningful extra picks heading into last year’s draft, but you have lots of draft capital when you end up with the No. 2 overall pick,” writes Barnwell.
"“They turned several of those picks into key difference-makers, with Nick Bosa as the most obvious example… The Jaguars won’t have the second overall selection, but after trading Jalen Ramsey to the Rams, they’ll add the 20th pick in the first round to their collection.”"
Free agency should be interesting for the Jaguars as they must decide which veterans stick around because of their payroll woes. The team must also determine how to keep both Calais Campbell and Yannick Ngakoue on a defense that looked mortal last season.
Next. Jaguars look to help their secondary. dark
"“The Jaguars aren’t as impressive on the interior, where first-round pick Taven Bryan hasn’t developed as hoped, but most teams would love to have three defensive ends as impressive as Jacksonville’s top three,” Barnwell wrote."