Gardner Minshew deserves more respect than he is being given this season

Will Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Gardner Minshew get the respect he deserves in the AFC South this coming season?

Not only does Gardner Minshew have to prove he is the quarterback of the future in Jacksonville, evidently he has to show he is better than the fourth-best signal-caller in the AFC South. It’s going to be an uphill battle for the 23-year-old this season, no matter how good turns out to be for the Jaguars.

The AFC South has changed since the beginning of 2019, with three new quarterbacks in the starting positions, Minshew having taken over for Nick Foles and has secured the opportunity to start from Day 1 for the Jaguars.

The team opens at home against the Indianapolis Colts, who have replaced Jacoby Brissett with Philip Rivers. Yes, that Philip Rivers, the Jaguars killer who abused this team while with the Los Angeles Chargers. And if that isn’t bad enough, the team then travels to Tennessee where Ryan Tannehill will once again start under center.

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Marcus Mariota was the Week 3 starter when both teams met for the first time last year on a wet Thursday evening in Jacksonville. The only starter from last season who starts in the same position within the division this season is Deshaun Watson, on what many think will be a depleted Houston Texans roster.

According to William Schneiderhan of FanSided.com, Minshew is the fourth-best in the division.

"“The Jacksonville Jaguars had David Garrard, as well as many other signal-callers in the past 10 years,” he writes. “Since Garrard’s last season in 2010, the Jaguars have gone through players such as Blaine Gabbert, Chad Henne, Blake Bortles, Cody Kessler, Nick Foles, and now Gardner Minshew II.”"

Gardner Minshew, however, is better than the allotment of players who have recently put on a Jaguars uniform and gives this team the best chance to improve in the coming season. After winning six games in 2019, more than any other rookie quarterback in the NFL, what does the “Mustached Man” do for an encore?

With 3,271 yards in 12 starts (14 games total) with 21 touchdowns and just six interceptions, there is plenty to build on with now offensive coordinator Jay Gruden at the helm. Given the team will change its look on offense and has more weapons on the outside to work with – Laviska Shenault at wide receiver and tight end Tyler Eifert, this could be an exciting passing game to watch.

As long as Gardner Minshew remains steady at the position, the Jacksonville Jaguars may surprise a few teams this season. The fan base is clearly behind the former Washington State star. And Minshew Mania is alive and well in North Florida.

The Jaguars coaching staff expects the offensive line to be better in 2020. Last year Minshew was dropped 33 times by opposing defenders. The team will also count on Leonard Fournette, who ran for 1,152 yards in 15 games. Adding Chris Thompson to the running back room gives the Jaguars and Minshew another playmaker to work with.

Schneiderhan has Minshew ranked behind Rives, Tannehill, and Watson. Can Rivers find magic playing for another team? Will Tannehill become the game manager once again the Titans had on the way to the AFC title game? How will Watson work without his top wide receiver, DeAndre Hopkins?

There is plenty of questions in this division to be answered. There is also plenty of opportunities for Gardner Minshew to prove he is better than some think.