Jay Gruden’s offense the key to the Jacksonville Jaguars season

By David Levin | Jun 29, 2020

LANDOVER, MD - OCTOBER 06: Head coach Jay Gruden of the Washington Redskins looks on before the game against the New England Patriots at FedExField on October 6, 2019 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) /

With Jay Gruden onboard as the Jacksonville Jaguars offensive coordinator, how good can the team’s passing game be in 2020?

When I think about the Jacksonville Jaguars offense and how Jay Gruden, the team’s new offensive coordinator Jay Gruden will impact this franchise in 2020, I also think about what Russell Baxter wrote recently about the team’s biggest question heading to training camp on NFL Spin Zone.

"“Gruden should bring some consistency to this attack. The Jaguars scored only 300 points this past season and the offense reached the end zone only 27 times,” he wrote.“All told, Doug Marrone’s club was limited to 13 points or less seven times, all of those outings resulting in losses.”"

I’ve been singing the praises of Gruden’s presence with this football team as if it were the second coming of Kevin Gilbride and the potent Jacksonville Jaguars offenses of the mid-1990s. Adding someone who has a game plan to change this offense and add some excitement to it should make Jaguars fans happy in 2020.

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It could also mean the Jaguars, with that 18.8 points per game average in 2019, might become a threat to have one of the more improved passing games in the league this season.

I’m anxious but trying not to get too ahead of myself here.

Yes, defense wins championships. Offense puts fans in the seats. The Jacksonville Jaguars must develop a formula for both this season, with plenty riding on a new offensive mindset and Gruden being viewed as a potential savior of this roster.

"“He certainly had his moments as head coach of the Washington Redskins, leading the team to the NFC East title in 2015,” Baxter adds. “Even before then, he made an impression as a play-caller as the offensive coordinator of the Cincinnati Bengals (2011-13). And there were also seven seasons as an assistant with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers under his brother Jon more than a decade ago.”"

And with those three stops on the NFL tour, Gruden’s arrival here in Jacksonville should be viewed as a move in the right direction. It could also mean more if the Jaguars can find ways to get into the end zone more in 2020. Having kicker Josh Lambo on the roster pays off in a big way as he has become a safety blanket when the offense sputters and then stops.

More time spent in the end zone means more points. More points could mean more wins. More wins will bring fans to the stadium once they are allowed to show up.

The Jacksonville Jaguars now have a nucleus of playmakers who can make that impact Marrone is looking for. He now has more talent at the tight end position. He added wide receivers in the NFL Draft. The running back room looks a bit deeper and the offensive line is expected to be better this season and beyond.

Now all that is missing is taking all these parts and giving Gruden and quarterback Gardner Minshew a chance to shine for 17 weeks.

"“While he threw for 21 scores and only six interceptions in 14 outings, the 2019 sixth-round pick from Washington State also lost seven of his 13 fumbles,” Baxter writes. “The supporting cast includes running back Leonard Fournette, Pro Bowl wide receiver D.J. Chark and veteran tight end Tyler Eifert, late of the Cincinnati Bengals.”"

Gruden makes no secret of his desire to find ways to make this offense exciting. It’s all about seeing how he can take these players and make them more adaptable to change. If he can and players buy into the system, this is an offense that could be really exciting in 2020.

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