Jacksonville Jaguars take a step forward in latest FanSided.com poll

It may only be a step ahead of their last ranking on FanSided.com, but at least the Jacksonville Jaguars are moving in the right direction.

The Jacksonville Jaguars are still near the bottom of the latest FanSided.com power rankings conducted by Randy Gurzi, but at least they aren’t considered the worst team in the NFL.

That distinction goes to Washington. The football franchise has its share of issues and had arguably the worst week in the history of the league outside events that are played on a football field. For the Jaguars, it’s a chance to say they are moving forward, even if it’s only incrementally one spot to 31st in the league.

Still, with the “excitement” of moving up in the rankings makes this Jacksonville Jaguars fans hope there is more upward mobility before the start of the 2020 NFL season.

More from Jacksonville Jaguars News

• Jacksonville Jaguars unlikely to pursue Carson Wentz despite Doug Pederson connection
• Jaguars RB Travis Etienne expected to have bigger impact in 2023
• 5 bonafide stars from the Jacksonville Jaguars 2022 season
• Jacksonville Jaguars haven’t heard any Calvin Ridley news from the NFL
• WR Marvin Jones Jr. will give 110 percent with the Jacksonville Jaguars or wherever he plays in 2023

"“This season, the Jacksonville Jaguars are expected to be one of the teams fighting for the No. 1 overall pick in 2021. They were 6-10 last season which isn’t great but there was one reason to be excited, the play of rookie quarterback Gardner Minshew,” Gurzi writes.“Of those six wins, he was the starter for all of them and they were 6-6 overall with the sixth-round pick starting. Without Minshew in the lineup, the Jags were 0-4, which just highlights the lack of talent around him.”"

Is it a lack of talent or a lack of cohesion? It’s probably a little bit of both as the offense was never on track. It was originally designed for Nick Foles and was adapted to Minshew’s mobility. There were plays and schemes designed for Minshew specifically in practice when Foles was given his job back after Week 10, which is unheard of for a backup.

I am guessing the coaching staff knew there was a chance Minshew would wrestle the spot back at some point. While there were positives last season with him under center, like every rookie, there were also moments the Jaguars and the player would like to forget.

Just think how different the team would have been with Minshew under center and a win in Week 9 in London against Houston. Had he played his best game of the season instead arguably his worst, Foles’ name may never have been mentioned again in Jacksonville and the team’s record may have looked different.

Still, there is more to this team approaching the 2020 season besides a passing game that will hopefully improve.

Gurzi doesn’t share the same viewpoints but makes valid points in his opposition.

That talent took a hit as well this offseason with Jacksonville trading away A.J. Bouye and Calais Campbell, which comes not long after they shipped off Jalen Ramsey. Now they have an issue with edge rusher Yannick Ngakoue, who is unhappy and wants out.

Ngakoue still must decide if he will sign the franchise tag he was offered – at $17.8M this season – or sit out the year. The Jaguars have leverage in this situation since they have been unwilling to trade him yet. The front office has declined offers based over various sources because a deal has not offered the return they want to move their star player.

I do agree if the team cannot show improvement over last season, more of the same results are in store for 2020.

"“This could be a long and hard season for them but until they get things corrected at the top, the play on the field won’t be any better,” Gurzi writes."