3 biggest overreactions to Jaguars Week 2 preseason game vs. Buccaneers

The Jacksonville Jaguars are 2-0 in the 2024 NFL Preseason following their 20-7 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. That record would be even more meaningful if it counted in the standings but the team's brass should most definitely feel good about how things played out.

After all, the final score is the least important thing when watching the preseason, at least from a club's perspective. Sure, making a big play will help players but coaches are mostly paying attention to how they execute, their fundamentals, and how they deal with pressure.

With that in mind, here are three things that stood out in the Jags' win over the Buccaneers in Week 2 of the preseason.

Mac Jones gives the Jaguars' QB room a massive boost

The Jaguars traded for Mac Jones in the offseason. While he was coming a couple of underwhelming seasons, that's the kind of move you make if you want to upgrade. A first-round pick in 2021, the Alabama product won't be competing with Trevor Lawrence for a starting job when you take into account that the organization has made a heavy commitment to their franchise quarterback.

The Jags have made it clear that Jones was brought in to battle C.J. Beathard for the backup job behind Lawrence. Based on how he's played in the preseason, the front office should feel great about getting the Jacksonville native for just a sixth-round pick.

In two preseason outings, Jones has completed 73.5 percent of his passes for 308 yards with two touchdowns. He was supposed to play only one half against the Buccaneers but eventually returned to the field because C.J. Beathard suffered a groin injury.

Whether Beathard returns or gets the boot before the start of the season, Jones has done enough to win the backup quarterback job.

The depth could be an issue for the Jaguars on the interior offensive line

The Jaguars gave up five sacks to Tampa Bay. Sure, it came against mostly backups but that leaves a couple things to worry about. First, left guard Ezra Cleveland didn't suit up because he's recovering from a heel injury. Center Mitch Morse, on the other hand, struggled in joint practices.

Regardless of the reason the starters were kept out against the Bucs, some of their second-stringers left much to be desired. Luke Fortner has not fared much better than he did in 2023 while Cooper Hodges was inconsistent. This is to say that Jacksonville could be in trouble if any of their starting offensive linemen miss time.

The silver lining is that Cole Van Lanen has made a strong impression at right tackle. If needed, he could be bumped inside, where he lined up early in his NFL career.

The Jaguars' D-Line is stacked with depth and talent

While the Jaguars' interior offensive line could use a boost, their defensive line looks in great shape, in terms of depth and talent, ahead of the 2024 NFL season. You know the group is loaded when veteran Roy Robertson-Harris a 2023 starter and a mainstay of the defensive trenches the past three seasons was kept in the game late in the fourth quarter.

Signing Arik Armstead in free agency was huge, and so is getting DaVon Hamilton back in the mix after he missed most of last year with a non-football back injury. When you add the arrival of rookies Maason Smith and Jordan Jefferson, the defensive line rotation should be highly productive in 2024. And that's just the interior.

Edge rushers Travon Walker and Josh Allen had 27.5 sacks between the two last year and are poised to be even better under the tutelage of defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen. Behind them is Trevis Gipson, who's looking to enjoy a career revival in Duval and should be an upgrade over K'Lavon Chaisson, last year's No. 3. Sophomore Tyler Lacy has also made strides while rookie Myles Cole and DJ Coleman should earn playing time as rotational players.

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