3 burning questions surrounding the Jaguars O-Line ahead of the 2023 season
The Jacksonville Jaguars were pretty good in 2022 and there are reasons to think they can be even better next season. For starters, these will be their second season under head coach Doug Pederson and without having to learn his system, they should be able to run his scheme more efficiently.
Speaking of Pederson, Trevor Lawrence should have a better grasp of his offense and the arrival of Calvin Ridley gives him yet another weapon at his disposal. On the other hand, there are few questions surrounding the Jags' offensive line and if they don't find answers soon, they're hopes of making a deep playoff run could evaporate.
With that in mind, here are three questions surrounding the trenches.
No. 3 Will Jaguars RT Anton Harrison be ready for Week 1?
The Jaguars were surely caught off guard when they found out that left tackle Cam Robinson would be suspended for violations of the league's performance-enhancing drug policies. While clubs often treat suspensions the same as injuries, they will need someone to line up at left tackle during Robinson's absence.
The good news is that they can move Walker Little, who competed with Jawaan Taylor for the right tackle job last year, to the left side. But needing to also address the right tackle position, the team's brass drafted Anton Harrison in the first round of this year's draft.
Harrison has the talent to become a mainstay for the offensive line but after mostly lining up at left tackle at Oklahoma, he'll move to the right side. The coaching staff thinks he should have no trouble adjusting and he himself told the media that he doesn't think it would be much of a transition.
Having said that, it's uncertain how seamless Harrison's transition to the NFL will be. Not only does he have to adjust to the speed of the pros but he'll have to do it while he changes positions. While the Jaguars' brass hasn't announced the former Sooner will be the Week 1 starter, it will be surprising if he isn't.
In fact, there's a strong chance that Harrison will be a Day 1 starter and the Jaguars will let him go through the growing pains that come with being a first-year player in the NFL.