3 things the Jacksonville Jaguars must do to play in Super Bowl 59

The Jaguars O-Line must pass protect and open running lanes

The Jaguars offense fell apart as 2023 progressed, finishing 13th in both points scored and total yards. While that's a respectable spot, they took a step back compared to the season prior despite the fact that they had added Calvin Ridley to the offense. Among the many reasons the unit wasn't able to build off of their 2022 success was the offensive line.

The front office avoided making significant changes to the offensive trenches besides letting right tackle Jawaan Taylor walk in free agency and drafting Anton Harrison to take his place. Harrison had a promising rookie season and Cam Robinson was his reliable self at left tackle. However, the interior offensive line struggled in pass protection and the running game.

Luke Fortner was among the worst centers in the league and the revolving door at left guard hurt the unit's ability to keep Trevor Lawrence protected. The star quarterback's quick release helped mask some of the offensive line's inefficiencies but he was pressured at an alarming rate more often than not. To make matters worse, they couldn't open holes for Travis Etienne, and that was reflected in his production.

One year after averaging more than 5.0 yards per carry, Travis Etienne gained less than 4.0 in 2023. Looking back, injuries certainly affected the offensive line's overall performance, as the coaching staff had to try several combinations throughout the season. However, the front office also took steps in the offseason to ensure the interior offensive line is no longer an issue.

On top of re-signing left guard Ezra Cleveland, Jacksonville signed veteran Mitch Morse in free agency and restructured Brandon Scherff's contract to keep him around in 2024. Having stability inside should help the Jags run the ball and keep Lawrence's jersey clean. If they do, nothing will stop them from fielding a top-10 offense.

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