Jaguars beat Colts in Week 1, end 5-game losing streak at Indianapolis: 3 takeaways

• The Jaguars were supposed to show out in the season opener

• Instead, a few not-so-good things stood out in Week 1

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson (5) scrambles with the ball as Jacksonville Jaguars.
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson (5) scrambles with the ball as Jacksonville Jaguars. / Jenna Watson/IndyStar / USA TODAY
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 3
Next

The Jaguars should be feeling fidgety about the offensive line ahead of Week 2

Heading into the regular season, the pass rush rotation was seemingly the Jaguars' biggest weakness. After one game, it's clear the offensive line is a bigger cause for concern. It's true that Jacksonville went against Indy's front four, one of the best in the league, but that doesn't explain the inability to get anything going in the running game or throughout the air.

In football, you'll win a few matchups, lose others. That's the nature of the sport but the offensive line was manhandled. Travis Etienne managed to make a few positive gains and even broke off a touchdown run but that was a direct result of his explosiveness. Meanwhile, Tank Bigsy struggled whenever he tried to run through the middle.

Trevor Lawrence was his efficient self but had to dump the ball and look for his safety reads more often than he would've probably wanted because he didn't get optimal protection. In particular, the right side of the offensive trenches struggled. Rookie Anton Harrison looked like... a rookie, with defensive end Kwity Paye consistently beating him.

Then, the Jags lost right guard Brandon Scherff to an ankle injury. He briefly got back before leaving the game for good. But even before Bartch got hurt, he was struggling to contain the duo of Grover Stewart and DeForest Buckner.

Maybe the Jaguars will be fine down the road but those doubts about the offensive line potentially being a liability will keep looming for at least one more week. Offensive line coach Phil Rauscher has his work cut out going into Week 1. He'll need to find whatever didn't work against the Colts and fix it.