For the Jacksonville Jaguars, they are about to enter year three of the helm of general manager Dave Caldwell and head coach Gus Bradley's representative tenures. Both of these personnel have changed the culture around the team, building on positivity and getting better everyday. However, the Jags may need to be putting in the work this year in order to avoid the calling for one and/or the other's firing.
Coming into the 2015 season, the Jaguars currently hold the youngest roster in the league. The question that lingers within the city and media is "When does youth stop becoming an excuse?"
The Jaguars also made plenty of changes within the coaching staff to improve the offense, with new Offensive Coordinator Greg Olson, Quarterback Coach Nathaniel Hackett, and Assistant Head Coach and Offensive Line Coach Doug Marrone all serving a sole purpose, to make sure that second year quarterback Blake Bortles can continue to make huge strides to become the franchise quarterback that the Jags have been missing since Mark Brunell in the late 90's and early 00's. Dave Caldwell has given this newly built offensive coaching staff help, however, as they added two new starters in the offensive line through free agency in offensive tackle Jeremy Parnell and center Stefen Wisniewski, and added running back T.J. Yeldon and wide receiver Rashad Greene through the 2015 NFL Draft.
On the defensive side of the football, the Jaguars improved through last season after allowing over 400 yards per game in the first four games of the 2014 season, and only allowed such a number once for the last twelve games of the season. Gus Bradley should have had his LEO in third overall selection Dante Fowler Jr., but a torn ACL in the off-season will have to make the Jaguars wait until next season for his presence. The defense will look upon the veteran presence of Paul Posluszny in the middle of the linebacker core, as well as free agency signings defensive end Jared Odrick and cornerback Davon House to lock down the first and third lines of the defense for the upcoming season. Also look out for second year linebacker Telvin Smith look to be a rising star for the Jaguars and in the entire league.
However, with many of the positional battles finished for the starting positions, there will be the final roster spots available on the roster. The special teams specialists, valuable depth, and young players who are hungry to make an impact in the league will be fighting to make it to the last 53 on the roster. Who might the final fringe players turn out to be? Here's a prediction on how it could all turn out when the final preseason game against the Washington football team is over.
Quarterbacks (2): Blake Bortles, Chad Henne
This is no surprise here, the Jaguars will keep their combination of quarterbacks as they had last season, as Blake Bortles will continue to be looked upon to be the team's franchise quarterback, and Chad Henne serving as the mentor of the young quarterback.
Running Backs (5): T.J. Yeldon, Denard Robinson, Toby Gerhart, Bernard Pierce, Corey Grant
The Jags suddenly carry a stacked backfield after finishing 21st in rushing yards per game last season. The addition of Bernard Pierce adds balance and some valuable depth behind rookie T.J. Yeldon with speedy, change-of-pace running back Denard Robinson and bruising running back Toby Gerhart. Corey Grant was brought in as an undrafted free agent that will serve as the team's kick returner to start off the season. A person of interest that is missing is Storm Johnson, who has been lackluster as a running back in the preseason, and will most likely looking for another team to call home after Thursday's game. The position will be vital to give Blake Bortles more comfort in the offense for the upcoming season.
Wide Receivers (5): Allen Robinson, Allen Hurns, Marqise Lee, Rashad Greene, Bryan Walters
Another seemingly deep position for the Jaguars this season will be their wide receiving core. Many believe that Allen Robinson will be a breakout receiver for the Jags in his second season in the league. Allen Hurns was looked upon as a valuable deep threat for the team last season and Marqise Lee will look to stay healthy and begin to utilize his speed and improve his skill set the professional level. Rashad Greene will be looked as the team's primary option at the slot this season, as he had success there with the Florida State Seminoles in the college level, and Bryan Walters would bring valuable special teams experience, as he did with the Seattle Seahawks for the last few seasons. Also look for plenty of practice squad roles filled in the position with draft pick Neal Sterling missing out, as well as camp standout Tony Washington, as well as Kasey Closs and Erik Lora.
Tight Ends (4): Julius Thomas, Marcedes Lewis, Clay Harbor, Nic Jacobs
Julius Thomas was brought in as the Jaguars most valuable free agency pick-up in the offseason, but he may miss the first month of the season with a finger injury. However, the team should not worry with valuable depth in the tight end position. Veteran Marcedes Lewis has looked rejuvenated this preseason, Clay Harbor is a skilled pass catcher from the position, as well as Nic Jacobs, who brings both pass catching and run blocking, as well as experience to the table. Seventh round selection Ben Koyack may be looking out here, but it should be toss-up between him and Jacobs for one of the final roster spots on the Jags.
Offensive Linemen (9): Luke Joeckel, Zane Beadles, Stefen Wisniewski, Brandon Linder, Jermey Parnell, Austin Pasztor, A.J Cann, Luke Bowanko, Tyler Shatley
The offensive, as mentioned earlier, has been immensely taken care of in the offseason to reduce the amount of sacks Blake Bortles takes this season, as he took 55 last season. Luke Joeckel will be heavily watched as the team's blind side protector to Bortles, as he's been heavily criticized by the fan base the entire preseason, thus far. Brandon Linder is the team's right guard and he will look to become even better with a heavily applauded rookie season a year before. Zane Beadles has looked more steady in his game in the preseason, but rookie A.J. Cann looks in to take his spot if Beadles somehow regresses from an up-and-down season he had with the Jags last season. The Jags will have valuable depth in the offensive line, as well, with last season's starter Luke Bowanko now looking behind Wisniewski from the center spot, as well as veteran Austin Pasztor and second-year pro Tyler Shatley at guard.
Defensive Linemen (7): Sen'Derrick Marks, Roy Miller III, Jared Odrick, Ziggy Hood, Tyson Alualu, Michael Bennett, Abry Jones
This will be another talented group of the players that the Jaguars will be happy to find within the roster. The Jaguars hope that Sen'Derrick Marks will be healthy and ready to go for the start of the season, as his a vital part of the interior last season. Other interior linemen include Roy Miller III, Ziggy Hood, and Abry Jones, who all were with the team last season, as well as rookie Michael Bennett, who wants to become the draft's steal, showing immense talent within the line with his skills. The big defensive ends of the team will headline Jared Odrick, who took a big contract to join the Jags, as well as Tyson Alualu who brings a balance of play that will bring depth to the big end spot and interior linemen position with a skills to help the team's pass rush, and might continue to get reps at fullback in the regular season.
LEOs (3): Chris Clemons, Ryan Davis, Chris Smith
This position took the big loss with Fowler out for the season, as it should be vital for the team to continue getting sacks in the regular season, as it has not looked well for the team, so far in the preseason. Chris Clemons is the big veteran presence in the LEO spot for Gus Bradley, as Ryan Davis and Chris Smith both contributed as major substitutions as pass rushers throughout last season. Andre Branch, who has struggled throughout the preseason and suffered an injury in the last game, may not make the roster or end up at the team's injured reserve to make sure the team stays at 53 players. Fans of the team will also hope that defensive end Cap Capi will make the team's practice squad to enter the season as well, with flashes of talent in the first preseason game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Linebackers (6): Dan Skuta, Paul Posluszny, Telvin Smith, LaRoy Reynolds, Thurston Armbrister, Jeremiah George
The linebackers for the Jaguars is the most questionable position of depth of this team coming into the season. However, the organization feels happy with what they are offered on the roster. Posluszny brings in the leadership of the defense, Dan Skuta was brought in from the San Francisco 49ers and will be the team's OTTO, and Smith will be a potential standout for the team. The depth behind the starters are consisting of a single veteran in LaRoy Reynolds, who also brings special teams experience, as well as unheralded and young linebackers Jeremiah George and Thurston Armbrister, who the team feels like they could provide the depth the team is looking for in the upcoming season.
Cornerbacks (5): Demetrius McCray, Davon House, Aaron Colvin, Dwayne Gratz, Nick Marshall
In addition to Davon House on the roster, Demetrius McCray did a valuable job that was noticed by Pro Football Focus as one of the league's best cornerbacks last season as well as the experience of Dwayne Gratz on the roster. Second year pro Aaron Colvin looked really good in covering the slot, after coming off an ACL tear from the offseason in 2014, and may move outside when the season is over. The quarterback-converted cornerback Nick Marshall has a skill-set that the Jags should not pass up on the 53-man roster, as he may bring special teams play into his first season in the NFL. Former 2013 sixth round selection Jeremy Harris and coveted undrafted free agent from a season ago Rashaad Reynolds may be out of the roster for the Jags this season.
Safeties (4): Sergio Brown, Johnathan Cyprien, James Sample, Josh Evans
Free safety Sergio Brown got into the head of wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. a week ago and a half ago in East Rutherford and that's what the team will be looking for in the regular season. Johnathan Cyprien needs a standout season for the team to hold on to his strong safety spot on the roster, even though he does continue to have the coaching staff's support right now for the value selected in the second round of the NFL draft in 2013. James Sample missed most of offseason preparations with surgery and may have cost his training camp battle with Sergio Brown, but that will not stop him to try to make an impact with the team in his first season. Josh Evans has converted to strong safety after it has not really worked out in the free safety position for the Jags in the two seasons prior, but his starting experience might push him over another potential strong safety who will be on the roster fringe coming Thursday in Craig Loston.
Special Teams (3): Jason Myers, Bryan Anger, Carson Tinker
After Monday's surprising trade of Josh Scobee to the Steelers on Monday, Jason Myers will be the team's kicker moving forward in the regular season. Dave Caldwell said the decision to trade a veteran and clutch kicker like Scobee was the toughest decision he has made so far in his tenure, but he likes what he sees in Jason Myers in his first season in the NFL. He has shown a big boot making a 60-yard field goal in scrimmage, with the distance of a 70-yard kick, and has already made four of five field goals in the preseason, missing from 57 yards against the Steelers and made his longest from 55 yards. Bryan Anger and Carson Tinker will continue to be the team's punter/holder and long snapper combination without any surprise to the fan base.