After the first week of training camp ended for the Jacksonville Jaguars, everybody from the coaches and fans got a better look on who might shine in 2015 for the team. After Monday's camp session, the Jaguars decided to release their full depth chart on social media and on their website. This is what the depth chart consists of ahead of their upcoming preseason opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Friday:
Quarterback: Blake Bortles - Chad Henne - Stephen Morris - Jeff Tuel
Running Back: T.J. Yeldon/Denard Robinson - Toby Gerhart - Bernard Pierce - Storm Johnson - Corey Grant
X Wide Receiver: Allen Robinson - Arrelious Benn - Rashad Greene - Neal Sterling - Greg Jenkins/Kasey Closs
Y Wide Receiver: Allen Hurns - Tandon Doss - Tony Washington - Damien Copeland - Bryan Walters
Tight End 1: Julius Thomas - Clay Harbor - Ben Koyack
Tight End 2: Marcedes Lewis - Nic Jacobs - Connor Hamlett
Left Tackle: Luke Joeckel - Josh Wells - Brennan Williams
Left Guard: Zane Beadles - A.J. Cann - Chris Reed
Center: Stefen Wisniewski/Luke Bowanko - Tyler Shatley
Right Guard: Brandon Linder - Sam Young - Jack Rummells
Right Tackle: Jermey Parnell - Austin Pasztor - Cody Booth
LEO: Andre Branch - Ryan Davis - Chris Smith - Cap Capi
Defensive Tackle 1: Ziggy Hood/Tyson Alualu - Michael Bennett - Eric Crume
Defensive Tackle 2: Roy Miller - Abry Jones - Richard Ash
Defensive End: Jared Odrick - Tyson Alualu - Ike Igbinosun
Will Linebacker: Telvin Smith - Jeremiah George - John Lotulelei - Todd Thomas
Mike Linebacker: Paul Posluszny - Khairi Fortt - Thurston Armbrister
OTTO: Dan Skuta - LaRoy Reynolds
Left Cornerback: Davon House - Dwayne Gratz - Tommie Campbell - Peyton Thompson
RIght Cornerback: Demetrius McCray/Aaron Colvin - Jeremey Harris - Nick Marshall - Rashaad Reynolds
Free Safety: Sergio Brown - Matt Daniels - Desmond Cooper
Strong Safety: Johnathan Cyprien - Josh Evans - Craig Loston
Kicker: Josh Scobee - Jason Myers
Punter: Bryan Anger - Kasey Redfern
Long Snapper: Carson Tinker
Place Holder: Bryan Anger
Kick Returner: Denard Robinson - Corey Grant - Tandon Doss - Nick Marshall - Rashad Greene
Punt Returner: Tandon Doss - Rashad Greene - Nick Marshall - Corey Grant - Bryan Walters
Injured/Inactive: Marqise Lee, Dante Fowler, Chris Clemons, Sen'Derrick Marks, James Sample
In this depth chart, it shows that the Jags are planning on four position battles for the next four weeks. The positions that are up for grabs are running back, center, right cornerback, and the main backup defensive tackle spot behind Sen'Derrick Marks.
The one that should intrigue most fans of the team and the rest of the league would be that both T.J. Yeldon and Denard Robinson are both listed as the number one running back in the depth chart. T.J. Yeldon was drafted in the second round to become Jacksonville's next three down back, but Gus Bradley wants to see what competition he has at the position.
"T.J. Yeldon did a nice job," said Gus Bradley after Monday's practice discussing moving down the field on offense.
As T.J. Yeldon does receive reps with both the first and second team throughout practices, it is obvious he is getting his work cut out for him with the skill set he has with his agility, power, and ball carrier vision. However, his main flaw in his game is turning over the ball, fumbling the ball 10 times during his career in Alabama. If he does not remove those mistakes, it would be a moment where the Jags would put Denard Robinson to try to carry the load, once again. However, the Jaguars should be confident enough that T.J. Yeldon should be their main man for the upcoming season.
Other position battles for the Jaguars and their fans should look forward to are their positional battle at center and cornerback. As the Jaguars allowed the most sacks in the NFL last season, it's not only about protecting the quarterback, but seeing how fast they can gel together to reduce the number of times Blake Bortles gets hit in the pocket. New addition from the Oakland Raiders Stefen Wisniewkski, after an injury-plagued season, will battle second-year pro Luke Bowanko for the center spot. At cornerback, Demetrius McCray will battle Aaron Colvin for an outside cornerback spot.
Demetrius McCray replaced former Jaguar Alan Ball last season, after he was injured for the year last October, and did a very good job in doing so. He was ranked highly by the coaching staff and by Pro Football Focus in some of their analysis at the end of the season for yards covered per snap. However, Aaron Colvin was the Jags' feel good story from last season. After tearing his Achilles tendon in January during Senior Bowl practices in 2014, he was drafted in the fourth round and was only planned to sit the entire season, but came back in a November match-up against the Giants and even scored a touchdown out of a forced fumble and fumble recovery to help the team recover from a 21 point deficit to lead the Jaguars to their biggest victory in franchise history. He did a nice job on covering down in the slot and he could be even playing a bigger role for the team in 2015 if his play in training camp can translate into the preseason.
So many young players are competing for big roles in the Jaguars in 2015 and it's what Gus Bradley would want for the team. When it comes for the team for Friday's match-up, they are finally ready to compete again and maybe, just maybe, turn a few heads for the upcoming NFL season.
