Jacksonville Jaguars: Expectations for Luke Joeckel

With the second overall pick in the 2013 NFL draft, the Jacksonville Jaguars selected offensive tackle Luke Joeckel. Joeckel enjoyed immense success at the college level as he blocked for record setting Texas A&M quarterbacks like Ryan Tannehill and Johnny Manziel. Although a large contingent of NFL draft experts have compared Joeckel to Cleveland’s eight-time Pro Bowl left tackle Joe Thomas, it’s been a bit of a bumpy ride so far for the big man from College Station.

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Despite exclusively playing left tackle in college, the former Outland Trophy winner began his NFL career playing right tackle for the Jaguars. Once starting left tackle Eugene Monroe was traded during the 2013 season, Joeckel returned to his more familiar position along the offensive line. Unfortunately for Joeckel, his rookie season was cut short after just five games due to a broken ankle.

Having not missed a game in his college career, Joeckel bounced back from last year’s season ending injury and started all 16 games for the Jacksonville Jaguars. However, Joeckel was part of a Jaguars’ offensive line that allowed a league-high 71 sacks, 13 more than the next closest team. In addition, Jacksonville’s struggles in the run game were also apparent as the Jaguars ranked only 21st in the NFL with 1,633 yards on the ground.

Nov 9, 2014; London, UNITED KINGDOM; Dallas Cowboys defensive end Jeremy Mincey (92) and safety Barry Church (42) sack Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles (5) in the second quarter of the NFL International Series game at Wembley Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Granted, Jacksonville’s dismal offensive production in 2014 wasn’t all Joeckel’s fault. However, poor pass protection combined with a lackluster rushing attack led to a very forgettable 4-12 record. As Jacksonville’s best offensive lineman, 2015 will be a make or break year for the former number two overall selection. That being said, the question now becomes what can we expect from Luke Joeckel moving forward?

With the benefit of coach’s film from my NFL game rewind subscription, I reviewed a handful of Joeckel’s performances from this past season. On the positive side, I saw a player who did not appear to be showing any ill effects from his aforementioned ankle injury. Joeckel does not take plays off and competes hard regardless of the score. I also believe that Joeckel possesses good footwork and agility which allows him to slide his feet in pass protection and make blocks at the second level.

Joeckel appears to have the makings of a solid starting left tackle. However, I saw that Joeckel can be taken advantage of by elite level pass rush athletes like J.J. Watt, Brian Orakpo, and Jason Pierre-Paul at times. After getting beat by quicker defenders, Joeckel’s form can sometimes get sloppy which could result in holding penalties due to lunging and grabbing.

Dec 28, 2014; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt (99) reacts after making a sack for a safety during the fourth quarter against the Jacksonville Jaguars at NRG Stadium. The Texans defeated the Jaguars 23-17. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

Furthermore, even if Joeckel does manage to get his hands on these quality opponents, Watt in particular was able to execute a counter spin move which resulted in a safety sack against Joeckel in Jacksonville’s week 17 match-up against Houston. I also saw a trend of Joeckel getting pushed back into his quarterback from time to time. Therefore, getting stronger at the point of attack will be of the utmost importance for Joeckel in the off-season.

In my opinion, Joeckel’s upside is more limited than most experts originally thought. Joeckel was noted for having great technique and being a polished product coming out of college. Therefore, I feel that Joeckel has been exposed at times not because of technique, but because his physical skills are not up to par with elite level NFL talent. That may be why the Kansas City Chiefs decided to pass on Joeckel in the first place and draft offensive tackle Eric Fisher with the number one pick instead.

Apr 26, 2013; Kansas City , MO, USA; Kansas City Chiefs first round draft pick offensive tackle Eric Fisher (center) speaks to the media as head coach Andy Reid (right) and general manager John Dorsey (left) look on during a press conference at the Kansas City Chiefs Training Complex. Mandatory Credit: Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports

Coming out of Central Michigan, Fisher did not consistently face a high level of competition like Joeckel did in the SEC conference. However, I feel as though Fisher has more versatility and appears to be the physically stronger and more athletic of the two tackles. In Joeckel’s defense however, it is easier for Fisher to appear like the better prospect because he is on a much better team right now.

At the end of the day, I think Joeckel will be a good but not great left tackle for a number of years. Rather than comparing him to a stud like Joe Thomas, I think that comparing Joeckel to former Detroit Lions’ left tackle Jeff Backus would be more accurate. Both players are gritty competitors that make up for their physical limitations with heart, desire, and intelligence.

By no means is this article meant as a slight against Joeckel. Backus played 12 years for Detroit, started every game he played in, and missed just one game in his entire NFL career. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with being the next Jeff Backus, just don’t expect Luke Joeckel to be the next Joe Thomas.

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