When you haven’t been to the playoffs since 2007, won a total of 14 games over the last four seasons and finished dead last in the NFL in scoring each of the last two years, there’s plenty of room to make progress.
But perhaps the thing that has changed most about the Jacksonville Jaguars has been their ability to attract free agents the last two years. Head coach Gus Bradley has certainly changed the culture with this team and you have to figure the wins will eventually come.
Yes, the team received a big blow with the injury to 2015 first-round pick Dante Fowler this past week. The third overall selection in this year’s draft tore his ACL and will be lost for the season. It is certainly a bit of a setback for the former University of Florida and a loss for a team that could use all the help it can get.
Feb 20, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; (Editors note: Caption correction) Jacksonville Jaguars general manager David Caldwell speaks to the media at the 2015 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
However, back to Bradley as well as general manager David Caldwell, who have obviously convinced free agents as well as their own players that this is a franchise on the rise.
In 2015, both the Jaguars and Carolina Panthers (who both took the field in 1995) will be celebrating the start of their third decade in the National Football League. In fact, the two former expansion franchises will kick off this upcoming season against each other at Jacksonville.
As of late, the Panthers have had the better of it on the field. But things could be turning around thanks to both Bradley and Caldwell.
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For instance, a look at the free-agent pickups by the club shows that the team was able to address numerous areas of the team. On the offensive line, the Jaguars added tackle Jermey Parnell (Dallas Cowboys) and center Stefen Wisniewski (Oakland Raiders) while the defensive front should benefit from the addition of Jared Odrick (Miami Dolphins).
As far as the skill positions, two-time Pro Bowl tight end Julius Thomas (Denver Broncos) and Baltimore Ravens’ castoff Bernard Pierce should help second-year quarterback Blake Bortles’ cause. With young wideouts such as Marqise Lee, Allen Robinson and Allen Hurns on the roster, a veteran such as Thomas (who has caught 24 touchdowns passes the last two years combined) will give Bortles another downfield target.
Oct 19, 2014; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Denard Robinson (16) runs past Cleveland Browns defensive back Tashaun Gipson (39) for 20-yard gain in the first quarter of their game at EverBank Field. Mandatory Credit: Phil Sears-USA TODAY Sports
Meanwhile, Pierce joins a backfield that includes Denard Robinson, Toby Gerhart and rookie T.J. Yeldon – the team’s second-round pick this year.
Yes, we are painting quite the rosy picture for a team that has lost at least 11 games four consecutive years and has not posted a winning season since reaching the playoffs with an 11-5 mark in 2007. The point is that this team appears to be making strides after taking steps backwards for a few years.
Parnell and Wisniewski should help an offensive front that gave up a league-high 71 sacks in 2014. Thomas and steady improvement from his young supporting cast should aid a team that has totaled a mere 47 offensive touchdowns in its last 32 contests.
Now here comes the tricky part and that’s moving up in the AFC South to not only challenge the Indianapolis Colts but the surging Houston Texans as well. However, Bradley’s presence can’t be underestimated. There’s an air of confidence surrounding the club and the veteran leader, who took over in 2013 following a 22-game stretch in which Jack Del Rio, Mel Tucker and Mike Mularkey all served as head coach.
Bradley appears to be the right man for the job while Caldwell appears to be getting him more of the right men for the other jobs. And that could mean a surprising showing for a Jacksonville team overdue for some good fortune.
Next: Jacksonville Jaguars: 5 Best Offseason Moves
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