Jacksonville Jaguars: Make or break year for Joeckel, Cyprien

Sep 28, 2014; San Diego, CA, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars tackle Luke Joeckel (right) sits on the bench during the fourth quarter against the San Diego Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

Aside from quarterback Blake Bortles, if the Jags are going to have any success this season, left tackle Luke Joeckel and strong safety Johnathan Cyprien are going to need to elevate their game in 2015.

The Jacksonville Jaguars gave up a league high 71 sacks in 2014, and much of that can be accredited to Luke Joeckel. Taken 2nd overall behind fellow offensive tackle Eric Fisher of the Kansas City Chiefs in 2013, Joeckel hasn’t proven to be worthy of his selection so far.

A shattered leg in week 5 of his rookie season caused Joeckel to spend the remainder of the campaign on injured reserve. He would spend the following off-season rehabbing his leg before returning to training camp the next season. Penciled in at left tackle for 2014, Joeckel was at times beaten like a drum. Though he played in all 16 games for the Jags, Joeckel conceded eight sacks and was ranked by Pro Football Focus as the 67th-best offensive tackle in football and credited him with nearly 30 hurries allowed.

Sep 21, 2014; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars tackle Luke Joeckel (76) walks off the field after their game against the Indianapolis Colts at EverBank Field. The Colts won 44-17. Mandatory Credit: Phil Sears-USA TODAY Sports

Going into 2015, Joeckel knows he needs to improve. Last offseason Joeckel couldn’t take part in offseason workouts due to his broken ankle. This offseason however, has been much different.

“The biggest thing is strength and weight,” Joeckel told the team’s official website (via Conor Orr of NFL.com). “That was evident coming out of the season. That’s been the main thing, the main focus. It’s been going really well. Having a healthy offseason has been huge.”

He added: “I definitely can see growth this offseason. Going into last season, I didn’t feel like I had gotten stronger, gotten bigger and that I was ready to go out and play. This offseason, I can see it in the weight room, and I’m excited to get into training camp and see where I am.”

The addition of o-line coach and former Buffalo Bills head coach, Doug Marrone, who is arguably the best o-line coach in football, will help Joeckel make strides in 2015. Joeckel will play a integral part in protecting the blind side, and aiding in the development of Blake Bortles this season. If Joeckel doesn’t improve, the Jags could find his replacement in the first round of the 2016 draft.

Considered by many a first-round pick in 2013, Johnathan Cyprien fell into the Jaguars lap with the first pick of the second round that year. Cyprien was supposed to be the first piece of Gus Bradley’s Seattle-type defense.

The Jags thought they had their own version of Kam Chancellor, and a strong, hard-hitting presence in the secondary that would take them back to the days of Donovan Darius.

However, two years in, Cyprien hasn’t lived up to the billing. Cyprien has made a lot of tackles in his first two years, with 98 in 2013, and 111 in 2014, but the knack on Cyprien is his lack of big plays so far. In two years, Cyprien has put up pedestrian numbers with 1 sack, 1 interception, and two forced fumbles.

Cyprien himself knows players make plays telling Vito Stellino of Jacksonville.com, “I’ll just continue to play the defense and let those come to you. I try to get my opportunities, and when they come, I’m going to try to capitalize on them. Turnovers are a big part of the game. They change the game because they put the ball in the defense’s hands. Of course, you do a lot that doesn’t make the top 10 plays of the week, but you definitely want to make those big shots that can change the game.’’

Coaches have seen improvement from Cyprien this offseason including secondary coach DeWayne Walker.“He’s getting a better grasp of the defense and taking more of a leadership role, so I think he’s getting more comfortable with the things we are asking of him and the defense,’’ Walker said to Stellino.

In the end, the Jags and Cyprien hope he continues to grow. “I want to continue in a positive light and earn the respect of players and coaches and the players I play against,’’ Cyprien said to Stellino. “I’m confident in my abilities. I know what I am able to do. I’m really not worried about it.’’

The Jaguars drafted strong-safety James Sample out of Louisville in the fourth-round. The Jags plan to utilize Sample as a free-safety, but if Cyprien does not improve or regresses, the Jags may look as Sample as an option there.

Next: Jacksonville Jaguars: 5 keys to training camp

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