Jacksonville Jaguars: Current issues don’t stop at quarterback
If you believe that the Jacksonville Jaguars are merely shaky quarterback play away from getting back in the playoff race, a closer look is in order.
A year ago, the Jacksonville Jaguars won their first division title since 1999, made their first playoff appearance since 2007 and were a quarter away from reaching Super Bowl LII. This was following a 3-13 showing in 2016.
This season, Doug Marrone’s team won three of its first four games. The club exacted revenge on the New England Patriots in Week 2. But it’s been nothing short of disaster since. And the numbers show that the falloff in performance is team wide.
First things first, offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett was fired on Monday. Quarterback Blake Bortles won’t start in Week 13 as Cody Kessler gets the nod against the visiting Indianapolis Colts. As for the former, he’s turned over the football 14 times in 11 outings this year. Last season and including three postseason contests, the third overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft gave up the football only 16 times in 19 total outings.
To be clear, a team that scored 417 points a year ago has managed only 197 points this season to date. A year ago, the Jaguars’ offensive unit reached the end zone 39 times and the club scored eight return touchdowns.
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This season, Jacksonville totaled 20 offensive touchdowns and just one (a Myles Jack interception return) from the defense and special teams. All told, Marrone’s has racked up 22 turnovers in their 11 outings. A year ago, there were a total of 23 turnovers in 19 games.
A season ago, no team averaged more rushing yards per game (141.4) and no club rolled up more running plays (527). This year, this same club is managing just 114.2 yards per contest on the ground. Running back Leonard Fournette has been in and out of the lineup. And the second-year pro will miss the clash with the Colts due to a one-game suspension.
Back to that big-play defensive unit, it simply hasn’t been up to the same standards from a year ago. In 2017, only the Baltimore Ravens (34) had more takeaways than the Jaguars (33). Last season, only the Pittsburgh Steelers (56) had more sacks than this Jacksonville team (55). In 2018, the defending AFC South champions have forced only 11 turnovers and racked up 21 quarterback traps.
The Jaguars have already given up 25 offensive touchdowns, one fewer than last season’s regular-season total. The team has allowed 243 points in 11 games. A year ago, only the Minnesota Vikings (252) gave up fewer points than Jacksonville (268). The club has already surrendered 243 points in 11 outings this season.
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It’s been nothing short of a disaster for a franchise that appeared to be building something for long haul. That may still be the case and 2018 may turn out to be the exception when it is all said and done. But a lot of things are wrong when it comes to these Jaguars and it’s far too easy to point the finger at one specific person.