Category: A.J. Bouye

NFL.com gives Jags an A- for 2019 draft class in season review

In a year where a lot didn’t go right for the Jacksonville Jaguars, many would agree that the team’s 2020 draft class did their part. Count NFL.com’s Gennaro Filice amongst those who were impressed with the group as he gave the Jags’ class an A- in …

In a year where a lot didn’t go right for the Jacksonville Jaguars, many would agree that the team’s 2020 draft class did their part. Count NFL.com’s Gennaro Filice amongst those who were impressed with the group as he gave the Jags’ class an A- in his recent review of the league’s draft classes.

A big reason for praising the class, of course, was the impact of rookie quarterback Gardner Minshew II, who went 6-6 as a starter.

Let’s start with the most interesting development in an otherwise-forgettable Jaguars season: MINSHEW MANIA!! OK, I won’t go completelyoverboard here, because let’s be honest: At least some of the allure had to do with the mustache and the headband and the distinct je ne sais quoi that tickled the average football watcher’s fancy. That said, the Jock Strap Kingposted a 21:6 TD-to-INT ratio and went 6-6 as a rookie starter for a team that finished the season at 6-10. Fumbles were an issue, but overall, he clearly outplayed prized free-agent signee Nick Foles.

As many would imagine, Filice also praise the performance of the Jags’ first-round selection, Josh Allen, as he lead all rookies in sacks in 2019 with 10.5.

Five rounds and 171 picks prior, the Jags had Allen fall right into their lap, and the no-brainer selection paid off in a major way, racking up 10.5 sacks and two forced fumbles. Resident draft guru Daniel Jeremiah ranked Allen as his No. 5 overall rookie (second on defense, behind only Nick Bosa) and offered this enticing appraisal: “He has the potential to eventually lead the league in sacks.”

Without a doubt, the Jags got two of the most productive rookies in the whole 2020 class between Minshew and Allen, but when you add in the fact that right tackle Jawaan Taylor was the only rookie in the league to play 100% of his snaps, it’s hard not to have hope about the future production of the roster.

In his review, Filice looked ahead to the needs of the Jags heading forward. He stated what many have echoed and that’s the fact that the Jags need to pay Yannick Ngakoue and deemed Marcell Dareus as a player who could be released or restructured to make the cap space for Ngakoue’s deal. He added that Calais Campbell was in the same boat as well as cornerback A.J. Bouye.

Of the three, I believe Campbell, who is the heart and soul of the defense is the most likely to stay. Releasing Dareus, which I feel is likely, would be a tremendous relief off the cap as he’d free up over $20 million.

Bouye on the other hand may have a 50-50 shot to stay or be released. He’d free up over $10 million if released. His fate could boil down to whether or not he wants to restructure, and if he doesn’t, the Jags may look in the draft for an answer.

NFL.com explains what Jags need to do to dethrone Chiefs

The Chiefs will be the AFC’s top team in 2020 and to dethrone them the Jags must have a solid offseason.

The Jacksonville Jaguars were the first team in the 2019 regular season to get a chance to see if they could go toe-to-toe with the AFC Champions in the Kansas City Chiefs and it wasn’t a pretty outing, to say the least. It then became clear that the Chiefs were miles ahead of the Jags and the regular season further proved that point.

Now, here we are just a few days away from the Super Bowl and the Chiefs have proven to be the force most thought. Regardless of the outcome of the Super Bowl, the Chiefs will be the team the Jags and every other AFC team will look to dethrone with their high powered offense.

NFL Network’s Gregg Rosenthal recently posted an article stating what each team needs to do to dethrone the Chiefs, and for the Jags, the solution comes down to moving on from the past and making some tough personnel decisions.

Jacksonville Jaguars: Get unemotional about past personnel mistakes.

Jaguars general manager David Caldwell is getting another chance to re-shape the roster after the departure of Tom Coughlin. To move forward, the team needs to make some tough choices regarding some of the moves Coughlin and Caldwell made over the last few years. They have a raft of cap-related decisions pertaining to veterans like cornerback A.J. Bouye, guard Andrew Norwell, defensive tackle Marcell Dareus, wide receiver Marqise Lee, linebacker Jake Ryan and possibly even running back Leonard Fournette. The Nick Foles-Gardner Minshew QB conundrum won’t be easy to solve because of Foles’ contract, but the arrival of new coordinator Jay Gruden was a big step in the right direction. Jacksonville has prized continuity to a fault over Caldwell’s seven seasons, resulting in one campaign with more than six wins. Before Caldwell gets to spend his three top-50 draft picks in April, he needs to honestly assess what’s gone wrong.

The Jags are about $3.2 million over the cap according to Over the Cap, so Rosenthal is right about the moves they need to make to get them out of the negative. Releasing Marcell Dareus, who would free up $22.5 million, is clearly where they will need to start but they can’t stop there. They will need more cap space to address a couple of needs in free agency, pay Yannick Ngakoue and pay their rookie draft class. That said, decisions will have to be made on the other names Rosenthal mentioned.

With nine picks in both 2020 and 2021, it’s time for general manager Dave Caldwell and the front office to stop relying on free agency at the capacity they have and look for more bargains on the open market while also being precise in the draft. With Tom Coughlin out of the picture, that sounds like the path Caldwell will take this year as he told ESPN 690’s Brent Martineau that the Jags will look to be “wise” in free agency.

“I think this could be a quick flip,” Caldwell said about a turnaround. “I think if we make wise choices in free agency, and it might not be market-setters, but wise choices, then we’ll follow it up with a good draft. We have all the way up until the beginning of September to have the roster set so it’s going to be a fluid thing, but we have to make the right choices all the way up to the trade deadline and in the middle of [the regular season].”

Another key variable in taking down the Chiefs will be defensive coordinator Todd Wash. Several coordinators have figured his scheme out and Week 1’s game proved the Chiefs were amongst that group. He’s going to have to adapt and improve as a coordinator in 2020 because the Jags probably won’t have the defensive talent they did in 2017.

Jaguars come in at No. 26 spot on PFF’s regular season OL rankings

Without a shadow of a doubt, most Jacksonville Jaguars fans would like to see the team address the offensive line to some degree this offseason. Despite the resources Dave Caldwell and company put into the position with high draft picks and steep …

Without a shadow of a doubt, most Jacksonville Jaguars fans would like to see the team address the offensive line to some degree this offseason. Despite the resources Dave Caldwell and company put into the position with high draft picks and steep contracts, things haven’t quite panned out for the group and it’s hard to envision the team not making any changes within the unit.

The data recently accumulated by Pro Football Focus in 2019 further validates that changes are needed and will likely in the trenches as the Jags finished the regular season with the No. 26 ranked offensive line. According to them, a key reason behind their struggles were partly due to Cam Robinson, who had a rough season though it’s worth noting he was coming off a 2018 ACL tear.

26. Jacksonville Jaguars

After returning from an injury-shortened second season, left tackle Cam Robinson showed more of the form that we saw from him as a rookie when he posted one of the worst pressure rates allowed in the NFL (9.0%). This season, Robinson allowed 45 pressures at left tackle in 552 pass-blocking snaps for a slightly improved — yet, still concerning — rate of 8.2%. As this ranking would suggest, Robinson wasn’t the only player along the line who struggled. Outside of Brandon Linder, there wasn’t a whole lot to get excited about for Jacksonville up front.

According to PFF, Robinson accumulated a grade of 54.8, a total tied for the worse amongst the whole starting offensive line with A.J. Cann. Simply put, that’s not good for someone who the Jags selected in the second-round and hoped could become their franchise player on the blindside. Add in the fact that he was tied for fifth in penalties in the league with 10, and it’s possible the Jags may look for new options at left tackle despite Robinson being young.

However, the young left tackle has been far from the only issue within the unit.

The Jags made Andrew Norwell the highest-paid guard in football temporarily but he hasn’t looked close to the player we saw dominate with the Carolina Panthers. As previously mentioned, the Jags’ other guard in Cann, didn’t really look any better either.

As for the positives with the unit, rookie right tackle Jawaan Taylor had a rough start to his career, too, accumulating the second-highest penalty total in the league (15), but at least came on strong towards the end of the season and cleaned up several issues. As mentioned by PFF above, Brandon Linder was the unit’s most encouraging player accumulating a score of 75.7. While it’s worth noting he had 10 penalties on the season, too, he did enough to keep his job in 2020. 

When considering all the data above, Linder and Taylor are the two that will be a part of the offensive line without question in 2020. However, the left and right guard spots, as well as the left tackle spot, should definitely be evaluated for upgrades. They could also use a new positions coach, too, though George Warhop has only had a year with them.

If the Jags attack the needs of the unit right this offseason, they could put a respectable product on the field, and maybe even get back to the level of play fans saw in 2017. With a lot of draft capital by their sides, maybe the draft will provide a starter or two, which would be huge in a crucial year for Caldwell and Marrone.

5 Jaguars to watch vs. Colts

The Jags and Colts will duke it out on last time in 2019, and as underdogs, the Jags will need DJ Chark and several other players to step up.

The Jacksonville Jaguars have almost arrived to the most important offseason in franchise history, but before they get there, they must take care of business in their 2019 season finale against the Indianapolis Colts. As the underdogs for Sunday’s game, they will need several players to step up and here are the five we think could play a big role in Week 17’s AFC South battle:

Mandatory Credit: Douglas DeFelice-USA TODAY Sports

RB Ryquell Armstead

Saturday afternoon, running back Leonard Fournette announced that he wouldn’t be playing against the Colts after he was downgraded to doubtful on the final injury report with the flu. With that being the case, rookie tailback Ryquell Armstead will get his first career start.

With or without Fournette, the key for the Jags will be to control the clock, which means offensive coordinator John DeFilippo should make him the biggest part of the game plan. In the limited time Armstead has seen on the field, he’s also been a solid receiver, so that may be an asset in which DeFilippo may want to consider using as the Colts’ passing defense (No. 22) is significantly worse than their rush defense (No. 8).

Pages: Page 1, Page 2, Page 3, Page 4, Page 5

The good, the bad, and the ugly from the Jaguars’ 24-12 loss to the Falcons

The Jacksonville Jaguars unfortunately acquired their seventh double-digit loss season under owner Shad Khan after falling to the Atlanta Falcons Sunday. It was a game in which the Jags got off to another slow start and had to play from behind, …

The Jacksonville Jaguars unfortunately acquired their seventh double-digit loss season under owner Shad Khan after falling to the Atlanta Falcons Sunday. It was a game in which the Jags got off to another slow start and had to play from behind, which clearly isn’t a strength of theirs. In the end, the Falcons ended up covering the spread of 7.5 with ease, winning the game by a score of 24-12.

All of that said, lets take a look at the good, bad, and ugly moments from Sunday’s game against the Dirty Birds:

Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

The good: CB Tre Herndon

In a game where there wasn’t a lot of positives, cornerback Tre Herndon definitely brought his A-game. He was very active Sunday against the Falcons, accumulating three tackles, two pass deflections and a pick on the day.

In the play in which Herndon got the interception, quarterback Matt Ryan was trying to hit Julio Jones deep after a roll out, but Herndon came to help out veteran corner A.J. Bouye and high-pointed the ball. It marked his third of the year and he now leads the team in the category.

Herndon has been gaining confidence since becoming the Jags starter in Jalen Ramsey’s place. That said, he’s made a case to be a starter in 2020 at the cornerback position as there is still plenty of room for him to further develop.

Pages: Page 1, Page 2, Page 3

4 Jaguars to watch on defense vs. Chargers

The Jags will need their defense to step up if they are to defeat the Chargers Sunday, making Yannick Ngakoue a key player to watch.

The Jacksonville Jaguars’ chances to make the playoffs are slim, but they at least want to go out with a bang this month. They will have a chance to end their four-game losing streak against the Los Angeles Chargers this Sunday but will need some help from their defense, which has looked like a shell of themselves as of late.

Here are four players who the Jags will need to step up come Sunday if they are to defeat the Chargers, who are also looking to end a losing streak of their own:

Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

LB Donald Payne

Donald Payne played lights out while starting in Myles Jack’s place Week 13 against the Tampa Bay Bucs. He was able to accumulate 13 total tackles and a sack and will now be the starter at middle linebacker for the remainder of the season because Jack was placed on injured reserve this week. 

With Jack having a terrible showing in the middle this year, it’s unknown if he’ll play there next year, especially with the possibility of the coaching staff being let go. That said, Payne can make his case to start in the middle with a strong day against the Chargers and beyond.

Pages: Page 1, Page 2, Page 3, Page 4

Prospects for Jags fans to watch: Ohio State CB Jeffrey Okudah

If the Jaguars were to look at corner high in the first round, Jeffrey Okudah might just be the guy they have their eyes set on.

Earlier this week Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback A.J. Bouye was asked about the defensive unit and its recent struggles and responded with the following quote, which proves the Jags’ defense needs to rebuild:

“It’s a lot of things. But then you also have to look at it this way: Coming in, we expected a personnel that we didn’t get. We had one who requested a trade. We had one who never showed up at linebacker. Then you have Marcell [Dareus], who got hurt. […] We’re just trying to make it work with what we’ve got and it’s tough sometimes and sometimes we can’t adapt to it and we try to just stay within the scheme.”

The defense has lost three of its top players for the year and it seems to be taking a toll on the unit. The team has struggled against the run especially and has had difficulties tackling as well. The once feisty and young group has lost its fire and needs direction.

With the loss of their star corner Jalen Ramsey, the team may be looking to replace the All-Pro in the upcoming 2020 NFL Draft. Who better to replace him than arguably the best corner since him: Ohio State’s Jeffrey Okudah.

Okudah possesses similar size (6-foot-1, 200 pounds) and a similar skill set to Ramsey. Both are exceptional athletes and are at their best in man coverage. Their length, ball skills, and ability to blanket receivers are elite traits along with their impressive closing ability.

If the Jaguars were to look at corner early in the first-round, Okudah might be just the guy they have their eyes set on.

Going into the 2019 season, Okudah was highly thought of. His elite athleticism is easy to see as were his other traits. However, one of his few flaws was his ability to create turnovers, this is a critique Ramsey similarly saw often coming out of Florida State. Okudah has easily shrugged off this scouting complaint though, as the young corner has already picked off opposing quarterbacks on three occasions this season.

Two of those interceptions came against the Nebraska Cornhuskers. The latter of the two was absolutely jaw-dropping as Okudah intercepted the ball while laying on his back, displaying incredible reaction skills.

Here is another example of what Okudah offers against the deep ball as he displayed excellent ball skills against the Indiana Hoosiers.

In the clip above, Okudah’s ability to keep stride with the receiver was also impressive, as was his ability to go up from behind and cause the pass breakup.

Okudah’s best traits, however, are likely his hip movement and his closing speed. Okudah is a threat in zone coverage, just as he is in man coverage. He quickly closes on balls deflecting them or stopping the play dead in its tracks. For corners, the number one thing scouts look for is fluid hips. It’s all about how well a corner can change directions and make a play on the ball. It’s often the difference in the good and great defensive backs in today’s game. Okudah makes it look easy and that’s why he is being so highly touted as a prospect.

Okudah shows off his closing speed brilliantly in this clip below against Washington.

Okudah reads the quarterback’s eyes, identifies the play and quickly reacts, batting the ball away on a key fourth down. Simply put, Okudah displays rare traits and he will likely be the first corner off the board next April.

If the Jaguars decide to look at the cornerback position, Okudah and teammate Shaun Wade will definitely be on their radar. Don’t be surprised to see Okudah flourish at the next level.

A.J. Bouye’s postgame comments are telling of disconnect in Jags’ defense

A.J. Bouye shared some telling comments with the media which shows why the Jags are performing poorly.

The Jacksonville Jaguars suffered yet another loss Sunday after a battle against the Tennessee Titans that was competitive in the first half, but not so much in the second as the final score was 42-10. There was enough blame to go around for both sides but the defense, which consists of the team’s best players, once again allowed over 400 yards on the day. Of course, the unit’s abysmal showing left fans highly upset and looking for answers, something the staff and players seemingly don’t have at the moment.

After Sunday’s game, Jags cornerback A.J. Bouye offered some striking comments that displayed just how out of sync the team was Sunday:

“At certain times as a corner, the most frustrating thing is to know a route is coming and you are yelling because you know where your help is supposed to be, and it’s not there,” Bouye said. “[Our issues] a mix of everything. We aren’t doing the things we need to be for 60 minutes.”

When looking at how things transpired, it’s worth noting that safety Ronnie Harrison had to leave the game early with a concussion. Andrew Wingard replaced him but struggled mightily, especially in coverage. With him not taking a lot of snaps with the starters, it’s possible he was a part of the disconnect in which Bouye spoke on Sunday. That’s not to say the veteran was calling anyone out, however, he more so was trying to paint a picture of how out of sync the defense was as a whole.

We’ll have to see if Harrison clears the concussion protocol and returns and will also have to see if the Jags’ defense as a whole improves heading forward. At the moment, that’s hard to envision after the attention to detail the Jags supposedly put into last week’s practice but time will tell.