Category: Laviska Shenault Jr.

2 Jaguars make PFF’s top-10 rookie rankings for Week 1

The Jags got a crazy amount of contributions from their rookies during their season opener against Indy, but two in particular were huge.

Opening weekend came and went in the blink of an eye for the NFL. Something to savor for football fans everywhere as the season kicked off after so much doubt and anticipation. It was also something to savor for Jaguars fans in particular, who witnessed their team come away with a shocking 27-20 win after many in the media tried to persuade them that the team was “tanking for Trevor.”

A big part of the Jaguars’ win on Sunday was the impact that rookies had on the overall team performance. The roster underwent a huge overhaul during the course of the offseason and many were wondering whether the team would be able to remain competitive as a result.

The 2020 rookie class more than answered the call on Sunday. There were seven first-year pros who made meaningful contributions to the team’s 1-0 start to 2020.

Both rookie receivers Collin Johnson and Laviska Shenault Jr. made their presence felt on offense. Johnson had a grab to help the Jags convert a third-down and put on an athletic display at the end of the game with a backflip while in victory formation. Shenault saw a 62% snap count and was able to register three receptions for 37 yards and a touchdown.

New offensive coordinator Jay Gruden involved Shenault out of the backfield, too, at one time deploying putting him in the wildcat for a reasonable gain. Needless to say, it got fans on Twitter very excited.

Among all of these impressive debuts, there were two rookies on the Jags’ roster who had breakout games on Sunday. In fact, their showings were so impressive that the Jags were the only team to have two players featured on Pro Football Focus’ list of top-10 graded rookies.

10. RB James Robinson, Jacksonville Jaguars

Robinson recorded 62 rushing yards on 16 carries, with 56 yards coming after contact, earning a 65.7 rushing grade that ranked 11th of 26 running backs. He didn’t get much help from the line at times, as he was contacted at or behind the line of scrimmage on nine of 16 carries, but he still managed to break off a couple of 10-plus-yard gains despite that.

Head coach Doug Marrone said his decision to move on from Leonard Fournette boiled down to what the staff saw on the practice field, an area where James Robinson seemingly flourished. The former Illinois State star was the only back in the NFL to have 100% of their team’s running back rushing attempts.

The Jaguars’ new starting running back owns a piece of history after his impressive debut, setting a new opening weekend rushing record for undrafted rookies with 62 yards. That’s, well worthy of the tenth spot on PFF’s list of rookies this week.

2. CB C.J. Henderson, Jacksonville Jaguars

CJ Henderson might have put in the best rookie debut in franchise history. It is easy to over-exaggerate after one week, but the job he did shutting down the left side of the field was nothing short of phenomenal. PFF said so themselves:

The No. 9 overall pick then earned an 84.2 PFF grade against Indianapolis in Week 1, the second-best grade of the week at the position. His grade when lined up on the outside was actually the best we have ever recorded by a rookie in Week 1 in the PFF era, and he allowed only two catches on six man-coverage targets (17 such coverage snaps) while making four plays made on the ball.

There was no doubt that the Jaguars were going to rely on their young guys to produce, but the responsibility placed on Henderson’s shoulders could have seen him crumble early.

Corner is a notoriously difficult position to translate to, yet Henderson handled the pressure like a seasoned pro. His success against a four-time Pro Bowler meant the team kept him on the field for 73 of the teams 74 defensive plays, ranked third amongst all defenders.

Both Robinson and Henderson will need to continue their growth heading forward, and if they do, the Jags have a good chance to exceed expectations. Both will be interesting to watch as the Jags take on another divisional rival in the Tennessee Titans Week 2 in Nashville.

Jags move up 6 spots in USA TODAY power rankings after win vs. Colts

The Jacksonville Jaguars are on the move in USA Today’s power rankings thanks to some Minshew Magic.

The Jacksonville Jaguars opened their season up with a 27-20 win over the Indianapolis Colts and, of course, their surprising win has reflected in the latest power rankings by USA TODAY.

After being ranked dead last entering the season, the Jags found themselves at the No. 26 spot in Tuesday’s power rankings for Week 1. After an incredible day by quarterback Gardner Minshew II, USA TODAY analyst Nate Davis seems to be ready for a dose of Minshew Mania 2.0 just as the people of Duval are.

26. Jaguars (32): Nineteen of 20, including three TD passes – while engineering Week 1 upset? Why would you want anything but Minshew Mania in #DUUUVAL?

Minshew’s performance against the Colts’ defense was absolutely surgical and he ended up making history as a result. When looking at performances of 20 passes or more, Minshew’s 95% completion rate ranked fourth in NFL history.

Minshew wasn’t the only young player to show up big for the Jags as Laviska Shenault Jr., D.J. Chark Jr., and CJ Henderson were some of the few notables to contribute touchdowns and an interception, respectively.

As for the rest of the division, the Tennessee Titans remained in the top-10, coming in at No. 7 (dropped from No. 5). The Indianapolis Colts fell down to the No. 19 spot (from No. 7) while the Houston Texans remained at No. 19.

Listen to the latest from Jags Wire’s own James Johnson and Phil Smith on their podcast “Bleav in the Jags.” Subscribe via Apple Podcasts and check out our archived episodes via Bleav Podcasts.

Laviska Shenault receives comparisons to 2 NFL legends from Keenan McCardell

Laviska Shenault has looked solid in the Jags’ non-padded sessions and his positions coach got to talks about him Sunday.

With the need for a big and physical receiver becoming evident for the Jacksonville Jaguars this offseason, the team drafted Laviska Shenault Jr. in the second-round in hopes that he could add a new element to the offense. Though the pads haven’t gone on, he’s been as advertised performance wise, standing out in the Phase 2 part of training camp.

Early Sunday morning, Jags receivers coach Keenan McCardell got to share his thoughts with the media on Shenault before heading out to practice and compared him to two greats in terms of his ability after the catch.

Talk about high praise.

Andre Johnson is a player Jags fans should know all too well as he played for the Jags’ rivals in the Houston Texans after being drafted out of Miami. Not only should he probably be the first Texan enshrined in the Hall-of-Fame, but he’s someone who has 1,794 career yards and eight touchdowns against the Jags organization.

Anquan Boldin is another receiver Jags fans should remember as he played collegiate football at Florida State and is a native of Florida. He especially was a star during his time playing with the Arizona Cardinals, exiting his NFL career with 1,076 receptions for 13,779 receiving yards and 82 touchdowns.

As for McCardell’s relationship with Shenault, it all dates back to the Jags great’s time as a receivers coach for the University of Maryland. He tried to recruit Shenault to the Terrapins, however, Shenault ended up going to Colorado. Ultimately, things still worked out for both as they ended up being apart of the Jags’ organization together.

With his college career behind him, Shenault appears to be in good hands with McCardell who has done a good job coaching up young Jags receivers like Allen Robinson, Allen Hurns, Dede Westbrook, Keelan Cole, Allen Lazard, and D.J. Chark Jr. If he can stay healthy, Jags fans have to like Shenault’s chances to be successful under McCardell, which would be tremendous for the offense’s future overall.

Listen to the latest from Jags Wire’s own James Johnson and Phil Smith on their podcast “Bleav in the Jags.” Subscribe via Apple Podcasts and check out our archived episodes via Bleav Podcasts.

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Takeaways from Day 3 of Jags training camp: Gardner Minshew, WRs impress

The Jacksonville Jaguars took the field for what is being considered Day 3 of training camp Friday and it was an eventful one. The team finally moved into some offense vs. defense drills through 7-on-7 and 11-on-11 drills. Here are some takeaways …

The Jacksonville Jaguars took the field for what is being considered Day 3 of training camp Friday and it was an eventful one. The team finally moved into some offense vs. defense drills through 7-on-7 and 11-on-11 drills.

Here are some takeaways those who were able to attend the session came away with as the Jags inched closer to padded practices:

Gardner Minshew and his receivers start on a high note

First and foremost, it was a great day for Gardner Minshew II and his receivers. He particularly had a good day connecting with D.J. Chark and Laviska Shenault Jr. However, Minshew’s pass of the day went to Dede Westbrook, who split linebacker Joe Schobert and safety Jarrod Wilson with a post route.

On the very next play, Minshew hit Chark with a bomb down the sidelines.

CJ Henderson flashed why he was a top-10 pick

Sure, it’s early in the process and the offense and defense have only seen reps against each other once in training camp, but CJ Henderson looked to be on a mission. The former Gators cornerback who was the No. 9 overall pick from April’s draft was sticky in coverage and fluid in terms of movement, catching the attention of all media members in attendance.

After losing shutdown corner Jalen Ramsey and a solid veteran in A.J. Bouye, the Jags are going to need Henderson to hold his own coming out of the gate in the regular season. So far, all of the traits he was praised for on film are showing up and it will be interesting to see if his performance from Friday translates to when the pads go on Monday.

Other notes and tidbits

  • With running back Ryquell Armstead still on the Reserve/COVID-19 list, it’s opened up the opportunity for others to step up behind Leonard Fournette and Chris Thompson. First Coast News’ Mia O’Brien singled out Devine Ozigbo and undrafted rookie James Robinson for showcasing their speed and agility. Robinson specifically is a player we’ve banged the table for at Jags Wire as he was a prospect who had a draftable grade on him back in May.
  • Before practice, defensive coordinator Todd Wash met with the media. Among the notable players, he discussed were rookie defensive tackle DaVon Hamilton, Josh Allen, the linebacking corps as a whole, and more.

  • After practice, both Shenault and Wilson met with the media to discuss training camp so far. Wilson also discussed the severity of COVID-19 and shared an important message about wearing a mask.

 

Jags QB Gardner Minshew impressed with rookie WRs Laviska Shenault, Collin Johnson so far

While he hasn’t spent a lot of time with them, Gardner Minshew likes what he’s seen from rookie WRs Laviska Shenault Jr and Collin Johnson.

While the Jacksonville Jaguars spent more draft picks on the defense than the offense, they did end up with two receivers who gives them a mix of size and ability on the perimeter. Those receivers were second-round pick Laviska Shenault Jr. and fifth-rounder Collin Johnson, and it seems both are making quite the impression on quarterback Gardner Minshew in the early stages of camp.

“Laviska’s a freak man,” Minshew told the media Tuesday. “I knew it when we played him at Colorado. I was glad he wasn’t super healthy that game because he changes the game when he has the ball in his hands. He’s really impressed me. He’s a better route runner and a lot better catching the ball than even I expected. So I’m really excited for what he’s going to be.”

“Collin is a really big guy but doesn’t really move like a big guy. He moves really well. [He] smooth in and out of his cuts catches the ball well. Both of those guys love ball and they love learning. [They are] excited to be here so I’m excited to work with them.”

The additions of Shenault and Johnson could pay off tremendously for the offense, which had a couple of weapons already in D.J. Chark Jr. and Leonard Fournette. Of course, a lot will hinge on the offensive line but their cohesiveness could be stronger in 2020 as the same group of five starters will be returning.

At 6-foot-1, 227-pounds, Shenault is a player who should bring physicality and versatility as he lined up on the perimeter, in the slot, at running back, and wildcat quarterback in college. He finished his career at Colorado with 1,943 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns.

Johnson, on the other hand, looks more like a basketball player at 6-foot-6, 222-pounds. Not only will he provide Minshew with a can’t miss target downfield, but he offers the receivers corps a sure-handed receiver. It’s possible he’ll see a lot of opportunities in the red zone this season, as the Jags are clearly going to have to score more than they did in 2019 to turn things around.

Listen to the latest from Jags Wire’s own James Johnson and Phil Smith on their podcast “Bleav in the Jags.” Subscribe via Apple Podcasts and check out our archived episodes via Bleav Podcasts.

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Look: Jags preview Laviska Shenault Jr. in uniform

The Jags have began their photoshoots for 2020 and Laviska Shenault Jr. was amongst those who participated this weekend.

We’re just over a month away from the Jacksonville Jaguars taking the field, which means fans won’t only get to see the veterans in uniform, but they will get to see their favorite rookies, too.

For second-round receiver Laviska Shenault Jr., fans won’t have to endure that wait of a month and some change thanks to the Jags’ Instagram page. With the team reporting to camp, they’ve begun their photoshoots for the season. Shenault was a part of the first wave of photos with other stars like Gardner Minshew II and D.J. Chark as the team gave fans a behind-the-scenes preview this weekend.

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Shenault has already become a fan favorite and many are hoping to see him produce relatively quickly. He’ll be coming off of a collegiate career with the Colorado Buffaloes where he accumulated 1,943 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns.

Entering the draft, Shenault was praised by many as one of the more physical receiver prospects in a star-studded group. He also was very versatile at Colorado, doing a variety of things on offense like lining up as a wildcat quarterback, running back, and slot receiver in addition to playing on the perimeter. It seems as the Jags have similar plans for him, too, as Doug Marrone stated that he told the rookie to expect the team to put a lot on his plate after he was selected in April.

WATCH: Jags rookie Laviska Shenault Jr. snags one-hander during workout

Laviska Shenault Jr. looks ready for training camp and is working hard in Jacksonville during his downtime.

COVID-19 has prevented NFL teams from practicing in a normal capacity. Some teams have had to resort to using more unconventional methods like park workouts, however, that hasn’t stopped some players from getting in some preparation for the 2020 NFL season.

Jacksonville Jaguars rookie wide receiver Laviska Shenault Jr. has seemingly taken the extra downtime to work on his catching:

 

As you can see in the video, Shenault runs a smooth post route to the endzone and makes a highly difficult one-handed catch on his outside shoulder.

Shenault was regarded as one of the most athletic prospects in the 2020 NFL Draft. He was able to do some of the drills at the combine, but a core muscle injury that he sustained before the offseason limited him from certain drills. Shenault underwent surgery after the combine as a result. His overall combine numbers were still impressive as he would run a 4.58 second 40-yard dash to go along with 17 bench press reps of 225 pounds.

The video here is an encouraging sign of things to come as having a healthy, elite offensive weapon like Shenault could mean big things to come for the Jaguars’ offense.

Jags rookies Laviska Shenault Jr., Collin Johnson, Jake Luton receive Madden 21 ratings

Three members of the Jags’ rookie class have received their “Madden NFL 21” ratings with Laviska Shenault receiving first-round pick numbers.

With “Madden NFL 21” set to come out next month, Electronic Arts has began to release the ratings for each rookie selected in the 2020 draft class. On Thursday and Friday, the respective ratings for the league’s rookie quarterbacks and receivers came out, which included Jacksonville Jaguars rookies Jake Luton, Laviska Shenault Jr., and Collin Johnson.

Luton, who was drafted out of Oregon State University, was selected the latest out of the trio (No. 189th overall). As a result, he was given a 59 overall rating, which is the lowest grade of the Jags’ rookie class so far. Luton’s best attribute is his throwing power, which comes in at a solid 87 rating.

Johnson, a fifth-round selection from the University of Texas, was given a 67 overall rating. He is a highly athletic receiver as evidenced by his 90 rated jumping attribute.

Shenault registered the highest rating among the Jags’ rookies, coming in with a 72 overall rating. The 6-foot-1, 223-pound receiver out of Colorado University is another incredible athlete on the Jaguars’ roster as evidenced by his ratings spread. He received a jump rating of 91 (his highest), but he has attributes that are actually similar to most running backs. For instance, Shenault’s ball carrying vision and juke move ratings came in at 85 and 89, respectively. For good measure Shenault’s tackle breaking rating came out to be an 82, which once again shows off how physical of a player he is.

While these numbers may seem low at first glance, rookies generally take a pounding in the ratings since their professional talent has yet to be established. If the season goes well for them, they may see a huge jump in their rating for the next “Madden NFL” installment.

Jags come to terms with second-round selection Laviska Shenault Jr.

The Jags signed another member of their 2020 draft class by coming to terms with second-round receiver Laviska Shenault Jr.

The Jacksonville Jaguars announced that they officially came to terms with rookie receiver Laviska Shenault Jr. Thursday afternoon. With his signing, they’re now at a total of five draft picks signed, leaving seven without deals currently.

The Jags selected Shenault in the second-round (No. 42 overall) from The University of Colorado in April’s draft. After putting pen to paper, he’s now the highest draft selection to make it official with the Jags as C.J. Henderson and K’Lavon Chaisson were the only two picks selected higher than him by the team.

Shenault was able to accumulate 149 catches for 1,943 yards and 18 touchdowns during his three-year tenure with the Buffaloes. While there he was a do-it-all weapon for them, not only lining up at receiver but in the slot, at running back, and at wildcat quarterback, too.

Per Over the Cap, the contract Shenault signed is a four-year deal that pays out a total of $7,696,066 with a signing bonus of $3,157,140, which will be prorated evenly over the span of each year on the deal.

When he takes the field for training camp on July 28, he’ll join a talented group that includes pro bowler D.J. Chark, veteran Chris Conley, Dede Westbrook, Keelan Cole, and Collin Johnson, who also was a draft selection this April.

Jaguars draft class ranked sixth in NFL, third in AFC

Once again, the Jags have earned high marks on their draft class of 2020 headlined by SEC standouts C.J. Henderson and K’Lavon Chaisson.

The Jacksonville Jaguars are going to need significant contributions from their 2020 NFL Draft class if they are to improve their record. After utilizing all 12 of their draft picks, they certainly got the heavy-hitters to get it done.

Many gave the Jags good grades for their class back in April and fans now can add Rotoworld to the list. In a recent look at each team’s 2020 hauls, analyst Thor Nystrom slotted them with the sixth-best class in the league and the third-best in the AFC.

Just a well-rounded process for the Jaguars overall. Jacksonville finished No. 6 in both Draft Score and in the UDFA class rankings and naturally checked in No. 6 in the NFL (and No. 3 in the AFC) in the overall Draft Haul rankings. I was higher on Jacksonville’s draft than the media at large, which ranked the Jags No. 11 in GPA. CB C.J. Henderson and EDGE K’Lavon Chaisson were no-doubt picks at positions of need. WR Laviska Shenault was grand theft in the second-round, while OT Ben Bartch and CB Josiah Scott were both big-time fourth-round values.

The Jags have already come out to say they expect both C.J. Henderson and K’Lavon Chaisson to make an immediate impact Week 1.

Henderson will undoubtedly start after the Jags lost Jalen Ramsey in the 2019 season and A.J. Bouye this March. Chaisson, on the other hand, should see significant snaps, too, though Yannick Ngakoue’s status could impact his play-time.

Nystrom calling Laviska Shenault Jr. a steal isn’t shocking either. The Jags somewhat referred to him in the same light, stating that he basically would’ve gone much higher in 2019’s draft. He unfortunately had some injuries that hindered his 2020 stock, but the front office was still happy to land him nonetheless.

As for Ben Bartch and Josiah Scott, both could end up being the Jags’ starting right guard and nickelback in 2021 with A.J. Cann not meeting expectations and D.J. Hayden on the last year of his contract. Another player who was drafted in the fourth round that Nystrom didn’t mention was linebacker Shaq Quarterman, who has great developmental tools, too.

When looking at the contributions the Jags got from their 2019 class between Gardner Minshew, Josh Allen, and Jawaan Taylor, Nystrom isn’t wrong to be high on their newest class. Ultimately, if 2020’s class can live up to the high praise they’ve received, Dave Caldwell and Doug Marrone should be able to keep their jobs heading into next year.