Tag: Anton Harrison

Walker Little: Anton Harrison is ‘going to be a real force’ for Jaguars

Anton Harrison had a rough day against the Chiefs, but Walker Little isn’t worried about the Jaguars rookie’s future.

Anton Harrison’s second career NFL game was about as tough as it gets. The Jacksonville Jaguars rookie right tackle was frequently matched up against the Kansas City Chiefs’ star defensive lineman Chris Jones. It went about as well as anyone should’ve expected.

Jones, a four-time Pro Bowler, recorded two sacks and four hurries on only 29 pass rushing snaps.

Left tackle Walker Little, who fared much better on the opposite side Sunday, isn’t too concerned about Harrison’s rough showing in Week 2, though.

“I think he’s doing a great job,” Little said. “He’s learning a lot, he’s building that confidence. It’s hard, this is a hard league and it takes a lot of reps. A lot of game reps against really good guys like we went against last week and this week and we’ll continue to go against.

“He’s doing a great job, he’s learning a lot, he’s going to be a great player. We all know it, he knows it, he just needs to keep his confidence. He’s a really good player, he works really hard, and he’s going to be a real force for this team.”

Jaguars coach Doug Pederson was similarly positive about the future of his young left tackle.

“I got all of the confidence in the world in Anton. And, you know, listen, Chris Jones is a great player. He’s great player. I mean, he’s a very good player, right? And Anton’s a good player. This is a great game for Anton to learn from.”

Harrison, 21, has been credited with allowing three sacks and five total pressures through his first two games.

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Jaguars G Brandon Scherff will play Week 2 game against Chiefs

Brandon Scherff is set to take the field against the Chiefs despite a Week 1 ankle sprain.

After suffering an ankle injury against the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, Jacksonville Jaguars offensive guard Brandon Scherff is set to return to the field against the Kansas City Chiefs.

Scherff sustained the injury early in the second half when Colts cornerback Kenny Moore II landed on the back of his ankle. He returned for a few plays before missing the rest of the game.

The veteran lineman didn’t participate in Wednesday’s practice, but after practicing in a limited capacity Thursday, Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson announced Friday that Scherff is in for Sunday’s home opener.

“I think everybody heals differently; pain tolerance is different for everybody,” Pederson said. “He played at Iowa — tough player. It just goes to show the type of person that he is and how important his teammates are and this team and trying to be available for every game.”

Scherff received an MRI after his injury, which revealed he sustained a sprained ankle and was ruled day-to-day.

Pederson recognized Scherff’s importance to the team as Jacksonville navigated his injury.

“It’s obviously a loss for the offensive line, it’s pretty substantial,” Pederson said Monday. “His leadership with Anton [Harrison] there and the communication they’ve had and the rapport they’ve had since the offseason.”

Pederson was confident in Tyler Shatley’s ability to fill in for the injured Scherff, but Shatley will now be on standby.

Scherff joined the Jaguars on a three-year, $49.5 million contract in the 2022 offseason. He has been a captain in both his seasons in Duval, and has become a mentor for some of the younger players on the roster.

The Chiefs will have Chris Jones available for the first time this season after he signed a new contract with Kansas City. Scherff’s status gives the Jaguars an experienced, proven guard to help fight off the Chiefs’ impressive defensive line that got even scarier with Jones’ return.

Doug Pederson: Brandon Scherff absence would be ‘pretty substantial’

Doug Pederson says it’ll be a real challenge for the Jaguars offensive line if Brandon Scherff misses time due to his ankle injury.

Jacksonville Jaguars guard Brandon Scherff avoided the worst case scenario Sunday when he suffered an ankle injury in Week 1 against the Indianapolis Colts.

According to Jaguars coach Doug Pederson, an MRI revealed that it’s a sprain for Scherff and he said the two-time team captain will be “day-to-day” as he recovers. If the guard can’t play in Week 2 and beyond, Pederson says it’ll present a real challenge for Jacksonville to overcome.

“It’s obviously a loss for the offensive line, it’s pretty substantial,” Pederson said Monday. “Yeah, his leadership with Anton [Harrison] there and the communication they’ve had and the rapport they’ve had since the offseason.

“If he can’t [play], we’re confident [Tyler] Shatley filled in well, veteran guy who knows the system will do the same thing as far as communication goes with Anton and himself. All the confidence in the world that we’ll have the answers there.”

After going down with the injury Sunday, Scherff was helped to the sideline and carted to the locker room. However, he later returned and played a few snaps before exiting the game for good.

Scherff, 31, joined the Jaguars on a three-year, $49.5 million contract in the 2022 offseason and instantly earned captainship in his first season with his new team. Prior to signing in Jacksonville, Scherff was a two-time team captain and five-time Pro Bowler with the Washington Commanders.

While Scherff hasn’t provided the same level of play that he had in Washington, his leadership and steadiness was a factor in Jawaan Taylor putting together a career-best season in 2022 and center Luke Fortner hitting the ground running as a rookie.

Earlier in the 2023 offseason, first-round rookie Anton Harrison credited Scherff with helping him get ready for his first NFL season.

“Playing beside him right now is great, just to lean on him, ask him any questions,” Harrison told the Jaguars.com podcast. “He always says ‘No question is a dumb question.’ So he’s always just helping me out with anything, trying to have me out there playing freely, playing my best.”

Shatley started 12 games at left guard during the 2022 season after Ben Bartch suffered a season-ending knee injury.

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Jaguars PFF grades: Best and worst performers vs. Colts

Pro Football Focus was impressed with Trevor Lawrence and the Jaguars’ offensive playmakers. The offensive line? Not so much.

The Jacksonville Jaguars kicked off their 2023 season with a win Sunday, beating the Indianapolis Colts, 31-21.

The 10-point Week 1 victory didn’t come easy, though. The Colts took a four-point lead into the fourth quarter and the Jaguars needed a couple touchdowns late in the game to snatch away the victory.

At Pro Football Focus, every Jaguars player was graded for their effort in the game against the Colts.

Here are the Jaguars players who stood out and struggled most on Sunday, according to PFF:

Colts vs. Jaguars: Key matchups to watch in Week 1

Taking a look at the matchups that will determine the outcome of the Week 1 opener.

The Indianapolis Colts (0-0) are set to host the Jacksonville Jaguars (0-0) at Lucas Oil Stadium on Sunday to officially commence the regular season.

While the Jaguars are solid road favorites in this opener, this game is likely going to come down to a handful of matchups on both sides of the ball. As rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson makes his first official start, there will be a number of matchups to keep an eye on.

Here are the key matchups to watch in Week 1 between the Colts and Jaguars:

Jaguars’ Anton Harrison, Christian Braswell change jersey numbers

Jaguars rookies Anton Harrison and Christian Braswell are changing their jersey numbers with the regular season on deck.

Jacksonville Jaguars first- and sixth-round rookies Anton Harrison and Christian Braswell will wear different jersey numbers this season than they did through camp and preseason.

On Thursday morning, the Jaguars announced Harrison will wear No. 77 this year and Braswell will wear No. 21. The team also said newly added Angelo Blackson will take No. 90.

Harrison, the No. 27 overall pick in April, previously wore No. 76 this offseason. The No. 77 jersey was owned by offensive tackle Josh Wells, who landed on the season-ending injured reserve Tuesday. There’s been no announcement of a move to release Wells from the IR with a settlement, but Harrison’s jersey swap may indicate that’s coming soon.

Braswell previously wore No. 36 while fellow rookie Latavious Brini, who was waived Tuesday, had No. 21.

Players who once wore the No. 77 jersey in Jacksonville included guard Uche Nwaneri and guard/tackle Zach Wiegert. The Jaguars’ No. 21 jersey once belonged to cornerbacks Aaron Beasley, A.J. Bouye, and Derek Cox. Current Jaguars cornerback Darious Williams was No. 21 for a stretch before switching to No. 31.

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Three Oklahoma Sooners to watch on offense against Arkansas State

Taking a look at three Oklahoma Sooners to watch on offense vs. Arkansas State.

Saturday will mark the start of year two for Jeff Lebby as Oklahoma’s offensive coordinator. While the Sooners posted some solid numbers last year, it always felt like they could’ve done more. That sentiment is something players and coaches alike have echoed throughout the offseason. Situational football was emphasized, along with consistency.

However, some significant pieces from last year’s team are no longer in Norman.

OU’s rushing attack ranked No. 10 in the country, averaging 219.4 yards per game. The offensive line responsible for that lost three starters in [autotag]Anton Harrison[/autotag], [autotag]Wanya Morris[/autotag], and [autotag]Chris Murray[/autotag]. Harrison was a first-rounder to the Jacksonville Jaguars, and Morris was a third-rounder to the Kansas City Chiefs. Starting running back [autotag]Eric Gray[/autotag] went off and posted the ninth-best season on the ground in program history last year. He’s with the New York Giants.

[autotag]Brayden Willis[/autotag] and explosive star receiver [autotag]Marvin Mims[/autotag] will be missed in the passing game. Willis is with the San Francisco 49ers, and Mims was a third-round pick by the Denver Broncos. The two combined for 1,597 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns. That’s an insane amount of production lost and presents a massive hole in the passing game.

The challenge in the offseason for Lebby was finding replacements for the names lost. Additionally, he and the offensive staff had to help develop the guys coming back this offseason. The time to prove it starts on Saturday.

With that in mind, here’s our look at three offensive players to watch for the season opener against Arkansas State.

Up Next: An Ascending Offensive Linemen

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

Tyler Guyton among Dane Brugler’s top-50 prospects for the 2024 NFL Draft

Oklahoma’s Tyler Guyton is the lone Sooner in Dane Brugler’s initial 2024 top 50 draft board.

Oklahoma is just a week away from kicking off its 2023 season. They’ll take on Arkansas State at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. The  Sooners look to distance themselves from a squad that started 3-0 but struggled inside Big 12 play.

Along the offensive line, the Sooners lost three starters from last year. Chris Murray graduated, and the tackles Anton Harrison and Wanya Morris were drafted in the first three rounds of the 2023 NFL draft.

Enter Tyler Guyton, a former transfer from TCU who played in 10 games and made five starts last year. His best performance came against Jared Verse and Florida State in the Cheez-It Bowl.

Verse would have been a top-ten pick in the 2023 NFL draft, but opted to stay in school one more year. It’s likely he’ll be a top-ten pick in the 2024 draft.

It was a nice back and for the battle between the two, with both Guyton and Verse winning snaps.

That performance and his noteworthy physical traits have caught the eye of the NFL and draft aficionados. Dane Brugler, one of the best scouting and draft experts in the business, released his initial top 50 draft board for the 2024 NFL Draft (subscription required). Oklahoma’s Tyler Guyton was the lone Sooner to crack the top 50.

If he were to be drafted there, Guyton slotted in at No. 31. He’s currently Dane Brugler’s No. 6 offensive tackle in the 2024 class. With a premium placed on offensive tackles in the draft, there’s a good chance Guyton could be a first round pick.

Now, there are a couple of ways to look at that. As it stands, Guyton is comfortably a top-100 pick. Anton Harrison was similarly in the same range to start last season and stayed in the top 50 range until the draft before being selected 27th by the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Guyton has more to prove than Harrison, as this year would be his first full season as a starter. Harrison started the 2021 season and played a lot in his true freshman season in 2020.

This is a prove-it year for Guyton. Pro Football Focus said he played 400 snaps and allowed two sacks and no hits on 191 pass-blocking plays in 2022. Those numbers work, but how will they play when teams consistently gameplan for you? That will be one of Guyton’s challenges.

Offensive line coach Bill Bedenabugh had a glowing review for his starting right tackle. “He’s got all the ability in the world,” Bedenbaugh said. “He’s one of the most talented guys I’ve ever seen, and we’ve had some pretty talented guys come through here.”

Guyton’s size and athletic traits will make him one of the more intriguing prospects in draft circles next spring. The stage is set for Guyton to become one of the best players on Oklahoma’s roster. He can also position himself as a first-round draft choice next April.

If he can take his game to the next level and secure Dillon Gabriel’s blindside, he has a great chance of becoming Oklahoma’s next first round offensive tackle.

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Jaguars OL coach: Anton Harrison’s feet ‘best I’ve seen out of a rookie’

Jaguars offensive line coach Phil Rauscher is very impressed with what he’s seen out of Anton Harrison.

The Jacksonville Jaguars had high hopes from day one for first-round pick Anton Harrison, essentially anointing him the team’s starting right tackle days after picking him in April.

After a few weeks of training camp, the Jaguars’ optimism hasn’t faded. Harrison has looked more than capable of starting duties in both training camp and preseason.

“His feet are the best I’ve seen out of a rookie,” Jaguars offensive line coach Phil Rauscher told the Florida Times-Union earlier this week. “We drafted Christian Darrisaw when I was in Minnesota in the first round and Christian’s an unbelievable player, but foot-speed-wise, Anton’s got him beat in that sense.

“When you don’t have great foot speed, you have to have great length and fundamentals and stuff. So [having great foot speed] kind of gives you an edge. … If you screw up, your feet can catch you back up and get you through the down, which is hard.”

Jacksonville would be very fortunate if Harrison developed the way Darrisaw has in Minnesota. The Vikings’ 2021 first-rounder earned a stellar 90.3 grade from Pro Football Focus in 2022, second highest among offensive tackles and third highest among all offensive linemen.

For now, the Jaguars are just hoping Harrison can be an adequate starter as a rookie when the team attempts to defend its AFC South crown. In a preseason opener against the Dallas Cowboys, Harrison allowed zero pressures across 12 snaps in pass protection.

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Grading each Jaguars draftee’s preseason debut vs. Cowboys

Which Jaguars rookie impressed you most Saturday night?

The Jacksonville Jaguars started off preseason with a 28-23 win over the Dallas Cowboys that featured impressive performances from Nathan Rourke, DaVon Hamilton, and others.

Star quarterback Trevor Lawrence shook off an early interception to lead the Jaguars down the field for a touchdown and two-point conversion. But there’s no reason for Jacksonville fans to care too much about Lawrence’s preseason performance. It’s the rookies who deserve the most attention in August.

While training camp will reign supreme in determining who makes the 53-man roster, preseason is a big factor and it’s the first chance for many fans to see how the newest additions to the roster fit in.

So how did the Jaguars’ massive 13-player draft class perform Saturday night? Let’s take a closer look: