The Jags could use some competition at the quarterback position and are eying Andy Dalton to come in and provide it.
Earlier in the month NFL insider Ian Rapoport joined Jags Wire for an episode of “Bleav in the Jags” and revealed that the Jacksonville Jaguars would have interest in veteran quarterback Andy Dalton if released.
Since his release this morning many have come forward to confirm that the Jags are now looking into bringing Dalton in including a report from Tyler Dragon of the Cincinnati Enquirer, who also stated the New England Patriots have interest, too.
The Jaguars and Patriots are among the teams interested in Andy Dalton, per a source.
Afterward, NFL Network’s Steve Wyche also chimed in on the report, stating that his source, who is close to the situation, said the Jags’ interest in Dalton was “legitimate.” He added that the potential addition of Dalton is one that may put Minshew Mania “on hold” but said the Jags’ salary cap situation could be a snag in talks.
The only issue they would have to worry about at that point is someone offering a better deal (as a backup or starter) as Wyche said. Then again, maybe he’ll be drawn to the Jags because of his familiarity with Gruden and the system, even if other offers are better. Regardless, fans should be on Dalton watch these next few days as the Jags clearly want him to join the organization.
What if the Bengals ship Andy Dalton to the Jaguars?
[jwplayer aBSfyrKD-ThvAeFxT]
The combination of Dre Kirkpatrick’s release and most of the quarterback vacancies around the NFL filled leads to a singular idea — the Jacksonville Jaguars might be the last realistic trade partner for the Cincinnati Bengals when it comes to Andy Dalton.
Gruden helped bring Dalton into the leauge and got some of his best seasons out of him before moving on to coach in Washington. He’s now in Jacksonville and probably wouldn’t mind having a player of Dalton’s caliber to compete with Gardner Minshew.
Besides the Gruden connection, most of the other quarterback landing spots dyring up fuels this idea. Chicago went for Nick Foles. New England seems content to keep things in-house. Somewhere like Carolina went for Teddy Bridgewater and former MVP Cam Newton remains on the market.
Money could be a problem in any trade. While Dalton’s roughly $17 million isn’t guaranteed and makes him a rental, teams might want to avoid paying the price there and instead wait for Dalton to hit the open market when the Bengals end up cutting him.
The Bengals might hold out on a Dalton move until well into the summer seeking out a team that gets very desperate. Gruden getting in the Jaguars’ ear about securing him might be the only thing to move the needle now.
The Jacksonville Jaguars addressed their most pressing need on offense with the addition of tight end Tyler Eifert Tuesday. Due to his connection with Jags offensive coordinator Jay Gruden, the move could pay off in the end as it brings in a red …
The Jacksonville Jaguars addressed their most pressing need on offense with the addition of tight end Tyler Eifert Tuesday. Due to his connection with Jags offensive coordinator Jay Gruden, the move could pay off in the end as it brings in a red zone threat who is familiar with the system.
With Eifert’s history with injuries, the key will be his ability to stay healthy as he’s only participated in 59 games over his seven year career. Despite that, he has the chance to earn $15.5 million over the course of his two-year deal, according to NFL insider Ian Rapoport, however, the rest of his contract specifics are unknown.
The #Jaguars signed TE Tyler Eifert to a 2-year deal worth $15.5M, source said. The former first rounder is back with his old coach, Jay Gruden, and fills a big need in Jax.
Upon first glancing at Rapoport’s statements, fans probably won’t like that figure for the veteran but it’s worth noting that the deal is incentive based. That news was reported by the Associated Press’ Mark Long on Tuesday.
When looking at how they’ve done contracts in the past, it’s possible the deal will have an out in year two, with the guarantees mostly paid off. That way if the Jags get enough out of Eifert in 2020, they can make another decision next spring but that’s just pure speculation.
Eifert will enter 2020 with a career total of 185 catches, 2,152 yards and 24 touchdowns. When healthy he’s been a big-time red zone threat and could help Gardner Minshew II improve his play significantly in 2020.
The Jacksonville Jaguars made a big addition on defense last week when they came to terms with linebacker Joe Schobert. This week, however, they did it for the offense by adding tight end Tyler Eifert. Just as he has for all of the Jags’ free agent …
The Jacksonville Jaguars made a big addition on defense last week when they came to terms with linebacker Joe Schobert. This week, however, they did it for the offense by adding tight end Tyler Eifert.
Just as he has for all of the Jags’ free agent additions, coach Doug Marrone discussed the Jags’ reasoning behind Eifert’s signing, and as most suspected, it was due to his abilities as a duel threat.
“Tyler is a proven contributor in this league, and we’re excited to add him to our team,” Marrone said, per Jaguars.com. “He has shown the ability to be a playmaker in the passing game, especially in the red zone, while also adding immense value as a blocker in the run game.
“I expect him to make us more efficient and productive on the offensive side of the ball, and after speaking with Tyler, I know he’s eager for this opportunity.”
The Jags entered the 2020 offseason with a clear need at tight end. Their two most notable names at the position, Josh Oliver and James O’Shaughnessy, both ended up on injured reserve in 2019, leaving them with a mix of regular season free agent additions. With both returning, the Jags will at least start the season off significantly better than they were last year but the key will be for them to remain healthy throughout the season.
Eifert will be coming off a tenure with the Bengals in which he had injury issues of his own and only played in 59 games over the course of seven seasons. Needless to say, this will make the contract details of his two year deal very important. However, it’s worth noting that he participated in all of the Bengals’ games last season.
With the Jags looking to build around Gardner Minshew II, Eifert’s addition could pay off in a big way as the young quarterback clearly took a liking to O’Shaughnessy before he tore his ACL in 2019. Without O’Shaughnessy and Oliver, the Jags registered a 40.43% red zone scoring percentage (touchdowns only) by the time 2019 ended. That figure was good for 31st in the league, so one could clearly understand the Jags’ efforts to fix the issue.
The Jags came to terms with veteran TE Tyler Eifert, bolstering their TE group which desperately needed another veteran.
After adding several members to their defense during the early stages of free agency, the Jacksonville Jaguars turned their attention to the offense Tuesday. Per Tom Pelissero of NFL Network, the Jacksonville Jaguars agreed to terms with veteran tight end Tyler Eifert. The deal is reportedly for a two-year incentive-based contract but the figures are unknown.
The #Jaguars agreed to terms with former #Bengals TE Tyler Eifert on a two-year deal, source said.
Eifert, 29, was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in the first-round (No. 21 overall) of the 2013 NFL Draft. While there he played under current Jags coordinator Jay Gruden for a season (2013) and accumulated 39 catches for 445 yards (his second-highest total) and two touchdowns.
Tight end was a top-3 need for the Jags in the eyes of most and adding Eifert gives the Jags’ young offense a veteran who is familiar with the system Gruden will be utilizing. He’ll join notables James O’Shaugnessy and Josh Oliver, both of whom will be coming off injured reserve. His presence can especially help Oliver, who the team is high on and is coming off his rookie campaign.
The key for Eifert will be his health as he’s missed 53 of 112 games. In terms of starts, he’ll enter his Jags tenure with 39.
Eifert will enter 2020 with a career total of 185 catches, 2,152 yards and 24 touchdowns. Last year, he totaled 43 catches for 436 yards and three touchdowns and accumulated a Pro Football Focus grade of 65.7.
Kansas City sits atop Touchdown Wire’s final 2019-20 Power Rankings, but coaching moves spur movement up and down our postseason list.
When we compiled the last Touchdown Wire Power Rankings of the regular season, we based them strictly on how teams fared in the 2019 season. That’s a tried and true formula and a fair way to judge how a team performed in that season.
Now, we’re going to take a slightly different approach. That’s because there already have been a lot of changes this offseason — coaching changes, changes at the top of the quarterback hierarchy and plenty of speculation about potentially significant player movement when the league year starts in March.
That’s why we’re taking a different approach to our postseason rankings. Yes, what a team did during the season will play heavily, but changes in 2020 also matter.
For example, the Washington Redskins were No. 31 in our rankings at the end of the regular season. But they’re moving up with the arrival of coach Ron Rivera, who will bring a sense of order that was previously lacking.
Now, that the Super Bowl has been played, it’s time for the final Touchdown Wire Power Rankings for the 2019-20 season.
32. Cincinnati Bengals
Jonathan Bachman / Getty Images
(2-14; Previous rank: 32)
The Bengals were consistently dismal all season, and that’s why they’re holding onto the No. 32 spot. Head coach Zac Taylor is lucky to be returning for a second season, but owner Mike Brown has been unusually patient through the years. Maybe that patience will pay off this time. The Bengals get a great reward for being so bad. They earned the first pick in the draft, and it’s almost universally believed they’ll use it on LSU quarterback Joe Burrow, the 2019 Heisman Trophy winner. Burrow might make a big difference right away. But he needs help. The offensive line needs an overhaul, and it’s imperative that the team re-signs receiver A.J. Green, who can make Burrow look good in a hurry.
31. Carolina Panthers
Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports
(5-11; Previous rank: 26)
We dropped the Panthers to No. 31 because they’ve had so many changes. And none of them are clearly for the better. Owner David Tepper continues to put his stamp on the team, and things are likely to get worse before they get better. Tepper fired coach Ron Rivera late last season. Rivera is highly respected around the league. Tepper replaced him with Matt Rhule, who has a reputation as a program builder on the college level but has never been an NFL head coach. Throw in Luke Kuechly’s surprise retirement and the parting of ways with tight end Greg Olsen, and the roster is worse today than at the end of the season. Plus, there’s no telling what the Panthers will do with injury-plagued quarterback Cam Newton.
30. Detroit Lions
Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports
(3-12-1; Previous rank: 30)
Head coach Matt Patricia and general manager Bob Quinn held onto their jobs despite a disastrous season. The only reason I can see for that is that owner Martha Ford gave Patricia a pass because he played much of the season without quarterback Matthew Stafford. The veteran Stafford isn’t a world beater, but he puts up stats and keeps the Lions competitive. Stafford’s return will help the Lions, but Patricia and Quinn have to go out and acquire more talent if they’re going to contend for a playoff spot. If they don’t, they’ll be gone.
29. New York Giants
Danielle Parhizkaran-USA TODAY Sports
(4-12. Previous rank: 28)
Head coach Pat Shurmur was fired, and that’s not a bad thing. But he was replaced by Joe Judge. That likely prompted many New York fans to say, “Joe Who?” because Judge wasn’t a household name. Judge was the special teams and wide receivers coach for the Patriots. His New England pedigree undoubtedly helped him land the job. But this is a tough gig. Shurmur and predecessor Ben McAdoo failed miserably. Judge doesn’t have a lot to work with besides quarterback Daniel Jones and running back Saquon Barkley.
28. Jacksonville Jaguars
Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports
(6-10. Previous rank: 29)
The Jaguars move up one spot in our rankings — mainly because they kept coach Doug Marrone but got rid of executive vice president of football operations Tom Coughlin. That should take pressure off Marrone, because Coughlin was a control freak and loomed over every move the coach made. Now this truly is Marrone’s team. His first big decision will be whether to start veteran quarterback Nick Foles or second-year pro Gardner Minshew. Neither is a bad choice.
27. Washington Redskins
Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports
(3-13. Previous rank: 31)
Washington scooped up former Carolina coach Ron Rivera to replace the fired Jay Gruden and interim replacement Bill Callahan. That was the best coaching hire of the postseason. Now, the Redskins have an adult running the show. Rivera, a former linebacker for the Chicago Bears, is known as a players’ coach. That’s only partly true. He also is a no-nonsense coach, who is firmly in control of his team. His specialty is defense, but his first task in Washington will be to find out if the Redskins can win with second-year quarterback Dwayne Haskins.
26. Miami Dolphins
Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports
(5-11. Previous rank: 27)
Remember all the early talk last year about how the Dolphins were tanking and could go 0-16. That looked like a possibility for a bit. But coach Brian Flores held his team together, and the Dolphins started winning games, including the season finale at New England. They took themselves out of contention for the No. 1 overall draft pick. But they still could land their quarterback of the future with the fifth overall pick — perhaps Alabama’s Tua Tagovailoa or Oregon’s Justin Herbert. In the meantime, veteran Ryan Fitzpatrick will be around to guide the offense until a replacement is deemed ready for action.
25. Los Angeles Chargers
Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
(5-11. Previous rank: 25)
Next season will be one of change for the Chargers. They’ll be moving into a new stadium they’ll share with the Rams. More importantly, they should have a new look on the field. Veteran quarterback Philip Rivers is almost certainly done after 16 seasons with the franchise. That has fueled wild speculation that New England quarterback Tom Brady could be coming to the Chargers. There’s some logic to this one. Brady has said he’s open to playing for another team. He owns a home in Los Angeles. The Chargers need wins. They also need help at the box office. There might not be a bigger drawing card than Brady. Maybe this is a pipe dream, but it’s not an impossibility.
The addition of the Jags’ new offensive coordinator could send them in the direction of A.J. Green this offseason.
The Jacksonville Jaguars are heading into a crucial offseason and one in which general manager Dave Caldwell knows he has to make the right moves. With Shad Khan being patient with both him and Doug Marrone through two losing seasons, the team will be in “win now” mode once again this offseason and will have to land several starters in free agency and the draft.
After a rough season, the Jags will have to put a lot of resources into building around Gardner Minshew II (or maybe even Nick Foles). Of course, that will include bolstering the offensive line and landing the best tight end possible. The one area that seems to get overlooked is the receivers corps, however, where the Jags could use a star to keep teams from keying in on DJ Chark Jr.
With a new offensive coordinator in Jay Gruden, he’ll likely have some input in declaring what’s needed, and if he feels receiver is worth addressing, it wouldn’t be a shocker for him to bang the table for his former player A.J. Green. As many are aware, Gruden was his coordinator during his first three years in Cincinnati and was very successful in the process, totaling three 1,000 yard seasons, three Pro Bowl nominations, and two second-team All-Pro nominations.
Green, 31, is scheduled to be a free agent this offseason if the Bengals don’t retain him. While he’s over the age of 30 and didn’t play last season, many feel he has several good years left in him and the Jags could honestly use a veteran of his caliber. The reason for that is because they are as young of a team as fans will find, which clearly showed in 2019 between the penalties they accumulated and struggles in general.
If the Jags were to add Green, there wouldn’t be much of a transition for him in terms of learning the scheme and he could help the Jags’ key players like Minshew and Chark pick it up, too. In fact, the situation would be identical to Foles’ addition to John DeFilippo’s scheme last March as the veteran already knew a great deal of the system’s verbiage and strengths.
Personally, I don’t think the Jags should try and add Green but it definitely will come up behind closed doors as the team begins to discuss free agency. However, the key thing to consider here is the fact that the Jags will have to be selective of the money they spend. In all probability, the position they may need to spend the most on is at tight end, the defensive line, or at linebacker, which are significantly more pressing needs.
Additionally, the wide receivers class for this year’s draft is great and deep. The Jags could find a pretty cheap option outside of the first-round, but if they value experience at the position, don’t be shocked to see them have interest in Green.
One of the last two NFL games of the 2019 season will be played this Sunday as the AFC and NFC will duke it out for the 2020 Pro Bowl. One player who fans will get to see take the field in the process is Kirk Cousins, a former quarterback of new …
One of the last two NFL games of the 2019 season will be played this Sunday as the AFC and NFC will duke it out for the 2020 Pro Bowl. One player who fans will get to see take the field in the process is Kirk Cousins, a former quarterback of new Jags offensive coordinator Jay Gruden.
Earlier this week during practice, Jaguars reporter Ashlyn Sullivan was able to talk to Cousins about Gruden, who had nothing but praise for his old head coach from his time with the Washington Redskins.
“It was a great hire. I don’t think they could’ve done any better than coach Gruden,” Cousins said on Thursday. “So experienced, he’s had so much production in calling plays with a variety of different players in a variety of different places. So he will do a great job with that team, with that system, and I think everybody is in a good place hiring him.”
Cousins words definitely should mean something to Jags fans because, after all, he is playing in the Pro Bowl and has had postseason success, too. This postseason, the Minnesota Vikings and Cousins pulled off a huge upset against the New Orleans Saints to open up the postseason. Simply put, wouldn’t have been possible without Cousins’ experience while with Gruden and the Redskins.
“When he came in I was a nobody in this league. I couldn’t even spell Pro Bowl,” Cousins added. “And so I look at his development with me and the work he did through 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2017. I was with him for four years. I owe him him a great deal for my progression and my development as a player, and he knows that. I expect him to do the same with a lot of those young players in Jacksonville.”
Now, Gruden will be tasked with coaching up another young quarterback in Gardner Minshew II (and a veteran in Nick Foles), who flashed as a rookie by winning six games but is far from a finished product. With Gruden’s west coast scheme allowing Minshew to make quick decisions, it could be move that helps the team tremendously as the Jags need a spark offensively after finishing 26th in points and 20th in yards.
Former Washington head coach Jay Gruden comes to Duval County to help right the ship.
(Brett Davis, USA TODAY Sports)
The Jacksonville Jaguars opted to keep head coach Doug Marrone in charge for the 2020 season but made yet another switch at offensive coordinator — this time bringing in former Washington Redskins head coach Jay Gruden.
Gruden made a name for himself as an elite player and also a head coach in the Arena Football League. He won four titles as a player and another two as a coach, appearing in four total championship games while on the sidelines. He also appeared in one more title game, losing during his lone year as the head coach in the United Football League.
From 2002-08, Gruden served as an offensive assistant under his brother, Jon Gruden, with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, including during their Super Bowl win. During the 2009 he was the OC in the UFL for the Florida Tuskers, and he became head coach of the franchise for 2010 season.
The NFL came calling once again in 2011. Then-Cincinnati Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis hired Gruden to serve as his offensive coordinator, a position he held for three seasons prior to joining Washington.
Table: Jay Gruden’s offensive ranks from 2011-18 (higher number is better)
Offense
Rushing Off
Passing Off
Year
Tm
Role
Yds
Pts
TO
Att
Yds
TD
Y/A
FL
Att
Yds
TD
Int
2011
CIN
OC
20
18
9
10
19
21
27
10
20
20
13
12
2012
CIN
OC
22
12
17
17
18
18
20
17
19
17
7
18
2013
CIN
OC
10
6
25
8
18
13
28
16
12
8
3
24
2014
WAS
HC
13
26
29
21
19
9
14
25
18
11
27
26
2015
WAS*
HC
17
10
15
14
20
20
30
22
20
11
13
9
2016
WAS*
HC
3
12
15
27
21
6
9
13
7
2
14
14
2017
WAS
HC
16
16
26
24
27
21
30
30
18
12
9
16
2018
WAS
HC
28
29
11
14
17
20
18
1
26
28
28
22
*Did not call plays
The 2019 season was removed from the table due to Gruden coaching only five games. He gave up playcalling duties following his first season in Washington, and after Sean McVay left for the Los Angeles Rams prior to 2017, Gruden resumed a dual role. Even with McVay was calling the plays from week to week, it was still Gruden’s offensive system, and the head coach would occasionally have to steer McVay back on course. Kevin O’Connell served as the official offensive coordinator, which meant he focused mainly on helping design game plans from week to week and making sure players understood their roles as well as the concepts.
Gruden is a bright offensive mind with considerable success, although he never has been able to consistently produce a dominant offense in the NFL. The most successful campaign came with McVay making the in-game decisions. Gruden wasn’t able to overcome suspect quarterback play when presented to him. He made a mess of the three-way situation with Robert Griffin III, Kirk Cousins and Colt McCoy in 2014, and we saw four actual quarterbacks throw passes in the 2018 hot start that quickly turned south after Alex Smith broke his leg. While it is fair to wonder what could have been with a healthy Smith, and/or whether the Redskins would be on a different trajectory had RG3 not battled so many injuries, here we are…
Gruden enters the 2020 season with a veteran journeyman in Nick Foles and a promising 2019 rookie in Gardner Minshew as his primary options at quarterback. There may be politics at play that force Foles into the starting lineup, but Minshew clearly was the better quarterback when given the chance.
The offense has roots of West Coast football, and Foles thrived in modified WCOs while with the Philadelphia Eagles. Perhaps this gives him a leg up on Minshew, but the 2019 John DeFilippo system was also carved out of a West Coast bedrock, and Foles was a dud.
Pass-to-run ratio
Table: Jay Gruden playcalling breakdown
Rk
Year
Team
Rush Att/G
Pass Att/G
Plays/G
Run %
Pass %
21
2011
Cincinnati Bengals
28.4
33.4
61.9
46.0%
54.0%
19
2012
Cincinnati Bengals
26.9
33.8
60.6
44.3%
55.7%
22
2013
Cincinnati Bengals
30.1
36.7
66.8
45.0%
55.0%
17
2014
Washington Redskins
25.1
34.2
59.3
42.3%
57.7%
14
2017
Washington Redskins
25.1
33.8
58.8
42.6%
57.4%
23
2018
Washington Redskins
26.0
32.0
58.0
44.9%
55.1%
Gruden prefers to set up the pass with the run and remain committed to the ground game. Even though he has passed more than run by 9 or more percentage points in each of those seasons, this is what balanced and committed to running looks like in the modern era. For example, only two teams (Seattle and Tennessee) ran more than passed in 2018 (Gruden’s last full year as a playcaller). Just Buffalo ran more than passed in 2017 … you get the point. Gruden’s patterns of playcalling over the course of a season from one year to the next have been remarkably consistent and create a much-needed identity for the Jags.
Personnel decisions
Jacksonville has the sixth-youngest roster and the second-fewest cap dollars available entering 2020 free agency. Voiding the contract of defensive tackle Marcell Dareus will save $20 million, and the majority of the money is tied up in a defense that needs to be retooled. No team has more cap space allocated to its defense. On the offensive side, none of the core starters are free agents.
The offensive line needs some work, and much of it can come through maturation. Staying healthy also is key, which can be said for most teams but feels more imperative in this case. Both tackles are key pieces to the puzzle and have to improve — particularly 2019 second-round rookie RT Jawaan James’s penchant for mistakes.
Fantasy football takeaway
Regardless of how the quarterback situation shakes out, Gruden has a young offense to shape to his ideals. We know what Foles is as a fantasy football option, and it hasn’t been pretty more often than not. Minshew has considerable upside but remains a backup option who has spot-start potential.
Running back Leonard Fournette struggled to be special on the ground most of the year and made up for it as a pass-catching machine for the Jaguars. He ran for 75 or more yards in five of 15 games. While Fournette had his moments, the LSU star scored just three rushing touchdowns and two came in one game. This could change with an upgrade among the receivers or by adding a running back whose game is built around this area of play. It begs the question if impending free-agent third-down back Chris Thompson will follow Gruden to Jacksonville. Fournette, in a vacuum, is rated as an RB2 with upside for more. Injury history and yet another offensive system to take in makes him somewhat risky, however.
[lawrence-related id=448436]
Wide receiver is on the rise but still could use an upgrade. DJ Chark Jr. was the best of the lot in fantasy and a surprise in his second year. He has A.J. Green-like qualities to his game and could be a stud in 2020. Keep him on your short list of players who have broken out but still have room for growth. Dede Westbrook’s physical skills and durability limit his overall potential, but there is still some potential for a stronger year in 2020. Treat him as a flex consideration or a depth addition. Other receivers, Chris Conley and Keelan Cole, flashed at times in 2019 but are not draft-worthy options in fantasy entering 2020.
Tight end has potential in 2019 rookie Josh Oliver (back). He finished the year on IR and is still learning the ropes as a project player. Provided his recovery is not problematic, pencil him in as a sneaky fantasy option in an offense that has preferred the tight end position throughout the years.
Gruden is not a flashy playcaller, nor does he tend to surprise a defense too often. His system is all about execution and consistency. Fournette should be the biggest winner of this system change. Picking up chunks of yardage on early downs helps make conversions easier, and it allows the offense to take shots down the field when the defense moves to a Cover 1 or Cover 0 to stop the run. Stability through experience will be Gruden’s most important contribution to the Jaguars in 2020.
