Jaguars outside linebacker Josh Allen (41) produced two sacks in the first half of a Dec. 31, 2023, game against the Carolina Panthers to set the Jaguars’ single-season franchise record for sacks with 15.5. Roy Robertson-Harris (95) helped Allen celebrate the second of his three sacks. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
Published on July 22, 2024 at 9:57 am
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The Jaguars open training camp on Wednesday as the mission to return to the postseason kicks off.
Here are five key questions to be answered in the first week of Doug Pederson’s third camp as the head coach of the Jaguars.
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1. Will Trevor Lawrence take the next step?
This time last year, we asked the same question about the Jaguars’ quarterback. Coming off a playoff victory when he was the hero in the second half, Lawrence seemed poised to join players like Joe Burrow and Josh Allen as the QB most likely to challenge Patrick Mahomes. Lawrence’s first half of the season was good, not great. Then injuries began to pile up. While Lawrence played through a collection of bumps and bruises, his play suffered.
Will Lawrence look like the quarterback who seemed destined for stardom or is he still healing from the injuries of last season? We should get a good look at him in the opening practices of camp.
2. How will key additions perform?
The Jaguars added several new players via free agency in the offseason. Some will be easier to judge in the first week of camp. Before the first game, it may be difficult to assess the play of linemen like center Mitch Morse. But skill position players can make an early impression. Wide receiver Gabe Davis, cornerback Ronald Darby, defensive back Darnell Savage and kick returner Devin Duvernay can all show their potential before the team puts on pads.
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3. When will Arik Armstead get on the field?
Another addition, perhaps the biggest free agent signing of the offseason by the Jaguars, defensive lineman Arik Armstead was placed on the Active/Physically Unable to Perform list last week. That means he is still recovering from surgery and will not work with the team during training camp practices until the designation is removed. How long will that be? That remains to be seen, but the Jaguars want Armstead to be healthy and prepared to make an impact when the regular season begins. Expect a cautious approach with Armstead.
4. How will the Jaguars’ defense look?
When the Jaguars hired Ryan Nielsen as defensive coordinator, replacing Mike Caldwell, it signaled a change in philosophy on that side of the ball. For one, Nielsen favors a different formation: a four-man line over the three-man line the Jaguars tended to use under Caldwell. What will that mean for Josh Hines-Allen and Travon Walker? Both were utilized as outside linebackers when the Jaguars employed a 3-4 defense in past seasons. Will they spend more time with their hand on the ground as defensive ends? And if so, how will that affect the usage of linebackers like Devin Lloyd?
More importantly, will it lead to better pressure on the quarterback beyond Hines-Allen and Walker, who were the only consistent pass rushers on the team a season ago?
5. How will the rookies adapt?
There’s excitement around the Jaguars’ rookie class, especially first-round pick Brian Thomas Jr. The wide receiver from Louisiana State University showcased his deep speed during offseason practices and received rave reviews from Lawrence about his football intelligence. What kind of an impact can he make? I suspect Thomas will provide some highlight catches in the first week as he runs past defensive backs. The bigger question will be how he adjusts to being hit by NFL defenders. That won’t happen until the preseason games begin.
Other rookies to watch in the early portion of training camp include third-round pick Jarrian Jones, who was a standout in the offseason practices. As a cornerback, he should be able to show his skill in the first week of camp.
We’ll also be able to compare rookie kicker Cam Little, a sixth-round pick, to veteran Riley Patterson, who was brought back this offseason after spending the 2022 season in Jacksonville.
It’s just the first week of camp, but what we see will direct the storylines for the rest of the preseason and will begin to answer the biggest question of the year: Are the Jaguars ready to return to the playoffs?
Cole Pepper has covered sports in Jacksonville since 1996, most recently for News4Jax. He is currently broadcast director for Sporting Club Jacksonville and has called play-by-play for a number of teams, including the Suns, Tomcats, Jacksonville University, Sharks and The Bolles School football. He also served as the studio host for the Jaguars Radio Network.
