A potential weakness for the Jaguars’ offense this season was exposed in the team’s joint practice vs. the Dolphins.
A potential weakness for the Jacksonville Jaguars was exposed during their joint practice on Thursday with the Miami Dolphins.
Overall, the offensive performance from the Jaguars was “sloppy,” as John Shipley of Jaguars on SI put it. As always, there are numerous contributors to that, but perhaps none bigger than the offensive line play.
As Shipley put itthis was the offensive line’s “worst day of training camp.” The pressure that the Dolphins generated was “non-stop,” particularly off the right side.
As Liam Coen said early on in his tenure as head coach, the offensive line play has to improve this season. To help accomplish that, GM James Gladstone reshaped this unit by making six additions between free agency and the NFL draft, adding a lot more competition and versatility up front.
However, the play has been up and down at times this summer, and there still appears to be a competition taking place at both the right guard and right tackle spots. Some combination of Chuma Edoga, Patrick Mekari, and Anton Harrison will start at those positions.
Coen brings a new scheme that can help shoulder some of the playmaking burden. Trevor Lawrence has adapted well to it, and there is a lot of playmaking and speed at the skill positions.
But if the offensive line doesn’t consistently do its job, then the jobs of everyone else just mentioned becomes much more difficult.
Without a run game to lean on, the offense will be behind the sticks and in predictable passing situations. In Coen’s offense, with how the run and passing games go hand-in-hand, a lackluster running game can zap some of the juice from the passing game.
Then, through the air, we all know how important it is for the quarterback to have time in the pocket.
With all that said, this one performance won’t define this unit, and it doesn’t mean they can’t operate at a high level this season. But on a day where the offense as a whole struggled, it goes to show how important it is that the Jaguars’ offensive line unit succeeds this season.
