JaguarsTalk: AFC South Title?

JaguarsTalk: Training Camp Started Already?

Where have we been? We are already a few days into the official beginning of the football season (training camp) and we’ve been M.I.A. We really weren’t, but for all intents and purposes we absolutely were, and that’s just unacceptable. The good news is that we haven’t missed much. Pads haven’t been donned and hitting hasn’t begun, so essentially all we’ve missed are a few additional days of OTAs. However, during those couple days, I want to say that strides have been made, but in reality it feels more correct to say positive occurrences were witnessed. By this I mean that Travis Etienne is running like the Etienne of old. He is cutting and exploding off his surgically repaired foot as if he were back at Clemson. Imagine if he and James Robinson can remain healthy and at 100% all season (Robinson is working diligently on the sidelines with trainers, still looking to engage full throttle by the time he steps into FedEx Field). If injuries be damned, the Jaguars would be in the conversation for best backfield combo, much like the #6 at Taco Bell. Two chicken chalupa supremes with a crunchy taco and ice cold drink. Not quite the all-time favorite, taco party pack, but with a healthy Etienne and Robinson in the dog fight, ready Conner and Armstead on cats 3 and 4, Jacksonville will be punching defenses square in the mouth.

In addition, Trevor Lawrence has been excelling nicely. Again the last few days have been OTA-esque but it appears, so far, as if my man’s working vaca in the Bahamas is paying dividends. He is connecting accurately with his receivers and even states himself that he’s throwing better and more confidently than ever before. Could this be the beginning of the oft talked about second year pro QB coming out party? During today’s press conference Lawrence commented extensively about Luke Fortner’s abilities as a rookie center. He said that he is picking everything up quickly and executing perfectly. Fortner has been taking first team snaps at center since the beginning of camp showing us that Pederson will be starting Luke as the O-line anchor flanked by Shatley and Scherff. T-Law is feeling very well protected in the pocket and that helps to slow the game down for a QB which leads to better decision making, more completions and fewer interceptions.

Oftentimes in training camp the offense jumps out to an early lead with the defense lagging out of the gate. Usually around the third or fourth day, however, the D finds its stride and catches the O down the stretch. Jacksonville was not immune to this. The defense has steadily gotten stronger and faster, intercepting, pressuring, and forcing the offense into mistakes or fourth downs. Don’t fret however, this turn of events is good for the offense for two reasons. The first is that learning occurs from failures not successes. The second being T-Law is realizing he can not hold the ball quite as long, a lesson best learned amongst friends and not during the regular season. 

Speaking of the defense, rumor has it that Shaq Griffin is not the only DB displaying shut down talent. Georgia Bulldog, Tyson Campbell seems to be building on the momentum with which he ended last season. Upon the completion of a great defensive play by Campbell he exclaimed that his side of the field was like “Chick-fil-A on a Sunday.” That means closed, for all you non Chick-fil-A eaters, of which there should be zero since it’s literally the best fast food in the universe. Might Jacksonville have the makings of two shut down corners? If Campbell can perform up to expectations then the most worrisome position on the Jacksonville roster might just well become doggedly efficient. Why doggedly? Because according to Webster doggedly means in a manner that shows tenacity and grim persistence. If Shaq Griffin and T. Campbell weren’t enough to make opposing wide receivers fret, add a dash of Super Bowl champion Darious Williams, mix thoroughly and serve hot. Let us also not forget a defensive backs best friend, the front seven. Jacksonville has what appears to be a dominating 3-4 set up that will fluster and create havoc for opposing QBs. Let’s take a look at just a few of them.

Let’s begin with the non-mobile Matty Ice, the Colts' new helmsman. Indianapolis is projected by most to win the AFC South this year. Matt Ryan is seen as an upgrade to Carson Wentz but we are not convinced that’s the case. With a 37 year old quarterback and Michael Pittman Jr. as his main target, we foresee a heavy reliance on running back Jonathan Taylor. Don’t get me wrong, Taylor is absolutely one of the league's best running backs, however if a team is made one dimensional, no matter how good the RB, the defense will have the upper hand. Giving Jacksonville’s revamped 3-4 the advantage is something no NFL team wants to do.

Now let’s talk about Tennessee and Ryan Tannehill, the questionable vet who has lost both his superstar wide receivers (A.J. Brown and Julio Jones). Tannehill was so distraught over his three interceptions last year, at the hands of the Bengals, that he sought therapy. This year Tanny will have only Robert Woods and a rookie WR on which to lean. Neither are adequate replacements for A.J. or Julio. To make matters worse for the Titans, the brass isn’t convinced that Tannehill is the answer, meaning he will be looking over his shoulder all season wondering which mistake will be his last. That can destroy a QBs confidence. All of this means the Titans will be relying heavily on Derrick Henry which is exactly who Jacksonville’s defense was built to stop. 

Let us not forget the newbie, Davis Mills, captaining the hapless Houston Texans. The things that the Jags' budding defense can do to a rookie QB must have Mike Caldwell up at night scheming with Kevin, Stuart, and Bob like a defensive coordinating Gru. Wide receiver Brandon Cooks will be Mills' only seasoned target and real threat to the Jags DBs. If Griffin can shut him down (or possibly Campbell) the Texans will have some real offensive problems. JaguarsTalk would like to take this opportunity to say how sorry we are that the Texans will be without their second round draft pick, wide receiver John Metchie III out of Alabama. Metchie was diagnosed with leukemia. His form of leukemia is fortunately the most curable but will require treatments preventing him from playing most, if not all, of the upcoming season. Our thoughts and prayers are with him during this difficult time and we wish him a speedy and full recovery. He was a formidable force at Alabama and we look forward to him continuing his dominance in the NFL as quickly as he can. Texans new head coach Lovie Smith had Metchie address his team at the opening of their camp. Houston will certainly rally around Metchie, as his absence this season will make an already tough uphill climb even more difficult for an overmatched Texans team.

With a tough upcoming NFL schedule why only talk about the Colts, Texans and Titans? Folks, it’s becoming more and more evident throughout this offseason that the Jaguars have a very decent shot at winning the AFC South in 2022. I mean a very real chance. Vegas books are putting the over/under for Jacksonville’s wins at 6.5 this season and if I were a betting man I would take the over. All. Day. Long. We here at JaguarsTalk see some serious cracks in the AFC South armor this year of which Jacksonville is poised to take advantage. The Jaguars are set to surprise everyone not paying enough attention to Duuuval.

What do you guys think? Is an AFC South title in our future this year? Let us know in the comment section below.