JaguarsTalk: Jacksonville Jaguars OTAs - Take 2

JT: Let’s talk O-line shall we - Fortner and Shatley and Scherff, oh my!

We can never get enough OTA information. I’ll tell you why that is. It’s because we are undefeated right now. Undefeated means we have a shot at the division title. Undefeated means we have a shot at the playoffs. Undefeated means we have a chance of being proud of our team, having the season end with all of us highly satisfied that we are good, fun to watch, exciting, and worth the ticket prices we pay every year. Undefeated means hope, and hope is why we love OTAs.

Now, what can we learn from OTAs? Well, not much, so you can probably stop reading at this point. If, however, you are so inclined to continue we can throw something of substance together for you. What can we learn from watching professional football players “walk through” plays without pads? We can learn about the timing between the quarterback and his receivers. We can learn about the speed and agility of once injured players. We can learn how sticky the defensive backs are. How is the route running by the tight ends and can the linebackers cover them? Basically OTAs are excellent for all of these things. What OTAs do not so easily display is a lineman’s game.

Almost the entirety of a lineman’s job is rooted in contact. In order to rate how these folks are coming along during OTAs, we need a keen eye. But let’s be honest even then we truly need to wait for all out blocking and pass protection, which will require full pads. So what are the chances we’ll be able to update you on trench warfare? We’ll give it to you straight. We know you’ve come a long way and the least we can do is level with you. So what are the chances? Not good. Like one out of a hundred, you ask? More like one out of a million. (Dramatic pause) So yes, we are telling you there’s a chance, Lloyd. We here at JaguarsTalk are going to take a stab at it. We’re going to tell you what we’ve gleaned about the Jaguars O-line during OTAs. And if Lloyd and Mary can make it happen way out in the middle of the Rockies, then we think we have a pretty good shot here in Duuuval.

The offensive line is stout, no doubt. On paper, nothing short of phenomenal. Best in the league. Trevor Lawrence actually sees it, already, during OTAs. He said as much during a recent press conference. Now I’m going to have to go back and watch it again, because I took no notes the first time. I just watched it as a fan. Ugh, please hold. The things I do for you the readers (all three of you…yes family members included). Trevor was asked what he can take away from these OTAs in terms of gelling with the offensive line (it seems the lady asking the question read my previous OTA column and is stealing my Dr. Scholls reference). Lawrence’s response was exciting, as a fan, to hear. His response was communication, changing plays, getting on the same page. Not just QB to center, but lineman to lineman. And he couldn’t be more correct. A well oiled O-line will be able to read, assess, change to a better play and communicate blocking assignments, blitzes etc… A strong, communicative and intelligent O-line would absolutely make Lawrence's life much easier. He went on to say that newly acquired offensive guard Brandon Scherff, is “a man. He’s gonna help us a lot. I’m excited to have him for sure.” Not only is he a man but he’s a five time pro-bowler and only 30 years old. The best years of my life started at 30 (as an aside, once you hit 40 it just basically dissolves all to hell). Scherff, though, has got at least another four or five pro bowls hidden in that man-beard. Thankfully Brandon will be sharing them with the Jaguars rather than the Comm -, the Commande-, I can’t even type it. It makes me throw up in my mouth. 

Lawrence goes on to talk about Tyler Shatley, how smart a player he is and how much Shatley has helped him grow during his time here in Jacksonville. Then, ironically he immediately spoke of Luke Fortner, the Jaguars third round pick out of Kentucky. Lawrence spoke of not working with Fortner much, however he was happy to have such depth on the O-line. It’s interesting that Lawrence referred to depth and Fortner in the same breath because Fortner and Shatley will be competing for the starting center position. This is going to be a fun fight to decide who gets to stick their rear end into Trevor’s hands. Maybe Lawrence knows something I do not but my professional opinion (take that for what it’s worth) is that Lawrence will be tickling Fortner’s ivorys before the season is over, maybe even before the season begins leaving Shatley to fly the depth flag. Either way there are two solid players set to anchor the middle of the offensive line. If one goes down, the Jags will not miss a beat at the center position and that very thing right there, folks, is what defines Trent Baalke’s job as GM. To do it at every position is improbable, nay impossible. But, Baalke exists to do it at the most important positions, and without going on a tangent (they are a favorite of mine) this past draft underlines Baalke’s commitment to doing his job well. Back to the O-line.

To Fortner and Shatley’s left sits Ben Bartch. We haven’t heard too much about Bartch yet during OTAs. He is young, 23, big, 6’6” - 309lbs, and last year he was decent. With a year under his belt and with better coaches and systems, there is nothing stopping Bartch from making a leap from good to great this upcoming year, especially with the additions of Fortner, Engram (insert Oxford comma) and Scherff to help. More about Bartch to come as Jacksonville appears to have an interesting game of musical chairs a-brewin’ this season. To Bartch’s left is Cam Robinson. Robinson’s story is an interesting one. My man was about to become the Kirk Cousins (circa the Redskins days) of the Jacksonville Jaguars. The guy who was drafted 34th overall in 2017 was hit with the franchise tag over and again until just recently when he reached a three year extension for $54 million. This well earned extension presents a conundrum of sorts for Jax. Such a large sum of Benjis all but cements Robinson at left tackle. Not even smooth-talking Leigh Anne Tuohy with her sweet southern accent could convince Pederson to move Robinson from Trevor’s blind side (I’d, however, seriously consider it for a lifetime supply of Taco Bell. It doesn’t take much folks). So where does that leave left tackle Walker Little? 

He is currently slotted in the second position on ESPNs Jaguar depth chart, but according to Brian Sexton of Jaguars Drive Time, he is too good not to be playing. So where does he go? Does he move to right tackle? Right guard (um.. Scherff says nope)? Sexton says he is one of the Jags best five offensive lineman and he has to be on the field. He’s young, huge, has quick feet and long arms. The guy is a starter so the question before us is…where? Sexton says move Little to right tackle and move Jawaan Taylor inside to a guard position (obviously left guard, ‘cause again, Scherff says nope). Oehser agrees. The king of the Oxford comma goes on to say that the Jags have improved so much on the offensive line that either Walker Little, Jawaan Taylor, or Ben Bartch will be a back-up. This is a fantastic problem to have. According to Oehser this is the best O-line depth that the Jags have ever had. And the cherry on top is that they are all so young. They are only going to improve and hopefully their youth will allow Shad Khan to keep them under contract for years to come. My take, Jawaan Taylor and Tyler Shatley will be riding pine, playing left bench, providing some amazing backup when needed. Injuries will occur and these guys will be plug and play. Just writing this column is getting me excited. See folks, OTAs have a habit of making me think we have a shot at the playoffs. I’m buying my tickets to the big show right now. I’m changing my Super Bowl prediction to Jacksonville against Minnesota. You heard it here first folks, now forget it ‘cause it ain’t gonna happen. There’s no way Minnesota makes it.

Of course if you disagree feel free to share your own predictions for this upcoming year in the comments below.