JaguarsTalk: Jacksonville Jaguars - State of the Team

JT: Why is it so difficult to find someone who can kick a ball?

I guess we should start this column with something hot off the press. The Jaguars are place kicker-less. What? You ask. It is true, folks. Today the Jacksonville Jaguars waived their kicker Ryan Santoso. So it seems, to JaguarsTalk that Jacksonville is in the same position that they’ve been in all preseason. That is to say, without a kicker (so to speak). With a quick glance at the Jaguars updated depth chart it would seem that they are trying out PK James McCourt from the University of Illinois. Let’s hope, for the sake of the Jaguars season, that McCourt is the answer. In addition to that news, the Jags have re-signed quarterback Jake Luton. JaguarsTalk was certainly more than a little miffed when he was let go. Many sites are speaking more about the signing of Luton and the possible release of EJ Perry than they are about the Jaguars kicking situation. That doesn’t make any sense. We’ll explain why as we take a look at the current state of the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Baalke and Pederson have the team in a very good spot considering the past two seasons, but at the same time Jacksonville's position is quite precarious. Try to follow me on this one. Last year’s offseason got things started but lacked a little focus. I know the entirety of the previous season lacked focus… and leadership, and discipline, and yada yada yada. A lack of focus, however, is the focus of this column (forgive the excessive use of focus, I will try to focus on preventing its overuse). In 2021 the Jags drafted Trevor Lawrence out of Clemson, because who wouldn’t have. Urban Meyer then drafted Travis Etienne in order to add speed to the running back position. Jacksonville then switched to the other side of the ball and drafted CB Tyson Campbell, a nice addition to the acquisition of CB Shaquill Griffin, who was signed to a 3 year $40 million deal. With the next pick, the Jags again switched gears to draft OT Walker Little, only to jump to defense again and draft safety Andre Cisco. Meyer then made two defensive picks followed by two offensive picks. As it turns out the 2021 draft class wasn’t half bad (though it took until this preseason for them to shine), but it also wasn’t half good. The bottom line is that the Jaguars had holes everywhere and Jacksonville’s patchwork attempt in 2021 equaled only two additional wins. Enter the era of Doug Pederson and a return to focus. Baalke and Pederson attempted to protect their franchise quarterback with the help of Jaguars owner Shad Khan. Khan paid dearly for offseason acquisitions in an attempt to solidify Jacksonville’s offense (Brandon Scherff, Evan Engram, Christian Kirk, Zay Jones). They then turned their focus to the side of the ball that wins games. The duo signed Fatukasi and Oluokun. When the draft came around they built one of the fiercest defenses in the AFC South, and possibly the entire conference (time will tell). They drafted Travon Walker, Devin Lloyd, Chad Muma, Gregory Junior and Montaric Brown, all defensive players. They also drafted C Luke Fortner (his talent was too good to pass up in the 3rd round) and RB Snoop Connor (taken in the fifth) drafted due to the uncertainty of injury (Etienne and Robinson). Jacksonville has built their defense and solidified their offensive foundation. Next year's offseason will focus on completing the offense. This year the big cat may purr but next year the Jaguars will roar. You are welcome for that bit of corny foreshadowing.

That was quite the long paragraph. There is definitely an easier way to relay my point. In 2022 Jacksonville will be led by a dominant defense that keeps opponent scoring to a minimum. The Jaguars will rely upon an efficient offense to eat clock and not turn over the ball. This season's games will be won and lost with special teams play. Jacksonville’s kicking game is of the utmost importance. The focus should not be on a possible third string quarterback who will never see regular season grass, but instead, a first string kicker who will ensure the ball always lands in the good hands of Allstate. The second preseason game against Pittsburgh played out exactly how many 2022 Jaguars games will. Had the kicking game been locked down, the Jags would have won. Yes, Trevor Lawrence and ETN will eventually get their act together and punch it in for the occasional sixer. However, their main job this year is to execute sustained drives and allow JAX to come away with points of any kind. Enter rookie James McCourt, the Los Angeles Chargers throw away place kicker. 

Never before, in the history of the Jacksonville Jaguars, has the entire season rested on the shoulders of a rookie place kicker. Too much? Over the Top, Lincoln Hawk style? Maybe not. Let’s dumb it down a bit. Every week Pederson will tell the team, as he should, that the next opponent is their only focus (there’s that word again). We, as writers, and you, as fans, have the ability to look at the entirety of the season. In doing so, one can focus solely on the AFC South opponents plus Washington, the Giants, Lions, and Jets. Jacksonville has a very good chance of beating the aforementioned four teams. Washington presents as the most difficult. However, defensive end Chase Young, Washington’s pass rushing phenom, is on the PUP list and out for the first four games of the season. He’s still nursing his reconstructed right knee (ACL & MCL). Put those four wins together with a sweep of Houston (if JAX can’t sweep the Texans then larger problems exist). Couple those dubyas with a split against the Colts and the Titans (not out of the realm of possibility), and the Jaguars have a legitimate shot at winning the AFC South. I can tell you that neither Jake Luton nor EJ Perry will make a bit of difference toward achieving this goal. What I can do is guarantee that young James McCourt (or whomever ends up putting laces to leather for the Jags) will certainly make or break the 2022 Jacksonville season. Stallone himself would agree with that assessment.

You are welcome to agree to disagree in the comment section below.