Urban Meyer To The Jaguars Is Nearing Completion And So Am I
Thrilled. I am thrilled. When the Jaguars secured the number 1 overall pick and the rights to Trevor Lawrence, people were upset that a franchise like Jacksonville would get him. It was too small of a market that no one cares about. I spit on that.
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Now with Trevor in tow and Urban inbound, it feels like a franchise that has been largely, and rightfully so, ignored will be a talking point for the foreseeable future. Suck it.
Obviously Urban has never coached in the NFL so this could end in a disaster but Meyer has excelled at every stop he’s ever made. It’s gonna be hard to bet against him especially since many of his types of pieces are already in place.
He’s got a three-down back in James Robinson who is patient and a skilled runner inside the tackles. Robinson will be a 2nd-year player who was an undrafted free agent and therefore cheap as fuck. James Robinson plays a lot like Zeke. He's not the fastest player on the field but he's great at making the first person miss and turning every play into a positive gain. Playing ahead of the sticks is what they call that in the biz.
He's going to have an average at worst offensive line with room to improve and upgrade. Cam Robinson will be a free agent but they could use the franchise tag on him if a deal cant be reached. They don't really have anyone else worth the tag so that could be the move. I'd think they add a swing tackle or possibly a replacement for AJ Cann if an upgrade is available.
Meyer is going to have a player who can really stretch the field like Micheal Thomas did for the Buckeyes. With a quarterback who is accurate deep, DJ Chark will be a big weapon and reminds me a lot of Thomas. They need to extend Chark before the season starts. He's a legit number 1 NFL receiver.
He'll have Laviska Shenault in the role of a Percy Harvin type. Percy had more straight-line speed but Shenault is tough as nails and versatile as fuck. He can line up anywhere from the X, Y, or Z. Football terms. NBD. He can move inside to tailback too. He's a real offensive weapon ready to be released and I cant wait for his coming out party.
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Keenan Cole is the type of wide receiver who can thrive with Urban in the read-option plays. Cole is great at finding an open spot on crossers, when a play breaks down, or when the quarterback is on the move by design. Cole was good with Bortles and even better with Minshew. Cole is a free agent though so I hope the team brings him back. If not, they have the replacement on the roster already in Collin Johnson.
Collin Johnson was another bright spot this year. He's a 6'6 220lb deep-ball and end-zone threat. He played well above his 5th round selection this year and I think he'll take a huge step forward with Urban and Trevor coming to town.
With some added depth to the line and the addition of a speedy change of pace back, it could be the type of personnel that Urban would crush it with- offensively at least.
But, the defense is a different paint job. Besides Josh Allen and the late push by K’Lavon Chaisson, the 1st round rookie from LSU, there's not much to hang your hat on with the defensive line. Myles Jack is one of the better linebackers in the league but the last two levels on defense really need some work. The Jaguars will have 2 additional picks in the top 33 picks to get some defensive help which they need even if they unload some of the 100 million in cap space on defensive players. Rookie seasons can be rough for corners so Im not counting out CJ Henderson but he has a LOT of room to grow in order to end up worth his top 10 pick.
This won't be a lightening fast turn around but I don't think the team is as far away from being good as many in the media do. With the turmoil in Houston, the miles already on Henry for the Titans, and the Colts having an old-ass Philip Rivers, there's no real reason the Jaguars cant make a big jump. Here's to hopin anyway because if it doesn't work, poor Urban might be a mute.