The Jacksonville Jaguars were sold as a team with a lot of promise and hope at the beginning of the year, with belief that their team of star wide receivers and stout offensive line could become an explosive offensive threat and win the putrid AFC South. Instead, they’ve cratered out. They play the Detroit Lions on Sunday, so we sat down with Ryan Day of Big Cat Country to do some scouting prior to the matchup.
1. Last season was all about the rise of Allen Robinson among the Jaguars wide receivers, but 2016 may very well be Marqise Lee's story. What's been behind his transformation this year? How would you rank the receivers Jacksonville has?
Well, firstly, he's been healthy. This is the first season he's had the majority of training camp and preseason to build some momentum and he's taking advantage, which is a bright spot in an awful, awful year for this team. Another reason is that Marqise is primarily asked to do far more specific things and play a more specific role in this offense than generalists like Allen Robinson and Allen Hurns. And while that's led to more catches and more yards, it hasn't led anyone into thinking Marqise is a better receiver than Robinson or Hurns. He's a great piece, but he needs threats at the top two receiver positions to be at his peak.
2. Blake Bortles, I thought, had a lot of promise to him as late as last season, but I spoke with another NFL writer the other day who thinks the future of the Jaguars is probably going to be someone else. Can Bortles still be the man for this team, or am I valuing him too highly?
You're not valuing him too highly, but you are too optimistic on his chances of panning out. He can be a franchise quarterback. The physical tools are all there... and he arguably had a good year last year despite some mistakes and shortcomings. But it will take a doubling down on commitment to this game and this team for him to be better. I think there's a better chance that a veteran comes in next year and steals the show away from Blake.
3. A few writers at Big Cat Country have voiced their displeasure with Gus Bradley, and there's a lot of questions as to whether he can ever get this team to actually be a force in the division. Is he done after this season? Should he be?
He should have been done last season. I have no idea why he's still here. It's very obvious he's in over his head and has no ideas for this team. Our general manager paired a rookie head coach with a rookie quarterback and a rookie edge rusher. We shouldn't have been surprised it all went to shambles, but here we are.
4. Give me one name out of the defensive backfield that Detroit fans should look out for on Sunday. What's the real strength of this Jacksonville defense right now?
I mean, other than Jalen Ramsey, right? I'll say rookie defensive end Yannick Ngakoue. He had a good first quarter of the season but tapered off some the last five games. But Ngakoue is a solid football player with good technique, good physical upside... he's going to be a great depth guy when either Dante Fowler gets his act together (lol nope) or when we draft an edge rusher in the 2017 NFL Draft.
5. Honestly, this stuff here pisses me off. It's really disheartening to see at least some part in marketing or the front office for this team treat the fan base as an experiment in selling opposing merchandise. What's it going to take—besides just winning—to shake things up and inject a little dignity into how the ownership treats the fans, or is it a lost fight with the current regime?
Listen, I understand the team catering to visiting fans. Granted, I currently live in Tallahassee (three hours west of Jacksonville) and only go to one or two homes games a year. But I've followed the team by writing for Big Cat Country for four years now. I grew up in Jacksonville. I have family and friends still there and try to keep up with what's going on in the community as best I can. And truthfully... Jacksonville is one of those football markets that has been a perfect vacation spot for away fans for about a decade: bad team, certain victory, nice beaches, good food and drink.
It sucks when I see the marketing people stocking the stadium shelves with away team merchandise. But this is a tough market to drive revenue. For the team to stay here, we have to make concessions—the annual London trip is one great example—and if they keep the team in Jacksonville a little bit longer, then so be it. When the team is good and there is a better ratio of Jaguars fans to away fans, the stadium won't need to market the apparel of 31 other teams. Until then, they do.
BONUS: Very important to us: pizza or wings, and give us the best place in Jacksonville—or your home city—for either one.
Pizza. Most definitely pizza. And for Jacksonville, I love Moon River Pizza. If y'all are in Jacksonville, look it up. Great pizza, fresh ingredients and toppings, solid beer selection with a lot of good local brews... it's a good time.