Blake Bortles was bad last season and was so inconsistent this preseason that coach Doug Marrone briefly opener up the competition for the starting spot. Chad Henne was the other option, but it will be Bortles who heads into the season leading the team. Jacksonville has been one of the worst teams in the NFL for more than a decade.
They are hoping to turn that around, and it’s a possibility if Bortles can somehow reach the potential that so many saw in him when he was the No. 3 overall pick in the draft a few years ago. That is easier said than done, and his performance will play a huge role in if the Jaguars hit their projected win total in 2017.
Jacksonville Jaguars Opening Futures Odds at BookMaker.eu
Jaguars Over 6.5 Wins -136
Jaguars Under 6.5 Wins +113
2017 Jacksonville Jaguars Offense Preview
If Bortles improves, there is a chance for this unit to be better than last season. Jacksonville averaged only 19.9 points per game in 2016 but picked up a key player when it drafted Leonard Fournette with the No. 4 overall choice in the draft. He dominated at LSU and has been earmarked for the NFL for a long time.
Jacksonville’s main backs a season ago, T.J. Yeldon and Chris Ivory, both averaged under four yards per carry in 2016, and the hope is that Fournette can add a jolt to the running game. The wide receiving corps is solid. Allen Robinson is the top receiving threat and he hauled in 73 passes for 883 yards and six touchdowns a season ago. Allen Hurns and Marqise Lee are two other decent options.
The offensive line has had its issues and will need to protect Bortles to really give him a chance to succeed.
2017 Jacksonville Jaguars Defense Preview
There is some optimism surrounding this team because of this side of the ball. Jalen Ramsey is a burgeoning star at cornerback, while the addition of Pro Bowl defensive tackle Calais Campbell in free agency was a big one. Cornerback A.J. Bouye was another key pickup, and the duo of him and Ramsey has the potential to be elite.
Myles Jack leads the way at linebacker, while Malik Jackson will pair with Campbell on the defensive line. The Jaguars allowed 25.0 points per game a season ago, but some of that was because the offense often put it in a bad position. With a better running game, the Jaguars could try to shorten games and win them with the defense leading the way. This unit wasn’t great a year ago, but it showed some promise, and it will aim to take another step forward in 2017.
2017 Jacksonville Jaguars Schedule Analysis
The Jaguars’ season could come down to how they fare in the division. They have two games apiece against the Indianapolis Colts, Houston Texans and Tennessee Titans. All three of those teams are projected to be better than the Jaguars, but none is dominant and there is the possibility for some upsets.
The Jaguars have some games in which they will be heavy underdogs, including matchups with the Steelers, Cardinals and Seahawks, but otherwise the schedule is manageable. The presence of the Rams, Jets and the 49ers on the docket certainly gives Jacksonville the chance to roll up some wins if they are playing well.
The Final Verdict
The Jaguars were expected to make a big leap forward last season, but it never happened as they finished an ugly 3-13. Projections remain down because of the quarterback uncertainty, but this team might surprise some people.
If Bortles is a trainwreck Jacksonville is going to struggle mightily once again. However, if he is able to become simply an average NFL signal-caller, the defensive talent should be enough to accumulate some wins. The Jaguars should finish over the predicted win total.
NFL Odds: Jacksonville Jaguars Over 6.5 Wins (-136)
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