After incomes the doubtful honor because the worst group within the NFL final season, the Jacksonville Jaguars spent massive within the offseason and overhauled their teaching workers to turn out to be one of many league’s greatest mysteries in 2022.
Washington
Commanders’ keys vs. Jaguars: Start fast, be ready for surprises
Listed here are some issues to observe as Washington opens the season towards the Jaguars at FedEx Area on Sunday (1 p.m. kickoff):
Wentz begins a brand new period. Washington begins anew, with a brand new title and quarterback. The group traded for Wentz in March with the hope he would take the offense to the following degree and maybe present stability after years of fixing starters. Coach Ron Rivera and his workers consider he has the arm power, measurement, and rapport with teammates to steer the Commanders again to the playoffs. The query nonetheless is whether or not he could be constant.
Begin quick and clear up third downs. The Commanders struggled early in video games and on third downs in 2021. These points continued within the preseason. The Commanders had been stout defensively on first and second downs within the preseason, however they allowed opponents to transform 51 p.c of their third downs, the worst price within the league.
Rivera has harassed the necessity for gamers to remain disciplined of their roles, for the defensive position to remain of their rush lanes and set the sting, and for the entrance 5 to remain in sync with the again finish.
If the protection can get off the sector, Washington’s offense may have extra time, a necessity if the Wentz-led group hopes to complete extra drives. Final yr, Washington had the third-worst red-zone scoring effectivity, at 18.8 p.c, within the first quarter. However within the final three quarters of video games final yr, Washington ranked sixth, with a 67.6 p.c red-zone scoring price.
Washington’s protection can be with out two key gamers. Defensive finish Chase Younger is on the bodily unable to carry out record by way of at the very least Week 4 as he recovers from an ACL damage, however maybe the extra vital blow to Washington’s protection is the lack of security Kam Curl. Curl not too long ago suffered a thumb damage that required surgical procedure, and he was dominated out for the opener, leaving a void within the secondary. A seventh-round pick of Arkansas in 2020, Curl shortly emerged as a staple of the protection due to his versatility; he can play each security spots, can transfer within the slot, play exterior, drop down as a hybrid linebacker and blitz.
To compensate for his absence, the Commanders may take a committee strategy, with Jeremy Reaves, Darrick Forrest and Percy Butler more likely to see added time. Rivera cited Forrest as a participant who took a leap in camp this yr, and he is without doubt one of the group’s most bodily gamers on the again finish.
“He’s a downhill participant. He’s very lively. He performs along with his eyes fairly effectively. He sees rather a lot. I like his skill to run. He’s bought good quickness. He’s fast in a small space, confined space. And he can flip and run. I believe utilizing his ability set, utilizing Percy’s ability set, utilizing Reaves’s ability set, now we have a mixture of men that may go in and play.”
The scouting report on Jacksonville is unclear. Pederson isn’t the one newcomer to the Jaguars. Mike Caldwell is first-year defensive coordinator and Press Taylor is in his first season of coordinating the offense. The group signed high-priced weapons, together with extensive receiver Christian Kirk and Scherff, a lineman who ought to improve an offense centered on younger quarterback Trevor Lawrence.
Washington is anticipating surprises.
“You must take a look at a number of various things,” Rivera stated. “You must take a look at the previous, and their associations with specific groups. So it’s a number of work, it truly is, particularly on the defensive facet. I believe watching what Jack and the workers has executed is strong. … I prefer to really feel now we have a reasonably respectable deal with, however there’s all the time the sudden, although. And I’d prefer to say with Doug, I believe there can be one thing a little bit sudden.”
Wentz is well-versed within the teaching fashion of Pederson and Taylor from their years collectively in Philly. His expertise of their offense ought to provide Washington loads of clues.
Washington’s run protection may very well be examined early and infrequently. In 5 of his eight seasons as a coach, relationship again to his days as Kansas Metropolis’s offensive coordinator, Pederson’s groups have ranked among the many high 5 within the league in speeding yards per try. This yr, the Jaguars get James Robinson again from an Achilles’ tendon damage, and he’s anticipated to tackle a heavy workload towards the Commanders. In 2020, earlier than he was injured, James recorded essentially the most scrimmage yards (1,414) and second-most speeding yards (1,070) by an undrafted rookie in NFL historical past.
“I’ve been in conditions like this, too, the place you need to go in and also you need to management the tempo of play with a man like James,” Pederson advised reporters in Jacksonville this week. “On the identical time, if he’s feeling good and there hasn’t been any setbacks or something, then you definately simply go and also you simply roll with it.”
Damage report: Curl didn’t follow all week and was the one participant dominated out Friday for the opener. Tight ends Logan Thomas (knee) and Cole Turner (hamstring) are questionable. Thomas indicated that his first recreation again from damage can be both towards the Jaguars or in Week 2 towards the Lions.
The Jaguars listed defensive lineman Folorunso Fatukasi as questionable due to a calf damage, however the remainder of their roster is sweet to go.