Here is your Jacksonville Jaguars Season Preview with everything you need to know ahead of the 2023 season
Who knew that Doug Pederson would be an infinitely better head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars that his predecessor Urban Meyer? (answer = everyone)
The Jaguars topped the AFC South with a 9-8 recording, going on a 5 game winning streak to round off the season. They even won a playful game with a resounding come back win over the Chargers, before falling in the divisional round to eventucam al Super Bowl champs the Kansas City Chiefs.
Both offensive co-ordinator Press Taylor, and defensive co-ordinator Mike Caldwell return for the 2023 season. This should provide continuity for an ascending young team.
2023 Jacksonville Jaguars Schedule
- Week 1: @ Indianapolis Colts
- Week 2: vs Kansas City Chiefs
- Week 3: vs Houston Texans
- Week 4: vs Atlanta Falcons (Wembley Stadium)
- Week 5: @ Buffalo Bills (Tottenham Stadium)
- Week 6: vs Indianapolis Colts
- Week 7: @ New Orleans Saints
- Week 8: @ Pittsburgh Steelers
- Week 9: BYE
- Week 10: vs San Francisco 49ers
- Week 11: vs Tennessee Titans
- Week 12: @ Houston Texans
- Week 13: vs Cincinatti Bengals
- Week 14: @ Cleveland Browns
- Week 15: vs Baltimore Ravens
- Week 16: @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Week 17: vs Carolina Panthers
- Week 18: @ Tennessee Titans
Coaching Staff
General Manager: Trent Baalke
Head Coach: Doug Pederson
Offensive Coordinator: Press Taylor
Defensive Coordinator: Mike Caldwell
Special Teams Coordinator: Heath Farwell
Players In
Via Trade: Calvin Ridley (WR)
Free Agents: Brandon McManus (K)
Draft Picks:
R1 Anton Harrison (OT), R2 Brenton Strange (TE), R3 Tank Bigsby (RB), R4 Ventrell Miller (LB), R4 Tyler Lacy (DE), R5 Yasir Abdullah (LB), R5 Antonio Johnson (S), R6 Parker Washington (WR), R6 Christian Braswell (CB), R6 Erick Hallett (DB), R7 Cooper Hodges (OT), R7 Raymond Vohasek (DT), R7 Derek Parish (Edge)
Players Out
Duwane Smoot (DL), Marvin Jones (WR), Dan Arnold (TE), Shaq Griffin (CB)
Projected Jacksonville Jaguars Starters
Offence
QB: Trevor Lawrence
RB: Travis Etienne
WR: Calvin Ridley, Christian Kirk, Zay Jones
TE: Evan Engram
LT: Anton Harrison
LG: Ben Bartch
C: Luke Fortner
RG: Brandon Scherff
RT: Walker Little
Defence
DLine: DaVon Hamilton, Folorunso Fatukasi, Roy Robertson-Harris
ILB: Devin Lloyd, Foyesade Oluokon
OLB: Travon Walker, Josh Allen
CB: Tyson Campbell, Darious Williams
S: Rayshawn Jenkins, Andre Cisco
The Jacksonville Jaguars have done a good job in surrounding QB Trevor Lawrence with attacking weapons. Christian Kirk had a nice first year since transferring from Arizona, and Zay Jones played the best football of his career in 2023. Calvin Ridley is intriguing as we have not seen him play for quite a while. However, when we last saw him on the field he was highly effective for the Falcons.
The front 7 is still an area that Jacksonville will look to improve upon in 2023. Josh Allen is a stud, and 1st overall pick Travon Walker showed some flashes also. Devin Lloyd started the year well but fell off as time went by, in year 2 he will be looking to make a leap forward.
The offensive line is also still a question mark. Rookie Anton Harrison is likely to see game time early with Cam Robinson suspended for PEDs. Walker Little is not 100% convinced as yet, and Brandon Scherff seems to have lost a step. However, Luke Fortner was positive in year one and hopefully Ben Bartch can put together an injury-free run
2023 Star Player- Trevor Lawrence
Former Clemson QB Trevor Lawrence came into the league in 2021 with such significant hype that it was always going to be near impossible to live up to. He has had his struggles no doubt, and continues to be up and down at times. The playoff game against the Chargers was a microcosm of Lawrence’s time in the NFL – going from the ridiculous to the sublime.
However, the natural talent, work ethic, Doug Pederson’s influence and acclimitisation to professional football should see Lawrence continue to improve in 2023. I expect Lawrence to flourish this year and start to see him name mentioned in the upper echelon of NFL QBs
2023 Breakout player – Tyson Campbell
Tyson Campbell, for me, is a player who does not get enough love. A 2nd round pick out of Georgia in 2021. He has grown into the role in Jacksonville and has made the outside corner spot his own after initially struggling as a rookie. Allowing just 9.7 years per reception in 2022, Campbell is rapidly becoming one of the best young corners in the league. If his trajectory continues in 2023 we could be looking at a star at the position
Jacksonville Jaguars Season Expectations
I can only see one outcome for Jacksonville Jaguars in 2023 and that is retaining the AFC South. 2 teams in Houston and Indianapolis will be blooding new QBs and this almost inevitably comes with teething troubles. Tennessee may also turn to their rookie QB in season if things head south (pardon the pun!)
Their NFC opponents this year come from the NFC South, which is a division in transition also. They do have to play heavy hitters such as the 49ers, Bengals, Chiefs and Bills but even if they don’t come out on top in those fixtures they should have racked up enough wins against other opponents to take the divisional crown.
How far they go in the playoffs will depend on how much Trevor Lawrence grows and how their young defence comes together.