The Jacksonville Jaguars begin the 2024 regular season today at 1 p.m. against the Miami Dolphins. This game will be an essential test for Doug Pederson and his newly-minted franchise quarterback, Trevor Lawrence. But Mike McDaniel and the Dolphins’ high-flying offense are daunting for any defense. The Jaguars invested heavily in free agency and the NFL Draft to improve both sides of the ball. Today, fans will get an idea of whether Jacksonville chose wisely.
The Jaguars paid Arik Armstead $51m to improve the defensive line. Trent Baalke went shopping in Buffalo to improve the Jaguars’ offense. Jacksonville inked deals with center Mitch Morse and wide receiver Gabriel Davis to augment the offense. The Jaguars also spent a first and second-round draft pick on wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. and Maason Smith from LSU. Here are three keys to the Jaguars winning for the second consecutive season on opening day.
1. Win The Time of Possession Battle
Baalke and Pederson have assembled an impressive array of offensive weapons for their $275m man. Lawrence has a solid running back tandem in Travis Etienne and Tank Bigsby, and the Jaguars should exploit that against the Dolphins. He also has one of the most productive tight ends in the NFL, Evan Engram, who can keep the chains moving on third down. Miami can strike quickly on offense, and Pederson will be tempted to try to match them shot for shot. The Jaguars should do everything they can to resist.
Big plays may be available against the Dolphins’ defense, and Lawrence should maximize those opportunities when they present themselves. However, if the Jaguars can mix in three or four long drives of ten plays or more, it could be the best way to slow down Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. It doesn’t matter how fast they are if the dynamic duo are standing on the sideline watching the game instead of flying around the field.
2. Hit Tua Tagovailoa Early and Often
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Josh Hines-Allen and Travon Walker are as good a pass-rushing duo as any in the NFL. They accounted for 27.5 of the Jaguars’ 40 sacks in 2023, and they may be better in 2024. The interior of the line must generate pressure to get Tagovailoa moving into the waiting arms of Hines-Allen and Walker. According to Pro Football Focus, the Jaguars were graded as the 28th-best pass-rushing unit in 2023. If that’s going to improve, Armstead, Smith, or a mystery guest will have to contribute more this season.
For the first time in his career, Tagovailoa started all 17 games for the Dolphins in 2023. He is exceptionally accurate when comfortable in the pocket, and the Jaguars must push him off his spot to win the game. Tagovailoa has been especially vulnerable to concussions during his four-year career. The Jacksonville pass rush will not be attacking with the intent to injure the Dolphins signal caller, but the fact is that he’s vulnerable to pressure, and the Jaguars must exploit this to win on Sunday.
3. Trevor Lawrence Must Play Like The Franchise Quarterback
The Jaguars and Lawrence cemented their relationship in the 2024 offseason. Jacksonville and the former Clemson Tigers star plan to spend at least the next five seasons together. Lawrence has a chance to be the best quarterback in franchise history, but he has to produce more playoff victories to surpass the iconic Mark Brunell in the River City. Jacksonville has been looking for a replacement for Brunell since he departed after the 2003 season. The scrappy Brunell engineered two AFC Championship game appearances in four seasons and is still a beloved figure in Jacksonville.
Fans have quickly lost patience with every quarterback since the Jaguars went through nine quarterbacks in eighteen seasons trying to replace him. The tenth time was the charm when the team drafted Lawrence in 2021. He engineered a miraculous playoff comeback and set the franchise record for touchdown passes in a season with 25 in 2022. In what was considered a down year in 2023, Lawrence still threw more touchdown passes (21) than Brunell’s top season with the Jaguars (20). A return trip to the AFC playoffs might finally establish Lawrence as the measuring stick in Jacksonville at quarterback and usher in a new golden age of Jaguars football.
Final Thoughts
What do you think, Total Apex Sports Fans? Will the Jaguars find a way to top the Dolphins on opening day? What’s the key to victory in your opinion? Please comment below or on my X: @thebubbasq.
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