Jags’ offensive arsenal is underrated
Jacksonville’s offense should have been a disaster last season. With injuries to starting quarterback Gardner Minshew, Jake Luton and Mike Glennon combined to start eight games. The Jags lost Leonard Fournette before the 2020 season, and they had to start an undrafted rookie running back on Day 1 in James Robinson.
However, that’s not exactly how things played out. Though the unit was far from good, it was successful in some ways. The team finished 21st in passing yards, which is fairly impressive, all things considered. Though the ground game finished 28th in rushing, Robinson tied for fifth in the league and broke 1,000 yards as a rookie.
Now, the unit is expected to take a step forward in 2021 with first-overall pick Trevor Lawrence under center. A talented receiver group that already included young pass-catchers D.J. Chark Jr. and Laviska Shenault Jr. added veteran Detroit receiver Marvin Jones Jr., who finished just shy of 1,000 yards last year, in free agency.
Jacksonville also took some pressure off Robinson, who led the league in carry percentage last season, by drafting running back Travis Etienne in the first round, a player who should complement Robinson well.
According to ESPN’s Bill Barnwell, the Jags’ offensive arsenal ranked just 32nd and 31st heading into the 2019 and 2020 seasons, but this year, he expects the unit to take a step forward, ranking it 25th in the league.
The big upgrade the Jags made this offseason isn’t included as part of this analysis, but No. 1 overall pick Trevor Lawrence won’t lack for weapons in his rookie year. There might not be a No. 1 wideout in the mix, but D.J. Chark looked like he was on his way to becoming that guy in 2019, and Laviska Shenault should benefit from playing for a better offensive staff in 2021. Marvin Jones should be a consistent No. 3 target, although it took three 110-plus-yard games last December to get the veteran’s 2020 numbers up to respectable. There’s absolutely nothing in the cupboard at tight end, so expect plenty of three-wide sets from new offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell and coach Urban Meyer.
Undrafted free agent James Robinson came out of nowhere and was a totally viable starting running back, which is why the decision to draft Travis Etienne in Round 1 in April felt frustrating. Leaving the draft capital aside, though, a Robinson-Etienne one-two punch could be impressive. I’m not sure I buy the argument that Lawrence somehow needs a former Clemson teammate to succeed when he’s likely going to be catching screens and checkdowns, but Etienne was a game-breaker in college (his 78 career touchdowns from scrimmage is tied for fourth in FBS history). If he delivers on that Alvin Kamara-like promise, the Jags will continue rising up the charts.
Though the tight end position remains the most glaring weakness on the entire roster, the rest of the offense has a nice group of players to get the ball to. Lawrence starts his NFL career with a lot to work with and an above-average offensive line.
The 2021 season will be a transition year for Jacksonville in a lot of ways, and you can expect that there will be some growing pains. But regardless, this should be the best the Jags offense has looked in years.
