Jaguars' Offensive Line Tabbed as Team's 'Biggest Weakness' In 2023
The simple truth of football is that many teams go as far as their offensive lines will take them.
The best offenses in the NFL are typically led by a combination of the best quarterbacks and the best offensive lines. Look at how the Kansas City Chiefs have retooled their offensive line since their Super Bowl loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and it is easy to see just how critical a line is to the success of even the best and most talented offenses.
For the Jacksonville Jaguars, a similar investment has been made. The hope is that in 2023, all of the pieces come together.
With two second-round picks and a first-round pick at the tackle spots, a third-round pick at center, and one of the NFL's highest-paid guards at right guard, the Jaguars have made the offensive line an emphasis. Despite that emphasis, though, there are some on the outside who aren't convinced.
Count Pro Football Focus as one of them, with PFF noting that the Jaguars' offensive line is the team's biggest weakness in 2023, even other the secondary and pass-rush depth.
"The Jaguars' offensive line is already a weak unit, as only Brandon Scherff has a history of success in the NFL, and they are losing starting left tackle Cam Robinson for an unknown number of games as of this writing due to suspension. Trevor Lawrence earned just a 29.5 passing grade under pressure in 2022, so protecting him is a must if the team hopes to build on a breakout year," PFF said.
The perception of the Jaguars' offensive line is much lower outside of TIAA Bank Field than it is inside of it, even with the potential Cam Robinson suspension looming. The Jaguars are confident in the development of second-year center Luke Fortner despite struggles as a run-blocker last year, while the Jaguars are also higher on left guard/center Tyler Shatley than the consensus.
“Obviously everybody having familiarity in the system, familiarity with one another, we expect everybody to take that next step in terms of their progression and getting better at what we’re asking them to do," Jaguars offensive coordinator Press Taylor said during OTAs.
"But I think the versatility of the guys in the room is really big for us. We have a lot of guys that can play multiple spots and so whoever’s available, however everything plays out moving into it, I think we can put together a pretty good combination and then be flexible in that combination. But we’re very confident in where that group can go.”
“You know, depending on the timeframe they give us with Cam [Jaguars offensive tackle Cam Robinson] or however that falls, we’ll have a plan, little bit firmer plan moving forward into that. Until then, we’re just preparing every single day for everybody to be the best at whatever position we’re asking them to play that day. It may be different day to day based on who they are, but again, we like to cross-train our guys so they’re available for any spot at any time.”
The Jaguars' offensive line finished No. 29 in adjusted line yards and No. 32 in stuffed run percentage, but they also finished third in adjusted sack percentage and saw several players have career years. While the outside perception on the offensive line doesn't appear to be glowing, it doesn't seem like the Jaguars have similar concerns internally.
