Jacksonville Jaguars Look To Spackle Over Remaining Holes

(Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)

One of the most glaring areas of need fall along the defensive line, particularly at the tackle position. The Jaguars did draft Terrance Knighton to address this area, but it remains to be seen he will be a guy that the team can plug in on day one as a starter. 

With aging veterans in John Henderson and Rob Meier in the rotation, finding the right player that can step in and fill the starting role is critical in the defensive scheme deployed by Jack Del Rio. 

If Knighton cannot step in and play right away, it leaves the team with an aging rotation, and Derek Landri as a stop gap. 

The interior of the defensive line has long been the strength of this team, but John Henderson took a step back last year after seeing his line mate, Marcus Stroud, traded to Buffalo. The team needs to determine whether Henderson’s regression was an anomaly, or if it is the natural decline of a veteran player.

If that is the case, then the team may be in trouble because Meier proved last year that he is a better role player than starter for the defense, and Landri is more of a pass rushing tackle and not as effective against the run. 

There is an expectation that Derrick Harvey will take the next step in his progression, and he needs to live up to these hopes because the team will move Reggie Hayward to the opposite side of the line where he will replace Paul Spicer. 

The Jaguars have a couple of designated pass rushers that they can bring in to help improve that area, but Harvey and Hayward must be the stalwarts anchoring the line. If they are unable to do this, then the Jaguars second biggest weakness last year will continue to be a thorn in their side.

With all of the concerns surrounding the status of the defensive line, the one area that tends to get overlooked is the Jaguars linebacker corps. A lot of hope hovers over Justin Durant, Daryl Smith, and Clint Ingram now that Mike Peterson has take up residence with the Atlanta Falcons. 

Losing their leader should not be a significant hit for this group since they have played a good portion of the last three years without Peterson in the lineup. 

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