5 Jacksonville Jaguars Players Who Should See Their Roles Expand in 2015
As the Jacksonville Jaguars continue to look forward to the 2015 season, some players will be looking forward to bigger roles. The team needs performers and leaders, and there are players on the roster who will have to take on that challenge in 2015.
Releases and signings have the team looking a good bit different compared to the 2014 iteration of the Jaguars, and with those changes come opportunities. Young players and backups now get the opportunity to prove their worth and help lead an NFL team.
Despite the changes, however, the team still has a similar shape to last year's. Many players are returning, and while the majority of new additions of free agency will be welcomed with starting spots and open arms, the core remains the same.
Head coach Gus Bradley and general manager Dave Caldwell are fully aware of what the changes bring. They know there will be growing pains, but their vision is clear and understood by their players.
It will be interesting to see who actually takes a lead role in 2015. There's no way to be sure, but you can almost guarantee that some players will improve and embrace new responsibilities.
With the intro out of the way, let's look at the players who will take on new, bigger roles in 2015.
Aaron Colvin
1 of 5
Aaron Colvin is a player much of the fanbase and myself are excited about. He's a feel-good story and a hard worker, and if his ability to make big plays and change the course of the game returns in 2015, his popularity might grow to unpredicted heights.
Colvin was drafted in the fourth round of the 2014 draft and was widely regarded as a second- or even first-round potential player before his Senior Bowl ACL tear.
When he finally was able to play for the Jaguars, he made an impact in his second week back with the game-winning fumble recovery and touchdown. While that is a nice memory, he's going to move on to a bigger role in 2015.
Colvin has the potential to be a lockdown corner. He's barely lost a step after his injury, and now that he's going to enter 2015 with full health, he'll be fully ready to take the reins.
Colvin won't be a veteran leader in 2015, but he can most definitely be a starter and one of the most important players on the defense. Colvin has an incredible mix of talent and athleticism, and that'll make him one of the top corners for the Jaguars in 2015.
Brandon Linder
2 of 5
Arguably the best offensive lineman for the Jaguars in 2014, Brandon Linder will now look to become an even more important piece on the line in 2015. Linder was a great investment, but as he polishes his skills, he'll look to become to an even more vital part of the line in 2015.
Linder was selected in the third round of the 2014 draft, and he quickly settled in Duval County. Linder lasted each week against top NFL talent and performed much better than veteran and fellow guard Zane Beadles.
However, while Linder was fantastic as a rookie in 2014, the Jaguars need that and more in the upcoming season.
Linder is going to have to be a little more consistent in 2015, and he needs to be the reliable rock the Jaguars can count on. As the line is being figured out, Linder has to be a player the Jaguars can count on.
It's almost unfair to say the Jaguars have to expect more of an already impressive player, but it's true. Linder has set expectations high, and as long as he continue to improve, he should reach them.
Asking Linder to be the reliable "rock" in 2015 isn't too much more than he did in 2014, but he has to be the player that sets the example. If he's able to do everything the Jaguars ask of him, the line can improve as a whole and the Jaguars can reap the benefits.
Johnathan Cyprien
3 of 5
Johnathan Cyprien took a step backwards in 2014. He seemed to be guessing at the safety position, and often he was guessing wrong. However, Cyprien was added to this team because of tenacity and work ethic, and if anyone can bounce back, it's "Cyp."
Cyprien was one of the "smartest" picks of the 2013 NFL draft. A guy not known on the national scale, Cyp was known by offenses as a guy who would knock your lights out and be a team leader.
Coming from FIU with the Jaguars' second-round pick, Cyprien had a solid rookie year, but his 2014 campaign saw him struggle. He consistently was getting beat and didn't seem to play with the edge his fans had come to expect.
However, Cyprien is now entering his third year and has learned the ropes of the NFL. He'll be preparing all offseason to remedy his mistakes in 2014, and he can make use of the experience free-agent safety Sergio Brown will bring as well.
Cyprien really isn't embracing a new role in 2015, but he needs to come back and retain his confidence and meet previous expectations. If he's able to do this, the Jaguars' secondary will benefit incredibly in 2015.
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Allen Robinson
4 of 5
I've mentioned how impressive Allen Robinson was in 2014 when he got to play, and that's why I expect him to take the lead role for the receivers in 2015. Robinson has all of the athleticism and talent he needs, but working with quarterback Blake Bortles and the rest of the receivers will be crucial this upcoming season.
Robinson showed signs of incredible ability in 2014, mostly in one-on-one situations. He's big enough to create space and has enough speed to bypass defenders when needed. However, his foot injury last season cut short what looked to be a growing rookie season.
It's crucial Robinson looks to become and stay the top receiver in 2015. He's a big, easy-to-find target for Bortles. If fellow receivers Marqise Lee and Allen Hurns remain streaky, Robinson needs to be the consistent guy Bortles can find.
The addition of Julius Thomas to Jacksonville provides Bortles another big target, and that may help Robinson. They now have a good mix of strong and speedy receivers, and that should give Robinson some chances at isolation and some big plays.
Robinson should be able to come back from his nagging foot, and if he continues to work with Bortles this offseason, they could be a dangerous pair. There's no telling who will emerge as the No. 1 wide receiver, but I think Robinson should be the one taking that role.
Telvin Smith
5 of 5
One of the most exciting and impressive defensive rookies in 2014, Telvin Smith can expect a Week 1 start and new responsibilities in 2015. Smith proved he was worth his selection and then some in 2014, but now that he's impressed, the team and the fans will expect more.
Smith showed being undersized does not mean much when you've got the right speed and instincts. He seemed to be all over the field, and while he made rookie mistakes, he was a strong component of the Jaguars defense.
Smith was the definition of "raw" in 2014. He didn't always stick to the scheme and didn't always make the tackle, but there may not have been a more active player on the Jaguars' defense.
His tenacity and seemingly endless energy will be much needed in 2015. Smith will be alongside Paul Posluszny and Dan Skuta, two veterans Smith will need to match performance-wise.
Smith offers something different than Skuta and Posluszny, though. They lack his pure athleticism, and that's how he can stand out in 2015. If he continues to improve this offseason, Smith and the Jaguars' linebacker corps could be a standout part of the team.
The Jaguars have some young, talented players that could really be special if they embrace and succeed in their new roles in 2015. The team's initial building class is now entering their third year, and the impressive rookies from last season now have a notch on their belt.
The 2015 season has a lot of questions that won't be answered until we get to see this team play, but the performances of 2014 were encouraging. This team has a lot of potential, and as they mature and grow, we'll hopefully see them fulfill that potential.
Between the talent found in the 2013 and 2014 drafts, the Jaguars are doing just fine. This may be the year that the team fully matures and makes the step towards competing in the AFC South. If these players can embrace their enhanced roles, I can definitely see that happening.
All stats were provided by ESPN.com, unless otherwise stated.
Evan Reier is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report covering the Jacksonville Jaguars. Follow Evan on Twitter at @evanreier.
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