Fact or Fiction for Jacksonville Jaguars' Biggest Offseason Question Marks
The Jacksonville Jaguars have had an intensive and important offseason so far, and all the rumors and reports can be hard to keep up with. It doesn't help that the views from the national media and local media can vary heavily from one another.
The Jaguars' offseason has been productive and positive, but certain headlines, such as the injury of 2015 NFL draft first-round selection Dante Fowler Jr., obscure the national view of the Jaguars' offseason.
For the fans and for people who do a little reading into the team's progress, it's apparent that Fowler's injury is one of the few missteps of this offseason. Injuries happen, and the team is getting by just fine despite a few injury concerns.
So, it's time to break down the Jaguars' biggest questions of this offseason. The team is progressing, and there is still a ways to go before the fall. But let's do a quick check on what is fact and what is fiction.
Fact: Allen Robinson Is About to Be the Jaguars' Most Dangerous Receiver
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No one has made as big as an impact as wide receiver Allen Robinson has this offseason, and he's done it on a limited schedule. Recovering from a stress fracture in his foot had him miss a big chunk of OTAs, but he returned with purpose and looked better than ever.
As Jaguars.com's John Oehser pointed out, Robinson has been nothing less than stellar, and while others have also impressed, Robinson has definitely made the most progress as an individual.
It's not often you see a player make such a sudden jump, but Robinson has been preparing since his injury in the London game against the Dallas Cowboys. He showed fantastic work ethic at Penn State and in his first year, but now the changes are visible.
Robinson seems like a better athlete, sure, but his heightened instincts and mentality are what have been really impressive. He's playing strong and direct and is showing a maturity that isn't as apparent in the rest of the young receivers.
Robinson has improved technically, physically and mentally, and he got to showcase that in the few weeks he participated this offseason. It's not guaranteed that his progress will directly translate to the field, but it's obvious that Robinson is ready to be a true No. 1 receiver.
Fiction: Fowler's Injury, Clemons' Absence Leave the Jaguars Helpless at 'Leo'
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Between Chris Clemons' absence throughout voluntary OTAs and Fowler's ACL tear, it was easy to wonder if the Jaguars would have a reliable edge-rusher this season. However, the situation isn't dire at all, and there really isn't much to worry about.
Clemons returned for the mandatory minicamp in solid shape, per Oehser, and while he didn't create major headlines with his play, he delivered and seemed up to standard. In fact, Clemons himself was impressed with the Jaguars' progress.
Head coach Gus Bradley said this about Clemons, per Oehser: “He comes in and practices this minicamp and he says it feels completely different than it was last year,” Bradley said. “It feels different. Hopefully these next six weeks we have a good offseason.”
It's good to see that Clemons also notices the improvement in the team, and it's just another statement of approval for the Jaguars this offseason. As for the absence, people often forget that he missed last season's voluntary practices and also passed on the Seattle Seahawks' OTAs during his time there.
At 33, Clemons doesn't have as much to gain from OTAs, and while it'd be nice to have him throughout those three weeks, it's not a necessity. With Clemons appearing ready for the rest of the offseason, anxious onlookers can rest easy in regard to the Leo defensive end position.
Fact: Doug Marrone and His Gap-Blocking Scheme Are an Improvement on the O-Line
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New offensive coordinator Greg Olson garnered most of the attention in terms of the Jaguars' offseason hires, but new assistant coach/offensive line coach Doug Marrone may be making just as big of an impact with a change to a gap-blocking scheme.
The gap scheme is centered around linemen blocking to their back-side gap and pulling to wherever the play is going, such as the movement seen in a "counter" or "power" run. It's not an easy change, but Oehser reported that it's going pretty well.
Marrone mentioned to the media that he sees progress in third-year tackle Luke Joeckel, and this could be the change that helps Joeckel reach his first-round-draftee potential. Guard Zane Beadles has also shown improvement as he's switched up his stance and play to better fit a gap scheme.
Per Oehser, tackle and flex lineman Austin Pasztor has even changed his overall purpose with the team to better suit the gap scheme. He will see time at guard and be used as a guy to pull and help with certain runs, which better suits his talent and overall ability.
It's never easy to transition from one scheme to another, but the offensive line is adapting well to Marrone's changes. Any doubts about Marrone's coaching are slowly starting to drift away with continued signs of improvement.
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Fiction: The Offense Lacks the Maturity to Succeed
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The combination of intense position battles and a few veteran additions to the offense has it looking much more prepared for NFL defenses than it was in 2014. Despite being a young offense on paper, it has matured and gotten better as a whole in a way that age can't show.
Oehser's quote from Bradley is probably the best summary of this: “You’re seeing more talent, and there’s greater competition in every position group on offense,” Bradley said. “That’s why we’re seeing limited mental errors and that’s a good sign going into training camp.”
"Limited mental errors" is the most exciting phrase from Bradley here. It's one thing to have talent and progress, but the fact that the Jaguars are getting smarter and are as focused now as they will be in the season is incredible.
A year ago, it seemed like the team was just trying to get to the season in one piece and hope that the overwhelmingly young offense could hold its own. Now, there is determination, and the attitude is positive and competitive.
Competition has been a major theme of the offseason, and it's producing results in practice. New veterans and more individual battles have created a team that isn't just ready for the NFL season, but is looking forward to showing everyone what it can do.
Fact: Blake Bortles Is Delivering on His Draft Appeal
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While Robinson has made the biggest impact of the offseason, quarterback Blake Bortles has been the star. A lot of pressure has been on Bortles to show improvement and progress from a tough and raw first season, and he's done just that.
Bortles has obviously put in the work coming up to OTAs, and despite the occasional misstep, he's been much better than he was in 2014. According to Oehser, Bradley had this to say about his overall progress:
“It’s still a work in progress,” Bradley said. “His technique, his decision-making, his understanding the offense, his leadership...fabulous, fabulous. He’ll get into training camp and he’ll continue to grow, but we’re very, very pleased with where he’s at.”
It's unfair to expect elite-level play from Bortles this season, but it's good to see he's progressing as a quarterback and as a teammate. As he nails down the finishing touches before the season, we could end up seeing a much better QB.
Success in the NFL requires at the very least a good QB. Bortles may never be a Peyton Manning or Tom Brady, but he's working to succeed and to become a key cog in the offense. The coaches are slowly molding him into a proper QB, and it seems like he's keeping that raw talent in the process.
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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