Jacksonville Jaguars' Biggest Preseason Disappointments So Far

The Jacksonville Jaguars have seen a lot of improvement this offseason and, for the most part, the preseason has been a success through the first two weeks. However, it hasn't been perfect, and there are flaws and issues the Jaguars will have to address.

No team is without problems, and the Jaguars and their fanbase certainly know this. It's been a tough going for the Jaguars for the past five years or so, and the current situation is certainly better than it has been in the past few years.

But it's been said again and again that this team is still working and isn't quite at the final product, and it certainly isn't at a level to compete for the AFC South title. Crazier things have happened, but it will take a good amount of luck and unexpected performances for that to happen.

As mentioned, it's been a good preseason so far, and it could've gone much worse. There are still apparent flaws. The Jaguars will use the rest of the preseason to try and get past them.

Drops from the Wide Receivers

Phelan M. Ebenhack/Associated Press

Quarterback Blake Bortles has had two really solid weeks, completing 11 of 15 passes in Week 1 of the preseason and eight of 16 passes in Week 2. He's looked confident and ready to deliver, but the only problem is that his receivers don't seem prepared to match his performance.

Between the first two games, there were six drops from Bortles' various receivers. In the grand scheme of two games, that doesn't seem like a lot of drops, but that was from Bortles-thrown passes alone.

That brings it to a much-smaller scale, and it becomes apparent that it's a problem. Sure, it's the opening weeks of the preseason, but it's still a concern. Drops aren't fixed over a week of training, and it's typically more of a confidence issue for most receivers.

However, it's not just one player with confidence issues. Allen Robinson, Allen Hurns and Clay Harbor have all been guilty of drops in the past two weeks, and that can severely affect the Jaguars' balance on offense.

There's time to fix this problem, but the Jaguars need to get on it fast. Bortles seems to be playing well and has confidence in his game and in his team, but if his receivers can't deliver, then that may be for naught.

Lack of Pass Rush from the Front Four

Adam Hunger/Associated Press

Anyone who watched last Saturday's game against the New York Giants can testify that Giants QB Eli Manning's horrible performance was mind-boggling. He had extended amounts of time without pressure as did receivers such as Odell Beckham Jr.

However, Manning could only muster a 4-of-14 performance. It wasn't due to anything the Jaguars were doing, it was just poor play. The secondary did a fine job, but it wasn't anything spectacular.

Manning having plenty of time in the pocket wasn't new either. The starters didn't put much pressure on the Pittsburgh Steelers' Ben Roethlisberger in Week 1, and the front four followed it up with another lackluster performance.

Last year, the Jaguars didn't have individuals leading the pass rush, but they had a collective effort with various players getting in on sacks. They were without three of the probable starting four in the game against the Steelers, but they had everyone but Sen'Derrick Marks against the Giants, and they still didn't get great pressure.

The talent and tenacity is there, but it needs to click for the front four. Otherwise, the Jaguars will have to start rushing with numbers instead of talent, and that can leave the secondary out to dry.

Various Injury Issues

John Raoux/Associated Press

Injury is the worst part of the preseason. It seems like every NFL team deals with unexpected and inhibiting injuries that can shape the season. Sadly, it's a part of the game, and the Jaguars are currently experiencing that.

Coming into the preseason, the Jaguars were missing players such as rookie safety James Sample and defensive tackle Sen'Derrick Marks. Sample is making his way back and should see game time this weekend, and Marks is expected back for Week 1 of the regular season.

But while the injuries from last season as well as those from the latest offseason are healing, new injuries are plaguing the Jaguars. Both tight end Julius Thomas and strong safety Jonathan Cyprien suffered hand injuries in the preseason's first week, but both should be able to come back.

WR Arrelious Benn's fractured collarbone is the latest injury. Benn has had a very good offseason and looked good in the preseason as well, but this injury will require surgery and will be a major blow to the Jaguars' receiving core.

Injuries are tough to deal with, and there's really not anything that can be done about them. However, it's still disappointing all the same, and the Jaguars can only hope that they can return to as close to a clean bill of health that's possible by the end of the preseason.

Lack of Finishing on Offensive Drives

Adam Hunger/Associated Press

There were three drives and three field goals for the first-team offense last Saturday night. Points are points, and the Jaguars will take whatever they can get, but it is a bit concerning that the offense has struggled to get in the end zone in the first half of the preseason. 

The Jaguars scored three field goals in the second game and a field goal and a touchdown in the first game against the Steelers; the touchdown came from a Bortles 4th-and-goal TD run. It's not necessarily the best finishing efforts, especially from a team that has been showing much-better consistency on offense.

One of the drives in the game against the Giants ended thanks to a poor holding call on Luke Joeckel, but it's still puzzling that the Jaguars can't get those final yards to get into the end zone.

There's not much concern right now, and deservedly so. The Jaguars' offensive performance thus far has been far better than last year's, and it has earned the praise it has recently received.

However, field goals don't win games. The defense can do its best, but eventually the Jaguars will need to get in the end zone and finish. There's time to get in the red-zone groove, but it needs to be happening sooner rather than later.

Excessive Penalties

Bill Kostroun/Associated Press

It's not a thing that has been brought up a lot on social media or by other media members, but the Jaguars have received a lot of penalties in the first two preseason games. Sure, it could be preseason rust, but it's still disappointing to see all the same.

There have been 22 penalties called against the Jaguars in the first two weeks, for a total of 165 yards. That's a large number of penalties and a lot of yards to be giving up on mistakes.

Those numbers include the second team and even some of the third team, but it's still a large number of missteps to be committing. They hinder offensive drives, make it easier for opposing offenses and can throw off any team's rhythm.

Discipline is key, but it's sometimes taken for granted. Teams or players aren't often praised for playing with discipline, and it only becomes a problem once it starts to really affect teams.

The Jaguars have to sharpen up as an entire squad before the regular season gets under way, otherwise the team will have an even harder time taking the step to the next level. Life in the NFL is extremely tough, and there's no room to make it even harder with excessive penalties.

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 @evanreier.