We got our first look at the unofficial depth chart earlier this week. Which workie do you guys think has the best chance of moving up before the start of the season.
I'm gonna go with Raymond Bahassik, the young defensive tackle from North Carolina who had no expectations but has played pretty well the last couple of weeks.
He could go from three to two none but Antonio Johnson.
Welcome into our Wednesday edition of jag XAM. I'm Kennannie Stevens, Brian Sexton, John Osier with me this morning. Today's show is brought to you by Jet Home Loans and training Camp about to get going. Players aren't quite out there, some of them might be. They're gonna get their stretch on soon and get practice going, and got a game on Saturday. Starting to feel like coming together.
Here.
We got that unofficial depth chart, which is so official.
Well that's the reason there are really no surprises on it right now. I mean, you look at a guy, you look at a guy like Antonio Johnson right who is three right now behind Daniel Thomas. Clearly he is a better prospect than Daniel Thomas's. And I really like Daniel Thomas and waited for him to become a guy who you could count on here. But he's three because behind Daniel Thomas, because he's a rookie.
In a week that could change, ye And I said him at the top because he's clearly impressed. And is he ahead of Daniel Thomas? I don't know. You get the sense of the coaches believe that they have seen Daniel Thomas do the role so much that they don't want to switch that up. But maybe it's him. I don't know that any of them will move up from their spots before the regular season regular season, because it
feels like that's sort of where they make sense. But if you get a numbers thing at safety, maybe Antonio in the past.
And I brought up Vahasik because I watched him the last couple of days when they were in full pads, and I was, who is that guy? We're in fifty nine and that's Vahasik, who the seventh round pick from North Carolina that you know, overlooked in many cases, not a guy that's gonna contribute this year or maybe even next. But you can see the physical skills there. You can see why they drafted him. He's tough, He's.
Strong a project they want to work on for sure. We'll touch a little bit more on that in a minute, but let's start with our big things. First big thing is buzz. We always talk about people not giving Trevor Lawrence the respect that he deserves. But Brian, you said, you saw some lists and you saw some things where he was getting maybe a little of the credit we think he may ye.
Do you know the Athletic had him in that tier two, right just below the elite, and you know who the elites are, the Mahomes, the Burroughs, the Josh Allen's, Aaron Rodgers of the world. They put Justin Herbert in that and I think when you look at his stats and the things he's done in his first couple of years, he belongs there. And then there's that second tier of quarterbacks, and they had Jalen Hurts and Lamar Jackson and then Trevor.
But listening to their podcast, it seems like, you know, they see a lot of buzz for Trevor moving in, you know, being that guy the weapons in his skill set. And then yesterday Bill Barnwell on ESPN site had Trevor as one of those guys who could jump into the MVP conversation in his third season in the NFL. So whether he can or he does, or any of that, there is a lot of buzz about Trevor Lawrence two weeks into training camp.
I think those assessments, if you look at it as objectively as he can to make perfect sense, Jaguars fans all off season would get very upset with list. People get mad at lists, Brian because their guy isn't the top.
I get mad at list.
That's what journalism is these days. Lists. If you look at Trevor, that's sort of where if you step back from it all, he's had a half a really really good season and he was unbelievable for some moments. So it's given fans a lot of hope and I think he's going to be among that elite. But that's his storyline right now. He is about where they have him, with an incredibly good chance to go join the elite.
This could be the year that happens, but if you're trying to be objective about it, you can't put him there yet.
No, and I didn't suggest that he should be there yet. What's interesting is a year ago Kai he was a guy that everyone was disappointed in. Right, the national media didn't take the time to look at the prince of darkness who had been here in twenty twenty one, right, and what he had nearly done to this kid. So now all of a sudden to see it just dramatically change one hundred and eighty degrees, if you will, from the start of camp last year to the start of camp this year is amazing.
Right, It's good to have good buzz, right, we always it's always when it's the other way around, that's not great. When it's a high expectation they're not delivering. But now it's kind of like, oh, well, we kind of maybe wrote that off or weren't thinking about it. Now it's like the way they finished the last season. Now people are thinking about it different way in terms of these aren't the same old Jacks.
If you go back and look at the last nine games of last year, fifteen touchdowns and two interceptions, his completion percentage was seventy five point five percent, which led all quarterbacks during that time, and his quarterback rating was one o four point six That over those nine weeks was the highest quarterback efficiency rating in the league. So over the second half of the season, and John, you mentioned that he really had one half of one season that you could look at and go that was the
elite stuff. The numbers back it up. It was elite stuff. He earned the buzz that he is getting right now, and we're out there watching him every day and the national media have been through and now we're getting a look at him with the weapons with another season in the offense.
It is.
It's a good buzz. John.
Yeah, there's no reason to think that he won't be there at the end, but meaning among the elite group. But you have to do it for seventeen games. He has to up to him assistant, and that's the storyline this year.
It will be up to Trevor to prove it he does.
Rick Meyer, if you recall all the way back in the early nineties, was the AFC rookie or the offensive rookie of the year with the Seattle Seahawks and was a terrible bust three years later. So I get your point.
Not gonna happen here though, So never mind, We're gonna move to our big thing. Number two is reps.
Now.
Trevor talked a little bit. We had that in our last show about he likes to be out there in the preseason get the feel of a real game. And Doug came out on NFL Network during his interview to say that we will see the starters a little bit on Saturday in Dallas.
You know, I'm a big believer in the starters playing, and I really feel like they need to feel sort of that energy that comes with that comes with starting a football game. And so I did it last year, you know, with the guys, and anticipate right now, We're still a few days away, but anticipating I'm getting you know, maybe a series or two, you know, this weekend. And you know, we're still in that evaluation mode. As you know, we got a lot of young players that we need
to evaluate. So they're also going to get a lot of time, you know, in this football game. But right now, I anticipate our starters playing, you know, playing a little bit, at least getting a series or two in this game.
See, the quarterbacks are on the same page, and by that I mean Trevor Lawrence and former quarterback Doug Peterson. What's the ideal amount of time we see Trevor in this game on Saturday?
Oh, I wou'd say two series, if the first series is eight plays in a touchdown, one series, just enough to where you don't overdo this. But I think there are coaches and maybe dougs like this. If you get a good one in, then get him out. If you get two clunkers, then you say, well, you had your chance. Let's go wrap it up next week. You know, let's go do it again next week. I'm not going to leave you out there for five to get you hurt. But I think plays twelve.
Yeah, I mean, he had twelve past attempts in the game against the Browns here last year, so that seems right, and you build towards next week where he'll play the first half and maybe the first series or the third quarter, and that'll be it for him in the preses. And so a little bit of work to get warmed up for.
Detroit is echo for all the first string starters. Do you feel like some position groups may need a little more time out there? What do you look at at this point in the preseason.
I think you might give the offensive line some more time because you are working through I mean, you've got play cancer is going to start for Shatley and little is in it left tackle, and obviously Anton Harrison's there, so and you might want to give CJ. Bether a running start with the first team line. I could see the first team line playing more than two series.
It sounded from what Doug said this morning meeting with the media that the veteran starters will all play about the same So I would expect that to be that number. We're talking about twelve plays just two series, depend on how it goes. But then he mentioned Anton Harrison could play a little bit more. I think the rookies who expect to contribute will get a lot of that second or a second and third series through the middle of the third quarter type thing. But he may be the
only guy who really fits into that. Harrison, Bigsby, guys like that could I expect to expect Bigsby, for example, to get some work with the ones, because it seems like you want to work that in a little.
Bit, which is why you'd leave them in a little bit longer.
Yeah, so then you leave the rookies in a little bit longer.
All right, moving on to big thing three. Touch on this in a little bit as well. So we have that unofficial depth chart which doesn't mean a ton because a lot of it just looks very similar to last year. There were a couple of notes that we do want to bring up just if you haven't had a chance to look at it yet. Right now, we have Blake Hants is going to be in it left guard. That's because Tyler Shatley has not been cleared to play yet, and Anton Harrison, as you mentioned, is going to be
starting at right tackle. Did Doug say whether or not he was going to be playing like full go, because we've seen him help out a little bit and perhaps.
What Doug said he'll play, And as I said, he actually specified that he could play a little longer than the starter, So it sounds like he's he's back.
Getting set up for next week in Detroit, right. I mean, that's where you're really going to show up, and we're going to talk about that a lot next week. But that's where you want to get a lot of really good work in. It's where the starters will get their most valuable work in of the entire preseason.
We talked about our at this at the broadcast meeting yesterday and there were some differing opinions. Tony Miscelli and some of the other people were trying to decide whether we see the starters mostly in Detroit or mostly against Miami. I think Tony thought some of them would play more in Miami, but most of us thought you'd see him more in Detroit. What do you guys think in terms of starters.
In the trend that would if if that's the case, would be the first time Tony was ever wrong.
Oh, don't make me misquote him now, I'm scared of misremembering.
So, uh, yeah, I would expect them to play mostly in Detroit and then not play against Miami.
But oh yeah, here's the difference. What are we three seasons now to three preseason games and you learn, Yeah, you have two weeks between the preseason finale and the regular season opener. So if you wanted to get a little bit of work in.
Again, still have a full break before.
Yeah, there's still two weeks to get guys, you know, ready to go. So I guess what I'm saying is, John, when you and I started in this thing, there was a definite rhythm every year too.
There's also four games and different was a different deal.
But now it's kind of changing every year. Well, coaches is a hard spot.
Coaches in general don't like making their own decisions on this. They like following the league trend because it's safe and just like most people. So, I think what we're seeing now is the process. We're three years into it. We're seeing the process of league think trying to take hold. Meaning what's everybody else doing?
Oh?
It is Bill Belichick in twenty eleven in the preseason finale against this team in New England, where he sat every one of his starters on both sides of the ball, and since then, the third or the last preseason game has been in consequential for starters.
Bill Belichick making the trends that what you're.
Saying, He made it easy for those guys to do their thing because Jack came out that night and do the exact same thing.
Set all all set too. Yeah, all right, Looking forward, we got a lot more coming up. We're gonna get a peek at training camp. The tight ends are getting in there and getting things done, and that'll be a fun group for us to watch. We'll keep an eye on things and we'll be right back with more here on jags am. Welcome back to jags am. Price dot Com is the easiest way to save money with comparison shopping cash back coupons all in one, it's free. Tryprice
dot com today. What day is it? Wednesday, August ninth, the mosing track of days. At this point, I think we're on day twelve training camp.
Today is day twelve, and hey, tomorrow is the thirteenth practice in the end of open practice.
Open practice, and then we have games and soon enough the season will be here. This is all good things. Players are out there right now. We're gonna go over the fifty three. That's where we look at players that are maybe on the bubble of this team, or players that need to have a really good training camp if they want to have a spot, a meaningful place on this team. As the fifty three begin, we are going
to start with John today. Who did you pick for the fifty three and who are you looking at to make a difference for themselves in training camp?
Well, I went to Blake Canson. I don't think the fact that he's never one in the depth chart means that he's the guy that, if all things being equal, would start at left guard.
Right. That's what we mean by the depth chart being kind of where it's at right now.
But for right now he's there. And I think what's significant there is you've got Ben Barts, who I think, when healthy, will come back and be that guy. And then I think Shatt will go back to being the swing guy when he becomes healthy. But you need guys in this league who can be your ninth tenth up and down from the practice squad guy there if you
need it. And on the offensive line, those guys are very, very import because if you get an injury or two, all of a sudden, you look up and that guy's protecting Trevor Lawrence.
Yep.
It certainly seems like out of the abyss that is the backup offensive lineman, Blake Hants has become the guy that they feel like, Okay, we can rely on this in a pinch. And I think if he's not on the fifty three, I think he's one of those ten that becomes very important with the practice squad more and more Brian being being an extension of the roster without a doubt.
And I think you mentioned I was looking something up that he's a guy who has played left hand right, He can play tackle if you need.
Yeah, So he's a versatile guy and well, he's also been He's also been around a minute. It's difficult for rookie free agent offensive lineman to catch on and be a legitimate seventh guy in your rotation. He's been in camps. He came into the league in nineteen, so he's more a grown man with a few years experience, a few years around the league. Those are usually the guys that you wants that emergency.
Gay versatility on the offensive line is immeasurable, and to have the depth that they have on this team, that's very fortunate. I don't think they're going to go to waste with that and keep as many as they can.
Right we're seeing it right now. I mean the ability to plug him in because you're on your essential your third left guard. Chatley was the backup and Ben Bartch goes down. Now you've got hands you've got to put in. You know, Cam Robinson goes down. Last year they put Walker Little in, and now Cam suspended, Walker Little needs to play. I mean, it's the versatility issue, and it goes back to Phil Rauscher and what a good young line coach he is.
We complained about a lot of things, but we can't like normally, if you have that kind of injury on your offensive line, you're in a lot of trouble. But fortunately for us, they're able to deep group is a very deep group. So that's a strong suit for this team. Brian, who do you have for your player for the fifty three US?
Well, I'm going with you, Sir Abdullah. You know, third day of the draft pick pass rusher, which everyone is focused on. And I know that there's a lot of angst now that Justin Houston has signed, and there are visits Jami Clowney's in Baltimore today and people are throwing their hands up. So you and I were looking at the numbers yesterday. The Jaguars had thirty five sacks, half of what the Eagles had, who led the league, and
the Jaguars were twenty fifth. Let me throw a number at you though, and this is from the Cowboys last year. The Dallas Cowboys led the league in pressures right, impacting the quarterback two hundred and seventy one times. Do you know who was where the Jaguars come.
In pretty high, really high.
They just weren't two hundred and fifty three third, which means that the Jaguars got good pressure in the quarterback. Last year they didn't finish, so we're expecting that from Trayvon Walker. We hope we see that this year in a varied defense. Josh Allen alluded to that calebon Chay Sun's going to have a chance.
Right.
I haven't seen a lot from him on the training camp field, but your syre of Duel is going to have an opportunity in these preseason games to see if he can become that third guy. He was a prolific pass rusher at Louisville to get twenty two or twenty three sacks in two seasons there where he was a starter. They need a third pass rusher, a change it up guy. And remember he's one of those do a lot of things guys on defense because he's not just unique and Gockway.
For all of his pass rush prowess, say that three times fast, no, okay. For all that he could do rushing the passer going forward, he was a non factor against the run. He was an effort guy, but he couldn't hold up against the run. This is a guy who can which allows Mike Caldwell to do some different things with him. Bob Sutton and Mike to sit up late at night on Tuesdays and scheme away to get
him into the game plan. So I'm watching him really closely this week and against Dallas because they really need a young guy to come through, whether it's him or.
Caleb On and change is necessary. Josh Allen himself is saying they're getting different play calls going in practice and what they're doing in training camp. He hopes transitions into the games because obviously they struggled with the pass rush last year and he's hoping that the changes will stick.
So just to connect a couple things real quick. Third most pressures two hundred and fifty three right, Kansas City was second to two fifty five twenty five takeaways, fifth most in the league. The Jaguars are close, right, I mean they're close in Samirius last year. Can they get back to this level but top it off and increase the sacks?
And they have to. I will touch on another thing with the sr of Duela. He obviously came out there. You know, he's underside this, that and the other. He just seems like he gets it. And I say this from other people's points of view as well, not just my own, but Jeff Logman was talking about it as well. He just has the moves, like if something doesn't work, he switches so quickly and just comprehends it in a
way that not everybody does. Other people have the sheer size, maybe they look the part, but the asier has been so quick on the uptake that he sees him as someone that could definitely make an impact.
John, I don't know if people have had a chance to see it, because the pass rush is so far away from the stands here and it's generally way over in a corner where we're not able to access. You see fifty six a lot. You see him. Yep, he pops. I don't know that he's always winning, but you see fifty six.
And if you pop as a rookie just a little bit, then you usually come on and you're better as time goes on, because you don't know anything right now if you're a rookie. So that's always encouraging. Just one final point in the defense before we move on. There's sort of a perception among Jaguars fans and maybe I fall into it too. Oh, the offense is good around here,
in the defense is bad. Like that's sort of what every ozone question is sort of predicated on that they were actually tired for fourth in the league in takeaways last year and twelfth in points allowed, with a first year coordinator and every starter. The only guy they lost is arden Key, and everybody's sort of gnash teeth about that, and they didn't want to lose arden but he's the only guy they lost. Well, you can look at that two ways, whether he didn't make it improvements or I
get that. Continuity is not as talked about on offense as I mean on defense as it is an offense, but it matters, and Josh Allen sure thinks they're going to be better because of continuity. So I don't think this defense is going to be a top three defense that you remember as one of the great defenses of all time. But if it's healthy, I certainly think that it can improve enough to compliment what could be a very good offense.
So I wonder if all the shutdown defense is necessary.
Well, you like to say fans fan an angst is part of being a fan as you look at your team, So there's going to be some of that real quick. We focus so much on the front right because everyone wants the sack, the strip that kind of thing. But on the back end last year, Darius Williams was fourth in the league, tied for fourth with sixteen passes defense.
By the way, Sauce Gardner led the league at twenty so not that far off right, and Tyson Campbell was one behind in fifth place for with fifteen and together they were the most productive cornerback tandem in terms of breaking up passes. And by the way, you can say the same for the safeties Rayshawn Jenkins and Andre Cisco, who had a combined twenty two and were first and third among safeties breaking up passes. So the point being, the back end was pretty good last year, late better
than early. You talk about continuity upfront, they're talking about continuity of the secondary.
They are.
For my pick for the fifty three, we're gonna switch to offense really quick. I just want to touch on this a little bit because we've been hearing his name so often. Kevin Austin junior, Kevin Austin was on the practice squad last year. He's someone that's really taking advantage
of the opportunities he's had in camp. You know, his names come up with Trevor, his name's come up with Doug and I feel like when you're you know, we can make our observations, but when you're hearing it from you know, press sailor from Doug and they're noting them as a person that they're noticing, that's a good sign for you.
Yeah. I wonder for Kevin, he really has shown up. I wonder if he won't have to be a practice squad guy one more year, not that he hasn't improved, but only because they still like Tim Jones. Yeah, you're deep there. You have Parker Washington who's making the team. So I think it's a good thing. All of a sudden, this is a deep team where you're having trouble finding a spot for a kid who probably deserves a spot.
Bro, I'll give you two other guys, Seth Williams from Auburn and Jerray Jenkins from LSU. They are a year behind, right because Kevin Austin has improved, but they're big, tall receivers with long arms and great leaping ability. They can high point the ball. I think Kevin Austin's a really intriguing player because he was coming on in the practice field last year. Late in the season. He could push Tim Jones.
I think also, if he doesn't make the rosters you mentioned, he might be someone else. Someone else picks up and has a spot for Maybe they're not as deep at wide receiver as the Jaguars are and they give him a chance.
Wide receivers and linebackers are contributors on special teams. So let's see what he does in Dallas on Saturday night on spot. That's going to be the differentiating factor for the sixth spot.
We're all wondering what Doug Peterson is going to do in terms of starters on Saturday. We will see how long they are out there. He's running practice today, he's got the visor on, He's ready to go for training camp. We'll keep an eye on things. We got a little bit more coming up on jags Am after the break. Welcome back to jags Am. We are presented by Field's Auto Group, Jacksonville. Step up to Luxury Fields Auto dot Com.
We are in the Hyundai studios for you today. Trevor getting some work in as we get one of the last Well, I guess more than tense practices were earlier this week. These are a little more run through ESQ before we get to preseason game on Saturday, We're going to look around the league. There's some stuff going on. Justin Houston signing with the Panthers earlier this week, again another pass rusher. We talk about it ad nauseum. They have not brought in a new big name to try
to help their own pass rush. Is there anyone left out there that you guys would be interested in bringing in at this point.
They're all in their early thirties. I'm melvin Ingram in Miami last week year had ten sacks. Right. Robert Quinn was a very productive pass rusher for years, but last year did nothing in Philly. Both are thirty three. If you want one of those guys.
Yeah, I haven't followed this as much as fans have because I just don't have a feeling that they're that interested in it. Meaning the Jaguars aren't that interesting. So I think they believe that they have young guys who as a group can get pressure, and I think overall they look at that stat Brian throughout his team got pressure on the passer last year. They just can't get sacks, got great pressure. I have said for months, I don't think they see this as the same crisis.
No, that observers did no, and you don't want to go throw a lot of money at a thirty three year old in wonder you know if Melvin got ten sacks in Miami, does he have that? Here's what you got going for you this year. I think Roy Robertson Harris. At the end of last year, John really came on. He was a dominant factor in games in New York and against the Chargers.
Here.
Devon Hamilton, who didn't start camp on the practice field, has been pushing guys around in the middle right. Talk about creating sack opportunities. When the quarterback can't stand in the pocket. Guys like Josh and tray Von or Kaylevon or you see her are going to be able to hunt on the edges because the quarterback is looking. So there's a lot of reasons to believe that they will get over the top this year. Of course, people an't gonna believe it until they see it.
Be better against the run, get in better pass rushing situations on third down, get leads, and get pass rushing situations late in the game. It's not just to that's usually where good him And why did the Eagles have seventy sacks because they were ahead all the time, and I got sacks late in the game. I'm assume I haven't looked at this. That's usually the formula. Teams that have leads are often good pass rushing teams, and.
That's where we want to be at, playing with big leads and letting the defense go off and do what they.
Need to do.
Another look around the league. We talked a little bit about The Quarterback Show on Netflix earlier this week, but Hard Knocks is back on HBO last night. I don't know if you guys got a chance to check it out. I stayed up late to check it out. I stayed up late because and he gets here so early for training camp, so I feel like it's score lot like I stay up late to watch it. But Aaron Rodgers is just interesting in every facet of the game. Did you get a chance to check it out? Brent?
I saw little bits and pieces of it. I had chaos going at my house last night. I saw the bit with Sauce Gardner graduating. I really I like him a lot. I spent some time with him in Las Vegas last year before the draft. Uh So I focused on him and not only is a great player, but he's a great kid. The Rogers thing, I don't know, he's weird to me. The Dark Tree, there was a couple of psychedelic toad venom.
They make him a look a lot more normal, which I believe he is on the inside, a little bit more normal than he might come across. But there's a couple of things where they're at the Hall of Fame game and he's talking to Sauce Gardner, and it's just like the age difference is so it's it's adorable. It's really like them trying to have a conversation, like a kid talking to his dad. Sometimes it's just like there's something lost in translation there.
I like because I'm always fascinated by how much having so much money will allow people to go in terms of personality something else. So I've always liked Aaron Rodgers. I like somebody who kind of says whatever he thinks, and I love his own thing. I didn't see that version of Hard Knocks. I don't know how much I'll watch it. I'm not a huge Hard Knocks guy, but people like it. I'm fine with it. I turned it on IM just glad it's not here because you.
And I talked about watching it so we could talk about it on the show. But I just I'm like John, I kind of a hard time watching other teams because we live it every day.
This is true, although it's a good thing that they we don't qualify for Hard Knocks as of right now because the team is good. You know, if you have a winning record, you don't have to be on the show. They made the Jets be on the the NFL made the Jets be on the show. So it's a good thing for us that we're trending upwards.
There's probably well someone watching this who remembers Jaguar Summer that was non HBO. It was NFL Network in two thousand and four. They embedded their cameras with us and spent the entire summer here and did Jaguar Summer, which was Hard Knocks in a year that they didn't have Hard Knocks on HBO.
Oh, I'll have to go look for the throwback. That sounds interesting.
I think the most interesting part was Chris Fuamatu Mafala. There's another one to say three times, uh, the the Samoan running back from Utah who did a flaming torch dance at a club barbecue out at Hannah Park one night. It was exhilarating to watch.
All right, we go. There's a reason to look at that up.
If you guys like reality, behind the behind the scenes sort of things, definitely want to check that out. We have a little sneak peak of something coming up for you after the break as well that if you like to see all of the stuff that's going on here at Jags camp in the building in the nec you're gonna get a peek at it. We got a bunch of fans out there today, stay with us. I'll give
you that teas ahead coming up after the break. Jags fans, if you want customized Jaguars furnished for your homie, can check out zipchair dot com to browse all customizable options. Zip Chair Furniture for fans are right here.
So what is this for?
Again? The hut Y series.
So we don't have quarterbacks on Netflix with Trevor Lawrence, but you are going to get the hunt for the entire twenty twenty three football season. Fans asked for it, we are delivering you get the behind the scenes all the action for you. Hear that we put together on The Hunt. The latest episode is coming out on Thursday night, so look forward to that.
I do watch that and I live that. They do an excellent job with us. Yeah, that's that's our hard knots.
I'll give us a pat on the back. We all do a good job with that and your presence. It's just it brings us all together.
I couldn't do it about your job.
It's our vibe. We love a vibe, all right. The Hunt is back. Training camp is here, preceeds around the corner. Will be back with you on Thursday morning for jagsam as we preview a little bit of that matchup with Dallas. Training camp is underway. Thank you for joining us. We will see you again tomorrow morning.