How the Jaguars Won the NFL Offseason — And How the Colts Lost It

[IDEXAN]

Winner of the 2016 Offseason: Jacksonville Jaguars
Yes, that’s right: the Jags, who excelled in the draft and free agency alike. Jacksonville entered the NFL’s free-agency period with nearly $75 million in burnable cap space, giving them lots of power at the negotiating table. They used their stack of chips to sign Malik Jackson to a six-year, $85.5 million contract, which might look like an overpay on the surface — the $14.25 million average annual value ranks eighth highest among all NFL defensive linemen — but it was a necessarily bold move to secure the best interior rusher on the market. GM David Caldwell and head coach Gus Bradley likely view Jackson as a Michael Bennett–type player in their 4–3 system, a similar scheme to what Pete Carroll runs in Seattle. Like Bennett, Jackson doesn’t have a true position; he’ll play the 3-technique a lot (lining up on the outside shoulder of the guard), but should also see snaps as an end (at the 4i technique, or the inside shoulder of the tackle), where he was very effective for Denver.

https://theringer.com/nfl-offseason-winner-loser-jaguars-colts-f5755b3daa0f#.iddjru86j

 

[Texecutioner]

Jags are a pretty stacked team. Their offense came alive last season, and now they've added nice pieces to the defense to be a well rounded team.

The Texans added quite a bit as well though. If Oz turns into a great QB or very close to that the Texans could have done better. It all really depends on how well he is able to play as the leader of the offense.

I don't see how the Colts got better really other than adding some Oline help which is what was needed, but other than that I don't feel they did anything significant to get any better.

This will be one of the best divisions in football next year I think.

 

[thunderkyss]

Khan's doing it his way

“In the auto industry, I spent years perfecting processes," he said. "Now, the successes and failures don’t get the kind of publicity obviously NFL football does. But over time, you develop a sense that, do I want to just be tearing this thing down over and over again? How am I going to be better?”

“I’m not saying, ‘If we win, this is the blueprint for everybody.’ It’s the blueprint for us,” Khan said.

The offense made a leap in 2015, led by second-year quarterback Blake Bortles, who threw 35 touchdown passes, and dual 1,000-yard receivers Allen Robinson and Allen Hurns. This offseason, the Jaguars invested mostly in defense. They signed defensive lineman Malik Jackson (six years, $85.5 million), safety Tashaun Gipson and cornerback Prince Amukamara. (Adding running back Chris Ivory was also a nice pick-up.) Jacksonville then drafted cornerback Jalen Ramsey at No. 5 overall and linebacker Myles Jack, a first-round talent who slipped to the second because of long-term concerns about his knee. They get last year’s No. 3 overall pick, defensive end Dante Fowler Jr., back from a knee injury, too.

In essence, the free-agent signings (including tight end Julius Thomas and end Jared Odrick last year) took the place of the second contracts that’d ideally be handed out in-house.

“The hope was that if we would’ve made some of the right decisions in the draft, we’d start re-signing some of our own guys and then use that cap space for the guys we drafted and keep that going,” Caldwell said.

 

[Scooter]

Haven't the Jaguars (and Titans) been winning the off-season for years? We have threads like this every year saying that one or both of those teams have just become dangerous. And like them, how often to 'off-season winners' win during the regular season? Winning teams are able to keep their own and build quietly.

 

[chicagotexan2]

Haven't the Jaguars (and Titans) been winning the off-season for years? We have threads like this every year saying that one or both of those teams have just become dangerous. And like them, how often to 'off-season winners' win during the regular season? Winning teams are able to keep their own and build quietly.

Yeah, this is about as insightful as 'this team one the draft' articles. No one knows jack until the dust settles.