The Jacksonville Jaguars had a lot of good things going for them during their 6-2 start to the year, but was the team good enough to win the Super Bowl?
While the Jaguars offense showed off its lofty potential at times, it failed to capitalize on opportunities and frequently stalled out for stretches. And a Jacksonville defense that leads the NFL in takeaways also ranks bottom 10 in the league in yards allowed.
It was enough to mow through teams like the Atlanta Falcons, Indianapolis Colts, and New Orleans Saints. But the Jaguars will probably need to be an even better version of themselves if they want to come out on top of a loaded AFC.
On Monday, Jaguars coach Doug Pederson identified four specific areas where the team will need to be better in the second half of the season if it hopes to realize its full potential:
1
"We can improve on third down both offensively and defensively"
The Jaguars have converted just 35.5 percent of their third down tries, the 25th best rate in the NFL through nine weeks.
“When you look at it from what we put ourselves in, whether it be a penalty or a sack, something of that nature that gets us in those third-and-12-pluses, your quarterback has to hold the ball,” Pederson said. “We’ve gone up against some really talented edge and pass rushers. It’s extremely hard.
“Then the execution, we’ve had some drops, we’ve had some missed opportunities and missed throws. When you look at it, it’s opportunities that are there but again, it’s us being better on first down and second down that keep us out of those situations.”
While Pederson also said the defense could be better on third down, that’s asking a lot. Opposing offenses converted just 34.2 percent of the time, making the Jaguars defense fifth best on third down.
2
"Red zone is another area that offensively we have to continue to improve in"
The Jaguars made 21 trips inside their opponents’ 20-yard line in the first eight weeks of the season, but came away with only 10 touchdowns on those drives. That 47.6 percent rate ranks 26th in the NFL.
According to Pederson, the Jaguars may look to replicate what other teams have done near the goal line to up their touchdown rate.
“You always look at the top teams in the red zone and just see what they’re doing compared to what we’re doing and see if things fit and all that.”
The Miami Dolphins lead the category with 24 touchdowns on 32 red zone trips (75 percent).
3
"The turnovers obviously can’t happen"
While the Jaguars are No. 1 in the NFL in takeaways, they’re only plus-five in the turnover margin thanks to 13 turnovers in eight games. Jacksonville has managed to get through just one game without giving the ball away.
Only two teams have thrown fewer interceptions than the Jaguars, but it’s the fumbling that has proven costly. Jacksonville has put the ball on the ground 17 times and gotten back on top of eight of those.
Just keeping a tighter hold on the football would go a long way toward keeping the offense moving.
4
"Start of the 3rd quarter is another area that we can definitely do better"
Starting fast was a mantra for the Jaguars for most of the offseason after they found themselves digging out of holes on a seemingly weekly basis in 2022. So far, they’ve done better at that.
In their last three games, the Jaguars drove the field and got points on their first drive, scoring two touchdowns and a field goal.
Jacksonville hasn’t been able to replicate that success out of halftime, though. During the five-game win streak in the month of October, the Jaguars’ first drives of third quarter ended with four punts and a fumble. Only during a blowout loss to the Houston Texans did Jacksonville come out for the second half and immediately get points on the board.
