Big Cat Country
Big Cat Country previews the Jaguars’ upcoming game against the Jets.
Welcome to Big Cat Country’s staff roundtable! This week, we’re previewing Week 15’s matchup between the Jacksonville Jaguars and New York Jets at EverBank Stadium.
The Jaguars are 3.5-point underdogs, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.
Question 1: What’s your biggest concern about the Jaguars this week?
Dillon Appleman: Legitimately concerned about stumbling into another win and being totally out of the Travis Hunter/Tetairoa McMillan/Mason Graham window of the draft. The field gets pretty thin regarding impact players at need positions for this team after those guys are off the board.
Travis Holmes: We have officially entered the portion of the season where I have to figure out new ways that the Jaguars can hurt me. After winning just two games in the first 12 weeks, the Jaguars found a way to immediately win the week following elimination from playoff contention. My biggest concern is the Jaguars continuing to win games that they simply shouldn't, moving from the first pick in the NFL Draft to ninth.
Gus Logue: Can the offense score enough points to win? Jacksonville has totaled 7, 6, and 10 points in the three games Mac Jones started this year. New York’s defense fell off as soon as Robert Saleh was fired, but I’d trust any unit over a Jones-led offense. Brian Thomas Jr. is the only reason this team threatens to score double-digit points without Trevor Lawrence.
Henry Zimmer: My biggest concern is how the Jags on offense will operate against a solid Jets defense. While the Jets may not have played up to their standard, it is still a very dangerous group and the Jags are a wounded unit on offense.
Question 2: If you could ‘steal’ a player from the Jets and place them on the Jaguars’ roster, who would it be?
Dillon: Quinnen Williams. The former All-Pro DT has nearly twice as many sacks this season by himself (6) than the Jags’ entire interior defensive line group combined (3.5).
Travis: As an admittedly biased “secondary guy,” I’d be insane not to go with Sauce Gardner here. Unfortunately, I’m feeling a little crazy today, as Jacksonville’s interior defensive front is also in dire need of rehabilitation. Here enters All-Pro DT Quinnen Williams. Adding a dominant run stopper and pass rusher to play next to Arik Armstead and a rotating Maason Smith helps the secondary differently, by keeping opposing quarterbacks under pressure.
Gus: Gardner or Williams would provide star power at positions of need on defense, but I can’t get the image of Garrett Wilson running routes alongside Brian Thomas Jr. out of my head. He’d be a worthy luxury pick to pair with BT and Trevor Lawrence long-term.
Henry: Stealing Sauce Gardner is a no-brainer I think. At the very least, Gardner brings an added attitude the Jags lack. It also would not hurt our pass defense which is allowing teams to complete 69.6% of their passes (third worst in the league).
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