Silver And Black Pride
5 questions with the enemy, Big Cat Country
The only thing riding on the line in the Las Vegas Raiders’ Week 16 matchup with the Jacksonville Jaguars is positioning in the NFL Draft. Both teams have been eliminated from the playoffs and they are only one game apart from each other, so this contest will play a big role in how the draft order looks this offseason.
To preview the game, Gus Logue from our friends at Big Cat Country was kind enough to answer a few questions about the Jaguars for Raider Nation.
Q: The Raiders and Jaguars are in a “heated” battle at the bottom of the NFL standings. Has Jacksonville shown any signs of tanking over the last few weeks? Who do you think the Jags’ primary target will be in the NFL Draft?
A: Jacksonville has not shown much signs of tanking, which is a testament to its players. Andre Cisco said he saw “a lot of quit” from his perspective at the safety position following a Week 6 loss to Chicago, but ever since, Detroit is the only team to have beaten them by more than one score. Effort level has really only been a concern during blowouts to title contenders; expect the Jaguars to play to win for all four quarters on Sunday.
As for the draft, Michigan cornerback Will Johnson may be at the top of their board (assuming they’re out of the Travis Hunter sweepstakes). Jacksonville desperately needs better coverage defenders beyond Tyson Campbell, who’s been a one-man show since he was drafted in 2021.
That said, there are several position groups that need upgrading — including both sides of the line — so the Jaguars will likely be in ‘best player available’ mode.
Q: After taking a brutal hit and suffering a concussion a few weeks ago, Trevor Lawrence was placed on injured reserve and is done for the year. What is the difference in Jacksonville’s offense with Mac Jones at quarterback versus Lawrence? Also, is there any chance Lawrence could be on the trade block this offseason? (Asking for a friend who could be looking for a quarterback...)
A: Here’s an easy way to sum it up. When Lawrence played over 50% of snaps, Jacksonville scored 21.7 points per game (would rank 19th for the full season). Otherwise, the Jaguars have scored 13.6 points per game (would rank 32nd).
The number of Lawrence doubters in Jacksonville took a nosedive as soon as Jones played a full game. The hometown kid posted a 38.3 passer rating in his first start in Week 10, and things haven’t gotten much better.
Fortunately for myself and fellow Lawrence truthers, he will not be on the trade block any time soon. There’s no doubt from within the team’s building that he’s their guy, and if a new regime were to think differently, I’d be shocked.
Good luck with your quarterback search — truly, as someone who also watched Gardner Minshew start for their team —...
