Philadelphia Eagles vs. Jacksonville Jaguars: 5 Questions from the Other Side

Aug 24, 2013; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Justin Blackmon (14) is hit by Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Bradley Fletcher (24) after catching a screen pass during the second quarter of their game at EverBank Field. Mandatory Credit: Phil Sears-USA TODAY Sports

Philadelphia Eagles fans can rejoice, football season is finally upon us! It’s Sunday and the Philadelphia Eagles host the Jacksonville Jaguars in their NFL Season opener. I reached out to Daniel Lago, Editor for Black and Teal, to give Eagles fans an idea of how this season is shaping up for this young AFC South squad. Check out these 5 questions and be sure to visit the Black and Teal site for all things Jaguars!

1.) Using the 3^rd overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft to take a quarterback usually means the front office thinks that player is the quarterback of the future. When, if at all this season, do you expect Blake Bortles to start for the Jags?

Blake Bortles should really be starting now since he’s already better than Chad Henne, but I don’t expect him to see the field for at least the first 4 games. I expect the Jaguars to be 1-3 heading into their week 5 game against the Steelers, and by then I think the team and fans will be fed up with Henne’s mediocrity.

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2.) The Jaguars have a relatively young group of wide receivers, with a couple of rookies that look to see some significant playing time. What is the state of the wide receiver group and is any one receiver standing out more than others?

The veteran of the group is Cecil Shorts III, and he’s expected to play a big role this year while the rookies get acclimated. Second round pick Allen Robinson looked great in his short time in practices, but he’s been dealing with nagging injuries and will likely be eased back into the lineup. We haven’t seen a lot out of Marqise Lee, but undrafted free agent Allen Hurns looks like a potential gem after an outstanding preseason. There’s a lot of young talent to be excited about in the receiving corp.

3.) Head coach Gus Bradley is considered a “defensive minded” coach. How is the defense looking heading into this season?

The defense looks like it should make a big leap in Bradley’s second season thanks to a handful of upgrades made in free agency. Chris Clemons and Red Bryant should come in and immediately play well thanks to their familiarity with Bradley in Seattle, while Ziggy Hood should be a big part of the defensive tackle rotation. The development of Johnathan Cyprien at safety and Dwayne Gratz at cornerback should also bolster the defense.

4.) Maurice Jones-Drew was the starting running back for years, with his departure, can the running game improve and become a threat this year?

Maurice Jones-Drew was the starter by default last year, but he hasn’t been a dynamic playmaker for 3 or so years. He looked like he lost a step last year and was more of a volume guy than someone who could consistently break 5+ yard runs. Toby Gerhart should come in and at least equal MJD’s production. The guy to really get excited about is former Michigan quarterback Denard “Shoelace” Robinson, who looks like he could have a breakout year.

5.) What are some players to watch this season? Anyone that could be a big surprise contributor?

Obviously Blake Bortles is the main guy to watch since he could come in and probably turn this offense into a respectable unit, but Sen’Derrick Marks might be the best player on the roster. A low-key free-agent signing in 2013, Marks has been a beast this year in camp and the preseason and he looks like he could be one of the best defensive tackles in football this year.

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