The Jacksonville Jaguars still have no reason to trust their pass defense, and now with another key starter out to start the season, their draft focus is becoming clear.
There is no question that the Jaguars are one of the teams the rest of the NFL is watching carefully. They feature a young and talented roster that is just beginning to scratch the surface of its potential. Blake Bortles, along with receivers Allen Hurns and Allen Robinson really began to tear things up in 2015 and T.J. Yeldon became a reliable horse on the ground.
No, the problem facing the Jaguars was their defense, specifically their pass defense. It finished last season ranked 29th in the league, allowing a gaudy 268.2 yards per game. So there is little question the news that Aaron Colvin, one of their promising young corners who started last season will be suspended for the first four games of 2016.
Jaguars' CB Aaron Colvin, Falcons' CB Jalen Collins, Titans' WR Andrew Turzilli each suspended for first four games by NFL.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 8, 2016
Some might say the loss was expected since the Jaguars signed veteran Prince Amukamara in free agency, but that can hardly be considered a solution to their original problem. After all, Amukamara has a history of injury problems and played 11 games last season for a pass defense that was even worse that the Jaguars (32nd overall). It is unreasonable to think a combination of him and Davon House will do better without Colvin.
There is no getting around the fact that this loss merely magnifies the original problem that remains unsolved. Jacksonville desperately needs help at corner. Perhaps this latest setback, temporary though it might be, could compel them to take no chances and go after the best available at the position in the draft. Vernon Hargreaves III is the highest rated among most experts and would make a good fit in their scheme.
Or perhaps they prefer more length in which Eli Apple of Ohio State and William Jackson III of Houston might even be considered. The point is if the Jacksonville Jaguars want to stop being viewed as the “same, old Jags” moving forward, then it will come through finding better teeth for their defense.