The Jacksonville Jaguars enter the 2014 season in a familiar spot unfortunately \u2013 looking to just field a competitive team and to keep from becoming the laughing stock of the NFL. The team jumped from two wins in 2012 to four wins in 2013 but still looked at times more like an NCAA team rather than an NFL one. <\/p>\n
\nJags<\/h3>\n
Jacksonville Jaguars Future Lines to win the 2015 Super Bowl XLIX 250\/1<\/strong>
\n Jacksonville Jaguars Future Lines to win the 2015 AFC Conference 100\/1<\/strong>
\n Jacksonville Jaguars Future Lines to Win the 2014 AFC South +1400<\/strong>
\n [dfads params=’groups=63740&limit=1&return_javascript=0′]<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\nJacksonville had a terrible passing game, a brutal running game and the defense stunk last year.<\/p>\n
At least they did go 4-4 in the second half of the season \u2013 they needed to after losing their first eight games \u2013 many in embarrassing fashion.<\/p>\n
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The Jags made some moves in the offseason to get back toward respectability including the curious drafting of Blake Bortles. Will it be enough? Let\u2019s take a look.<\/p>\n
Jacksonville used the #3 overall pick on Blake Bortles to become their franchise QB and passed on a host of players that may have been a fit right away for this franchise. The head scratching move could prove to be another drafting blunder for a team that saw them suffer for years with Blaine Gabbert. Bortles will likely have to wait to see any regular season time however \u2013 the OK Chad Henne is the likely starter in Jacksonville until their season is out of reach \u2013 my guess is week 10!
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\nHenne would be a backup on any other team but will be the man tasked with guiding a passing game that was 22nd in the NFL last season and will be without their best receiving option, Justin Blackmon for the year after yet another drug suspension. That leaves Cecil Shorts, Ace Sanders and a couple of under the radar rookies to catch balls from Henne \u2013 ugh!<\/p>\nTight End Mercedes Lewis also exists as one of the more disappointing prospects year-after-year as well.<\/p>\n
Jacksonville\u2019s running game ranked 31st in the NFL last season \u2013 just under 79 yards per game. Out is Maurice Jones-Drew, the face of the Jags rushing attack for years and in is Toby Gerhart who averaged a very nice 4.7 yards per carry last year as Adrian Peterson\u2019s backup.<\/p>\n
But, and that\u2019s a big but \u2013 he had just 276 carries in four years in Minnesota \u2013 legitimate questions linger about his ability to shoulder a full load.<\/p>\n
Simply put it appears that Jacksonville plugged their gaping holes on offense with duck tape \u2013 it is hard to imagine the team being a whole lot better with the average talent they have brought in.<\/p>\n
Defensively there isn\u2019t a whole lot of optimism for a turnaround either – although they did sign former Seahawks Red Bryant and Chris Clemons \u2013 upgrades for sure for a pass rush that was historically bad last season.<\/p>\n
This is a squad that gave up 20 or more points in 14 of their 16 games last season and although they may be a tad improved from last season, that\u2019s not saying a whole lot.<\/p>\n
Super Bowl Betting Prediction:<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Jacksonville will be bad! Almost guaranteed. Just how bad is the question. Best guess is that another 4-12 season is on the horizon \u2013 largely because of their easy schedule this year.<\/p>\n
Expect to see Blake Bortles become the starter around mid-season and watch him struggle mightily as memories of the Blaine Gabbert debacle resurface in Florida.<\/p>\n
With training camps over the NFL betting season is here at Cappers Picks.\u00a0NFL Football handicappers<\/a>\u00a0have been hard at work putting out the team by team\u00a0Football Predictions<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0NFL Season Previews<\/a>\u00a0for those of us who can\u2019t wait.<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n