It hasn’t been perfect, but the Jacksonville Jaguars’ offense has been productive through their first two games of the season.
The Jaguars currently rank seventh in the NFL in points per game with 26.5, and they are eighth in yards per play.
In a nuanced game like football, there are always many factors behind any successes or failures that take place. However, a key contributor to the Jaguars’ early success on offense has been the play of the offensive line.
According to NFL Next Gen Stats, the Jaguars’ offensive line has allowed just one sack this season. Trevor Lawrence has been pressured on just 20.8% of his dropbacks, which is the second-lowest rate in the NFL.
In the run game, the Jaguars have been the most productive offense in the NFL in rushing yards per game and in yards per carry.
GM James Gladstone reshaped the Jaguars’ offensive line unit during the offseason, making six additions between free agency and the NFL draft.
However, when it came to what we should expect from this unit this season, that was a bit of an unknown. Liam Coen created heavy competition up front throughout the summer, constantly rotating players in and out and at different positions to find the best starting five combination.
Eventually, later on in training camp, Coen settled on the configuration that many suspected from the start, with Walker Little at left tackle, followed by Ezra Cleveland, Robert Hainsey, Patrick Mekari, and Anton Harrison.
It goes without saying, but continued high-level play from the offensive line will do wonders for this offense. Time in the pocket is a must for any quarterback, while success in the run game keeps an offense out of predictable passing situations and opens up opportunities through the air.
This article originally appeared on Jaguars Wire: Under-the-radar position group plays key role in Jaguars’ early production on offense
Reporting by Paul Bretl, Jaguars Wire / Jaguars Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
