Yes, it was only a preseason game. But the Jacksonville Jaguars were humbled in Canton, Ohio on Thursday night. The Jags went down 27-11 to the Raiders in the annual Hall of Fame Game – only the second time the franchise has participated in the contest.
But preseason isn’t about the result. It’s about answering questions. And whilst Jacksonville may be heading home with a loss, head coach Doug Pederson knows more about his roster than he did before. With three more exhibition games to come before the trip to Washington in Week 1, here are five things we learned:
Arden Key Makes A Push For A Roster Spot
Call it a revenge game if you like. But Arden Key made the biggest impact on Thursday night, being a constant menace to his former employers. Key was a ball of energy around the line of scrimmage, and ended the game with two tackles and a pair of sacks. Looking fresh and rejuvenated, Key will be hoping to cement a roster spot. He has a great opportunity to challenge the depth chart, vying with Roy Robertson-Harris and Dawaune Smoot for snaps at defensive end.
Travon Walker Is The Real Deal
First overall pick Travon Walker’s night was over relatively quickly. The Jags only gave him a handful of reps to get his NFL feet wet, but they will have been very impressed with what they saw. Walker caused problems for Raiders left tackle Brandon Parker, moving him off his spot on every snap. All eyes were on the former Georgia Bulldog, and he didn’t disappoint – recording the first sack of his career:
First-overall pick Travon Walker making his presence known in the Hall of Fame Game 🏈 😤 (via @NFL)pic.twitter.com/5f6ZZwBeR0
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) August 5, 2022
Walker has all the physical tools needed to be a star. He showcased his speed to power moves, frequently bull rushing Parker and affecting the pocket. Walker was moved around a lot at Georgia and his production numbers suffered as a result. There are still doubts as to his pass-rush repertoire, and whether he can deliver numbers his draft position demands. But from the small sample size, it’s time to get excited.
Defensive Line Struggles Against Diverse Raiders Ground Game
The Raiders ran roughshod all over the Jaguars on Thursday night. They finished with 159 yards from just 33 carries, an average of 4.8 yards per tote. Five different ball carriers were used, and not one of them struggled to move the chains. A starting trio of Smoot, Gotsis and Robertson-Harris were manhandled by the Las Vegas o-line play after play. Furthermore, rookie running back Zamir White looked like an NFL veteran, slicing Jacksonville apart with each touch. His first carry of the day set the tone:
Zamir White gets his first carry for the #Raiders 🔥
— Pro Football Network (@PFN365) August 5, 2022
The Jags’ defensive front is a position in flux. Pederson and his staff will be looking at options very carefully following this performance.
Luke Farrell A Potential Breakout Candidate
The Jaguars have put a lot of resources into broadening the tight end position, with many 2TE sets being expected from Press Taylor and his offense. To that end, Luke Farrell looked the most effective pass catcher on the roster yesterday evening. The big-bodied Farrell was a fifth round pick last year, and looks set to offer a viable alternative to free agent acquisition Evan Engram. Farrell finished with three receptions for 43 yards, the most by any player in a white jersey. There are currently six TE’s on the roster, with an expectation that as many as four might make the team. But Farrell has put himself in the box seat.
Makeshift Offensive Line Shows Some Depth
The offensive line in Duval County has long been considered a problem. This offseason, strides have been made to rectify that. Brandon Scherff was brought in via free agency. Cam Robinson was re-signed. And Luke Fortner was drafted in the third round. Sherff, Robinson and Tyler Shatley sat this one out, but those that stepped in certainly did not disgrace themselves.
With Jawaan Taylor nursing a hamstring injury, Walker Little had the opportunity to make the right tackle spot his own. He fared well, albeit against a watered down Raiders defense. Will Richardson covered for Robinson and handled most of what was thrown at him. Ben Bartch is projected to be the swing lineman this year, and fared well. And Luke Fortner – almost a lock now to be the starting center – got valuable NFL minutes under his belt.
The makeshift group offered decent pass protection, allowing just one sack all evening. They were less effective opening holes for the run game – which averaged just 3.7 yards per carry. Ultimately, the starting five will look a lot different in the regular season. But it’s comforting to know that there is more depth at the position than there has been in a long time.
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