Jaguars at Ravens
Game Info
Kickoff: Thursday 8/8 at 7:30 pm (ET)
Location: M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, MD
Betting Odds: Bal -5 via Oddsshark
Network: WBAL-TV, WJLA, NBC Sports Washington
Jacksonville Jaguars
Receiver Rotation
The Jaguars are known to have a great defense but it is their offense that has been the question the last few years. They bring in Nick Foles to replace longtime quarterback Blake Bortles. It will be interesting to watch who steps up at the receiver for Foles as there is a bit of open competition. Team target leader Dede Westbrook is back and should be the number one receiver after a good camp so far, according to reports. Who will be getting the targets behind Westbrook is more of the question. Marqise Lee is on the PUP list and figures to have a role when healthy. Second-year receiver DJ Chark has reportedly taken a step this training camp. Then there are veterans Keelan Cole, Chris Conley, and Terrelle Pryor trying to make the team and fight for playing time. This is an important group to keep an eye on because the Jaguars lack a proven tight end option (Geoff Swaim, Josh Oliver), one would think targets will be funneled to their receivers heavily.
Middle Linebacker Replacement
Stud middle linebacker Telvin Smith is taking the 2019 season off to attend to personal matters. Smith plays on the weak side in the Jaguars 4-3 base defense. This is the biggest hole on the Jaguars defense coming into the season and they have a few options to try and fill it. They have a great middle linebacker in Myles Jack and there has been some talk of moving him to Smith’s position and having newcomer Jake Ryan take over in the middle. The problem with that is Ryan is on the non-football injury list, recovering from a torn ACL. Then there is projected starter at strong-side linebacker Leon Jacobs who is staying put on that side. Rookie linebacker Quincy Williams was a candidate to take the starting spot but he tore his meniscus recently and will miss a month or two of action. After those guys, there are veterans such as Najee Goode, Ramik Wilson, and D.J. Alexander who will all look to grab the starting gig with the rash of injuries in front of them. This will be a position to watch this preseason to see if anyone takes ahold of the third starting linebacker spot.
Offensive Tackle Spots
The Jaguars probably thought that they would only have to replace departed right tackle Jeremy Pernell in 2019. However, left tackle Cam Robinson is still not practicing because he is still recovering from a torn ACL he suffered last season. That leaves their two offensive tackle positions open at the moment. The favorites right now are former Bengals tackle Cedric Ogbuehi and second-round rookie Jawaan Taylor. With Ogbuehi at left tackle/swingman type and Taylor at right tackle. There are a couple of veterans in-house as well in Leonard Wester and Josh Wells who could come into play if Taylor doesn’t seem ready or Ogbuehi falters. It will be good to know if Robinson can come back healthy for the regular season and how expected right tackle Taylor looks this preseason.
Baltimore Ravens
Running Back Depth
In fantasy football, it is wise to know who is second and third in line for carries in case an injury occurs or poor production causes shuffling in the depth chart. It is believed that free-agent acquisition Mark Ingram will be the starter, but Baltimore boasts the run-heaviest offense in the league so knowing their depth is imperative. Behind him is Gus Edwards, who did a nice job as the starter down the stretch last season. Then, keep an eye on dynamic rookie Justice Hill, who can offer the Ravens a speed threat that they lack elsewhere in the backfield, check out his player profile. Lastly, it will be interesting to watch Kenneth Dixon this preseason, if he doesn’t show well this preseason he may be on the outside looking in for roster spot. Take note of when these guys enter the game and how much playing time they get throughout the preseason. The first official depth chart had Ingram, then Edwards, followed by Dixon and Tyler Ervin as the threes and Hill following that. Ervin has been with the Texans the last few years and could make the team in a special teams/third-down back type of role.
Wide Receiver Competition
The Ravens have a lot of competition going at their skill positions and the receiver position is no different. We know that rookies Marquise Brown and Miles Boykin along with veteran Willie Snead IV will be on the roster, with Snead manning the slot. Brown is just starting to practice for the first time and Boykin has gotten rave reviews so far at camp. What we don’t know is who will be starting alongside him? and who makes the team besides those three. The Ravens’ first depth chart has Snead and veteran Seth Roberts as starters followed by unproven veterans Chris Moore, Jaleel Scott, and long-time pro-Michael Floyd. Keep an eye on who is getting playing time early and who is producing out of this group. It is important to note that this receiving group will probably get the bottom-five amount of volume in the league this year, on what should be the run heaviest team in the NFL.
Offensive Line Questions
The Ravens return a top-10 offensive line from last year that finished 9th in run-blocking metrics and 8th in pass blocking metrics according to football outsiders. All-pro right guard Marshal Yanda remains an elite option for the Ravens and Ronnie Stanley has emerged as one of the better left tackles in the game. Matt Skura returns at the center in 2019 but the competition lies at right tackle and left guard. Right tackle is expected to belong to second-year man Orlando Brown Jr. who ended the year with the starting job. However, he failed his conditioning test to start camp and was working with the second-team offense for a few days to follow. James Hurst has been taking those first-team reps and has been discussed for the left guard spot as well. Jermaine Eluemunor is listed as the starter at left guard and he ran with the ones through spring practices, but he too failed his conditioning test to start camp and had dealt with minor injuries. Fourth-round rookie Ben Powers has taken first-team reps in his place and the Ravens just cut veteran guard Alex Lewis, who is still recovering from shoulder surgery and was on the PUP list. It will be interesting to watch and see who takes hold of the two offensive line spots that seem to be open.
-Kevin Taylor