Welcome to Huge Cat Nation’s employees roundtable! Right now, we’re previewing Week 1’s matchup between the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Carolina Panthers at EverBank Stadium.
What’s the largest query in regards to the Jaguars you need to have answered after Week 1?
Dillon Appleman: Who’s going to separate themselves from the pack in a crowded working again room? There’s nonetheless plenty of uncertainty about what the utilization will appear like among the many Jaguars’ working backs. It feels just like the plan is for Travis Etienne and Tank Bigsby to separate a lot of the work, nevertheless it’s doable we see rookies Bhayshul Tuten or LeQuint Allen Jr. get some touches as nicely. Regardless of the splits, Week 1 is a chance for any individual to show they deserve extra of a workload going ahead.
Travis Holmes: The Jaguars just lately named middle Robert Hainsey as a crew captain for the 2025 season. After wrapping up a preseason the place the Jacksonville offense by no means confronted a beginning defensive unit, I’m fascinated with seeing how Hainsey performs this week in opposition to nostril deal with Bobby Brown III, the dominant run-stopping plug in the midst of Carolina’s protection. Hainsey was signed in Jacksonville after shedding his beginning position in Tampa Bay, primarily attributable to struggles in coping with the extra highly effective DTs, so this must be an excellent opening check for the newly designated captain.
Gus Logue: What’s going to Anthony Campanile’s protection appear like? In line with Daniel Griffis of Motion Information Jax, the 2024 Jaguars ranked top-three in man protection price and press protection price, and bottom-three in blitz price and stunt price. Ryan Nielsen deployed a predictable, vanilla scheme. Count on Campanile to do an entire 180 and switch up the warmth by sending additional rushers and disguising zone coverages.
Henry Zimmer: I feel in Week 1 I’d identical to to see a clear recreation from Trevor Lawrence. He regarded nice within the preseason however that was restricted. Now it’s time to see it in full motion and all indicators are pointing to yielding nice issues. The Panthers aren’t world beaters, however it could be an excellent signal heading into Cincinnati if Lawrence performed a clear recreation.
If you happen to may ‘steal’ a participant from the Panthers and place them on the Jaguars’ roster, who wouldn’t it be?
Dillon: I’m taking the Panthers’ shiny new free company addition, Tre’von Moehrig. The veteran security would immediately present this protection with a tone-setter on the backend that they don’t presently have. Moehrig’s 5 TFLs final yr are equal to the complete Jaguars security depth’s whole in 2024, which fits to point out how impactful he’s when getting downhill. That kind of participant has been lacking for the Jacksonville secondary for some time.
Travis: I feel Jacksonville would thrive with a participant like Tre’von Moehrig roaming the Jaguars’ secondary. The just lately signed Moehrig came visiting from Las Vegas, the place he hardly ever missed tackles, rating sixth amongst safeties in PFF run protection grade (87.5). Regardless of the Raiders’ go rush taking successful and the protection shedding half of their starters within the second half of the season, Moehrig’s protection grades on passes over 3 seconds (62.9) and within the slot (64.2) each remained above common. With Jacksonville’s looming questions on the security positions presently crammed by Eric Murray and Andrew Wingard, Moehrig would offer barely extra stability.
Gus: There are a couple of tempting choices on Carolina’s defensive roster, however I’d handle maybe the Jaguars’ largest weak spot by nabbing proper guard Robert Hunt. The five-year NFL veteran completed second in ESPN’s run block win price amongst inside linemen final season, and he enters 2025 as Brandon Thorn’s Tenth-ranked proper guard. He’d be an enormous enhance for Liam Coen’s run recreation.
Henry: Derrick Brown can be on the prime of my checklist. Nearly as good as DaVon Hamilton and even Arik Armstead might be, having a man like Brown would degree up this protection considerably. Jaycee Horn additionally couldn’t damage.
Who would be the largest X-factor on Sunday?
Dillon: Josh Hines-Allen. With the standing of Panthers beginning left deal with Ikem Ekwonu in query (appendectomy), the Jags’ star go rusher might be in for an enormous day. To not point out the added incentive of JHA being simply 2.5 sacks away from setting the franchise’s all-time sack report.
Travis: Carolina defensive finish Derrick Brown is the participant to observe from my perspective. Brown is definitely the perfect participant on the Panthers’ roster. The final time he was wholesome for the season, he collected over 100 tackles, setting an NFL report for the place. In 2023, he led all inside defenders in defensive stops and solo tackles, and PFF had his run-defense grade at 90.0 in that Professional Bowl season. Sliding him again in subsequent to Bobby Brown III might be a problem for the Jaguars’ offensive line. I feel the followers in Duval might be sleeping on that enchancment over the Panthers’ 2024 run protection outcomes.
Gus: Tetairoa McMillan. With Adam Thielen shipped to Minnesota and Jalen Coker positioned on injured reserve, the Panthers immediately have a shallow receiver room behind their eighth total draft decide. The Jaguars ought to put all their efforts into slowing McMillan as a result of the Panthers don’t have another notable threats. I don’t see Carolina strolling out of the Financial institution with a win until their rookie receiver makes an immediate affect.
Henry: The most important X-Issue might be Bryce Younger. Very like Lawrence, all indicators are pointing up for Younger and he has the receivers to assist him out. If he performs nicely, and the Jags protection reverts to its previous methods, it might be a protracted day for Jacksonville and an enormous day for the previous Heisman winner.
Dillon: Jaguars 27, Panthers 21
Travis: Jaguars 27, Panthers 23
Gus: Jaguars 30, Panthers 24
Henry: Jaguars 24, Panthers 17
What are your Week 1 predictions, Jaguars followers? Tell us within the feedback!