Caldwell: We can’t afford a rebuilding year
JACKSONVILLE — The Jaguars traded five starters off their defense since last season.
They released their top running back and both veteran backup quarterbacks in the past week.
And Jaguars general manager Dave Caldwell still thinks they can win.
“We can’t afford a rebuilding year,” Caldwell said. “Our mindset is to put the best team out there to play, to compete, and to win. We feel like these guys, the guys in this locker room, nobody has seen them play together. Nobody has seen them play a game so, like I said, we’re going to know where we measure up.”
That’s because 16 rookies made their initial 53-man roster on Saturday, including all 12 draft picks from this year’s class. Eight rookies are projected to be on the team’s two-deep chart going into Sunday’s opener against the Indianapolis Colts at TIAA Bank Field.
Defensive end K’Lavon Chaisson, cornerback CJ Henderson, and long snapper Ross Matiscik are projected Week 1 rookie starters. It won’t take long to know what kind of team the Jaguars will be in 2020 when they open against the Colts and then travel to play the Tennessee Titans.
Caldwell noted the Jaguars open with games against the Colts and Titans, two strong teams
“We’ll know pretty quick where we measure up with some of the top teams in the league,” Caldwell said. “Let’s see how these young guys are, and I know the 53 players in this locker room are excited to be here and are excited for their ability to go out there and put a good brand of football out there.”
Instead of having running back Leonard Four
nette, who was released last week despite rushing for 2,631 yards and scoring 17 rushing touchdowns in three seasons, the Jaguars operate their backfield by committee.
Rookie Devine Ozigbo, eight-year veteran Chris Thompson and rookie James Robinson will share most of the carries. Secondyear running back Ryquell Armstead is expected to be out awhile after being placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list for a second time since last
month, and fullback Bruce Miller, a former UCF star, made the initial 53-man roster.
“You look at probably the top rushers in the league last year, I think the majority of them were relatively high draft picks, so that’s not necessarily the case,” Caldwell said. “But you can find guys, but you can do it at every position. I think we’re fortunate with the guys that we have. Devine had a really good preseason last year when you go back to watch him with the
Saints [and that] is why we claimed him.”
At quarterback, there is no experienced backup behind Gardner Minshew, even though the Jaguars initially considered putting a quarterback in quarantine.
Rookie Jake Luton beat out both veterans Mike Glennon and Joshua Dobbs for the top backup job that led to both getting released Saturday.
Glennon, however, ultimately earned a spot on the Jacksonville practice squad.
Luton is a talent, but a lot could happen this upcoming season from players going on the COVID-19 list to injuries.
It appears to be a risk not having an experienced backup on the roster behind Minshew.
The Jaguars kept only three tight ends — Tyler Eifert, James O’Shaughness y, and Tyler Davis — though it has been a position ravaged by injuries since 2018.
Just after the start of training camp, the Jaguars lost second-year tight end Josh Oliver for the season because of a broken bone in his foot.
Defensively, nine rookies made the initial 53-man roster, including undrafted rookie cornerback Luq Barcoo and undrafted defensive tackle Doug Costin.