The Jacksonville Jaguars had a busy offseason after trading away or releasing a large portion of their team. Only a small percentage of players still remain from their improbable 2017 AFC Championship berth.
While their talent is limited, they still have a lot of players who can have success in the NFL. This team is young and is building something for the future. Regardless, they should not be overlooked.
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As the Colts head south to TIAA Bank Field this weekend, here are four Jaguars they must game plan for in Week 1:
QB Gardner Minshew II
Minshew is a guy that is tough to root against even for a Colts fan. The second-year quarterback out of Washington State has quickly become a popular young talent in the NFL. His future in Jacksonville is up in the air, which gives him all the motivation to have a big 2020 season.
After finishing with 3,271 passing yards and 21 touchdowns in just 14 games played, Minshew has the ability to put up points. With a young and talented receiving corps around him, the Colts will have to make him uncomfortable in the pocket to have success on Sunday.
The hope is that new defensive tackle DeForest Buckner can apply some pressure from the interior, but they will have to move Minshew off his spot early.
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WR D.J. Chark
Leading that young receiving corps is Chark, who had a breakout year in 2019. He finished with 73 catches for 1,008 yards and eight touchdowns. He has taken over at the No. 1 option for Minshew and the two had a lot of success last year.
The matchup to watch for will be with Rock Ya-Sin as he steps into his new role as the Colts top cornerback. Ya-Sin has been playing faster throughout training camp, and that physicality will be necessary to keep the deep threat in Chark from taking over the game.
He will have his hands full with Chark as the two young players battle it out in what should be a fun matchup to watch.
LB Myles Jack
As one of the only players left from the 2017 Jaguars AFC Championship defense, Jack is facing a lot of pressure to be the leader of this young and somewhat inexperienced team. At 25 years old, Jack has often been overlooked as one of the better linebackers in the league.
He finished with 66 total tackles last season which was a drop off from his 107 in 2018 due to injury. He played in only 11 games last year which makes his need for a big season that much greater.
But the Colts will have to keep their eyes on him at all times in the middle of the field, especially when Philip Rivers looks to the crossing patterns.
DE Josh Allen
Allen was a top-10 draft pick last year for a reason. He is a very tough and skilled pass rusher whose quickness allows him to blow by offensive linemen. In his rookie season, Allen started all 16 games and was even selected to the Pro Bowl.
He is looking to build upon his 10.5 sacks in 2019 and he faces a tough challenge week one against the Colts. The Jaguars traded away Calais Campbell, which makes life a bit easier, but Allen will be looking to begin a second-year breakout with the Colts in Week 1.
The Colts have one of the best offensive tackle duos in the NFL, but they will have to bring their A-game against Allen.
