One of the bigger questions surrounding the Jacksonville Jaguars heading into the season was the offensive line. Due to not seeing the whole starting unit together during the preseason, it remained enigmatic heading into Week 1, too.
There were certainly several mistakes. Many drives were tanked due to holding calls, and some players on the offensive line struggled more than others. But, setting aside the penalties for a minute, the offensive line play had some positive moments. The team did a decent job protecting Trevor Lawrence, but it still needs to improve.
According to Pro Football Focus, Jacksonville’s offensive line ranked 23rd in the league in Week 1.
The big question for the Jaguars is what kind of play will they get out of tackles Cam Robinson and Jawaan Taylor. Each player was drafted within the first 35 picks in their respective drafts, but neither has shown consistently above-average play at this level. They combined to allow five pressures against the Texans, and if they continue to play at an average level, this line will be all right.
Interior Linemen Andrew Norwell and Brandon Linder are two of the better players at their positions in the league, and they will continue to anchor this unit. But the Jaguars simply need to see more from the tackles. Robinson’s future on the roster is murky beyond this season, but Taylor is expected to be a part of the line for years to come.
They need to play better, and the team likely needs to find a way to upgrade from Cann, who received a disastrous 9.2 grade (out of 100, not 10) from PFF for his play on Sunday.
But all in all, the offensive line is expected to be a strength of the team. Or, at the very least, it shouldn’t be a weakness.
