Can the Jacksonville Jaguars be successful without Maurice Jones-Drew? With the first week of the free agency in the books, the fantasy football picture for 2014 is starting to take shape. One of the teams that are quietly making interesting moves is the Jacksonville Jaguars. Not a lot of moves on offense but their defense are looking a lot better.
Fantasy football generally focuses on the offense, but paying close attention to the defense can tell you a lot about a player’s potential to put up big fantasy numbers. For example, RB’s on teams with great defenses traditionally fair very well. (i.e. Jamaal Charles, Frank Gore, Marshawn Lynch, etc.). This is because their teams are content to win the game defensively and run the time out. Conversely, WR’s on teams with horrible defenses tend to fair very well (i.e. Dez Bryant, Josh Gordon, Calvin Johnson, etc.). This is because their teams are typically playing from behind and they have no choice but to throw the football.
This brings us back to the Jaguars. Last year, the Jaguars had 28th fewest rushing attempts. This was largely because they had one of the worst defenses in the league. That meant that they were throwing the football, A LOT. That all changed when free agency opened and the Jags changed the roster of their defense. Moving quickly the Jags re-signed defensive end Jason Babin and signed defensive ends Red Bryant and Chris Clemons. The latter two players helped anchor the Seahawks defensive line during their Super Bowl run. But Jags didn’t stop on defensive line either. They also picked up one of free agency’s biggest prizes, former broncos offensive linemen Zane Beadles. A RB can’t do what they need to do without an awesome offensive line.
Now, if the Jags can use their new defense to remain in close games they won’t have to throw nearly as much and Maurice Jones-Drew is in for a big year. Wait… Did I say MJD is in for a big year? My bad, I almost forgot one of the Jag’s biggest acquisitions of the off-season, former Minnesota Viking Toby Gerhart. The signing of Gerhart means that MJD is off to greener pastures. If this logic holds true look for Gerhart to rush for about 1,200 yards and 10 TDs in 2014.
Maurice Jones-Drew has not yet been signed from free-agency but is off to visit with the Pittsburgh Steelers today.
