The Jacksonville Jaguars have not won more than five games in a season since 2010, nor have they made the playoffs in-depthsince 2007. The 2013 season, the team’s first under new coach Gus Bradley, snowballed early, as the team got off to an 0-8 start.

But what the Jaguars lacked in talent, the team made up for in persistence. The Jags won four of five to start the second half of 2013 before losing the last three. This team still has some gaping holes, most notably the absence of a long-term answer at quarterback. But the 4-4 finish lends hope that the team has the right leadership in place to start heading in a positive direction.

Shane Clemons, head writer for The Jaggernaut, stopped in to offer his thoughts on the season just finished and the work that needs to be done for a 2014 turnaround.

Zoneblitz: Jacksonville got off to a brutal 0-8 start but improved to 4-4 in the second half of the season. What’s your assessment of 2013?

Clemons: The Jaguars were a mess heading into the 2013 season, and head coach Gus Bradley knew it. That’s one of the reasons he preached getting better each week instead of preaching that winning was all that mattered. Last season was never about making a playoff run. Instead, it was about the Jags setting a foundation for building into the future, and they accomplished that goal. Some young players emerged as possible core players for the future, and with plenty of cap room moving forward, the Jags are now in a position to build more aggressively with winning in mind.

Zoneblitz: What do you think of the Gus Bradley/David Caldwell combination after one season?

Clemons: The combination of Bradley and David Caldwell is working well right now, and owner Shahid Khan has been able to build what should become a stable base for the franchise. Bradley’s “always positive” attitude paid dividends in the second half of the season, but it’s still too early to judge Caldwell’s job as the team’s general manager. Early returns are positive, but Bradley and Caldwell’s second season together will be far more telling than their first.

Zoneblitz: Caldwell mentioned the idea of trading back in round one. What do you think of that idea?

Clemons: The Jaguars don’t have the same depth the top contenders in the league do and by trading down in the draft, the Jags can focus on building their core of players instead of looking for a few stars to pull the rest of the team up. Ultimately, the Jaguars would probably like to trade down, take a quarterback in the second or third round and pick use their other picks building the aforementioned core group of players. Still, the Jaguars need someone to trade with, and it’s very possible they won’t be able to find a team willing to move up for the third pick in the draft.

Zoneblitz: The Jaguars still don’t seem to have a franchise QB. Will that be answered in the first round or would you go in a different direction?

Clemons: As previously mentioned, the Jags would like to move away from taking a quarterback in the first round, but if they’re unable to move out of the third overall pick, they may decide to take a top quarterback. Jacksonville wants to keep Chad Henne, who is slated for free agency, as an insurance policy at quarterback, and he’d give them the ability to postpone taking a quarterback early in the draft. At this point, the Jags’ quarterback situation could go any way in the draft. We only know that they’ll be taking at least one quarterback in the draft. We just don’t know when.

Zoneblitz: It looks like there is a decent chance Maurice Jones Drew moves on this offseason. Is that the right move? And what does he have left in the tank?

Clemons: The Jaguars were never able to give Maurice Jones-Drew much running room in 2013. Their offensive line has a lot of work to do before they can allow a running back the ability to be effective. Jones-Drew is too expensive to keep, especially since he’s not seeing much running room anyway. So yes, letting him walk is the right decision.

Zoneblitz: The Jaguars’ offense ranked last in scoring this year. We’ve discussed QB and the possible exit of Jones Drew. What else has to happen to turn the offense around?

Clemons: The quickest way for the Jaguars to increase their offensive production is for them to improve their offensive line. The team’s interior has a huge amount of work to do. They have some weapons on offense, but Chad Henne needs time to be able to get the ball out of his hands. If their pass protection improves, as it seemed to do late in the season, the Jags could be competitive on offense.

Zoneblitz: The defense actually gave up five points more in 2014 than 2013. What is the status of the defense and what needs to happen to turn that around?

Clemons: The Jaguars saw the installation of a brand new defense again in 2013. That defense was on the field a large amount of time each game because the Jaguars’ offense couldn’t maintain drives. Still, the Jaguars showed improvement, which was their theme throughout the season, throughout the season. Much like the offense, the Jaguars need to pressure the opposing quarterback to improve further on defense, making the option of taking a top pass rusher with the third overall pick an attractive one.

Zoneblitz: Despite some obvious shortcomings, this team showed some fight, particularly the second half of the season. How far are the Jags from playoff contention?

Clemons: Jacksonville, with a good draft and free agency haul, could be playing meaningful games into December, especially in a weak division. In all reality, the Jaguars are likely at least a couple good off-seasons away from being true playoff contenders, but with one good offseason, they can at least be in the talk.

Zoneblitz: What would you like to see Jacksonville do in the draft and free agency?

Clemons: In the draft, the Jaguars’ obvious priorities are on the offensive line, defensive pass rushers and the quarterback position, but not necessarily in that order. If I were in Caldwell’s shoes, I’d use the Jaguars’ estimated $30 million in cap space in free agency as a way to pull in solid starters, not necessarily the top of the line players. The draft should be used as a way to permanently address the team’s most pressing needs, especially the quarterback position. Free agency, on the other hand, can be used to fill the less pressing matters that involve depth.

Zoneblitz: Is there anything else you would like to add?

Clemons: The Jaguars could be a surprise .500 team in 2013. That potential depends largely on their ability to make good moves in the offseason. If this offseason produces a potential franchise quarterback, Jacksonville could become next year’s Cinderella story.

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