Previewing Jaguars at Dolphins with J.P. Shadrick

The Jaguars are set to kickoff the regular season in Miami on Sunday. I caught up with Jaguars Happy Hour host and Westwood One broadcaster J.P. Shadrick.

Craig: The optimism must be pretty high especially the way the preseason wrapped up?

J.P.: Even without that game in Atlanta, the optimism is pretty high because they paid the quarterback, the cornerback, they paid a bunch of guys in free agency and added a brand-new defense with a new scheme and a new coordinator. There are new pieces everywhere. They were on the doorstep last year at 8-3 but they collapsed down the stretch. They just need to learn how to finish it.

Craig: Part of the new pieces you referenced is the rookie from LSU, Brian Thomas Jr. How excited are you to see what he adds to this offensive attack on Sunday vs the Dolphins?

J.P.: He had a slow start in training camp. Then you saw some plays in the preseason games. The play against the Chiefs in the first game on a go route from Mac Jones, he made a great catch on a contested ball and the sideline went nuts. That gave him a ton of confidence. He has height, speed and smarts. If you're starting with those three things, that's pretty good. (laughs) They didn't have that over-the-top threat in their offense last year and they have that now and that can open things for guys like Evan Engram and Christian Kirk.

Craig: You mention Evan Engram. It feels like from afar that he's one of the "glue pieces" in that locker-room and a great chemistry guy. Is that the case?

J.P.: Evan is a no-nonsense guy. He's a straight businessman. That's a good thing. He went through it in New York as a first-round pick and it just didn't work out and he's had a new lease on life with the Jaguars. He's made that pay off. He's always the first guy out on the practice field and is always constantly working on his craft and helping the football team as a whole. His business approach and the results he gets is something that the guys follow.

Craig: What's the bigger overall need this season? Being more efficient in the red zone and scoring touchdowns, not settling for field goals, or consistently running the football for positive yardage?

J.P.: Can I just say "YES!" (laughs) It starts on the offensive line. That's going to be the early season focus. Mitch Morse is a 10-year vet who they've added at center to a veteran group. Can they get a push in short yardage situations? Can they protect Trevor Lawrence? When it was third and one last season, it often felt like it was third and seven (laughs).

Craig: Is the media making too much of who's actually calling the plays? Doug Pederson has been pretty secretive on that topic recently.

J.P.: I think so. Consider this, these guys are together and are reviewing the play sheet all week long. It's Doug Pederson, Press Taylor, Mike McCoy and Trevor all involved in the process and they identify the best plays and reach a consensus. It's not like a play caller is going rogue deep into a game and finding some play that they haven't talked about. These guys are on the same page. It's just a matter of dialing it up at the right time. I think it's overblown.

Craig: Is it your sense that if we're sitting here a month from now with a record of 2-2 that the Jaguars will be in good shape to once again be in position to reach the playoffs?

J.P. That would be a very good start for this team, especially considering that three of the first four are on the road. If you come back home in week five vs the Colts with that record, and you handle your business and then defeat a pair of rookie quarterbacks on consecutive weeks in London, then all of a sudden, you'll be sitting at 5-2. That sets up nice. You just never know how these games are going to go. It could go the other way in a hurry if the Jaguars aren't locked in early this season.