In the modern NFL, fans tune in to see explosive offenses instead of dominant defenses. That is reflected in ESPN’s watchability rankings, which are partially based on competitive games, big plays, and star players on the roster. The Jacksonville Jaguarsfell in the middle of the pack in these rankings at No. 17 overall.
Here is what ESPN’s NFL analyst Ben Solak had to say about Jacksonville:
“One of the most watchable players (non-quarterback edition) in all of football is Travis Hunter, solely for the novelty of his role as a dual receiver and cornerback. At some point (hopefully this season), Hunter will be the first player since Brian Dawkins in 2002 to have an interception and a receiving touchdown in the same game.
"The Jaguars were also a plain
fun offense down the stretch last season. From Week 9 on, quarterback Trevor Lawrence was fourth in dropback success rate and EPA per dropback. The solution on offense for coach Liam Coen was the most watchable solution of them all: The Jaguars needed to push the ball. ... I have my suspicions about the Jaguars' running game and balanced offense, but if Lawrence continues striking deep at league-leading rates, the Jaguars will be fun TV.”
It is a little surprising that Solak ranked the Jaguars in the bottom half of the NFL in terms of watchability given how complimentary he is of the team. Without question, Travis Hunter will be an exciting player to watch this season on both sides of the ball, and Jacksonville’s offense was humming in the second half of the season.
Perhaps the biggest concern for the Jaguars going into this season is their running back room. Travis Etienne Jr. served as the anchor of their run game for the past several seasons. Now that he is with the New Orleans Saints, it is up to Bhayshul Tuten and Chris Rodriguez to carry the run game.
A steady run game will help prevent the Jaguars from becoming a one-dimensional offense, which should then open up opportunities for Lawrence and the Jacksonville passing game.
This article originally appeared on Jaguars Wire: How do the Jacksonville Jaguars measure up in ESPN's watchability rankings?
