2016 Jaguars Preseason Week 1: 5 Things

This weeks marks the first time the Jaguars will play a football game against another team since the 2015 season. Here's our 5 things to watch for in preseason week 1!
By Jordan de Lugo - @jordandelugo

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1. Will Marqise Lee have an impact?

Famously known as the "albino tiger" Marqise Lee has become known as the guy who can't stay healthy. His first two years in the league were riddled with injury and inconsistent play, but heading into year three Lee was having the first healthy offseason in his time with the Jaguars. That was until he aggravated his hamstring on the first day of training camp. Marqise subsequently missed every practice until this weekend. Now, it appears that Lee is healthy and will be ready to play in the Jaguars first preseason game. Will he show that he deserves to be the number three receiver on this team in front of the likes of Rashad Greene and Bryan Walters or will the "albino tiger" go missing in action?

2. Can the left side of the offensive line display any consistency?

So far this training camp the Jaguars have struggled with continuity on the left side of the offensive line, mostly due to the fact that Luke Joeckel and Kelvin Beachum have been trading in between the left guard and left tackle spot. While it is fairly clear that Beachum will win the left tackle job once he is fully healthy, it is still unclear when that will be and it seems likely that he will not suit up against the Jets on Thursday. Until then the left side of the Jaguars offensive line will be a major question mark. Also, there is no guarantee that Joeckel should or will win the left guard spot, as he has yet to impress at the position. Will we be provided any answers this Thursday? Make sure to keep a close eye on this one!

3. Is Jason Myers actually locked in as the starter?

Just one year ago around this time the Jaguars still had their legendary kicker Josh Scobee, while Jason Myers was a rookie from the Arena League just trying to find a spot on a roster. Now Myers, who was kept on the roster in favor of Josh Scobee in 2015,  is the entrenched starter and is fighting off a young up and comer in Sam Ficken. Myers struggles on extra points are well documented (he missed 7 in 2015) and he nearly missed another one during the Jaguars scrimmage last Friday. Meanwhile Ficken looked excellent in every opportunity given to him. All indications point to Myers being the kicker for the Jaguars in 2016, but if Myers continues to struggle making extra points and Ficken continues to prove his worth in all facets of the kicking game, could there be a change at kicker?

4. Can the Jaguars edge rushers continue their dominance?

The Jaguars pass rush has been abysmal in the years leading up to 2016, but so far this summer Dante Fowler and Yannick Ngakoue have been a revelation as pass rushers coming off the edge. From OTAs, to Training Camp, to the Jaguars Scrimmage on Friday night, Dante Fowler has been an absolute menace, routinely beating whoever it is lined up in front of him. Ngakoue has been nearly Fowler's equal when it comes to making big plays this summer and has a very similar style of play. Right now it looks like these two could be a dynamic duo for the Jaguars coming off the edge for years to come, but their first true test comes this Thursday against the Jets. These two young pass rushers need to continue their stellar play and keep the momentum going!

5. Chris Ivory will take on his former team.

To this point in his career Ivory has had his most successful seasons as a pro with the Jets. He now dons the teal and black of the Jaguars and will head back to the Big Apple to face his former team in his first ever game as a Jaguar. Of course, it's still just a preseason game, but this one will be fun for Ivory. He will likely carry the ball five times or less in this one, but players facing their former teams always have a little extra juice. Make sure to keep an eye on Ivory this Thursday!