Can Nathaniel Hackett make a difference? (Probably Not)

Embed from Getty Images

The Jaguars fired their offensive coordinator over the weekend and replaced him with their QB Coach, Nathaniel Hackett. 

By Jordan de Lugo

PRESENTED BY

 A move obviously needed to be made, but will it help the Jaguars struggling offense?

Well first off, let's look at Hackett's resume. It's been okay - he hasn't done anything overly impressive in the NFL. He was Doug Marrone's offensive coordinator in Buffalo during the 2013 and 2014 seasons. Buffalo's offense was nothing to write home about during the time he was there, but he also didn't have much to work with. He worked with E.J. Manuel in 2013 and did get the kid to throw more TDs than INTs. Manuel is now regarded as one of the biggest QB busts in recent memory so what Hackett accomplished with him shouldn't be overlooked. In 2014 he got to show what he could do with Kyle Orton, a journeyman QB, who nearly had a 2-1 TD/INT ratio under Hackett. His only other notable stop was in Syracuse as their offensive coordinator, again under Doug Marrone. There they coached QB Ryan Nassib, who went on to get drafted by the Giants. 

So why might Hackett succeed?

1. He has a strong relationship with QB Blake Bortles and has a solid understanding of the whole of the Jaguars offense.

2. He isn't Greg Olson. Olson and Bortles clearly had a bit of a falling out in recent weeks despite Gus' denial of any such thing. 

3. The offense he inherits has a lot of talent and could be ready to break out. 

Why he won't succeed:

1. The Jaguars team as a whole has a leadership problem starting at the top. Rearranging the chairs on a sinking ship usually does not cause the ship to stop sinking. 

2. Blake Bortles' mechanics and psyche seem broken. He clearly has regressed in his mechanics in year 3, which were never stellar to being with. He's also appears to have lost some of that fire that led many to believe he could potentially be a star in this league. 

3. Despite what some would call poor play calling, the Jaguars offensive weapons routinely find ways to not make plays when opportunities present themselves. 

4. Is the offensive line magically going to get good? Sure, they haven't been terrible in pass protection, but in running situations the offensive line is doing less than nothing. They routinely get pushed into the backfield and seldom create any open lanes for the Jaguars runners. 

Overall Feeling:

Whether or not the Jaguars offense will improve under the guidance of Nathaniel Hackett remains to be seen, but it would be a minor miracle if Hackett were able to fix this offense moving forward. A QB struggling both physically and mentally, disgruntled receivers, an offensive line that creates no push, and runners that can't find the whole . . . the list of issues for this Jaguars offense is lengthy. A quick turnaround would be especially impressive with games coming up against some really well rounded defenses. The Jaguars still play the Chiefs, Broncos, Vikings, Bills, Lions, and the Texans twice, all of whom have talented defenses.  

I mean no disrespect to Hackett because he seems to be a talented and knowledgable coach who has done well in his other stints as an offensive coordinator, but fixing the Jaguars offense in a matter of days is a near impossible task. And it's a near certainty that he, like the rest of the coaches that are currently employed by the Jaguars will NOT be in Jax again in 2017 (save the GOAT Jerry Sullivan). 

Good luck, Nate!

---

More From Generation Jaguar 

JTM: Schefter thinks Jags + Coughlin reunion makes sense in 2017

Replacing Gus Bradley

---

Shop Gen Jag

Jaguar Print Snapback

$30.00

Shop