IS CHANGE THE ONLY PROPER COURSE OF ACTION AFTER 2019?

Zach Bolinger/Icon Sportswire

Are sweeping changes needed in Jacksonville? 

BY JORDAN DE LUGO

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The Jaguars are racing towards December, and yet again, look to be a non-factor in the AFC playoff race. 

An $88 million QB that struggles to complete routine passes? Check. 

A run defense that gives up a league-worst 5.3 yards per attempt? Check. 

A team that hasn't beaten anyone with a record above .500? Check. 

This season will almost assuredly go down as one of the biggest gaffs — in an extremely long list — that this franchise has ever put forth. But all hope is not lost.

 Why?

Change.

If this team continues on its current trajectory, there will be sweeping changes.

Dave Caldwell, who should have been canned long ago, will be fired. It's not as if he hasn't brought in any talented players, but Diamond Dave has missed on far too many high draft picks. The proof is in the pudding: the Jaguars are just 34-72 with Dave Caldwell as their GM. They've more than doubled their win total with losses. They've made the playoffs just once. Worst of all, this franchise has won more than five games only one time during Caldwell's tenure. 

Doug Marrone, who hasn't really been given a fair shake, will also be gone if the trend continues. I like Doug Marrone, but the NFL is a result-driven business. Two straight years of suck isn't enough, even if he did get the Jaguars all the way to the AFC Championship in 2017. And with his departure, his staff will go too. It's not unfair to say the Jaguars' defense has vastly underperformed over the last two seasons with Todd Wash calling the plays. And John DeFilippo, well, I think he still has a bright future, but he will be the victim of an unfortunate circumstance. 

Even Tom Coughlin will likely get the ax. Somehow, from a position outside of coaching, Coughlin has fractured relationships between the franchise and at least one player to an irreparable point. That can't continue.

With this crew out of the picture, there should be REAL hope. Change for the sake of change is not always a good thing. But change is needed here. The Jaguars need to hire a GM and coach that are on the same page, and can relate to the modern-day NFL player. They need coordinators that are willing to adapt to a player's strengths, instead of targeting players that seemingly fit their scheme. 

And if the Jaguars do make these changes, there will be plenty of room for optimism moving forward. 

The team has a bevy of draft picks in the coming years. In 2020, the Jaguars have ten total picks, including two in the first round. In 2021, the Jaguars have an extra first-round pick and an extra fourth-round pick. 

There's also a lot of young talent already on the roster. On the offensive side of the ball, Gardner Minshew, DJ Chark, Jawaan Taylor, Leonard Fournette, and Dede Westbrook are young pieces the Jaguars can continue to build around. On defense, there are plenty of building blocks: Josh Allen, Yannick Ngakoue (pay the man), Myles Jack, Ronnie Harrison, and AJ Bouye, to name a few. 

It may not seem fair that this team should have to go through another rebuild. And it's not. But life ain't fair, especially in the high-stakes NFL world. To move forward with any reason for a new hope, changes MUST be made. 

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