STOCK DOWN: JAGUARS WHO ARE TRENDING IN THE WRONG DIRECTION

These Jaguars need to flip the script. 

BY JORDAN DE LUGO

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These Jaguars have struggled in preseason and need to get it going in the other direction quickly.

Josh Lambo

Since joining the Jaguars in 2017, Josh Lambo has been the most accurate kicker in football. Unfortunately, he hasn't looked like the same guy this preseason. Lambo missed significant time in 2020 with a hip injury, and since returning to the field this summer, he hasn't been the same. Sure, he's had plenty of perfect days in training camp, but through two preseason games, Lambo has connected on just 2/4 field goal attempts. He's earned the right to claw his way out of this mini-slump, but head coach Urban Meyer isn't a patient man. Lambo will need to improve in preseason week three.

"Yeah. Make the field goal, and the punter Cooke, who I love him as a person and a punter, didn't punt very well," said Meyer. "I haven't even met with those guys yet; I will."

Gardner Minshew

The former QB1 in Duval has seen his stock plummet lately. A few days ago, the mustachioed quarterback was in a "competition" for the starting job in Duval. Now, he's competing to be the primary backup with CJ Beathard, who has been on fire in the preseason. Minshew has struggled, completing just 17/29 passes with no touchdowns and two interceptions. After naming Trevor Lawrence the starting quarterback on Wednesday, Jaguars' head coach Urban Meyer confirmed there's an open competition for the primary backup position. 

"That's open as well. Obviously, my respect for Gardner has been well documented as just a warrior," Meyer shared. "Then Gardner got stuck behind some protection issues, at times was running for his life back there. Then C.J. came in, that's two weeks in a row. I just admire C.J., and I like C.J. as a person. He has a nice release ball, gets out fast. He played well, so yes that's open as well."

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Jawaan Taylor

The 2019 second-round pick has failed to improve upon an impressive rookie season. In 2020, he surrendered the most pressures of any offensive tackle in football, and early returns in 2021 have not been good. Taylor has given up four pressures on just 37 pass protection snaps through two preseason games. Taylor needs to show more consistency for this offense to reach its potential in 2021. 

Tyson Campbell

The 33rd overall pick in 2021, Tyson Campbell, has had an impressive training camp, and outside of one particular issue, he looks the part of a starting cornerback. He has speed, length, and quick feet. He sticks with opposing receivers effortlessly. The problem? Campbell can't play the ball in the air deep down the field. He struggles to turn his head, locate the ball, and get his hands up. In week one of the preseason, he gave up a big touchdown in single coverage despite being in position to make a play. In week two, he was the help defender on a deep shot from Jameis Winston to Marquez Callaway, and instead of turning his head and finding the ball, he committed pass interference and impeded Shaq Griffin, who was in primary coverage, from making a play on the ball. This same issue plagued Campbell in college at Georgia. NFL coaches are smart. Opposing play-callers are going to try to get Campbell in coverage deep down the field with regularity moving forward. He'll need to improve in this area quickly. 

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