Kansas City Chiefs: Getting to know Jacksonville Jaguars before week 1

Culture Change Headed by Quarterback Nick Foles

In his five seasons as the starting quarterback of the Jacksonville Jaguars, Blake Bortles‘ overall record was a dismal 24-49. In only one season did the former No. 3 draft pick lead Jacksonville to more than five wins. His tenure in Jacksonville ended when the team around him regressed and he failed to progress.

Tom Coughlin, who leads Jacksonville’s front office, made the change this offseason to move on from Bortles, who’s now with the Rams. To replace Bortles, Coughlin inked Nick Foles, a seven-year veteran and former Super Bowl MVP who has never started more than 11 games in a single season.

But this signing is significant in more ways than just replacing Bortles. As Levin wrote to me, “There is a new culture on this team. Chemistry is better. The change at quarterback has helped. If the Jaguars turn this thing around this season, it will be because Nick Foles came in and immediately became a leader of this organization, not just its roster.”

That culture change could save Couglin’s job as well as head coach Doug Marrone’s, who’s just 16-18 in 34 games with Jacksonville. If the chemistry is indeed better, then that could mean that running back Leonard Fournette, who is entering his third season after being selected fourth overall in the 2017 draft (six picks before you-know-who), is finally buying in.

Which is great because, according to Levin, the offensive line may still need some fine-tuning. When I asked him about the area in which the Chiefs could give the Jaguars the most fits, he said, “I’m worried about the offensive line against the Chiefs front seven. How will the Jaguars work against the pass rush? The O-Line took a beating last season.”