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5 Players the Jaguars Can't Afford to Lose! · Duval Daily: A Jacksonville Jaguars Podcast

• 0:00
  [SPEAKER_00]: Jacksonville Jaguars fans, welcome in to Dove All Daily, presented by Jim Jack.com and fueled by brass tax coffee.
• 0:05
  [SPEAKER_00]: It's Thursday, July 2nd right now, a shout to Alex Happy Birthday.
• 0:09
  [SPEAKER_00]: But right now, we are talking the five most important Jaguars players for the 2026 season.
• 0:15
  [SPEAKER_00]: Not name Trevor Loan.
• 0:16
  [SPEAKER_00]: It's obviously you put the quarterback at the top.
• 0:19
  [SPEAKER_00]: If the quarterback goes down and you don't have a backup plan, which I don't feel like the Jaguars do have a good
• 0:24
  [SPEAKER_00]: Back up right now that could come in and win a lot of games and play at a high level.
• 0:28
  [SPEAKER_00]: I think Nick Mullins might be able to maintain a little bit But I do think if Trevor went down the Jaguar probably on the phone looking for some answers, right?
• 0:36
  [SPEAKER_00]: But We are talking about five players that are not the quarterback five players that I think There's a couple different directions.
• 0:44
  [SPEAKER_00]: I went in here.
• 0:45
  [SPEAKER_00]: The first three are just like the Jaguars need these guys on the field So the bottom doesn't drop out The last two
• 0:54
  [SPEAKER_00]: are the Jaguars need these players to take the next step.
• 0:59
  [SPEAKER_00]: They need these players if they want to be like, so there's some different ways the Jaguars can level up.
• 1:07
  [SPEAKER_00]: Obviously the running game on offense is a big way that they can level up getting more efficient, having a higher success rate there between the tackles and all that.
• 1:17
  [SPEAKER_00]: But they can also level up by a couple players
• 1:24
  [SPEAKER_00]: and being healthy.
• 1:25
  [SPEAKER_00]: And so those two guys are on the list too.
• 1:28
  [SPEAKER_00]: So, you know, you can go ahead and drop your thoughts like who you think the top five's going to be in the comment section and then we can kind of track it from there.
• 1:35
  [SPEAKER_00]: But really appreciate you all tuning in and supporting the channel.
• 1:38
  [SPEAKER_00]: If you enjoy the content, please like and subscribe.
• 1:40
  [SPEAKER_00]: You can also hit that hype button.
• 1:41
  [SPEAKER_00]: So,
• 1:43
  [SPEAKER_00]: Uh, the first two are on offense and they're arguably the two most important positions outside of quarterback.
• 1:51
  [SPEAKER_00]: That's left tackle and right tackle, Cole Van Lann and Anton Harris.
• 1:55
  [SPEAKER_00]: And now the sketchy thing about Cole Van Lann is right now.
• 1:58
  [SPEAKER_00]: He's not available right now.
• 1:59
  [SPEAKER_00]: He is not set to hit the field.
• 2:00
  [SPEAKER_00]: But like, um, I think there is a chance that if he cannot play early on, that if he isn't what
• 2:14
  [SPEAKER_00]: The Jaguar's offense of line, the past protection could be in some trouble.
• 2:20
  [SPEAKER_00]: They seem optimistic that that's not going to be the case, that he should make a full recovery.
• 2:31
  [SPEAKER_00]: And whenever he's ready to go, he's ready to go.
• 2:33
  [SPEAKER_00]: Hopefully that's soon.
• 2:35
  [SPEAKER_00]: They didn't let Liam Cohen mention that's probably not going to be at the very beginning of training camp.
• 2:40
  [SPEAKER_00]: Now, whether he's ready for the start of the regular season, whatever it is, I just want him when he is on the field to be able to be himself.
• 2:46
  [SPEAKER_00]: That would be my hope for Colvin, Lannon.
• 2:50
  [SPEAKER_00]: So that's the tough one.
• 2:52
  [SPEAKER_00]: Cause I mean, Walker Little had a really tough time at left tackle last year.
• 2:59
  [SPEAKER_00]: Every year prior to that, he played better.
• 3:02
  [SPEAKER_00]: But that kind of is what it is.
• 3:07
  [SPEAKER_00]: When Colman landed and entered the starting lineup, it wasn't just like stabilizing things.
• 3:12
  [SPEAKER_00]: It was like playing at a very high level and being able to execute some stuff, both in the run game and past and in past protection that was impressive, truly very impressive.
• 3:22
  [SPEAKER_00]: So, Colman landed for sure.
• 3:24
  [SPEAKER_00]: And then Anton Harris, and it's kind of the same thing,
• 3:28
  [SPEAKER_00]: you get chuma doga out there right tackle, walk her little out there right tackle, just don't feel great about that.
• 3:34
  [SPEAKER_00]: Now, I do think Walker Little is a more serviceable backup tackle than most teams have.
• 3:39
  [SPEAKER_00]: Does that mean I won't him on the field at tackle?
• 3:42
  [SPEAKER_00]: Not really.
• 3:43
  [SPEAKER_00]: At guard, he played pretty damn good last year.
• 3:45
  [SPEAKER_00]: And maybe he can kind of have a resurgent season in a season in which he's going to know that he is basically playing for his opportunity to potentially
• 3:59
  [SPEAKER_00]: So, maybe he could play a little bit better out there, but Anton Harrison and Cole Van Lan and the level of play that they bring to the field and the drop off between them and the next guy and just how good, like, Anton Harrison.
• 4:16
  [SPEAKER_00]: is an incredible player who I think is on the cusp of being like a dominant right tackle.
• 4:21
  [SPEAKER_00]: So everything's there for him.
• 4:23
  [SPEAKER_00]: I had of him, the way the Jack Wars coaching staff challenged him last year, the way he rose to that challenge was just so, so impressive.
• 4:32
  [SPEAKER_00]: So yeah, I think that the left tackle and right tackle are pretty darn important.
• 4:35
  [SPEAKER_00]: And I also, you know, I view it that way.
• 4:38
  [SPEAKER_00]: You look at the interior of the offensive line.
• 4:40
  [SPEAKER_00]: I think Ezra Cleveland is an important player.
• 4:42
  [SPEAKER_00]: I think Haynes is an important player.
• 4:45
  [SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, I'm on the frames there, but I do think there's better plans in place for those positions, including Walker Little.
• 4:55
  [SPEAKER_00]: Like, if Walker Little had to play guard, I would not really be nervous about that.
• 4:59
  [SPEAKER_00]: If
• 5:00
  [SPEAKER_00]: You had to get Wyatt Milum or Emmanuel Pregnant on the field.
• 5:03
  [SPEAKER_00]: I would not really feel all that nervous about that.
• 5:05
  [SPEAKER_00]: Jonah Monheim, same thing at center.
• 5:07
  [SPEAKER_00]: So I just feel a little bit better about the ability to insulate those players on the interior and the backup plans at those spots, honestly, I do.
• 5:16
  [SPEAKER_00]: So that's why Anton and Cole Van Lannon are at the top of this list for me.
• 5:22
  [SPEAKER_00]: And then you switch to the defensive side of the ball for my next one who is like,
• 5:27
  [SPEAKER_00]: the floor could fall out a little bit for the defense if he's not there.
• 5:32
  [SPEAKER_00]: And you could name a couple guys, right?
• 5:35
  [SPEAKER_00]: Like foe, Luke and might fall into this.
• 5:38
  [SPEAKER_00]: Like he is the heart and soul.
• 5:40
  [SPEAKER_00]: I think kind of like the number one processor and communicator on the defensive side of the ball.
• 5:45
  [SPEAKER_00]: But I went with Josh Hines Allen just because again, of positional importance, the way he impacts the game on every single down.
• 5:54
  [SPEAKER_00]: elite pressure, getter, very good sack artist, elite run defender, high motor player, takes on double teams, just the Jaguar's most consistent defender.
• 6:09
  [SPEAKER_00]: He has been.
• 6:10
  [SPEAKER_00]: So Josh Hines Allen is absolutely one of the most important Jaguar is not named Trevor Lawrence.
• 6:16
  [SPEAKER_00]: And I think, without him, Trayvon Walker, I think is a very, very good player.
• 6:24
  [SPEAKER_00]: You could probably put Trayvon Walker on this list too, like without Trayvon, it's more difficult to execute at the highest level on the defensive front.
• 6:32
  [SPEAKER_00]: And heck, you might be able to put Devon Hamleton up there too, like Eric Arms, the whole devins of line is very, very important, but I went with the best one in Josh Hind Island.
• 6:43
  [SPEAKER_00]: So again, I mentioned the first three we're going to be like if you lose these guys could the floor fall out, the next two are, if these guys play the way they can play, that could be the level up the Jaguars need to become that much more of a dangerous team in 2026 then they were in 2025 and it starts with Travis Hunter here.
• 7:07
  [SPEAKER_00]: there's no reason for me that he can't play corner at an elite level at a very very high level in year two here and he's been moving he looks good like I think he leaves legitimately going to be one hundred percent win training camp starts they might have like an easing him in period but I think he's going to be fine
• 7:24
  [SPEAKER_00]: He's moving around very well, very energetic, ready to get after it.
• 7:28
  [SPEAKER_00]: And so Travis Hunter playing corner, playing receiver.
• 7:32
  [SPEAKER_00]: It's more important at corner for this Jaguar's team, but I do not think that by any stretch of the imagination, he is like not playing receiver.
• 7:40
  [SPEAKER_00]: He's playing a good amount of receiver this year, he is.
• 7:43
  [SPEAKER_00]: But at the corner back spot, if they can take what was a weakness with Greg Newsom on the opposite side of Buster Brown last year,
• 7:52
  [SPEAKER_00]: and turn that into a massive strength.
• 7:54
  [SPEAKER_00]: I think that just levels up the entire defense.
• 7:56
  [SPEAKER_00]: It levels up the past rush.
• 7:57
  [SPEAKER_00]: It levels up your ability to cover for longer.
• 8:00
  [SPEAKER_00]: It...
• 8:02
  [SPEAKER_00]: gives quarterbacks some pause when targeting the short areas of the field.
• 8:08
  [SPEAKER_00]: They were just peppering Greg Newsom with quick game last year and it's borderline quick game stuff.
• 8:13
  [SPEAKER_00]: It was like right around 2 to 2 and a half seconds peppering Greg Newsom when he was playing an off coverage and there was just not much you can do about it.
• 8:22
  [SPEAKER_00]: You do that to Travis Hunter all day or bus to Brown all day, they're going to get their hands on the football.
• 8:27
  [SPEAKER_00]: And it ain't going to be pretty for you.
• 8:28
  [SPEAKER_00]: So you got to be much more careful when those two are out there.
• 8:31
  [SPEAKER_00]: So Travis Hunter for sure And then the final one here, Brian Thomas Jr.
• 8:38
  [SPEAKER_00]: Does the Jaguar's offense need Brian Thomas Jr. to play at a higher level for the Jaguar's offense to be Explosive and good and a very good passing game.
• 8:47
  [SPEAKER_00]: No, I don't think so.
• 8:48
  [SPEAKER_00]: But to take the next step
• 8:51
  [SPEAKER_00]: As a passing game to become this passing game that is really good short and intermediate and vertically.
• 8:59
  [SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, BTJ playing the way he has played this off season so far could really, really help in that regard, so I cannot wait to see him on the field on Sunday, like during the fall here.
• 9:13
  [SPEAKER_00]: I think he's going to have a big year, and I think that, again, if BTJ plays closer to 2024, BTJ than 2025, if Travis Hunter plays in the way we know he can, that's the big upgrade, so the Jaguar has got this off season.
• 9:27
  [SPEAKER_00]: Beyond they did some other things, too, but like I think that those are the two biggest game-changing levels of play that the jackwares could see and so In terms of importance, it's like You don't want to stagnate.
• 9:43
  [SPEAKER_00]: How do you avoid stagnation?
• 9:45
  [SPEAKER_00]: Well, everybody going into year two in the same system is pretty helpful on both sides of the ball, but also getting your
• 9:52
  [SPEAKER_00]: two of your most talented players regardless of position, getting them going and playing in an extremely high level.
• 9:57
  [SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, that's pretty darn important.
• 9:59
  [SPEAKER_00]: So, really appreciate y'all tuning in.
• 10:01
  [SPEAKER_00]: I think if those guys are playing the way they can play like, it makes you more of a dangerous team come January.
• 10:08
  [SPEAKER_00]: When the games are really count, really appreciate y'all being here.
• 10:10
  [SPEAKER_00]: If you enjoy the content, please like and subscribe.
• 10:13
  [SPEAKER_00]: Can hit that hype button as well.
• 10:15
  [SPEAKER_00]: Y'all have a good one.