NFL: 5 Pre-season Position Battles To Keep An Eye On
Though this is one of the more dull times in the NFL year, we are now officially on the track to the start of the NFL season, with nothing but the preseason standing before it. When the preseason comes, its an opportunity for rookies and potential starters to show their skills and a rapport with their offense or defense. Its in the preseason that starters are separated from the second and third-string players on the depth chart, and can offer a glimpse of whats to come in the future for their respective teams. Russell Wilson of the Seattle Seahawks was a prime example of making the best of a golden opportunity during the preseason and training camps last year. After battling Matt Flynn and Tavaris Jackson for the right to lead the huddle for the season, Wilson walked away with the starting quarterback job, and before you knew it, he was in the Pro Bowl at the end of the year.
Training camp is an important part of the process to determine a players role for the upcoming NFL season at hand. With a solid training camp, one can earn more reps with the first-team offense/defense, and eventually cement their place on the depth chart for the season. Players must show leadership, a solid attitude off the field, and an overall ability to revolve around the football in some shape or form. For a quarterback, this is their time to display that cannon arm they were labeled with going into the NFL draft. For a wide receiver, this is their time to display solid hands, catching each and every ball that comes their way with ease. The problem? Every position has multiple men working to grab a spot on the team at their respective position. If you cant show the necessary tools to succeed at your position during training camp and preseason, youll be cut before you can even register it.
As we look ahead to the NFL season, here are five preseason battles to keep an eye on around the NFL:
5. Jacksonville Jaguars Starting Quarterback
So far, the careers of Blaine Gabbert and Chad Henne have been anything but remarkable. Both quarterbacks were drafted relatively high (especially Gabbert), but have yet to make a solid impression in the league. Yet, for some crazy reason, the Jaguars havent made any moves to acquire another quarterback via a trade, free agency, or the draft. So, Gabbert and Henne both have one last shot to prove their worth this season by competing for the Jaguars starting quarterback position. If neither of these men can cut it this season, the Jaguars will have a new starting quarterback next season guaranteed.
The Jaguars offense isnt the most talented in the world, but they have enough weapons to help a quarterback out in Cecil Shorts, a returning Maurice Jones-Drew and Justin Blackmon (once he returns from suspension). With their first pick in the NFL Draft (and the second pick overall in the draft), the Jaguars selected Luke Joeckel, who should help solidify the right tackle spot on the offensive line, giving more help to whoever is chosen for the starting quarterback position. I still think the Jaguars might explore obtaining one more legitimate quarterback, but for the time being, Gabbert and Henne have one final chance to prove to the organization they should be their franchise quarterback.
My projected winner: Blaine Gabbert