Jacksonville Jaguars

Jacksonville Jaguars vs San Diego Chargers: 5 players to watch

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

foxsports

The Jacksonville Jaguars take on the San Diego Chargers in Week 2 of the 2016 NFL season and it could come down to a few players on the Jags’ side of the ball.

Nov 29, 2015; Jacksonville, FL, USA; San Diego Chargers running back Melvin Gordon (28) runs the ball as Jacksonville Jaguars conerback Davon House (31) defends in the fourth quarter at EverBank Field. The Chargers won 31-25. Mandatory Credit: Jim Steve-USA TODAY Sports

As we have outlined over the week, this game against the Chargers is a game to measure progress and a game to get revenge. Most importantly, however, it’s a game to win.

The Jaguars have a real chance to claw back to .500 in Week 2 and make sure they don’t fall too far behind in Gus Bradley’s fourth season as the head coach of the Jaguars. The Chargers game the year before led to a late-season collapse that kept the Jags out of contention.

Now, a win can ensure the Jags remain in contention for the 2016 season and, possibly, the offseason. The end goal is still 8-8 or better, but it is tough not to get excited about what the Jags can do in games against “lesser” opponents after a big statement (in a loss) against the Green Bay Packers.

Philip Rivers and Blake Bortles will be a big matchup to follow, but it isn’t the entire game. In this space we will examine five other players who will have a major impact in the game. They are players to watch in this game and keep an eye on as the team proves they belong and get revenge against the Chargers.

Sep 11, 2016; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Green Bay Packers cornerback Sam Shields (37) goes after Jacksonville Jaguars running back T.J. Yeldon (24) during the second half of a football game at EverBank Field.The Green Bay Packers won 27-23. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports

1) T.J. Yeldon, running back, Jacksonville Jaguars

Without Chris Ivory providing further balance, the Jaguars struggled when running the ball against the Packers. Ivory will be missing the Week 2 matchup as well, so the responsibility of establishing the running game falls to second-year back T.J. Yeldon.

Yeldon failed to deliver in Week 1, averaging less than two yards per carry on 21 attempts. This was surprising, especially after a rookie season that saw him deliver over four yards per attempt.

As noted by Jaguars senior writer John Oehser, it isn’t just about Yeldon but the running game needs to improve, “The 1.8-yards-per-carry average from the opener won’t do the rest of the season. The run blocking must be better.”

While the run blocking needs to improve (and Yeldon was put in a lot of tough situations as a result), all eyes will be drawn to the guy with the football. Yeldon has enough skill to dictate the pace and tone of the game. Now he needs to do it.

The Chargers only allowed 83 rushing yards against a talented Kansas City Chiefs team. The Chiefs are a contender each year and they struggled against the Chargers’ run defense.

Hopefully Yeldon can get it together and show what made him such a valuable addition the year before. Keep your eye on him and see how involved he is in the run game, how much he can be involved in the passing game, and how much balance the Jaguars offense achieves as a result.

Sep 11, 2016; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars tackle Luke Joeckel (76) blocks Green Bay Packers cornerback Damarious Randall (23) during the first half of a football game at EverBank Field. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports

2) Luke Joeckel, left guard, Jacksonville Jaguars

Quarterback Blake Bortles ended up sacked “just” three times in Week 1 against the Packers. It wasn’t a perfect performance by the offensive line, but it also wasn’t a terrible performance. Last week, it was center Brandon Linder to watch on the offensive line.

After the first game, however, it’s clear that more eyes will and should be drawn to Luke Joeckel. The left tackle-turned guard has a lot of pressure on him to perform after failing to live up to his billing as general manager Dave Caldwell’s first-ever draft pick.

The move to guard left many concerned after he looked bullied almost each and every down in the preseason. Despite that, in Week 1 he looked alright in his first start

Joeckel wasn’t brought to the Jaguars to be just alright, though. He was brought to the Jaguars to be a dominant offensive lineman. Joeckel knows he needs to improve, saying (per ESPN’s Michael DiRocco), ” I can definitely build on one week and have a great week of practice and be a lot better at it. Overall it was a good game. I felt good, felt comfortable, felt fast, and just wanted to go out there and play physical and play fast”

The Jags need Joeckel to step up and he knows he needs to. Keep an eye on him to see if he finally delivers.

Sep 11, 2016; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Green Bay Packers cornerback Quinten Rollins (24) defends Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Allen Robinson (15) in the fourth quarter at EverBank Field. Green Bay Packers won 27-23. Mandatory Credit: Logan Bowles-USA TODAY Sports

3) Allen Robinson, wide receiver, Jacksonville Jaguars

Six receptions for 72 yards isn’t a bad start for any wide receiver in the NFL.

But Allen Robinson is not only expected to be better, he has to be.

The Jaguars need Robinson to be the go-to, reliable receiver for the team. A couple of those six catches were key fourth down conversions, but off of 15 targets he simply didn’t deliver. He had nine more targets than any other Jags receiving option (running back T.J. Yeldon was second with six) but only managed to pull down one more reception than tight end Julius Thomas and two more than Yeldon and wide receiver Allen Hurns.

Setting aside from the possible game-winning touchdown he barely couldn’t hang onto, Robinson just wasn’t the dominant player he was hyped up to be through the offseason and preseason. The Packers did a good job of keeping him in check in Week 1.

Week 2 is a chance for Robinson to rebound. He knows he could have done better and come away with a win and he will come out with a chip on his shoulder against the Chargers.

How Robinson rebounds and performs against cornerback Jason Verrett will be interesting to watch. He has a tough task ahead of him in that matchup. Look to see if quarterback Blake Bortles looks his way as often as Week 1 and tries to put him in a position to beat out Verrett on a regular basis.

Jul 29, 2016; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Allen Hurns (88) and cornerback Dwayne Gratz (27) battle for the lose ball during training camp at Practice Fields at EverBank Field. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports

4) Dwayne Gratz, cornerback, Jacksonville Jaguars

Prince Amukamara is going to miss Week 2 so former starter Dwayne Gratz is going to see plenty of time on the field, probably playing in the nickel back spot.

Gratz has been a weakness numerous times over the last couple of seasons and the Jags have wisely demoted him from a starter to fourth behind Amukamara, rookie Jalen Ramsey, and Davon House. Gratz simply hasn’t lived up to his early hype as a young player when drafted in the third round of the 2013 NFL Draft.

If there’s a weakness in the Jaguars cornerbacks, it’s Gratz. He’ll need to step up and prove he can be a reliable, serviceable player. Philip Rivers has beaten Gratz before over the last three seasons and won’t be afraid to exploit him as the weak link in the secondary.

Amukamara’s absence hurts the Jaguars a lot, especially if Gratz can’t prove he’s worthy of playing time. The Jags aren’t particularly deep at corner behind Gratz so the options will be limited if he struggles.

Sep 11, 2016; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars defensive back Tashaun Gipson (39) breaks up the pass to Green Bay Packers wide receiver Davante Adams (17) during the second half of a football game at EverBank Field.The Green Bay Packers won 27-23. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports

5) Tashaun Gipson, free safety, Jacksonville Jaguars

Bringing Tashaun Gipson to the Jaguars was a big move for the team in the 2016 offseason. He’s a ballhawk safety who has led his position in interceptions twice in the last three seasons.

The Jaguars need to get turnovers if they want to win more games and that starts against the smart, capable quarterback Philip Rivers. It’ll be tough, but it’s about time the team gets an INT.

If that’s to happen, the money should be on Gipson. While cornerback Davon House is a top play maker as well, Gipson has a longer, more established track record of delivering.

More importantly, the pressure is on for Gipson. With only two interceptions in 2015 after six and five the two seasons before, Gipson needs to rebound. The pressure will mount with each subsequent week and he needs to get in a groove.

If there’s to be an interception, look for Gipson to do it.