NFL
Contenders Only
By: Michael Spiers
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
The Jacksonville Jaguars are 3-1, and that is not something a lot of people saw coming after last year’s mess of a season.
Just a few months ago this was a 4-13 team that looked lost. Now they’ve knocked off the San Francisco 49ers 26-21, and the big question is whether this start is the real deal or just an early season tease.
What stood out against San Francisco is how complete the win was.
The defense, under new coordinator Anthony Campanile, is playing with swagger. They already have more takeaways in four games than all of last season, and they held one of the toughest offenses in football to just one touchdown in three trips to the red zone. That does not happen by accident.
On offense, the Jaguars are still figuring things out under Liam Coen, but they are starting to look dangerous. The run game has been steady, piling up over 150 yards against the 49ers. Travis Etienne keeps finding room to run, and that all goes back to the offensive line.
A year ago, that group was a punchline. Now they are the backbone of this team.
The line has allowed just three sacks through four games. Last year by this point, Trevor Lawrence had already been sacked 13 times. On Sunday, he wasn’t touched once. Zero sacks, zero hits.
That is unheard of against a 49ers front that usually lives in the backfield.
The Jags front office deserves a ton credit for rebuilding that unit and adding depth. Even when starters went down, the backups have stepped in and the offense hasn’t missed a beat.
Lawrence did not put up crazy numbers to be sure, but you could see how comfortable he was. He controlled the game, made smart decisions, and spread the ball around.
Second year wideout Brian Thomas Jr. had his best game yet. Brenton Strange chipped in as a do-everything tight end, and special teams made big plays with Bhayshul Tuten’s kick return and Parker Washington’s punt return. It was a full team effort.
The defense has its own standouts. Devin Lloyd looks like a man on a mission in a contract year, and Dennis Gardeck has been one of those hidden gems who makes plays all over the place.
Even with injuries to Travon Walker, Anton Harrison, and Eric Murray during the game, they held strong. Stopping San Francisco in the red zone was the difference in the game.
Now, it’s not all sunshine. The Jaguars are still way too sloppy with penalties.
They’ve been flagged more than any team in the league so far, and the offensive line has been guilty of too many false starts and holding calls.
Third down has also been a problem, with too many drives stalling out because they’re playing behind the sticks. Those are things that have to get cleaned up if they want to hang with the big boys.
So, are the Jaguars for real? At this point, it sure feels like it.
The defense is creating turnovers, the run game is consistent, the offensive line is dominating, and Lawrence looks like he has full control of the offense. This isn’t the same old Jags that collapsed when things got tough.
This team looks tougher, deeper, and more confident.
The real measuring stick comes next Monday night when the defending AFC champion Chiefs come into Duval.
If Jacksonville can handle the stage, clean up the mistakes, and keep winning at the line of scrimmage, then this 3-1 start might not be just smoke and mirrors.
It’s the sign that the Jaguars might finally be a team to take seriously.
Time To Step Up
By: Cameron Miller
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
The Jacksonville Jaguars are just three weeks into the 2025 season, but their 2–1 record already tells us a story of grit, growth, and some lingering inconsistencies.
After an offseason that came with a good bit of change, with new head coach Liam Coen leaving Tampa Bay to take over the reins in Jacksonville following their disastrous 4–13 disappointment from last year.
The Jaguars have shown signs of a team that is ready to contend again in the AFC South. At the same time, they’ve also revealed enough cracks to remind fans and players that the climb back to potential playoff form might not be as simple as some had hoped.
The brightest development has been the resurgence of the running game.
After a slow season last year former 1st round pick Travis Etienne has picked up right where he left off a year ago as Jacksonville’s most reliable offensive weapon.
Through three weeks, he’s delivered explosive plays on the ground and in the passing game, including a game-clinching touchdown against Houston in Week 3. His blend of speed and vision has given the Jaguars the ability to control the tempo of games and avoid leaning too heavily on the passing game when things bog down.
Another player, who in my opinion, has come out of the gates headfirst is this year’s 4th round pick, Bhayshul Tuten. With the unexpected emergence of Tuten the Jags were able to make a big decision which was to trade former 3rd round pick, running back Tank Bigsby to the Eagles.
On defense, linebacker Foye Oluokun has been the tone-setter. He’s not only piling up tackles but also forcing turnovers, including an interception and a fumble recovery that swung the opener against Carolina. The pass rush, led by Travon Walker and Josh Allen, has also produced steady pressure, helping the defense notch three or more sacks in two of the first three games.
When this group is flying around, Jacksonville looks like the tough, opportunistic defense Coen envisioned.
Another key thing that needs to be recognized is through the first 3 weeks of the season this Jaguars defense is leading the NFL with 7 total interceptions.
The Wide receiver room is unfortunately beginning with their fair share of struggles. Even though they haven’t come out guns blazing like some may have hoped, they have still provided flashes of what we could start to see consistently in the near future.
Wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. has shown his big-play potential with deep catches, while wide receiver / cornerback Travis Hunter has been tested early and hasn’t shied away from the challenge. Their development will be key in determining just how far this roster can go in 2025.
Still, the season so far has been far from flawless. The most glaring issue remains Trevor Lawrence’s inconsistency.
While he’s shown poise and accuracy at times including three touchdown passes in the narrow Week 2 loss at Cincinnati, turnovers have been a recurring problem. Lawrence has already thrown multiple interceptions in a game, and those miscues have stalled drives and flipped momentum, but you can’t blame all of the passing issues on Lawrence being that the Jaguars have one of the highest drop rates in the entire league. For a team still learning to close out tough contests, ball security will be critical.
Penalties have also haunted the Jaguars. They were penalized 11 times in the opener and were flagged for a costly pass interference in Cincinnati that helped extend the Bengals’ game-winning drive. Discipline has been a theme since training camp, and it’s clear the team is still trying to iron out the details for Coen’s new system.
Another concern for the Jags is their efficiency in the red zone. Jacksonville has been able to consistently move the ball between the 20s but seem to have to often fall short and settle for field goals rather than touchdowns and like we all know when you’re in a competitive game against a quality opponent, leaving points on the board could be the difference between a playoff push and another mediocre season.
At 2–1, Jacksonville finds themselves in 2nd place in the AFC South, behind only the Indianapolis Colts. The surprisingly near elite level of play from Daniel Jones is seeming to make a division that looks winnable into an increasingly competitive fight.
Texans remain dangerous with their young core, while Tennessee also can’t be overlooked.
For the Jaguars to stay ahead, they’ll need Lawrence to stabilize his play and really start to establish the passing game, the offensive line needs to hold up against elite fronts so this run game can keep driving full steam, and the defense to continue generating turnovers at the high level they are currently.
The early weeks have at least proven this to us, the Jaguars under Liam Coen are more resilient than they were a year ago.
In 2024, close games hardly ended competitively. In 2025, Jacksonville has already shown they can hang in and finish the job, like they showed in the grind-it-out win over Houston. That kind of toughness was missing last year and could be the foundation of something bigger under Coen.
The next stretch of the schedule will test the Jaguars’ growth.
Matchups against San Francisco and Kansas City will serve as true measuring sticks for a team still trying to establish its identity.
Win one of those, and Jacksonville will prove that they belong back in the AFC playoff conversation.
For now, a 2–1 start gives us real hope that progress is being made.
The Jaguars have weapons on offense, they have playmakers on defense, and maybe most importantly they have a belief that wasn’t always there last season.
If they can clean up the mistakes, Jacksonville has the foundation to potentially be a contender once again.
Early Grounding
By: Michael Spiers
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
The Falcons’ season opener didn’t end the way we wanted as fans of this team, but it sure wasn’t a disaster either.
Atlanta fell 23-20 to Tampa Bay, and yeah, that stings, especially when the game came down to a very makeable field goal. Younghoe Koo pushed a 44-yarder wide, and just like that, the Falcons started the season 0-1.
It’s tough because that moment overshadows some good things the Falcons did.
But make no mistake, the kicking situation is officially something to watch. Koo missed nine kicks last year, and when your head coach admits he changes his decisions based on whether or not he trusts the kicker, that’s a problem.
By Monday, Atlanta had already brought in Parker Romo to compete with Koo and rookie Lenny Krieg. Having three kickers in the building tells you all you need to know about the nerves inside Flowery Branch.
But here’s where I lean a little more positive: Atlanta still had a shot to win.
In a sloppy, uneven game, against a team like the Bucs that knows how to ugly things up, the Falcons had the ball in the fourth quarter with a chance to tie. That’s not nothing.
Let’s talk about Michael Penix Jr. He’s not a rookie anymore, and while he wasn’t throwing bombs all over the place, he looked steady. He completed 23 of 30 short throws and even ran one in late to keep Atlanta alive.
The deep ball? Yeah, that part was ugly. He went 0-for-7 on throws beyond 15 yards. But before everyone panics, remember this: he didn’t have Darnell Mooney.
Without Mooney’s speed to stretch the defense, Tampa could just load up on Drake London. London still caught 10 balls, but he averaged less than seven yards per grab. That’s not a Drake problem; that’s a spacing problem.
The good news? Raheem Morris said Mooney’s shoulder is close to being ready. When he’s back, it’s going to open things up for London, Pitts, and Bijan, and you’ll see Penix hitting some of those deep shots.
And honestly, I loved what I saw from the defense, at least in flashes. They pressured Baker Mayfield on almost half of his dropbacks. That’s huge compared to last year.
James Pearce Jr. looked like the real deal, and nine different defenders recorded at least one pressure. The issue was finishing. Mayfield escaped a few times, scrambled for chunks, and that’s where the game got away.
But if you’re giving me a choice between a defense that can’t touch the QB at all and one that’s flying around but not quite closing yet, I’ll take the latter every day.
Those plays are going to start breaking the Falcons’ way soon.
So yeah, there’s frustration. You’ve got to make a 44-yarder at home. You’ve got to take advantage of opportunities. But it’s Week 1, not Week 15.
The Falcons didn’t get blown out. They didn’t look lost. They were a couple of missed plays away from forcing overtime.
Now, the road gets tough: Minnesota, Washington, Buffalo, and San Francisco are on deck.
If the Falcons want to avoid an early-season hole, the kicking issue needs to get sorted out fast, and Mooney’s return has to inject some juice into the passing game.
But here’s the bottom line: this team looks different, and I mean that in a good way.
They have a young quarterback who’s calm under pressure, a defense that’s hunting the ball, and plenty of talent at the skill spots.
If they clean up the little things, and someone steps up in the kicking game, I believe Atlanta’s still in good shape.
It wasn’t the start fans wanted, but it’s not time to hit the panic button either.
The Reset
By: Michael Spiers
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
The Jacksonville Jaguars have spent all offseason telling us they’re different.
New head coach. New coordinators. A new general manager calling the shots. A bunch of new faces on the roster. It’s a complete reset.
But here’s the reality: in the NFL, it doesn’t matter how shiny things look in May or how sharp you look in a preseason practice clip. It only matters if you win when the real games begin.
And for the Jaguars, that moment comes this Sunday in Week 1 against the Carolina Panthers.
This game is more than just a season opener. It’s the first chance for Jacksonville to prove they’ve actually turned the corner after a miserable 4-13 season that cost Doug Pederson his job.
Fans are hungry for a team they can believe in again. And frankly, the players are too. You can sense that energy every time Liam Coen talks about setting the tone
Coen, who takes over as head coach after building one of the league’s most exciting offenses in Tampa, hasn’t shied away from the obvious. The Jaguars must start fast.
That’s something Pederson’s teams simply could not do. In 2022 Jacksonville dug itself a 2-6 hole before going on a miracle run to the playoffs. In 2023 the Jags stumbled to a 1-2 start and never quite found their stride again.
Even when the wins came later, the early-season stumbles kept the team from hitting its full potential.
Coen wants to flip that script immediately, and a lot of that pressure falls on Trevor Lawrence. Believe it or not, Lawrence has only one Week 1 win in his career. One.
That’s not the record you expect from a quarterback who was hyped as a once-in-a-generation talent coming out of Clemson.
He doesn’t need to throw for 400 yards to make a statement, but a clean, efficient performance that shows he’s in command of Coen’s offense would go a long way.
Now, the offense isn’t the only side of the ball with something to prove. The defense flat-out cratered last season, finishing bottom five in most major categories.
That’s why Anthony Campanile was brought in as defensive coordinator, and his challenge is steep.
The Jaguars don’t need to turn into the ’85 Bears overnight, but they have to be better at pressuring the quarterback and holding their ground against the run.
One player who could make a big difference is veteran defensive lineman Arik Armstead. Last year, he was misused badly and his production tanked.
This season, he’s back where he belongs, working inside at the 3-technique spot, and Coen has been glowing about what that does for the defense.
Armstead’s length, quickness, and experience can be a nightmare for interior linemen. If he’s healthy and disruptive, it changes everything about how opponents attack Jacksonville.
Of course, the matchup with Carolina also has some fun storylines.
The Panthers, like the Jaguars, are being led by a young offensive-minded head coach in Dave Canales. He and Coen have crossed paths before, and there’s mutual respect between them.
Both franchises are trying to prove their former No. 1 overall pick quarterbacks are worth building around. Both are filled with rookies and newcomers who want to prove themselves. In a lot of ways, these two teams are mirror images, which makes Sunday an even better measuring stick.
This game has to be about showing signs of progress.
Fans have been told for months that this is a new era in Jacksonville. That the franchise has finally found the right leadership. That the roster upgrades will pay off. Week 1 is the first real chance to back up all that talk.
If the Jaguars come out, play with energy, execute Coen’s system, and beat the Panthers, it’ll be the kind of early confidence boost this team desperately needs.
It won’t mean they’re suddenly Super Bowl contenders, but it will prove the rebuild is moving in the right direction.
If they stumble out of the gate again? If Lawrence looks shaky and the defense springs leaks like last season? Then it’s déjà vu, and the ghosts of 2024 will creep back in fast.
Week 1 won’t define the entire season, but for a franchise desperate to turn the page, this opener matters more than most.
It’s the Jaguars’ first real chance to show that, finally, things really are different in Jacksonville.
No Two Ways About It
By: Michael Spiers
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
If there is anyone stubborn and talented enough to try and make NFL history as a two-way player, it is Travis Hunter.
The Jacksonville Jaguars’ top draft pick is doing something that has not been seriously attempted at the professional level in a very long time. He is playing both offense and defense, lining up at cornerback and wide receiver.
That isn’t just bold. It is a logistical and physical challenge that most players would not even consider. But Travis Hunter is not most players.
Through the first week of Jaguars training camp, the early signs are encouraging. Hunter has split his time almost evenly between offense and defense and he is already flashing big-time ability on both sides of the ball.
On Monday, he caught a touchdown from Trevor Lawrence on a scramble drill, made a diving catch during one-on-one reps, and even threw his body into blocking assignments.
His training camp numbers are solid too. He has been targeted 11 times on offense and caught 10 passes. On defense, he has allowed just two completions on five targets and has broken up three passes.
The Jaguars knew what they were getting.
General manager James Gladstone said from the start that this was not an experiment. This was the plan. They drafted him with the full intention of letting him play both sides of the ball. As Gladstone put it, Hunter helps fix the numbers. He gives you the value of an extra player on the roster.
But is that really sustainable over a full NFL season?
Analyst, and former NFL defensive back, Ryan Clark raised a fair concern this week. He questioned the math behind the idea that one player can fully take on the responsibilities of two.
In his words, one player might be able to give you the impact of one and a half players. But expecting anyone to do the work of two full-time starters at a high level is a stretch.
I think the answer is not to expect Hunter to do everything all the time. The answer is balance and discipline. Hunter does not need to be on the field for 70 snaps every week to be considered a true two-way player.
The Jaguars need to use him like football’s version of Shohei Ohtani. In baseball, Ohtani does not pitch every day. He focuses on his hitting most of the time and takes the mound only every few days.
The same logic can apply to Hunter. Let him start at one position and use him situationally at the other. It is not about proving a point. It is about making a difference when it matters most.
Jaguars head coach Liam Coen seems to understand this. He has said Friday’s scrimmage will serve as an evaluation point.
It’s not about making a final decision. It’s about seeing what the current plan looks like in a real football setting and adjusting from there. The coaching staff has already started tailoring his practice and meeting schedule to fit both roles. That kind of flexibility will be key to making this work.
This is not some side project for Hunter. He is not just dabbling at a second position. He is capable of excelling at both.
He has the footwork, instincts, and football IQ to be a true shutdown corner. And he has the route-running, hands, and vision to be an impact receiver.
Yes, there will be days when it is too much. There will be moments when the physical toll or mental demands catch up to him. But if the Jaguars are careful with how they use him and focus on situations that play to his strengths, Travis Hunter can absolutely succeed.
He might not be two players. But he has a chance to be something even rarer. One of one.
And in the modern NFL, that kind of versatility is priceless.
Titan-Ing Up
By: Colin Lacy
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
Heading into the 2025 season, there may be more buzz around the Tennessee Titans than there has been since Steve McNair was calling shots.
Second year Head Coach Brian Callahan led the Titans last season to a 3-14 record after the Mike Vrabel tenure ended in Nashville following the 2023 season.
There has been a ton of turnover in players, coaches, front office, and virtually every aspect of the team since the three straight playoff seasons from 2019-2021 under Vrabel and quarterback Ryan Tannehill.
The biggest addition to the Titans heading into the 2025 season is the man who heard his name called first in this year’s NFL Draft.
Cam Ward was selected first overall by the Titans in the 2025 NFL Draft and ever since the expectations have only been exceeded.
Everyone saw what Cam Ward can do on the field in his final collegiate season for the Miami Hurricanes and through all of the pre-draft workouts, but the biggest news coming out of the Titan’s OTAs have been the dedication, work ethic, and leadership that Ward has already built in Nashville and inside the building.
One of the first illustrations of this is at the press conference after signing his rookie contract, Titans (formerly Oilers) Hall of Famer Warren Moon spoke with a glowing endorsement by allowing Ward to wear his number “1” that had been retired by the franchise since 2006.
“I have a lot of respect for this young man right here,” said Moon who started his pro career in the CFL with the Edmonton Eskimos. “A lot of our journey is similar as far as all the things he was told throughout the journey about not being good enough, nobody wanted to give him that great opportunity. But he just kept fighting, kept working, kept showing leadership, perseverance, and here he is today, the No. 1 overall pick in the National Football League draft. So that’s the reason why I wanted to be here to let him know how proud of him I am. As far as the number and everything is concerned. I wore the number 1 for a lot of various reasons, and I wore it for a long time, starting back to 1976 when I was in college. I think I wore it very honorably for the Houston Oilers organization to the point to where I created a Hall of Fame career for myself. Now, I’m part of the Tennessee Titans family. My Houston Oilers jersey will probably never be worn again, I hope it won’t. But the Tennessee Titans jersey is going to be worn by Cam, and Cam will be starting a new freshness in this organization to kind of revitalize it and get it back to where it was a number of years ago, one of the more successful organizations in the league. So, I am excited to see what he is going to do with his legacy wearing this number, and I am proud of the things I did to establish my legacy with the time I wore that number.”
All of the hype that has followed Cam Ward has created a buzz around the team, but does that translate to wins? Only time will tell.
Another key part of the equation that failed the Titans last year was the offensive line. Brian Callahan has been known as an O-Line guru in all his stops in football and has been a huge point of emphasis in the off-season.
The Titans not only brought in a couple of veterans to the mix but also are getting several linemen back from injury, especially Lloyd Cushenberry at center that was riddled with injuries last season.
In the shadows of the construction of the new stadium across the parking lot from Nissan Stadium, that will open in 2027, the Titans are trying to make an enormous step forward in 2025, and I truly believe that with Cam Ward and additions like veteran receiver Tyler Lockett and others, the Titans will be in playoff contention in year one of the rookie phenom and look to settle back as a force in the AFC South for years to come!
Cross Roads
By: Robert Craft
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
Entering Year 4, McDaniel finds himself in an NFL pressure cooker.
Historically, no Dolphins coach has survived a fifth season under owner Stephen Ross.
The last coach to last four full years was Dave Wannstedt back in 2004. In Miami’s modern era, sustained tenure is a rarity.
McDaniel is now operating without the leash he once had: expectations are high, mess-ups won’t be ignored, and patience is nearly gone.
After strong seasons in 2022 (9–8) and 2023 (11–6), Miami stumbled to an 8–9 finish in 2024 and missed the playoffs entirely.
That losing record was their first since 2019. The team claimed to have reset the culture in 2024, but veteran leadership admitted it was all surface-level.
Now McDaniel must convert talk into traction to avoid being labeled a coach whose first two seasons were a mirage.
Bradley Chubb shot down the façade of culture change, slamming it as half‑hearted. McDaniel himself admitted that players took advantage of leniency. Discipline must be rebuilt from scratch, and unless the coach enforces authority, the “good‑ole‑boy” vibe that alienated veterans won’t recede.
Fan consensus and coaches agree: Miami hasn’t been nasty in the trenches. General Manager Chris Grier’s early 2025 picks leaned into beefier linemen, but critics remain skeptical of systemic solutions.
McDaniel must prove the line is more than draft window-dressing. Without a stout OL and identity, the offense sputters.
The franchise backed Tua Tagovailoa with a $212 million extension, signaling full confidence. But injuries have persisted, including a concussion early in 2024, which cost him six games and hurt team momentum.
Tagovailoa must stay healthy and play smart. If he falters again, Miami’s season will crumble, again.
Backup Zach Wilson has inspired no confidence with two interceptions and a pick-six in minicamp. Relying on a clearly unconvincing QB depth chart won’t instill trust. McDaniel must manage Tua’s workload and rally a pass-friendly unit.
Reports suggest veteran players—like Tyreek Hill and Calais Campbell—have soured on Miami; several have left in free agency.
Coach McDaniel’s methods are partly blamed. If internal loyalty erodes further, he’s left without support from within which remains grim sign in NFL coaching circles.
Kickoff in Spain: a bold international opener LOOSENS zero-sum stakes.
Division face-offs: rematches with Buffalo, New England, New York await — all hold huge implications.
Five games vs 2024 playoff teams (three at home). No excuses.
McDaniel’s objectives: Playoff return: missing again is untenable. Win a playoff game: validation is overdue (last win was in 2000). Tough identity: beat better teams or risk being “bowl fodder”.
Fans believe playoff wins (especially versus quality opponents) dictate job security. A middling 9–8 season, even with improvement, may not suffice — especially if it lacks postseason success.
A Phinsider poll challenged fans: what’s enough? Most answered similarly — win playoff games, dominate the division, or productive football culture. Mike McDaniel’s fate isn’t just tied to W-L; it’s about dismantling the “soft” label and proving Miami can out-fight as well as out-play.
The front office showed faith — owner Stephen Ross publicly retained McDaniel and GM Grier after their disappointing 2024.
But that’s pre-2025. Now the money, draft picks, and expectations are real. If the Dolphins flop again, a shakeup is almost certain.
Mike McDaniel inherited a burgeoning franchise in 2022, brought imaginative offense, and helped Miami climb out of a postseason drought. But that honeymoon ended in an 8–9 relapse, disjointed culture, and injuries.
If his squad fails to stay disciplined, win meaningful games, and show character under fire, this season is likely his last. For McDaniel and the Dolphins, this is a career crossroad.
Duval Swag
By: Michael Spiers
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
The Jaguars are officially entering a bold new chapter. I don’t think it will be anything like what we’ve seen come out of Duval before.
This team is younger, faster, and more aggressive. Quarterback Trevor Lawrence remains at the center of it all.
The front office and coaching staff have made it clear that 2025 is all about getting the most out of their franchise QB.
The first major sign that things were changing came in the draft, when Jacksonville made waves by trading up to the No. 2 overall pick to grab Travis Hunter.
The rookie from the University of Colorado is an electrifying two-way star who’s expected to line up at wide receiver and cornerback.
The move stunned just about everyone and showed exactly how head coach Liam Coen and new GM James Gladstone plan to run things: bold, fast, and with no fear.
Coen, just 39, brings an offensive style built around balance, speed, and play-action which are all designed to take pressure off Lawrence. He’s paired with 29-year-old offensive coordinator Grant Udinski, who helped build high-powered attacks in Minnesota.
The idea for Lawrence is simple. Get the ball out quick, use the run game to set things up, and let Trevor cook.
To make it all work, the Jaguars made big changes to their offensive line, signing veterans like center Robert Hainsey and guard Patrick Mekari, and drafting Wyatt Milum to add depth. Lawrence may finally have adequate protection and should be able to get the ground game going again.
Lawrence, now healthy after an injury-riddled 2024, has more help than ever. He’s got Hunter as his new top target, second-year wideout Brian Thomas Jr. ready to explode, and free-agent pickup Dyami Brown bringing more deep speed.
The Jags added two rookies, Bhayshul Tuten and LeQuint Allen Jr., to the backfield. They both bring serious burst and either could push veterans Travis Etienne Jr. and Tank Bigsby for touches. Expect a steady rotation to keep defenses guessing.
Behind Lawrence, the quarterback room has also gotten smarter. Nick Mullens and John Wolford know this system well and can help Trevor with the transition. Rookie Seth Henigan might be a project, but the team sees potential there too.
On the other side of the ball, it’s all new. Defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile has taken over a unit that struggled big-time last year. He’s bringing a 4-3 system that leans on zone coverage and lets the front seven get after it.
Pass rushers Travon Walker and Josh Hines-Allen lead the way, with Arik Armstead moving inside where he’s most comfortable.
Second-year tackle Maason Smith is someone the team’s really excited about after flashing late last season. Linebacker Foyesade Oluokun is back to anchor the middle, but the run defense has to get better.
In the secondary Tyson Campbell is the top guy, but he’s got to stay healthy. Jourdan Lewis and Eric Murray bring veteran leadership, and rookie safety Caleb Ransaw could earn a starting spot.
And yes, I think Travis Hunter will get defensive snaps, too. Especially in key passing situations where his ball skills could help generate turnovers, something this team badly needs after finishing last in takeaways in 2024.
Special teams will be as solid as ever. Punter Logan Cooke and long snapper Ross Matiscik both made the Pro Bowl, and kicker Cam Little has a cannon for a leg. That trio gives Jacksonville one of the most reliable special teams units in the league.
Everything’s different in Jacksonville this year, and that’s a good thing. The Jags are faster, younger, and playing with some serious swagger.
If Trevor Lawrence can stay healthy and the new offensive pieces click, this team has a real shot to make noise and go after the AFC South crown.
With all of these changes and a new attitude, I can envision a 2025 season where the Jags could go 9-8 with a shot at the playoffs.
Buckle up, Duval! This could be fun.
Flying With The Wind?
By: Kenneth Harrison
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
The Atlanta Falcons were 8-9 last season. They started 6-3, which was their best start since 2016. They looked like a playoff team before the wheels fell off.
Head coach Raheem Morris is looking to improve in his second season with the Falcons. Atlanta signed QB Kirk Cousins to a four-year, $180 million contract in March of 2024.
They drafted QB Michael Penix Jr. (Washington) the next month in the NFL draft with the eighth pick. That move seemed like a head scratcher then but it may make more sense now.
Cousins started hot but his play got worse as the season progressed. The team had a four-game losing streak that was snapped in Week 15 against the Raiders.
Atlanta won the Monday Night Game 15-9. Las Vegas was 2-12 at that point and Cousins struggled so he was benched for Penix after that game.
Penix went 1-2 and both losses were in overtime. He has great potential but the success of this team will rely on him being above average.
“Michael is going to do great; he’s going to have a great career,” Cousins said of Penix. “He’s off to a great start. He has all the tangibles and intangibles you need to be successful. I’m just here to support him as he needs it. But I also don’t need to be in his ear so much that I’m another voice. I just want to be as supportive as I can, and he knows that.”
The focal point of the offense is Pro Bowl RB Bijan Robinson. He had a breakout second year with 1,456 rushing yards, 14 rushing touchdowns, 61 receptions for 431 yards and a receiving TD.
“It’s crazy. I don’t even know how to explain it,” Penix said. “If he touched the ball every play and the defense knew every play, he’d still make big-time plays. He’s just that guy. He’s that guy when you go to a little-league game, there’s one kid who stands out who never gets tackled. He scores every time he touches the ball. That’s him in the NFL, so think about that. He does unreal stuff I’ve never even seen. He’s a special player, and as many times as we can get the ball in his hands, we’re going to do it.”
They also have a very good offensive line, led by Pro Bowl guard Chris Lindstorm. receivers Drake London and Darnell Mooney are one of the best duos in the league.
Kyle Pitts is the highest drafted tight end in history but he has not lived up to the hype. He disappears for entire games. Pitts has all of the measurables including size and speed. He’s in the final year of his rookie contract and he has trade rumors around him that he could be dealt before the season begins.
“He’s become more of a complete tight end, so to speak,” Morris said. “It’s just that it’s always hard to accomplish the goals that everybody else wants for him.”
The defense does not have any Pro Bowlers. The Falcons always struggle to rush the passer and they addressed that need in the draft. They drafted linebacker Jalon Walker (Georgia) with the 15th pick and defensive end James Pearce Jr. (Tennessee) with the 26th pick. Walker won the Dick Butkus Award in 2024.
I do not have high expectations for rookies but I think they can make an impact this season.
The season starts September 7th at home against Tampa Bay. I believe the Falcons will be 9-8 in 2025. If Penix plays great I think they will win an extra game.
Tall Texans
By: Colin Lacy
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
The past two seasons at NRG Stadium in Houston have been electric under Head Coach DeMeco Ryans who took over the reigns of the franchise in January of 2023.
When Ryans took over, the Texans had just completed a 3-13 season in 2022 (with one tie as well).
Since taking charge of the team, Ryans has led the Texans to back-to-back 10-7 seasons while securing the NFC South Division titles in both the 2023 and 2024 seasons.
With that said, all the praise can’t be directed at DeMeco Ryans (although a lot of it should be). Houston also secured the number two and three overall picks of the 2023 draft to bring in franchise quarterback CJ Stroud from Ohio State and former Alabama linebacker Will Anderson to answer many questions that had been around the organization for the previous years.
While the past two years have been great for Texans fans with Stroud taking the NFL by storm with almost 8,000 passing yards in his 1st two seasons in the NFL, the brass within the organization believes that the best is just coming to fruition.
That’s some pretty tall words with Stroud and Ryans becoming the first quarterback/head coach duo in NFL history to win the division in each of their first two years together, but the organization made some key moves in the offseason to firm up some soft areas of the depth chart going into the 2025 campaign.
A familiar name around the Georgia area is headed to strap on the navy and red as the most recent transaction on the list for Houston is the free agent signing of Nick Chubb, the former Georgia Bulldog.
Chub was drafted in 2018 to the Cleveland Browns and over the last seven seasons with Cleveland, Chubb has accumulated 6,843 rushing yards and 51 touchdowns.
The question mark around Chubb is health. Chubb has only played 10 games combined over the previous two years with the Browns with only 130 carries in two seasons because of various injuries.
That said, if Chubb can get his legs back underneath him (and healthy legs after battling knee and foot injuries) he is still an elite back in the NFL. Chubb is just one of ten active running backs with at least 6,500 yards and had 30 games of 100+ yards in the first 6 years before being hampered by injuries.
The Texans didn’t pull the trigger on any huge names coming out of the 2025 NFL Draft, but it was a busy few days for the front office.
General Manager Nick Caserio made seven trades of picks including trading away the 25th overall selection to pick up an additional 2nd round pick.
Caserio has made 20 trades of straight draft picks which is the most of all active GMs in the NFL. The Texans picked up a pair of second, third, sixth and seventh round selections to go along with a singular fourth rounder in this years first year player draft bringing in a couple of wide outs with a second and third round pick.
The last two seasons have been a renaissance of football in Houston that hasn’t been seen in the NFL in quite some time and the job that DeMeco Ryans, CJ Stroud and company have done is phenomenal, but that group isn’t satisfied with the quick success, they have eyes sighted for a deep playoff run, and they believe it’s coming much sooner than once thought.
