Welcome back to Sports Krunch with DKrom ladies and gentlemen, I’m your host David Kromelow. NFL teams are already filing into training camp and today, the Denver Broncos just held the first training camp practice of the 2019 season. Football is officially back and in that spirit, we continue our 2019 division-by-division preview series with a dive into the AFC South. And joining us to analyze all things Colts, Jaguars, Texans, and Titans is our good friend Jake Arthur, who is currently a contributing writer for colts.com, the official website of the Indianapolis Colts.
1. I am one of a minority of people who is higher on Nick Foles with the Jaguars than most. The reason why? New Jags OC John DeFilippo coached Foles during his magical run in Philly in 2017. Is it realistic to think that we’ll get more of the good Nick Foles than the bad one this season given DeFilippo’s presence?
2. FANTASY FOCUS: Would you be happy taking Leonard Fournette at his current ADP (3.06 per Fantasy Football Calculator), or would you rather take Aaron Jones, Marlon Mack, or Derrick Henry at around the same juncture of your draft?
3. How much more lethal does Josh Allen make this Jaguars D? Despite the addition of Allen, the Jaguars will be without three key people on defense this season. They had to cut Malik Jackson and Tashaun Gipson due to cap issues and LB Telvin Smith will be taking the 2019 season off for unknown personal reasons. Which of those three will be missed the most? Do you think the Jags D will still be a top-five unit in 2019?
4. For the first few years of his career, Marcus Mariota looked like the real deal. The previous two years? Not so much. While not all Mariota’s struggles can be blamed on his health (he’s still yet to play a full season), you have to consider the possibility that his issues last season were in large part due to him being VERY VERY banged up (ulnar nerve issue in his throwing arm, neck stinger, cracked verterbra, broken rib, sprained AC shoulder joint, and a “significant” plantar fascia tear). Assuming he’s infinitely healthier this season, what kind of season does Mariota need to have to warrant a long-term contract extension?
5. FANTASY FOCUS: Delanie Walker has always been Marcus Mariota’s best friend in the passing game, but he’s 35 years old and coming off a major injury (fractured ankle with ligament damage). If he isn’t the same, Mariota is going to need another threat over the middle to target regularly. And based on last season, Jonnu Smith is not capable of being that guy. Enter rookie WR A.J. Brown, who many in the draft community compared to JuJu Smith-Schuster. He’s likely to be that “BIG slot” WR and he runs terrific routes. Do you see Brown becoming that threat over the middle if Delanie Walker’s play declines and Jonnu Smith remains inept?
