Evan Engram named Jaguars' x-factor for 2023
The Jacksonville Jaguars' offense is one that has gained plenty of love and accolades going into the 2023 season. And given its productivity during the Jaguars' red-hot finish to the 2022 regular season, it's understandable why they're getting plenty of attention as dark horses and sleepers in the AFC. But how good could the Jaguars' […]
The Jacksonville Jaguars' offense is one that has gained plenty of love and accolades going into the 2023 season. And given its productivity during the Jaguars' red-hot finish to the 2022 regular season, it's understandable why they're getting plenty of attention as dark horses and sleepers in the AFC.
But how good could the Jaguars' offense be in 2023? What will be the determinant for how high the ceiling is for this group?
Andy Benoit of The 33rd team identified an x-factor for all 32 teams this week, and tight end Evan Engram was his choice for the Jaguars.
Engram is coming off a career season for Jacksonville, pulling down 73 catches for 766 yards and 4 touchdowns in 2022. as well as 12 catches for 124 yards and a touchdown in the playoffs. Set to become an unrestricted free agent, the Jaguars placed the franchise tag on him in March just before the deadline.
Now, Engram is set to earn a fully-guaranteed $11.345 million on the franchise tag. The team and Engram have until July 17 to reach a long-term agreement, or they won't be able to work on a deal until the season is over.
And how important does Benoit see Engram as being for Jacksonville? Considerably important. He notes how the Jaguars used Engram to help expose opposing defensive calls and create some potential mismatches across the field.
No team had more snaps out of 1×3 formations last season than Jacksonville (nine per game). In a 1×3, the tight end aligns by himself on the weak side (usually detached from the formation) and three wide receivers align on the passing strength side. The formation almost always compels a defense to reveal presnap whether it’s in zone or man coverage. A cornerback aligned opposite that iso-tight end = zone, a linebacker or safety = man….
The former Giant will not draw double-teams as a Y-iso the way [Travis] Kelce does, but he can win 1 on 1 outside (128 of Engram’s 766 receiving yards last season came here). This can make defenses pause before dedicating the lion’s share of their coverage to the three-receiver side.
Besides undressing the defense presnap, that three-receiver side and the matchup problems it creates are what make 1×3 formations potent. Zone defense will get stuck with a linebacker or safety on the innermost receiver. Man defense will have a corner playing in the unfamiliar near-middle of the field. These sorts of matchup aids are important when you have good-but-not-special Z and F-type receivers like Zay Jones and Christian Kirk playing opposite Calvin Ridley. – Andy Benoit, The 33rd team
Benoit has a point, in that the Jaguars' use of the formation gives away a lot by the defense, and it forces defenses to account for Engram as a receiver. That allows for a lot of flexibility in the offense.
However, as far as being a true x-factor, I don't think Engram is the biggest determinant in how the 2023 season is going to go. If there's going to be a major swing factor that will determine whether the Jags take the next step, it will be on the defensive side of the ball. Is Darious Williams the team's answer at outside cornerback following a strong finish to the year? Will Travon Walker – either off the edge, in the interior, or both – be a disruptive force that helps create impact plays this team needs?
I think Walker's development and improvement is the true x-factor on this team. That being said, if Engram can repeat his 2022 performance in 2023, then the Jaguars' offense has a good chance of continuing the success it found late last year.
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Featured image via Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports
