Chiefs vs. Jaguars: Scouting Jacksonville’s 3 Best Players

Phil Sears-USA TODAY Sports

The Kansas City Chiefs have to start their season on the road, that is the bad news, the good news the face the Jacksonville Jaguars. Both the Chiefs and the Jaguars picked first and second this off season in the draft and both drafted key players for their offensive line. The chiefs took Eric Fisher number one overall and the Jaguars selected Luke Joeckel at the number two pick.

As the Chiefs make the trip all the way down to Jacksonville, let’s take a look at the three key players the Chiefs need to focus on in order to come away with a “W”

1. RB Maurice Jones-Drew

This is a no brainer, he is by far the best player on the Jaguars, despite low numbers last year, and all the off the field issues he is still one of the best running back in the NFL today. This is a contract year for Jones Drew, so unless he wants to see his value slip, look for him to turn it up this year and put up better numbers than last year. So whether he returns to the Jags in 2014 or not, he is still the best player on this team. Look for the Chiefs to contain him using the most versatile player on the Chiefs offense, Derrick Johnson. If you can hold Jones Drew back you make the Jaguars try to beat you through the air, which leads to the second best player on the team.

2. WR Cecil Shorts

Rising from a dismal rookie season Shorts soon became a constant target for Blaine Gabbert, look for both of them to continue to have good chemistry throughout the 2013 season. He was just 21 yards short of having a 1000 yards season, and the last Jaguar do that feat was Jimmy Smith in 2005. With Justin Blackmon dealing with his suspension look for Gabbert to rely on the third year receiver. The Chiefs will need to be sure to cover him and be sure to get in his face to disrupt the timing of him and his quarterback.

3. Paul Posluszny

Posluszny is a beast. He finished 6th in the league in tackles with 106, picked off opposing quarterbacks three times, and forced three fumbles. He is one of the best 4-3 linebackers in the league and is a leader on this young defense. If the Chiefs want to be successful both passing and running, the offense line has a challenge ahead of them in Posluszny. They will need to work on taking him out of the game with good blocking and running plays in which he will not be a factor. He is truly the best defensive player on the Jaguars and will look to continue that streak into the 2013 season.

Honorable Mentions:
Eugene Monroe LT; Marcedes Lewis TE; Josh Scobee K; Justin Blackmon WR (serving suspension)