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          NFL Nation

          Jaguars OL made progress in 2015 but changes coming in 2016

          • Michael DiRocco, ESPN Staff WriterJan 29, 2016, 12:00 PM
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              Michael DiRocco is an NFL reporter at ESPN. DiRocco covers the Jacksonville Jaguars. He previously covered the University of Florida for over a decade for ESPN.com and Florida Times-Union. DiRocco graduated from Jacksonville University and is a multiple APSE award winner. You can follow DiRocco on Twitter at @ESPNdirocco.
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          Each day for the next two weeks we'll review how each Jacksonville Jaguars position group performed in 2015 as well as taking an early look at 2016. Friday we'll examine offensive line. We've already done quarterback, running back, tight end and wide receiver.

          Offensive line

          Breakdown of starts: Zane Beadles (16), Stefen Wisniewski (16), Jermey Parnell (15), Luke Joeckel (14), A.J. Cann (13), Brandon Linder (3), Sam Young (3).

          Recap: The offensive line made progress from 2014 in pass protection. After leading the league in sacks allowed (71) in Blake Bortles' rookie season, the number dropped to 55 in 2015. That number would have been even better had the Jaguars not given up eight sacks in the season finale at Houston. Joeckel gave up five of those sacks, which tainted an otherwise solid season by the former No. 2 overall pick. Losing Linder in September obviously hurt, but the Jaguars were pleasantly surprised by how well Cann, the team's third-round pick, performed. General manager Dave Caldwell said at his end-of-season news conference that Cann hadn't allowed a sack all season. Parnell, who signed a five-year, $32 million ($14.5 million guaranteed) contract with the Jaguars in free agency, had a solid year in his first season as a starter. Wisniewski, added later in free agency, had trouble with several shotgun snaps. Beadles was up-and-down all season, especially in pass protection. The group as a whole didn't run-block well. The Jaguars averaged 92.1 yards per game rushing, a drop of 10 yards per game from 2014.

          Looking ahead to 2016

          Players under contract: Beadles, Parnell, Joeckel, Cann, Linder, Luke Bowanko, Tyler Shatley, Josh Wells.

          The skinny: The Jaguars are set at tackle, which may cause some grumbling from fans about Joeckel needing to be replaced. The reality, though, is this: Joeckel is an average left tackle in the NFL and that's all he may ever be -- but that's fine. You can win with an average left tackle. It'll be interesting to see what the Jaguars do along the interior. Linder is clearly the team's best lineman but where will he line up in 2015? He's played right guard but the Jaguars could keep Cann at right guard and move Linder to left guard to solidify the side that has been the weaker in run blocking. Or they could put Cann at left guard. Either way, Beadles is the odd man out, which creates an issue for the Jaguars because he's supposed to earn $5.975 million in 2016 and that's way too much for a backup. They have to re-do his contract. The Jaguars could go several ways at center. Caldwell said Linder, Bowanko, Cann and Shatley all can play center, which would indicate the team won't be re-signing Wisniewski. Plus, there's the Alex Mack situation to monitor. He has the ability to opt out of his contract in Cleveland and if he does the Jaguars could pursue him again. They signed him to an offer sheet in 2014 that the Browns quickly matched. The word was that Mack really liked coach Gus Bradley, which could again draw his interest to sign with the Jaguars.