JACKSONVILLE – The Jaguars have made a significant offensive change.
With the offense struggling through much of the 2016 season, the Jaguars on Saturday announced they had promoted quarterbacks coach Nathaniel Hackett to offensive coordinator. They fired offensive coordinator Greg Olson.
The Jaguars, after ranking 21stin the NFL in total offense last season, rank 25th in total yards this season. They have scored 19.9 points per game after scoring 23.5 points per game last season.
But statistics don't tell the entire offensive story this season – and the offensive struggles had been particularly pronounced early in games in recent weeks. The team has scored just six first-half points in the last three games. They were shutout with 60 total yards of offense in a 36-22 loss to the Tennessee Titans Thursday, a game in which the Jaguars trailed 27-0 at halftime.
The Jaguars have been shut out in the first half three times this season, and haven't scored a touchdown on their first offensive possession since Week 2 of the 2015 season.
Six of the team's 15 touchdowns have come when trailing by 17 or more points.
Hackett, hired as the Jaguars' quarterbacks coach before the 2015 season, spent 2013 and 2014 as the offensive coordinator of the Buffalo Bills. He was the offensive coordinator at Syracuse University in 2011 and 2012.
The Bills ranked 19th in the NFL in total offense in 2013 and 26th in 2014. They were 22nd with 21.2 points per game in 2013 and 26th with 21.4 points per game in 2014.
Kyle Orton completed287 of 447 passes for 3,018 yards and 18 touchdowns with 10 interceptions for Buffalo in 2014; E.J. Manuel completed 180 of 306 passes for 1,972 yards and 11 touchdowns with nine interceptions for Buffalo in 2013.
Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles threw for 35 touchdowns with 18 interceptions and 4,428 yards last season, setting franchise records for yards and touchdowns. He has struggled through much of the first seven games this season, completing 174 of 290 passes for 1,904 yards and 12 touchdowns with nine interceptions.
