JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Jaguars signed seven new players to the team on Thursday, highlighted by the signing of guard Andrew Norwell. Here are some important statistics to know about the newest member of the offensive line.
- Norwell Need to Know: Guard Andrew Norwell signed with Carolina as an undrafted rookie free agent on May 16, 2014. In four seasons with the Panthers, Norwell appeared in 55 career games with 54 starts. He has also started in 38 consecutive games dating back to Week 12 of the 2015 season. The Jaguars did not have a single offensive lineman play in all 16 regular season games last season so Norwell's consistency will prove to be a valuable boost to the league's top-ranked rushing offense.
- Cream of the O-Line Crop: Last season, Norwell was the only starting offensive lineman in the NFL to not allow a single sack or a quarterback hit all season, according to Pro Football Focus. While the Jaguars offensive line allowed just 24 sacks in 2017, a franchise record, Norwell's addition can further reduce the pressure on quarterback Blake Bortles.
- Run Game Strong(er): Norwell was a constant on Carolina's offensive line the last four years, helping the rushing game rank in the top 10 each year (2014: seventh, 2015: second, 2016: 10th, 2017: fourth). This past season marked the first time the Jaguars have ever finished as the NFL's top rushing offense and the first time ranked in the top 10 since 2010. Norwell will improve the team's run blocking and help the Jaguars continue their recent rushing success.
- Marrone's Mindset: Last season, Norwell helped the Panthers record three 200-yard rushing games – all wins. In 2017, Jacksonville had one game of 200-plus rushing yards (Oct. 8 at Pittsburgh), helping the Jaguars record one of their biggest wins last season. With Head Coach Doug Marrone's emphasis on running the ball, Norwell can help bolster the run game, leading the offense to multiple 200-yard rushing games in 2018.
- Ohio Man: Norwell is a native of Cincinnati, Ohio and attended Ohio State University where he appeared in 50 games (39 starts) and played with Jaguars defensive tackle Michael Bennett. As a senior, Norwell started all 14 games at left guard and opened holes for the Buckeyes to rank fifth in the nation in rushing with 308.6 yards per game and 45 rushing touchdowns, the third-most in school history.
Look out for Jaguars public relations assistant Gaby Moran to bring five key stats about the Jaguars heading into each game of the 2018 season.
