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AFC South Q&A: Have Jaguars improved since the arrival of GM David Caldwell?

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Ad Pro Test Clip 5 - May 2016 (2:19)

ESPN NFL Insider Dan Graziano tries to find some positive trends for the Jaguars since GM David Caldwell and head coach Gus Bradley took over following the 2012 season. (2:19)

Today's question: Where have the Jacksonville Jaguars made their biggest improvement, if any, since GM David Caldwell and coach Gus Bradley took over following the 2012 season?

Tania Ganguli, Houston Texans: This answer is very clear and makes a lot of sense given Bradley’s pedigree with the Seattle Seahawks. They’ve improved their defensive front more than any other place on the roster. In 2013 they added linebacker Geno Hayes and defensive tackles Sen'Derrick Marks and Roy Miller. Then last season they picked up defensive end Chris Clemons and defensive tackle Ziggy Hood, and drafted linebacker Telvin Smith. Back when I used to cover the Jaguars, their lack of pressure was a big liability. In 2012 the Jaguars ranked dead last in the league with only 20 sacks. In 2014 they ranked sixth with 45. It’s one of the best defensive fronts in the league now, and that’s saying something. I’m impressed.

Mike Wells, Indianapolis Colts: I know their record doesn’t indicate it -- nine wins total in the past three seasons -- but the overall talent is better. They finally cut ties with quarterback Blaine Gabbert and drafted a player, Blake Bortles, who has the potential to be a franchise player at that position. You can tell how serious they look at things based off the moves they’ve made this offseason. The Jaguars drafted running back T.J. Yeldon and signed free agents like tight end Julius Thomas and center Stefen Wisniewski. Jacksonville suffered some bad luck with the loss of defensive end Dante Fowler (knee), the No. 3 overall pick in the draft, for the season. The Jaguars are far from a finished product, and they’re no better than the third best team in the AFC South, but they're definitely headed in the right direction. Even ESPN’s NFL Insiders liked their moves, as they gave them a B-plus grade for what they have done in the offseason.

Paul Kuharsky, Tennessee Titans: It might be a cop-out answer, but the first item on my list would be "internal belief." I covered the Jaguars late in Jack Del Rio’s term and during Mike Mularkey’s season, and that locker room had very little faith in the leadership. It’s time for a Caldwell/Bradley roster to produce improved results. But the GM/coach duo has not struggled to get a buy-in. Players would do about anything to help those guys get results. They play hard for Bradley, and they believe in his messages and approaches. That’s a monumental and very significant improvement. The defensive front was going to be a lot better. Now with Fowler out of the mix for his rookie season, not as dramatically so.