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Wait, are the Jaguars really good now? They're acting like it

Last week, after the conclusion of the Jacksonville Jaguars' offseason conditioning program, linebacker Telvin Smith called a players-only meeting to remind his teammates not to settle for losing.

What is going on here? An 8-24 team the past two seasons. A players-only meeting in late April. No, this is not the sound of panic; it's one of optimism, but also one of demand. No more sitting around and taking the losing.

"I think the not wanting to settle for what’s been happening sparked it, and just me being a competitor and wanting to win," Smith told ESPN. "Losing ... I’ve always said I’m not a loser, and I refuse to be a loser. So you cannot do this on your own and you have to make sure everybody’s on the same mindset. And that’s the biggest thing, making sure everybody’s on the same mindset."

Following a draft that was roundly praised by pundits, and piggybacking a free-agency period that saw them upgrade on defense (DT Malik Jackson, S Tashaun Gipson, CB Prince Amukamara), offense (RB Chris Ivory, OT Kelvin Beachum) and special teams (P Brad Nortman), the Jaguars are suddenly relevant.

But are they good? Like good good.

We believe so. This is an offense that showed some point-scoring potential in 2015 but one that started slowly and fizzled late. Two noticeable issues: running the football consistently and giving Blake Bortles time to throw. Beachum should help both, as he battles Luke Joeckel (whose fifth-year option was just declined) for the left tackle job. Ivory gives the Jaguars a 1-2 masher duo with T.J. Yeldon with which to thump defenses.

But it's that Jaguars defense everyone is really excited to see. Jackson is an instant upgrade. Health willing, 2014 first-rounder Dante Fowler Jr. and 2015 second-rounder Myles Jack are two exciting athletes who can be impact players this season. Jalen Ramsey has a chance to be the best Jaguars DB in franchise history, though let's temper that a tad for now.

Smith, Jack and Paul Posluszny are at linebacker, with Dan Skuta a good fourth option is Jack takes time returning to the field. It's not as deep as you'd like, but the talent is good.

Yet there's incredible depth up front. If Sen'Derrick Marks returns to form, they have holdovers Jared Odrick, Roy Miller, Tyson Alualu, Mike Bennett, Chris Smith, Ryan Davis (given a high second-round tender) and others. Plus, you throw in Jackson, Fowler, third-rounder Yannick Ngakoue, fourth-rounder Sheldon Day, sixth-rounder Tyrone Holmes and seventh-rounder Jonathan Woodard.

Can you say "Sacksonville?"

The biggest issue really has been creating turnovers — only 18 forced (only five teams had fewer) a year ago. That, along with a sloppy offense (28 turnovers, tied for eighth-most), put the Jaguars in a compromising position. Throw in an uneven kicking game, and you clearly can see where they lost ground in a 1-5 start last season. Going 5-11 was bad enough, but it's even more telling when they lose by double digits in their four games against playoff teams. That's, um, not so good.

This season's schedule has a similar feel to the 2015 slate: a tough opener and only a handful of home games before late October. They begin with the Green Bay Packers in Jacksonville — oh, you think you're good? Go stop Aaron Rodgers. The now-traditional London trip is even earlier this year, Week 4 against the Indianapolis Colts, and it's a big proving-grounds game. Get through that slate at 2-2 or 3-1, and the softer middle portion can be where the Jaguars really step out. The closing quintet (vs. Denver Broncos, vs. Minnesota Vikings, at Houston Texans, vs. Tennessee Titans, at Indianapolis Colts) could define the season.

Blake Bortles looks like a budding star, though one with much to prove. He has a better line we think, a beefier run game, two 1,000-yard receivers (Allen Robinson and Allen Hurns), a potentially good No. 3 in Rashad Greene and a healthy Julius Thomas.

We're not saying they're this year's Carolina Panthers, but a major jump in the standings would not be shocking. Owner Shad Khan believes this team will have a winning season. Head coach Gus Bradley probably needs it, frankly, to save his job. There's still a lot of work to do, and first-year coordinator Todd Wash has to bring all this new, young talent together.

But one thing's for sure: There's more optimism in Jacksonville now than there has been in almost a decade, and following an exciting offseason it's really warranted. The hype, we believe, is legit.

And if now, we have some excellent conspiracy theories to fall back on for why the franchise appears to be plagued.

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Eric Edholm is a writer for Shutdown Corner on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at edholm@yahoo-inc.com or follow him on Twitter!