Quick thoughts: On to Week 1

JACKSONVILLE – Senior writer John Oehser, senior correspondent Brian Sexton and digital reporter/host Ashlyn Sullivan offer quick thoughts on the Jaguars as they prepare to play the Washington Commanders at FedEx Field in Landover, Md., Sunday at 1 p.m. in a 2022 Week 1 game …

1. What to trust. Let’s face it: There’s little absolutely, positively trustworthy about a team that has won four games in two seasons and underwent change on a scale as massive as the Jaguars this past offseason. But if you’re looking for an area to trust entering 2022, go with the defensive front seven. The Jaguars invested here in a major way in the offseason by selecting outside linebacker Travon Walker, inside linebacker Devin Lloyd and Chad Muma in the 2022 NFL Draft and signing inside linebacker Foye Oluokun and defensive tackle Foley Fatukasi as unrestricted free agents. The presence of outside linebacker Josh Allen was just one reason Head Coach Doug Pederson thought of the front as a strength even before those additions. The Jaguars believe they will improve against the run. If so, that should help them be in far better pass-rush situations. In turn, that should help them improve dramatically on a league-low nine turnovers forced last season. This seems sure to be a strength in 2022. Just how strong will go a long way to determining how much the Jaguars improve this season.

2. What to watch. This is an obvious “take,” but the Jaguars’ overriding early-season storyline remains quarterback Trevor Lawrence. Even with change practically everywhere else on the roster, how Lawrence develops – and how he fares in his first season in Pederson’s offense – will be the dominant factor in how the offense performs. Lawrence showed significant improvement in 2022 Training Camp and preseason, daily flashing the skills that made him the No. 1 overall selection in the 2021 NFL Draft. Pederson has talked extensively in recent weeks of being impressed with…