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Jaguars mailbag: Defensive line cuts, backup QBs and Aldon Smith

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Got questions about the Jacksonville Jaguars? I’ll try to answer a representative selection of them every week. Submit your questions via Twitter to @ESPNdirocco.

On Sunday I’ll answer the Question of the Week.

@ESPNdirocco: Apparently we've learned nothing from the Justin Blackmon situation. @ESPNdirocco: I suppose that's a possibility, but I do know the Jaguars really like Chad Henne - and more importantly, so does Blake Bortles. Henne has been very good for Bortles in the meeting and locker rooms and Bortles has a high level of respect for him. Bortles is still learning how to be an NFL quarterback, and Henne, a consummate pro, is his main example. Plus, the Jaguars would feel much more confident in Henne if he had to play rather than Stephen Morris or Jeff Tuell. @ESPNdirocco: Chris Clemons was removed from the active/non-football injury list last Monday and practiced on a limited basis this week. He won't play against the New York Giants on Saturday night but could against Detroit on Aug. 28. As for guys stepping up, Ryan Davis and Chris Smith have both had really good camps. @ESPNdirocco: Bortles looked like he was much better at going through his progressions and more accurate than he was last year. The offensive line played pretty well and the running game, while not putting up big numbers (84 yards on 27 carries), looked much better. That's hard to quantify, but the first-team offensive line was getting movement and opened holes. It's hard to be too down on the defense since the entire starting defensive line wasn't on the field, but it was disappointing that the Jaguars didn't force a single turnover. That has been an issue the past two seasons. @ESPNdirocco: I'm assuming you are talking about the WR position (the E and R keys are next to each other and I'm figuring this was a typo) and if that is indeed the case then I don't see the Jaguars bringing in a veteran. They're happy with their top three, and guys such as Arrelious Benn, Tandon Doss, Rashad Greene and Tony Washington have done well in camp. If you're talking about the weakside defensive end (what the Jaguars call the leo), I believe the Jaguars will monitor the cuts later this month and could bring somebody in. However, Ryan Davis and Chris Smith have had good camps, and Dan Skuta will get snaps at the leo as well. @ESPNdirocco: Without question it's the offensive line. That unit, especially the left side, has to be better for the team to win more games in 2015. I think from center to right tackle is where the Jaguars are going to gain most of their yardage on the ground. The left side, guard Zane Beadles and Luke Joeckel, has to be better. @ESPNdirocco: I don't think Clemons is getting cut, unless he's just awful whenever he gets on the field in the preseason. I think the Jaguars keep Clemons, Sen'Derrick Marks, Roy Miller, Jared Odrick, Andre Branch, Ziggy Hood, Tyson Alualu, Michael Bennett and Ryan Davis. That means Chris Smith, Eric Crume, Richard Ash, Camaron Beard and Ike Igbinoson are fighting for one spot. Remember, the Jaguars could put Marks on the PUP list, which means he would have to miss the first six weeks. If that's the case then maybe the Jaguars keep one of the tackles (Crume or Ash). If Marks is on the active roster then I think the pick is Smith. @ESPNdirocco: I don't know if one back will eclipse 1,000 yards in 2015, mainly because the Jaguars are going to rotate carries among T.J. Yeldon, Denard Robinson and Toby Gerhart early in the season. By the end of the season I expect Yeldon to be the main back but because of the early season rotation I don't think he'll get enough carries to reach 1,000 yards. So I'd give better odds on Bortles throwing more than 20 touchdown passes, but remember the Jaguars are emphasizing running the ball and that is what is going to keep drives alive. If the Jaguars don't run the ball effectively then I don't see Bortles surpassing 20 TDs. @ESPNdirocco: On the active roster? Nil, unless Henne or Bortles is hurt. One of them probably will be signed to the practice squad.