Note: What’s next for the Jaguars and their new coach? Part 4: Position by position roster analysis.

The Jaguars’ company line hasn’t changed compared to this time last year: They feel the talent level has been increased and the near future is bright.

The reality line: The Jaguars are 3-12 entering Sunday’s finale at Indianapolis – only Cleveland (1-14) and San Francisco (2-13) have fewer wins.

So which one is it? Up-and-coming team or dumpster fire?

"There is a young nucleus, a lot of cap space, the owner is patient but will spend and I’m a personal fan of Dave Caldwell," a league source said. "I think he’s done a good job and he seems to work really well with a coach.

"That team is ready to win. Hopefully they can get the right guy."

The new coach will be viewed as the "right guy," by ownership and management and he’ll fall in line about the Jaguars’ 2017 outlook.

Here is a position by position outlook at what the new coach will inherit (all ages as of Sept. 1, 2017):

QUARTERBACK

Player Age How acquired 2017 cap hit

Blake Bortles 25 D1-2014 $6,571,983

Chad Henne 32 UFA-2012 $3,250,000

Brandon Allen 25 D6-2016 $571,068

Analysis: Four months ago, we were crunching the numbers to figure out what kind of contract extension Bortles would be in line for this off-season. Forget about that. The return of Caldwell makes it likely Bortles gets his 2018 option picked up, which is guaranteed only for injury and is a way for the Jaguars to protect themselves in case Bortles breaks out. Bortles’ 16 interceptions are tied for fourth and he’s 26th in passer rating (77.6). The lack of big passes stands out – the Jaguars have only 71 explosive plays (at least 16 yards) entering Sunday compared to 99 last year in 16 games. The Jaguars need to hope Bortles’ year was a blip and he snaps out of his slump. … Henne has taken one snap (a kneel-down) since Bortles was handed the keys at halftime of the 2014 Week 3 game. Cutting Henne would create $3 million in cap space, but the new coach could see Henne’s worth as a virtual assistant coach for Bortles. … Allen has been inactive for the first 15 games, an early call will be to decide if he is Bortles’ back-up or can compete with him for the starting spot.

RUNNING BACK

Player Age How acquired 2017 cap hit

Chris Ivory 29 UFA-2016 $6,000,000

T.J. Yeldon 23 D2-2015 $1,612,248

Corey Grant 25 UDFA-2015 $616,668

Bronson Hill 24 FA-16 Exclusive rights free agent

Denard Robinson 26 D5-2013 Free agent

Joe Banyard 28 FA-2016 Free agent

Daryl Richardson 27 Waivers-2016 Restricted free agent

Analysis: Finding a consistent running game continues to be difficult. The Jaguars are 25th in rushing yards per game (96.6) and have only 27 carries of at least 12 yards and seven touchdowns. … Ivory has missed four games because of injury and had nine or fewer carries in five other games. His only 100-yard game was at Kansas City (107). When he gets a head of steam, Ivory is a bulldozer, but he wasn’t available enough and also had five fumbles (lost three). He’ll get another shot next year. … Yeldon went without a 100-yard game – he started 13 of 15 games and played 576 snaps but made more splash plays as a receiver (50 catches) than as a tailback (longest carry was 16 yards). … The Jaguars could bring back Grant as a kick returner and reserve tailback. … Robinson doesn’t have a big enough role to warrant re-signing him.

TIGHT END

Player Age How acquired 2017 cap hit

Julius Thomas 29 UFA-2015 $8,300,000

Marcedes Lewis 33 D1-2006 $4,250,000

Neal Sterling 25 D7-2015 $615,000

Ben Koyack 24 D7-2015 $540,000

Alex Ellis 24 FA-2016 Exclusive rights free agent

Analysis: It just never happened with the Jaguars for Thomas, who stands to make $24 million for 21 games of work and nine touchdown catches. Elbow and back injuries limited him to nine games. The Jaguars could never figure out a way to use him so it’s partly on them – Thomas is a guy who does his best work moving up the field and catching the football in stride. Cutting him will create $4.7 million in cap space (he will count $3.6 million against the cap). Watch Thomas sign with a team like Green Bay and catch 8-10 touchdowns next year. … Lewis was on his way to a 30-catch season when he injured his calf at Detroit Nov. 20 and didn’t play again. A new coaching staff will want some veterans on the roster and Lewis would check that box. He can still run-block – only four "bad" run plays. … A smart move by the Jaguars would be to save money at this position by bringing back Lewis and teaming him with Koyack and Sterling. … Koyack came back from an early-season knee injury (in practice) and has 16 catches and Sterling, converted from receiver, has shown very good skills in the passing game.

RECEIVER

Player Age How acquired 2017 cap hit

Allen Hurns 25 UDFA-2014 $7,000,000

Marqise Lee 25 D2-2014 $1,646,280

Allen Robinson 24 D2-2014 $1,117,095

Rashad Greene 24 D5-2015 $675,954

Shane Wynn 24 FA-2016 Exclusive rights free agent

Tony Washington 26 FA-2016 Exclusive rights free agent

Bryan Walters 29 UFA-2015 Free agent

Arrelious Benn 28 UFA-2015 Free agent

Analysis: Robinson can salvage his season with 199 yards against the Colts to reach 1,000 for the second straight year. Robinson could never get untracked – he has more drops (seven) than touchdowns (six) and only two 100-yard games. He’s caught 68 of his 139 targets (48.9 percent), an efficiency rate that needs to improve. Next year, Bortles should throw more 50-50 passes downfield and let Robinson go up and get it, like most of 2015. Look for the Jaguars to sign Robinson to an extension before training camp begins. … Lee was the Jaguars’ break-out player and Offensive MVP – he hasn’t missed a game and has 58 catches for 765 yards and three touchdowns. A pleasant surprise in a season of nightmares. The next step for Lee will be put in a position to stretch the field more often vertically – his longest catch is 51 yards. … A bad-luck year for Hurns, who signed a four-year, $40 million contract in June, but had no 100-yard games and will have missed the last five games (hamstring). … The current staff phased out Greene, unwilling to trust him as a slot receiver or punt returner but he may benefit from a fresh start. … The Jaguars would be smart to re-sign Benn because he turned into a special teams core player.

OFFENSIVE LINE

Player Age How acquired 2017 cap hit

Kelvin Beachum (LT) 28 UFA-2016 $8,500,000

Jermey Parnell (RT) 31 UFA-2015 $6,500,000

A.J. Cann (G) 25 D3-2015 $921,399

Brandon Linder C) 25 D3-2014 $835,400

Luke Bowanko (C/G) 26 D7-2014 $713,513

Luke Joeckel (T/G) 25 D1-2013 Free agent

Patrick Omameh (G) 27 FA-2016 Free agent

Jeremiah Poutasi (G) 23 FA-2016 Exclusive rights free agent

Tyler Shatley (G) 26 UDFA-2014 Restricted free agent

Josh Wells (T) 26 UDFA-2014 Restricted free agent

Analysis: The Jaguars have cut their sacks allowed total from 51 last year to 32 this year, but this group’s run blocking was a mess. … Beachum has fought through knee soreness the second half of the year (he missed all or parts of 22 practices during the regular season), but at his price, he’s an affordable left tackle and his option deserves to be picked up. He’ll benefit from a full off-season of recovery and training. … Like Beachum, Parnell has a good cap number and he’s picked up his pass protection – 16 1/2 combined pressures/hits/sacks in the first eight games compared to nine for the last seven games. He leads the team with nine enforced penalties. … Cann earned praise from the organization for his play in 2015, but he hasn’t been good enough this year – a team-high 17 1/2 "bad" rush plays. Next year is huge for Cann. … Linder moved from guard to center and has played 13 of 15 games. We were against the position change when it was floated during the off-season. Linder allowed only two pressures/hurries/sacks in the first half of the season, but 8 1/2 in the second half of the year. … Left guard was a debacle. Five different players started at least one game. … The Jaguars face a decision on Joeckel, who tore his ACL/MCL in Week 4 against the Colts. They should sign him to a one-year deal to play left guard, but Joeckel may want a fresh start elsewhere a chance to play tackle. … Depth needs to be added to this position group, period.

DEFENSIVE LINE

Player Age How acquired 2017 cap hit

Malik Jackson (DT) 27 UFA-2016 $15,500,000

Jared Odrick (DE) 29 UFA-2015 $8,500,000

Dante Fowler (DE) 23 D1-2015 $6,406,429

Sen’Derrick Marks (DT) 30 UFA-2013 $4,675,000

Roy Miller (NT) 30 UFA-2013 $4,162,500

Yannick Ngakoue (DE) 22 D3-2016 $819,085

Sheldon Day (DT) 23 D4-2016 $692,103

Chris Smith (DE) 25 D5-2014 $690,000

Michael Bennett (DT) 24 D6-2015 $574,675

Jonathan Woodard (DE) 23 D7-2016 $540,000

Tyson Alualu (DE) 30 D1-2010 Free agent

Abry Jones (DT) 25 UDFA-2013 Free agent

Jordan Hill (DT) 26 FA-2016 Free agent

Analysis: The Jaguars’ defense is sixth stopping the run and a big reason is Jackson’s stoutness on an every-down basis. Entering Sunday, he has 31 tackles, 4 1/2 sacks, nine tackles for lost yardage and a combined 16 quarterback hits/pressures/sacks and has played 672 snaps, most among the team’s linemen. … Miller tore his Achilles in Week 7 against Oakland and was replaced by Jones, who made a lot of money down the stretch with his play. We had Jones booked for 6 1/2 run "stuffs" (gain of 1 yard or less). … Marks, in a reduced role, has been an effective run stopper (17 tackles, including seven for lost yardage) – he showed a quick first step to knife his way through a gap in short-yardage situations. … The Jaguars should be set at defensive tackle entering next year if they re-sign Jones to go with Jackson, Miller, Marks and Day. … Day received off-season hype, but a preseason back injury derailed his year – he has six tackles in 184 snaps. … At the weak-side end spot, adding a third rusher to Ngakoue and Fowler should be prioritized. Ngakoue’s seven sacks are tied for the team rookie record and he has 25 pressures/hits/sacks in 659 snaps. Fowler had 16 1/2 in that category in 526 snaps. … There is uncertainty at the strong-side end spot. Injuries limited Odrick to 261 snaps but he remains effective when healthy. If the Jaguars cut him, they create a whopping $8.5 million in salary cap space. … Alualu has started in Odrick’s place (35 tackles in 465 snaps) and a new deal would be his third contract with the team.

LINEBACKERS

Player Age How acquired 2017 cap hit

Paul Posluszny 32 UFA-2010 $5,166,668

Dan Skuta 31 UFA-2015 $4,100,000

Myles Jack 21 D2-2016 $1,439,645

Telvin Smith 26 D5-2014 $742,763

Sean Porter 26 FA-2016 $690,000

Hayes Pullard 25 Cle PS-2015 $615,000

Marcus Rush 26 SF PS-2016 Exclusive rights free agent

Analysis: Regardless of who runs the defense, they should feel Posluszny can give them at least another season of quality middle linebacker play. He leads the Jaguars with 127 tackles and is tied for third with seven tackles for lost yardage. He’s played 986 snaps and hasn’t missed a game. … Smith could be in-line for a contract extension this off-season – his 109 tackles are third on the team and he has a team-high 14 tackles for lost yardage. Smith also leads the team with 24 missed tackles. … Jack enters Sunday having played only 209 defensive snaps (16 tackles) and rarely in passing situations to take advantage of his athleticism. Developing a role to take advantage of his strengths should be an off-season priority for the staff. … It would be a stunner if Skuta returns for a third year even though he can help a team as a strong-side linebacker and situational pass rusher. Cutting him would create $4.1 million in cap space.

DEFENSIVE BACKS

Player Age How acquired 2017 cap hit

Tashaun Gipson (FS) 27 UFA-2016 $6,300,000

Davon House (CB) 28 UFA-2015 $6,000,000

Jalen Ramsey (CB) 22 D1-2016 $5,307,045

Aaron Colvin (CB) 25 D4-2014 $803,288

James Sample (S) 25 D4-2015 $752,145

Josh Johnson (CB) 26 FA-2016 $540,000

Jarrod Wilson (S) 23 UDFA-2016 $540,000

Prince Amukamara (CB) 28 UFA-2016 Free agent

Johnathan Cyprien (SS) 27 D2-2013 Free agent

Peyton Thompson (S) 26 FA-2014 Restricted free agent

Akeem Davis (S) 26 FA-2016 Exclusive rights free agent

Analysis: The Jaguars have only six interceptions this year and it took them until Game 14 to have an interception by a cornerback. The Jaguars are third in pass defense (210.3 yards per game), but have allowed 12 completions of at least 40 yards, tied for second-most in the league. … As a defense, they’ve allowed 54 explosive passes (at least 16 yards). … Ramsey had only two pass break-ups in the first eight games, but has 10 in the last seven games (including two interceptions). … Amukamara doesn’t have an interception and only five pass break-ups but hasn’t been torched a lot, either (two touchdowns) in 818 snaps. The Jaguars should make him a priority re-signing. … It’s no interceptions in three NFL seasons for Colvin in the slot, but in his semi-defense, he didn’t get a lot of chances – no pass break-ups in 292 snaps. He missed the first four games (suspension) and the last two games (foot). It will be interesting to see if he is signed to an extension. … A year after leading the team with four interceptions, House enters Sunday having played only 270 snaps, banished to the bench after a slow start (two touchdowns allowed at San Diego). Cutting House will create $6 million of cap space. … Cyprien will enter free agency off his best season (120 tackles, second on the team), but he doesn’t make the kind of plays that will force the Jaguars to give him big money. If he departs, the in-house strong safety candidates are Jarrod Wilson (rookie free agent) and James Sample (both seasons cut short by injury). … Gipson was projected as a game-changer on the back end, but he has 35 tackles and two pass-breakups (one interception) in 969 snaps. He’s missed four tackles. Too often, though, he would get to the scene too late.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Player Age How acquired 2017 cap hit

Brad Nortman (P) 27 UFA-2016 $1,900,000

Carson Tinker (LS) 27 UFA-2013 $775,000

Jason Myers (K) 26 FA-2015 $615,000

Analysis: The Jaguars should be set at the specialist position. Nortman is averaging 39.3 net yards, but has been hurt by a lack of quality coverage – they’re last in punt coverage (12.5-yard average). … Myers is 25-of-30 on field goals, including 7-of-11 from 50 yards or longer, and is 27 of 30 on point-after-attempts. On 88 kickoffs, Myers has 52 touchbacks. … Tinker hasn’t made a noticeable error as a snap. … The Jaguars need to find reinforcements at punt (if Greene isn’t the answer) and kick returner (if they don’t want to put more on Lee’s plate). And the bottom of the roster needs to include better special teams players.