John ShipleyAug 11, 2026
Shipley says Ventrell Miller has gained a slight edge over Branson Combs in the linebacker competition, and that the two are clearly the second and third linebackers behind Foyesade Oluokun. They also expect veteran defensive tackle Matt Dickerson to make the 53-man roster.
Published in writing · Sports IllustratedRead the original
What John Shipley said
our reading, beside the words we read it fromit is clear they are the No. 2 and No. 3 linebackers on the roster after Foyesade Oluokun
- Where it was published
- Sports Illustrated
- The piece
- 4 Instant Takeaways on Jaguars' First Depth Chart: Travis Hunter Leads the Way
- The original
- Read the original
- Read it wrong?
- Tell us and we will look
- SaidAug 11
- GradedSep 25
- 1Matt Dickerson to make the roster“I had Matt Dickerson making the 53-man roster in my latest projection ... it feels safe to say he is going to make this team by the time they cut it down to 53 players.”
- 2Branson Combs to be 3rd on the depth chart“I have come away from recent practices thinking Miller has gotten a leg-up in the battle with Combs... it is clear they are the No. 2 and No. 3 linebackers on the roster after Foyesade Oluokun.”
- 3Ventrell Miller to be 2nd on the depth chart“I have come away from recent practices thinking Miller has gotten a leg-up in the battle with Combs... it is clear they are the No. 2 and No. 3 linebackers on the roster after Foyesade Oluokun.”
- 4Foye Oluokun to be 1st on the depth chart“it is clear they are the No. 2 and No. 3 linebackers on the roster after Foyesade Oluokun”
Box score
HitCloseMissWaiting| Verdict | Call | Kind | What happened | Score | Naive | Skill |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Matt Dickerson to make the roster1 | Roster Spot Calls | 3 weeks on a 53 | 100 | 100 | 0 | |
| Branson Combs to be 3rd on the depth chart2 | Depth Chart Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| Ventrell Miller to be 2nd on the depth chart3 | Depth Chart Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| Foye Oluokun to be 1st on the depth chart4 | Depth Chart Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| 4 calls · 1 hit · 3 waiting | 100 | 100 | ||||
How each call scored
a naive guessbetter than naive4 checkable claims — 3 depth chart calls and 1 roster spot call — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing call.
It names 5 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
1 of 4 have settled so far, averaging 100 out of 100, against 100 for a naive guess at the same calls.
Of the 1 unsettled call enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands above the rest of the room.
Each call is scored 0 to 100 against what happened, on its own, by the published methodology. The naive guess is what knowing nothing would have scored on the same calls; the gap, weighted by how hard the call was, is the skill.
1Roster Spot CallsMatt DickersonJacksonville Jaguars
Matt Dickerson to make the roster
What happened3 weeks on a 53100Hit · naive 100100this call−100a naive guess=0better than naive×2difficulty=0skillThink this is wrong?How this was scored
- club:
- JAX
- skill:
- 0
- player:
- Matt Dickerson
- season:
- 2026
- claimed:
- he makes the 53
- accuracy:
- 100
- baseline:
- 100
- difficulty:
- 2
- the naive guess:
- he was on somebody's 53 last season, so he makes one again
- weeks in the season:
- 18
- weeks on the53:
- 3
- weeks left when called:
- 18
- first week on the53:
- 1
- weeks on the practice squad:
- 0
2Depth Chart CallsBranson CombsJacksonville Jaguars
Branson Combs to be 3rd on the depth chart
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
3Depth Chart CallsVentrell MillerJacksonville Jaguars
Ventrell Miller to be 2nd on the depth chart
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
4Depth Chart CallsFoye OluokunJacksonville Jaguars
Foye Oluokun to be 1st on the depth chart
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Who this take is about
Others on the same people
AJ Hawk · Game Outcome Picks · Jacksonville Jaguars · Hit 100
Hawk picked the Jaguars to beat the Ravens on the road, predicting roughly a 17-point margin.Connor "Boston Connor" Campbell · Game Outcome Picks · Jacksonville Jaguars · Hit 100
Connor believed Baltimore would keep it close but still said Jacksonville wins the game outright.Nick Wright · Game Outcome Picks · Jacksonville Jaguars · Hit 100
Wright expects the 49ers to release Brandon Aiyuk once they report, predicts Jacksonville blows out Baltimore on Thursday night, sees the Jaguars finishing around 13-4 or 14-3, and thinks Seattle's defense carries them past Arizona even with Drew Lock starting.Connor Rogers · Game Outcome Picks · Jacksonville Jaguars · Hit 100
Rogers agreed the Bears have the NFL's best offense, picked Minnesota as the league's best total defense, and picked Jacksonville to beat Baltimore on Thursday night.Chris Simms · Score Predictions · Jacksonville Jaguars · Hit 83
Simms named the Bears the NFL's best overall offense and best rushing offense, the Bengals the best passing offense, Seattle the best total defense, Minnesota the best pass defense and Tampa Bay the best run defense; they also called Tristan Wirfs the league's best offensive lineman, projected Miami's Malachi Toney as a top-15 pick, and predicted a 30-14 Jaguars win in Baltimore.Mark Morales-Smith · Game Outcome Picks · Jacksonville Jaguars · Hit 100
Within a Week 9 fantasy sleeper column, they state that Jacksonville is almost certain to blow out Baltimore, with the Jaguars running the ball through the second half and fourth quarter.
More depth chart calls
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
Michael Moore · Depth Chart Calls · Shedeur Sanders · Hit 100
In a Week 9 injury roundup, Moore forecast which banged-up fantasy contributors would play or sit: Deshaun Watson, Garrett Wilson, David Montgomery, Mike Evans, Deebo Samuel, TreVeyon Henderson and Terrance Ferguson are expected out, while Travis Kelce, Saquon Barkley, Michael Wilson, Christian Watson and Emeka Egbuka should play. They also expect Shedeur Sanders and Drew Lock to start at quarterback.Nic Bodiford · Depth Chart Calls · Joe Fagnano · Hit 100
Previewing Week 9 running game matchups, Bodiford expects Jacksonville to win lopsidedly over a depleted Baltimore team, with Bhayshul Tuten sitting out and Chris Rodriguez taking over as lead back, while Joe Fagnano starts at quarterback for the Ravens. They also view Broncos rookie Jonah Coleman as an RB2 going forward.