2011 NFL Season Preview: Jacksonville Jaguars
By Editorial Staff
Jacksonville Jaguars
Front Office:
Owner: Wayne Weaver
GM: Gene Smith
B: This group will need to make some coaching changes after the season. They must realize that while their drafting has improved the results have not. I want to like Gene Smith for his confidence to trust his board and not the perception of his board by others. My problem is that he makes some crazy selections. I like his trade up for Gabbert though. He realizes he needed to take that risk in order to move past the Colts and Texans in the near future.
Coaching:
HC: JackDel Rio
OC: Dirk Koetter
DC: Mel Tucker
D: How does Jack Del Rio keep his job year after year??? He has only been to one playoff game in his long tenure. He consistently lets his team fade off in the second half of the season ala Jim Leyland. I do like OC Dirk Koetter. I think Koetter maximizes production from a less than talented group. Koetter does well with a very limited David Garrard and often injured receiving and running back core. Mel Tucker on the other hand is brutal. His defenses consistently push for last place and yet he remains. Come on Gene Smith, cut the fat off your steak please!!
QB: C+
David Garrard is a very limited quarterback. He has nice mobility and solid arm strength but has inconsistent mechanics and is inaccurate passer. The offensive game plan is usually scaled back to deal with his short comings. This has to change and I think Gene Smith agrees. Trading up for the under rated Blaine Gabbert was a solid choice. I thought Gabbert was a better prospect thatNewton. He is very accurate, has great size and athleticism, and has above average arm strength. He was a huge steal.
RB: A-
MJD is on the downside of his great career. It is being sped up by numerous leg injuries. He has been a trooper though. When healthy he is like a bowling ball that simply bounces off defenders and keeps churning forward. He is small and compact and deceptively fast. I like his backups though. Deji Karim is a good special team player who can add some speed to the backfield occasionally. Rashad Jennings is turning into a Stephen Jackson type player who will be used more than in the past.
WR/TE D
Marcedes Lewis andMikeThomas are decent options but that’s it. Lewis is an exceptional blocking TE who is great in intermediate routes and in the red zone. MikeThomas is a good number 2 WR who is lightning quick and runs good routes. Neither is scaring the other teams too much. Not only do they have poor depth but they also have no true number one target. If Gabbert is to succeed than he should receive more help in the near future.
OL: B
Eugene Monroe and Eben Britton are on the edge of becoming very good OT tandem. Only thing holding them back are injuries. Uche Nwaneri is a road grinding OG who fits this team. LG will be a battle between Jason Spitz and recently drafted Will Rackley. At center Brad Meester mans his post yet again but not for much longer.
DL: C+
Gene Smith showed his genius in Terrance Knighton, third round selection, and Tyson Alualu, first round selection. Both were selected well before many other draft boards had them being. They now form the Jaguars defensive strength. Both are great versus the run and provide plenty of inside pressure. At DE the Jaguars need Aaron Kampman to recover and some of their young DE to step up. If not than Jeremy Mincey will start who started showing promise with 5 sacks last season.
LB: B+
WLB Justin Durant and MLB Kirk Morrison are both gone. Jaguars have brought in Clint Sessions who will be a solid WLB despite paying too much for him. Jaguars scored a big win when Paul Posluszny signed with them. He is a leader who will man the MLB position. SLB Darryl Smith is a very talented LB. This unit went from a weakness to strength.
DB: C-
Rashean Mathis’ play is slowly decreasing. He might need to be moved to FS. Derek Cox shows talent but too often gets torched and is out of position. Cox did slowly improve as the year went on though. At safety the Jaguars signed Dawan Landry to play SS. At FS the Jaguars have just bodies.
2011 NFL Draft
Blaine Gabbert to me was the steal of the draft. I also liked Will Rackley and believe he will be a very good OG in the near future. Cecil Shorts and Chris Prosinski will be good for the ST unit. Problem the Jaguars have is they did not improve their defense at all in this draft. For that I give them a B-.
Offensive/ Defensive Sleepers
Rashad Jennings seems to be a popular sleeper this year and with good reason. His talent and his situation endear him to posting bigger numbers. I think MJD will need plenty of rest and fluids to come back strong. In the meanwhile I believeJenningsshould be able to post 700 yards rushing and 6-7 TD’s. If MJD goes down with injury than watch out and pick this cat up on the waiver wire.
Ummmm I would like to say no one but if forced to than I will select Terrance Knighton. I know people believe him to be good but I see him as a Pro Bowl potential player. He is a very athletic, powerful DT whose pass rush has improved. If he can take that next step I can see him with 6-7 sacks.
Season Preview: 6-10
This team has improved over FA but not enough. Their offense is solid but not solid enough. If the Jaguars are smart around their 9th or 10th game they will put in Blaine Gabbert and start developing him for 2012, if the world doesn’t end.