Jacksonville Jaguars
2010 record: 8-8, 2nd in AFC South
Last playoff appearance: 2007, 11-5 W31-29 PIT, L31-20 NE
General Manager: Gene Smith (2009-current)
Head Coach: Jack Del Rio (2003-current, 65-63 record)
Offensive Coordinator: Dirk Koetter (2007 – current)
Defensive Coordinator: Mel Tucker (2009 – current)
Defensive alignment: 4-3
2010 NFL Rankings:
OFF: 22.1 PTS (18th) 341.2 YDS (15th) 191.6 PASS (27th) 149.7 RUSH (3rd)
DEF: 26.2 PTS (27th) 371.8 YDS (28th) 250.2 PASS (28th) 121.6 RUSH (22nd)
Jeremy’s Outlook: In 2010, the Jaguars were in prime position to finally unseat the Colts atop the AFC South. But like Lindsey Lohan and breaking the law, the Jaguars have gotten into a bad habit and in recent seasons they’ve finished the season on a losing skid. The team is young, but Jack Del Rio won’t be able to use that as an excuse to stay around after 2011. Jaguars’ owner Wayne Weaver stated after the 2010 season ended that if the playoffs aren’t achieved in 2011, Jack will be hitting the road.
A strong running game and an ever-improving offensive line are the strength of this team. In order for Jacksonville to be successful in 2011, David Garrard will have to recapture the magic from his 2007 season when he led the Jags to the playoffs. and with Garrard’s back injury in camp, we may see first round pick Blaine Gabbert sooner than the Jaguars want. Another big issue is that the defensive secondary needs to greatly improve. GM Gene Smith said that he’ll be a player in free agency and that’s exactly what he has been. He brought in two linebackers (Paul Posluszny from Buffalo and Clint Session, formerly of the Colts) who will upgrade over two of last year’s starters (Justin Durant and Kirk Morrison). With the linebacker corps of Session, Posluszny, and Daryl Smith, the Jaguars probably have the top linebacker unit in the AFC South.
I believe that if Garrard can efficiently get the ball to Mike Thomas and Marcedes Lewis in the passing game and spread it around a little more to the other receivers, the offense will be better. This also includes the running game staying in the top 10. On the other side of the ball, the secondary is the unit that needs to improve the most. The pass rush is at fault for the secondary problems as well, but the safeties were just atrocious. After Aaron Kampman was out for the year, the pass rush fell apart. The secondary was upgraded with the additions of safety Dawan Landry (Ravens) and nickelback Drew Coleman (Jets).
Prediction: The Jaguars have some tough opponents on the schedule this year, and I’m unsure they’ll be able to put up the record they did last year because I think last year’s schedule was on the easy side. They have seven tough out of division games, plus games against the Texans and Colts. However, I also think the Jaguars are a team on the rise. Tyson Alualu and Terrence Knighton are becoming a top defensive tackle duo and the offense saw Marcedes Lewis break out (and Mike Thomas to a certain extent) in 2010. Last year, I predicted the Jaguars would finish 8-8 and I think they’ll take another step forward in 2011. My prediction is 9-7, but it will depend on other teams’ records as to if they’ll get into the playoffs.
Projected Starting Lineup:
QB: David Garrard
RB: Maurice Jones-Drew
FB: Greg Jones
WR: Mike Thomas
WR: Jason Hill
TE: Marcedes Lewis
OT: Eugene Monroe
OG: camp battle: Jason Spitz/Will Rackley
C: Brad Meester
OG: Uche Nwaneri
OT: Eben Britton
DE: Aaron Kampman
DT: Terrence Knighton
DT: Tyson Alualu
DE: Austen Lane
OLB: Daryl Smith
MLB: Paul Posluszny
OLB: Clint Session
CB: Rashean Mathis
CB: Derek Cox
FS: Camp battle: Don Carey/Courtney Greene/Chris Prosinski
SS: Dawan Landry
K: Josh Scobee
P: Matt Turk
Fantasy Performers:
1. Maurice Jones-Drew RB
2. Mike Thomas WR
3. Marcedes Lewis TE
4. David Garrard QB
5. Josh Scobee K
2011 schedule:
1 Sep 11 vs. Titans 1:00 PM
2 Sep 18 at Jets 1:00 PM
3 Sep 25 at Panthers 1:00 PM
4 Oct 02 vs. Saints 1:00 PM
5 Oct 09 vs. Bengals 1:00 PM
6 Oct 16 at Steelers 1:00 PM
7 Oct 24 vs. Ravens 8:30 PM
8 Oct 30 at Texans 1:00 PM
9 Bye
10 Nov 13 at Colts 1:00 PM
11 Nov 20 at Browns 1:00 PM
12 Nov 27 vs. Texans 1:00 PM
13 Dec 05 vs. Chargers 8:30 PM
14 Dec 11 vs. Buccaneers 1:00 PM
15 Dec 15 at Falcons 8:20 PM
16 Dec 24 at Titans 1:00 PM
17 Jan 01 vs. Colts 1:00 PM
Free agent acquisitions:
Jason Spitz OG/C, Packers – 3 years, 4.5 million
Paul Posluszny LB, Bills – 6 years, 45 million, 15 guaranteed
Clint Session LB, Colts – 5 years, 30 million, 11.5 guaranteed
Drew Coleman CB, Jets – 3 years, 7.4 million
Dawan Landry SS, Ravens – 5 years, 27.5 million, 10.5 guranteed
Matt Turk P – 1 year, 2 million
Free agent losses:
Trent Edwards QB – signed with Raiders
Mike Sims-Walker WR – signed with Rams
Justin Smiley OG
Vince Manuwai OG
Derrick Harvey DE – Signed with Broncos
Justin Durant OLB – signed with Lions
Ty Brackenridge CB
Sean Considine S – signed with Panthers
Adam Podlesh P - signed with Bears
Re-signed:
Luke McCown QB – re-signed – 1 year
Jason Hill WR – re-signed – 2 years
Jeremy Cain LS – re-signed -
2011 Jaguars Draft Review (by draft blogger Jeremy Heneghan) : Prior to the draft, general manager Gene Smith said he’d like to draft a QB in this draft. “This organization needs a young talent at that position.” Head coach Jack Del Rio said they are going to be active in free agency when it starts. The draft has come and gone and they stuck to those statements. Unfortunately for them (and Del Rio), the Jags only came out of the draft with five picks, only two of which addressed a poor defense. Trading up to get their future franchise quarterback is a move they had to make and they got a great deal in my opinion (only had to give up 16th and 49th overall picks).
Picks in 2011 NFL Draft (overall draft grade: B-):
Rd 1, Pick 10 (10) Blaine Gabbert QB, Missouri – Great trade up for Jacksonville. They get their QB of the future and it’s at the right value. Gabbert was my 10th rated player.
Grade: A Rated: 10
Rd 3, Pick 12 (76) William Rackley OG, Lehigh – GM Gene Smith said that Rackley was rated much higher than the next person they had on their board when they traded up to get him. He’ll be kicking inside to guard after playing left tackle at Lehigh.
Grade: B+ Rated: 88
Rd 4, Pick 17 (114) Cecil Shorts WR, Mount Union – GM Gene Smith continues his love for small school players. I don’t understand it, but all 15 of his draft picks since he became GM after the 2008 season are still on the roster.
Grade: B- Rated: 156
Rd 4, Pick 24 (121) Chris Prosinski S, Wyoming – had an unexpectedly great pro day. Intelligent player, good speed, and made plenty of tackles. Bad value off my board, but it fills their biggest need at safety.
Grade: C Rated: 292
Rd 5, Pick 16 (147) Rod Issac CB, Middle Tennessee State – I had never heard of this guy. I youtubed him and was impressed. Lower level of competition always makes it tough to judge, however. Fills a position of need again in the defensive backfield.
Grade: D+ Rated: NR
2010 Stat Leaders
David Garrard 236-366 64.5% 2734 YDS 7.5 YPA 23 TD 15 INT 90.8 RTG
Maurice Jones-Drew 299 ATT 1324 4.4 YPA 37 LNG 5 TD
Mike Thomas 66 REC 820 YDS 12.4 YPC 50 LNG 4 TD
Josh Scobee 22-28 78.6% 59 LNG
Daryl Smith 97 TCK
Jeremy Mincey 5 SCK
Derek Cox 4 INT
Out of Season Storylines (Because there is no offseason)
Jack Del Rio Stays Head Coach
DC Mel Tucker Re-signed
Mike Sheppard Brought in as New QB Coach