Last Year:
After a 6 ? 10 season in 2001, there wasn?t very high expectations for this salary cap ravaged team in 2002. The Jacksonville Jaguars who were once built on seasoned veterans and proven talent now had many young question marks at different positions. The triple threat of Mark Brunell, Jimmy Smith and Fred Taylor were still the bread and butter of this team, but they were not enough to propel them to a winning record. After a third consecutive losing season fans called for the head of Tom Coughlin and soon after he was fired. With a new coach, and a good off-season, success is no longer a theory in Jacksonville, it is a reality.
What we learned from Last Year:
The pressure was on Tom Coughlin from the beginning of the season last year, but he delayed his axing by leading the team to a 3 ? 1 start. But the proverbial wheels started to fall off as J-Ville only won three games the rest of the way. The first thing to note about this team is that Fred Taylor played for most of the year. He has always been plagued by injuries throughout his career but when he is healthy he is one of the best running backs in the league. Not many people, especially fantasy owners, thought that he would finish with about 1300 yards rushing at the beginning of the year. He did, and he can do it again. Fred is the key to this offense because he opens the door for everything that they do. If they can run the ball, then it gives Mark Brunell time to work, and it keeps the defense honest. As long as he?s healthy, this offense will always be a threat to score.
The Jaguars defense is not one that many people talked about last year, but it will be if they continue to improve. What is important to note is that the young guys such as Marlon McCree, Jason Craft, John Henderson and Marcus Stroud are all quality guys. They got a lot of valuable experience last year, and although they were inconsistent, they showed that they could play. The problems came when the offense struggled, and the team had to rely on the defense more than usual. This defense might look a lot better if they played with an offense who could put up points consistently.
What has changed?:
A new coach is not the biggest news for this team. What was so important for them in the off-season is that they finally had money to spend. After overspending on bad free agents, and having their hands tied by the salary cap due to bad decision-making, the team finally could open the checkbook and bring in some playmakers. Their only pro-bowler last year was Chris Hansen (punter), which might lead some people to believe this team lacks talent. I can assure this team has talent; they just need a little spark to get it going.
With the new funds the Jaguars brought in Hugh Douglas, Mike Peterson, and J.J. Stokes. Everyone knows who Hugh Douglas is. He is a pro-bowl defensive end who will definitely add to a fairly strong line as it is. Stroud and Henderson are a year older and they will be a year better. Unfortunately Tony Brackens may never recover from his micro-fracture from last year, and the team is skeptical that he?ll ever play again. It?s too bad, because with him on the line, this could be one of the best units in the league. Mike Peterson is a linebacker that many people may not know about. He was one of the best players on a weak Indianapolis defense and he will definitely be a nice addition in Jacksonville. He has never really been a sack threat, but it a very good tackler, and is good in coverage. He should look a lot better playing behind a stronger D-line in Jacksonville. J.J. Stokes was let go by San Francisco because he has been an underachiever there. I don?t expect that to change much in his new location, but he still has reliable hands, which is something this team lacked opposite of Jimmy Smith last year.
The most significant move made by this team was drafting Byron Leftwich. I?m not interested in talking about the effects that this move has in the future for this franchise, but I?d rather talk about what impact it will have on this year. Jacksonville management has made it known that they won?t be re-signing Marky Mark at the end of this year. That will be the fire that this sleeper team needs. Reports are indicating that Brunell is playing with a renewed passion in training camp and has surprised many people. Don?t forget about this guy. In years past he has shown that he can be one of the best QB?s in the league. He?s shown the ability to carry this team offensively. Now this is do or die for him. He knows that if he performs well this year it will bring a very nice payday at the end of the year, even if it is with another team. Similar to how many people perform in contract years, I expect him to have an awesome year. Everything is in place for this team. Not because this team wasn?t that good before, but they are a forgotten team who will now be motivated. People look at teams like Tennessee last year, and they wonder how could they make such a good run? The answer is that the element of surprise is what helped them get as far as they did. Teams overlooked them, and their opponents didn?t believe in them. That is exactly what Jacksonville has this year. They?ve made some nice additions on defense, and they?ve sparked the offense. Don?t say I didn?t warn you!
Last but not least, the Jaguars have a new coach. This team?s problems have never been with coaching, but rather with bad decision making (free agents). The Jaguars last year only had 15 turnovers all year, and were 6th best in the league in penalties. Doesn?t sound like bad coaching to me. Del Rio should add a nice defensive touch to this team.
O/U 6.5:
Many people believe Mark Brunell?s career is coming to a close, and there are many skeptics who believe Fred Taylor won?t stay healthy. I would argue that Brunell is rejuvenated and ready to wake out of his 3-year sleep and Fred has proven that he can play a full season. With Brunell?s new energy, the offensive should be revived, and the young defense will continue to improve with the new additions. They are in a division where four wins is a definite possibility leaving them needing 3 to 4 (if you are skeptical) more wins from the other opponents: @Panthers, Bills, Chargers, Dolphins, @Ravens, @Jets, Buccaneers, @Patriots, Saints, @Falcons. If you believe in them the over looks good, but if you don?t then take the under.
Fantasy Sleeper:
Very few people have Mark Brunell at the top of their cheat sheets. Never mind that, few people want anything to do with him whatsoever with Byron Leftwich waiting in the wings. Here are the facts though: he is in a contract year, he is playing with a better defense, and he still plays with Jimmy Smith and Fred Taylor. As long as Jacksonville is winning games, Byron won?t see the field. Brunell is the starter, and I expect him to stay that way throughout the year.
After a 6 ? 10 season in 2001, there wasn?t very high expectations for this salary cap ravaged team in 2002. The Jacksonville Jaguars who were once built on seasoned veterans and proven talent now had many young question marks at different positions. The triple threat of Mark Brunell, Jimmy Smith and Fred Taylor were still the bread and butter of this team, but they were not enough to propel them to a winning record. After a third consecutive losing season fans called for the head of Tom Coughlin and soon after he was fired. With a new coach, and a good off-season, success is no longer a theory in Jacksonville, it is a reality.
What we learned from Last Year:
The pressure was on Tom Coughlin from the beginning of the season last year, but he delayed his axing by leading the team to a 3 ? 1 start. But the proverbial wheels started to fall off as J-Ville only won three games the rest of the way. The first thing to note about this team is that Fred Taylor played for most of the year. He has always been plagued by injuries throughout his career but when he is healthy he is one of the best running backs in the league. Not many people, especially fantasy owners, thought that he would finish with about 1300 yards rushing at the beginning of the year. He did, and he can do it again. Fred is the key to this offense because he opens the door for everything that they do. If they can run the ball, then it gives Mark Brunell time to work, and it keeps the defense honest. As long as he?s healthy, this offense will always be a threat to score.
The Jaguars defense is not one that many people talked about last year, but it will be if they continue to improve. What is important to note is that the young guys such as Marlon McCree, Jason Craft, John Henderson and Marcus Stroud are all quality guys. They got a lot of valuable experience last year, and although they were inconsistent, they showed that they could play. The problems came when the offense struggled, and the team had to rely on the defense more than usual. This defense might look a lot better if they played with an offense who could put up points consistently.
What has changed?:
A new coach is not the biggest news for this team. What was so important for them in the off-season is that they finally had money to spend. After overspending on bad free agents, and having their hands tied by the salary cap due to bad decision-making, the team finally could open the checkbook and bring in some playmakers. Their only pro-bowler last year was Chris Hansen (punter), which might lead some people to believe this team lacks talent. I can assure this team has talent; they just need a little spark to get it going.
With the new funds the Jaguars brought in Hugh Douglas, Mike Peterson, and J.J. Stokes. Everyone knows who Hugh Douglas is. He is a pro-bowl defensive end who will definitely add to a fairly strong line as it is. Stroud and Henderson are a year older and they will be a year better. Unfortunately Tony Brackens may never recover from his micro-fracture from last year, and the team is skeptical that he?ll ever play again. It?s too bad, because with him on the line, this could be one of the best units in the league. Mike Peterson is a linebacker that many people may not know about. He was one of the best players on a weak Indianapolis defense and he will definitely be a nice addition in Jacksonville. He has never really been a sack threat, but it a very good tackler, and is good in coverage. He should look a lot better playing behind a stronger D-line in Jacksonville. J.J. Stokes was let go by San Francisco because he has been an underachiever there. I don?t expect that to change much in his new location, but he still has reliable hands, which is something this team lacked opposite of Jimmy Smith last year.
The most significant move made by this team was drafting Byron Leftwich. I?m not interested in talking about the effects that this move has in the future for this franchise, but I?d rather talk about what impact it will have on this year. Jacksonville management has made it known that they won?t be re-signing Marky Mark at the end of this year. That will be the fire that this sleeper team needs. Reports are indicating that Brunell is playing with a renewed passion in training camp and has surprised many people. Don?t forget about this guy. In years past he has shown that he can be one of the best QB?s in the league. He?s shown the ability to carry this team offensively. Now this is do or die for him. He knows that if he performs well this year it will bring a very nice payday at the end of the year, even if it is with another team. Similar to how many people perform in contract years, I expect him to have an awesome year. Everything is in place for this team. Not because this team wasn?t that good before, but they are a forgotten team who will now be motivated. People look at teams like Tennessee last year, and they wonder how could they make such a good run? The answer is that the element of surprise is what helped them get as far as they did. Teams overlooked them, and their opponents didn?t believe in them. That is exactly what Jacksonville has this year. They?ve made some nice additions on defense, and they?ve sparked the offense. Don?t say I didn?t warn you!
Last but not least, the Jaguars have a new coach. This team?s problems have never been with coaching, but rather with bad decision making (free agents). The Jaguars last year only had 15 turnovers all year, and were 6th best in the league in penalties. Doesn?t sound like bad coaching to me. Del Rio should add a nice defensive touch to this team.
O/U 6.5:
Many people believe Mark Brunell?s career is coming to a close, and there are many skeptics who believe Fred Taylor won?t stay healthy. I would argue that Brunell is rejuvenated and ready to wake out of his 3-year sleep and Fred has proven that he can play a full season. With Brunell?s new energy, the offensive should be revived, and the young defense will continue to improve with the new additions. They are in a division where four wins is a definite possibility leaving them needing 3 to 4 (if you are skeptical) more wins from the other opponents: @Panthers, Bills, Chargers, Dolphins, @Ravens, @Jets, Buccaneers, @Patriots, Saints, @Falcons. If you believe in them the over looks good, but if you don?t then take the under.
Fantasy Sleeper:
Very few people have Mark Brunell at the top of their cheat sheets. Never mind that, few people want anything to do with him whatsoever with Byron Leftwich waiting in the wings. Here are the facts though: he is in a contract year, he is playing with a better defense, and he still plays with Jimmy Smith and Fred Taylor. As long as Jacksonville is winning games, Byron won?t see the field. Brunell is the starter, and I expect him to stay that way throughout the year.
