Last Year:
While King World Productions has stuck with the status quo extending The Oprah Winfrey Show through the 2010-11 season, the Jacksonville Jaguars did the opposite last year tossing out the old, and fetching in the new. Tom Coughlin, the Jags only head coach in franchise history, was replaced with Jack Del Rio. That wasn?t the only youthful change launched as after only 3 starts incumbent Mark Brunell was exchanged for rookie Byron Leftwich. Jacksonville limped through the first 8 weeks winning only once but evidence of evolution was noticed when the team finished 4-4. With the second youngest head coach in the NFL and the 6th rank defense are the Jaguars an Oprah-like inspirational story?
What we Learned from Last Year:
In the first game of the season the Mark Brunell guided Jacksonville Jaguars were topping the Rodney Pete-led Carolina Panthers 14-0 at halftime but as the Panthers put Jake Delhomme as their quarterback in charge, the Jaguars succumbed to a 24-23 loss.
Carolina harvested all the confidence from an improbable win, and Jacksonville never recovered. What would have happened if it was the other way around?
We can always wonder if ifs and buts were truly candies and nuts, we can speculate about the possibilities if girls were in fact made of sugar and spice and everything nice, and we can hypothesize how the Jags season would have turned, but we have to work with facts.
J-ville did lose an unacceptable 11 games but glancing on the bright side, 6 of those losses via the 7 points or less route. The intimate affairs can be accredited to a talented core of defensive players who kept the Jags within striking distance of all of their games. Del Rio was a defensive coordinator in Carolina and his knowledge seeped over to his new team. While the defense hopped up 13 spots in the ranking up to number 6, there were still minor aches that hindered the team. Allowing roughly 21 points per game, and tolerating the second worst defensive 3rd down percentage is not conducive for success. Registering a measly 24 sacks was discouraging as only Arizona, Houston and Chicago finished with less. Particularly Hugh Douglas was a frustration as his total dropped by 9 sacks from 2 seasons ago.
There were gaffes to speak of but the defense does have adequate talent to build upon.
The other side of the ball also seeded some visions of success in the minds of Jaguar fans.
Byron Leftwich was up and down but that can be expected from a rookie quarterback. He showed the flashes of potential that J-ville saw in him when they drafted him high in the first round, and that?s the kind of reassurance they were looking for. Still, Leftwich couldn?t fend off the turnover bug as he threw 16 in only 13 games and further fumbled 11 times (6 lost). Having a steady receiver may have subdued those numbers as sturdy Jimmy Smith battled through injuries while tabulating his worse yardage numbers in 8 seasons.
Health had been a major concern early in Fred Taylor?s career but he has taped back-to-back 16 game seasons which has dispelled his injury bug. Last year his 1572 yards rushing placed him 6th in the NFL and he was virtually the only consistent on this offense.
What Has Changed?:
Some say that Saturday Night Live has never been the same since the Billy Crystal cast departed but while that show must go on, so too does the Miami Dolphins production without dramatic Ricky Williams. For Jacksonville, this means they are climbing the ladder of interest in the Sunshine State, but do they share the same characteristics as the new episodes of SNL ? young and overrated?
A year ago the receiving corps was talent sparse but after using a high draft pick on Reggie Williams and acquiring Ernest Wilford through trade disbands those excuses. Both targets are 6-4, 220+ lbs and will complement a restored Jimmy Smith suitably. The only concern is how long will it take for them to adapt to the pro game. While they mature, Troy Edwards, Matt Hatchette will fill in. These two are not competent starting receivers but do fit in as 3rd and 4th receivers. The goal is for someone else to emerge aside from Jimmy Smith.
It goes without saying that Fred Taylor needs to be on the field for every single game or this team will be in trouble. The Jaguars were 5-1 when Freddy had 24 or more carries yesteryear and they were 0-10 when he didn?t. Second round draft pick Greg Jones was a monstrous power back at Florida State and his authoritative running will harmonize with Taylor?s swiftness. Extending the contracts of the left side of the line (Chris Naeole and Maurice Williams) was a major plus.
The oil that keep all these pistons flowing is quarterback Byron Leftwich and if his hard work is an indication, then this second year player should come along as scheduled. Byron ranked 4th in all-time rookie passing yards and he has buffed every aspect of his game in the off-season.
"I'm getting more comfortable with everything. I'm trying to become the best quarterback I can be, the best complete quarterback. I'm not working on one thing, I'm working on everything, trying to become a better quarterback," Leftwich said.
The time he?s spent bulking up in the weight room and the educational film sessions could vault this quarterback into the top tier of the NFL.
On defense the Jags will employ 2 new starting cornerbacks as Jason Craft and Fernando Bryant have headed off elsewhere. Juran Bolden and sophomore Rashean Mathis are slated to start, and they will be reassured by one of the best safety duos in the league. Deon Grant is a fine young safeties and Donovin Darius has been tagged with consistency. Still, a large part of what this secondary carries out will depend on the defensive line.
The talent resides although skeptics may argue that Tony Brackens and Hugh Douglas have lost a step but Douglas (33) and Brackens (29) remain effective. Brackens posted a legitimate 6 sacks a year ago while Douglas? diminished contributions are easily justified by the big pay day. Marcus Stroud and John Henderson are one year for the better and between these four - cross your fingers - the Jags have a forceful defensive line. Added sacks will directly lower this team?s spongy 3rd down percentage.
The linebackers profited from the appendage of Mike Peterson last season as he was above average in his middle linebacking role. Akin Ayodele, a foreign name to many, led the defense in tackles with 115 last year. The left side linebacker job will be up for grabs between Panthers import Greg Favors and 2nd round draft pick Daryl Smith. The front seven of this squad is stout when facing the run but the defensive line could use some sack support from the ?backers who summed only 3 last season.
A couple of wins?and the confidence will snow ball. A couple of losses?and this team can Toronto Blue Jay (look forward to next year).
O/U 7.5:
Going into the season, every division feigns competencies, but the loaded talent in this division should post some excellent games. Many viewers don?t give Houston and Jacksonville the time of day with Indianapolis and Tennessee in this division but then again, who cared about Carolina at the beginning of last season? The Jags will face: @BUF, DEN, @SD, KC, DET, @MIN, PIT, CHI, @GB, and @OAK.
Fantasy Sleeper:
Where to start? With his impeccable work ethic Byron Leftwich could be a prime fantasy candidate as soon as now, Jimmy Smith is a forgotten man, and Fred Taylor is alienated because of perennial injury concerns. Forget sleeper, Greg Jones is more dormant than a dozy dog stretched out in the sun. The Jags shy away from feeding Fred Taylor carries in the red-zone and with Jones? muscle, he may tally a nice TD total.
While King World Productions has stuck with the status quo extending The Oprah Winfrey Show through the 2010-11 season, the Jacksonville Jaguars did the opposite last year tossing out the old, and fetching in the new. Tom Coughlin, the Jags only head coach in franchise history, was replaced with Jack Del Rio. That wasn?t the only youthful change launched as after only 3 starts incumbent Mark Brunell was exchanged for rookie Byron Leftwich. Jacksonville limped through the first 8 weeks winning only once but evidence of evolution was noticed when the team finished 4-4. With the second youngest head coach in the NFL and the 6th rank defense are the Jaguars an Oprah-like inspirational story?
What we Learned from Last Year:
In the first game of the season the Mark Brunell guided Jacksonville Jaguars were topping the Rodney Pete-led Carolina Panthers 14-0 at halftime but as the Panthers put Jake Delhomme as their quarterback in charge, the Jaguars succumbed to a 24-23 loss.
Carolina harvested all the confidence from an improbable win, and Jacksonville never recovered. What would have happened if it was the other way around?
We can always wonder if ifs and buts were truly candies and nuts, we can speculate about the possibilities if girls were in fact made of sugar and spice and everything nice, and we can hypothesize how the Jags season would have turned, but we have to work with facts.
J-ville did lose an unacceptable 11 games but glancing on the bright side, 6 of those losses via the 7 points or less route. The intimate affairs can be accredited to a talented core of defensive players who kept the Jags within striking distance of all of their games. Del Rio was a defensive coordinator in Carolina and his knowledge seeped over to his new team. While the defense hopped up 13 spots in the ranking up to number 6, there were still minor aches that hindered the team. Allowing roughly 21 points per game, and tolerating the second worst defensive 3rd down percentage is not conducive for success. Registering a measly 24 sacks was discouraging as only Arizona, Houston and Chicago finished with less. Particularly Hugh Douglas was a frustration as his total dropped by 9 sacks from 2 seasons ago.
There were gaffes to speak of but the defense does have adequate talent to build upon.
The other side of the ball also seeded some visions of success in the minds of Jaguar fans.
Byron Leftwich was up and down but that can be expected from a rookie quarterback. He showed the flashes of potential that J-ville saw in him when they drafted him high in the first round, and that?s the kind of reassurance they were looking for. Still, Leftwich couldn?t fend off the turnover bug as he threw 16 in only 13 games and further fumbled 11 times (6 lost). Having a steady receiver may have subdued those numbers as sturdy Jimmy Smith battled through injuries while tabulating his worse yardage numbers in 8 seasons.
Health had been a major concern early in Fred Taylor?s career but he has taped back-to-back 16 game seasons which has dispelled his injury bug. Last year his 1572 yards rushing placed him 6th in the NFL and he was virtually the only consistent on this offense.
What Has Changed?:
Some say that Saturday Night Live has never been the same since the Billy Crystal cast departed but while that show must go on, so too does the Miami Dolphins production without dramatic Ricky Williams. For Jacksonville, this means they are climbing the ladder of interest in the Sunshine State, but do they share the same characteristics as the new episodes of SNL ? young and overrated?
A year ago the receiving corps was talent sparse but after using a high draft pick on Reggie Williams and acquiring Ernest Wilford through trade disbands those excuses. Both targets are 6-4, 220+ lbs and will complement a restored Jimmy Smith suitably. The only concern is how long will it take for them to adapt to the pro game. While they mature, Troy Edwards, Matt Hatchette will fill in. These two are not competent starting receivers but do fit in as 3rd and 4th receivers. The goal is for someone else to emerge aside from Jimmy Smith.
It goes without saying that Fred Taylor needs to be on the field for every single game or this team will be in trouble. The Jaguars were 5-1 when Freddy had 24 or more carries yesteryear and they were 0-10 when he didn?t. Second round draft pick Greg Jones was a monstrous power back at Florida State and his authoritative running will harmonize with Taylor?s swiftness. Extending the contracts of the left side of the line (Chris Naeole and Maurice Williams) was a major plus.
The oil that keep all these pistons flowing is quarterback Byron Leftwich and if his hard work is an indication, then this second year player should come along as scheduled. Byron ranked 4th in all-time rookie passing yards and he has buffed every aspect of his game in the off-season.
"I'm getting more comfortable with everything. I'm trying to become the best quarterback I can be, the best complete quarterback. I'm not working on one thing, I'm working on everything, trying to become a better quarterback," Leftwich said.
The time he?s spent bulking up in the weight room and the educational film sessions could vault this quarterback into the top tier of the NFL.
On defense the Jags will employ 2 new starting cornerbacks as Jason Craft and Fernando Bryant have headed off elsewhere. Juran Bolden and sophomore Rashean Mathis are slated to start, and they will be reassured by one of the best safety duos in the league. Deon Grant is a fine young safeties and Donovin Darius has been tagged with consistency. Still, a large part of what this secondary carries out will depend on the defensive line.
The talent resides although skeptics may argue that Tony Brackens and Hugh Douglas have lost a step but Douglas (33) and Brackens (29) remain effective. Brackens posted a legitimate 6 sacks a year ago while Douglas? diminished contributions are easily justified by the big pay day. Marcus Stroud and John Henderson are one year for the better and between these four - cross your fingers - the Jags have a forceful defensive line. Added sacks will directly lower this team?s spongy 3rd down percentage.
The linebackers profited from the appendage of Mike Peterson last season as he was above average in his middle linebacking role. Akin Ayodele, a foreign name to many, led the defense in tackles with 115 last year. The left side linebacker job will be up for grabs between Panthers import Greg Favors and 2nd round draft pick Daryl Smith. The front seven of this squad is stout when facing the run but the defensive line could use some sack support from the ?backers who summed only 3 last season.
A couple of wins?and the confidence will snow ball. A couple of losses?and this team can Toronto Blue Jay (look forward to next year).
O/U 7.5:
Going into the season, every division feigns competencies, but the loaded talent in this division should post some excellent games. Many viewers don?t give Houston and Jacksonville the time of day with Indianapolis and Tennessee in this division but then again, who cared about Carolina at the beginning of last season? The Jags will face: @BUF, DEN, @SD, KC, DET, @MIN, PIT, CHI, @GB, and @OAK.
Fantasy Sleeper:
Where to start? With his impeccable work ethic Byron Leftwich could be a prime fantasy candidate as soon as now, Jimmy Smith is a forgotten man, and Fred Taylor is alienated because of perennial injury concerns. Forget sleeper, Greg Jones is more dormant than a dozy dog stretched out in the sun. The Jags shy away from feeding Fred Taylor carries in the red-zone and with Jones? muscle, he may tally a nice TD total.
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