The Jacksonville Jaguars

[copperfiend]

I'm pretty sure Khan was talking about Shack Harris picks like Leftwich, Williams, Jones, Nelson and Harvey. Guys who were busts and didn't last more than a couple of years here.

[Non-RedNeck Westsider]

Thank You.  I do remember reading that article.

Let's take a peek behind curtain number 2:

Jaguars 1st Round Draft Picks Pre-Gene Smith:
2000 - R.J. Soward - 1 and done, possibly the worst pick ever
2001 - Marcus Stroud - a solid player for several seasons
2002 - John Henderson - see above
2003 - Byron Leftwich - the guy never panned out, but look who we drafted to catch the ball for him (see below)
2004 - Reggie Williams - oops
2005 - Matt Jones - Sooey
2006 - Marcedes Lewis - Not as good as our #2 pick that year, but a solid player
2007 - Reggie Nelson - maybe he just needed a change of scenery
2008 - Derrick Harvey - Gone.

[Dapperdan]

I heard the audio internview and he made no distinction at all. He just said the drafts in general, which I compeltely agree with. We draft  very safe and take no risks. So far, it has not beena  winning formula.

[comncense]

lol you can't defend Gene's draft picks without a smile on your face. They haven't been horrible... or at least, the jury is still out on them, but he's definitely not drafting anyone that has done anything that would make you say "wow!". So it's hard to place too much faith in the "draft and development" model with the Jags. We haven't been good at that at all to this point. Granted I wouldn't have wanted the Jags to go crazy like the Redskins did in free agency, but we could have at least been bold like the Buccaneers did and went after Vincent Jackson. If we don't at least get a visit from Mario Williams, I'll find it hard to understand why it seemed like we were clearing space for signing a big name free agent. Laurent Robinson definitely doesn't fit into that category.

[duvaldude08]

lol you can't defend Gene's draft picks without a smile on your face. They haven't been horrible... or at least, the jury is still out on them, but he's definitely not drafting anyone that has done anything that would make you say "wow!". So it's hard to place too much faith in the "draft and development" model with the Jags. We haven't been good at that at all to this point. Granted I wouldn't have wanted the Jags to go crazy like the Redskins did in free agency, but we could have at least been bold like the Buccaneers did and went after Vincent Jackson. If we don't at least get a visit from Mario Williams, I'll find it hard to understand why it seemed like we were clearing space for signing a big name free agent. Laurent Robinson definitely doesn't fit into that category.

I think they are all smoking crack on Khan's yacht. They have to be. I am actually kind of embarassed. The leagues worst offense making almost zero moves, minimual moves at best, to improve our offense is astounding. Im just waiting things out to see if they actually make any type of bold move.

[Non-RedNeck Westsider]

lol you can't defend Gene's draft picks without a smile on your face. They haven't been horrible... or at least, the jury is still out on them, but he's definitely not drafting anyone that has done anything that would make you say "wow!".

I'll be your huckleberry.  Just go back to '09 and tell me who you would have picked.  I'll even help you out a bit:  2009 Draft

So it's hard to place too much faith in the "draft and development" model with the Jags. We haven't been good at that at all to this point.

You're arguing against yourself, "...or at least, the jury is still out on them"

Granted I wouldn't have wanted the Jags to go crazy like the Redskins did in free agency, but we could have at least been bold like the Buccaneers did and went after Vincent Jackson. If we don't at least get a visit from Mario Williams, I'll find it hard to understand why it seemed like we were clearing space for signing a big name free agent. Laurent Robinson definitely doesn't fit into that category.

I agree with most of this.  How do we get a visit from MW if he doesn't want to come here?  I'm not sold on VJ.  I think he gets paid and eases up, but we'll see.  There's a reason that seemingly good veteran players are available and it's not always about the money (even though it's always about the money). Honestly, 1 more DUI and he could be looking at a year out of football.  Would you pay 25 Large to find out?  RE: Laurent Robinson - people thought that Jimmy Smith was washed up when we got him, too.  But don't take my words for it:

Fred Taylor ‏ @FredTaylorMade
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@J_Tremain yeah he showed he can be a number 1, when Miles and Dez were n and out the lineup. Plus he's not a huge $$ guy. Let's wait n see

Fred Taylor ‏ @FredTaylorMade
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FavoritedFavorite · Close Open Details @taniaganguli @jaguarsinsider he's young, upside, good size and speed, catches well. Deep threat. Run after catch. #motivated

Fred Taylor ‏ @FredTaylorMade
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@Wemcneal Timing is Everything. Being in a decent system helps, but ultimately making plays is what it boils down to. He did that last yr

[tufsu1]

Even Khan said our drafting has been a  huge problem.

Care to source that or are you just making stuff up?  Because if Khan had said or thought that, then Gene Smith would have been shown the door.  Instead, he got a 3 year extension - approved by Khan, so obviously, HIS drafting hasn't been a problem.

Weaver gave Gene extension before he gave up the team. Never heard Khan "approved" it. If thats the case, did he "approve" firing Del Rio? I dont think Khan had anything to do with that.

please...the contract extension and firing of Del Rio happened at the same time that the team was sold to Khan...and you don't think Wayne and Shad discussed those issues?

[comncense]

^ It's kind of a waste of time to dwell on the "what if's" when it comes to the previous drafts. My 'opinion' is that we haven't shown that we have a great track record when it comes to drafting.

My main point is that considering the Jaguars have completely overlooked addressing the GLARING need of helping out our offense, do you feel completely confident that by the time we field a team for the regular season, we will be a better offense than we were last year? We can't trot out the same team that we fielded last year and expect different results. And you can't depend on an incoming rookie class to be the savior of the offense either. So whoever we draft in those first 2 rounds better be a home run pick and not just a double or base hit.

[tufsu1]

why don't we all wait and see what happens through the entire free agency and draft process

[SMoody84]

I'm sure the Jaguars called VJAX and Pierre Garcon's agents, and found out how much they were looking at and said "No way, way too much money"  So I don't think the Jags "Overlooked" the need for recievers..  They just didn't want to throw boat load of cash at VJAX or Garcon.

I'm glad we didn't overpay for Jackson ($55Mill/26M Guaranteed) and Garcon ($41M / 21.5 Guaranteed).  That's way too much for 2 recievers that have a grand total of three 1,000 yard seasons.

Nothing they could have done about the guys who re-signed with their teams.

[duvaldude08]

Even Khan said our drafting has been a  huge problem.

Care to source that or are you just making stuff up?  Because if Khan had said or thought that, then Gene Smith would have been shown the door.  Instead, he got a 3 year extension - approved by Khan, so obviously, HIS drafting hasn't been a problem.

Weaver gave Gene extension before he gave up the team. Never heard Khan "approved" it. If thats the case, did he "approve" firing Del Rio? I dont think Khan had anything to do with that.

please...the contract extension and firing of Del Rio happened at the same time that the team was sold to Khan...and you don't think Wayne and Shad discussed those issues?

Does anyone know for a fact they were?

[Dapperdan]

Letting Kassim Osgood go was not bold enough for you?

[Wacca Pilatka]

I'd rather have Robinson than Garcon.  I'd especially rather not pay nearly $10 million a year for Garcon for the purpose of puffing up and saying we "made a splash" on day one.  Does anyone else see the lunacy in suggesting that we emulate the Redskins, those titans of player personnel strategy?

[Non-RedNeck Westsider]

Required Reading:

Let’s address the obvious first: Yes, the in-box was angry.

That wasn’t unexpected following the first day of the NFL’s 2012 pro free-agency period, and for those of you who inquired â€" yes, I’m OK. I appreciate you asking.

Kidding aside, I’ll take the lead-in this morning to address and preempt the majority of the questions. The point I’ll make, judging by the emotional Twitter fervor Tuesday evening/Wednesday morning, certainly will draw anger, but it is a sound one and history supports it.

The point is this:

While fans are upset that the Jaguars didn’t “do more” on the first day of free agency, the tried-and-true truth of the NFL is that the first day of free agency is fundamentally and without question the worst way to add talent to your team. By definition you are overpaying for players who were unwanted for some reason by their former teams.

On occasion, you get help there. The Jaguars did it last fall. More often, you find trouble there â€" overpriced trouble that leads to disappointment.

Now, I admit: early Tuesday evening I, too, was a bit troubled. Like many readers, I watched receivers sign elsewhere and got a little envious. Then, I saw a tweet from Greg Bedard of the Boston Globe that read, “First days of free agency are for suckers and bad teams trying to impress owners,” and I felt a little silly because I remembered immediately that Bedard was absolutely right.

I tweeted as much and got the expected, “Yeah, but . . .” Most centered around the Jaguars’ obvious need at receiver, and the need at defensive end, and with reason: the Jaguars have needs and must improve there. No question. But needing to improve doesn’t always mean you can do it in free agency.

Leading to free agency, I struggled with questions about who the Jaguars should pursue at receiver and never really could come up with a name or two I loved. Tuesday night, once I looked back on the names that had signed elsewhere . . . the truth is I couldn’t find any that I really thought, “Boy, that’s a blow.” And goodness knows I couldn’t see one that was close to being worth the numbers being thrown around.

Take a look at most of the teams that went deep in the playoffs this past season, and that contend to go there every year. The Giants. The Patriots. The Ravens. The Saints. The Packers.

They were also teams that weren’t active Tuesday, and while I’ve already heard the argument, “Yeah, but they didn’t have the needs the Jaguars do,” they still have needs. And for the most part, they didn’t use first-day free agency to build to where they are now, either.

That’s that, and that’s the truth. Will it appease the angry among us? Likely not.

But that doesn’t mean it’s not right.

[Dapperdan]

Yes, and that comes from a  company employee. Of course he isn't going to say anything bad about it. Just like Vic Ketchman was telling us all the time how Gene could do no wrong. The Jaguars position will be that they know more than we do and they will continue to build through the draft and we will continue to hover in the 5-11 and 7-9 win seasons of mediocraty. I am sorry, I have no faith whatsoever in Gene Smith. To me, he scouts CFL rejects and kids that went to schools of less than 100 because it is a smart "Moneyball" thing to do.