The Jacksonville Jaguars

[Tacachale]

^I don't think the Dolphins have much room to talk about names, colors or branding!

[I-10east]

I'm glad that we have some reasonable Dolphin fans on here like Lake. I'm not gonna even bag on the Dolphins, because clearly 'he' doesn't speak for all Dolphin fans that live in Jax. Why would a new team in town threaten your allegiance to the team you rooted for a long time? "No team should be here in Jax, because everyone here should be Dolphin fans!" I still wanna hear these supposed "negative economic reasons" for having the Jags here (from anybody); Far as I'm concerned, any negatives will be considerably outweighed by the positives.

[Wacca Pilatka]

Don't know if it was Rashean, Drayton Florence, or one of the safeties who blew the coverage, but a wide-open Evans torched us at the end of the game and essentially beat us when we played the Bills in '08.

How does "Jaguars" sound like a kickball team name?  I know I'm biased and all, but I don't get this at all. 

[I-10east]

How does "Jaguars" sound like a kickball team name?  I know I'm biased and all, but I don't get this at all. 

Believe me, no one 'gets it' but him. I heard people rag on our colors before (1990's teal, blah blah blah; Like every team supposed to wear red, white, and blue) but never our name.

[I-10east]

These are my least favorite major league team names, mostly because their too bland; I'm going by the name only, and not the mix-match relocated team to an unlikely city name, like the Utah Jazz for example. Just my opinion.

Nashville Predators- Okay for the AFL, not so much for the NHL; What kinda predator is it? A domestic cat is a predator.

Houston Texans- It's so bland, but I'm kinda accustomed to them since JAX faces them often. The Oilers name was hella better!

Charlotte Bobcats- The vain owner had to the name the team with 'Bob' in the name. The Charlotte Hornets was alot better, and sounded 'official' if you know what I mean.

Oklahoma City Thunder- Very bland name. Isn't it the lightning that causes damage, and thunder is just the sound?

Washington Nationals- Bland is a common theme here. It sounds too much like the All Star game. Maybe an expansion team in the AL should be named the 'Americans'

Washington Wizards- Enough said.

Minnesota Wild- Is the Minn Wild a buncha trees? Is it something sinister lurking out there?? A Bigfoot perhaps??

[duvaldude08]

Third, the Jags are a young team and we've been perpetually mediocre (or worse) for many years. Even among people who are born and raised here, there just hasn't been the opportunity to build the generational loyalty you see with older teams. When you think about it, the very oldest you can be to have had the Jags during your youth is about 30 (ie, just coming into your season ticket buying years). As someone who sported a Dan Marino poster on my wall as a kid, it was very had to route against the Dolphins when we played them in our early years. This issue wanes with each season as more and more of the base grows up teal.

Finally, there are many people who criticize big time sports in general for economic reasons. This one I sympathize with. There are very legitimate issues with the business of big sports.

I can concur with you there. Aside from my opposition to the bringing a team to Jacksonville, I was always a Miami Dolphins fan. I still am. I wasn't going to change that just because Jacksonville got a new football team. I couldn't have, even if I tried. Of course, giving the team a name that sounded like it was chosen by an eight year old for his kickball team and choosing teal and black for the team colors helped.

A Jaguar with colors of teal, black and gold are FAR better than a fish with Orange and Green colors?!! 

[duvaldude08]

I will say this. I think we have one of our best defenses in the making as we speak. The thing that stands out to me the most is they did not do anything complicated and were still effective. There were several free agents, no training camp, no offseason and they played like they'd been here for years. I cant wait to see what they can do with an offseason and time to work together, without having to focus on a game plan. Gene has done a good job building this defense, You have to give him that much. This will be his year to prove himself on the offense. If our offense even plays medicore, we will having a winning record with the defense we have. I'm not looking for top notch elite playing, I just wanna see alot of improvement in our passing game. If we end up 10-6 without the playoffs, that is a start that I am comfortable with.

[I-10east]

^^^Not too many teams go 10-6 and don't make the playoffs; Tampa Bay had that misfortune a couple of years back. Far as I'm concerned, the AFC South is up for grabs. I don't look at Houston as some sure shot unstoppable division winner like alotta misinformed national media pundits do. Last year with a very dismal offense, we just lost to HOU by a TD in one game, and by ten points in another. The Texans lost Super Mario, that will hurt them, and our offense should be vastly improved this season. I'll be extremely pissed if we don't atleast split with the Texans head to head.

[mtraininjax]

Gene has done a good job building this defense, You have to give him that much.

DD08 - The D last year gave up 329 points, true that the Offense stunk, but still the Ravens O has stunk before Flacco resurrected it, but the D with Lewis was always stout, and kept them close to a playoff berth. Losing Kampman really hurt the team last year, and he has 11 years in the league, probably not many more with his injuries mounting.

The winner of our division gave up 50 less points, isn't that the real measuring stick for the Defense? It matters in wins and losses, which to me as the season ticket holder is the difference between me paying for seats this year and next. Without a pass rush, our D will surely suffer again this year. No matter how good the offense is, I still think we have major issues with our front 4 on D.

[duvaldude08]

Gene has done a good job building this defense, You have to give him that much.

DD08 - The D last year gave up 329 points, true that the Offense stunk, but still the Ravens O has stunk before Flacco resurrected it, but the D with Lewis was always stout, and kept them close to a playoff berth. Losing Kampman really hurt the team last year, and he has 11 years in the league, probably not many more with his injuries mounting.

The winner of our division gave up 50 less points, isn't that the real measuring stick for the Defense? It matters in wins and losses, which to me as the season ticket holder is the difference between me paying for seats this year and next. Without a pass rush, our D will surely suffer again this year. No matter how good the offense is, I still think we have major issues with our front 4 on D.

Im not measuring our defense to anyone elses defense. That wasnt the point of my post.  The point of my post is our D went from #30 to #6  in one season, and that is a drastic improvement with more to come. I could care less about anybody elses defense.

PS. I didnt ask about your tickets.

[duvaldude08]

^^^Not too many teams go 10-6 and don't make the playoffs; Tampa Bay had that misfortune a couple of years back. Far as I'm concerned, the AFC South is up for grabs. I don't look at Houston as some sure shot unstoppable division winner like alotta misinformed national media pundits do. Last year with a very dismal offense, we just lost to HOU by a TD in one game, and by ten points in another. The Texans lost Super Mario, that will hurt them, and our offense should be vastly improved this season. I'll be extremely pissed if we don't atleast split with the Texans head to head.

Houston will not be the same team this coming season. Their offense will be, but not the defense. I dont see them putting on that show again. They keep shedding people on their defense because of salary cap issues. If the chemistry is not right, their defense wont be the same this coming year. I am glad we reatianed all our defense. Consistency is something this team needs. We need one more DE and I will be happy for right now.

[comncense]

Yeah I'm not too worried about our defense either. I think picking up Aaron Ross was a good grab in Free Agency. I predict he'll beat our Rasheen for a starting spot. The interior of our line is pretty much set. Pot Roast and Alualu should be solid, especially with Alualu coming back from a minor knee surgery in the off season. The DE positions is our major problem. Can Mincey prove he was worth us keeping around. Can Kampman last an entire season, even if it's at a reduced role and hopefully we'll pick up a DE in the draft that's able to contribute this coming season.

Offense is an entirely different story. We still have major question marks at WR. If Mike Thomas starts at anything other than a slot receiver then that will be a huge mistake. Hopefully Robinson will end up being a solid #2 and my wish is that we find a gem in the draft that can be our clear #1 receiver. But at this point, we don't have anyone close to being a #1 right now. Though I hope they keep Robinskie and Chastin West around. I would guess we'll at least keep 5 WR's on the roster.

Either way, I'll be right in my seat in 147 thru the good and bad. Hopefully not too many more bad seasons...

[mtraininjax]

The point of my post is our D went from #30 to #6  in one season, and that is a drastic improvement with more to come.

We could have had the #1 D, but we still finished 5-11. Who cares about the rank of the D, if you cannot translate it to wins. I'd rather have had the D of New Orleans or the Giants which were not good, and their Offense. In the NFL you need to have a better Offense to win. So I am the opposite for your argument, I don't care if our D is number one, I want the number one offense, and Smith has yet to prove he can build the number one offense in the NFL.

We still have major question marks at WR. If Mike Thomas starts at anything other than a slot receiver then that will be a huge mistake. Hopefully Robinson will end up being a solid #2 and my wish is that we find a gem in the draft that can be our clear #1 receiver. But at this point, we don't have anyone close to being a #1 right now.

Thomas is a #3 receiver, I agree with Robinson, hopefully #2, but we need a Jimmy Smith go to guy, we have not had one in years and for Gabbert to develop, he needs someone he can rely on when the game is on the line.  Jimmy was awesome with the game on the line.

[duvaldude08]

The point of my post is our D went from #30 to #6  in one season, and that is a drastic improvement with more to come.

We could have had the #1 D, but we still finished 5-11. Who cares about the rank of the D, if you cannot translate it to wins. I'd rather have had the D of New Orleans or the Giants which were not good, and their Offense. In the NFL you need to have a better Offense to win. So I am the opposite for your argument, I don't care if our D is number one, I want the number one offense, and Smith has yet to prove he can build the number one offense in the NFL.

We still have major question marks at WR. If Mike Thomas starts at anything other than a slot receiver then that will be a huge mistake. Hopefully Robinson will end up being a solid #2 and my wish is that we find a gem in the draft that can be our clear #1 receiver. But at this point, we don't have anyone close to being a #1 right now.

Thomas is a #3 receiver, I agree with Robinson, hopefully #2, but we need a Jimmy Smith go to guy, we have not had one in years and for Gabbert to develop, he needs someone he can rely on when the game is on the line.  Jimmy was awesome with the game on the line.

Why is that everytime we try to have a somewhat decent conversation about the team, you have to chime in and bring it back down? Listen, we get by now that you hate Gene Smith and you think the team sucks. We get that you are a season ticket holder and we even know how much you tickets cost. Do us a favor and go away, negative ninne! If you know so much about NFL football and talent evaluation, you need to switch occupations. 

[Non-RedNeck Westsider]

You guys need to get this 'slot' receiver pre-conception out of your heads.  It's just the normal place where they line up.  No matter where he lined up last year, Thomas was our #1.  V-Jack is considered a #1 and he's typically flanked by another reciever which makes him the.........  _______ Reciever.  Sorry it's just a pet peeve.

Robinson will make Thomas better just by being on the field - the opposing D, while not having to scheme specifically for him (yet) will still probably roll their #1 to his side just to account for his speed.  This leaves Thomas on the other side or, yes, in the slot, but covered instead by the opposing team's #2 or an LB.  If Chastin West or Cecil Shorts can start pulling the #2 to covering them, that leaves a LB or SS to cover Thomas - which means he's more open more of the time - if that's the case, then we start calling his number on plays - it's pretty simple really.