Guess Who's Back?

[Non-RedNeck Westsider]

Report: Del Rio will be back
Posted by Mike Florio on January 3, 2011, 4:24 PM EST

After owner Wayne Weaver declined to discuss coach Jack Del Rio’s future and Del Rio’s season-ending press conference was postponed, things didn’t look good for the man who has patrolled the sidelines in Jacksonville for the last eight years, winning 66 games and losing 65.

According to the Associated Press, Del Rio will return for a ninth.

It makes sense, in light of the team’s revised press conference schedule.  Weaver will meet with the media at 5:30 p.m. ET, and Del Rio will conduct his press conference at 10:00 a.m. ET Tuesday.  If Del Rio was no longer going to be an employee of the organization, he wouldn’t have been conducting a press conference announced by the team.

Thus, Weaver will make the formal announcement at 5:30 p.m. ET and take the heat from anyone in the local media who may be inclined to question Weaver aggressively regarding his decision to continue to employ Del Rio despite three years without a playoff appearance.

In the end, the move surely was influenced by the $5 million salary due to Del Rio in 2011 and 2012.  Also, the possibility of a lockout that stretches deep into the offseason and possibly into September would limit dramatically the access a new coach will have to his new team.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/01/03/report-del-rio-will-be-back/

http://www.youtube.com/v/Vz48xslcmZ8

[Keith-N-Jax]

Here's to another .500 season regardless of coaches Jags still have alot of holes to fill. We have a tougher schedule next season. For some reason I have always felt that Del Rio trys to keep every game close and try t win with a last minute field goal. I also think the run, run offense is a recipe for disaster with DG as the QB, because when you(Jags) fall behind more than 10 points the game is basically over. DG is not going turn into Manning or Brady in the 4th qtr. A better defense though can hide some of DG handicaps I say that because were unlikely to get a QB in the draft with so many other team ahead of us in the draft also needing QBs. And a new QB will need time to develop anyway.

[I-10east]

Del Rio staying is not too surprising to me. He seem to have the players backing, and JDR still had alot of money on his contract. I'm not big on JDR, but I'm still locked in for two more years with the 30/30. IMO everyone who says "I'm not going to anymore games" (Like I've heard some on the radio say) because of that is not a true fans. If you don't like what's going on, go to the game and boo, but to say "I'm not going anymore", well you never were a fan from the beginning; That's the difference between mature NFL fans like Pittsburgh, and the college mentality that alot in this city have.

I'm not big on predicting team wins and losses on a schedule where games that will be played nine months from now. The whole supposed "murders row" schedule thing is overrated to me; Just like a supposed "easy" schedule can be filled with a buncha ascending teams, so it's all a crapshoot, and not to mention the unforseen future key player additions, and losses for the Jags. How many people would've had the Jags to beat the almighty Cowboys in Dallas? There's a whole alot that can change from now all the way til then.

[Non-RedNeck Westsider]

Yep.  And unlike players, coaches contracts are guaranteed, meaning WW is on the hook to JDR for 10M either way.  Guess what else boys and girls, judging from Gene Smith's comments, I wouldn't be looking for us to get a QB in the first few rounds either (I mentioned this a week ago in another post.)  We are going to get bigs, DEs and CBs, assuming they're the best there.  DaQuan Bowers anyone? 

Just so I can put it down 4 months before it happens, we will draft a D2 QB in the 4th or 5th round.

[Keith-N-Jax]

We certainly need defense or every game is going to be a shoot out. I think were in for a bad 2011 that's just my take based on the schedule I see.  As for the Cowboys, be glad we didn't face them after Wade was fired, because if we had faced the inspired version that took on Indy I think we lose that game IMO. Yep we had some exciting wins, but Del Rio and DG gets you 8-8 with a favorable schedule, this one in 2011 I see 4-12. At-least I've gotten better at taking loses better than in previous years. I'm on the 30/30 plan also and it really didn't matter about DG/Del Rio coming back. I'm going to be there regardless and hope for more 59 yr field goals.

[Non-RedNeck Westsider]

... this one in 2011 I see 4-12.

We should win at least 3 games in conference, so you're telling me that we can't win just ONE MORE game?

We should win, hands down, the following:  Cinci, Cleve, Carolina.  I would like to throw San Diego in there because they have to travel here, but I think that will depend more on when we play them (hopefully in Dec.)

We should be competitive in these games:  Baltimore, Tampa, Pitt & Jets

I think we will lose these games:  NO & Atl

My guess is that at worst we're 6-10 but a better bet would be 9-7.  I don't think that will win the division or put us in the playoffs, but it will keep us in the hunt. 

[Keith-N-Jax]

NRW-- what Jaguar team have you been watching. We should win hands down, we haven't been able to say that since Brunell left. Watch and see the Panthers take the Jags down to the final secs, and we struggled with the Browns the last three yrs and barely beat them this season. Remember we gave the winless Bengals their first win. When we faced teams with good defenses we lost 30-3, 28-3, 38-13. Jags are not good and we were lucky to get 8-8. Pray we play the Chargers early and not in December. And if the pattern holds we get swept by the Colts next season. Jags have never beaten them in consecutive seasons. Guess will see.

[Non-RedNeck Westsider]

The teams that I said 'hands down' too is because of the teams, not us.  All three of those teams are looking at new coaches, new QBs and are in major turmoil right now.  So, yep, I'm sticking to those.

You say we struggled against Cleveland, but I say we struggled to do anything right and still beat them - 6 turnovers, let me repeat, 6 turnovers!  We struggled against ourselves, not Cleveland.

[Keith-N-Jax]

Yeah we beat them and we also lost to Chargers also 6 turnovers. Your not going to win many games like that. -13 in turnovers worst in the NFL. You wont win many games like that you just wont. I'll be waiting for you after the Ciny, Clev, and Panthers game lol.

[duvaldude08]

Well I respect WW decision because he has made it clear that this is Del Rio's final show, and if we dont make the playoffs next year he will be gone, and that we are drafting a QB to eventually replace Garrad. He addressed all issues. So Im good.

I mean really what can we do? We are not the only team to go through this so well see how it pans out.

[Non-RedNeck Westsider]

Yeah we beat them and we also lost to Chargers also 6 turnovers. Your not going to win many games like that. -13 in turnovers worst in the NFL. You wont win many games like that you just wont. I'll be waiting for you after the Ciny, Clev, and Panthers game lol.

That's my point!  I didn't say that you will win a lot of games, but we beat them with 6-turnovers.  That's a credit to their ineptitude and not our being good that day.  They don't have a QB and they're getting a new coach.  I don't know their draft situation (how many they made extra or lost on the Hillis trade), but I don't see them being much better next year. 

Cincy in probably getting a new coach next year, and still have a decision to make with Carson Palmer.  What's the deal with Ocho Cinco?  They have a lot on their plate in the offseason, too.

Carolina - will have a new coach next year.  They've seen what Clausen can do (not much) and they have 28 FAs without contracts heading into the offseason.  The biggest few being Matt Moore, D. Williams, Donte Rosario & Derek Landri. 

I don't know, Keith, but I smell a wager coming.... 

[Keith-N-Jax]

AHHH I see, well the Browns will probably have cribbs back for that game and I don't trust the Jaguar defense. I guess will see what the happens in the draft and if Kapman can come back. I wonder if Mincey will be opposite of him? NRW I also smell a wager and I also smell a loss for the Non-RedNeck Westsider Camp . I hope not though. I plan to go to the Panthers and Falcons game. Never been to Charlotte and have family there.

[duvaldude08]

Del Rio staying is not too surprising to me. He seem to have the players backing, and JDR still had alot of money on his contract. I'm not big on JDR, but I'm still locked in for two more years with the 30/30. IMO everyone who says "I'm not going to anymore games" (Like I've heard some on the radio say) because of that is not a true fans. If you don't like what's going on, go to the game and boo, but to say "I'm not going anymore", well you never were a fan from the beginning; That's the difference between mature NFL fans like Pittsburgh, and the college mentality that alot in this city have.

I'm not big on predicting team wins and losses on a schedule where games that will be played nine months from now. The whole supposed "murders row" schedule thing is overrated to me; Just like a supposed "easy" schedule can be filled with a buncha ascending teams, so it's all a crapshoot, and not to mention the unforseen future key player additions, and losses for the Jags. How many people would've had the Jags to beat the almighty Cowboys in Dallas? There's a whole alot that can change from now all the way til then.

I agree with everything you just stated. Its time to weed out the bandwagon fans anyways. Even when the steelers were at their worst, those fans were behind them 100 %. As as our schedule, it looks tough. But as we all know, the NFL is unpredictable. Who predicted the rise of the Saints? Absolutely no one. So all we can do is sit back and hope for the best.

The Jags are not by far the worst team in the NFL, we are just VERY inconsistent and it is nerve wrecking. Our good years were 96,97,98,99,2005,2007. To be a 15 year old team, that is not bad at all. There are some teams that are fifty years old that have made the playoffs only a hand full of times. I just would like a team that consistanly wins (like the Colts and Patriots). I think thats what builds the pride and tradition in a franchise. I am sure when the Colts start to have their down years, their fans will back them. We are a young franchise with a long way to go.

[Keith-N-Jax]

I agree with you Duvaldude and I think what fans want more than anything is a team that wins more and more playoffs. I would not compare the Steelers fan base or franchise in the manner to ours, because they have won SB's through out their existence. I also think when Manning retires and the Colts come back to earth you wont see a full stadium there. And another thing most team have had a long time to build a faithful fan base, remember our stadium was full without the tarps at the beginning, people in this city are spoiled and this should be Rio's last yr if we get the same result. I personally think the result will be worse.

[duvaldude08]

^^^ I agree. But then again the steelers have been around WAYY longer than we have. ANd yes, We were VERY spoiled in the beginning and I think thats the problem. We came in the NFL and kick the door down and most new teams dont do that. Im sure if we had a team like the Texans from day one, everyone would not be complaining, because a Medicore team is what they are used. The Jags of the 90's were a beast, and everybody wants that back. It kind of remind me of the saying, "Is it better to have loved and lost, or never to loved at all." Think about it...If we never had a winning team, everyone expectations wouldnt be so high. But I want those Jags back that beat Miami 62-7!