The Jacksonville Jaguars

[duvaldude08]

I wouldn't mind seeing us draft a slot-type receiver (though a recovered Shipley might negate that need) or a "move" tight end/H-back in the middle to later rounds.  Hopefully Robinson will be fully recovered also.  I feel like I'm in Jaguars bizarro world, worrying about the running game and run defense but having no qualms about the receivers.  (Or the safeties, for that matter.  Between when Darius/Grant left and Lowery/Landry arrived, safety was a disaster area for this team, outside of maybe Gerald Sensabaugh.)

I think the running game has more to with the offensive line than whose been running the ball. Even with MJD in the backfield, he struggled for the most part, outside of the Colts game. And if you look back, our O-Line was run blocking like hell during that Colts game. I think the O-line inconsitences has caused alot of issues this year. But they have been battered and its been like a revovling door because of injuries. I dont forsee the running game being an issue next season if we can get healthy and consistant, along with a little help during the draft (I hope). I actually wanted this to happen. We needed to learn how to throw the ball and become a passing team. I think this season is the most the Jags have thrown the ball in a decade. LOL!!

[Wacca Pilatka]

The O-line is crucial to next year's success, needless to say.  Bradfield started OK but has struggled badly in the last several games, Meester is probably about to retire, and LG has been a revolving door.  Monroe and Nwaneri are the only ones who had above-average seasons, and Nwaneri is a better run blocker than he is a pass blocker.  Brewster did a decent job at LG considering he isn't a guard and was an undrafted free agent.  He may have a future as the starting center, and Estes, who's been groomed for that role for a while, will be back.  But LG remains a very big question mark.  Rackley should be back in 2012, but he didn't have a great rookie year and also seems a better run blocker than pass blocker.  And RT is a big concern.  Bradfield seems to have some natural talent for the position but clearly wasn't ready to start. 

I am sure the Jaguars will be hitting the free agent and draft market for at least two starters on the OL.  I thought the OL looked adequate to decent before the season, but with the combination of injuries and my overrating a couple of players, I was very wrong.  We may even have to blow it up further since we're probably finally joining the club and shifting to a pass orientation.  Nwaneri and Rackley both strike me as road-grading run blockers but not ideal pass protectors.

Britton is the one who frustrates me most of all.  In the 2009 draft, he was a projected late first-rounder who would be an OK LT or a good RT.  When we took him in the second, I thought we got a steal, and he played pretty well as a rookie.  I don't know if it was injuries or just being overrated going into the draft, or maybe both, but this year he looked like he didn't have anything remotely close to the footwork necessary to be a tackle, and he played abominably at guard.

I wouldn't take Walter Football very seriously.  Its writers are incredibly biased and seem to have an absolute vendetta against Jacksonville.  They almost seem to take it personally that the Jaguars haven't relocated and didn't draft Tebow despite their repeatedly saying this was the only way to prevent relocation.  They also seem to expect all underclassmen to declare for the draft, never anticipate any team's taking a best available player rather than a needs-only approach, and seem to have little awareness of small-college prospects.

[duvaldude08]

Rackely got better as the season progressed, and your right. His strength seems to be run blocking. We definately have to focus on the O-line this offseason and sort out our QB issues. For once we dont have to exhaust anymore of our energy on WR. (Thank God!!). As far as our defense, the linebackers and cornbeback position are in trouble. Mike Harris is good, REALLY good for him to be a rookie. Mathis needs to retire and Cox cant stay healthy. Mike Harris said at the beginning of the season that the coaches told him that he would have a chance to play because our conerbacks never last the whole season. We truely have an issues there. Our pass rush is still lacking, but atleast Babin has been productive. Our front line can better (Mosely, Alualu, Pot Roast, etc), but I think they are adaquete for the time being. We have bigger fish to fry on the defense.

[Gators312]

I don't think Pouncey is much better of a guard than Alualu is of a defensive tackle.

Do you still feel this way?

[Wacca Pilatka]

I don't think Pouncey is much better of a guard than Alualu is of a defensive tackle.

Do you still feel this way?

No, I don't.  The defensive tackles (except Mosley) have been a massive disappointment this year.  I can only hope that Alualu will continue to gain strength in his knee post-surgery and play better in 2013.  I was high on Alualu after the 2010 season, and probably continued to overrate him as his play fell off in 2011 because I like him personally.

Pouncey is obviously a very good guard and we are weaker at guard than I thought at the time I made that comment.  You were absolutely right in the conversation we were having on the topic.

Now don't make me dig up your quotes from this past offseason about how useless Cecil Shorts is! 

[Non-RedNeck Westsider]

I don't think Pouncey is much better of a guard than Alualu is of a defensive tackle.

Do you still feel this way?

No, I don't.  The defensive tackles (except Mosley) have been a massive disappointment this year.  I can only hope that Alualu will continue to gain strength in his knee post-surgery and play better in 2013.  I was high on Alualu after the 2010 season, and probably continued to overrate him as his play fell off in 2011 because I like him personally.

Pouncey is obviously a very good guard and we are weaker at guard than I thought at the time I made that comment.  You were absolutely right in the conversation we were having on the topic.

Now don't make me dig up your quotes from this past offseason about how useless Cecil Shorts is! 

[duvaldude08]

I don't think Pouncey is much better of a guard than Alualu is of a defensive tackle.

Do you still feel this way?

Now don't make me dig up your quotes from this past offseason about how useless Cecil Shorts is! 

Good ole Cecil. He has us eatin crow doesnt he? I honestly wasnt too hard on him personally. He was a rookie and he wasnt a high draft pick so I wasnt expecting too much from him. But after he caught that impossible TD pass during the chargers game last season I knew the potential was there. Same goes for Blackmon earlier this season. Everyone saud "he's a bust" "He's lazy", etc etc. But I knew he wasnt. He's a rookie and he is just learning the game. Unfortunately when he is confused gets is lost....VERY lost. I love the combo of Blackmon and Shorts though. Shorts give you the deep threat catch and run. Blackmon is not very fast, but hes physcial and can power his way through tackles and get away.

[duvaldude08]

Holy crap I just realized Blackmon is at 707 yards for the Season and Shorts is at 924. I cant remember the las time we have two WR that were this productive.

[Gators312]

I don't think Pouncey is much better of a guard than Alualu is of a defensive tackle.

Do you still feel this way?

No, I don't.  The defensive tackles (except Mosley) have been a massive disappointment this year.  I can only hope that Alualu will continue to gain strength in his knee post-surgery and play better in 2013.  I was high on Alualu after the 2010 season, and probably continued to overrate him as his play fell off in 2011 because I like him personally.

Pouncey is obviously a very good guard and we are weaker at guard than I thought at the time I made that comment.  You were absolutely right in the conversation we were having on the topic.

Now don't make me dig up your quotes from this past offseason about how useless Cecil Shorts is! 

  Your complaints about the OL reminded me of our past discussions.  Not trying to rub it in, hindsight being 20/20.

And you'll have to look for a long time, I don't think I ever disparaged Cecil!   

[Wacca Pilatka]

It's all right.  I'll freely admit it when I'm wrong and you're right.  I'd sure rather have been right, not out of pride but because it would mean Alualu and the O-line had better seasons than they did.

It may have been someone else who disparaged Cecil, come to think of it.  Someone was sarcastically remarking periodically about how we should take another WR from (increasingly exaggeratedly small or made-up college name) and for some reason I thought that was you, but didn't have the energy to check myself on it by scrolling back through 224 pages of comments.  Oh well, that's what I get for assuming.

I know a large part of the reason that I defended Gene for as long as I did was that I thought the anti-small college hysteria (from others, not from you) was misplaced and not founded in an understanding of the fact that many great NFL players attended small colleges and our GM was hardly alone in drafting players from there.  I shouldn't have let it blind me to some other Gene elements I ought to have criticized more extensively.  However, I will still cling to it to proudly point out that we are about to have our third 1,000-yard receiver and the three respectively attended Jackson State, UNLV, and Mount Union.

[Gators312]

It's all right.  I'll freely admit it when I'm wrong and you're right. 

I know a large part of the reason that I defended Gene for as long as I did was that I thought the anti-small college hysteria (from others, not from you) was misplaced and not founded in an understanding of the fact that many great NFL players attended small colleges and our GM was hardly alone in drafting players from there.  I shouldn't have let it blind me to some other Gene elements I ought to have criticized more extensively.  However, I will still cling to it to proudly point out that we are about to have our third 1,000-yard receiver and the three respectively attended Jackson State, UNLV, and Mount Union.

Search forums is your friend!

I was hoping for a NRW mea culpa! 

Gene wasn't completely crazy with his strategy, he made some good finds, but it became his bread and butter and that was the problem.  I never thought Gene was a complete bust and every decision was bad.  Before the draft I knew we needed more help on the OL and in the trenches is where this game is won.  I know it's a QB league, but without a OL you can't run or pass. 

I wish I was wrong, because that would mean we aren't 2-14 and have to start over now.  At least we all can agree it's gonna be blown up to some degree, and it can't get much worse.

[Non-RedNeck Westsider]

I was hoping for a NRW mea culpa! 

It's too soon.  The pain is still too great.   

I hear that time heals all wounds.   

[Wacca Pilatka]

Search forums is your friend!

I seem to be a failure at it.  About all I keep remembering is someone saying we are after a great WR prospect from Nashville Auto Diesel College and some other equally absurd colleges.  But a search for Nashville Auto Diesel yields nothing.  I may have to hunt this conversation down the old fashioned way, because Shorts is about the only area where my optimism wasn't misplaced going into this season.

Gene wasn't completely crazy with his strategy, he made some good finds, but it became his bread and butter and that was the problem.  I never thought Gene was a complete bust and every decision was bad.  Before the draft I knew we needed more help on the OL and in the trenches is where this game is won.  I know it's a QB league, but without a OL you can't run or pass. 

You had a much more realistic view of the OL than I did, needless to say.  The injuries certainly didn't help matters, but I was overly optimistic about Bradfield and Britton.

[Gators312]

Search forums is your friend!

I seem to be a failure at it.  About all I keep remembering is someone saying we are after a great WR prospect from Nashville Auto Diesel College and some other equally absurd colleges.  But a search for Nashville Auto Diesel yields nothing.  I may have to hunt this conversation down the old fashioned way, because Shorts is about the only area where my optimism wasn't misplaced going into this season.

Gene wasn't completely crazy with his strategy, he made some good finds, but it became his bread and butter and that was the problem.  I never thought Gene was a complete bust and every decision was bad.  Before the draft I knew we needed more help on the OL and in the trenches is where this game is won.  I know it's a QB league, but without a OL you can't run or pass. 

You had a much more realistic view of the OL than I did, needless to say.  The injuries certainly didn't help matters, but I was overly optimistic about Bradfield and Britton.

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I discussed taking Cordy Glenn over Branch, although one guy wouldn't have made a difference.

Anger has performed magnificently, another good scouting job by Gene.    Still using the 3rd rounder on him was a luxury this team couldn't afford and it's those type decisions that make me scratch my head.

Here's something to think about.....Do we trade for that QB on the Jets???















LOL.....I'm talking about Sanchez!  Is he totally broken?  Were his first couple years a fluke?  I think Sparano is a terrible OC and he doesn't have the ability to coach up a winner.   Are Gabbert and Henne the answer?   Gabbert was thrown to the wolves too soon and may be the next David Carr (as someone else said?) ?  I need to look at the stats to analyze better, but I think we need a 3rd guy who has been a starter.  This years draft is weak at QB and I don't want us using OL, DL, LB, DB picks on another QB.

[Wacca Pilatka]

I think we are better off shoring up some other weak spots on the team (OL, DL, CB, OLB) and letting it ride with Gabbert and Henne for another year.  If one of them steps up, that's wonderful.  If not, 2014 should offer a richer crop of QBs than this offseason does.  I'm not at all fond of Sanchez or of the idea of targeting an Alex Smith or Matt Flynn as a stopgap.  The next guy we bring in should be the for-sure franchise guy (unless Gabbert proves next year that he is just that).  Or if we think a Geno Smith or Mike Glennon is that, then go for it.

I did remember your explanation of Cordy Glenn over Branch.  How's Glenn doing in Buffalo?  I know he is not starting because they have a couple of solid guards (saw that they just extended Urbik), but under the circumstances this year, he might've ended up a first-year starter with us.

Also, anyone have any strong opinions for or against our prospectively changing to a 3-4?  This is an idea flogged often at the Big Cat Country website.