The Jacksonville Jaguars

[Ocklawaha]

Sorry, Steve, I wasn't questioning your fanhood or anything -- just your presumption that the helmet depicts a Jaguar jumping into darkness. That seemed a bizarre interpretation of the helmet design to me, and the interpretation I gave (a Jaguar lurking behind the darkness) is what I'm pretty sure they were thinking of.

Actually RattleGator, Steve has a valid point that might have been missed in the apparent sarcasm. The fact is I doubt even Steve thought this one through... One of the most chilling moments in my life was whilst standing with an engineer alongside the tracks way the hell up in the Andes. When the freight train got past us we were to head back down to Bello Yard in the speeder. The locomotive passed us in pitch darkness and after about the 5th car the radio lit up with "¡Señor Restrepo, acabamos de ver un jaguar cruzar la vía de riles!" (Mr. Restrepo {director of engineering}, a jaguar just crossed the rails in front of our train!) SHIT! (which was said in PERFECT English). Jaguars are mostly nocturnal hunters! So opponents beware the Everbank Field after dark! LOL!

My question, since I've been flat on my back for most of two years now and TOTALLY out of the loop, (you can't even imagine) is this, does it look to any of you that we are going to start winning some games?

OPINIONS PLEASE...



Señor Restrepo, acabamos de ver un jaguar cruzar la vía de rieles.

[RattlerGator]

Nice story, Ocklawaha.

To answer your question, yes. We are finally going to start winning more games.

2010:     8-8

2011:     5-11

2012:     2-14

2013:     4-12

2014:     3-13

2015: my optimistic prediction is between 7-9 and 9-7

With that prediction, obviously I believe in the coaching staff and Blake Bortles. I firmly believe we should be around the .500 mark but even if it is more like 5-11 I can still being satisfied with that if we've been competitive, put some points on the board, and at least seriously threatened to win 4 or 5 more games.

We've got to give Blake time to mature, we've got to give the Wide Receivers time to learn him and the new O.C. We've got to give Gus another year to train up this defense, and we've got to see Dante Fowler next year on the field as a difference-maker.

Meaning: we've got to be patient for one more year.

Next year, we should have *SERIOUS* expectations. Gus has to deliver, Blake has to deliver. No excuses. This quoted text is from Big Cat Country:

"The feeling around the team now is that it is time to put up, or shut up. The Jags are in the 3rd year of their rebuild. They are patient, but they can't stand around and wait for every player to magically transform themselves. They need to see things to build on. That goes for the entire team, but specifically the 2013 draft class.

Ace was the first domino to fall from the class, but overall Caldwell's first draft has lead to disappointing results overall. Luke Joeckel, the 2nd overall pick, has been near disaster. I know he was hurt his rookie year and last year was his first full season, blah blah blah. For a 2nd overall pick, there needs to be more than what they have gotten out of Joeckel. He will not suffer the same fate as Ace this year because of how much more the team has invested in him, but he needs to raise his play considerably this year.

Johnathan Cyprien was Caldwell's 2nd pick. Me personally, I do not have issues with Cyprien as many do. I think he plays well within the confines of his role. But the knock that he has not been a playmaker is a very true one, and one that the Jaguars have noticed and made clear to Cyprien. The Jaguars DB coach even said during the draft that it is time for Cyprien to step up.

Dwayne Gratz has gotten opportunity after opportunity, but last year he was outplayed by fellow 2013 draftee Demetrius McCray, a 7th round pick. The Jaguars also added Davon House in FA and it is a near guarantee he opens the season starting across from McCray. That leaves Gratz in a depth role, which is OK. He has not been a complete disaster, but he has also not developed the way many have hoped. He needs a big camp to prevent getting left behind as the team moves forward

Outside of Denard Robinson and Demetrius McCray, the Jaguars 2013 class has not produced to the level they were expected to."

How about some more food for thought? The new regime has three drafts under their belt. This is a crucial year for the 2013 draft, all of whom (other than Cyprien & McCray) could improve their grade this year with a settled quarterback at the helm and an improved core defense. For the basis of the original grades, I'm using a Bleacher Report article:

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1614834-jaguars-2013-draft-picks-results-analysis-and-grades/page/2

Round 1, Pick 2: Luke Joeckel, OT, Texas A&M -- Grade of C+ then, my grade now: "C-"
     He has to make a major impact this season or this grade seriously drops given that he was a first round draft pick.

Round 2, Pick 1: Johnathan Cyprien, S, Florida International -- Grade of A then, my grade now: "A"
     He's a talented starter. Nuff said.

Round 3, Pick 2: Dwayne Gratz, CB, Connecticut -- Grade of B- then, my grade now: "C-"
     As a 3rd round pick on a struggling team, he's definitely a bit of a disappointment but this could be a big year.

Round 4, Pick 4: Ace Sanders, WR/KR, South Carolina -- Grade of B+ then, my grade now: "C-"
     Given my very high hopes, he's definitely a disappointment.

Round 5, Pick 2: Denard Robinson, RB, Michigan -- Grade of A- then, my grade now: "B"
     With the Jags increased ability to specialize on offense this season, Denard could do real damage.

Round 6, Pick 1: Josh Evans, S, Florida -- Grade of B+ then, my grade now: "B+"
     He's trying to hang on, and doing so. Barely.

Round 7, Pick 2: Jeremy Harris, CB, New Mexico State -- Grade of C+ then, my grade now: "B-"
     He's trying to hang on, and doing so. Barely.

Round 7, Pick 4: Demetrius McCray, CB, Appalachian State -- Grade of C+ then, my grade now: "A+"
     Starter. The single-greatest value-added pick of the Jaguars 2013 draft.

Go Jaguars !!!

[KenFSU]

So, thanks to the fact that the Packers are publicly owned, we now know that the Jaguars (and every other NFL team) received roughly $226 million in television rights fees last year, via NFL revenue sharing.

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/13290743/green-bay-packers-financial-records-reveal-2264m-nfl-revenue-sharing

Bout damn time that every NFL city with a publicly owned stadium get together and demand a cut of the television money.

Without our public stadiums providing the stage, there is no $7 billion television deal.

[Crabernacle]

The Jaguars are scheduled to play the Packers in 2016 and it looks like Khan is fighting to keep the game in Jax.
http://www.bigcatcountry.com/2015/7/20/9006709/jaguars-owner-shad-khan-very-reluctant-to-move-a-packers-game-away-from-london

Khan appears reluctant to allow the game to be played in London and with good reason. Not only is it one of the better games of the season, with Packers fans traveling as well as they do it's almost guaranteed to be a sell out. The London game draws well regardless, so better to shift one of the other games and keep this potential sellout in Jacksonville.

[Keith-N-Jax]

Good idea to keep the Green bay game.

[I-10east]

Yeah, I'm glad to see the Jags fighting back concerning this 'move one of the most attractive games to London' crap (with the only exception being the Bills). It's getting ridiculous. 

[BridgeTroll]

So, thanks to the fact that the Packers are publicly owned, we now know that the Jaguars (and every other NFL team) received roughly $226 million in television rights fees last year, via NFL revenue sharing.

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/13290743/green-bay-packers-financial-records-reveal-2264m-nfl-revenue-sharing

Bout damn time that every NFL city with a publicly owned stadium get together and demand a cut of the television money.

Without our public stadiums providing the stage, there is no $7 billion television deal.

That's not going to happen Ken... because as you can see... as soon as the "cut" from NFL TV deal expands... so does player contracts.  The TV deal money does nothing more than level the playing field for teams with smaller profits.  Turns out what makes a team "profitable" is local revenue... ie, revenue NOT shared with other teams.  Read more regarding what Green Bay does to compete with the Big Boys and grow local revenue...

http://www.packersnews.com/story/money/2015/07/20/green-bay-packers-record-setting-financial-run-continues/30429525/

Packers finances

The following are financial results reported by the Green Bay Packers for 2014-15 and percentage changes compared to 2013-14:

• National revenue: $226.4 million, up 20.6 percent

• Local revenue: 149.3 million, up 9.4 percent

• Total revenue: $375.5 million, up 15.9 percent

• Players costs: $150 million, down 12.3 percent

• Total expenses: $336.3 million, up 12.7 percent

• Profit from operations: $39.4 million, up 53.9 percent

• Net income: $29.2 million, up 15.3 percent

[I-10east]

Apparently Ace Sanders failed a drug test; Now we know why the Jags cut the already on the bubble player.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/08/03/ace-sanders-suspended-10-games/

[Keith-N-Jax]

Ok f I had a chance to make the kind of money these guys make, I would do whatever it takes not to screw that up. I guess some people just can't control their demons.

[02roadking]

So... does this mean it is out with the Clevlander and in with the Fantasy?
From Forbes:
http://www.forbes.com/sites/kristidosh/2015/08/06/jaguars-embrace-fantasy-football-with-new-fanduel-partnership/

[Downtown Osprey]

In this current time, you gotta do what you gotta do to get butts in the stands. Besides obviously winning games, I think the Jags are at the forefront of this and a lot of teams will take note in the near future when they can only pull in 3 wins a year

[Downtown Osprey]

https://vine.co/v/edOpZWYD1JI

I know it's August. I know it's practice, but wow this is bad. This is part one of two vines of Joeckel getting whipped by Davis. This one in particular is very concerning to me. Really starting to have my doubts about this guy.

[I-10east]

Great game last night. The place was packed, holy crap. It could've easily passed for a Thursday Night Football game. No doubt that the Steelers fans showed up, even for a preseason game; Jags Nation showed up as well. In case anyone didn't know, the North deck changed from  'The Clevelander Deck' to the 'FanDuelville Deck'; I like the play on 'ville' within the name.

Concerning the game, I'm not gonna critique or praise the Jags too much for the first preseason game, but it was nice to see us get the win. I already can't wait for the real deal regular season.

[RattlerGator]

I'll be in Oregon the next three weeks and couldn't make the game but I didn't know the Jags had dumped The Clevelander. That's too bad. I wonder if the FanDuel sponsored area still has a young orientation and uptempo vibe? It would be a shame to lose that.

Blake Bortles looked great last night, the offense looked *very* promising, and next year still looks like a slam dunk for the playoffs. If we get lucky this year we could sneak in there, too, but we'd have to be quite lucky.

The team looked good, though. I'm pleased (even though Luke Joeckel had one horrific mistake).

[johnnyliar]

I'll be in Oregon the next three weeks and couldn't make the game but I didn't know the Jags had dumped The Clevelander. That's too bad. I wonder if the FanDuel sponsored area still has a young orientation and uptempo vibe? It would be a shame to lose that.

Blake Bortles looked great last night, the offense looked *very* promising, and next year still looks like a slam dunk for the playoffs. If we get lucky this year we could sneak in there, too, but we'd have to be quite lucky.

The team looked good, though. I'm pleased (even though Luke Joeckel had one horrific mistake).

FanDuelVille still had DJ's, shot girls, drink specials, and an official after party that continued to serve alcohol for an hour after the game, so I think it's safe to say they're trying to keep the same vibe.