The Jaguars: Now What?

[Charleston native]

All I'm saying is that Tom Coughlin may have screwed things up in Jax, but he almost did that with the Giants, and now look at him. Yes, he's not perfect, but his Giants are Super Bowl champs and Del Rio's Jags are not even in the playoff hunt. Leadership is always crucial to fielding a championship team; case in point, my #1 team (Miami Dolphins). What a difference good leadership makes, regardless of the players.

Exchanging a good head coach for mediocrity isn't smart. I'm not saying to fire Del Rio, but the differences with the successes of the coaches are glaring. Maybe Del Rio can pull it around next year...but I don't have my hopes up.

[Jason]

I think the Jag's problems go much deeper than coaching.  In last nights whooping, Tony Cornhole mentioned an interview with Fred Taylor before the game where Fred stated that this Jags team was the worst he had ever played on and that there was no passion to win amongst many of the players.  You could see that lack of passion last night.  Its hard to say if the Peterson incident is indicative of this or if it was an isolated altercation, but coaching nor talent are the problems with the Jaguars, IMO.

[Shwaz]

case in point, my #1 team (Miami Dolphins). What a difference good leadership makes, regardless of the players.

The Dolphins played the NFC / AFC West this year and had the easiest schedule in the league. Playing 2 Playoff teams from last year.

Del Rio is not mediocre. He's built the team back to 3 playoff games in the toughest division in the years he's been here. His record is over .500 and was dealt a full collapse after the offensive line went down opening day.

The Cowboys lost 1 player and burnt to a crisp immediately. We lost our identity through injury and poor play.

[mikew]

I understand the anger against Del Rio.  I have to admit, I felt some it myself last night, after watching the team roll over.   But Del Rio didn't cause Porter to drop that critical pass last night.   He didn't causeMeester to make a bad snap against the Vikes.   He didn't cause Witherspoon to fumble the ball in that same game.  He's not the reason Khalif Barnes constantly jumps offsides.

Jack inherited a young, salary cap strapped team, and look what he's done each year:  4-12, 9-7, 11-5, 8-8, 12-4.  I think fans are caught up in the heat of the moment, when the reality is, Jack's done a pretty decent job. in Jacksonville.   Weaver's not going to fire him.  

I respectfully disagree with you regarding Garrard.   Garrard has no protection and almost no running game to rely on.  Opponents are placing a target on his back.   Also consider that our recievers are, frankly, mediocre.  With all of those problems, do  you really think a better quaterback - like say Manning or Tom Brady - would make this team a playoff contender?

 

[Coolyfett]

After last night, is this the low point of the franchise? At least in the past when they team had a sub-.500 record, it was a young team. During last night's game I noticed all the guys who had 6+ years of service in the league. Garrard, Taylor, Porter, Spicer, Henderson, Meier, Hayward. This is not a young team. And our best player on defense, Mathis, left the game with a knee injury that looked much worse than the announcers made it out to be. 4 games left; @ Chicago, v. Green Bay, v. Indy and @ Baltimore. They aren't winning another game.

The worst record in Jaguar history is 4-12 the 1995 season. If the Jags go 4 -12 this year it will be the worst season in Jaguar history, even worse then TC 5-11 seasons. 

What the hell is this "Battle Red" thing Houston is doing?, I just learned about that this year. The Houston fans circle our date every year....I think it is time Jacksonville does the same thing to them. This thing is just coming apart...badly.

[BridgeTroll]

Shack Harris is the problem.  His office is the evaluator of free agent and draft talent.  They have overpaid for aging mediocre free agent talent and misfired on too many picks in the draft.  Harris does the hiring and firing.  The Jags need to find a superstar GM like Ron Wolf or some of the other up and comers.  Of course it may be hard to find one since Del Rio just got an extension... most GMs of that type want to clean house and start over with their own people.

[Charleston native]

case in point, my #1 team (Miami Dolphins). What a difference good leadership makes, regardless of the players.

The Dolphins played the NFC / AFC West this year and had the easiest schedule in the league. Playing 2 Playoff teams from last year.

Schedules are nothing, because this is the "On Any Given Sunday" NFL. We can debate that until we're blue in the face, but you have to admit coaching instills vision, pride, and motivation to win among the players. Cam Cameron simply did not have that amongst a young team last year, and the team came close to being the worst ever in NFL history. Enter Bill Parsells and Tony Sparano...now the Fins are actually looking at playoffs, which is just unbelievable.

Del Rio is not mediocre. He's built the team back to 3 playoff games in the toughest division in the years he's been here. His record is over .500 and was dealt a full collapse after the offensive line went down opening day.

The Cowboys lost 1 player and burnt to a crisp immediately. We lost our identity through injury and poor play.

I'll agree with you, the Jags have suffered terrible losses in the starting lineup. In addition, they've had dramatic distractions with one of their OLs being shot and Matt Jones having drug problems.

However, Fred has a point about the motivation of the team. They're playing like they don't give a crap, and I saw the obvious lack of enthusiasm/passion Monday night. Whose job is it to instill passion in the players? That's right, the head coach. Del Rio is not doing his job in that aspect of the team.

I'm not saying Weaver needs to fire Del Rio, but I just don't think he's a great coach. Again, which Jags coach has led a team to a championship and looking to repeat? If Del Rio changes his mindset about a few things, I believe he can make the Jags contenders again next year, but I think I'm being too optimistic. Let's see what his team can do when its healthy again.

[BridgeTroll]

Whose job is it to instill passion in the players?

If the players are unmotivated and not passionate they should be let go.  As pros... they should be motivating themselves... this is not high school.

[Charleston native]

^ Very true, but you still need a leader with vision and motivational skills. If players could completely motivate themselves, head coaches would be obsolete.

[Shwaz]

Very true, but you still need a leader with vision and motivational skills. If players could completely motivate themselves, head coaches would be obsolete.

Millions of dollars is what should motivate everyone of these guys. What is JDR suppossed to do. Sky Dive on the practice feild with a boom box on his shoulder blastic enter sandman?

Now that these players aren't motivated for post season reasons maybe keeping their job will or playing for a free agent contract will.

My favorite part of the "Jaguars All Access" show was / is the 'in the locker room segmen't. I love Jack's composure and demeanor towards the players. It's obvious he's a motivator, and if you still wanna question it go to one of his seminars that he does off the field.

Or just be mad that we don't win it all every season and put a target on his back.

[Charleston native]

Shwaz, I'm not trying to put a target on his back. However, I am making a legitimate observation.

JDR might be a good motivational speaker, but that's different from being a motivational leader in an organization. It may very well be that the players on the team are playing like uninspired jackasses, and the coach can't do anything about it. The players will still make their millions, though, regardless if they make the playoffs are not. Financial incentives may help inspire them more, but if that is how the Jags players think, then we need to rebuild a team with guys that actually give a darn.

[Coolyfett]

 

[Coolyfett]

 

[Shwaz]

Shwaz, I'm not trying to put a target on his back. However, I am making a legitimate observation.

JDR might be a good motivational speaker, but that's different from being a motivational leader in an organization. It may very well be that the players on the team are playing like uninspired jackasses, and the coach can't do anything about it. The players will still make their millions, though, regardless if they make the playoffs are not. Financial incentives may help inspire them more, but if that is how the Jags players think, then we need to rebuild a team with guys that actually give a darn.

Being an emotional leader doesn't correlate to winning games. Look at the Patriots. They won 18 games last season lost 1 player and their now 3rd place in the AFC East behind the Dolphins. Do you think everyone in NE wants Bellichick gone? Is everyone questioning his leadership.

These players are not in college anymore... this is a job to them with an unbelievable salary. If you want to continue getting paid you'll play good, if you want to be one of the "great ones" you'll play great and find that with in themselves.

[hanjin1]

Actually New England is tied for first.