NEXT SEASON

DeputyDawg · Joined: 06 Aug 2007 Posts: 13

Okay, so we got knocked out by New England. As did everyone else. As they
will to the Giants in two weeks. Still, for the Jaguars, I am encouraged by
what I saw this season. I am also optimistic about the off-season, although
with a few minor reservations. Consider this:

The Jags will have about $30M cap room. Plenty to bring in some key free
agents AND some promising draft picks. I am hoping they will address needs
in this order: Defensive back, Defensive end, Linebacker, Offensive tackle,
Offensive center. My reservations? This is very tough, but.... can the
Jags depend on Fred Taylor to another off-season monster conditioning
program and come back next season being as effective as he was this season?
I have no doubt Fred still has the desire and the work ethic. But he will
be 32 years old - ancient for a running back. Jones-Drew is exciting and
talented, but not an every-down back. Is Toefield the eventual replacement
for Fred? Probably not, and LeBrandon has been plagued with injuries. So
here is the dilemma - do the Jags look to the future and draft a running
back in the early rounds? Will be interesting to see how the newly-shaken
up personnel staff proceeds.

Archived from group: alt>sports>football>pro>jville-jaguars

DSharrad · Joined: 12 Jan 2008 Posts: 3

"DeputyDawg" wrote in message @comcast.com...
> Okay, so we got knocked out by New England. As did everyone else. As
> they will to the Giants in two weeks. Still, for the Jaguars, I am
> encouraged by what I saw this season. I am also optimistic about the
> off-season, although with a few minor reservations. Consider this:
>
> The Jags will have about $30M cap room. Plenty to bring in some key free
> agents AND some promising draft picks. I am hoping they will address
> needs in this order: Defensive back, Defensive end, Linebacker, Offensive
> tackle, Offensive center. My reservations? This is very tough, but....
> can the Jags depend on Fred Taylor to another off-season monster
> conditioning program and come back next season being as effective as he
> was this season? I have no doubt Fred still has the desire and the work
> ethic. But he will be 32 years old - ancient for a running back.
> Jones-Drew is exciting and talented, but not an every-down back. Is
> Toefield the eventual replacement for Fred? Probably not, and LeBrandon
> has been plagued with injuries. So here is the dilemma - do the Jags look
> to the future and draft a running back in the early rounds? Will be
> interesting to see how the newly-shaken up personnel staff proceeds.

Good point on the RB position. Hopefully, Fred's experience in Honolulu
will motivate him to keep in good playing condition, but at 32, even
splitting chores at RB with Jones-Drew may wear 'n tear on Fred despite the
plattooning rotation with MJJ.

How long is MJJ under contract? My concern is that Fred suffers a
career-ending injury, or just decides to hang up his cleats, and Jones-Drew
becomes a free agent and prefers to move to a west coast team, closer to his
California/UCLA roots. Shaun Alexander's production/stock sure went down,
not sure if that would be a good fit, but there might be a RB position
coming open soon with a pretty good Seahawks team. If Fred and MJJ left in
short order, I shudder to think of the notion of Toefield as our #1 RB.

Jones-Drew has been a godsend for the Jags in general, and Fred in
particular. Initial expectations were mixed, so he didn't have a lot of
pressure to produce, but produce he sure as hell did. So, MJJ's benefitted
from the rotation with Fred Taylor,too - being brought along without having
to be the #1 go-to guy. MJJ is tough, but the law of physics still says
he's only 5'7" - I wonder how MJJ would hold up over the course of an entire
season as the #1 guy.

I hope the Jags do something great with that salary cap room. The Jags have
some "decent" guys on the outside - but the lack of an effective receiver
who could create separation and run after the catch (beyond Northcutt) was a
weakness. Reggie Williams showed great progress this season, and Ernest
Wilford had some spectacular moments. Unless Reggie Nelson really blossoms,
I think the defensive backfield is a glaring weakness. The Jags protected
better against the deep ball as the season wore on, which resulted in teams
dinkin' and dunkin' down the field on them - possibly attributed to injuries
at the LB position. And the Jags Dynamic Duo on the defensive line (John
Henderson and Marcus Stroud) has seemed to suddenly become injury-prone, and
as those big men get older, recovery from those injuries is going to become
more and more difficult.

Lots of areas to look at - and with all that money, I'm looking forward to
the dealings in the off-season.

Harry · Joined: 06 Aug 2007 Posts: 21

"DeputyDawg" wrote in message @comcast.com...
> Okay, so we got knocked out by New England. As did everyone else. As
> they will to the Giants in two weeks. Still, for the Jaguars, I am
> encouraged by what I saw this season. I am also optimistic about the
> off-season, although with a few minor reservations. Consider this:
>
> The Jags will have about $30M cap room. Plenty to bring in some key free
> agents AND some promising draft picks. I am hoping they will address
> needs in this order: Defensive back, Defensive end, Linebacker, Offensive
> tackle, Offensive center. My reservations? This is very tough, but....
> can the Jags depend on Fred Taylor to another off-season monster
> conditioning program and come back next season being as effective as he
> was this season? I have no doubt Fred still has the desire and the work
> ethic. But he will be 32 years old - ancient for a running back.
> Jones-Drew is exciting and talented, but not an every-down back. Is
> Toefield the eventual replacement for Fred? Probably not, and LeBrandon
> has been plagued with injuries. So here is the dilemma - do the Jags look
> to the future and draft a running back in the early rounds? Will be
> interesting to see how the newly-shaken up personnel staff proceeds.
>
u happy with the wide outs?

DeputyDawg · Joined: 06 Aug 2007 Posts: 13

"Harry" wrote in message @comcast.com...
>
> "DeputyDawg" wrote in message
> @comcast.com...
>> Okay, so we got knocked out by New England. As did everyone else. As
>> they will to the Giants in two weeks. Still, for the Jaguars, I am
>> encouraged by what I saw this season. I am also optimistic about the
>> off-season, although with a few minor reservations. Consider this:
>>
>> The Jags will have about $30M cap room. Plenty to bring in some key free
>> agents AND some promising draft picks. I am hoping they will address
>> needs in this order: Defensive back, Defensive end, Linebacker,
>> Offensive tackle, Offensive center. My reservations? This is very
>> tough, but.... can the Jags depend on Fred Taylor to another off-season
>> monster conditioning program and come back next season being as effective
>> as he was this season? I have no doubt Fred still has the desire and the
>> work ethic. But he will be 32 years old - ancient for a running back.
>> Jones-Drew is exciting and talented, but not an every-down back. Is
>> Toefield the eventual replacement for Fred? Probably not, and LeBrandon
>> has been plagued with injuries. So here is the dilemma - do the Jags
>> look to the future and draft a running back in the early rounds? Will be
>> interesting to see how the newly-shaken up personnel staff proceeds.
>>
> u happy with the wide outs?
>

I think they've progressed from mediocre last season to maybe slightly above
average this season. The "experts" say that wide receivers take two-three
years to fully develop. Northcut with his experience may have been
partially responsible for the improvement. I wouldn't mind seeing maybe one
more experienced free agent to bolster the receiving corps. Happy? More
like cautiously optomistic.

The Great Spudinis · Joined: 14 Jan 2008 Posts: 1

"DeputyDawg" wrote in message @comcast.com...
>
> "Harry" wrote in message
> @comcast.com...
>>
>> "DeputyDawg" wrote in message
>> @comcast.com...
>>> Okay, so we got knocked out by New England. As did everyone else. As
>>> they will to the Giants in two weeks. Still, for the Jaguars, I am
>>> encouraged by what I saw this season. I am also optimistic about the
>>> off-season, although with a few minor reservations. Consider this:
>>>
>>> The Jags will have about $30M cap room. Plenty to bring in some key
>>> free agents AND some promising draft picks. I am hoping they will
>>> address needs in this order: Defensive back, Defensive end, Linebacker,
>>> Offensive tackle, Offensive center. My reservations? This is very
>>> tough, but.... can the Jags depend on Fred Taylor to another off-season
>>> monster conditioning program and come back next season being as
>>> effective as he was this season? I have no doubt Fred still has the
>>> desire and the work ethic. But he will be 32 years old - ancient for a
>>> running back. Jones-Drew is exciting and talented, but not an every-down
>>> back. Is Toefield the eventual replacement for Fred? Probably not, and
>>> LeBrandon has been plagued with injuries. So here is the dilemma - do
>>> the Jags look to the future and draft a running back in the early
>>> rounds? Will be interesting to see how the newly-shaken up personnel
>>> staff proceeds.
>>>
>> u happy with the wide outs?
>>
>
> I think they've progressed from mediocre last season to maybe slightly
> above average this season. The "experts" say that wide receivers take
> two-three years to fully develop. Northcut with his experience may have
> been partially responsible for the improvement. I wouldn't mind seeing
> maybe one more experienced free agent to bolster the receiving corps.
> Happy? More like cautiously optomistic.
>
colts will own u again

El Guapo · Joined: 06 Aug 2007 Posts: 39

"DeputyDawg" wrote in message @comcast.com...
>
> "Harry" wrote in message
> @comcast.com...
>>
>> "DeputyDawg" wrote in message
>> @comcast.com...
>>> Okay, so we got knocked out by New England. As did everyone else. As
>>> they will to the Giants in two weeks. Still, for the Jaguars, I am
>>> encouraged by what I saw this season. I am also optimistic about the
>>> off-season, although with a few minor reservations. Consider this:
>>>
>>> The Jags will have about $30M cap room. Plenty to bring in some key
>>> free agents AND some promising draft picks. I am hoping they will
>>> address needs in this order: Defensive back, Defensive end, Linebacker,
>>> Offensive tackle, Offensive center. My reservations? This is very
>>> tough, but.... can the Jags depend on Fred Taylor to another off-season
>>> monster conditioning program and come back next season being as
>>> effective as he was this season? I have no doubt Fred still has the
>>> desire and the work ethic. But he will be 32 years old - ancient for a
>>> running back. Jones-Drew is exciting and talented, but not an every-down
>>> back. Is Toefield the eventual replacement for Fred? Probably not, and
>>> LeBrandon has been plagued with injuries. So here is the dilemma - do
>>> the Jags look to the future and draft a running back in the early
>>> rounds? Will be interesting to see how the newly-shaken up personnel
>>> staff proceeds.
>>>
>> u happy with the wide outs?
>>
>
> I think they've progressed from mediocre last season to maybe slightly
> above average this season. The "experts" say that wide receivers take
> two-three years to fully develop. Northcut with his experience may have
> been partially responsible for the improvement. I wouldn't mind seeing
> maybe one more experienced free agent to bolster the receiving corps.
> Happy? More like cautiously optomistic.

Broussard and Walker give them a chance to develop some speed on the
outside, which is what they mostly need right now I think. It's a little
too easy for defenses to jam the middle without worrying about a WR blowing
by them down the sideline.

I think the main things they need to work on are DL, DB, and OT (if
possible). Depth at QB could be a major issue with Gray a free agent. I'm
not sure why you're down on the LB's and interior OL, those look like strong
points to me, and should be deep again with guys like Naeole and Peterson
coming back from injuries.

They certainly have the cap room to address any position they want. It's
more a matter of what players will be available. Even if they sign Garrard
to a long term contract (which they hopefully will do) there will be plenty
of money available for free agents.

DeputyDawg · Joined: 06 Aug 2007 Posts: 13

"El Guapo" wrote in message $0o7.90@newssvr13.news.prodigy.net...
> "DeputyDawg" wrote in message
> @comcast.com...
>>
>> "Harry" wrote in message
>> @comcast.com...
>>>
>>> "DeputyDawg" wrote in message
>>> @comcast.com...

I'm
> not sure why you're down on the LB's and interior OL, those look like
> strong points to me, and should be deep again with guys like Naeole and
> Peterson coming back from injuries.
>

Age and injuries. Mike Pete, for example, is 32 years old and is going into
his tenth season. Like it or not, Del Rio's strategy has been to build a
very young team and augment as needed with veterans i.e. Northcut, Jackson,
etc. The one player who doesn't fit the mold - who just won't quietly go
away and let the younger guys have a chance - is Fred Taylor. I love him,
but realistically - how long can he keep doing what he is doing? Fred will
be going on 33 next season (his 11th).

El Guapo · Joined: 06 Aug 2007 Posts: 39

"DeputyDawg" wrote in message @comcast.com...
>
> "El Guapo" wrote in message
> $0o7.90@newssvr13.news.prodigy.net...
>> "DeputyDawg" wrote in message
>> @comcast.com...
>>>
>>> "Harry" wrote in message
>>> @comcast.com...
>>>>
>>>> "DeputyDawg" wrote in message
>>>> @comcast.com...
>
> I'm
>> not sure why you're down on the LB's and interior OL, those look like
>> strong points to me, and should be deep again with guys like Naeole and
>> Peterson coming back from injuries.
>>
>
> Age and injuries. Mike Pete, for example, is 32 years old and is going
> into his tenth season. Like it or not, Del Rio's strategy has been to
> build a very young team and augment as needed with veterans i.e. Northcut,
> Jackson, etc. The one player who doesn't fit the mold - who just won't
> quietly go away and let the younger guys have a chance - is Fred Taylor.
> I love him, but realistically - how long can he keep doing what he is
> doing? Fred will be going on 33 next season (his 11th).

All of the starters at LB (Daryl Smith, Clint Ingram, Justin Durant) are
young guys, and they're a talented group that should only get better. With
Peterson coming back, I don't see this as an area of need. In fact, it's
probably the strongest position on defense. (I like the starting CB's, but
you're looking at journeyman types once you get past Mathis & Williams.)
That doesn't mean that they won't add a player at LB if somebody is
available who they really like, especially a guy with good cover skills or
pass rushing ability, but I doubt it will be a top priority.

The good news is that Del Rio's greatest strength is defense, and he should
be able to improve it pretty quickly, now that they've settled on a QB and
the offense is on the rise.

Daryl Grier · Joined: 06 Aug 2007 Posts: 16

I have to agree with most everything that has been said here. It would be
nice to find an effective running back to back up Drew. It may be wishful
thinking. Drew and Taylor really complimented each other and were a great
asset. I hope Taylor has another year left but I'm not so sure.
Offensively though I would put my #1 priority on wide receivers.
"El Guapo" wrote in message $Pv2.38250@newssvr23.news.prodigy.net...
> "DeputyDawg" wrote in message
> @comcast.com...
>>
>> "El Guapo" wrote in message
>> $0o7.90@newssvr13.news.prodigy.net...
>>> "DeputyDawg" wrote in message
>>> @comcast.com...
>>>>
>>>> "Harry" wrote in message
>>>> @comcast.com...
>>>>>
>>>>> "DeputyDawg" wrote in message
>>>>> @comcast.com...
>>
>> I'm
>>> not sure why you're down on the LB's and interior OL, those look like
>>> strong points to me, and should be deep again with guys like Naeole and
>>> Peterson coming back from injuries.
>>>
>>
>> Age and injuries. Mike Pete, for example, is 32 years old and is going
>> into his tenth season. Like it or not, Del Rio's strategy has been to
>> build a very young team and augment as needed with veterans i.e.
>> Northcut, Jackson, etc. The one player who doesn't fit the mold - who
>> just won't quietly go away and let the younger guys have a chance - is
>> Fred Taylor. I love him, but realistically - how long can he keep doing
>> what he is doing? Fred will be going on 33 next season (his 11th).
>
> All of the starters at LB (Daryl Smith, Clint Ingram, Justin Durant) are
> young guys, and they're a talented group that should only get better.
> With Peterson coming back, I don't see this as an area of need. In fact,
> it's probably the strongest position on defense. (I like the starting
> CB's, but you're looking at journeyman types once you get past Mathis &
> Williams.) That doesn't mean that they won't add a player at LB if
> somebody is available who they really like, especially a guy with good
> cover skills or pass rushing ability, but I doubt it will be a top
> priority.
>
> The good news is that Del Rio's greatest strength is defense, and he
> should be able to improve it pretty quickly, now that they've settled on a
> QB and the offense is on the rise.
>
>

I know it's only pre-season, but... Steelers offense looks worse than a watermelon that's just had a date with Fruit Fucker Mike! Has a team ever gone winless in the pre-season and gone deep into the playoffs? With Carolina next on the schedule, the Steelers have an excellent chance of bein

Anybody get their season tix yet?? I might just be antsy and excited as this is my first year of being a season ticket holder, but shouldn't we have received them by now?? First home preseason game is 3 weeks away. Another question, anyone else live more than 4 1/2 hours away from the sta

Worthless Season no matter what happens, there will be an *asterisk* I respect Dolphin fans more that you cheater fans.

Sorry ABout the Season Guys Tough year for the Panthers. I can't believe the way the way the Eagles are playing since McNabb went down. I think all of it is for nothing as I feel almost any AFC team will beat the NFC Super Bowl rep Good luck on a good off season and next year guys.

successful season, overall we're on the uprise, that's the cool thing. just makes me disgusted to see this season end this way. guess i'd rather see it this way than get robbed by the officials in dallas. just disappointed in brett, i guess.