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Jaguars Minicamp 2008: Mystery Players Revealed!
2008-06-07 08:28:00 One of the surprises of Friday's minicamp was the presence of four players who were not identified on the Jaguars roster. These four "mystery players" were an enigma, as the wire services did not show any recent signings. It turns out that these four players were tryouts for the roster, not signed to any sort of contracts. It's a hodgepodge group of guys, some with NFL experience, others just trying to extend the dream just a little while longer. Jack Del Rio had this to say about the tryouts: "I know that there are a lot talented players out there who for whatever reason don't fit, don't catch on, don't work out," Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio said. "We're more concerned with giving him an opportunity, giving him a chance to come in here and compete in this environment. This is a tryout weekend for him. If we feel there is enough there, where we want to continue, we'll offer him a contract and bring him to camp." Considering that their careers with Jac...
Jaguars Minicamp Coverage: PM Session (6.6)
2008-06-06 21:50:00 [Note by River City Rage, 06/06/08 5:18 PM EDT ]: The live coverage, sadly, had to end. But that's not the end of our coverage, we'll be here all weekend with the latest news, position battles, and updates! Just like earlier, JagNation.com and Big Cat Country will continue our live coverage of Minicamp. This time it's the afternoon session where we should have some Mike Walker action, as well as a little more 11 on 11 practices. You can listen to the coverage by clicking play on the widget just above this text, or go to TalkShoe and join in the chat room. I'll be taking questions, doing commentary, and otherwise entertaining as best I can during the exciting hamstring stretches and other idle pauses. If you'd like to catch up on the first session, here are two fantastic writeups: FBT of Jaguars Journal: "Camping with FBT " Su héroe's take: Minicamp Report (6/6 AM Session) Finally, don't forget about the Brad Meester/Parkersburgh Iowa Fund-Ra...
Jacksonville Jaguars Minicamp Report: Friday Morning Session
2008-06-06 19:00:00 [Note by River City Rage, 06/06/08 1:45 PM EDT ]:Updated with "mystery player" information. As you probably know, the Jaguars held their first minicamp practice session this morning. Big Cat Country and Jagnation.com had the only live coverage of the practice, and will do so again for the afternoon session at 4:15. Before I break down some of the highs and lows of the first session, I'd like to give a big thanks to Robb and Charlie of JagNation for their hard work during the camp. Before we get into the minicamp report, don't forget to participate in the Brad Meester/Parkersburgh Iowa fund raiser give-away! Read here for more information! Minicamp Notes: Mystery Solved: Unknown Players were: Wide Receiver Rod Gardner, formerly of the Chiefs Running Back Ciatrick Fason, formerly of the Vikings and Florida Gators Wide Receiver Brandon Brezell, undrafted free-agent from UCLA Ryan Hogue, unknown Tight End Marcades Lewis was practicing and participating...
2008 Jacksonville Jaguars Minicamp: How to follow along!
2008-06-06 12:00:00 Good Morning! Minicamp starts in less than an hour. Big Cat Country is proud to have several ways to follow along live and otherwise with all the happenings. Press Play in the box that's just above this text. It will let you listen in on the 90 minute live show with commentary and news, as well as live reporting from Minicamp itself! Live Blog in the Comments. I'm going to post whatever odds and ends we hear in the comments of this post, if you can't listen, read along! Rapid-fire editorial: as soon as camp is over, head back here to get the scoop on what it all means for the regular season! There's no reason that being outside the City of Jacksonville means not participating in the fun of minicamp! Stay Tuned! -Chris -Chris
Jacksonville Jaguars Tornado Relief Contest: How you can help!
2008-06-05 22:22:00 Two weeks ago the Iowa town of Parkersburg was reduced to rubble by a F5 tornado. The community of only 2,000 produced four current NFL players, including Jaguars center Brad Meester. Meester's family lost two homes, four cars, and countless irreplaceable memories, though thankfully nobody in his family was hurt. Brad and the other NFL players; Jared DeVries of Detroit, Casey Wiegmann of Denver and Green Bay's Aaron Kampman played for Aplington-Parker High School, which was completely destroyed in the tornado. The Jaguars and Brad Meester have created a fantastic fund-raiser to help rebuild the community and give the fans a way to participate. This weekend, both on Jaguars.com and at the Minicamp, fans can purchase an Aplington-Parker High School hat for $19.95 Proceeds will go to the Parkersburg Relief Fund. The hat can be ordered online here and will also be sold at Minicamp this weekend. To help with this cause, Big Cat Country has a spec...
Better Know the Jacksonville Jaguars: Defensive Tackle Theo Horrocks
2008-06-03 10:10:00 [Note by River City Rage, 06/03/08 1:04 AM PDT ] Clodknocker was kind enough to do an interview with one of my favorite Defensive Tackle Prospects in Theo Horrocks. Theo, in my opinion, is playing for a spot on the practice squad, unless there is a major shakeup on the defensive line. There are only 53 roster spots, and to add guys like Horrocks could mean a serious deficiency elsewhere. Regardless, he's a serious prospect and someone the Jaguars should develop! -C Better Know a Player: Theo Horrocks! Theo attended Lincoln High in Fayetteville, Tennessee, a small town south of Nashville. Both he and fellow defensive tackle, Lamar Divens, were signed by Vanderbilt. Lamar later transferred to Tenn. State and is now an undrafted free agent with the San Diego Chargers. As a true freshman, Theo played in nine games while starting in two. In his sophomore year, he played in 10 games and led the Commodore's defensive tackles with 15 ...
Jaguars Cut Speedster...
2008-06-03 00:52:00 In an under whelming off-season move the Jags broke ties with a speed-demon they signed not long ago. Derrick Richards was a former track star and it was hoped he would compete on special teams, however, the recent signing of Thorpe meant room had to be made on the roster This proves once again that speed isn't everything in the NFL. Richards ran a 4.36 40-yard dash and it was thought he might be able to translate that athleticism into a punt pr kick-returning gig in the NFL. The Jags didn't think he'd pan out so they cut him. The life of a fledgling NFL player struggling to make it to the big leagues is one of tumult and constant upheavals. They aren't given much of a look from NFL teams and if they don't show something spectacular when they get the chance, they are cut. Keep in mind the only time they saw Richards was at the OTA's we've had. Let's see someone try to tell Derrick that OTA's don't matter because they are workouts in shorts. You have to give it up...
Jaguars Talk Show: Live at Nine PM
2008-06-02 23:42:00 My good friends over at JagNation are doing a fantastic weekly Jaguars Talk Show each Monday Night at 9:00 pm, EST. All you have to do is go here and join in on the action! If you're not familiar with JagNation, they're a good group of folks who really care about the Jaguars. Their community organizes trips to away games, tailgating, watching parties, draft parties, the whole nine yards. Your humble narrator, me, should be on that show sometime in the near future. This week should focus on minicamp, which is exciting for all of us! I'll see you there at Nine! -Chris
Jacksonville Jaguars Minicamp: What to to watch, Who to watch, and more!
2008-06-02 08:23:00 Minicamp is this weekend, and with it comes the high-water mark of the dead zone. After minicamp closes on Saturday, it's just three OTA's till the meetings end, the coaches take some time off, and all eyes fall toward the end of July. Minicamp is more intense than OTA's, but still not the real contact of training camp. Avoiding injury is the number one concern, obviously, but for the Jaguars representing the more crowded spots of the roster it's also their first shot at establishing momentum toward securing the roster spot. Life on the margins is hard in the NFL, and with the hard cap of eighty players, there is very little room for error in securing reps that mean anything. The playbook develops a little bit more as will some of the defensive scheming, but it's still largely a passing camp, and the focus will be on the skill position players to a large extent. I'm of the belief that it's better to study the running game on film rather tha...
How Hidden Cameras Aid Conservation Efforts for Jaguars and Other Rare Anim
2008-06-01 07:55:00 As new camera technology becomes cheaper and better, rare animals in places like Peru’s rainforests may soon be photographed and documented more thanks to the efforts of wildlife biologists....
By: Green Options
Jaguars Sign Wide Reciever
2008-05-31 20:51:00 Craphonso Thorpe was signed by the Jaguars to compete for a roster spot. He'll most likely have to make his mark returning punts or kicks, because it looks like the Jaguars aren't gonna let MJD carry that load any longer. Thorpe is 6'1 187lbs and was active 5 games last season for the Colts. He played his college days at FSU and was drafted in 2005 by the KC Chiefs. He's got some catching up to do since he's missed some OTA's. Like I said though, if he makes the Jags it's going to be on special teams. He only averaged 5 yards per punt return last year and 21 on kick returns. We'll see if Joe Decamilis can coach him up some.
The Eco-Friendly Land Rovers and Jaguars Are Coming!
2008-05-29 23:18:00 Don?t look now but as far as luxury cars are concerned, they are making sure that they will not be left behind by the eco-friendly madness as far as classification of transportation today is concerned. The makers of Land Rovers and Jaguars have actually started their manufacturing of these models but due to financial constraints, ...
Better Know a Jaguars Coach: Secondary Coach Donnie Henderson
2008-05-29 12:00:00 To say that Donnie Henderson is a “shouting” coach is more than just a mild understatement, it does a disservice to a coach who is highly competitive and demands excellence in all aspects of defense. Donnie is vocal, active, and has an amazing ability to communicate effectively, driving his point home while screaming at the top of his lungs. Below is his coaching record as listed on ESPN’s minority coaching page keep in mind it is three years old. Donnie Henderson Age: 48 | Coaching experience: 23 years | NFL experience: 7 years2005 position: Defensive coordinator, New York JetsKey positions held• Defensive coordinator, New York Jets (2004-05)• Defensive- backs coach, Baltimore Ravens (2000-03)• Assistant- defensive backs coach, Baltimore Ravens (1999)• Defensive backs coach, University of Houston (1998)• Defensive backs coach, Arizona State (1992-97)Career highlights• 2005 Jets ranked second in t...
BREAKING: Jacksonville Jaguars team to beat in AFC South
2008-05-27 18:01:00 Contrary to other reports , the Jacksonville Jaguars have used the 2008 offseason to announce to the division that they are the team to beat in the AFC South. While the Indianapolis Colts deserve the respect due to a six-time division winner, there is no reason to assume that the reigning champs have done enough to hold their position at the top of the South. Yes, this article intended as a bit of Counter Battery fire toward my good friend and Indianapolis Colts writer over at Stampede Blue. Big Blue Shoe, as he calls himself, delights in mocking our Jaguars whenever possible, in what can only be a defense mechanism to the pain and suffering that Jacksonville is going to give their team in 2008. And we can forgive him, it's merely one step in the Kubler-Ross "Stages of Grief ": In this case, our fellow Colts fans are deeply in denial of the changes and progress made by the Jaguars during this offseason. Denial manifests itself in peculiar ways in a fanbase,&...
Jaguars in the Community: The Wuerffel Benefit Luncheon
2008-05-23 01:57:00 [Note by River City Rage, 05/23/08 3:11 AM EDT ] Clodknocker was a participiant in the recent Wuerffel Benefit Luncheon at Jacksonville Municipal Stadium. He was kind enough to write his observation and thoughts on the event for us. On behalf of everyone at Big Cat Country, thank you for writing this! The Luncheon was held at the Touchdown Club at Jacksonville Municipal Stadium on Thursday May 15th. Former Quarterback Danny Wuerffel was humble, yet well-armed to reveal his strengths on the football field that made him a Heisman Tropy winner after leading the Florida Gators to four straight Southeastern Conference Championships, and defeating the Florida State Seminoles in the Sugar Bowl for the consensus National Championship. He had a supporting cast of former standout Gators present; Kerwin Bell, Chris Doering, and Shane Matthews. Former Gators and present Jaguars, Reggie Nelson and Mike Peterson, were also listed as being present. &nbs...
Better Know a Jaguars Coach: Special Teams Coordinator Joe DeCamillis
2008-05-22 20:00:00 Although regularly overlooked by the common fan, special teams consistently ha-s been a hallmark of quality football teams, and can literally make or break a game. DeCamillis has been nothing short of a godsend for the Jags. He started his career at Denver, and moved to coach special teams under his now father-in-law Dan Reeves in NY. Afterwards, he jumped to Atlanta where he presided over a special teams monster for the better part of a decade. This man can flat out coach, and he’s got a reputation for doing so. So back to the special teams part. First, when I did a big feature a few years ago on coverage and return units, breaking down all the aspects of special teams that go overlooked, even I was overwhelmed at how much there was to know. And of the six or seven coordinators I talked to, the two who impressed me the most were Harbaugh and Joe DeCamillis, who is now with the Jaguars. Both guys sounded like head coaches. They know ho...
Congratulations To The University Of Houston-Victoria Jaguars, by US Rep. R
2008-05-22 07:00:00 Madam Speaker, I am pleased to congratulate The University of Houston--Victoria (UHV) Jaguars softball team on an amazing inaugural season. The Jaguars completed the season with a 32-18 record and finished fourth in Region VI of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics, missing the national tournament by one slot. The Jaguars faced a strong slate of contenders in the regular season, including 14 nationally recognized opponents, nine of which fell to the Jaguars. The team also defeated NCAA teams Houston Baptist University and the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor. read more
Contract Extension: Jacksonville Jaguars extend Defensive Tackle Tony McDan
2008-05-21 22:22:00 Jacksonville Sports Radio 101XL just reported that the Jaguars have agreed to a Contract Extension with Defensive Tackle Tony McDaniel. The 6-7, 310 third year player is an imposing, albeit developing player on the roster. McDaniel has played in 15 games in his career, but missed 12 last season due to injury. The Jaguars would not have traded Marcus Stroud if they did not believe that Tony McDaniel would develop into a force on the defensive line. Terms are not disclosed, as usual, but I will post them as soon as they are leaked. This is the third extension in the last few days with defensive tackle Rob Meier coming to terms with an extension along with tackle Richard Collier Defensive End Paul Spicer was offered a contract, but did not come to an agreement. -Chris
Jaguars Tackle Richard Collier gets an extension: Khalif Barnes is on notic
2008-05-21 15:00:00 The Jaguars signed backup offensive lineman Richard Collier to a contract extension Friday and also signed undrafted rookie free-agent wide receiver Derek Richards. Richards' addition means the Jaguars have 14 undrafted rookies who have signed contracts, plus five draft picks who have yet to sign, bringing their roster total to 85 players. All 19 rookies arrived in Jacksonville on Friday and will be on the field Monday for the second week of organized team activities. Rookies weren't allowed to report for OTAs before May 15 because of an agreement the NFL has with the NCAA. Collier, originally signed by the Jaguars as an undrafted free agent out of Valdosta State in 2006, has played in just eight games in his first three seasons with one start. Last year, he was suspended for two games after being arrested on a DUI charge. No contract terms were disclosed for Collier, who was due to make $455,000 this year. He's the backup left tackle behind Khalif Barnes. Full article This is ...
Unnamed Sources say Jacksonville Jaguars for Sale
2008-05-20 18:51:00 Now, let me set the record straight: I do not believe what I am reporting. I am merely passing along what Michael Silver reported on Yahoo.com. In his article about the St. Louis Rams being for sale, he mentions that "unnamed" league sources claim that the Jaguars owner, Wayne Weaver, has sought buyers for the team. He then debunks said source by quoting Eddie DeBartolo: One high-ranking league source says the Jacksonville Jaguars are another team that might be sold and relocated to L.A. and that owner Wayne Weaver has solicited potential buyers in recent months. But DeBartolo discounted the possibility of purchasing the Jags, saying, "I think (he'll sell) every year, but it doesn't happen. I get the feeling that Wayne really wants a Super Bowl, and every year he keeps thinking, 'It's gonna be the year,' and he decides to keep them." It's that time of year. Every offseason there's a rumor, a quote, a statement from somewhere that the Jaguars are for sale and the...
2008 Jacksonville Jaguars Roster Breakdown: The Wide Receivers
2008-05-20 12:00:00 In recent years the Jacksonville Jaguars have faced a "yeah, but" problem with their offense. The solid running game, the productive line play, even with the quarterback problems, the sore thumb of the Jaguars offense is the Wide Receiving Corps. Despite having two first round draft picks in Reggie Williams and Matt Jones, the Jaguars have not yet found the heir apparant to Jimmy Smith, and even throughout the outstanding 2007 season lacked the receiver that guaranteed a double team and that would strike fear into defensive game planning. While the Jaguars went through an offensive explosion last season, there are still question marks surrounding the receivers. Will Reggie Williams repeat his 10 touchdown and 600 yards or was those merely outliers? Will Matt Jones wake up or stay in Jack Del Rio's doghouse? The offseason only added to those questions as the Jaguars charted an aggressive course to surround quarterback David Garrard with as many weapons...
Better Know a Jaguars Head Coach: Assistant Coach Mike Tice
2008-05-20 12:00:00 Minnesota Vikings Head Coach Mike Tice gives President Bush a football jersey in Minneapolis. Position: TE Height: 6-7 Weight: 253 lbs. Born: February 2, 1959 in Bay Shore, NY College: Maryland Coaching in Minnesota The above link shows all of Tice’s records while coaching for Minnesota. The following excerpt is from an article I found scouring the web and it delves into detail about the personality and approachability of Coach Tice. It really makes you want to have a beer with the guy at the local pub. "I am a big, tall, deep-voiced, loud, arrogant New Yorker who thinks he is right all the time. That rubs some people the wrong way. I don't mean anything by it. But I am opinionated." "Father, forgive me, I'm Catholic and go to church, but my order of priorities are family, church and football," Tice says. "That's maybe why I look at what is going on around here a little differently. Don't get me wrong. Football is very, very important, but there ...
Jacksonville Jaguars OTA News and Updates:
2008-05-19 12:00:00 On Monday, the Jaguars will begin their third session of Offseason Training Activities (OTA), with eight more practices until their Mini-camp on the weekend of June 6th. These OTA sessions are critical in building a cohesive and strong football team because there is so little time in training camp to build relationships and put units on the same page. Remember, the 2008 Jacksonville Jaguars open their season in Tennessee, and then play the Colts and Texans in the first month of the regular season. Without a strong start, the Jaguars could find themselves hopelessly behind in the critical AFC South division race before Christmas Decorations appear in the Avenues Mall. Jaguars.com's Vic Ketchman, a writer any Jaguars fan is familiar with, is chafing at the interest in the teams OTA"s, which is terribly off-base. While yes, these are just "underwear" practices, there is a feeling of importance that cannot be brushed aside, as Vic is wont to do: If I may, I&rs...
Jacksonville Jaguars Contract News: Defensive Tackle Rob Meier signs 5 year
2008-05-15 22:38:00 Jacksonville Jaguars Defensive Tackle Rob Meier agreed to a 5 year contract extension today and became the heir apparant to Marcus Stroud on the defensive line. The terms of the contract, as usual, are unknown, but the numbers are bigger than the 2.095 base salary he was due under his previous contract. Meier, despite my terrible prediction that he might be one of the more vulnerable players on the roster, is a solid defensive tackle that filled in admirably in Stroud's absence. When Stroud went to Buffalo, I assumed that defensive tackle would be a position of need going into the draft, but the Jaguars clearly think differently. With Meier as the counterpart to Henderson, the Jaguars have Tony McDaniel and Derek Landri as the primary rotation in the middle. No matter how you shake it, that's a pretty solid group. I'd expect to see Landri fill in on 3rd downs and obvious passing situations, and I would not be surprised to see Meier/L...
Better Know a Jaguars Coach pt 3. Kennedy Pola(malu)
2008-05-14 07:03:00 Jacksonville Jaguars Running Backs Coach Kennedy Pola Kennedy Pola Running Backs; born November 22, 1963, Pago, Pago, American Samoa. Fullback Southern California 1982-85. No pro playing experience. College coach: UCLA 1992-93, San Diego State 1994-96, Colorado 1997-98, San Diego State 1999, Southern California 2000-2003. Pro coach: Cleveland Browns 2004, joined Jaguars in 2005. Pola is in his third season with Jacksonville after spending his first NFL season with the Browns. In 2006, his second season, the Jaguars set a single season franchise record for rushing yards (2,541) and averaged just short of 160 yards. Kennedy comes from good football stock. To start, his nephew is Troy Polamalu, a first round pick of our hated rival... Pittsburg... If you're wondering, yes, Pola shortened his name from Polamalu after arriving in America to decrease pronunciation issues. Troy credits his uncle as having a large impact on his life. Polamalu, the Steelers' th...
Better Know a Jaguars Coach pt. 2: Offensive Line Coach Andy Heck
2008-05-13 21:45:00 Offensive Line Coach: Andy Heck Offensive Line; born January 1, 1967, Fargo, N.D. Tackle Notre Dame 1985-88. Pro tackle Seattle 1989-1993, Chicago 1994-98, Washington 1999-2000. College coach: Virginia 2001-03. Pro coach: Joined Jaguars in 2003 Andy spent his college career at Notre Dame playing tackle under head coach Lou Houltz. Known as a physical and tenacious blocker, he helped anchor an OL that led the Fighting Irish with blocking which allowed for their dominating ground performances. Notre Dame followed Coach Lou Holtz’s slow but effective formula for winning perfectly: grind it out (250 rushing yards per game) and play great defense (allowed only 12.3 points per game). Tony Rice led Notre Dame in both rushing (700 yards) and passing (1,176 yards) as the Fighting Irish played ball control en route to 32.6 points per game Sound like a familiar philosophy... That's Jaguars football in a nutshell, pound the rock and play hard defense. You gotta think learning fr...
Jacksonville Jaguars Defensive End Paul Spicer Skips OTA's
2008-05-13 19:22:00 From the department of poor decisions: Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Paul Spicer elected to not attend today's offseason training activity (OTA) at Jacksonville Municipal Stadium. Fred Taylor, a regular no-show, was also absent, though he plans on attending a few between now and training camp. Spicer's absence comes as a surprise, considering the amount invested at his position this year. Spicer led the team in sacks last season, though at 32 years old, is rapidly approaching the end of his career. It is probably contract related : "I spoke to both of them this morning. I’ll let you ask (Spicer) how he wants to present it," Del Rio said when asked if Spicer’s absence is a result of contract discontent. "He expressed that he wouldn’t be here. I expressed that I’d like him to be here." Paul last signed a contract with the Jaguars in 2006, a three year extension. He's due to make 2.5 million dollars this season, and will be a free age...
Better know a Jaguars coach... Mark Duffner
2008-05-13 05:21:00 "Mark Duffner" "Linebackers; born July 19, 1953, Annadale, Va. Defensive lineman William & Mary 1972-74. No pro playing experience. College coach: Ohio State 1975-76, Cincinnati 1977-1980, Holy Cross 1981-1991 (head coach 1986-1991), Maryland 1992-1996 (head coach). Pro coach: Cincinnati Bengals 1997-2002, Green Bay Packers 2003-2005, joined Jaguars in 2006." His first coaching Job at Ohio State in '75 was under the legendary Woody Hayes, a man who Duffner credits with having a drastic impact upon his life. “It was the most unbelievable experience of my life. He was just an unbelievable person, highly educated and tremendous energy and work ethic,” Duffner said. “He had people skills like I’ve never seen ... it was a phenomenal experience for me.” Duffner is a no-nonsense type of coach whom is clearly defensive minded. Below is a list of his record at Maryland from 1992 to 1996, which speaks volumes to this point. SeasonSchoolRecordAPF...
2008 Jacksonville Jaguars: Historical Roster Breakdown
2008-05-12 18:00:00 The Jacksonville Jaguars offseason training activities start this week and with that begins the battle for positioning toward the final roster. The NFL only allows 53 players on the final roster and an eight man practice squad. I thought it might be interesting as be begin our position by position breakdown to look back at how many players we carry on our roster for each role. Teams are required to have their roster at specific levels through training camp. Because NFL Europa ceases to exist, teams have a hard cap of eighty players under contract. On August 26th, the roster must be cut down to 75 players. The final cut date is August 30th where the roster may only have 53 players. Tracking roster sizes for each position is actually fairly complicated. Players that are multi-functional, particularly on the offensive line, can throw off a count. For the purposes of this analysis, I will treat all offensive linemen together. Cornerbacks a...
Better Know the Jacksonville Jaguars: An Interview with QB Paul Smith
2008-05-07 22:18:00 As previously previewed , Tulsa Golden Hurricane Paul Smith is one of four quarterbacks on the Jaguars roster. While the top two spots in the Jaguars rotation is without doubt, there is a weakness in the long-term development of a new signal caller. While David Garrard has very low miles for his age, Cleo Lemon is neither a development for the future nor a suitable backup for the next several years. Part of building a team is to keep an eye three to four years ahead. In this case, the signing of Paul Smith as an undrafted free agent just might be the Jaguars "jar on the shelf" at the most premium of premium positions. I recently had the chance to talk with Paul Smith. He is by far the most engaging of all the players I've had the chance to interview, and we talked for quite some time. Unfortunately, the answers to my first few questions was lost due to my inability to properly use my voice recorder. First off, I would like to thank Paul Smi...
2008 Jacksonville Jaguars Signing: Linebacker Lamar Myles
2008-05-05 20:07:00 The Jacksonville Jaguars are a popular team for undrafted free-agents because they have a good habit finding starters in the ranks of the "undraftable". Jack Del Rio fosters an environment of competition in his off-season that allows for players that might lack the draft credentials to have a fair and reasonable shot at making the roster. Remember, the undrafted free agent is playing for his NFL career, just getting a shot to be on the practice squad will increase the chance that a player proves himself to a team and continue to live the dream of playing on Sundays. In Jacksonville, there's a realistic shot of not only going to the practice squad, but to make the final roster and make an impact. To be fair, the Jaguars roster is pretty stacked to begin with this year, but with the lack of draft picks due to the Derrick Harvey/Quentin Groves moves, there is just enough wiggle room to allow a hard working and determined UDFA to make an impact and be on the final ros...
Jacksonville Jaguars: 7th best drafters in the league?
2008-05-01 23:11:00 The Chicago Tribune and Dan Pompei recently embarked on a study to determine who the "best drafters" in the NFL were. While their methodology is a little muddled, they find some surprising results. Like who would have thought the Arizona Cardinals and Rod Graves would be the best overall? The Tribune bases their rankings on the number of picks taken that become starters. It's a "batting average", as they put it. This metric puts the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Jack Del Rio/Gene Smith/James Harris trifecta in seventh place. They Say: 7. Shack Harris/Jack Del Rio, Jaguars Average: .386 (17-for-44) Percentage of Pro Bowlers: 2.2 Their batting average is impressive, but not all of the players who became starters are considered great picks. As a result, college scouting director Gene Smith was recently given more juice in the draft room 38 percent of players drafted become starters, that's not too shabby. Though were these rankings sorted by percentage of Pro B...
Jaguars sign veteran free-agent safety Prioleau
2008-04-30 22:22:00 The Jacksonville Jaguars signed free agent safety Pierson Prioleau on Wednesday and waived quarterback Lester Ricard. Read More: Associated Press
By: NFL Connection
Jacksonville Jaguars Undrafted Free Agents: Scouting Report, part 1
2008-04-30 22:11:00 The Jacksonville Jaguars signed quite a few undrafted free-agents after the draft. Many of these guys played at smaller schools or in conferences rarely seen on television. To better acquaint us with these potential Jagaurs, let's take a quick look at their scouting reports to get an idea of who they are and where they might fit in the roster. There is a concerning lack of information about some of these players. If you know anything about them, please feel free to comment and expand our knowledge. The Jaguars have a reputation for turning undrafted guys into starters, though with our roster depth it's a long shot for any of them to make the team. Nevada WR Adam Bishop: Smart player known for hard work in film room and ability to recognize holes in zone defense. Good hands, though small. Tough blocker that takes that aspect of job very seriously. Injury prone, missed time with a stress fracture in left leg and repeated hamst...
Jacksonville Jaguars Draft: Expectations vs. Reality
2008-04-29 06:10:00 There they are, the five selections of the Jacksonville Jaguars 2008 draft. The class that has the imposing task of taking the team over the hump and to the Super Bowl. Derrick, Quentin, Thomas, Trae, and Chauncey have the highest of expectations considering the relative lack of companions in their rookie class. Thomas, Trae, and Chauncey especially. First, let's take a look at what my expectations were for the Jaguars draft and let's see if we did what was necessary. At least one top "10" Defensive End: The Jaguars, in my opinion, must anchor their pass-rush around at least one defensive end rated in the top 10 at the position. If they wait until later, the likelihood of getting the impact that the team needs to bring pressure decreases. I'd say we did that alright. Rather than get one "top ten" defensive end, we got the third and 5th best ends on the board. There are some who had Harvey ranked higher than Ghoulston (though I do...
2008 NFL Draft: Jacksonville Jaguars Select Running Back Chauncey Washingto
2008-04-27 23:26:00 With the Jaguars final pick in the 2008 NFL Draft, the Jacksonville Jaguars selected USC Running Back Chauncey Washington. Jack Del Rio must feel bad for all the UCLA players he's selected early in previous drafts, so he'll make up for it by taking some depth players late. Chauncey was part of a fleet of running backs used by USC in the post-Bush era. In 31 games he started 15 of them, with over 1700 yards, 19 touchdowns, and a 4.8 yards per carry average. He's a classic "north-south" runner that can get first downs and critical yardage. Jacksonville needs to start thinking about what happens at Running Back after Fred Taylor. Because of the Derrick Harvey trade, they did not have the third round picks to go after someone like Kevin Smith. Chauncey, as far as I know, is not the future starting running back, rather he'll be a role guy to build and develop. While I'm not going to completely hate on the guy, he's described as someo...
2008 NFL Draft: Jacksonville Jaguars select Quentin Groves
2008-04-27 04:42:00 There he is, Quentin Groves, the Jacksonville Jaguars with the 52nd overall pick. The Jaguars traded a fifth round pick from the 2008 draft and a 2009 7th round pick to move up with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Quentin Groves, as I previewed here, is a pass rushing defensive end/outside linebacker hybrid known for his speed on the edge. Jacksonville, in two picks, as made Peyton Manning, Matt Schaub and Vince Young soil themselves as the team who could not bring the heat now as two of the top pass rushers in the draft are now in the Teal and Black. Sure, it was expensive to get the two of them. The Jaguars now have two 5th round picks to round out their draft. While I don't think the move reeks of desperation, the Jaguars must believe that these two players will be home runs. If any team learned from the New York Giants, it's the Jaguars who can now field a diverse range of defensive linemen, the scrappy Derek Landri, the monster of John Henderson,...
2008 NFL Draft: Jacksonville Jaguars select Derrick Harvey
2008-04-26 22:25:00 In what can only be described as a huge turn of events, the Jacksonville Jaguars selected University of Florida Defensive End Derrick Harvey. The Jaguars traded their 1st, two 3rd, and a 4th rounder to trade with the Baltimore Ravens. Baltimore needed to go backwards in order to find a quarterback after the Atlanta Falcons selected Matt Ryan with the 3rd pick. One word Wow. I had no idea this was coming. None whatsoever. The Jaguars, in my opinion, did not have the picks to move up any higher than 17. Were it not for Matt Ryan going to Atlanta, this series of events would never happen. Matt Miller of New Era Scouting gives this analysis: Harvey was the best defensive end in football during the 2006 season. He wasn't as amazing in 2007, having lost three fellow starters on the line. He's a hard charging rush end, but has strength to stand up against the run. He was our #15 player, but has the potential to be an immediate impact Pro Bowl type pass rusher. ...
Jaguars 2008 Draft: Gut Feeling...
2008-04-26 16:18:00 I'm going to go out on a limb and "predict" who the Jaguars pick at 26. If you've been paying attention over the last few months, you'll know my feelings on the guy. Kentwan Balmer, Defensive Tackle, UNC. My gut feeling is that the Jaguars select Balmer in the 1st round. I don't like Kentwan simply because he's a guy with a high ceiling that completely underperformed. Unless the Jaguars move up to get someone like Phillip Mering (my choice) or go backward to take Trevor Laws (draft crush!), 26 feels like the right spot for Balmer. Now, it's time to go on the record. Who do you think the Jaguars will take in the first round? -Chris Poll SHOULD Kentwan Balmer be our first round pick. Yes No Ugh 65 votes | Results
Jacksonville Jaguars Draft Day 2008
2008-04-26 12:45:00 Here it is, finally, the 2008 NFL Draft. In a few short hours all the speculation and nonsense of the pre-draft season comes to a close. Will Jacksonville find their defensive end? Will we trade up? Down? For Jason Taylor? What I want to do here, before they put Mel Kiper Jr. back in his cryogenic chamber, is establish my expectations for the Jaguars as the draft begins. This will consist of three sections. The first is a "wish list" of what I'd like to see the Jaguars do this weekend. It's going to be a little bit over zealous in that I'll expect more than will probably happen, hence the "wish" part. The second is a run down of draft scenarios for the first three rounds. Finally, the official Big Cat Country "player interest list", which consists of nearly every player connected in some way to the Jaguars. I imagine that we won't get near many of these players, but it'll be interesting to compare who we draft with who...
Jacksonville Jaguars Draft Flashback: 2005
2008-04-25 18:45:00 [EDIT]Now, I'm going to be traveling all day today. With the switch to the new platform, I can schedule my posts, allowing me a great deal of flexibility. Whereas on previous "travel days", you'd suffer from a lack of content, today you get fresh stuff!How cool is that?To start our "draft eve" coverage, let's look back to the 2005 draft and see what sort of treasure and fools gold we found.[/EDIT]There's a rule among the "NFL Elite" that it's a poor decision to grade a draft class until three seasons have passed. In today's "instant history" world, that's impossible as Mel Kiper and the rest of the ESPN Stooges will grade the draft almost as quickly as the pick is made. That's just the demand of the 24 hour sports news cycle playing out in yet another absurd fashion. I understand it, we all want to know that our teams did well, and because of that our media overlords give us what we want.Before we get into the grading the 2005 draft acc...
Better Know a Jaguars Draft Prospect: Notre Dame Safety Tom Zbikowski
2008-04-24 07:19:00 The least you should know about Tom Zbikowski... Height 5-11 Weight 211 lbs 40 Yard Dash 4.44 20 Yard Dash 2.55 Bench Reps 24 3 Cone 6.78 Compares To: Adrian Wilson - Arizona: " One of the most exciting defensive players in recent Notre Dame defensive history, Zbikowski has proven himself to be a game breaker with 7 career touchdowns (3 punt returns, 2 interception returns, 2 fumble returns). Whether he can return to his dominant form of 2005 where he garnered several all-American honors remains to be seen. If a team can figure out how to best use his unique set of skills, something the coached at Notre Dame seemed to struggle with, he could be an impact player at the next level both on defense and in the return game." There is a considerable lack of consensus about where Zbikowski will fit in the NFL. Some sites put him as a second round prospect and put the emphasis on the team that drafts him to use his unique skill...
Jacksonville Jaguars: 3rd Best NFL Franchise, 9th Overall
2008-04-23 23:13:00 In what has always been completely obvious to the fans, the Jacksonville Jaguars were named the 9th "Best Franchise" according to ESPN the Magazine. We were surpassed only by the Green Bay Packers and Indianapolis Colts. Franchises were graded based on value to the fan and quality of the team. Their Comments: The Jags' one-two punch of price and performance was second to none in the NFL in 2007, kind of like that lethal running back tandem of Maurice Jones-Drew and Fred Taylor. While the Colts edged the Jags in Bang for the Buck (No. 3 vs. No. 4), scoring tickets for Jacksonville Municipal costs just $49.38 (the league's third cheapest), a cool $21 less than average stubs went for in Indy. Now tack on the NFL's second cheapest lids ($9.95) and the fifth cheapest bee/soda/dog combo ($11, tied with the Saints and Rams). So yeah, Jags fans dig not having to dig too deep into their wallets. The club is deeply invested in the men on the field, too. David Garrard, who put to res...
Jacksonville Jaguars 2008 Schedule: A breakdown
2008-04-15 23:13:00 A deeper look at the Schedule: Week 1: AT Jacksonville Jaguars AT Tennessee Titans: Opening day starts just like last season, except it's in Tennessee's home turf. Last year we looked horrible against the Titans but put together a solid season nonetheless. Winning our division starts winning on the road, opening the season 1-0 and the division 1-0 is very important. No room for excuses here, the Jaguars must come out hot. Week 2: VS Buffalo Bills vs. Jacksonville Jaguars Home opener against a team the Jaguars beat pretty soundly at home last season. Buffalo's an up and coming team, and it'll be very strange playing against Marcus Stroud, but it's not a reach to assume a win here. Week 3: AT Jacksonville Jaguars AT Indianapolis Colts The crucible of our September schedule is at Indianapolis. It's the Jaguars first trip to the new stadium where hopefully the memories of the RCA dome are behind us. It's unusual for a...
Jacksonville Jaguars 2008 Schedule: A breakdown
2008-04-15 22:13:00 A deeper look at the Schedule:Week 1: AT Jacksonville Jaguars AT Tennessee Titans: Opening day starts just like last season, except it's in Tennessee's home turf. Last year we looked horrible against the Titans but put together a solid season nonetheless. Winning our division starts winning on the road, opening the season 1-0 and the division 1-0 is very important. No room for excuses here, the Jaguars must come out hot.Week 2: VS Buffalo Bills vs. Jacksonville Jaguars Home opener against a team the Jaguars beat pretty soundly at home last season. Buffalo's an up and coming team, and it'll be very strange playing against Marcus Stroud, but it's not a reach to assume a win here.Week 3: AT Jacksonville Jaguars AT Indianapolis Colts The crucible of our September schedule is at Indianapolis. It's the Jaguars first trip to the new stadium where hopefully the memories of the RCA dome are behind us. It's unusual for a season d...
Jacksonville Jaguars 2008 Schedule released!
2008-04-15 21:20:00 Finally, after all the waiting, we get our schedule. Like I expected, it's a mixed bag of goodies. No Thanksgiving game, though perhaps the re-tooled Detroit Lions can beat the reviled Titans while I gorge myself on fried turkey and cranberry sauce. Seriously, how poorly does Vince Young have to perform in order for the NFL to realize he's not worth highlighting. Three "Prime-Time" games, but only one of the prestigious Sunday night games. The Jaguars will host the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday, October 5th. That'll be a good one. The we've got a Monday Night Football game against the Houston Texans on December 1st and we also host Indianapolis on a Thursday night game on december 18th. Divisional Schedule As expected, we open the season on the road, this time against the Tennessee Titans. Jacksonville HAS to get out to a fast start if they are to have any shot at winning their division, the Jaguars play at Tennessee and at India...
Jacksonville Jaguars 2008 Schedule released!
2008-04-15 20:20:00 Finally, after all the waiting, we get our schedule. Like I expected, it's a mixed bag of goodies. No Thanksgiving game, though perhaps the re-tooled Detroit Lions can beat the reviled Titans while I gorge myself on fried turkey and cranberry sauce. Seriously, how poorly does Vince Young have to perform in order for the NFL to realize he's not worth highlighting. Three "Prime-Time" games, but only one of the prestigious Sunday night games. The Jaguars will host the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday, October 5th. That'll be a good one. The we've got a Monday Night Football game against the Houston Texans on December 1st and we also host Indianapolis on a Thursday night game on december 18th. Divisional ScheduleAs expected, we open the season on the road, this time against the Tennessee Titans.Jacksonville HAS to get out to a fast start if they are to have any shot at winning their division, the Jaguars play at Tennessee and at Indianapo...
Better Know a Jaguars Draft Prospect: Texas A&M Defensive Tackle Red Br
2008-04-14 19:46:00 The least you should know about Red Bryant... Height 6-4 Weight 318 lbs 40 Yard Dash 5.00 20 Yard Dash 2.88 Bench Reps 20 3 Cone 7.75 Compares To: Casey Hampton - Pittsburgh: " Bryant is bigger, faster and stronger than Hampton, but both play with great anticipation and short-area explosion to dominate vs. the run. Bryant is very good at neutralizing double teams and has few peers when it comers to shutting down the inside running game. He is a tireless worker in the trenches who has not been used much as a pass rusher, but with his speed, lateral agility and strength, he could develop nicely there if a patient coaching staff teaches him proper technique. Whether in a 3-4 as a nose guard or in a 4-3 alignment as a defensive tackle, few blockers at the professional level will have success...
Better Know a Jaguars Draft Prospect: Texas A&M Defensive Tackle Red Bryant
2008-04-14 18:46:00 The least you should know about Red Bryant... Height 6-4 Weight 318 lbs 40 Yard Dash 5.00 20 Yard Dash 2.88 Bench Reps 20 3 Cone 7.75 Compares To: Casey Hampton - Pittsburgh: " Bryant is bigger, faster and stronger than Hampton, but both play with great anticipation and short-area explosion to dominate vs. the run. Bryant is very good at neutralizing double teams and has few peers when it comers to shutting down the inside running game. He is a tireless worker in the trenches who has not been used much as a pass rusher, but with his speed, lateral agility and strength, he could develop nicely there if a patient coaching staff teaches him proper technique. Whether in a 3-4 as a nose guard or in a 4-3 alignment as a defensive tackle, few blockers at the professional level will have success containing him.." Fun Fact Interview Growing up, who was your favorite NFL player and why? Reggie White. I wanted t...
Jacksonville Jaguars Draft Scenario: First Round Cornerback
2008-04-12 04:36:00 Cason, on a blitz, making Trent Edwards cry. Our favorite Jaguars.com writer, Vic Ketchman, was recently on Jaguars' This Week and speculated that the best available player when the Jaguars select at 26 may be a cornerback. He's clearly a little more optimistic than I am because I'm very much concerned that the BAP will be a running back or linebacker, two positions that are less than critical for the Jaguars in the first round. I though it might be interesting to examine where exactly the "experts" predict the top five (or so) cornerbacks will end up. My methodology is not 100% sound because I don't really account for standard deviation other than by removing outliers, but unless my Political Analysis professor drops by, it shouldn't be a problem. What I did, in essence, was take about thirty mock drafts, 10 of which were "experts", the other twenty chosen at random. I removed the highest and lowest outliers and averaged the rest. Now, I know y... |
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