David Garrard

be the centerpiece to the Jaguar offense, accompanied by wholesale changes to the rest of the unit, David Garrard is sure to lead a fresh attack this campaign.  Longtime defensive leader Mike Peterson is

Continue reading "THE STATE OF THE JAGUARS"

 As football fans across the globe cast their longing eyes in the direction of the April draft, I decided that now might be a good time to reflect on draft classes of the last 10 years. Too often in this business, we rush ahead to the next big event without taking pause to evaluate the past and learn from it. In a way, this study will still be a celebration of the coming 2009 draft as I believe it will shed some light on certain overlooked trends that no one ever stops to consider. I will begin with a class by class showdown of sorts at the quarterback position over the last 10 drafts.  This is part II in the series:

Continue reading "NFL Quarterback Draft Class Showdown: 2002 vs 2001"

Against the Colts, QB David Garrard was brilliant for three quarters, throwing for 329 yards through the air and a touchdown (and also running for one), WR Dennis Northcutt had another good game with 101 yards and a receiving touchdown, and Maurice Jones-Drew continued his late season push to be "the guy" next year with 91 yards rushing. The defense, on the other hand, played forgettably against Indianpolis's traditional offensive machine. This Sunday, the Jags travel to another cold weather city, Baltimore, for one last game that means...well, nothing. 

Continue reading "Loss to the Colts the Epitome of a Season"

Even QB David Garrard and RBs Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew deserve to be looked at closely. About the only person that has been reliable all year is Kicker Josh Scobee. 

Continue reading "Pride on the Line Up North"

What a difference two months make. It was nine weeks ago that Shannon Sharpe was predicting a Super Bowl year for the Jaguars (and Jags fans were silently hoping he was right). Now, halfway through, the Jags sit at 3-5 after two disgusting losses to two lowly teams for Ohio. Another sub-par Midwestern team--the Lions, perennial NFL laughingstock--host the Jags this weekend in the second half opener for the Jags. As the Jags' official website acknowledged, Jax is trying to avoid becoming the first team in the history of the NFL to lose two straight games to 0-8 teams. It goes without being said that last week's cliche status--must-win time--has been upgraded to "do-or-die time." As one who's following the Jags for the first time, I'm finding it difficult to keep watching, keep caring. But if they're going to turn things around and save face, a lot is going to have to change. Almost everything, starting with:

Continue reading "What Else is There to Say?"

Pittsburgh and New England to this year's team, a staple of inconsistency (with the exception of QB David Garrard). I guess it's possible that the whole NFL is just a notch better this year, but that's hard to believe. So I guess I just keep coming back to this same conclusion, that Jacksonville's offensive line, receiving corps, and defensive secondary aren't quite good enough.

Continue reading "No More Sunshine for the Jags"

With RBs Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew splitting time flanking QB David Garrard, one has to think the offensive line is as much responsible with the way the running game goes as the running backs are. If no other question has been answered, it does seem that Garrard is a mainstay as a quality starting QB in the league. The defense seems to be a "bend-but-not-break" type unit, often giving up touchdowns that look easy early in a game, but somehow coming up with enough key stops to make the game winnable in the end. Kicker Josh Scobee is as good as it gets in the NFL it seems, and the rest of the special teams have been adequate. 

Continue reading "A Little More Sunshine in Jacksonville"

I was raised in Northern Indiana, about the same distance in between Detroit's Lions, Chicago's Bears, and Indianapolis's Colts. My mom hailed from Pittsburgh and my Dad from Wisconsin in Packer Country, and my older brother was born in Denver and became a Bronco fan. (My little brother somehow became a Miami Dolphin fan, but no one's quite sure how that happened.)  So anyway, somehow my own loyalty ended up with Chicago

Continue reading "Jags' Clock Ticking after Learning ..."

ags found their ground game (both Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew rushed for over 100 yards) and David Garrard finally looked like the QB he was last year, completing 16 of 22 passes but without a touchdown. The Jax receiving corps has yet to impress (with Jerry Porter already banged up and Dennis Northcutt leaving the game with an injury) as RB Jones-Drew caught the most passes for the most yards on a variety of screens. At one point, the Jags drove the ball 82 yards in 12:18, draining most of the fourth quarter and finishing it with 3 points by Scobee.  

Continue reading "1-2 and a Sliver of Hope"

They had the mo', David Garrard was making some plays, and the running game even seemed to be picking up steam. But the Bills recovered in time for a James Hardy (WR) touchdown reception and a late field goal. 

Continue reading "Jags in Desperation Mode after Second ..."

e Jags. 

For a team whose offense looked dominant last year, they were anything but today as David Garrard threw almost as many interceptions today as he did all of last season. The question remains: Will he be a one-hit wonder?

Continue reading "Jags Lose on Eventful Opening Weekend"

Thank you, Derrick Harvey, for gracing Jacksonville with your presence, even if your uneventful debut precluded your first practice. 

All three QBs tossed a touchdown pass and the defense was stellar as the Jacksonville Jaguars completed a 3-1 preseason--most importantly with no significant injuries--with Thursday night's 24-3 win over the struggling Redskins. The win was Jacksonville's first dominating one as they outgained the 'Skins 339-176, more than doubled them in first downs, converted ten of seventeen third downs, and held the ball thirteen minutes longer than Washington. 

Continue reading "Jags Ready for Week 1"

For some teams, the preseason is admittedly less important. Notice I said less important, not unimportant. If the Patriots or the Colts lose, no one is going to really get all that upset about it. If the Lions win, no one is going to get that excited. For teams at the absolute top or bottom, in-season results are what will ultimately matter.

Continue reading "A Bit of Reassurance as Jags Win ..."

Wayne Weaver, Jack Del Rio, David Garrard, and company could not have been pleased with the team's effort in their 19-14 loss to the Miami Dolphins and it didn't take a rocket scientist or brain surgeon to see that the fans were less than pleased with their team that finished 12-6 last year.

Continue reading "Jags off to a Less-Than-Impressive ..."