Jacksonville Jaguars: Can Blaine Gabbert Succeed In The NFL?

By: Tyler Ward

With the 10th overall selection in the 2011 NFL Draft, the Jacksonville Jaguars selected Missouri quarterback Blaine Gabbert.

Twelve games through his rookie season, Gabbert has seemed to be a disappointment - especially when you look around and see how well fellow rookie quarterbacks Cam Newton and Andy Dalton are flourishing.

However, Gabbert could do better if he weren't in an offensive system led by offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter. Koetter is a very conservative coordinator, as he believes in the philosophy of running the ball down the opponent's throat - Jaguars running back Maurice Jones-Drew is currently leading the league in carries.

His play-calling often leads to Gabbert throwing small dink-and-dunk passes, which rarely go over ten yards. This system has been very easy to suspect and defenses have caught on to their offense, which makes these small gains very easy to defend.

Gabbert hasn't been able to get in the groove at all this season and his stats show that as well.

The former Missouri quarterback has completed just 147 of 297 passes (49.5%), which is the lowest in the league for starting quarterbacks. He has thrown for just 1,566 yards in eleven games, an average of a paltry 142.4 yards per game.

Gabbert has also thrown just eight touchdowns and seven interceptions on the year, with his first multiple-touchdown game coming against the Chargers on Monday night.

His seven interceptions show that he is very mature with the football and rarely puts the Jaguars offense in a bad position. However, Gabbert has shown that his mechanics are very poor, as he often fails to hit wide open receivers when they are five or more yards away from the scrimmage line.

It also doesn't help that Gabbert has arguably the worst receiving corps in the entire league.

Mike Thomas, the team's No. 1 receiver, is not a legitimate top receiver and he is at best, a No. 2 option. Thomas could fit best possibly as a slot receiver, but the corps is so bad that he is their first option.

Other receivers feature Jason Hill, Jarrett Dillard, Kassim Osgood, Chastin West, Cecil Shorts III and the newly-acquired Taylor Price, who they got off waivers from the New England Patriots. Clearly, the Jaguars are going to need to make some changes in the receiving corps if they want Gabbert to become their franchise quarterback.

Their offense also features tight end Marcedes Lewis, who is arguably having the worst season since his rookie season in 2006. Lewis' receiving numbers have gone up every year since he was drafted, but they have suffered drastically with Gabbert leading the team. Over the last few seasons, the former UCLA standout has been the Jaguars' best option, but not this year.

Lewis has caught just 30 passes for 308 yards and zero touchdowns this season after having receiving numbers of 129, 391, 489, 518 and 700, respectively. If Lewis ends the season with no touchdowns, it will be the first time in his career that he fails to haul in a touchdown in his career - Lewis caught a career-high ten touchdowns last season with David Garrard as the quarterback.

If the Jaguars' front office wants Gabbert to succeed, they need to give him a legitimate top receiver and they should look in the draft for one, such as South Carolina's Alshon Jeffery or Oklahoma State's Justin Blackmon.

But for now, with the options Gabbert has, he will never become the quarterback they want him to be and he will fall into mediocrity and could fall into the same category as Ryan Leaf, Heath Shuler, JaMarcus Russell and so on.

The front office may also need to make a decision regarding Koetter, the team's offensive coordinator. The team relies too heavily on the run and with such a high workload, Jones-Drew will eventually get burned out. Jones-Drew cannot keep putting up a hefty amount of carries season after season. It's just not healthy and it will ruin a rather solid career.

Clearly, the Jaguars are a run-first offense and it will continue to be that way if they fail to surround Gabbert with proven receivers - especially ones that can get open down field.

The Jaguars' offensive plans typically calls for short passes, with Gabbert throwing a 20+ yard pass once or twice per game. It's hard to win games when a quarterback doesn't go deep a few times during a contest.

It will take a lot of effort and moves for Gabbert to succeed with the Jaguars and they may just end it prematurely - for instance, the Jaguars could take a quarterback in the first round of next year's draft such as Baylor's Robert Griffin III, USC's Matt Barkley, or Oklahoma's Landry Jones.

This scenario will be just like the Panthers last season when they drafted Jimmy Clausen in the second round, only to draft Cam Newton with the first overall pick this year. It could happen and Gabbert may not be a Jaguar next season.

But if they plan to stick with Gabbert, changes will have to be made to better suit his talents.

And for now, I really don't see them making any major moves and Gabbert will eventually turn out to be a mediocre starting quarterback. He will likely not turn into the franchise quarterback they had hoped for when they took him with the tenth overall selection in last year's draft.

Jaguars Sever Ties With Head Coach Jack Del Rio; Owner Sells Team To Illinois Businessman

By: Tyler Ward

In a not so surprising move, the Jacksonville Jaguars have relieved head coach Jack Del Rio of his coaching duties. It comes as no surprise that Del Rio is gone after the Jaguars are currently third in the weak AFC South division with a 3-8 record.

It also became known that longtime owner Wayne Weaver had sold the franchise to Illinois businessman Shahid Khan. League sources have told ESPN that the deal is worth between $750 and $800 million.

Khan had promised Weaver that he had every intention in keeping the Jaguars in Jacksonville; Weaver turned out to be exceptionally content with the deal as the Jaguars would be one of the most likely teams to move if the NFL wanted to set up shop in a different city. Also, it has been widely known that if a team were to relocate, it would almost assuredly be to Los Angeles, California.

The small franchise came into fruition in 1993 and are one of only a few teams to never reach a Super Bowl.

Weaver had said that he had been scouring for a deal for years, but he wanted to find somebody that would keep the team in Jacksonville, as he would like his grandchildren and future family members to become Jaguars fans.

The former owner said of the deal, "It's a little bittersweet, honestly, that it came as soon as it did. But the main motivation for the exit strategy was to find someone that has the same passion about the NFL, had the same passion about football in Jacksonville as we do, and I found that person."

Khan's purchase of the Jaguars will be subject of approval, of course. On Dec.14, league owners will vote to ratify the deal and if it is approved, it will become official on Jan. 4, 2012.

Del Rio's firing marks the end of a bittersweet marriage that has quickly gone south as of late. Weaver gave Del Rio a four-year deal worth $21 million after the Jaguars won a playoff game following the 2007 regular season. The Jaguars finished with a 5-11 record the following season and Weaver was forced to make changes, but he ultimately decided to retain Del Rio.

Del Rio leaves with a 69-73 record, including a 1-2 record in the postseason. The Jaguars didn't win the AFC South in any of his 9+ seasons.

Before the season, Weaver gave Del Rio an ultimatum and that was if the Jaguars didn't make it to the postseason, he was gone. And sure enough, after a tough 20-13 loss to the current division-leading Houston Texans, Jacksonville was essentially eliminated from the playoffs. Thus, Del Rio was fired.

Del Rio is currently owed approximately $5.6 million for the final year of his contract.

However, the team definitely have some talent on the roster. Running back Maurice Jones-Drew has been one of the premier rushers over the last few seasons and the team used their first-round pick in the 2011 draft on Missouri quarterback Blaine Gabbert.

There are definitely some changes to be made and I'm sure they will come after the season is over.

It is unclear at this point who the Jaguars will pursue to replace Del Rio. One name that has popped up is current Maryland Terrapins head coach Randy Edsall, who has also coached at the University of Connecticut. Edsall worked for the Jaguars when Tom Coughlin was the head coach.

GM Gene Smith has stated that he really likes Edsall, so a deal could get done if Edsall is ready to leave the college ranks for the big spotlight.

And of course, names like Jon Gruden and Bill Cowher have showed up on the radar, but it is unlikely either will head to Jacksonville since it is such a small market and the Jaguars aren't known for a winning pedigree.

Another name to watch is Brian Billick, who led the Baltimore Ravens to a Super Bowl title in 2000. Billick was hired as the head coach prior to the 1999 season and was let go following the 2008 season.

And of course, if the Jaguars perform well through the end of the regular season, current interim head coach Mel Tucker could retain the job on a permanent basis.

But for now, there are games to be played and the Jaguars have to take it one step at a time.

Jaguars' Complete Ineptitude Continues In 30-3 Defeat

By: Stephen Patterson

Where exactly do you start to break down why the Jacksonville Jaguars continue to be atrociously bad on both sides of the ball? Is it the coaching? The inconsistent (at best) quarterback play? The fact that their defense seems to bleed points left and right? There are almost as many holes in this franchise as there are interceptions in Brett Favres' career. I'm honestly not sure there is a GM in the league that could make this team a legitimate playoff threat in less than three seasons. I'm honestly starting to feel bad for Jaguars' fans, and that's kind of sad considering the Bills and Browns are the only current teams in that category.

Their 30-3 loss at the hands of the Tennessee Titans on Monday Night Football put every single one of their flaws wide out in the open for a nationwide audience to see. The worst part it is, it was a complete and total team effort to reach the levels of horrendously bad play that they displayed tonight. It was a concerted effort from coaches and players alike.

Neither one of their quarterbacks could put points on the board, although some of that blame falls on the shoulders of the horrible effort of their receiving corps with costly turnovers. To put that in perspective, Tim Tebow, the quarterback that dominated the NCAA at nearby University of Florida and overwhelming local fan favorite, scored more touchdowns (1) than both of the Jaguars' current quarterbacks did Monday night against the Titans. David Garrard, knocked out with a concussion in the second quarter, and Trent Edwards, his inept back-up that is one of a very select group that makes Jake Delhomme look like a beast, posted QB ratings of 33.0 and 40.3, respectively.

Maurice Jones-Drew, the only legitimate superstar on the offensive side of the ball for Jacksonville, had a meager 57 yards rushing on 17 attempts for an average of 3.4 yards per carry. To put that one in perspective, Edwards, career full of ineptitude and all, ran with the ball 5 times for 16 yards and an average of 3.2 yards per carry. That's only a 0.2 difference in YPC between the franchises' superstar running back and their back-up quarterback that's only on the roster because he was no longer good enough for the Buffalo Bills. How can you not be good enough for that team? And how do you find a job after being labeled with that title "Not Good Enough For The Bills"? The good news is that MJD is usually much more reliable than this. The bad news is that when he isn't, this team isn't good enough to get within single digits of winning a ball game.

Their receiving corps is also one of the worst in league. Marcedes Lewis is the only real bright spot out of the group. He is already tied for the franchise single-season record for receiving touchdowns (5) by a tight end with 10 games left to play. Even he couldn't be relied upon tonight, however, as he coughed up a fumble at the Titans' 10 yard line late in the first half which Tennessee recovered. Mike Thomas, Mike Sims-Walker, and Tiquan Underwood are the teams best options, although the order is completely up in the air as far as which one is the best among them. Sims-Walker is supposed to be "the guy", but against Tennessee he put up this whooping stat line: 2 receptions (on 8 targets) for 16 yards. That's a very solid effort for a teams' fifth or sixth best receiver, not their top guy. For the season, Jacksonville is tied for 25th in the league in team receptions (88), 26th in team receiving yards (909), and 28th in yards per reception (10.3). Those numbers aren't going to win very many games.

Their defense is just as inept as the offense, only they have a couple more bright spots on their side of the ball. Only seven teams in the NFL have given up more points than Jacksonville this season (137). Those teams? The Buffalo Bills, Arizona Cardinals, San Francisco 49ers, Detroit Lions, Oakland Raiders, Denver Broncos, and Houston Texans. Not exactly the company you want to be in when it comes to this conversation. Really, almost any conversation, with the exception of Houston, who has a pretty decent team overall with the exception of the horrendously bad secondary. They have been outscored by a ridiculous 96-19 margin in their 3 losses this season to Tennessee, San Diego, and Philadelphia. The only thing close to an upside is the fact they have several relatively young players such as Tyson Alualu, Justin Durant, and Derek Cox who will hopefully continue to improve over the next few seasons.

The fourth quarter of their loss to the Titans exposed Jack Del Rio's poor coaching abilities, as continuously had MJD rush the ball and burn away time while his team trailed by three possessions. It got to the point where the crowd was loudly booing the play-calling as they kept wasting time even as they got into the red-zone and down near the goal-line. When they finally decided to pass the ball, the Titan's knew it was coming and Vincent Fuller ripped the ball from Underwood's hands in the end-zone. While it's understandable Del Rio would want to turn to his best player, that's not exactly the best way to go about erasing a 20 point deficit with less than 10 minutes to go in the game. He is 58-56 since taking over as head coach for the 2003 season and has managed a 1-2 record in the postseason during that time. Toss in the fact that they haven't won the division once, and only came in second twice, and this could easily be Del Rio's last season in Jacksonville if he can't get this team near a .500 finish and out of last place in their division.

Jacksonville has been consistently bad over the past decade, only reaching the playoffs twice and never living up to their expectations. Considering they play in a loaded division with three teams that are clearly better than them at most positions, and one of those teams has a guy named Peyton Manning, I don't think the Jaguars are anywhere near being a contender in their own division, much less in the AFC. I don't think Del Rio or Garrard will be around the next time this franchise sees the postseason, and it could be a very long wait until they are serious threats to get to the Super Bowl. Unless MJD goes off for 1,500 yards and 20 touchdowns and the rest of team magically learns how to play football in the next 10 games, don't bank on the Jaguars being anywhere near the playoff picture at the end of the season.

Michael Vick Will Start Against Jaguars

By: Stephen Patterson

This time there are no injuries involved. Eagles head coach Andy Reid named Michael Vick the starter for the remainder of the season yesterday, only days after saying Kevin Kolb would regain the job when he returned from the concussion he suffered in the first half of the Eagle's Week 1 loss against Green Bay. Vick has been hot in both games since taking over for Kolb, and he will look to continue the streak against a weak Jacksonville defense this weekend.

Vick made his first start since December 2006 against the Detroit Lions this past Sunday, and helped lead Philadelphia to a win. Against the Packers, Vick amassed over 100 yards passing and 100 yards rushing, bringing the Eagles within a touchdown of tying the game before falling just short. He has had a QB rating over 100 in both of his games this season (although he didn't start against the Packers).

Many in Philadelphia were surprised with the move, as Kolb was supposed to be the new face of the franchise after the team made the decision to deal Donovan McNabb to the Washington Redskins in the offseason. The team was high on Kolb after he came in and passed for over 300 yards in consecutive games last season in place of an injured McNabb. But in the first half against Green Bay and during much of the preseason, Kolb didn't resemble anything of that QB from last season. It appears the reaction to the move is overwhelmingly positive in Philadelphia, as well as around the country according to recent polls.

After the team suffered devastating season-ending injuries to Pro-Bowl fullback Leonard Weaver and starting center Jamaal Jackson, Reid felt the team would need a mobile QB moving forward this season, and Vick definitely fits that mold. Vick has always been known more for his speed and running capabilities than his arm, but he has shown better judgment and slightly improved accuracy this season after a full training camp with the team.

With Vick entering free agency after this season, it is truly now or never for him to prove he is capable of leading a football team and being a starter in the NFL again. With many teams having definite issues at QB that will need to be addressed in the offseason this year, there is a very good chance he could land a starting job somewhere if he plays at a high level this season. Although the Eagles made a long term commitment to Kolb, there have been rumors today the team is considering moving him to another team before the deadline. If for some reason they do move Kolb, expect the team to consider keeping Vick around.

Vick has had plenty of ups and downs throughout his professional career. After having his best professional season in 2006, in which he became the first QB in NFL history to rush for over 1,000 yards, Vick went on a spiraling downfall amid dog-fighting charges. When it became clear how bad the charges were, many weren't sure if Vick would ever be back in the NFL. But after serving almost two years in prison, the Eagles signed him to a contract before last season to give him a chance to show he can still play football and that he is a new person. His continuing journey to redeem himself will begin a new chapter on Sunday against the Jaguars, and hopefully Vick will continue to shine in this new found opportunity.

AFC South Preview

By: Tyler Ward and Stephen Patterson

1. Indianapolis Colts (Head Coach: Jim Caldwell)

Key arrivals: CB Deshea Townsend, LB Jerry Hughes (draft), LB Pat Angerer (draft)

Key departures: CB Marlin Jackson, LB Freddy Keiaho, DE Raheem Brock, LB Tyjuan Hagler

TW: Surprisingly, the Colts didn't do much this offseason (like they do every year). But, somehow, the Colts continue to be one of the top teams in the league year in and year out. Peyton Manning, arguably one of the best quarterbacks of all-time, is back for another season and looks to lead the Colts back to another Super Bowl. The Colts are also stacked at wide receiver with Reggie Wayne, Pierre Garcon, and Austin Collie, along with tight end Dallas Clark. They are getting back Anthony Gonzalez, too, so look for Manning to have another 4,000 yard season. However, their running game could hurt them, as they were one of the worst last season. Joseph Addai will look to redeem himself this season and Donald Brown, their first-round draft pick last season, could take over the starting role at some point this season. They lost a lot defensively, but that seems to never really stop the Colts. With young players like Jerry Hughes, Antoine Bethea, Clint Session, and Jerraud Powers, they can have a formidable defense in a few years. The drafting of Hughes can also take pressure off of Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis, who consistently get double-teamed. The Colts may have some trouble, but I think in the end, they will come out as AFC South champions.

- TW's Prediction: 12-4

SP: The Indianapolis Colts are returning a majority of the players that led them to the Super Bowl last season. While there division is far from weak, there is an extremely good chance they will continue their dominance over the division they have had for a majority of the past decade. With 3-time MVP Peyton Manning again leading the way for this team they will definitely excel once again this season. Their running game is a  little shaky in my opinion, but as long as they are moderately successful then the team should be fine. Their defense may be the only question mark for them, but if they can stay healthy, I expect them to do fairly well this season. Houston and Tennessee are each capable of winning this division if the Colts slip up, but even without taking the division title, Indianapolis will definitely be around in the postseason as long as Manning is playing and healthy. Considering his ridiculously long streak of consecutive starts, I'm pretty sure that's a safe bet to make.

- SP's Prediction: 12-4

2. Houston Texans (Head Coach: Gary Kubiak)

Key arrivals: FB Justin Griffith, CB Kareem Jackson (draft), RB Ben Tate (draft)

Key departures: CB Dunta Robinson, OG Chester Pitts, QB Rex Grossman, S Brian Russell, RB Chris Brown

TW: The Texans could be a sleeper this season - I think Matt Schaub could be a Top 5 QB in the league and will have another 4,000 yard season this season, but I expect him to have more touchdowns. They have the best wide receiver in the league. And with tight end Owen Daniels coming back, he could possibly be due for a 1,000 yard season, like he was last year before landing on the injured reserve list. They are going to need more help from Steve Slaton, who was a fumble machine last season. They drafted Auburn running back Ben Tate in the second round, but it was announced on Monday that Tate will miss the entire 2010 season due to a broken ankle. The Texans are now rather thin at running back and will have to depend on Arian Foster for help on the ground game. Last season, Houston had a winning record for the first time since their inaugural season in 2002. They also potentially have a Top-10 defense in the league with Brian Cushing, DeMeco Ryans, rookie Kareem Jackson and former #1 overall pick Mario Williams. I look for Houston to have the same record as they did last season, but they will definitely be a playoff contender as long as Schaub and Johnson are on the team.

- TW's Prediction: 9-7

SP: The Houston Texans had their first winning season at 9-7 last season and will look to improve upon that this year. With Matt Schaub and Andre Johnson headlining the offense, this team will be absolutely lethal every time they have the ball. If Kareem Jackson can play well and be a solid addition to a weak secondary, the defense will also be once of the best in the division. With Mario Williams, Brian Cushing (who will miss the first four games of the season due to suspension), and DeMeco Ryans leading the way, Houston is very capable of racking up takeaways against almost any team. As long as their secondary can step up and play solid this season, expect to finish with a Top 10 defense in the league. The only problems I have with the Texans are 1) Their running game never seems to turn our, regardless of who they have at the positions and 2) The team seems to have difficulty winning in important games, especially on the road, and often in must-win situations. Even though the team had their best record in franchise history last season, they still fell short of the playoffs. With that being said, I think this team is due for a breakthrough season and with Schaub and Johnson leading the way offensively, along with a solid defense, I expect the Texans to finally reach the postseason.

- SP's Prediction: 11-5

3. Tennessee Titans (Head Coach: Jeff Fisher)

Key arrivals: LB Will Witherspoon, CB Tye Hill, DE Raheem Brock, DE Derrick Morgan (draft)

Key departures: LB Keith Bulluck, RB LenDale White, DE Kyle Vanden Bosch, DE Jevon Kearse, C Kevin Mawae, TE Alge Crumpler

TW: Yes, they have Chris Johnson, who will probably have another big season. But, the one thing that kills the Titans is their quarterback position. Vince Young is a playmaker, but he is not one of those quarterbacks that can lead a team, in my opinion. Like most mobile quarterbacks, Young is inaccurate and will be lucky to complete 60% of his passes. If the Titans want to win games, Young will have to play incredibly well. The Titans also lost out defensively, cutting ties with Kyle Vanden Bosch, along with fan favorites Keith Bulluck and Jevon Kearse. They also cut ties with LenDale White, who didn't have that great of a career with Tennessee - they will probably only miss him when it's a goal line situation. I think the Titans could struggle this year, but will hover around the .500 mark.

- TW's Prediction: 8-8

SP: The Titans definitely made the right decision to get Chris Johnson on the field and avoiding a Revis-like holdout with their best player. Johnson has publicly stated on several occasions that his goal for this season is to rush for 2,500 yards, and while it's extremely unlikely he will accomplish that feat, I do predict he will become the first running back in NFL history to rush for over 2,000 in consecutive seasons. With Vince Young heading into the season as the team's starting QB, Johnson will form a lethal running threat with Young that will certainly help add even more yards to his totals. While Young may have a questionable arm sometimes, he is a very respectable threat on the ground due to his mobility and if he turns the corner and makes a pitch to Johnson in stride... well just hope your team has an outstanding defense or a lucky play. The Titans could still use help in their receiving core, and while Kenny Britt and Nate Washington are fairly solid receivers, they are pretty low on the list compared to some of their AFC counterparts. The Titan's defense will be a big question for them heading into the season after losing Kyle Vanden Bosch, Jevon Kearse, and Keith Bullock. Derrick Morgan, Will Witherspoon,  and Raheem Brock will need to step in for their departures and have an immediate impact for the team on the defensive side of the ball. While I expect some great individual performances for some members of the team, I don't think they will have a very good season overall.

- SP's Prediction: 7-9

4. Jacksonville Jaguars (Head Coach: Jack Del Rio)

Key arrivals: DE/LB Aaron Kampman, LB Kirk Morrison, LB Freddy Keiaho, OG Justin Smiley, DE Tyson Alualu (draft)

Key departures: DT John Henderson, LB Clint Ingram, OT Maurice Williams, LB Quentin Groves, WR Torry Holt, WR Reggie Williams, OT Tra Thomas, DE Reggie Hayward

TW: The Jaguars are on the decline, plain and simple. David Garrard is not the quarterback he was when he threw 18 touchdowns and 3 interceptions. Maurice Jones-Drew is their MVP and will more than likely have another great season like he did in 2009. Their receiving game is more than questionable, with Mike Sims-Walker, Mike Thomas, and Troy Williamson being their starting three receivers. They lost Maurice Williams and Tra Thomas to free agency, so their offensive line could be a problem (they did add Justin Smiley, however). Jacksonville also released John Henderson, arguably their best defensive player in franchise history. Their defense is top-half-of-the-league material, but I don't think their offense can keep up. Jones-Drew is a great player, but they're going to have to rely on the passing game throughout some games.

-TW's Prediction: 5-11

SP: Jacksonville consistently fails to live up to expectations, and I don't expect this season will be any different for the franchise. Maurice Jones-Drew is the sole bright spot for this team, and in my opinion, most of the roster needs to be overturned and built around him. If coach Del Rio can't find a way to have this team winning fairly early in the season I expect him to be one of the first coaches to be fired this year. Anything short of .500 by Week 10 will mean his job, in my opinion. He has never been able to bring in the players necessary to compete in a very talented division and they proved it once again by not drafting a new quarterback to replace Garrard, who has clearly shown he is not capable of winning consistently and being the leader this team desperately needs it's QB to be. They could have definitely used an upgrade at the wide receiver position during the offseason, as well, with options including Terrell Owens and Antonio Bryant being available. They have a fairly decent defense, and Aaron Kampman and Kirk Morrison will definitely be solid improvements at the LB position. Sadly, I don't think the defense or MJD can do enough this season to turn it into a winning year and save their coaches job.

- SP's Prediction: 6-10