For Better or Worse, the Jaguars are Jack Del Rio’s Team

If Jacksonville does not succeed in 2009, there is no one left to blame outside of head coach Jack Del Rio. After the 2006 season, he fired most of the offensive assistants. Following a lackluster 5-11 campaign in 2008, the Jags let GM James Harris go and replaced half of the defensive coaching staff. Owner Wayne Weaver showed a lot of faith in his six-year veteran coach, a surprise to many including SPF.  (All you have to do is enter "Jack Del Rio" in the Swampland search to chronicle our concern with Del Rio's coaching tenure over the years.)

New GM Gene Smith and Del Rio made a statement on Draft Day when they decided to select two offensive tackles-Eugene Monroe (Virginia) and Eben Britton (Arizona) -with their first two picks. The Jacksonville brass was obviously bothered by last year’s offensive line injuries which caused them to fall from 2nd in the league in rushing in 2007 to 18th in 2008. Additionally, quarterback David Garrard went from throwing 18 touchdowns and three interceptions in 2007 to 15 touchdowns and 13 interceptions in ‘08. Part of his decline was the fact that he was sacked 42 times last year, as opposed to half that in 2007. In trying to compete in the rugged AFC South, Jacksonville chose to get back to defining their team by quality play in the trenches.

It was obvious that the Jaguars did not want to add another young, first-round receiver (even though Michael Crabtree and Jeremy Maclin were there) because of their past mistakes with Reggie Williams and Matt Jones. They acted before the Draft to sign veteran receiver Torry Holt, who they hope will make up for the failed acquisitions of Jerry Porter and Troy Williamson. Holt is a savvy player, and Jacksonville is hoping that his decline in 2008 was due to a poor surrounding cast in St. Louis and not to age.

Despite all of the additions on offense, what may ultimately define success for the Jags in 2009 is the reemergence of a physical defense. Even with the exciting Playoff run in 2007, the team was carried by their offense at the end of the year and postseason. It got worse in 2008 as the Jags ranked 21st in scoring defense under Gregg Williams. Del Rio will now have his third defensive coordinator in three years with the hire of Mel Tucker, although the head coach will be heavily involved in the playcalling on that side of the ball. This unit most improve greatly to compete with the offenses of Indianapolis, Houston, and Tennessee within their division.

During the offseason, owner Wayne Weaver tried to sell the fans on new uniforms as giving the team an identity. Savvy football followers in Florida are not going to buy fashion changes as the Jaguars identity. What they will buy is their team getting back to the physical brand of football that brought them 40 regular season wins from 2004-07. If Jacksonville has another losing season in 2009, it could very well mean the end for Del Rio and for the faith those Jaguar fans have in the current administration.
 

related tags

Read More...

Comments

Please login or you can to leave a comment.

If you aren't registered, Register Now to start leaving comments.