Urban Jacksonville

Photo: JACKSONVILLE, FL – DECEMBER 13: David Garrard #9 of the Jacksonville Jaguars looks to pass during the game against the Miami Dolphins at Jacksonville Municipal Stadium on December 13, 2009 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)

The fog is back. A few weeks ago, the same morning fog crept over Jacksonville after a crunch-time win over the Buffalo Bills and seemed to cloud the Jaguars’ future. Now, after a heartbreaking loss to the Miami Dolphins, in front of the biggest crowd Jacksonville Municipal Stadium has seen all year, the fog is back, and the Jaguars’ future and view of the playoffs is more clouded than ever.

With a record of 7-6, the Jaguars now find themselves tentatively at the top of a four-way logjam of teams, all vying for the AFC’s sixth playoff seed:  The Baltimore Ravens, the Dolphins, and the New York Jets. It’s been made clear that if the Jaguars hope to get themselves into the postseason without any outside help, they will have to win the remainder of their games, which include this week’s Thursday night home finale against the Indianapolis Colts (13-0), then visits to the New England Patriots (8-5) and Cleveland Browns (2-11).

Win out, and you’re in.

This has caused many people to say that the Jaguars “control their own destiny.” I don’t know about you, but I’ve always disliked that phrase. To suggest that the future is predetermined, and at the same time that you are somehow able to change it seems a little contradictory. It’s either one or the other, isn’t it?

I’d much rather leave destiny out of it and say that the Jaguars control themselves. Or at least, they will need to.

The Jaguars’ offense, in particular, will need to regain its focus after experiencing massive failures on Sunday. After being given several golden opportunities by the defense, the Jaguars failed to score any points in the second half. Against the Dolphins, the Jaguars only converted three of 14 third down attempts and went three-and-out six times. David Garrard played one of his worst games of the season completing only 11 of 26 passes for only 139 yards and a passer rating of 59.6. Maurice Jones-Drew was ineffective and held to just 59 yards on 18 carries.

With Peyton Manning and the Colts coming to town this Thursday night, the Jaguars cannot afford to squander offensive opportunities like they did against the Dolphins. The Colts aren’t likely to be as generous as Miami in giving the Jaguars chances to score. At 13-0, the Colts don’t find ways to lose. They finds ways to win.

With the postseason on the line, the Jaguars must shake off whatever affected their play on Sunday and rise to the occasion of Thursday night. With the whole world watching, David Garrard must play better, and his offensive line, including rookie tackles Eugene Monroe and Eben Britton, must give him the time he needs to be efficient. If the Jaguars hope to keep the pass rush hounds at bay, against one of the league’s best tandems of defensive ends in Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis, they will also have to establish some semblance of a running game against the league’s 19th ranked rush defense.

So the stage is set for the biggest spectacle of the season. The Jaguars versus the Colts. An upstart rebuilding team fighting for a playoff spot versus a team that has won 22 consecutive regular season games and has locked up home field advantage throughout the playoffs.

David versus Goliath.

The question is, does David have the control to hit Goliath where it counts, when he has the chance? Anything’s possible, but one thing’s for sure: The Jaguars are definitely going to need more stones.

Photo: Downtown Jacksonville, Florida (Photo courtesy of Paul Figura)

When I started doing these articles, I told Joey that I would probably stick to one post per week. First of all, I had never written anything in this capacity before and didn’t think that I could produce good content at a rate any higher than ‘one-a-week’. Secondly, I didn’t want to be that guy. The guy that’s constantly all up in everyone’s face about some cause or movement, so much that people just start turning a blind eye and a deaf ear. In fact, I’m sure there are people that have read these articles and/or follow me on Twitter that would argue that I’m already pushing it on both counts.

All that being said, I find myself compelled to write, while I should be doing other things. You know, the things I get paid to do; here at my actual job. I don’t really know what I’m trying to accomplish by writing this, or if anyone will even care. But that hasn’t stopped me yet, so here goes:

So I was sitting here at my desk at work, checking my Twitter feed, as any good social-networking slacker would, when I saw that this coming Sunday’s Jaguars-Texans game is officially blacked out. Now it’s not like this news surprised me. In fact, after the Jags’ dismal performance last Sunday in San Francisco, I think we all saw it coming. For most of us, the backlash after a Jaguars loss has become all but routine. That’s not news. That’s traffic on the Fuller-Warren or a robbery on the North side. That’s Jacksonville.

So if I wasn’t surprised, then why did it affect me so much? So much that I just had to stop what I was doing and start typing. Well maybe it wasn’t the news about the Texans game that got me so motivated. Maybe it was hearing that the other two remaining home games, including the nationally televised Thursday night game versus the Indianapolis Colts on December 17th, are currently no where close to being sold out. Yeah, maybe that was it.

No where close…

I just don’t get it. I kept repeating that phrase to myself over and over again, as I shook my head and drove to meet my wife for lunch. I was getting all ready to hit her, full-force, with another one of my unintelligible, Jaguars-related rants. Rants that she’s heard 100 times more often than any one person should ever tolerate.

Then I saw her. She looked miserable.

For the past few days, she’s been fighting as bad a head cold as you could imagine. Our house has become a graveyard for used tissues and unfinished glasses of Theraflu. And as I sat there trying to comfort her – eyes puffy and watery, nose runny and red, a zombie-like facial expression – I completely forgot about my impending tirade. Afterward, I realized I do get it.

There are a million things in life more important than the Jacksonville Jaguars. Why people don’t go to Jaguars games is no big secret or mystery. Jacksonville has been giving and hearing the myriad of different reasons for years now. And after all those years, one thing is clear:  You can’t argue with them. You can’t convince somebody that doesn’t want to buy Jaguars tickets that their reasons for doing so are wrong, or ridiculous, or unfounded. Because no matter what the surface reason happens to be, the underlying reason is plain and simple:  They don’t have to.

You can’t argue that.

No Jacksonville resident is obligated to buy Jaguars tickets. Therefore, any reason anyone gives for not going is going to be completely logical. Unfortunately, I think that’s where a lot of people get hung up. Choosing to purchase tickets and support the Jaguars isn’t a decision based on logic. It’s a decision based on emotions. You don’t do it because it makes all the sense in the world. You do it because you love it. And I’m not talking about a love for the Jaguars or even a love for football or sports in general. I’m talking about a love for this city.

I’ve lived in Jacksonville pretty much my whole life. I love this city with all my heart. It’s full of great people and limitless potential. This city has given me so much – people to love, memories to cherish, a place to call “home”. All without ever really asking for much in return. And right now a threat is looming and targeting one of my beloved city’s vital organs.

The fact of the matter is the Jaguars are a vital part of this city, and the possibility of losing the team becomes more real with each passing Jaguars game blackout. I hear the city crying out for help. And I’m sure you hear it too. So please don’t misunderstand.

The Jaguars don’t need you. Jacksonville needs you.

Think about that. Now of course, there’s no line in the sand; no call to arms. And the truth still remains, you don’t have to do anything. However, the other side of that truth is that clearly, something must be done. This city has given all of us too much to let indifference dictate its fate. To sit by and watch as outside forces penetrate our city walls and tell us what our city should and shouldn’t do; what it is and what it isn’t; who we are and who we aren’t.

Something must be done.

We must protect this house.

Photo: Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Jack Del Rio looks on in the final seconds of a 20-3 loss to the San Francisco 49ers in an NFL football game in San Francisco, Sunday, Nov. 29, 2009. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)

In a press conference earlier in the week, Jack Del Rio said his team would clearly need to travel better than it did in its last outing to the west coast. Of course, Del Rio was referring to Week 5, when the Jaguars flew across the country to Seattle, only to get shut out by the Seahawks 41-0. Well, I guess you could say this game was better. Instead of getting shut out, the Jaguars scored a whole three points on their way to a 20-3 loss to the San Francisco 49ers this Sunday.

Yeah, you’re right. It wasn’t really “better”. It was just a different kind of bad. The Jaguars weren’t blown out like they were in Seattle. In fact, the Jaguars hung in the game and gave themselves several opportunities to get back into it. Unfortunately, they did an equally good job of squandering those opportunities at the worst possible times. On four trips to the red zone, the Jaguars only produced three points, and David Garrard fumbled the ball away twice.

There’s no doubt that after such a poor showing, the knee-jerk reaction in Jacksonville will be to crucify Garrard. And although I do think at times he holds on to the ball too long and tries to do too much, I do not think that the burden of this loss should be placed entirely on Garrard’s shoulders. All too often the pass protection was breaking down before Garrard even had time to set his feet. By the end of the game, the Jaguars’ quarterback was hit a total of 12 times, including a season-high six sacks. Now I don’t care who you are, but if you’re getting beaten down like a rag doll all day, you’re going to have a tough time throwing the football.

They say that football games are won and lost in the trenches. The team that wins the battle at the line of scrimmage is usually the team that goes home happy. On Sunday, the offensive line struggled greatly to provide David Garrard with the time he needed to effectively distribute the football. The 49ers came in with a good game plan for stopping the run and kept the O-line on their heels for much of the game. Rookie left tackle Eugene Monroe looked like a turnstile at times, and his draft-mate Eben Britton had a tough day as well, despite playing very well against the Bills last week.

There’s just something about that west coast trip. The good news is that this coming Sunday the Jaguars will begin a stretch of three consecutive home games, starting with their division rival, the Houston Texans.

Or at least it would be good news in other cities.

Jacksonville provides a different dynamic that must be acknowledged. Despite being in the thick of the AFC Wild Card race, the Jaguars are in a difficult position where each week they must not only try to win a football game, but also try to impress and win over the people of Jacksonville. This year, blackouts have become customary on Sundays, yet yesterday’s away game against the 49ers was actually televised. It was one of the few times the people of Jacksonville were able to see their team for free. Unfortunately, they probably didn’t like what they saw.

If the Jaguars hope to gain respect from Jacksonville and from the NFL, they will have to prove that they are a true playoff caliber team and not a soft-schedule impostor. As the temperature drops and we head into December, the road gets increasingly difficult. The Jaguars’ final five opponents are all AFC teams. The first four of which, including Indianapolis and New England, are very much in the playoff race.

It’s in the crisp December air. Teams across the league have caught the scent of post-season football. The Jaguars MUST be ready for war. However, to win the war they’ll have to win the first battle. And it all starts in the trenches.

Photo: Jacksonville Jaguars running back Maurice Jones-Drew, left, runs for fourth-quarter yardage against the Buffalo Bills, Sunday, Nov. 22, 2009, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phil Coale)

The morning after the Jaguars rallied to beat the visiting Buffalo Bills 18-15, a dense fog rolled in and covered Jacksonville. Although I’m 100% sure it’s just a coincidence, and in no way prophetic, I feel like the fog is appropriate. At the moment, the 6-4 Jaguars are at the forefront of the AFC Wild Card race and one of the surprise teams of this season. However, their identity and future are still unclear.

After struggling most of the game to build any kind of rhythm, David Garrard once again pulled the offense together when it mattered most and lead the team to victory. Trailing 15-10 with about a minute left, Garrard hit Mike Sims-Walker from three yards out, with a feather-light, touch-pass. A thing of pure beauty. Garrard then added the exclamation point by running in the two-point conversion, putting the Jags up 18-15. The entire stadium (40,000 or so people that were inside the building) erupted in celebration.

Well, almost the entire stadium. I kind of just stood up and clapped. Don’t get me wrong, I was thrilled that the Jags won. I just couldn’t believe that’s what it took to beat the Buffalo Bills; a team ranked at or near the bottom of just about every category you can think of. A touchdown in the final minute? Really?

Why couldn’t the offense get going? The Jaguars have one of the most explosive running backs in the game today, in Maurice Jones-Drew. The Bills were coming in with the league’s worst run defense and were missing their best defensive lineman, former Jaguar Marcus Stroud. The Jaguars were coming off a huge win in which they ran all over the league’s best run defense. Jaguar domination seemed certain. What happened?

I’d have to watch it again to find out specifics, but regardless of what each team did or didn’t do, this game just reiterates the fact that “on any given Sunday”, stats and rankings are completely meaningless.

The “worst” run defense came out with a game plan to shut down Maurice Jones-Drew and succeeded. All day, the Jaguars’ offensive line struggled to create holes for the running game and close holes in the pass protection. Jones-Drew was held to just 66 yards on 25 carries (2.6 yds/carry), and David Garrard was hurried all day, hit five times and sacked twice.

No, it wasn’t pretty by any means. But it wasn’t all ugly either. After all, the Jaguars, once again, fought to the very end and won. And in the end, that’s all that matters. Now, with three wins in row, the Jaguars have some pretty good momentum going. The question is, “Can they continue to build on that momentum and become a team to be reckoned with in December?” I think they can.

The Jaguars have exceeded their 2008 win total and with that, all expectations any fan had for this year. It’s been said all season they’re rebuilding their roster, and consequently their identity. However, the ups and downs of this young football team make it hard to see exactly what that identity is.

Fortunately, whatever brand of football they play, it’s clear that the Jaguars have the ability to go round-for-round and win football games. In due time, the fog will lift and the true identity of this Jaguars team will be revealed. But for right now, “Playoff Contender” sounds just fine to me.

Photo: Jacksonville Jaguars’ Josh Scobee (10) celebrates with teammate Zach Miller (86) as New York Jets’ Marquice Cole (34) looks on after Scobee hit the game-winning field goal during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 15, 2009, in East Rutherford, N.J. The Jaguars won 24-22. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)

Despite the balmy temperature at kick-off, the Jaguars’ Week 10 game against the New York Jets definitely had the feel of December football. Both teams entered the game with equal records and “must-win” attitudes that normally don’t appear until later in the year. Win, and you’re still in the playoff hunt. Lose, and you’re basically out of contention and just playing out the rest of your schedule. Fortunately, with post-season hopes on the line, the Jaguars failed to disappoint.

In a game that looked to be slowly slipping through their fingers, the Jaguars were able to rally at crunch time and allow Josh Scobee to kick the game-winning field goal as time expired. With the win, Jacksonville improved its record to 5-4 and remains a legitimate contender for one of the two heavily coveted AFC Wild Card spots.

Interestingly enough, the term “wild card” seems like an appropriate handle for this young, upstart football team. At the beginning of the season, if anyone had predicted the Jaguars would be in this position at this point of the year, I might have laughed in their face. Then I probably would have lectured them about rebuilding.. and patience.. and tempered expectations. But, here we are. The Jaguars have proven to be unpredictable.

Heading into the game New York was one of the league’s best defenses and ranked number two against the pass. Against all logic, the Jaguars offense had considerable success, in the first half. By halftime, David Garrard had thrown for 142 yards, a touchdown, and a passer rating of 127.7. He also ran for a touchdown. On the ground, Pro Bowl (Vote NOW!) running back Maurice Jones-Drew rushed for 93 yards and a touchdown, on his way to becoming the only 100-yard rusher that the Jets allowed this season.

Photo: Jaguars running back Maurice Jones-Drew, left, runs for a touchdown as New York Jets’ Dwight Lowery (21) pursues during the first quarter Sunday, Nov. 15, 2009, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

Even more surprising than the offense was the performance of the defense. In its first true test after switching base schemes, the Jaguars’ more “bulky” 4-3 defense rose to the occasion and proved to be the more successful and natural alignment for the second week in a row. Throughout the game, the front four were able to successfully stop the run and force the ball into the hands of rookie quarterback, Mark Sanchez. The defense was also able to get decent pressure on Sanchez at times and came away with three takeaways, including two interceptions.

Unfortunately, for as well as they played in the first half, the Jaguars came out completely flat in the second half. Half-time adjustments made by Rex Ryan and the Jets coaching staff seemed to effectively neutralize the Jags’ offense. Pro Bowl cornerback Darrelle Revis was assigned to exclusively cover Mike Sims-Walker, essentially taking the Jags’ number one receiver out of the game. Ryan also decided to throw the defensive kitchen sink at Garrard, sending pressure from everywhere but the press-box. As a result, the Jaguars went three-and-out on four of their five possessions to start the second half and fumbled away another on the one-yard line.

Photo: New York Jets’ Jim Leonhard (36) sacks Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback David Garrard (9) during the third quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 15, 2009, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)

The sputtering of the offense allowed the Jets to score nine unanswered points and take a one point lead (22-21) heading into the closing minutes. For the Jaguars, the game and all their postseason hopes were circling the drain. Visions of meaningful December football were slowly leaving our minds, and flashbacks of the 2008 season began to creep into their place. It was under this sense of urgency, with just over five minutes left, at crunch time, that Garrard and the offense came back to life.

Starting from his own 17-yard line, Garrard completed 4 of 6 passes, including a huge third-down conversion to wide-receiver Mike Thomas and a 33-yard strike to tight-end Marcedes Lewis. Led by their quarterback, the Jaguars were able to march 69 yards, to the Jets’ 14-yard line, just as the clock reached the two-minute warning.

It was then that “unpredictable” became an understatement for the Jaguars. On the first play after the two-minute warning, Rex Ryan told his defense to give Maurice Jones-Drew a “free-way”. The Jets would “try to make it look good”, but still allow Jones-Drew to score. Hoping they would get the ball back in the hands of their offense with enough time left to march down-field and score.

However, Jack Del Rio suspected Ryan’s plan, so he instructed Maurice Jones-Drew to get as close to the end zone as possible… then take a knee. Say whaaa?! If you tell me you saw it coming, then you better have fire-retardant pants. I mean, we’ve seen this type of thing before, but why would you forgo the go-ahead touchdown and six free points? It’s a question that sports analysts and football pundits around the country are debating this week. However, in Del Rio’s mind, it was never a question. Rather than to take the touchdown and kick-off to the Jets with the issue still in doubt, he wanted to seal the game right then and there. Milk the clock. Kick the walk-off, three-point “extra-point”.

I can’t say I agree wholeheartedly with the strategy, considering it was a crazy, gutsy, against the percentages, “feast-or-famine” type of call, but hey; that’s why I’m not a head coach. However, I feel obligated to mention that Del Rio’s decision cost me and countless others some serious MJD fantasy football points! (Kidding!… Kind of…)

Fortunately though, JDR’s fourth quarter gamble yielded dividends in real life (unlike this guy’s). With 3 seconds left in regulation, Josh Scobee came on and drilled the 21-yard game-winning field goal. Game over. Del Rio is a genius. Or very lucky. Either way, I’ll take it.

Photo: Jacksonville Jaguars’ Josh Scobee (10) kicks the game-winning field goal during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game against the New York Jets on Sunday, Nov. 15, 2009, in East Rutherford, N.J. The Jaguars won 24-22. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)

With a finish that no one could ever have predicted, the Jaguars have positioned themselves to get in the driver’s seat of their post-season aspirations. At 5-4 in Week 10, there is no doubt that the Jaguars are playing well-beyond everyone’s expectations. But you know what? Forget expectations and predictions. Let’s focus on the right now. Right now, the Jaguars are winning games. They’re playing with passion. They’re putting on that entertaining show that so many people have cried out for. This team is giving this city all it’s got, trying to turn nothing into something. But they can’t play the games and sit in the stands too.

This Sunday, the Buffalo Bills will be coming to Jacksonville Municipal Stadium, and the Jaguars will try to continue their pursuit of an entertaining, over-achieving, “wild card” 2009 season. As of this morning, the Jaguars are about 4,000 tickets shy of reaching their blackout number of about 50,0000 for next Sunday’s game against the Bills. If they fail to reach 50,000 by noon on Thursday, the game will be, once again, blacked out. People in this town are still searching for a reason to come watch the Jags.

So I guess the question is:  “Is being a wild card enough for Jacksonville?”

Photo: Kansas City Chiefs center Andy Alleman, right, blocks Jacksonville Jaguars defensive tackle John Henderson during the third quarter, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2009, in Jacksonville, Fla. Jacksonville won 24-21. (AP Photo/Phil Coale)

And off in the distance, a glimmer of light. At the halfway point of the season, the Jaguars improved their record to 4-4 against the visiting, one-win Kansas City Chiefs; refusing to quiet whisperings of a playoff berth.

A playoff berth? From a team that experienced a 50% roster turnover in the off-season, and that I said was rebuilding? Yes, it’s possible. As of now, aside from the division leaders, only 3 teams in the AFC have a better record than the Jaguars, and two teams share their record. One of which being their next opponent: The New York Jets.

Although we’re only in Week 9 next Sunday’s game at the Meadowlands could have serious playoff implications. Following the Jets, Jacksonville’s next two opponents are both 3-5, so next Sunday’s game could provide the impetus for the Jaguars to “get hot” in the latter half of the season.

That all sounds nice of course, but if the Jaguars are to make a legitimate post-season run, they’ll have to greatly improve on defense, where they are currently ranked 23rd in the league. Fortunately, they were able to make large strides in the right direction on Sunday, against a bottom-feeding Chiefs offense.

Photo: Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Matt Cassel, right, avoids a sack from Jacksonville Jaguars’ Bryan Smith, left, in fourth-quarter action during an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2009, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Stephen Morton)

I think it’s clear that a major contributing factor to the improvement was Jack Del Rio’s decision to abandon the 3-4 defense they had been playing in weeks prior, and recommit to the 4-3 that has been the staple of Jaguars defense for the past decade.

After allowing the Tennessee Titans to rush for over 300 yards the week before, the Jaguars were able to hold the Chiefs rushing “attack”, that was without running back Larry Johnson, to a paltry 60 yards. With four down linemen, including Derrick Harvey and Quentin Groves as defensive ends, the Jaguars had the “bulk” at the point of attack that they were flat-out missing while playing the 3-4.

The switch in scheme, combined with a renewed commitment to fundamentals (i.e. tackling), produced 3 sacks of quarterback Matt Cassel; as opposed to the exasperating FIVE sacks accrued in weeks 1 through 7.

Photo: Jacksonville wide receiver Jarett Dillard (87) makes a catch over Kansas City linebacker Jovan Belcher, left, in first quarter game action during an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2009, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Stephen Morton)

After last Sunday, I think we can all agree that the 3-4 experiment is over, and Jack Del Rio all but said so himself. It was fun to think a team could switch base defenses just like that and not skip a beat, but I think most people knew that the Jaguars don’t have the kind of personnel required to make that scheme work.

Especially when the reason for the switch was losing players, like Reggie Hayward (DE) and Rob Meier (DT/DE), to begin with. Plus, JDR’s always been a 4-3 guy, and everyone’s always saying that a team should embody the personality of its head coach.

I don’t know about you, but to me the 4-3 just looks better. There’s something unsettling to me about seeing only 3 guys against 5 guys. But, whatever. As long as they’re stopping the run and sacking the quarterback, who cares what scheme they’re playing, right? Hell, line up in punt return formation if it means Mark Sanchez and Thomas Jones are on their backs all day.

And that’s where the true test for this seemingly reinvigorated defense lies. The Jets are currently ranked number one in the league in rushing, and Jones is the NFL’s 8th ranked running back. “Run the ball/Stop the run” will be absolutely critical in this game if the Jaguars hope to make it out of New Jersey above .500.

Photo: Jacksonville Jaguars running back Maurice Jones-Drew, right, catches a fourth-quarter pass from quarterback David Garrard, left, during an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2009, in Jacksonville, Fla. Jacksonville won 24-21.(AP Photo/Phil Coale)

If the defense cannot stop the run as it did against the Chiefs, the Jaguars could fall behind early yet again and be forced to throw the ball more than they’d like against the league’s number 2 ranked pass defense. The Jaguars will have to continue to give the ball to their Pro Bowl (Vote Now!) running back Maurice Jones-Drew 25-30 times and get another mistake-free game out of quarterback David Garrard to continue their hunt for a playoff berth.

Playoffs? We’ll see…

(November 9, 2008 – Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images North America)

This is the first post from good friend, newly married, huge Jaguars fan and current leader in my fantasy football league: Gil Samson. I urged Gil to write a series of articles on the Jaguars for Urban Jacksonville. I too am a huge Jaguars fan and I see these articles as a small part of my effort to raise awareness about the team and create new fans.

A front page article on ESPN today Small crowds, blackouts cloud future questions the future of an NFL franchise here in Jacksonville. This national coverage is hot on the heels of local political and business leaders announcing the revival of Touchdown Jacksonville, a grass-roots organization formed to lead efforts to ensure the Jaguars remain in Jacksonville.

While some were not invited to the official meeting I encourage everyone to do what they can to support this great opportunity for our city, the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Join me Friday morning at 9:00am on 89.9′s First Coast Connect as we talk about the Jaguars and the future of our NFL franchise. I’d love to hear your questions and concerns.

(September 14, 2008 – Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images North America)

Hey Jaguars Fans: This is Rebuilding!

For those of you that were unsure, or were wondering what the Jacksonville Jaguars were all about this season, last Sunday’s game against the Tennessee Titans should have given you some clarity. If it didn’t, you may not have been watching close enough. You may have been too busy vomiting on the emotional roller coaster that has become synonymous with Jaguar Football.

If you didn’t know before, now you know for sure: This is rebuilding. Period. The lack of talent at several positions, especially on defense, was glaringly obvious on Sunday, as the Jaguars allowed the Titans to amass over 300 rushing yards, that included two touchdown runs of 52 and 89 yards.

Of all the failures that occurred, I’m sure that one stings Jack Del Rio the most. Going into the game, everyone knew that, coming off their bye week, the Titans would get back to their old ways and put the ball in the hands of their explosive, play-making running back, Chris Johnson. Everyone knew that, with a diffident Vince Young playing quarterback for the first time since injuring himself in a game against the Jaguars in 2008, the passing game of the Titans was not going to beat the Jaguars.

(Reuters Photo)

So if the Jaguars coaching staff and players knew what was coming and game planned accordingly, why the @#$% couldn’t they stop him? It was a question I was asked quite a few times by several people, both during and after the game. I also got asked more general, frustration-based questions like, “What’s wrong with the Jaguars?”. I continue to answer both questions the same way each time: “They’re just not good enough”. I’ve found that it’s a hard pill to swallow for most people, and most of the time they’ll respond with something like, “I don’t buy that. These guys are getting paid to do it. They should be able to do it.” Well, the guys on the other side of the ball are getting paid to stop them. So what do you say to them?

The simple truth of the matter is the Jaguars DO lack talent. Thanks to several years of horrendous drafting prior to this offseason, they got old and slow. Here’s a simple example of that truth that I read the other day on Jaguars.com: Only ONE player (Scott Starks) from the 2005 draft class is still on the roster; and only TWO players (Derrick Harvey and Quentin Groves) are left from the 2008 draft class. TWO players from 2008! Only one of which is a starter (with minimal production). I don’t know about you, but I consider that EPIC DRAFT FAIL.

It’s extremely hard to be good in the NFL when you botch the draft like the Jaguars have. While you’re drafting Reggie Williams with the number 9 pick of the 2004 draft, your rivals are drafting this guy with the number 11 pick. OR… while you’re drafting Matt Jones with the 21st pick of the 2005 draft, you’re letting another team pick up Aaron Rodgers with the 24th pick. But then again, I suppose, at the time, the Jaguars already had a quarterback…

But that’s all in the past. The Jaguars’ new General Manager, Gene Smith, has brought some sanity back to the Jaguars’ draft board. In his first year in charge of personnel, Mr. Smith has brought in one of the most productive draft classes in the league, and probably in Jaguars history, with 6 of 7 picks now in the starting lineup (I know Monroe was benched Sunday, but you know what I mean). But that’s still only 6 players out of a 22-man starting lineup.

(December 18, 2008 – Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images North America)

The Jaguars need talent and depth across the board, and one draft wasn’t going to do it. And, as I said before, it was glaringly apparent against the Titans. The defensive line, whose identity is in limbo as they switch back-and-forth between 4-3 and 3-4, was getting blown of the line of scrimmage and pushed around all over the field. The player drafted to be a pass-rush specialist has yet to produce a sack, and was constantly dropping back into coverage, conceding the fact that the Jaguars CANNOT rush the passer, and might as well add an extra pass defender to try and take away the “short stuff”.

Although the linebackers played well and led the team in tackles once again, it meant that the second tier defenders were the ones “stopping the run”, and instead of 3rd and long, the defense was faced with 2nd or 3rd and short all day long and couldn’t get off the field. And Reggie Nelson, who was playing cornerback for the first time due to an injury to Rashean Mathis and lack of depth at the position, was repeatedly caught out of position and targeted all day.

So, yeah, this is rebuilding. And I think they’re just not good enough… yet. Rest assured, in time, they will be. The nucleus of the team of the future is in place, and the young talent is developing far ahead of schedule. I think the development of those young players, and seeing them mature and become hometown legends is one of the greatest things the NFL gives us. And then, hopefully after MANY years, they’ll need to rebuild yet again and the process will restart. It is the inevitable cycle of an NFL franchise.

As fans, we have to temper our expectations and our frustrations, look past the x’s and o’s, and remember why we get so riled up about football to begin with: Because we love it. We are one of 32 extremely lucky cities that has the privilege of having our very own NFL team. So please don’t ask me, “What’s wrong with the Jaguars”, because I don’t think there’s anything wrong with them. And I’ll just end up asking you, “Where’s your ticket?”.