Accept it the Jaguars are a contender!

by remleym on May 20, 2008 4:20 PM EDT Comment 14 comments

Why is everyone so quick to write off the Jaguars?

I was watching an episode of NFL Live where the guys were talking about the Jags. Mr. Faulk decided to say we are not in a position to pass the Colts in the AFC because, the Colts are not showing any signs of " slowing down". Okay, no first round draft pick in this years draft is a sign. They do not have the talent on the defensive side of the ball to not draft in the first round. Am I alone in this line of thought?

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Not at alll...

Remember though, the Colts are the team to beat. Once we throw them down early in the season, it’ll be all Jaguars, all the time.

But we have to climb that mountain. I don’t think the Colts have had a great offseason, and I don’t think Peyton is going to like facing our defense very much…

-Chris

Big Cat Country!:: The Official Home of the Unofficial Blog of the Jacksonville Jaguars!

by River City Rage on May 20, 2008 4:27 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Yeah…. No. Before the Jags get to claim top dog, they actually have to beat the Colts twice in one season, And not just beat the Colts, I’m taking like a full on take-Manning-behind-the-woodshed beating. Like, for an example, the 44-17 beating we go on the way to winning the Super Bowl.

The Jags mortgaged their draft to pick up pass rushers that probably won’t contribute immediately and even if they do, could be busts. Moreover, Troy Williamson and Jerry Potter are hardly the receiving threats the Jags need to keep up with the Colts in points.

The Jags need a pass defense upgrade. Without it, you guys can’t be top dogs in the division. Or did you want me to track down a YouTube video of Dwight Freeney coming off the edge and planting David Garrard into the end zone turf for a safety?

Bob Sanders eats a forest on Friday so he can lay the wood on Sunday.

by MonkeyBusiness on May 23, 2008 2:03 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Now now...

Pass defense upgrade: Replace an over the hill Sammy Knight with a Healthy Gerald Sensabaugh. Move Brian Williams to Safety where he’s much more dangerous, pair Rashean Mathis with Drayton Florence, the latter of which covered Reggie Wayne pretty well last season. Toss in Reggie Nelson who won’t be a first year player anymore as well.

I’d say that is a pretty good improvement over Sammy Knight, an Injured Rashean Mathis, and an Injured Gerald Sensabaugh.

Florence is a vastly better cover corner than Williams, so we won’t have the repeat of last year’s smoking either.

Yes, the Jaguars have to “prove it”, but you can’t deny that they’ve put together a vastly improved team, a team that got to the second round of the playoffs. The road to Tampa goes through Indianapolis, I know that, but watch out…

Big Cat Country!:: The Official Home of the Unofficial Blog of the Jacksonville Jaguars!

by River City Rage on May 23, 2008 3:29 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Even without Porter

The Jaguars were second (Behind the record setting Pats and I might add not far behind.) in the league in points scored the second half of the season. (They second only behind the record setting Pats and I might add not far behind.) BTW I’m pretty sure Freeney didn’t plant Garrard into the end zone. I think that was Quinn Gray, and I think that game would’ve gone completely differently if Garrard didn’t get hurt, not to mention plenty of other players that were hurt like our kicker. Both completely changed our play calls.

by Ewdtrey on May 30, 2008 4:38 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

As a Colts fan

I think the Jaguars made some moves to improve themselves, and they are always worthy of concern. I think they are definitely playoff contenders, but as far as Super Bowl or even division title contenders goes, I’m doubtful. They have yet to prove it on the field. Adding a couple of promising rookie defenders and a couple of slightly-above-average WRs doesn’t exactly put the fear of god in me.

As far as “they do not have the talent on the defensive side of the ball…” goes, the Colts had the #1 scoring defense in the entire league. The object of the defense is to not allow the other team to score. The Colts did that better than anybody last year. If the Colts’ talent is not up to par in this area, what does that say about every other team in the league—including the Jags?

by ctnyc on May 23, 2008 2:30 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

On Defense...

Will Dwight Freeney return to his normal beastlike performance? Will Bob Sanders hold back just enough so he remains healthy the entire season?

While you might discount my opinion as a Jaguars advocate, you surely recognize the difference those two players make on defense and what might happen if they’re less than one hundred percent.

You hopefully notice my tempered point of view with all of this. I know that there is no point in running my mouth about the Jaguars being better than Indianapolis until we prove it on the field. All the hyperbole, all the hyperventation, it’s all wasted breath on my part because Indianapolis won the division, and until Jacksonville knocks them off, they’re the team to beat.

So yes, your defensive stats were better than the Jaguars last year. Our offense stepped it up and made the difference. Now we’re a year healthier (Mathis and Sensabaugh have non-lingering injuries), we’ve got two new pass-rushers, we’ve got another cornerback that can cover very well (Florence), and we’re a little more wiser (Nelson). Not to mention the coaching changes.

I have no problem with Indianapolis being confident. Arrogance, on the other hand, pushes you toward Boston territory, and we don’t want that.

-Chris

Big Cat Country!:: The Official Home of the Unofficial Blog of the Jacksonville Jaguars!

by River City Rage on May 23, 2008 3:38 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Don't worry

Of course every team’s fan base has arrogant jerks, but I don’t think true Colts fans are arrogant. We remember all too well the gut-wrenching playoff losses to Tennessee, New England, Pittsburgh and San Diego; we know that there are no guarantees. But we have confidence in our team and see a solid roster with no major holes and superior play at key positions. So, confident? Absolutely. New England fan-style arrogance? Not for real Colts fans.

by ctnyc on May 24, 2008 4:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think everyone must be forgetting that we didn’t get blown out. It’s not THAT big of a hump to cross. The Jaguars already play the Colts very close but there are some missed opportunities. We almost pulled it off with two Possession receivers in Wilford and Williams- imagine what it could be like with Porter and a healthy Walker, as well as Williams and Northcutt again.
Both teams will continue to play close and the Jaguars don’t deserve the kind of recognition we want because they’re right- we haven’t proved it yet. But arguments like Williamson and Porter aren’t fast enough only prove how little you seem to know about the rivalry considering what we did with just Wilford and Williams.

Hayward and Spicer are good DEs. I’m not worried about what our first two round’s picks do this year, they don’t have to do anything but learn as far as I’m concerned. Let the strengthened receiving core take us the extra step.

by meacham on May 24, 2008 1:05 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

In my view

Williamson’s and Porter’s speed are not the issue so much as their play in general. Williamson by all accounts has been a bust so far. The receiver-starved Vikings gave up on this 1st-rounder from just a couple of years ago because he simply cannot hold onto the ball. I like Porter better, and think his lack of production may have been primarily due to the putrid offense he was in. Ultimately, they may both benefit from a change of scenery. As of now I think it’s fair - maybe even generous - to categorize them as “slightly-above-average.” They could certainly improve, but at the moment they don’t scare me.

by ctnyc on May 24, 2008 4:27 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

My Take As a Colts fan

I go to the Colts-Jags game in Indy every year, and you guys always make me nervous for that game. The Jags are a perrenial 10 win team year in and year out, but for this season, the Colts are the favorite in the division as they have been for 5 years.

Over a 16 week season, the Jags do not have the team depth to compete with the Colts. The Colts had injuries last year (I know we always play this card). In the Colts-Jags home game, the Jags faced a banged up and the offensive line wasn’t too healthy either. With Freeney hopefully coming back at full strength, this will be a different team than was seen in San Diego.

Also, to whomever wrote this, saying the Colts don’t have the talent on defense is laughable. They gave up the least amount of points last year, and they shut down almost every team they faced no matter who went out there.

The Jags have a good foundation with Garrard, Jones-Drew, Henderson, Peterson, and Mathis, but the Colts go 53 men deep and win. The Jags will be a contender in the AFC, but right now, the Colts are the most talented team in the South, AFC, and NFL.

coltshomer.blogspot.com

by Colts Homer on May 24, 2008 10:28 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

WOW

Even though I think the Jags are the team to beat the colts this year I’m not going to argue about that now. But I have to say, if there is a team in the NFL that has depth it’s the Jaguars. I think the only positions we don’t have depth at is kicker, punter, and long snapper. lol
BTW a lisfranc injury, which is what Freeney had, is not an injury to easily come back from; especially when your game revolves around your speed and power that predicates from your feet.

by Ewdtrey on May 30, 2008 4:16 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Depth?

I do not see the depth at defensive tackle or anywhere on the offensive line. You guys know the team better than me, but I don’t see the backups that can step up if there are injuries.

www.naptownsfinest.com

by Colts Homer on Jun 4, 2008 10:40 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Also

The Colts not drafting in the first round is because of the trade which got us Tony Ugoh, who was one of the best offensive tackles in the league before he got injured. I don’t know what not having a first rounder has to do with the talent on defense. The Colts have two players on defense that were selected in the first round: Marlin Jackson and Dwight Freeney. Ed Johnson and Gary Brackett were both signed as UDFAs, and Robert Mathis, Freddy Keiaho, and Antoine Bethea were drafted on the second day. Even if we had a first round pick, we probably would have drafted an offensive lineman or wide receiver anyways.

coltshomer.blogspot.com

by Colts Homer on May 24, 2008 10:32 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

first round pick

Our first round pick was traded last year to get a starting LT in Ugoh. And now he has a year under his belt and he played very very well as a rookie last year.

Good thing he has experience. He will need it to fight off the new beastly pass rushers the Jags drafted. ;)

And whats wrong with our talent on the D side of the ball. I heard last year before the season started was how the Colts were screwed because they lost so many players there.

Guess what. The defense was pretty darn good last season. And even without a pass rush (no Freeney, Brock getting hurt early in the game) against the Jags in the second game we still won.

Get over it. The Colts team is solid and they keep drafting well and plugging in holes.

by HelloKitty on May 31, 2008 9:33 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs