[Note by River City Rage, 07/08/08 5:17 PM EDT ] FSBlueApocalypse was kind enough to take a look at where the Jaguars have come over the last year with their situation at quarterback.  It's rough memories, for sure, but good to think about as we enter training camp. -Chris

Let's be honest here, the mood during the last off-season was bitter and full of contention. After a thorough beat down of the Colts in Week 14 of the 2006 season, things went down hill fast. David Garrard went from leading this team to the Promised Land to making Pacman Jones his favorite receiver. Three season ending losses left the Jaguars at 8-8 and the months of "What Ifs" started.

The quarterback situation on the team was easily where the bedrock of the issues laid. While Byron Leftwich was reinstated as the starter in February 2007, it could be seen that it wasn't written in stone. Various reports were already commenting the locker room was dividing themselves into Leftwich and Garrard camps. Dirk Koetter, former head coach of Arizona St, was brought in to revitalize an offense that was sorely lacking compared to its perennial Top 5 counterparts on defense. What we got were stories of inconsistencies from both players during the first part of OTAs. Its one thing to read that and just assume its players getting used to a new offense, perfectly reasonable, its another thing entirely when we hear Leftwich is overthrowing receivers so badly the balls are landing in the press section.

The Draft

Draft day came and something unexpected ended up happening. Brady Quinn, QB out of Notre Dame and expected Top 5 pick, began to slide. Pick by pick his name wasn't called to the point where he ended up in the Commissioner's booth to avoid the ESPN cameras. The Jaguars came up with the #17 pick and many saw this as a possible spot for Quinn to go, instead an announcement of a trade with Denver had taken place. The Jaguars came again at #21, but chose FS Reggie Nelson out of Florida.

Later reports surfaced of an internal dispute between Head Coach Jack Del Rio and VP of football operations, James Harris. Del Rio wanted to draft Quinn while Harris wanted Nelson.

The Cut

Training Camp began and it seemed a continuation of OTAs. Thing got so bad that by one point Coach Del Rio voluntarily admitted that the team was interested in Free Agent QB Daunte Culpepper. However, something clicked with David Garrard after that comment, and began to turn heads every throw he made. After underwhelming throughout the preseason, Leftwich was cut and the rest is history.

The Aftermath

Now most of you want to reach for your nearest beer after reading all of those bad memories. Why did I want to do that? Because I care.

After a season of turmoil, where fans thought we wasted our chance, where Quinn Gray was discussed in a serious tone as the possible starter, and where we cut the first pick of the Del Rio era a week before opening day, we have perhaps the best collection of talent in Jacksonville since the 1999 season.

Coach Del Rio went from being on the hot seat, and David Garrard a back up who never consistently delivered, to the two people perhaps most counted on to give us a Super Bowl run.

We head into this season not wondering who will be starting under center, or will we have a new head coach next year, but what seed in the playoffs we will be.