Roll Tide, Roll Right Into Jacksonville

In an interesting and very possible scenario the Jaguars could, conceivably, just draft most of the the starting Alabama Crimson Tide to their 2009 roster. As George Carlin used to say, "This is the type of stuff I think of when I'm home alone and the power goes out." Allow me to expound on this idea:

With the eighth overall selection the Jacksonville Jaguars select Alabama tackle Andre Smith. Yes, I've heard reports on his workout at the Crimson Tide Pro Day and I know what happened at the NFL Combine. I still think the Jags like him, maybe a little less than before but they still like him. Also, I don't believe Smith bombed as bad as some people have said. Other scouts are always going to downplay how a player did in the hopes that the player in question will fall to their team.

Fact is Smith is a talented youngster that could start from day one. He's a talented enough player to start out at right tackle, where the Jags could use improvement or even slide into guard, a position where the Jags need some youth and depth. Eventually Smith might move over to the all-important left tackle position. Sure there are some character concerns but the Jags have an ace in the hole. That ace is former Crimson Tide coach and current Jags quarterback coach Mike Shula, the man who recruited and coached Smith for his first few seasons in Tuscaloosa. If Shula can vouch for Smith's character then Andre could very well find himself in Jacksonville.

Now we turn our focus to the defense. Jacksonville has a huge hole to fill in their secondary. The strong safety spot is in big need of addressing. Rashad Johnson is a good looking, fast-rising player. The former walk on has been slowly rising up draft boards and should be a solid second round pick. While he isn't ideally built he is a heady player that reads and reacts well. Johnson could excel under new defensive coordinator Mel Tucker. Tucker's background is heavily steeped in coaching secondaries.

The next wave of Crimson Tide (Is it possible to have a wave of tides?) to make their way to Jacksonville could be center Antoine Caldwell. Caldwell caught my eye in the 2008 SEC title game. I've been up and down on Caldwell but I'm back on him. I thought he was too light in the can to hold down the center position but after watching him at the Senior Bowl I'm sold. Caldwell helped hold down the Crimson Tide offensive line along with Andre Smith. He earned all SEC honors at center and was a captain in his final two years at Alabama.

What Caldwell brings, besides his physical ability, is a leadership mentality. He is mature, smart, and a leader, just the type of player Gene Smith is looking to stock the Jags with. The former Alabama center should be there for Jacksonville in the early third round. Even though he doesn't have the name of a Max Unger or Alex Mack he is a quality player that brings lots of collegiate experience and a winning attitude.

Now I'll give you a name of a player that won me over the first time I saw him play. Glen Coffee split time in the Crimson backfield and probably declared early because of it. Coffee has pretty good size at 6'1, 200lbs but what makes me really like this guy is the way he runs. He only knows one way to run, hard. Just turn on the tape of him against Florida in the SEC title game. With Fred Taylor now a New England Patriot (D@MN!) the Jags could look to add a power runner with more wiggle and pop than Greg Jones. One concern about Coffee could be his role in a textbook scandal back in 2007 but Gene Smith will surely do his do diligence on the talented running back. Coffee should be available in the late third or even in the early fourth.

Finally, with Jacksonville needing to groom a young quarterback the team could select John Parker Wilson. JPW has the physical tools but most don't seem him as an NFL starting-caliber quarterback. I'm not sure I do either but I do think he's a guy that can be a solid backup for a decade or more. With Mike Shula having recruited the Wilson and Shula being the Jaguars quarterbacks coach it just makes too much sense. Wilson should be a late second day selection and could be the Jags pick in the sixth round.