Quick Bytes: QBs, Uniforms, and the Draft

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interesting take

on the MJD, Marion Barber comparison

by car-ramrod on Apr 13, 2009 11:54 AM EDT reply actions

I think he’s right that MJD shouldn’t get the 49mil deal. He needs to get paid, just not quite that much. That being said, I think he is the most important player on our team right now both on the field and as a marketing tool. If he leaves I guarantee a very pissed off fanbase and a substantial drop in our already low ticket sales.

More importantly, I think the guys brings more to the table than stats can reveal. I have not seen another RB in recent memory that wants that extra yard more than him every time he touches the ball no matter what the game situation is. He doesn’t care if no one blocks for him, he wants that yardage. He certainly puts forth more of a consistent effort (or at least appears to) than any of our other starters. How many times have you seen him get taken down by the first defender? He has proven himself to be a tough guy who will play through injuries at a high level and won’t give up even when all hope is lost. He is an emotional leader and a playmaker that can turn games around almost single-handedly

I think his value lies somewhere in between Barber and Jackson. Yes he is somewhat unproven as the primary back, but keep in mind he produced his numbers when the defense almost always knew he was coming. The cowboys have a strong passing threat to fall back on, the 08 jags…. not so much. After watching him for the last three years, I suppose I’m biased because he’s just so damn fun to watch. He was the only thing that kept many of last season’s games watchable.

Bottom line, find a suitable middle ground, get him a contract, and do it quickly! Based on his performance for the last three years I think he might deserve cash more than anyone else on the roster. I know it’s the way the system works, but it’s just painful to see guys like Harvey earn millions more. Now that Fred is gone, I think it’s hard to argue that MJD isn’t the most important player to our franchise.

by rusty904 on Apr 13, 2009 6:38 PM EDT reply actions

Would Rather...

Wait until the bye week or next off-season and give him a nice deal. I’m not opposed to paying the guy a lot of money, but he really needs to prove he is our back of the future, who can hold up and make plays for the next 6-7 years. If he plays in all of the games this coming season or at least 14, then give him a deal better than Steven Jackson’s, we have the cap room. The contract should be incentive laden as well, I think all contracts, especially for a position that is easy to get injured in, should be heavily based on incentives.

I think Jones-Drew has earned his money; without a doubt. But I still have concerns as well. Drew played fine in the Green Bay game, but nothing spectacular. Next week on Thursday night against the hated Colts, he had another pretty good performance. The only thing that bothered me is that he didn’t get over 100 yards against one of the worst run defenses in the NFL. And then towards the end of the game, he gets injured, right when we don’t need it. There was maybe 25-30 seconds left, and we were knocking on the Colts door, about to win the game. Drew gets injured, can’ get off of the field, and something like 15 seconds gets run off. He had a fumble in this game as well; luckily Pashos jumped on it, and Montell Owens scored on the next play. Two plays later, Garrard gets sacked, game over. Week 17, Jones-Drew gets injured temporarily again, and he fumbles the damn ball twice. He needs to show me something for me to be comfortable with signing him to a new deal.

Of course, I’m not making the decisions for the Jaguars, much less negotiating contracts and signing players to new, expensive deals. I just hope Gene Smith and the rest of the front office feels the same way, because the Jaguars could be sorry if Jones-Drew shows that he can’t carry the load full time. I have confidence that he can, but first I want him to show me.

On another note, I think Harvey will earn his money this season. I say he goes Mario Williams style and comes out with a 15 sack year. Everybody says he isn’t earning his money, but what did he have around him? At this point in his career, he is a speed rusher. These types of DEs rely on penetration by the defensive tackles to collapse the pocket, and give them one on one match-ups with the offensive tackle. I think Quentin Groves will prove his worth as well next season. In nickel situations, Reggie Hayward has become a liability. Harvey can play left end, and Groves can really become a pass rush specialist next season from the right end spot.

Managing an NFL team is a hard business. I have faith that Gene Smith can make the right decisions in both the draft and signing players… this team has a chance to be special, and win a Super Bowl soon, it’s just gonna take some good decisions the next few years.

Thats Good For Another Jacksonville... First Down.

by Bestjagfan on Apr 13, 2009 7:01 PM EDT up reply actions

BTW

Love your DE paragraph. I feel the same way bestjagfan

by harveyismyboy on Apr 13, 2009 8:26 PM EDT up reply actions

Derrick was learning

You could see it. As far as earning the money, the first 10 games were worthless. It was an investment and I agree, it will pay off, but 15 sacks? Wow.

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by Tkopa on Apr 13, 2009 9:17 PM EDT up reply actions

i agree with everything but 15 sacks

i feel comfortable with double digits

surreal to be teal

by Surteal on Apr 13, 2009 10:33 PM EDT up reply actions

Yep

Harvey is going to pull a Mario Williams.

Thats Good For Another Jacksonville... First Down.

by Bestjagfan on Apr 13, 2009 10:59 PM EDT up reply actions

Ya'll need to write a fanpost

This is good stuff.

by Blair72 on Apr 14, 2009 3:08 PM EDT up reply actions

I'd like to say

that Hayward is the best DE we have as of right now. Harvey will probably surpass sometime in the future, but as of last year, Hayward was the best. I can nearly guarantee you that at his age, andwith his injury history, and with his monetary earnings that he would not be on this team if he was a liability on the field.
Go watch him and focus on him. Then focus on anyone of the DE’s and you can see a significant difference in the level of play. He was better against the run and the pass. He also took away passing lanes, and even knocked down some passes. He also moved inside to DT at times on passing downs and did a pretty good job of disrupting things. I think his main problems were that the DT’s weren’t doing their job and second his reps were limited because of his achilles tendon injury that would flare up.(Part of why I think we shouldn’t shy away from drafting someone like Everette Brown)
I’d like to take this opportunity to add that with Groves getting bigger and Harvey already being 270+ means we wont have too many undersized pass rushers, assuming we draft Brown.

by Ewdtrey on Apr 14, 2009 8:48 PM EDT up reply actions

Best DE...

Last season that is. Hayward could still be the best next season as well, but I highly doubt it. Harvey is going to pull a Mario Williams and get a break out season. Hayward, at this point, is here for veteran leadership and run defense. He can still disrupt against the pass, but I don’t think he is getting over 5 sacks next season.

I’d be cool with drafting Brown. If he is the BAP, I’m all for it.

Thats Good For Another Jacksonville... First Down.

by Bestjagfan on Apr 14, 2009 9:04 PM EDT up reply actions

i agree guys

surreal to be teal

by Surteal on Apr 14, 2009 11:00 PM EDT up reply actions

agee somewhat about my boy rusty

1) I agree the early draft picks get wayyyyyyyy tooo much mulah, but that is the nature of the NFL nowadays, not just the jags

2) Don’t judge my boy after 1 season! He finished strong and I’m predicting 9 sacks this year(more?).

by harveyismyboy on Apr 13, 2009 8:23 PM EDT up reply actions

Here's my problem with Harvey

I agree with you, we need to be patient with Harvey. I’m more than willing to give him another season or two to get into to true form. My problem with him is that he almost never made me believe that he wanted to get to the QB. He didn’t display the “motor” we know he has. Mistakes and lack of sucess are fine for a rookie, just F-up going full speed! (or at least make me think you are). I felt like we got the effort (and the mistakes!) from Groves, but with Harvey we just got mistakes. That combined with the holdout contributed to my low opinion of him. But hey, it’s a new season, and I have a short memory. He could be my favorite defensive player this year!

by rusty904 on Apr 13, 2009 8:42 PM EDT up reply actions

At least we still have him for this next season. However, if we don’t give him a new contract now, how is that going to effect his attitude? I think Jones-Drew will come to his senses and come to the conditioning programs, but he will still be some what unhappy. He is going to eventually tell himself that the Jags like him a lot and is going to eventually get a new contract. Let the front office worry about the contract and Jones-Drew worry about getting his body back into football mode.

by ajagsbeliever on Apr 13, 2009 7:14 PM EDT reply actions

He Better Not Get Pissed

If he truely cares about this team than he will understand that they are doing what is best for the franchise. I think he will be alright; he’s a smart guy.

Thats Good For Another Jacksonville... First Down.

by Bestjagfan on Apr 13, 2009 8:02 PM EDT up reply actions

Contract or No, he has to have a good attitude

For his own sake, he better perform contract or no. If he doesn’t he’ll lower his stock for a new contract with us or another team. Even if we can keep him for a year without a new contract, I feel like that would be a dick move (for lack of a better term). I know it’s a business, but paying your star and one of your hardest working players the league minimum isn’t fair and it’s not how Wayne Weaver and this franchise operates. Even if he does perform, a holdout will lead to unrest and locker room tension and we don’t want to go down that road again. In other words, a holdout with MJD could prevent us from gaining that “chemistry” we so desperately need.

In my humble opinion MJD needs to take a fair and reasonable contract this year ASAP. It’s up to the team and him to figure out what that is. In the meantime, he’s got to hang up on his agent and get in the weight room. I think that will prove to the team and Wayne that he is a commited to the team’s best interests and that he deserves the paycheck.

by rusty904 on Apr 13, 2009 8:56 PM EDT up reply actions