Henderson and Hayward: The Key Veterans
by silencecs on Jul 29, 2009 3:21 AM EDT
in Jacksonville Jaguars Camp Battles
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Henny and Haywire, at their best...
With training camp less than a week away, the position of dire need on the squad is the defensive line. Formerly, concern centered on the safety position, however, that has been slightly alleviated thanks to what can only be described as a high-stakes heist of the Detroit Lions by the Jaguars' front office. Gerald Alexander has starting potential and to have him for basically nothing brings the epitome of depth to the position.
Henderson
The Defensive line is this team's greatest weakness. The real question is whether or not we can get one more good year out of Big Hen. Knighton will need time to develop, and so will anyone we draft next year. Getting one more productive season would assure our line is at least mediocre this season, while allowing our defensive future to grow and develop further. What I want to see from John is consitent work ethic all year long. He's got a history of taking practice off, and that has to stop immediately. That's not the mentor I want for Terrence Knighton, and that's not the mentality I want in a Jaguar. Jack Del Rio has acted as John's cheif enabler, letting the big man sit out practice for personal reasons regularly. It appears that approach is through and that Jack expects Henderson to show up and practice, no excuses.
If Big John would just apply himself, he has the abilty to regain his 2006 form, even if just for one more season. His girth and strength are still nearly unmatched, and he almost always commands a double team when he's on his game. He is this team's biggest question mark, and that shouldn't be the case with a long time vet who has no significant injury history.
The potential for a shut down defense is undeniably present in Duval. With Henderson, Knighton, or Landri at DT, in any combination, we have over 600lbs of man-eating grizzly bears protecting the middle. The size to shut down the run is there, which some teams lack (ahem, Indy), and I say that with proper form and coaching, this personnel should be able to get the job done. Doubt remains only because Landri has never been a starter and Knighton is a rook. Doubt should remain because Ted Monnachino is the defensive line coach, but people seem to overlook that travesty of a hiring.
Hayward
Reggie Hayward has shown a strong work ethic and desire to get back to his previously dominant form. This is as much a make or break year for him as it is for John. Hayward is scheduled to make over 3 million this season, and if he doesn't make the final roster, he won't find a similar deal on the open market. He'll be going full throttle all through camp and I would expect him to be a fixture on the defensive line all year, barring any significant injury.
It is highly unlikely Reggie will ever be a sack machine again, as rupturing your Achilles is a devastating injury. If he is going to do it though, this has to be the year. I believe Reggie's overall focus though, has to be on stopping the run. He must hold his own in the trenches and continue to mentor Harvey in the same mold. The entire line needs to focus on shutting down the opponents running game, enabling the Jaguars' to keep only 7 in the box most times. If Sean Considine finds himself inside the box on first and second down more often then not, you can count on the Jaguars having a long season.
-Collin Streetman
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Thank you Collin
I hate to say this, but the lack of pressure on the QB was the biggest failure of last year. John Henderson can’t be the force he was if he is the only person the other team fears. Quentin Groves and Derrick Harvey were too easy to control, Paul Spicer milked one last contract without ability to back it up, and three guys were left to protect against John Henderson and Rob Meier. John can’t fight double teaming an entire game.
The Bills love Marcus Stroud. We thought Rob Meier was better. Who was the key guy in that decision? Ted Monachino. Who did Derrick Harvey put on his butt in pro day testing and declared DH the greatest? Ted Monachino. How is our former DL coach Sugar Bear Hamilton doing in Atlanta? Much better than we are. Bad coaching, bad decisions, no supporting cast and it is suddenly all John Hendersons fault? Can you say scape goat?
Big Cat Country!:: The Official Home of the Unofficial Blog of the Jacksonville Jaguars!
How do we know
who was behind the Stroud decision? If he said that Meier was gonna do fine after the trade, then I don’t blame him for being optimistic. What else was he supposed to say?
Jeez, Here in Detroit we thought we ripped Jacksonville off [LOL]
Alexander was apparently not likely to make it to the final roster and we needed a slot receiver. Don’t get me wrong, I think you guys have much more upside in Alexander than we have in Northcutt, but it looks like an exchange of spare parts. Although what you got was younger and cost less.
I liked the trade
I think it was a bit of a win win situation. The expectation was that Northcutt might only be the 5th best receiver while getting paid more than anyone else.
An outsider's view of your defensive line.
Let me start off by saying that I am no expert and did not watch the Jags play last year, so I am going on the final stats. You guys would have a better appreciation for your overall D Line play, but maybe I can provide some perspective.
In 2008 the Jags defence finished 11th in yards per rush [4.0] and 20th in sacks 29. You gave up 106.8 yards rushing per game [13th] and 14 rushing TDs [15th]. A small improvement in those numbers would put you in the top eight in each category.
2007 was 4.1 YPC, 100.3 yards per game, and 37 sacks
2006 was 3.5 YPC[3rd in NFL], 91.3 yards per game, and 35 sacks
2005 was 3.9 YPC, 106.8 yards per game, and 47 sacks
I did not go back any farther, but I get the sense that your rush defence has been fairly consistent outside of the 2006 season. Your sack rate is declining, but not by a huge amount. I think your team made the right move by drafting a couple of D linemen last year to shore up that unit.
I consider the D Line to be the key to a strong defence, especially the tackles. In Detroit we know what happens to a defence that has a weak defensive line. I think your line is nowhere near as poor as you think, but you are right to highlight it now before it is too late.
I appreciate the stats and your comments
But seeing everything live says there is a big difference in 2006 and 2008. When the Jaguars wanted to shut people down in 2006 it happened and I don’t have the stats but PPG may tell a different story.
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I agree, Stats do not tell the whole story.
Was there anything that happened in 2006 that made that defence as good as it was? Was there a change in personnel, coaching, scheme, etc.?
It was before the twin towers were seperated.
Stroud and Henderson were both on their A game in 2006.
The End Is Nigh... www.infowars.com
What those stats don't show
Is how much time the opposing QB had. The reason the rush yards weren’t higher is because they had so much time to throw. It hurts to say it, but that’s what I saw.
Yeah
And we gave James Hardy his first career touchdown with less than two minutes left. Hip-Hip-Hooray
If hip hop is dead, then it happened the day that Dilla died.
-Akrobatik
Henderson will have the biggest impact on the season
If he returns to his 2006 form, it will be a positive impact. If he doesn’t, then he’ll have a hugely negative impact as teams once again pound the ball straight up the middle. All the pass rushing in the world from Hayward won’t matter if opposing offenses can just run and run and run and run, like the 44-17 destruction of the Colts. Only this time the Jags would be the Colts.
by MoveThoseChains on Jul 29, 2009 12:28 PM EDT reply actions
Henderson is the key to stopping the run, he must return to form.
I don’t think teams will ever be able to run on us like the colts, because our LB’s are much better than the colts. Durant will be another key in stopping the run this year. He’ll have to put his nose in the pile quite a bit now that he is manning the middle. We need our DT’s to swallow up blocks so the LB’ can stuff the run at the line of scrimmage.
The End Is Nigh... www.infowars.com
You Have To Wonder
If the Jags will turn to more of a two gapping approach, so the linebackers can clean plays up. I don’t know why, but I worry about Durant in the middle. If that fullback is tearing up the middle, I wonder if Durant has the beef to step up and take him on. Just seems to me like Daryl is better manning the middle of the defense.
If hip hop is dead, then it happened the day that Dilla died.
-Akrobatik
One coach on defense I do like is Mark Duffner, our LB coach.
If he says durant should be in the middle, I don’t doubt him, although from our perspective, we know Daryl is a proven commodity at MLB, and a good one, so why mess with success?
Durant must be making HUGE strides in his progression as a player, that would be my only guess. That he is becoming this defense’s leader, and faster than anyone expected.
Durant is a rare talent. He’s like a faster and stronger Gerald Sensabaugh, which is a freakish combination to have at LB.
The End Is Nigh... www.infowars.com
So it is wonderful to hear your voice again Collin
Nobody takes apart the Jaguars like you do and puts it all in perspecive.
I learn from reading your stuff. I do worry aboutthe same coaches that said Meier was better than Stroud also say Durant is the guy in the middle, but you are right, Mark Duffner is a realist. Linebacker play is something the Jaguars can get right.
Big Cat Country!:: The Official Home of the Unofficial Blog of the Jacksonville Jaguars!
I should proof read before posting - sorry
Big Cat Country!:: The Official Home of the Unofficial Blog of the Jacksonville Jaguars!
Ha
Man I wish GoJags4218 was here right now.
If hip hop is dead, then it happened the day that Dilla died.
-Akrobatik
Thanks Terry.
Yeah, I do think Mark Duffner is one of our teams better defensive coaches. I think of him as the defensive version of Andy Heck. He consistently gets the best out of his guys and the unit as a whole is the core of the defense.
-Collin
The End Is Nigh... www.infowars.com
I think Durant's
move to MLB has to do with his improving abilities to cover in the deep middle. Smith was good, but he doesn’t get the depth that Durant can. And you would think that because our DT position is weaker than years prior to last year that people would be running up the middle a lot, that however is not the case. There are a few reasons for this.
1. Even though Big John has regressed, his run stopping abilities are still really good; he just doesn’t happen to make tackles frequently behind the line of scrimmage like he used. Partly because he keeps trying to gap.
2. Our DE’s are smaller on average and not as good at stopping the run so it’s easier to run outside for most teams.
3. The DT position is not a strength, but the still average well over 300 lbs.
4. A lot of the teams in the division are outside zone schemed in the run game. Keep in mind where players like Slaton and Chris Johnson like to do a lot of their running.
Now back to my reason for mentioning the above, it’s because the run game is happening more and more on the outside so it’s more important for our OLB’s to be bigger, but in the middle the passing game is more important to defend. Hence Durant is a perfect fit in the middle now.
Good Point Bro
Never thought of it that way. The middle of the line should be able to stuff the run pretty well, even if Big John can’t pass rush anymore. Plus, Daryl isn’t a bad pass rusher, so having him on the outside for pinch blitzes isn’t a disadvantage.
If hip hop is dead, then it happened the day that Dilla died.
-Akrobatik
linebackers
Our linebackers are decent. Need Henderson and one other to step up or we will be the doormat of the AFC south this year (With CJ and Steve Slaton in our division that we have to face twice a year)
by jesusjagfan2009 on Jul 30, 2009 12:56 PM EDT reply actions
I'd like to point out
that Reggie Hayward is our best DL and I wouldn’t be a bit surprised to see him be our sack leader. I really can imagine him being one of the top 10 4-3 DE’s this year. And of the top 10 he’s probably the best or second best against the run, possibly behind Jared Allen.
Hayward also has some versatility as a DT where he performed surprisingly well last year in passing situations. (Watch late in the the first Texans game)
Part of why he didn’t seem to get the stats that make people go wow, was because early on he was rotating out a lot trying to take it easily on his previous injury to his achilles. Another reason is because of the inability of the DT’s to penetrate. He was also the DE lined up on the strong side, meaning he was often getting double teamed.
yeah i agree
and the second year after achilles is considered the bounce back year isn’t it?
LateRoundPick.com
Hayward
8 sacks out of him would be great. He may no longer be able to get double digits anymore, but at least it would take some pressure off of Harvey as this teams only pass rusher. I think Tucker is going to find some ways to pressure the passer this year. Harvey, Groves, and Jullius Williams should build some solid pressure if the first two turn out good sophomore seasons.
If hip hop is dead, then it happened the day that Dilla died.
-Akrobatik
Having watched
Julius Williams some, I can tell you he’s not the type that puts pressure on the QB. He’s much more of a run stuffer; not usually a good thing at his height and weight.
Thats Bad for Him
Because when your a smaller player, you best be able to pressure the quarterback. Unfortunately Jullius won’t have a large chance to make the team.
If hip hop is dead, then it happened the day that Dilla died.
-Akrobatik
I think if
James Wyche and Jeremy Mincey are healthy they should probably be considered the favorites behind Hayward, Harvey, and Groves.
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