Jacksonville Jaguars: Changing of the Guards

by Alfie Crow on Sep 7, 2010 8:01 AM EDT in Jacksonville Jaguars Comcast Sponsored Posts

All during pre-season and training camp there was a battle on the offensive line for the starting guard positions. Uche Nwaneri, who started all last season at right guard, locked up one of the spots early on in training camp. Former Jaguar Kynan Forney thought to have the lead early on in camp but faded down the stretch and was ultimately released after sitting out the final two pre-season games. The final two games saw a battle between newly acquired Justin Smiley and the veteran Vince Manuwai.

For now, Justin Smiley has emerged the victor at left guard.

In the final pre-season game Manuwai and Smiley both played a good chunk of the game at guard. Manuwai at right, Smiley at left, and both performed just fine. It seems as if the coaching staff decided to stick with Nwaneri at the right guard spot and insert Smiley to the left guard role. Smiley's forte is pulling and pass protection, which is a lot of the responsibility of the left guard.

"At the guard position Uche Nwaneri will start at right guard and Justin Smiley will start at left guard, and Vinny will be here in a support role, backup role, a guy that is very close that’s very close that obviously had started and is very capable of starting but that’s the way we’ll begin the season with those other guys starting and Brad at center," Jack Del Rio told the media yesterday.

I expected Vince Manuwai to get the start with Nwaneri at the left guard postion, but the difference is minimal. Nwaneri is versatile, having the ability to roadgrade at right guard but also posess the ability to pass block and pull from the left guard position. Manuwai is strictly a roadgrader at this point in his career. Like the safety position, it seems as if guard will be fluid if it struggles early on. Despite his salary, Vince Manuwai was not asked to take a pay cut as a back up guard. "I’m blessed to be a part of the team. I’ll prepare like I’m going to start," said Manuwai. This will be the first time at any level Manuwai will not be starting on the offensive line, but with the injury history of someone like Smiley, he's a valuable asset to have in a back up role. He'll be able to come right in and the offensive line shouldn't skip a beat if there is an injury on the interior.

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I'm surprised they were willing to keep Vinny

as a backup at that salary. I kind of figured he’d either earn the starting job or would get cut. Two thoughts about that: (1) you’re right – there’s not much difference right now between Vinny & Smiley; and (2) can’t pick on the front office too much for being cheap when they kept the high salary guy for backup.

by SicilianJag on Sep 7, 2010 8:59 AM EDT reply actions

My $.02

My take is Vinny is not yet 100%; neither is Smiley but they’ve got valuable experience as pro linemen. Maybe Smiley has just enough filth to take the starting job over Vinny. Plus the Hawaiian connection that a lot of people are referring to— perhaps Vinny is around to not necessarily ensure that Tyson stays out of trouble, but more to mentor him so the leeches stay away from him. That’s a hell of an investment in a young guy and some may mistake his spiritual nature for gullibility. You’ve basically got 1 guy in 2 bodies. Week 1 of 2008 is still burned in the memory of Jacksonville as that was going to be the game that kicked off their run to the Super Bowl. We had no backup plan for the absolute worst case scenario of our offensive line going down. The moves we’ve made in the 2 years since then have seemed to me been made to ensure we are not caught with our pants down again. That season aged Garrard 3 years.

So in effect, the Jaguars in my mind are planning to have a “plug and play” backup in case Smiley does not hold up. We’ve made a lot of cut rate moves but offensive line is like driving a car auto insurance. You can try to get by without it, but there will come a time when you’ll need it otherwise you’ll be paying out the a__ (see Monroe, Euguene and Britton, Eben).

by Joe Fisher on Sep 7, 2010 9:23 AM EDT reply actions

I think they remember 08 the lost year very well, and that is why there are three starting capable guards kept. Nwaneri could also be an emergency center, while he is awful at shotgun snaps he is alright with the QB undercenter. The tackles bother me, Black cannot function as a fillin starter, so essentially there is little safety net at T to prevent 08

Waber-Jaguar

by jawsaints on Sep 7, 2010 3:06 PM EDT reply actions