With training camp just around the corner (July 26th), Big Cat Country is taking a look at the progress made by the Jaguars to address their biggest offseason questions.  Today's episode revolves around the addressing the pass rush. 

Where to Begin: (not) Under Pressure

When the Jacksonville Jaguars left the playoffs after a painfully disappointing and embittering loss to New England, the offseason needs wrote themselves.  The Jaguars had just participated in the Tom Brady passing school, where an ineffective pass rush had allowed Brady to complete 26 of 28 passes, a number that would haunt the Jaguars defense. 

The front four of the Jaguars struggled during the 2007 season to bring effective and consistant pressure against opposing quarterbacks.  For the Jaguars, this led to a multitude of problems, from allowing opponents to come back into games to forcing the secondary to cover receivers for so long that finding the open man was only a matter of time.  While many football pundits looked at the Jaguars secondary as the biggest weakness, based off of the passing numbers, the problem seemed to start in the trenches.  Not pressuring the quarterback allows for more passes and more successful plays.  Even the best quarterbacks in the league, Peyton Manning and Tom Brady have shown that relentless pressure can bring them down to earth, no pun intended.

Of the 37 team sacks during the season, 10 of them came against the Steelers, Raiders and Texans in the last part of the season.  These are significant because the 5 against Pittsburgh came across a very damaged offensive line, Oakland and Houston were in essence meaningless games.  When the Jaguars faced critical games against Tennessee and Indianapolis, the sacks and pressure were far fewer.  The Jaguars only sacked Manning four times in two meetings, Vince Young had it harder, falling to the turf 8 times, though his scrambling style makes him an easier target, if that makes sense.  (Seriously, with Young's tendency to read and run, the Jaguars defense "sacked" him more often because he'd often find himself behind the line of scrimmage with nowhere to run.  Manning throws the ball away and prevents the sack, or in many cases, find's the open receiver)

All was not bad in the Jaguars pressure though, Football Outsiders rated the Jaguars 10th in pass rush, using their metric that factors in down, distance, and opponent.  This is ahead of teams like Indianapolis and Houston who might have had better rushers, but got the sacks in situations that were unimportant.  An example of an "uninmportant sack" is when the Colts have a significant lead and they get to the quarterback on third and impossible. 

Addressing the Problem: Free Agency or Draft:

Bobby McCray, a powerful but inconsistent defensive end finished the 2007 campaign with merely three sacks, not nearly enough to earn him the contract he wanted from the Jaguars.  Marcus Stroud, while not a pass-rusher, was dealt to the Buffalo Bills for a draft pick, changing the defining makeup of the defensive line.

The Jaguars hit free agency hard, grabbing two receivers and a cornerback right out of the gates.  Most, including myself, expected the team to look at the talent available, whether it be trading for Jared Allen, Jason Taylor, and Terrell Suggs, or acquiring Justin Smith or Antwan Odom from the free agency market.  Yet as free agency developed, the Jaguars were out of the mix for all of these guys.  There was certainly speculation that they'd make a big move or draft pick trade to get a top tier end, but once the money was spent and the draft approached, there was nobody left that was worth spending or trading to pick up.

With the late selection in the First Round, the Jaguars were looking at getting a 2nd tier defensive end, should one be remaining on their board in the first round.  Getting the instant help they needed would require an aggressive move.  When the Atlanta Falcons signed Matt Ryan, Baltimore became a likely trade partner as they targeted Joe Flacco, and the Jaguars had their chance.  It cost them two third round picks and a fourth to make the move, but they moved from 26th to 8th overall, and selected Derrick Harvey, a nasty pass-rusher, the third best in the draft.

The second round saw another trade, this time for Quentin Groves, a player considered by many to be a first round talent that fell into the middle second.  This move was particularly shrewd, as the Jaguars jumped in front of the Tennessee Titans, who were likely to have selected Groves.

Problem Solved?

To determine if the Jaguars addressed this issue enough, FSBlueApocalypse and I will look at the best-case and worst-case scenarios.  These are, as best we figure, the ends of the ranges as far as possible results go.  The actual results will be somewhere in the middle, though hopefully toward the "best case". 

Best Case:By FSBlueApocalypse

Quentin Groves and Derrick Harvey represent the shining hope for this years team. They are for all practical purposes our draft class this year, and with any hope will be adding to Peyton Manning’s knee problems in Week 3. Groves and Harvey have the potential to add 20 sacks for our defense this year. Will they get there, maybe, maybe not. But it adds the extra fear into offensive lineman we go against. 

Derrick Harvey comes out of Florida as a top prospect. Though some accuse him of taking plays off, when I see highlights of him putting the top pick of this years draft, Jake Long, on his ass I have hope. Harvey won’t have the tremendous expectations of a Matt Ryan or Darren McFadden on him which should help.

Quentin Groves comes out of Auburn as one of their best defensive players ever. He helped lead an upset of over UF last year and one of the most feared players in the SEC. While the general opinion was that he is a tweener, he fits nicely in the new system. He will basically be a guided missile towards Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, Vince Young, etc. Simply put, if he does his job, he’ll replace MJD as the best 2nd round pick in Jaguars history.

Another gargantuan question is can Rob Meier replace Marcus Stroud? I mean, Meier has been the premier back up DT in the league for awhile now, but can we count on him for those critical 3rd and 4th down stops that need to be made. While Stroud has not been his usual self with injuries, I would say Stroud at 90% is better than 90% of the starting DT in the league at the moment. Rob Meier has a history of being a dependable back up but what will happen if he doesn’t pull through for the entire season?

Worst Case:

To bring things down a bit, imagine if Reggie Hayward fails to improve in his second season after Achilies surgery, leaving the Jaguars with an opening day starter with one leg, despite all the energy and strength he brings to the field.  Combine that with the rookie duo suffering from a slow learning curve and the 33 year-old Paul Spicer acting his age and the Jaguars quickly find themselves in the same position in 2008 as they did in 2007. 

Rookie defensive ends, particularly ones that specialize in pass-rushing, have less to learn as they transition to the NFL.  Top rated ones, such as Derrick Harvey, can have immediate impact, a la Freeney, because their job is at its core, a one-on-one battle to get around an offensive linemen and pursue the quarterback.  This battle is more physical than mental, and allow younger players to have an impact without needing a season or two of study to emerge.

That said, the Jaguars face some fantastic offensive lines, and expecting Harvey and Groves to get to Manning, Brady, Young, and others right at the start is unreasonable.  If they struggle with size and speed, they may not be the instant answer the team needs to rachet up the pressure.  If the rookies struggle and the combination of Spicer and Hayward fail to improve, the Jaguars will see no change in the pass rush, and the Mike Smith "rush four, everyone else cover" defense will come back.

Gregg Williams may be an attack style coordinator, but he's not going to bring the heat if his players can't get there.  Should the defensive ends prove ineffective, a cover 2 underneath defense becomes the status quo, the secondary covers for longer, and we start to focus on the addition of Drayton Florence as the "difference maker" on defense.

This "worst case" is hopefully unlikely.  Hayward is very competitive, and will be fighting for his career during training camp, if he's got anything left in his weak leg, he'll show it on the field.  Spicer is now well compensated and should perform accordingly, otherwise the Jaguars wouldn't have been so free with the dollars.  Harvey and Groves have a hard job ahead of them, but one within their skill range.

Without being to pessimistic, the Jaguars Pass-Rush must be considered in terms of the "worst case".  Expecting too much out of any of the ends is dangerous, especially for the rookies.  If Harvey and Groves combine for 12 sacks and contribute to a few hurries, they've had a good season.

There you go, we debate, you decide.

-Chris

  VERSUS  

Williams and Sensabaugh: Two starters, one spot at safety

What happens when you have too many starters in the secondary?  Does a team choose to bump an up-and-coming safety because they have an extra cornerback that could make the position switch?  This is the problem the Jaguars face when they look at strong safety for the 2008 season.  The Jaguars, without a doubt, suffered from a troubling problem at pass defense.  Rashean Mathis struggled all season long, Brian Williams was the best cornerback on the team, despite not being able to cover Reggie Wayne to save his life, and the Jaguars were picked apart by Tom Brady and the Patriots in the playoffs.

To address this, the Jaguars signed Drayton Florence through free agency, and seemed to have handed him the starting job opposite Mathis.  Some speculated that Florence would be a nickel cornerback, considering that the Jaguars use nearly 50% three cornerback formations, but 12 million in guaranteed money for a situational player is impossible to justify.  No, the Jaguars decided then and there that Florence would be the starting cornerback unless there was a huge shake-up at the position.

Now, there's nothing wrong in having three starting cornerbacks in today's NFL. Passing is king and having guys who can cover the best in the league, which means guys in the AFC, are worth the contracts.  The problem comes in finding ways to put the best players on the field at the same time.  When you start having your better players on the sidelines but eating up contract space, you're bound to have trouble.

So what do the Jaguars do?  The obvious solution is to move Brian Williams to Strong Safety where he has some experience and can still be involved in the pass defense.  But then there's Gerald Sensabaugh who despite showing great toughness, missed most of last season with two torn labrums.  Now he's healthy and expecting to compete for the starting role.  It's a wealth of riches, but a situation that deserves a closer look.  Thankfully, once we get to training camp, it'll be a battle that's easy to watch.

Gerald Sensabaugh: The Best Fit

There's some misleading stuff being said about Brian Williams' ability to transition from cornerback to strong safety, particulary in the role of run-stuffing.  Vic Ketchman and others have compared Brian to Indianapolis Safety Bob Sanders, a comparison which is both misleading and dangerous.

Does Brian Williams' body type remind you of any other safety in the NFL right now?

Vic: He’s got the classic body type of a run-support safety. He’s a bigger version of Bob Sanders.

While their body type might match up, it's setting an unrealistic expectation to assume that Williams can come in and be anywhere near the player that Bob Sanders is to the Colts defense.  Brian is best in pass coverage, that's his bread and butter, and expecting him to come right in and put his shoulder down and stop a running back at fill speed with the lack of regard to his body like strong safety should is premature. 

Yes, Williams is solid, but that does not make him a safety, yet.

Now, there are plenty of reasons why Brian Williams will start at Safety, but none of them reflect the skills and toughness of Gerald Sensabaugh.  While he is less proven, Gerald can do the run stuffing that he's supposed to at the position.  His toughness is without question, and now he's facing the biggest challenge of his career.

Unfortunately for Gerald, he's competing against a rough situation.

I intended to write a defense for why Gerald should be the starter, but that's not terribly realistic.  Instead, here's what we should expect between the two players.  The Jaguars are going to run a whole lot of nickel packages.  When they use three cornerbacks, Mathis and Williams go on the outside, Florence covers the slot receiver. Gerald will play strong safety, and Reggie Nelson the free safety.  In situations that have the Jaguars in their base 4-3, it will be Mathis and Florence on the edges, with Williams at strong safety next to Nelson.

Now, the nickel defense will be awfully intimidating for quarterbacks in the AFC, especially when Gregg Williams turns players like Reggie Nelson into guided quarterback missiles, and you can do things like that when you have a fleet of cornerbacks.

Gerald Sensabaugh is a free agent next season.  This training camp is critical for him to prove that he deserves to be a big part of the Jaguars rotation.  The way he becomes the starting strong safety is to prove that he is a 100% of the time tackler in the run game and hope that Williams struggles. 

In a lot of ways, the term "starter" is silly to worry about.  Maurice Jones-Drew is not technically a starter, yet his importance to the offense is without question.  The same goes for Gerald.  The odds of him securing a starting spot in the secondary is slim, but he'll still play a huge role in the defense.  It feels unfair, of course, that a guy who's put his body on the line loses out on playing time because of something outside his control, but at the same time, this is what the Jaguars defense should be.  It's a group of hard working players that know their role and they execute it perfectly.  Gerald Sensabaugh will be one of those guys who will miss out on having his name called out during introductions but will play his way onto the field. 

The likelyhood of the Jaguars making it the entire season without an injury to a cornerback is very low.  Should we lose Drayton or Rashean for a game or two, having a secondary with this much flexiblity is fantastic.  Even if it means some players have to sit on the sidelines.

-Chris

Brian Williams: Best Athlete Available

Brian Williams was signed before the 2006 season from the Minnesota Vikings who drafted him in 2002 in the 4th round. He was their transition player in 2006, which means they received no additional compensation from the Jaguars. He got a $32 million contract with a $10 million signing bonus to be the #2 cornerback, a role he filled admirably for two years. In fact, he was more consistent than Mathis was last season, although Mathis was hampered by injuries most of the year.

Now, Williams is a 29-year old veteran who has had to change his role to suit a more pass-oriented defense. The Jaguars have clearly set their mind to stopping the pass, and moving Williams to SS will do just that. Williams is an excellent tackler, but he's a better corner. I think Sensabaugh has the edge in run stopping, but I'll have to see his two re-constructed shoulders in action first to be sure. I just don't see the comparisons to Bob Smith being accurate; Williams isn't anywhere close to Smith in skill at safety. Smith has been there his whole career, giving him a huge edge. Williams is going to act more like a 3rd DB or a blitzing SS, I just can't see him projected as a line stuffer.

Williams clearly improved from his first year with the Jags in 2006 by netting 3 interceptions and defending 8 passes in 2007. Williams is also known as a devastating hitter for a corner, forcing 8 fumbles in his career. However, it must be noted that tackling a WR is different from taking down a charging RB after shedding his lead blocker's attempt to relocate your head. I see Williams being a liability in the run game, but I must stress that I don't see him being used that way. He'll be on the line mainly when blitzing, or in press coverage, but I expect his main focus will be in the passing game. The Jags tipped their hand slightly when they said they were considering placing the defensive headset in the SS helmet because it would receive less contact. That shows that the SS will be used in pass coverage more than run stopping.

Brian has been seeking advice about his new position from an unlikely source, second year safety Reggie Nelson. Nelson has a strong grasp of the defense and the fact that a 7th year veteran is asking his opinion speaks volumes to how far Nelson has progressed.

Want another sign of Nelson's development?

He has become one of the go-to guys for veteran Brian Williams, who is making the switch from cornerback to safety.

"He's loving it back there," Nelson said. "It's kind of funny because last year, I was asking him questions. Now, he's asking me questions about safety. I'm enjoying it. It's going good."

Donnie Henderson has also provided a new level of insight. His shouting is accompanied by a vast pool of knowledge that he's been able to impart to many in the secondary.

Nelson is enjoying playing for Henderson, who is much more vocal than former defensive backs coach Dave Campo, and in Nelson's words, has been giving the defensive backs more keys to hone in on from opposing offenses than the players have gotten in the past.

Our secondary should be the class of the defense this year; the team clearly sees enough in Gerald Sensabaugh to have kept him around despite him needing multiple surgeries. If he can prove himself in pass coverage, he may eventually supplant Williams for the starting role at SS. I don't see it happening ever, and defiantly not this season. Brian is too skilled against the pass to sit on the bench; he's got a nose for the ball and could easily blanket a TE or slot WR in coverage. One thing's for sure, the days of Sammy Knight getting burned by 260 lb TE's are over.

Brian has only had one off the field issue since joining the Jaguars. He was arrested for a DUI and was accused of going all "George Jefferson" (Brian's words) on the cop. However, it is looking more and more like the cop who filed the report was lying about Williams' rant. During the trial there were numerous witnesses, both from the state and the defense, who corroborated Williams' testimony and destroyed the credibility of the arresting cop and his story.

"If Mr. Williams had been being loud and profane, Officer Thiem certainly would have seen that. I think that brings into question all of Officer Bridges' testimony," Greene said. "The breath test operator also testified that Mr. Williams was completely polite, cooperative."

A Jacksonville police officer who encountered Jaguars defensive back Brian Williams during his 2006 drunken driving arrest testified he heard Williams being loud but didn't hear a profane, sexually charged rant like the arresting officer reported.

A jail officer also described Williams as cooperative and "very polite," according to a transcript of a driver's license hearing a month after the arrest. A copy of the transcript was obtained  by the Times-Union.

Cheers to Brian Williams! He's cleared his name, made a position switch, and has entrenched himself as a proven NFL veteran. Look for Williams to make a big impact in 2008; he's got a better coach, no off the field distractions, and an amazing secondary to work with.

-Collin

We Debate, You decide:

Who wins the "starting battle"?  Who starts at cornerback?  Will this group do better than last season?  These are the questions we'd like you to answer in the comments.

    VERSUS  

Ingram and Durant: Proven Performer or Up-and-coming Upslide

The Jaguars are a mere month away from opening training camp.  Unlike years past, this year the most interesting battles will be with the defense.  Whether its the effects of introducing Drayton Florence into the secondary or replacing Marcus Stroud at defensive tackle, all educated eyes should be watching the defense.  While the more obvious position fights will be with the rookies and free-agent signings, the most interesting battle is for the left outside linebacker position. 

Clint Ingram and Justin Durant had excellent seasons in 2007.  Both would see extensive time, though not entirely according to plan.  Durant was largely expected to be a situational backup player as he worked his way through his rookie year, but with the injury to Mike Peterson, he was quickly put as a starter on the right-side. 

Durant, despite playing well, was playing out of position.  The Jaguars see Justin as the long-term starter at LOLB.  Ingram is good, don't get me wrong, but Durant is a faster, more instinctive, pure player than Ingram.  If it's not this season, it will be next year.

But there I go again, tossing my opinion into the introduction. Honestly, this is a problem of riches, putting either player as the starter means that a fantastic linebacker is on the field.  Ingram and Durant bring something to the table that Jack Del Rio and Marc Duffner love, that's the ability to play wherever and whenever they're asked.  While both might be unknowns to the rest of the world, the Jaguars know they've got two talented players in a wide-open competition.  As usual, we'll do this in two parts.  Collin will take Mr. Ingram, I'll cover Durant, and you, the reader, will decide.  For the Jaguars, there is no loser.  Durant gives us one of the most athletic linebackers in the NFL,  Ingram a solid-hitting hard-nosed, insert cliche here outside linebacker.  Both are in the "Jack Del Rio" style.

On to the breakdown

Clint Ingram: The Experience Candidate

Clint Ingram was selected with the 80th overall pick in the 2006 NFL draft in a trade with the Cowboys that cost us our 92nd and 125th picks that year. Clint was the last linebacker on the board whom the Jaguars felt could start his first year and the Jags moved aggressively to grab him. He began starting for the Sooners mid-way through his junior year, and by the end of his senior year he was known as an instinctive hitter with exceptional pass defense capabilities.

Ingram's nickname in the locker-room is "Country", which he was given for both his southern-drawl and laid-back personality. Clint was raised in Texas and claims his work ethic comes from laboring on his Grandparents farm during his youth; he was mowing yards at age six. Clint has always been dedicated to whatever he's been involved with. He hasn't caused any off the field problems and had this to say about the sudden change of becoming a NFL player.

"I'll stay grounded," he said. "I have a good foundation; good morals."

Football, however, is won on the field. The camp battle between Clint Ingram and Justin Durant is going to be the most interesting defensive battle of the summer. So far, Clint's been hampered by an ankle injury which should be healed by the beginning of training camp.

Ingram is known for being a studious LB who is both aggressive and instinctive. He'll be entering his third season and isn't going to give up his starting role to Durant without a fight. Ingram's advantage in experience isn't as pronounced as it was last year when Durant was a rookie. Ingram has a clear advantage over Durant in pass defense, while it seems that Durant is a marginally better pass rusher due to a slight edge in quickness. Both are excellent tacklers. Clint has been known for making interceptions and pass defenses since his college days, and that's an invaluable trait for a defensemen. Here's what Mark Duffner had to say about Clint coming out of college.

"Real good movement skills, suddenness, burst. You could see the explosiveness. He was probably as good a hitter as I saw on film," linebackers coach Mark Duffner said of Ingram.

There's no question that Ingram has got some catching up to do. Durant has established himself well during the time Ingram's ankle has kept him sidelined. However, the Jaguars have an entirely new playbook to learn, so there is just as much studying to be done off the field as there is play to be done on it. Ingram is known to be a student of the game and his dedication to the sport has hastened his development.

In 2006, Clint started 11 of 14 games he played in and recorded 117 tackles, second-most on the team. He was shoved into the starting role full time when Mike Peterson was injured and the team hardly missed a beat. He showed he was able to handle the speed of the NFL game and even snagged an interception from Eli Manning that year. He came out of college an accomplished pass defender and has done nothing but improve in that regard.

The Jaguars are lucky to have 4 potential starters at linebacker and it is arguably our strongest position. Durant is clearly going to have to start at some point. He's amazing and his skill will likely prevent Mike Peterson from getting an extension after this season. However, I believe Clint is going to retain his starting role this year because he'll come to camp with a better grasp of the defense than will Durant. If Durant claims the starting job, I wouldn't be surprised to see Ingram come in with the nickel defense at the very least, as his edge in pass defense is unquestioned.

Justin Durant: The Change Candidate

“I played my career with a little chip, a little edge, and I plan to carry that chip into the N.F.L.,”

These are the words of Justin Durant on what he would bring to the NFL.  Justin, as we know came from the Division 1-AA (Non-Bowl Subdivision) school of Hampton University.  Hampton, for those of you without a close familiarity to Virginia schools, is on the Eastern seaboard, and somehow sent more players to the combine in 2007 than USC. 

Justin Durant, in theory, will eventually be the Jaguars starting middle linebacker. Mike Peterson is pushing his middle thirties, is a free-agent next season, and despite the relative minorness of the injuries, has missed significant time in the last several seasons.  This, of course, is irrelevent to our current discussion.  It would take a serious change of events for Durant to overtake Mike Peterson this year, though it's not completey impossible. 

No, the Jaguars have a problem of having four starting linebackers and for 2008, the odd man out is between Ingram and Durant.  Ingram's strength is that he's more experienced and is an absolute known quantity at linebacker.  This is without a doubt a huge advantage over Durant, if the Jagaurs are going to be more conservitive on defense. 

But that's not what I see happening.  Clint Ingram gives us a solid linebacker.  Justin Durant is by far the fastest player of the four, and with the expected solidness of Peterson and Daryl Smith, he is also the best player for an attacking style of linebacker play.  When Blitzes are called, more often than naught Gregg Williams uses a combination of linebackers (obviously).  If Durant is used in blitz-packages, his value is still strong, but for the attack style defense that we assume Williams will use, keeping Durant on the field as often as possible increases his flexiblity. 

Durant may be a liablity in coverage sometimes, but he has the speed and increasing experience to compensate for errors.  He can "lay the wood" as a hitter and his speed alows for a margin of error in his aggressive style of play.  Collin makes a very good point that having Gregg Williams means that both linebackers are learning a new system, if it were Mike Smith, I'd say leave Ingram in and let Durant ease his way in.  But with a clean slate so to speak, Durant brings speed and physicality to the table that Ingram lacks.

These are the sort of problems that you want a team to have.  There is no real "loser" other in terms of playing time.  I believe strongly that the injury to Clint Ingram that has sidelined him so far from practicing with the first team will give Durant the edge on opening day.  His speed is what puts him over the top.  It gives him the tools required to make up for any defencies in his abilty to understand the scheme.

We Debate, You Decide!

Pick who you think will start on opening day and explain why in the commments!

VS

Training Camp Battles: Left Tackle's Khalif Barnes versus Richard Collier

Introduction:

In this week's incarnation of Training Camp Battles, Collin and I attack the most important position on the Offensive Line, the Left Tackle.  Khalif Barnes was the Jaguars second round pick in the 2005 draft.  Barnes was projected as a first round talent that fell to the Jaguars in the 2nd round.  Pro Football Reference lists Barnes as one of the best Jaguars draft picks of all time , and he offsets the failure of Matt Jones as an early draft pick.  Barnes is not without his share of trouble however, his incident with the Jacksonville Sherrifs Department is one of the ugliest to face the franchise. Of course, there was also the incident about his crashing a car into a tree, reporting it stolen, and then changing his story, but that's aside from the point.  

One of the under-reported aspects of the Barnes DUI was that it forced the Jaguars to release Khalif's friend from the University of Washington, Rich Alexis, so they could sign another left tackle from the practice squad.  Now, I'm tainting the Head-to-Head analysis by adding in all these off the field problems.

Of course, Richard Collier isn't completely clean either, he was arrested and pleaded no-contest to a DUI charge in 2007.

Moving back to the on the field performances, there's a big difference between the two players.  Barnes is a top of the draft prospect that's been frustrating enough to Jack Del Rio to be deactivated at times last season.  Richard Collier is an undrafted free agent from Valdosta State University, a small school just north of the Florida-Georgia Border.  Physically, they are a bit different.  Barnes is 6-5, 325, whereas Collier is a taller but seems thinner 607, 345.  Barnes, is quicker on his feet, which is critical when facing the ultra-fast defensive ends of the AFC South, but Collier seems to have more physical power in manhandling the ends. 

Jack Del Rio has made Collier the de facto starter during OTA's and Minicamp, creating a competition during camp that is one of the most important battles of the whole offseason.  We're talking about the left tackle position, one that is considered the most critical on the offense after the quarterback, and one of the most highly paid.  Barnes is in a contract year while Collier just signed an extension.

Let's get into the head to head.  Collin will start us off defending Khalif Barnes as the opening day starter, I will close us up with my defense of Richard Collier as the new Jaguars left tackle.  Then you, the reader, will decide (either through persuasiveness of arguement  or your opinion of the player) in our poll who should be the starter.  I'm sure Jack Del Rio will decide based on our results.

Defending the Incumbent: Khalif Barnes

I’ve been the first to be critical of Khalif for his behavior and have really had my doubts about his character. Recently though, it appears as though Khalif has been on a PR campaign of sorts. He’s doing all the little things right, charity work, making donations, and spending extra time with fans. Barnes has been staying to sign extra autographs and generally chat it up with those who attend the public practices. It’s a contract year for Khalif Barnes and he clearly wants to stay in Jacksonville. The issue is three-fold for our friend KB. Don’t get hurt all year long because you’re not getting an extension before the season is over. Don’t get arrested because if you aren’t cut on the spot, you won’t get an extension. Finally, don’t lose you’re spot to Collier because he’s going to be cheaper and you won’t get an extension.

All that being said, Barnes’ ability on the field is unquestioned. He has been a stalwart left tackle during his entire tenure with the team and is known for his ferocious and physical playing style. His mauler mentality goes beyond what’s normally expected for a left tackle, which further compliments the Jags grinding style of offense.

Khalif’s got the size (6-5 325lbs), speed (4.85 40yd), and youth (26yrs) to play well. He hasn’t been hurt badly except for a wrist injury in college, and has solid footwork. Competition separates the wheat from the chaff and the lack of it may have led to Khalif slacking off a bit.

Suddenly it seems Khalif senses his position in jeopardy and will defend it accordingly. Collier has been named the “starter” after the first mini-camp, but that is nothing more than a tool to motivate Barnes. He’s got to start to earn a big contract somewhere next year because no team wants to pay a back-up starter’s money. He knows this and will be back after the break in beastly form.

Collier has been like a sponge soaking up everything the coaches throw his way. He’s developed at a faster rate as a result of this determination. The team is obviously very impressed with Collier and gave him the nod to boost his morale as much as challenge Khalif. The left tackle position requires extremely quick feet due to the fact that a defense’s best rushing end is typically stationed there. This makes the position slightly more demanding than right tackle because the QB’s blind side must be protected. The fact the Collier is being considered for the position speaks volumes to how vast his improvement has been. This is going to be a fun one to watch!

Khalif Barnes is working on his image; if he can stay out of trouble then I’m willing to give him another chance. The NFL’s new policy to fine a team based on something a player does now makes character an even bigger issue for a front office to consider. Barnes should win the spot soundly come training camp. He’s got his head in the right place and his experience and ability should be able to overcome Collier’s surge.

Defending the Upstart: Richard Collier

The Left Tackle position is the most important on the line.  This position usually defends the quarterback from the best pass rusher the defense can throw, so having a consistant player is critical.  There's little room for error when you've got Mario Williams and Dwight Freeney heading at you down after down.

With the importance of the Left Tackle, it's obvious that the Jaguars do not see Barnes as the long term solution at his position.  The Left Tackle is typically the highest paid position on the line, were the Jaguars to want to secure Barnes for the long haul, they certainly wouldn't wait until after the season when his contract expires.  Barnes, whether he deserves it or not, has vocalized his dissatisfaction with being in Jacksonvile, and were he to be in the teams plans, he'd be resigned.

Seriously, why would the Jaguars wait until he's an unrestricted free agent to extend his contract.  The cost would increase by a large margin and he'd more than likely be lost to another team.  Frankly, no team in the NFL would let their starting left tackle hit the free agent market unless they thought he wasn't the answer at the postion.  In this case, the Jaguars have a bigger, stronger, and in this case, better suited player at the position.  While Collier lacks the draft selection of Barnes, he's shown the Jaguars that he is a legitimate contender at the position.

Sure, Barnes has more experience at left tackle, but since the Jaguars have clearly given up on him as a long term fixture at the position, they should put Collier in the starting spot and use Barnes as a backup.  Should Richard fail, they've got a solid backup, but it's better to give Richard the safety net of Barnes this season rather than leave him high and dry next year.  Yes, despite all the hype of the 2008 Jacksonville Jaguars, we have to consider the state of the 2009 and beyond Jaguars, and Collier is clearly the starter of the future.  Should he prove his worth in Training Camp, he should be the starter, no matter what.

It's all a matter of keeping an eye on the future. The Jaguars offensive line is deep enough where starting Richard should work well enough for the team to excell.  While there may be a drop off in performance, the mobility of Garrard combined with the rest of the line should compensate.  Collier will only improve as a player as time goes on, and the more games he gets now, the better he'll be in a playoffs type situation in January. 

[Note by River City Rage, 06/08/08 2:52 PM EDT ]Oops, Brandon Breazell was not there, Bennie Brazell was number 5.  My apologies.

One of the surprises of Friday's minicamp was the presence of four players who were not identified on the Jaguars roster.  These four "mystery players" were an enigma, as the wire services did not show any recent signings.  It turns out that these four players were tryouts for the roster, not signed to any sort of contracts.  It's a hodgepodge group of guys, some with NFL experience, others just trying to extend the dream just a little while longer. 

Jack Del Rio had this to say about the tryouts:

"I know that there are a lot talented players out there who for whatever reason don't fit, don't catch on, don't work out," Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio said. "We're more concerned with giving him an opportunity, giving him a chance to come in here and compete in this environment. This is a tryout weekend for him. If we feel there is enough there, where we want to continue, we'll offer him a contract and bring him to camp."

Considering that their careers with Jacksonville may be short, let's take a quick look at the four guys and see where they might fit in the overall roster picture.

Ciatrick Fason RB #30 University of Florida

Fason played running back for the University of Florida and was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in 2005 in the 4th round.  He is a Jacksonville native, as he attended Fletcher High School.  His career with the Vikings was short and relatively indistinguished, with most of his carries serving as a goal line back.  His best year saw him score four touchdowns, though it was not enough to keep him with the Vikings after 2006.  The Jaguars have considerable depth at running back, even at the backup's backup position, so it's very unlikely that Fason sniffs the roster. 

Guys like Fason are playing for a reputation boost.  A good word from the tight fraternity of NFL coaches could see him picked up by another team.  He's playing for the cameras, and the far-off hope that he'll make it to training camp or a preseason game so that other teams can see him perform.  It's a long shot, but it's something that drives a player. 

Fason himself has this to say:

"I think my fate was sealed once Tice left," Fason said. "My second year was kind of rocky. They played me on and off. I had a good game versus the Bears, then the next week, they sat me down. ... I now know not to take anything for granted. There are great backs everywhere, and I'm just going to give it my all."

Lavarius Giles RB #?? Jackson State University

Jackson State University running back Lavarus Giles might be the fastest player you've never heard of.  In fact, there's a strong likelyhood that we'll hear his name in the Olympics in a few years, as his straight-line speed is nearly unbeatable.  Why then, is he an undrafted prospect hoping that a tryout on a team stacked at running back is his only shot at the NFL?

His 4.41 40-yard dash was impressive at the JSU Pro-day, but his change of direction drills and footwork leave something to be desired.  Frankly, while his speed is fantastic for running in a straight line, there is very little track style running in the NFL.  His speed is unquestioned though: JSU Track Coach Ernest Tche (a two-time Olympian himself) has this to say:

"If he would train for track on a day-to-day basis, he could be an Olympic runner. Without a doubt. As far as size and speed and if he would just concentrate on track, (he compares) almost like a Maurice Greene type athlete."

His shot at the roster is slim, but he's hoping to show a team that his speed can translate into on the field performance.  His backup plan isn't so bad though.

Ryan Hoag WR #6, Gustavus Adolphus College

Ryan is a man of many titles: 2003's Mr. Irrelevant, contestant on the Bachelorette, and training camp wide receiver.  He has participated in training camps and practice squads for four teams, not including Jacksonville.  His college career had him with 144 receptions, 2,322 yards, and 29 touchdowns (15.5 ypc).  Of course, this is in the MIAC conference, which isn't quite NFL level competition.  He initially attended Wake Forest as a walk-on soccer player, and transitioned to football while at Gustavus Adolphus College. 

That's a pretty good story, actually.  He played intermural football at Wake Forest, did well, and convinced the GAC head coach (a Division Three school) to give him a shot.  From there he would eventually be drafted by the Oakland Raiders and be a perennial training camp fixture.  He's not particulary strong, fast, or outstanding as a receiver, but he's working hard enough to find a team to land with year in and year out.  Unfortunately for Ryan, he's got too much time in the league to be on the practice squad anymore, so he's playing for a contract or bust at this point.  The Jaguars have so many players fighting for so few spots that it would take an unmitigated disaster at wide receiver for him to even sniff the roster.  Guys who have practice squad eligibility will take precedence over Hoag.

-Chris

[Note by River City Rage, 06/06/08 5:18 PM EDT ]: The live coverage, sadly, had to end.  But that's not the end of our coverage, we'll be here all weekend with the latest news, position battles, and updates!

Just like earlier, JagNation.com and Big Cat Country will continue our live coverage of Minicamp.  This time it's the afternoon session where we should have some Mike Walker action, as well as a little more 11 on 11 practices.  You can listen to the coverage by clicking play on the widget just above this text, or go to TalkShoe and join in the chat room.  I'll be taking questions, doing commentary, and otherwise entertaining as best I can during the exciting hamstring stretches and other idle pauses.

If you'd like to catch up on the first session, here are two fantastic writeups:

FBT of Jaguars Journal: "Camping with FBT "

Su héroe's take: Minicamp Report (6/6 AM Session)

Finally, don't forget about the Brad Meester/Parkersburgh Iowa Fund-Raiser Contest!

-Chris

[Note by River City Rage, 06/06/08 1:45 PM EDT ]:Updated with "mystery player" information.

As you probably know, the Jaguars held their first minicamp practice session this morning.  Big Cat Country and Jagnation.com had the only live coverage of the practice, and will do so again for the afternoon session at 4:15.  Before I break down some of the highs and lows of the first session, I'd like to give a big thanks to Robb and Charlie of JagNation for their hard work during the camp. 

Before we get into the minicamp report, don't forget to participate in the Brad Meester/Parkersburgh Iowa fund raiser give-away!  Read here for more information!

Minicamp Notes:

Mystery Solved: Unknown Players were:

Wide Receiver Rod Gardner, formerly of the Chiefs

Running Back Ciatrick Fason, formerly of the Vikings and Florida Gators

Wide Receiver Brandon Brezell, undrafted free-agent from UCLA

Ryan Hogue, unknown

Tight End Marcades Lewis was practicing and participating.  Reports of a more serious injury look to be misinformed.

Linebacker Justin Durant practiced with the first team offense, replacing Clint Ingram.  The Durant/Ingram battle for the starters spot is one of the more interesting going into the season.  Ingram's proven himself as a starter, but Durant has a higher ceiling and incredible speed.

Designated Pass Rusher/DE/Linebacker Brent Hawkins worked as a strong-side linebacker with the third team defense.  With Groves and Harvey in the picture, Brent's best shot at a roster spot is as a linebacker. 

Quarterback Todd Bouman is throwing really well, one notable play was a perfect play-action deep throw to Troy Williamson, who caught it over Gerald Sensabaugh and Scott Starks.

Running Back Maurice Jones-Drew had an 80 to 180 yard touchdown run, sort of.

Two "Mystery Receivers" appeared at Mminicamp, neither are known as of now.  More to come as this develops. 

The Defensive Ends were "unimpressive", but most of that comes from the lack of serious contact.

The Jaguars passing game was slow to get started when they practiced against the defense, but did eventually find a groove.  David Garrard looks 100% better today than he did at this point last year.

Jerry Porter had limited participation in individual drills, but did not run.  He's favoring one leg a bit, but was mainly an observer.

Wide Receiver D'Juan Woods was not as outstanding as you'd expect considering the praise that he's received during OTA's.

Receiver Jeron Harvey looks just like Ernest Wilford, wears #19 like Ernest Wilford, and plays like Ernest Wilford. He's still a very long shot to make the roster, but someone to watch for.

Defensive End and 4th round draft pick Brian Smith did some stretching, but was an otherwise non-factor.

Reggie Williams dropped one pass, otherwise caught everything in sight.  No dancing, sadly.

More Live Coverage:

I will be back, live at 4:15 EST, with the next practice session! 

-Chris

  VERSUS  

Introduction:

With minicamp this weekend, Collin and I thought it would be interesting to look at some of the direct competition to watch for as you observe the practices.  Our first matchup comes at the hyper-competitive Wide Receiver position, where two speedsters go head to head for the same roster spot.  When you look at position battles, it's not just a matter of numbers, but rather an examination of role.  Sometimes a battle develops due to the similar roles two players fill are very similar.  For example, Defensive Tackles Derek Landri and Theo Horrocks play the same position, but would not be considered battling over the same role because the former is a faster pass-rushing DT, where the other is a more traditional run-stuffer. 

In this case, the Jaguars have a pair of wide receivers both destined to fill the role of speedy deep threat that's designed to stretch defenses and draw coverage.  Their value is measured in both long passing receptions and also in plays where safeties and cornerbacks are drawn deep, opening up underneath routes and the running game.

Both also suffer major criticisms that hinder their competition for a roster spot.  Williamson was nothing more than an absolute flop in Minnesota, dropping many a sure thing touchdown pass. Broussard shows flashes of greatness, but his body size is dangerously thin for the NFL and he is hindered by nagging injuries.

Collin is defending Broussard, I'm taking Williamson.  It's up to you to decide!

Troy Williamson: Diamond in the Rough

One teams trash is another ones treasure, that's how the saying goes.  Troy Williamson had about as hard of a deal as you can get since he was drafted in 2005.  He's had a constant string of coaches, quarterbacks, offensive coordinators, and a fanbase that expected far too much from a first round pick in his first season.  He's increadbly fast, so much so that he loses focus on the ball in the air as he works on blowing past his coverage.

He comes to Jacksonville with the lowest of expectations.  A 6th round pick for the Jaguars might have been a wasted pick anyhow, and his contract is tiny compared to other first round receivers.  There is simply no risk for the Jaguars, other than upside.  Troy is now reunited with the coach who selected him in Mike Tice, he's got a stable situation at quarterback, and he's in an offense that won't be depending on him to produce right out of the gates.  He can ease into the offense and focus on concentration.

Remember this, you can't coach speed.  Williamson is also built a little more soundly than Broussard, and has more experience, albeit tainted with Vikings nonsense.  I completely disagree with my partner-in-crime in claiming that Broussard is tougher over the middle.  Sure he might lack any fear, but his body simply won't sustain an NFL season if used that way.  Troy's got 18 pounds (203) to John's 185, and that's a big difference considering how similar they are in game speed.

Don't get me wrong, I love what John Broussard can do, but he's not built (yet) to handle a full season.  Troy has all the un-coachables, and he's got the motivation to perform far beyond our expectations.  I predict that Troy makes the starting roster and John spends the year on the practice squad.

-Chris

John Broussard: Speed over Size:

Sorry Chris, but the speed-demon role in our WR corps is going to be Johnny "B-B-Big Play" Broussard, not Troy Williamson. John will be on the final roster when the season begins for a variety of reasons. First, Troy couldn't catch malaria on a month long safari as he's proven to be a perennial ball dropper. Make no mistake he was a bust in Minnesota and likely he'll be a bust here. For that reason alone he's got more to prove in camp than Broussard. Troy's got to show he can catch in the NFL while Broussard's only requirements are improving his route running and beating press coverage more.

John can catch; he took advantage of his few opportunities and came up big time last year. That's what it's all about, making the most of your chances on the field. He's undersized and was re-routed way too often last season, something he'll have to address in order to play often this year. His quickness is comparable to that of Williamson. They both possess real speed that translates well into the NFL, but Broussard has shown he'll catch it when he wins deep. He was a seventh round pick and is due far less money than Williamson, and although it can't be ignored I doubt that'll play into account because the Jags have plenty of cap-room.

Let me say that I hope Troy wins the camp-battle. He is a more versatile option and could go over the middle, unlike Broussard who would promptly be broken by an opposing LB after the catch. However, despite his one-dimensional approach in the pass game he has show to have helped indirectly in the run-game by forcing one more defender to stay out of the "box". This pseudo-versatility is what got him onto the field so often as it made up for his abhorrent blocking.

Size and speed are major pluses, but what is of the utmost importance is the ability to catch. It takes more that just speed, which Broussard has demonstrated to have while Troy hasn't proven to be anything more than one fast cat. The only reason Troy has gotten so many chances is the same reason Matt Jones has gotten so many chances. Their first-round pedigree saves their head from the chopping block year after year. Not this time... this is a battle between a sixth-round pick (via trade) in Troy and a seventh rounder in Johnny B. It's going to be brutal because they know they can't both make the squad. Let's not forget about Mike Walker, he's got Troy's body and John's hands which means he likely will make the team this season.

Johnny Big Play will never be a number one, but he has shown to have the talent to compete at this level. If he doesn't make it on the team it won't be due to his regression, it'll be due Troy's ascension. John will continue to play at the NFL level even if it's for another team. He needs to learn to compensate for his lack of size by perfecting his route running, a much easier task than learning to catch. Let's hope Broussard's ankle surgery from February doesn't linger and limit his speed in camp so the best man can truly win.

-Collin

Your Turn:

Who makes the roster?  You can take the easy route and vote in the poll.  Or be aggressive and comment!  If you think we're both wrong, tell us why.  If you think I'm a brilliant analyst and Collin is just silly, say that too, but defend it!  If you think Collin has it nailed and I'm so jaded from following our wide receivers that I'm blind, say that too!