Camp countdown '08: Jacksonville Jaguars

Posted: June 27, 2008

Michael C. Wright
For Sporting News

Sporting News continues its breakdown of all 32 NFL teams while counting down to the start of training camp. Today's team is the Jaguars:

Jack Del Rio keeps denying it, but based on the Jaguars' offseason and draft-day actions, Operation Super Bowl 2008 is in full effect.

Jacksonville was aggressive in addressing the offense through free agency, and the Jags then pulled off a couple of draft-day trades to land a pair of coveted edge rushers. The perception now is that the Jags are ready to compete for a title.

"I don't subscribe to that," Del Rio says. "You can look and there are a host of teams that were supposedly stacked to win it all and didn't ever come close (last season). I believe you build your team strong, you do all you can to be as competitive as you can, coach them up and go let it rip on Sundays."...

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Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Paul Spicer  signed a contract extension today.  According to a league source and posted on Pro Football Talk, Spicer signed a two year, eight million dollar extension.  Paul led the Jaguars in sacks last year and served as a leader on the field and in the locker room.  There was some worry that Spicer could be a problem as he missed part of the Jaguars offseason training activities. 

The Jaguars approach training camp with the idea of having Paul Spicer the clear starter at left defensive end and a position battle on the right side.  The extension of Spicer is going to send a message to Reggie Hayward that if he's not 100% as we go into training camp, he could find himself off the team.  The Jaguars have a crowded field on the defensive line, and if you work through the guys that are nearly assured roster spots, it's clear that someone like Hayward could be cut.  If Spicer, Harvey, and Groves are locks at end, and Meier, Henderson, and McDaniel are set at tackle, there are only 2 or 3 spots available for other defensive linemen.

Locking up Paul Spicer is a good thing for the players because it shows that the Jaguars are a team that rewards leadership and solid play, even for an older veteran.  Should Spicer have as good of a year in 2008 as he did last season, the Jaguars are well on their way to a top ranked defense.

[Note by River City Rage, 06/27/08 12:28 AM EDT ] Salary Information is found! Washington got roughly $60,000 to sign along with minimum base salaries of $295,000 this season, $360,000 in 2009, $440,000 in 2010 and $550,000 in 2011.

The Florida Times-Union is reporting that the Jacksonville Jaguars have signed 7th round draft pick Chauncey Washington to a contract.  Chauncey is the first of the Jaguars five draft picks to sign a contract.  The Jaguars recently released five players to ensure room for the draft picks under the 80-man roster limit. 

The Jaguars have a strict policy to not release terms and conditions, including signing bonus and duration were not released, though for a 7th round player it's not much of a concern.

Washington is one of four running backs currently on the Jaguars roster, including Fred Taylor, Maurice Jones-Drew, and UFA Lavarus Giles.  Given the competition, it seems very likely that Chauncey is the 3rd running back on the depth chart.

The other Jaguars draft picks are yet to be signed, but given the release of the other players, it seems likely that others will sign up in the next few weeks. 

-Chris

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As many of you know, I have a bit of an affinity for our GM Shack Harris. I think what he's done with the team has been nothing short of phenomenal and he deserves to be given credit for that. Recently, JagNation reported that he has been selected to serve on a governing committee of GM's to help make improvements to the league's statutes and future progression. It's a great article and indicates that Shack's peers at least recognize what he's done.

For more information on Shack Harris, check out the "Better Know" section on the sidebar.

-Collin

[Note by River City Rage, 06/16/08 3:20 PM EDT ] I was shortsighted in this piece and forgot the most obvious effect of the releases.  The Jaguars now have 75 players under contract and 5 unsigned draft picks.  The team released these five players to make room for the draft picks that should begin signing over the next few weeks.  You can only have 80 players under contract, so rather than sign and cut as each contract is finalized, the Jaguars are cutting ties now and (hopefully) giving them a shot to end up somewhere else.

The Jacksonville Jaguars had to reduce their roster by five to get to the league mandated 80 players under contract.  None of the cuts are terribly surprising, but they do clear up the overall roster picture a bit.

The cuts were:

1. Defensive End Brian Smith: We all saw this coming.  His hip injury from college just never healed up in a way where he could show the Jaguars much of anything.  This is a clear cut 4th round miss, as he spent his entire tenure with the Jaguars, albeit short, on the Physically unable to Perform (PUP) and Injured Reserve lists.  With the crowded field at DE, there's no reason to burn a roster spot on someone who will probably never play a down in the NFL.

2. Long Snapper Brett Goode: Special Teams Specialist, nuff said.

3. Isaac "don't call me Ivan" Smolko: This was perhaps the most "surprising" cut, as the amount of injuries at the tight end position is concerning, but perhaps he'll be available later on if needed.

4. Craphonso Thorpe: One less wide receiver in the mix, though there was pretty much no chance for Thorpe to make the roster.  I hope he gave us lots of secrets about the Colts playbook though while he was here.

5. Offensive Tackle Ryan Gibbons: Northeastern University undrafted rookie from 2006, he spend most of his time on the practice squad. 

What does this mean for the roster?

The most interesting observation I can make about these cuts is that none of this year's UFA's were released.  Guys like Lamar Myles, Jeron Harvey, Brian Witherspoon, and Adam Bishop who've got an uphill fight to make even the practice squad can breathe just a little bit easier.

Bishop, particulary, must have shown something if he's still on the roster and Smolko is gone.

-Chris

The Jacksonville Jaguars completed their offseason training activities yesterday with a final practice.  With this, the Jaguars now have 45 days until the opening of training camp on Saturday, July 26th.  Most players and coaches will take a vacation and spend time with their families as what promises to be a very long season.(February, perhaps!) It's time well deserved, as there's very little idle time between the end of the season and the start of draft season. 

Interestingly, I'm less morose about the beginning of the "dead zone" than usual.  I typically dread the end of OTA's and minicamp because it's the end of any real Jaguars news and other sports are either ending (basketball) or mind-numbing (baseball).  This time, I feel anxious about the start of training camp and the season, but there's something reassuring about all this time away from the team.

Maybe it's all the questions that I need to sort out.  Questions about the roster, questions about the playbook, questions about the state of the team.  The 2008 Jacksonville Jaguars are in so many ways a different team than we're used to.  While the Jaguars always suffered from roster shifts, free agency, etc, I can't recall a year of such a drastic remaking of the team, from the coaches to the players than this offseason.  I think that's why I'm ready for a few weeks to make sense of it all. 

During the next six weeks, Big Cat Country is going to take an exhaustive look at our roster, our coaches, and what we project to be the playbook.  They'll be an interview here and there, some special guests, and hopefully the best Jaguars coverage you can find.  We'll have some fun, of course, but we'll be keeping a close eye on the calendar.  July 26th, so close, yet so far away.

Let's take a quick look at what we know after OTA's and what is still uncertain:

We Know:

1. David Garrard is on his game.  Recent Jaguars history has shown us that our passing game is slow to develop.  Not this time, David's throwing freaking lasers, our receivers are catching passes, and things are on track.

2. Gregg Williams is experimenting with the attack.  The Jaguars "new" defense, so far, is blitz heavy.  It's unclear if this is a way for Gregg Williams to figure out what his players can do or if it's a sign of things to come.  It's obvious that the defense we fielded against the Patriots in the Playoffs is dead and gone.

3. Derrick Harvey and Quentin Groves are fast.  It's hard to measure their impact in their shorts and t-shirts, but speed is obvious.  In fact, the entire defense reeks of speed from top to bottom.  Can you find a faster defensive group than Harvey, Groves, Mathis, Durant, Peterson, and Nelson?

4. Richard Collier and Justin Durant are rapidly replacing Khalif Barnes and Clint Ingram at their respective starting positions.

We Don't Know:

1. Our wide receivers: I can tell you for sure that Porter, Williams, and Northcutt will be our X, Y, and Slot receivers accordingly.  I can tell you with a strong degree of probability that Troy Williamson and John Broussard will be one of the two remaing roster spots.  Matt Jones, Mike Walker, and the rest of the bunch are competing for one remaining spot, as carrying six receivers is foolish.

2. Can Troy Williamson keep on catching when the pads are on and it really matters.  Yes, Troy has excelled during practice, but he's looked pretty good in Vikings OTA's as well.  In fact, we've got questions about all the first round reconstruction projects.  Is Jimmy Kennedy going to turn it on at defensive tackle?  Will Matt Jones turn his career around and finally take the next step?

3. Will the Jaguars actually bring the heat?  Yes, our defense looks fast, but how will it translate in the pads on environment of camp and the preseason? 

4. Will the Jaguars make it to September without major injury?  No matter how important practice is to developing a playoff team, the most important thing is for the Jaguars to start the season fast and healthy.  The AFC South will be decided in the first four weeks of the season, starting slow and injured greatly effects our ability to win the division.

That's my quick take.  We've got weeks and weeks to flesh this out further, so be prepared for more analysis.

I'd like to know what you'd like to know about the Jaguars during the dead zone?  What would you like to discuss, debate, analyze, etc?  What questions do you have about the 2008 Jaguars?  I'm happy to explore any topic, so let me know what you're thinking!

-Chris

In what can only be described as an absoulte longshot, Running Back Lavarus Giles became an official member of the Jacksonville Jaguars today.  Running Back D.D. Terry, who had looked pretty good so far in OTA's was released to make room for Giles.

D.D. Terry had some minor fumbles in practices, but nothing so major that it seemed that he was  a release candidate for one of the tryout players.

More on Giles:

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.

-Chris

Two weeks ago the Iowa town of Parkersburg was reduced to rubble by a F5 tornado.  The community of only 2,000 produced four current NFL players, including Jaguars center Brad Meester.

Meester's family lost two homes, four cars, and countless irreplaceable memories, though thankfully nobody in his family was hurt.  Brad and the other NFL players; Jared DeVries of Detroit, Casey Wiegmann of Denver and Green Bay's Aaron Kampman played for Aplington-Parker High School, which was completely destroyed in the tornado. 

The Jaguars and Brad Meester have created a fantastic fund-raiser to help rebuild the community and give the fans a way to participate.  This weekend, both on Jaguars.com and at the Minicamp, fans can purchase an Aplington-Parker High School hat for $19.95   Proceeds will go to the Parkersburg Relief Fund.

The hat can be ordered online here and will also be sold at Minicamp this weekend.

To help with this cause, Big Cat Country has a special contest.  I challenge all readers to purchase this hat, via minicamp or the website.  If you take a picture of you wearing the hat and email it to BigCatCountry@gmail.com, I will select one random winner to receive a Jaguars Helmet FatHead, care of our very good friends at FatHead.

I challenge Big Cat Country, JagNation , and all the Jaguars Fans to join in and help Parkersburg recover.  My goal is 100, let's see if we can blow that number away.  Remember, all you have to do to be eligible is to send me a picture of you wearing the hat, purchases can be made at Jaguars.com or at this weekend's Minicamp!

The contest will run until Friday June 27th, so place your order soon and send in your pictures!

If you'd like to contribute to the cause but would rather make a direct contribution, they may be made  to the Parkersburg Relief Fund by making a check payable to LSB Foundation Parkersburg Relief Fund and sent to LSB (Lincoln Savings Bank) Foundation, 242 Tower Park Drive, Waterloo, Iowa 50701.

Thank you for your participation!

-Chris

Minicamp is this weekend, and with it comes the high-water mark of the dead zone.  After minicamp closes on Saturday, it's just three OTA's till the meetings end, the coaches take some time off, and all eyes fall toward the end of July. 

Minicamp is more intense than OTA's, but still not the real contact of training camp.  Avoiding injury is the number one concern, obviously, but for the Jaguars representing the more crowded spots of the roster it's also their first shot at establishing momentum toward securing the roster spot.  Life on the margins is hard in the NFL, and with the hard cap of eighty players, there is very little room for error in securing reps that mean anything. 

The playbook develops a little bit more as will some of the defensive scheming, but it's still largely a passing camp, and the focus will be on the skill position players to a large extent.  I'm of the belief that it's better to study the running game on film rather than risk injury in June. 

There is a good chance that the minicamp is a media circus due to the lateness of the event on the NFL calendar and the hype surrounding the Jaguars this year.

For those of you in Jacksonville, here are the dates and times of the public practices:

• Friday, June 6 practice 10:30-12:15 and 4:15-6:00; both practices are open to the public
  
• Saturday, June 7 practice 10:30-12:15 and 4:15-6:00; both practices are open to the public

If anyone goes and would like to take notes and publish them here, please feel free to let me know.  I'd be happy to host your photos and commentary!

Players to Watch:

Matt Jones: There are conflicting reports coming out of Jacksonville.  Some are implying that Jones is "dogging it" in practice and having some of the worst performances they've seen out of an NFL receiver.  Other observers are noting that Jones is making plays and working hard.  It's impossible to judge effort from our vantage point, but he's someone to watch.  I would love to get an accurate tally of how many reps he gets and with which quarterback.

Speaking of Quarterbacks...

Cleo Lemon v. Todd Bouman: The last thing you want to hear describing your eight-million dollar backup quarterback is "underwhelming", that's actually some of the kinder things I've heard about Lemon's performance so far this offseason.  Other choice words include "unremarkable", "disappointment", and "struggling".  The Jaguars won 2 out of 3 games on the road with Quinn Gray last season.  The team must have someone they can count on to hand off left and hand off right in the worst case situation of a Garrard injury.  It's early, but watch this battle closely. 

This Week:

Monday: Exclusive Chat with DT Theo Horrocks by Clodknocker!

Tuesday: OTA Wrap-up's, Roster breakdown "Defensive Line"

Wednesday: Better Know a Player: (Mystery Guest)

Thursday: Final "pre-camp" breakdown

Friday: Constant updates, with some live coverage!

-Chris