NFL Team-By-Team Previews - Jacksonville Jaguars

2008 Recap
Record: 5-11 (4th AFC South)

Best Game: Week 3 @ Colts, 23-21
The Jaguars only won one game by more than one score, but that game was against the woeful Lions. The Colts were the only playoff team the Jaguars beat, and they did so by dominating on the ground, running for 236 yards as both Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew went over 100 yards on the day. They also picked off 2 passes by Peyton Manning, but they still needed a 51 yard field goal in the final seconds to win, and Josh Scobee delivered. The video above shows the highlights of this game.

Worst Game: Week 12 vs. Vikings, 12-30
The Jaguars' dreaded seventh loss came in week 12 against Minnesota. The Jaguars actually outgained the Gus Frerotte-led Vikings, but five turnovers (including 2 early fumbles leading to a 14-0 Vikings lead less than 2 minutes into the game) killed Jacksonville's hopes of a win. Down early, the Jaguars abandoned the running game and managed just 35 rushing yards.

MVP: Maurice Jones-Drew
In some ways Jones-Drew had his worst season yet - his 4.2 yard per carry average was his worst yet as a pro. However, Jones-Drew nonetheless carried the offense. His 14 rushing and receiving touchdowns is all the more impressing when you consider that no other player on the team had more than 3. He led the team in rushing, and was a close second to Matt Jones in receiving. He had almost double the yards from scrimmage as any other player on the team.

The Offseason

Significant Losses:
-RB Fred Taylor - Taylor has been one of the more underappreciated running backs in the NFL over his career, as evidenced by only a single pro bowl appearance despite ranking in the top 20 in rushing yards in NFL history (3rd among active players, after only Edgerrin James and LaDainian Tomlinson, who have made 4 and 5 pro bowls respectively).
-WR Matt Jones - The Jaguars cut Jones primarily due to problems with drugs and alcohol. Jones, however, was their leading receiver in 2008, setting career highs in receptions and receiving yards.
-WR Dennis Northcutt - Northcutt was their second most productive WR in 2008, with 44 receptions for 545 yards. He was traded to the Lions for Gerald Alexander.
-WR Reggie Williams - Williams was the Jaguars' third most productive WR in 2008, catching 37 balls for 364 yards. After racking up 10 TDs in 2007, Williams had his worst season since his rookie year in 2008, and the Jaguars allowed him to leave in free agency. Since then, he was picked up on a drug charge and has not signed with a team.
-OT Khalif Barnes - Another player who has had some legal problems (a DUI in late 2006), Barnes has been the Jaguars' starter at offensive tackle since his rookie season in 2005.
-DE Paul Spicer - A 10 year veteran, Spicer became a full-time starter in 2005 and has started at least 10 games in the 4 seasons since. Spicer racked up 7.5 sacks in 2005 and 2007, but only 3.5 in 2008.
-LB Mike Peterson - When he was healthy, Peterson was the leader of the Jaguars' defense and one of the best middle linebackers in the NFL. In the last 3 years, however, he has battled injuries, and started only about half of the team's game since 2006.
-SS Gerald Sensabaugh - Sensabaugh only became a full-time starter last season and, along with CB Rashean Mathis, led the Jaguars with 4 interceptions.

Significant Additions:
-WR Torry Holt - A receiver who already has a strong Hall of Fame resume, Holt failed to reach 1000 yards in 2008 for the first time since his rookie season in 1999. Barring injury, Holt should easily crack the top 10 all-time in receptions and receiving yards this season.
-OT Tra Thomas - Thomas, an 11 year veteran who has started 165 games with the Eagles, will fill the vacancy left by Khalif Barnes at left tackle. He has been one of the most consistent tackles in the NFL, and reportedly allowed only 2 sacks in 2008.
-SS Sean Considine - Another former player for the Eagles, Considine steps into the starting strong safety position for the Jaguars.
-SS Marlon McCree - McCree returns to the team he started with after stints with the Texans, Panthers, Chargers, and Broncos. He is perhaps best known for fumbling an interception in the Chargers' 2007 playoff game against the Patriots that might have clinched the game for the Chargers.

Draft Picks:
Round 1, Pick 8: OT Eugene Monroe -- Virginia
Round 2, Pick 7: OT Eben Britton -- Arizona
Round 3, Pick 8: DT Terrance Knighton -- Temple
Round 3, Pick 9: CB Derek Cox -- William & Mary
Round 4, Pick 7: WR Mike Thomas -- Arizona
Round 5, Pick 8: WR Jarett Dillard -- Rice
Round 6, Pick 7: TE Zach Miller -- Nebraska-Omaha
Round 7, Pick 41: RB Rashad Jennings -- Liberty
Round 7, Pick 44: WR Tiquan Underwood -- Rutgers

Draft Grade: C
The Jaguars built for the future in the draft, but 2009 is very suspect. With their first 2 picks they took offensive tackles, but they will likely (though it is not certain) be backups to Thomas and Tony Pashos to start the season. They took 3 late-round wide receivers to replace Jones, Northcutt, and Nelson, but they project as backups as well. In fact, the Jaguars may start the season with perennial disappointment Troy Williamson opposite Torry Holt. Rashad Jennings is a sleeper and a great pick in the seventh round, but the Jaguars are still left without quality depth at RB behind Jones-Drew. Now, Monroe and Britton should prove to be good picks down the line as they take over for an aging Tra Thomas and an unspectacular Tony Pashos, but the fact remains that the Jaguars didn't really fill many immediate needs in the draft or through free agency, and as a result will have several extremely inexperienced units.

Training Camp Report:
-The Jaguars have been playing around with using a 3-4 defense in practice and in their preseason games so far.
-Troy Williamson has looked good in camp so far, but his track record when it gets to the regular season has been less than stellar. He did catch 3 balls for 147 yards and a TD against the Buccaneers in the Jaguars' second preseason game.
-The Jaguars signed Ernest Wilford on the 25th. Wilford played with the Jaguars from 2004 to 2007 as a wide receiver, but they will be using him as a tight end. In truth he's a bit of a tweener: too slow to play wide receiver, but light for a tight end. At 6'4", he has the height, however.
-David Garrard has had an up-and-down training camp. He's had a few outstanding practices, but he's also had some real stinkers.
-Mike Walter was an early favorite to be a big contributor at wide receiver, but an ankle injury has forced him to the sideline.

2009 Outlook

Best Case Scenario: With Fred Taylor gone, Maurice Jones-Drew steps up and shows he can be a true #1 back in the NFL. Torry Holt adds longevity to credentials and his experience rubs off on the younger guys. The Jaguars successfully integrate new defensive packages, and the pass protection improves with the addition of Thomas and the two rookies. The Jaguars get 10, maybe 11 wins, and a wild card berth.

Worst Case Scenario: With Fred Taylor gone, Maurice Jones-Drew has trouble handling the load, and the lack of depth at RB catches up with the Jaguars. Torry Holt shows his age, and inexperience at the WR position puts even more weight on Jones-Drew's shoulders. The loss of Mike Peterson and the preseason tinkering with the schemes causes the defense to be disorganized. Things may look promising for the future, but the Jaguars lose 10 or 11 games and miss the playoffs again.

Prediction: 8-8, 3rd AFC South