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On the brink of being considered a championship-caliber football team, the Jacksonville Jaguars enter a make-it-or-break-it 2008.
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS
2007 Record: 11 – 5
2008 Draft Selection: # 26
2008 Adjusted Salary Cap Number: 128.65M
Prominent Player Departures:
WR – Ernest Wilford, DE – Bobby McCray, DB – Sammy Knight, RB – Brandon Toefield, QB – Quinn Gray
Areas of Need This Off Season:
Defensive End, Linebacker
Remaining Free Agents Potentially on the Jaguars’ Radar:
DE –Greg Spires, Al Wallace
LB – Roosevelt Colvin, Victor Hobson, Takeo Spikes
Summary:
The dual-headed monster backfield of Maurice Jones-Drew and Fred Taylor propelled Jacksonville back into the NFL elite in 2007. Many thought that the transition from Byron Leftwich to David Garrard at quarterback would lead to a mediocre season for the Jaguars. Fortunately, Garrard was more than up to the challenge of assuring Jacksonville brass that he is a dependable starter in this league. The former East Carolina University signal caller was efficient and made the best of his situation with a set of receivers that were far from being feared. Ever since the dynamic duo of Jimmy Smith and Kennan McCardell left town, the Jaguars’ aerial attack has been anemic. Matt Jones, a former quarterback-turned-receiver is officially a bust. Reggie Williams, another former first-round selection stepped his game up a little in ’07 and is trying to avoid having the dreaded “B” word thrust upon him. Jacksonville has seen the writing on the walls at wideout, and decided to be pro-active this off season and do something about it. Ernest Wilford is out and in are two receivers that should put a smile on David Garrard’s face. On the subject of underachieving former first-rounders, Troy Williamson is the new home-run threat for the Jags. Williamson was acquired from Minnesota in February and perhaps a change of locale will help the lanky speedster find his step. The former South Carolina receiver is still very young and he will get every opportunity to turn it around it Jacksonville. Not satisfied with adding one receiver to the offensive unit, the Jaguars struck a second time by bringing Jerry Porter aboard. The veteran all-purpose receiver spent his career in Oakland and should be a great target for Garrard to look for. With this huge need out of the way early in free agency, the Jaguars can focus their drafting needs elsewhere to shore up some minor holes. Defensive end is one avenue they might pursue. Not to say that Greg Spires or Al Wallace wouldn’t help, but they are rotational players and do not solve long-term problems. Sitting towards the latter stages of the first round in the draft are a couple of interesting prospects. Quentin Groves from Auburn ran a head-turning 4.5 forty time at the combine and is flexible enough to play defensive end. Groves might better fit a 34 defense, but his athleticism will allow him to play end in a 4-3. If Clemson defensive end Phillip Merling is available at 26, the Jags should pounce on him. Originally slated to go near the top 10, a recent injury may have caused his status to slide come draft day. Either of these two players will look good on that Jaguars front. Linebacker is another area of concern in Northeast Florida. Again, the free agent pool is looking barren, but a veteran like Roosevelt Colvin or Takeo Spikes could fill the void for a year or two. If Jacksonville waits for draft day, a guy like Dan Connor from Penn State or Oklahoma’s Curtis Lofton would be nice additions.
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