TGS 2007 Football Preview Bonus: Jacksonville Jaguars

JACKSONVILLE—As far as we know, Susan Lucci (left) hasn’t relocated to Jacksonville. At least not yet. But she might be welcomed at the NFL Network to offer some insight into what was the league’s best offseason soap opera, courtesy of the hometown Jaguars. Along the way, the QB situation involving main characters Byron Leftwich, David Garrard, Quinn Gray, HC Jack Del Rio, former offensive coordinator Carl Smith, and even a cameo from Brady Quinn offered more storylines than six month’s worth of All My Children episodes. And it would be no surprise if there aren’t more twists and turns to this saga in Jacksonville before training camp begins in July.

The drama really began last season, when Del Rio decided to bench Leftwich (slowed by ankle woes) after six games, handing the job to Garrard, whose performances hung in the so-so range the next 10 weeks. Until the finale at Kansas City, that is, when he was pulled by Del Rio for the little-used Gray, the former Florida A&M Rattler who had played in just one game since 2003, but who provided an unexpected spark by leading 3 late TD drives. Yet that loss to the Chiefs completed a late-season collapse in which at least a wildcard berth seemed a fait accompli before a disastrous 3-game tailspin at the finish. Soon afterwards, the well-regarded o.c. Smith was dumped by Del Rio, ostensibly because the QB play had been erratic (perhaps the fact Smith had a subpar group of receivers to work with had something to do with the QB struggles). Then, amid rumors that an upset Leftwich (left) wanted out, Del Rio switched course yet again at the scouting combine and named Leftwich the starter (!) for ‘07, although a handful of AFC South conspiracy theorists opined that Del Rio made the move simply to up Byron’s trade ante. We’ll see. Finally, at the draft, all sorts of dominoes began to fall when the Jags swapped first-round picks with Denver, but still had an unexpected chance to take the highly-touted Quinn with the 21st pick. Yet instead of tabbing the Notre Dame QB, or adding to a future draft pick stockpile by trading out of the spot with a QB-hungry side like Cleveland (which was dangling a No.1 pick in ‘08 as bait), Jacksonville opted for immediate help in the 2ndary by drafting Florida S Reggie Nelson. More than a few insiders believe that in most years, Del Rio would have never passed on the chance to draft a QB such as Quinn, or trade down to gain more future primo draft picks from a desperate suitor. But most agree Del Rio, with his job likely on the line this fall, had no use for a rookie QB, and simply went for the pick he thought would come in most handy for 2007—not 2008 or 2009.

Meanwhile, the fallout from Smith’s dismissal was met with more negative feedback from NFL insiders who wonder if he was simply thrown under the bus by Del Rio despite coordinating an attack that finished 3rd in NFL rushing stats and 9th in scoring. All of that despite using 3 QBs and not having a go-to receiving threat. Moreover, Smith’s replacement, recently-dismissed Arizona State HC Dirk Koetter, has no NFL experience (compared to Smith’s 20 years), lending some credence to the growing league-wide belief that the Jags are in a chaotic state.

Even if Leftwich is still around to start the opener vs. Tennessee, durability issues remain, as do concerns about available receiving options. So desperate was Del Rio in the offseason to find wideouts who could separate from DBs that he gambled in free agency on Cleveland vet Dennis Northcutt (who only caught 22 passes LY) and in the draft on 3rd-round pick Mike Walker, a speedy UCF product recovering from knee surgery. Last year’s top target, Reggie Williams, gained less than 12 yards per catch on his 52 receptions, so acquiring field-stretching options was important. But J’ville certainly found lightning in a bottle last fall with rookie RB-KR Maurice Jones-Drew (right), who scored 16 TDs, although keeping notoriously fragile vet RB Fred Taylor as healthy as he was last fall when gaining 1146 YR and a career-best 5 ypc might be tricky. Still, when the “O” did come together in ‘06, it was a sight to behold, especially when gaining 375 YR (!) in a 44-17 December 10 rout of the eventual champion Colts.

Lost somewhat in last year’s offensive fireworks and the offseason QB soap opera was the fact the Jags played some nasty “D” in ‘06, ranking 2nd overall and 4th in points allowed. The drafting of FS Nelson (compared by some to a young Ed Reed) should fill an immediate gap that opened when Deon Grant jumped to the Seahawks, although depth and age (SS Donovin Darius will be 32 in August) are concerns in the 2ndary. The good news up front is that DE Reggie Hayward is expected back after missing almost all of ‘06 with a ruptured Achilles tendon, and monstrous DTs John Henderson and Marcus Stroud (left; Stroud has apparently recovered from LY’s ankle injury), each notorious for tossing aside offensive linemen like rag dolls, are back to frighten more opponents.

Bottom line...The Jags are a tough read, at least until they get their QB situation sorted out. What makes it all the more intriguing is that the team continues to tease with occasional breathtaking displays (both offensively and defensively) befitting a Super Bowl contender. But Del Rio cannot afford to miss the playoffs for a fourth time in five years. And if the QB situation is what’s holding Jacksonville back, Del Rio is running out of time to fix it.

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