(so here's the second option I have w/a franchise - gonna set this one all up and see which I like more (and you like more) and run with it. )
Jaguars Coach Jack Del Rio resigns!
It has been confirmed, Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Jack Del Rio has resigned to take up the head coaching position at his Alma Mater, USC. In the wake of the most recent USC scandal, the AD at Southern Cal reached out to Coach Del Rio to bring not only a very successful NFL coach to his squad, but a part of the USC family as well. Coach Del Rio informed his players just hours before the news broke, and more than one player was upset, as the they felt the team was really on to something last season.
Layne Cleaver, owner of the Jaguars, informed his team that he was bringing in a new coach immediately - and within days had offered the position to former Ohio Northern Head Coach Dave Cotignola. Coach Cotignola is best known for helping develop the pistol offense at the University of Ohio Northern and helping teams like Nevada make it mainstream in the FBS ranks.
Coach Cotignola informed the staff would be kept on this year, and he was going to focus on the offensive side of the ball - specifically attempting to bring the pistol to the NFL full-force. The defensive playbook would remain the same as last year, although some tweaks are expected. This is as much a trail year for Coach Cotignola as it is for the rest of the staff, so there is a sense of urgency in place. Coach Cotignola knows the team is coming off an 11-5 season, but there's still a lot of work to do.
Coach Cotignola refused to get into specifics regarding player personnel at his introductory press conference other than to say that he sees a few big changes ahead to help mold the team - and you can't make an omelet without breaking a few eggs...
So, as February gets rolling and free agency is fast approaching, Coach has a few weeks to look over his roster and see what can be done. The team went 11-5 last year, but was very erratic - either winning big or losing big. And losing against the elite teams of the NFL, especially the division rival Colts both times. They made the playoffs, but were bumped for the second time in a few years by the Patriots. Coach had to find the edge the team needed to beat these elite teams... he hoped it was his pistol offense.
For the pistol to work, Coach knew he had to revamp some of the offense. There were a few promising players on the squad, some holdover draft picks, some questionable trades, and some underachievers... There was also the question of quarterback and running back to resolve. David Garrard had done a fine job as a starter, his competition was gone, namely Byron Leftwich and Quinn Gray; but he was on the last year of his deal and didn't seem especially receptive to entering his last year with a new offense and unknown coach and system. He expressed interest in seeing what his options were.
The other issue was at running back. Fred Taylor is one of the best players the Jags have ever had in their short lifetime, and was coming off a Pro Bowl year. Youngster Maurice Jones-Drew was an amazing young back, but has begun speaking out about taking over as starter and sending Fred out to pasture. He's probably saying a little TOO much to the media. I have to decide if he's a part of the problem or a part of the solution... or merely a part with value to someone else...
Coach knows he won't be too involved in Free Agency. He is going to put a few players on the trade block, and see who's out there - but except maybe at receiver, he doesn't see too many guys worth getting into a bidding war over... of course, if a player like Albert Haynesworth or Terrell Suggs is suddenly available he'd be a food not to give it some though.
After free agency, it'll be time to do a positional analysis to get ready for the draft and the rest of the offseason.
A quick recap of free agency, and positional analysis pre-draft
Franchise Tag: None. There were players I wanted to keep, but not at the franchise tag price. It's a shame the previous regime couldn't resign a couple of them - but they might pop in in FA.
RFA:SS Gerald Sensabaugh. He's a young safety that might have some potential. I will give him the lowest tender though, 1 year @ $970k vs. a 5th round pick. If no one wants him, I can see what he's all about in camp.
Salary Cap on the eve of FA: $32.62 million dollars. Prob not enough to get into a bidding war over an elite player, but might be enough to toss a few lines out there and see what I catch.
Early thoughts - David Garrard is a good quarterback, and the kind that can run the pistol. But at 30 years old and wanting a big contract, it's a big risk to sign him long term if he isn't going to be willing or able to pick up the offense. In addition, the midseason contract distraction might be too much for me. Evaluation: I want a mobile QB to run my pistol. The ability to move in the backfield, roll-out, and scramble when necessary is important. They don't have to have a cannon arm, but accuracy - or at least the ability to read a defense would be nice.
Possible replacements:
Bruce Gradkowski, Luke McCown, Tyler Thigpen, Troy Smith, Tyler Thigpen, Seneca Wallace, Charlie Frye are all on rosters now. Jared Zabransky, Ingle Martin, Josh McCown, Omar Jacobs, Marques Tuisasospo, Quinn Gray, and Chris Leak are all FAs. Guys like Josh Johnson and Dennis Dixon are options in the draft.
It's possible I may get one from each pool to compete. I'll need a seasoned vet, a 1-3 year guy, and rookie to set the roster I think.
QB Moves:
Acquired Luke McCown from the Buccaneers for a 2009 6th rounder. Traded David Garrard to the Chicago Bears for a 2008 2nd rounder and a 2008 6th rounder. 24 teams had an offer for him. Crazy.
Day before the draft salary cap: $35.77 million ($2.77 penalties as of now.)
Major draft needs:
QB - Right now only Luke McCown is on the roster. That'll change soon, of course. Can the draft help? A player like Josh Johnson or Dennis Dixon is worth looking at here.
RB - Fred Taylor could end up in the Hall of Fame someday, and behind him is Adrian Peterson....no, not THAT Adrian Peterson...the Peterson who set numerous records at George Southern and was a top 3 finalist for the Walter Payton award (to the most outstanding 1AA college player) ALL 4 years of college; winning it in his sophmore year. He's nearing 30, and I am confident I can find a running back in the draft to help - if they can learn the system of course.
WR - I get the feeling that we're not too solid here, despite the players here and their abilities. Just a feeling I get. Reggie Williams is a former first round pick, but he's never really produced like one. Del Rio traded for former Vikes 1st round pick Troy Williamson, he's a burner, but has attitude and stone hands. Converted QB Matt Jones and former Chargers Legedu Naanee have a chance to really grow here. Dennis Northcutt is on the bubble for sure. I'll be looking for a player here - either a high pick on a stud, or a couple picks on guys with potential.
DE - We have a couple guys that are pretty decent, but getting older and haven't really performed as well as I'd hoped. I'll look at cuts throughout the preseason, but I'd like to find one guy in the draft to bring in and start developing.
DT - Henderson is a great DT, it's a shame the last GM sent Stroud to the Bills, they were an awesome duo. Last year's draft pick Derek Landri is a potential playmaker, but much smaller than I'm hoping for - and he's more a rusher than run-stopper, which we desperately need. I might find a guy in the draft here later on and move Landri to a team with a better fit.
LB - We have three starters here I want to evaluate, but you can never have enough linebackers. Might try to find one or two here to come in and compete.
*McFadden going to New England? Ouch.
*Never saw Indy trade up like that - guess they really wanted a DT. Guess they are worried about McFadden in New England too!
*Buffalo drafted Trent Edwards to be their savior last year, now spend a high first round pick on Joe Flacco? Smart? Or crazy?
*Felix Jones was a GM suggestion for me, he's the same kind of build as Fred Taylor, decided not to rock the boat. Just glad Washington took Chris Johnson.
My draft
1-26: Felix Jones, RB (gm) - similar build to Taylor, health issues.
2-44: Donnie Avery, WR (gm) - true playmaker we need.
3-65: Dennis Dixon, QB - good runner/passer. needs to get healthy
4-124: Wallace Gilberry, LE (gm) - strong disrupter, adds to pass rush.
4-127: Justin Tryon, CB (gm) - good height and speed. Coverage? hmm
5-153: Jonathan Goff, MLB (gm) - will get a chance to earn a spot
5-154: Kerry Dunn, DT (me) - tall and strong, hope he helps stop run
6-191: Kellen Davis, TE (me) - good blocker and has some speed. Projects as decent #2TE
(all my GM picks had 56-73% dislike, I took Dunn and got 77% fan approval! LOL! If these picks bust, the fans are going to want his head.)
UDFA
Bo Wilson, SS - good chance to be the backup SS
Robert Henderson, LE - could be a steal pass rusher, durability issues
Cory Boyd, RB - runner w/a mean streak, hands are a big question
Warren Adams, RG - seems like a big guy with blocking skills, depth
Erin Henderson, ROLB - good speed and could be a reserve with potential.
Haven't even had our second practice and both starting DEs (Spicer and Hayward) broke a bone and both will miss 4-5 weeks. Guess the rookies are getting a trial by fire early. Going to have to sign a little depth there.
5 days till the first preseason game and Fred Taylor hurts his fibula. 3-4 weeks. Sigh.
Going to be extra careful with Fred and Felix.
Preseason Game 1: vs. Atlanta - lost 18-10 Rookie RB Cory Boyd had one td
4th string CB Mike Hawkins had 2 picks
Rookie OLB Erin Henderson broke his wrist. 4-5 weeks. Not good for him.
Preseason Game 2: vs Miami - win 17-14 QB Marques Tuiasosopo threw 2 touchdowns - both to WR Troy Williamson.
John Henderson banged his knee and will miss one week. Turns out Kerry Dunn has an 85 potential! SWEEET!
Preseason Game 3: @ Tampa Bay - loss 21-6 Tyler Brayton, signed the day before the game to cover an injury had 2 sacks.
Preseason Game 4 @ Washington - Loss 17-14
Final Preseason record 1-3 Luke McCown tossed a TD to Donnie Avery
Adrian Peterson rushed for a TD
Preseason Promise: finish OVER .500
Final Preseason Approval: 51
Opening Day Salary Cap: $35.47 million. ($2.77 penalties this year, $14.92 million next year.)
Paul Spicer and Reggie Heyward are both injured, and may yet get cut, although there is a little cap "pain" if Reggie goes. I'm ok starting Gilberry and Brayton right now if I have to.
Marques Tuiasosopo thoroughly outplayed Luke McCown in the preseason, but I am just not sure I want to make him the season opener, Luke looks superior on paper. Dixon is good, but not ready by a long shot. Luke will be listed as the starter on the sheet, but I need a little bit to decide what I want to do.
Former first round pick WR Reggie Williams is running with rookie Donnie Avery and the 2's right now, Both Naanee and Williamson had great preseasons and they've earned the right to start. Matt Jones is on the trade block.
Jacksonville Jaguars Depth Chart - 2008
Regular Offense
STARTER
2ND
3RD
4TH
WR
Troy Williamson
Reggie Williams
TE
Marcedes Lewis
Kemba Osby (r)
Kellen Davis (r)
LT
Khalif Barnes
Nat Dorsey
LG
Vince Manuwai
Uche Nwaneri
C
Drew Mormino
Warren Adams (r)
RG
George Foster
Champ Warren (r)
Warren Adams (r)
RT
Tony Pashos
Richard Collier
WR
Legedu Naanee
Donnie Avery
Matt Jones
QB
Luke McCown
Marques Tuiasosopo
Dennis Dixon (r)
FB
Greg Jones
HB
Fred Taylor
Felix Jones (r)
Adrian Peterson
Cory Boyd (r)
Base 4-3 Defense
STARTER
2ND
3RD
4TH
LDE
Paul Spicer
Wallace Gilberry (r)
Roderick Green
LDT
John Henderson
Anthony Bryant
RDT
Kerry Dunn (r)
Derek Landri
RDE
Tyler Brayton
Robert Henderson (r)
WLB
Justin Durant
Dan Cody
MLB
Daryl Smith
Mike Peterson
Jonathan Goff (r)
SLB
Clint Ingram
Tyreese Kent (r)
CB
Rashean Mathis
Justin Tryon (r)
SS
Brandon McGowan
Bo Wilson (r)
FS
Reggie Nelson
Pat Watkins
CB
DeMario Minter
Cletis Gordon
Special Teams
STARTER
2ND
3RD
4TH
K
Josh Scobee
P
Adam Podlesh
PR
Justin Tryon
Cletis Gordon
KR
Justin Tyron
Cletis Gordon
Coming up - week one vs the Tennessee Titans!
QB Vince Young
RB LenDale White
WR Isaac Bruce, Justin Gage
DE (r) Lawrence Jackson and Kyle VanDen Bosch
DT Albert Haynesworth and (r) Dre Moore (reserve is (r) Jason Shirley)
LB's Thornton, Thurmann, and Bullock
CB's Finnegan, (r) Pat Lee
S's Griffin and Hope
K 48 years young - Morten Anderson!
The Defense is stacked, like every Titans team. Haynesworth and Moore will be a tough (both 90+) tandem to beat.
Just noticed rookie DE Lawrence Jackson picked up a gameday injury - pending. Atiyyah Ellison will start at LE. They have no one else behind them so if Vanden Bosch or Ellison gets hurt, it will be interesting...
(TEN) V Young 5 yd TD pass to J Olsen (M Anderson PAT)
3
19
00:30
(JAC) J McCown 12 yd TD pass to T Williamson (2 pt fail)
9
19
Jacksonville Jaguars
PASSING
C/A
YDS
TD
INT
M Tuiasosopo
6/16
63
0
1
J McCown
6/16
90
1
0
RUSHING
ATT
YDS
AVG
TD
F Jones
6
13
M Tuaisosopo
6
14
A Peterson
5
3
G Jones
2
8
F Taylor
1
-1
RECEIVING
REC
YDS
AVG
TD
D Avery
3
44
0
T Williamson
3
52
1
L Naanee
2
13
0
R Williams
2
26
0
G Jones
1
6
0
M Lewis
1
12
0
DEFENSE
TACK
SACK
INT
TD
D Smith
9-1
0
0
J Henderson
5-4
2
0
K Dunn
3-1
1
0
W Gilberry
5-3
1
0
KICKING
FG
XP
PTS
LONG
J Scobee
1/2
0/0
3
41
PUNTING
NO
YDS
AVG
IN20
A Podlesh
4
150
37.5
0
KICK RETURN
RET
YDS
AVG
TD
C Gordon
4
69
17.2
J Tryon
2
46
23.0
PUNT RETURN
RET
YDS
AVG
TD
J Tryon
1
25
25.0
0
Tennessee Titans
PASSING
C/A
YDS
TD
INT
V Young
13/19
175
1
0
RUSHING
ATT
YDS
AVG
TD
L White
31
132
0
V Young
7
1
0
K Jones
1
3
0
RECEIVING
REC
YDS
AVG
TD
B Jones
3
34
0
I Bruce
2
32
0
J Gage
2
37
0
K Olsen
2
14
1
K Jones
2
32
0
B Fletcher
1
10
0
L White
1
16
0
DEFENSE
TACK
SACK
INT
TD
K Bullock
11-1
0
0
A Haynesworth
4-2
1
0
A Ellison
3-2
1
0
P Lee
2-0
0
1
KICKING
FG
XP
PTS
LONG
M Anderson
4/4
1/1
13
36
PUNTING
NO
YDS
AVG
IN20
C Hentrich
5
160
32.0
1
KICK RETURN
RET
YDS
AVG
TD
P Lee
1
19
19.0
0
C Stephens
1
1
1.0
0
C Finnegan
1
21
21.0
0
PUNT RETURN
RET
YDS
AVG
TD
P Lee
2
15
7.5
0
Other stats:
Titans Haynesworth and Thurman each forced a fumble inside my 20. (one was on Adrian Peterson, one on Tuiasosopo)
This was a closer game than it seems. If Scobee doesn't miss one kick, the score would have been 12-6, wouldn't have went for 2 later.
Injuries were SICK - the following players of mine got knocked out of the game.
DE Tyler Brayton
DE Paul Spicer
DT John Henderson
RB Felix Jones
RB Fred Taylor
TE Kemba Osby
DE Robert Henderson (returned after the half)
Fred's injury had me furious. Said he was going to miss 4 plays. It gets to one play, and he never comes back. That was a few minutes into the FIRST quarter - never came back - just kept saying 1 play.
We couldn't wait to get out of there before anyone else got crippled. Starting the game with 2 early fumbles inside our 20 was nuts, but we kept stopping them. Tuiasosopo got the start based on his great preseason, but in the 4th quarter after his pick I let McCown in. He got us a TD. Their passing stats were almost the same, and Tui ran for some yardage, so I'm not really sure who I'll start. Between the injuries and rain a lot of guys would have had a hard time.
Time to see how our approval gets hit - we got some "defining moments", but this was a goal game: rivalry.
Approval: 68
Injuries: (* = new injury)
*DE Paul Spicer - torn triceps - IR
*DE Gilberry - high ankle sprain: 2-3 weeks
*TE K Osby - leg cramp: 1 play *WTF! We're back home already!
*DT Henderson - bruised knee: 5-6 days
*DE Tyler Brayton - bruised kidney: 5-6 days
RG W Adams - high ankle sprain: 2 days
Up next, the Buffalo Bills come to town!
The Bills lost a close game to the Seahawks, 24-21. QB Trent Edwards starts (w/Harrington and Flacco as the 2 and 3) Starting WR Lee Evans is out, but Jerry Porter, Roscoe Parrish and Jeff Reed are skilled receivers in their own right. Ben Troupe is the TE, and LT Jason Peters is among the best at the position.
On defense, Kelsey and Schobel (a 2007 pro bowler) are the ends and rookie Barry Booker gets the start at DT due to an injury to the usual starter. The rest of the defense is solid, esp the linebacking corps - which features a mix of established pros like Jeremiah Trotter and Angelo Crowell, as well as young stars in the making Paul Posluszny, Ricky Manning, Keith Ellison and Shawn Crable (all 80s +)
As for my injury situation, Gilberry still needs a week, and Brayton needs a day. I've still got some depth, so I hope it's enough. Time for everyone to step it up!!
Last edited by Aurabolt127; 06-18-2013 at 01:33 AM.
06-17-2013, 12:39 AM
