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2007 Team Report: Jacksonville Jaguars

Quarterbacks

Starter: David Garrard
Backup(s): Quinn Gray, Lester Ricard

Starting QB: The Jaguars named Byron Leftwich the team's 2007 starter in February and put to rest any thoughts of a camp battle or an unsettled QB position -- that is, until they announced just before the start of the season that David Garrard would be the starting QB and Leftwich would be released. David Garrard can certainly step in and run the offense effectively, as he has in each of his seasons backing up Leftwich. Unlike Leftwich, Garrard is mobile, averaging 5.5 yards a carry over his career. Garrard is in the final year of his contract and would desperately like to be on the field.

Backup QB: Quinn Gray has been with the Jaguars for the past three seasons as the third-string QB. Gray, a former NFL Europe star, has a strong arm and decent mobility. Gray has attempted only 21 passes in the NFL, but two of them were for touchdowns, and he's yet to throw an interception. For now, the Jags have Lester Ricard as the 3rd stringer, but the coaches have made it known they plan on bringing in another passer to fill that spot if one becomes available.

Running Backs

Starter: Maurice Jones-Drew, Fred Taylor
Backup(s): LaBrandon Toefield
Fullback(s): Greg Jones, Montell Owens

Starting RB: Maurice Jones-Drew is explosive and possesses a skill set comparable to that of Brian Westbrook. They are both slightly undersized and excellent receivers. Jones-Drew rushed for 941 yards and 13 touchdowns in his rookie campaign. Equally impressive was the 46 receptions for 436 yards and another two scores. Jones-Drew has the coaches' confidence at the goal line and should continue to pile up touchdowns. Splitting time with Jones-Drew produced Fred Taylor's best season in many years. After dropping off in 2005, Taylor responded with 1,146 rushing yards, averaging a career-best 5 yards per carry. It's promising that Taylor played in 15 of 16 games despite a minor hamstring issue at the end of last season.

Backup RBs: Toefield is very similar to Taylor in style of play; and after seeming like the odd man out earlier in the preseason, played well enough to cement the 3rd tailback spot on the roster.

Fullback: Greg Jones was having a fantastic training camp in 2006 before he was placed on injured reserve with a season-ending injury. Jones will likely be fill the void at tailback should either Fred Taylor or Maurice Jones-Drew get hurt.

Wide Receivers

Starters: Dennis Northcutt, Ernest Wilford
Backups: Matt Jones, Reggie Williams, John Broussard [R], Mike Walker [IR]

Starting WRs: The Jaguars are searching for their identity at WR. They have a trio of big receivers returning in Matt Jones, Reggie Williams, and Ernest Wilford, but the two former first-round picks in that group -- Jones and Williams -- have been inconsistent and are not projected to start this year. Dennis Northcutt, who spent the last seven seasons with the Browns, will start on one side, while Ernest Wilford will line up on the other. Northcutt has speed and is a big-play threat, while Wilford is more of a possession receiver.

Backup WRs: Matt Jones, a converted college quarterback, has great speed and playmaking ability, and is expected to work out of the slot this year as the Jaguars' third receiver. He was bothered by injuries during parts of 2006 but played his best football last season after Leftwich's season-ending knee injury. Reggie Williams is a former top ten draft pick with great size and athleticism, but has been disappointing so far and is not a lock to make the final roster. Rookie John Broussard is a speed merchant and made the team as a special teamer and occasional deep threat in multi-WR sets.

Tight Ends

Starters: Marcedes Lewis
Backups: George Wrighster, Richard Angulo

Marcedes Lewis is an exciting athlete and excellent receiver. Like Pro-Bowl TEs Antonio Gates and Tony Gonzalez, Lewis was recruited to play college basketball, and he transformed those skills to become an excellent pass-catching TE setting a few UCLA career records. Lewis developed a high ankle sprain in the preseason last year and lost two months recovering. Lewis did not play much in 2006 and is trying to fit into the Jaguars 2-TE offense; but has struggled with his blocking. George Wrighster is a fluid pass catcher but must stay healthy in order to help the Jaguars this year. Richard Angulo will serve as a sixth offensive lineman when he's on the field.

Place Kicker

Josh Scobee : The Jaguars re-signed Scobee to a five-year deal this off-season, and for good reasons. Head coach Jack Del Rio noted, "He made significant improvement with his mechanics and accuracy. We've asked him to kick a lot of long field goals. He's a really good young player at that position." Scobee hit 26 of 32 (81.3%) on field goals last year for the highest percentage of his career. His 119 points, another career best, put the Jaguars at sixth in kicker scoring. Last year he tallied 21 touchbacks on kickoffs, for yet one more career best. CAMP UPDATE: After Scobee missed a potential game winning field goal at the end of the first preseason game, the team practiced live field goal drills the following week. He did not fail in practice.

Kick and Punt Returners

Kick Returners: Maurice Jones-Drew; LaBrandon Toefield; John Broussard

As a rookie last year, RB Maurice Drew did an excellent job on kickoff returns (31 returns, 27.7 avg., 1 TD). He'll remain the starter this year. RB LaBrandon Toefield has only one return in the last three years, but had 14 returns and a 19.4 average in 2003. Seventh round draft pick WR John Broussard averaged 21.5 yards and scored once on kickoff returns for San Jose State.

Punt Returners: Dennis Northcutt; Maurice Jones-Drew; Rashean Mathis; LaBrandon Toefield

WR Dennis Northcutt is one of the best punt returners in the league. He averaged 10.6 yards per return during his seven years with the Browns. He scored three TDs, and had quite a few others negated by penalty. Maurice Jones-Drew led the NCAA in punt return average (28.5 yards) in 2005, and returned three for TDs. CB Rashean Mathis has been used sparingly on punt returns by the Jaguars (one or two a year); however he has experience from back in college at Bethune-Cookman (55 returns, 11.6 avg., 2 TDs).

Offensive Line

Projected Starters: LT Khalif Barnes, LG Vince Manuwai, C Dennis Norman, RG Chris Naeole, RT Tony Pashos
Key Backups: Richard Collier, Maurice Williams, Tutan Reyes, Brad Meester [inj]

Khalif Barnes, a third-year pro, has become a fixture at left tackle and should continue to improve. At right tackle, free agent Tony Pashos displaced Maurice Williams with little trouble. Brad Meester will start at center when he returns from a broken ankle midseason; until then Dennis Norman will hold down the line calls. Vince Manuwai is a very good lineman who has missed only two starts over the past four seasons. Chris Naeole starts at the other guard position. The Jaguars have the makings of a tremendous line and were one of the better run-blocking units last season.

Team Defense

Despite injuries to several key players, the Jacksonville Jaguars were 2nd in the NFL in total defense, 4th in rushing defense and 4th in points allowed. Those numbers were a dramatic improvement from the 2005 season. The only number that went the wrong way was total sacks, as they had 47 in 2005 and only 35 last year. Head Coach Jack Del Rio, an ex-NFL star linebacker who had a reputation as a tough guy, has molded the team in his image. Once a finesse-type defense, the Jaguars now are a power defense. Joining Del Rio in the coaching ranks once again will be Defensive Coordinator Mike Smith. Where they were once a team built around their offense, they are now a team that revolves around the defense, and it all starts with their pair of mammoth DTs, John Henderson and Marcus Stroud. They employ a 4-3 defense and a linebacking unit led by veteran Mike Peterson, but Peterson is older and coming off an injury-laden season. Daryl Smith is emerging on the outside, while 2nd year Clint Ingram gets a shot at the other OLB spot. The Jaguars have the makings of another dominate defense this year, especially if Reggie Nelson can replace Donovin Darius' productivity at the safety position.

Defensive Line

Starters: DE Reggie Hayward, DE Bobby McCray, DT Marcus Stroud, DT John Henderson
Backups: DE Paul Spicer, DT Tony McDaniel, DE Brent Hawkins, DT/DE Rob Meier

Starting DL: The Jaguars defense continues to revolve around their impressive tandem of tackles, John Henderson and Marcus Stroud. Henderson, at 6'7" 330 pounds, is a menacing presence who can not only bat down passes at the line of scrimmage but get to the QB as well. He also is very effective against the run. Henderson was recently signed to a monster six-year deal. He had what some considered his best year as a pro, but statistically he had his worst year with a career low in tackles and only 3.5 sacks. Marcus Stroud has now had two consecutive down years, but at least a part of that can be blamed on injuries. After having knee problems in 2005, Stroud suffered through ankle issues last year and missed five games. Expect a full recovery in 2007. Reggie Hayward missed all but one game last year due to an injury to his Achilles, but looks ready to go for the start of 2007. Fourth-year player Bobby McCray is a valuable cog in this unit and had a team-leading ten sacks. After playing a situational role the last few years, he will get his shot as a full-time starter.

Backup DL: Paul Spicer is a former starter is most effective against the run. After getting 7.5 sacks in 2005, he reverted back to just three sacks last year despite increased playing time. DT Rob Meier really stepped last year when injuries hit the team hard. He has 11 sacks over the last two years and fits in perfectly behind Henderson and Stroud. He's very tough and works hard. Second year player Brent Hawkins should be ready for 2007 after a groin injury kept him out of the last ten games. He's a pass-rushing specialist who would supply the perfect depth addition the team needs. The Jags have very high hopes for what Hawkins can bring to the unit. DT Tony McDaniel is yet another young player that came in last year and played at a high level. McDaniel helps round out possibly the best defensive front line in the league.

Linebackers

Starters: MLB Mike Peterson, OLB Daryl Smith, OLB Clint Ingram
Backups: LB Justin Durant, LB Pat Thomas, LB Brian Iwuh

Starting LBs: Mike Peterson missed the last 11 games last year due to a season-ending injury. He was replaced admirably in the middle by Daryl Smith, who recently signed a contract extension. Peterson's healthy return should be a tremendous boost for an already improving unit. Peterson had 257 tackles and 11 sacks in his previous two seasons combined with the Jaguars and at 31 years old, should have enough left in his tank for another stellar year. But his health remains a huge question mark. As for Smith, he will play on the outside and no doubt make the best of it; while he waits for his chance to reclaim the MLB spot. Second year player Clint Ingram emerged as a rookie on the outside in Smith's old role and looks to have earned a starting nod this year somewhere along the line. He's got excellent speed and emerged as a legitimate playmaker towards the end of the year. All three starters may be interchanged to some degree and they are all smart and athletic.

Backup LBs: The Jaguars drafted Justin Durant in the second round and he'll come in right away and possibly challenge for a starting role. Durant is a terrific athlete with blazing speed and a hard hitter. A hamstring injury placed Pat Thomas on the shelf last year and the team had high hopes for him. At this point, though, if he makes the team, it will be only in a supporting role. Tony Gilbert has contributed mainly on special teams to this point, and plays in the middle when inserted into regular situations. Brian Iwuh remains a project.

Defensive Backs

Starters: SS Nick Sorensen, SS Gerald Sensabaugh, CB Rashean Mathis, CB Brian Williams
Backups: S Reggie Nelson [R], S Sammy Knight, CB Terry Cousin, CB Scott Starks

Starting DBs: Donovin Darius was released at the start of camp, leaving a big leadership void in the defensive secondary. Gerald Sensabaugh and Nick Sorensen will man the middle, but Sorensen is just keeping the seat warm for rookie 1st rounder Reggie Nelson. Nelson is the kind of dynamic playmaker that the team hoped Donovin Darius would be, someone who can cover receivers like a corner but equally play the intimidator role against the run. Sensabaugh started the last seven games last year in place of the injured Darius and ended the season with 37-7 tackles and a pair of interceptions. Arguably the most valuable player in the secondary last year was CB Rashean Mathis. Mathis had eight interceptions and 63 total tackles, earning him a spot in the Pro Bowl. He's one of the league's very best corners and rarely gets beat, despite taking on some of the best receivers in the game. Opposite Mathis at corner is Brian Williams. Williams returns for his second year with the team after signing a lucrative contract in 2006, and while not flashy, he's a physical player who excels against the run.

Backup DBs: With the 21st pick in the first round, the Jaguars selected safety Reggie Nelson, a versatile player with tremendous range. Veteran CB Terry Cousin plays an important supporting role but at 32 years old he no longer can contribute as he once did. He's undersized but is a good tackler who isn't afraid to come up and play the run. Scott Starks is an athletic who should play a lot in the nickel. Many scouts believe it is only a matter of time before he is a starter in the league. Starks is a physical player with good speed but at 5'8" 174 pounds is very undersized. The team recently signed veteran safety Sammy Knight, who is long past his prime but could help as a dime defender.

Last modified: 2007-09-01 22:45:55