Jacksonville Jaguars

Jaguars, Colts, Let’s get it on!

// October 1st, 2010 // No Comments » // David Garrard, Derek Cox, Marcedes Lewis, Maurice Jones Drew, Mike Sims-Walker, Pocket Hercules

You can throw out the record books when the Colts and Jaguars get together, which they will do this Sunday afternoon in Jacksonville. Since the whooping Peyton Manning and the Colts put on the Jaguars on Monday night back in 2007, all 5 games have been within 7 points or less. The Colts are 4-1 in those games, but each one could have easily gone the other way. The Jaguars always seem to play their best games when Indianapolis comes to town.

Last season, the Colts won 2 hard fought games: 14-12 in Week 1, and 35-31 on a Thursday night in Week 15. How close was that Week 15 game? An NFL Record 9 lead changes throughout the game. They also won in Jacksonville a week after beating Denver.

Hmmm…

The Jaguars come off a giant let-down of a game last weekend, getting smacked around by the Eagles 28-3. Stud RB Maurice Jones-Drew was held to 88 yards on 22 carries, and only 1 receiving yard on 2 catches. I’m going to go out on a limb and say he’s going to have more receiving yards this week. David Garrard also struggled mightily, barely getting in positive numbers in ANPY/A, 0.25 / Attempt, worst in the league last week. It was the 2nd week in a row Garrard was pretty bad, as he got yanked, then put back into duty after an injury to Luke McCown, against the Chargers.

So how do the two teams match-up? Let’s take a look…

Some keys from the stats:

I don’t know about you, but every time the Colts play the Jaguars, I’m infuriated at the fact that the Jaguars convert 3rd down after 3rd down by 2 or less yards.  It’s like death by paper cuts.  Despite being pretty poor at Drive Success Rate (DSR), they are pretty good at the other drive-related stats: Time of Possession / Drive, First Downs / Drive, and Plays / Drive.  The quickest way to get Jacksonville out of the game is to get them off the field on 3rd Down.  Oh, and watch for the 6 yard hitch patterns on the outside on 3rd and 5.  I call it the Tim Jennings Special.

Watch the Red Zone Efficiency again this week.  The Jaguars haven’t been too good so far this young season on either side of the ball, while the Colts have been fantastic.

The best stat for the Jaguars this year?  Net Punting Average.  Their special teams look to be pretty good.  Let’s hope that get a lot more practice covering punts.

These numbers don’t take into account schedule played, which according to the Winning Stats, the Jaguars have played the toughest schedule so far this year (Colts are #17).  When you adjust for opponents, the Jaguars become much better statistically (Non-Adj: 27th Overall, Adj: 13th).

Other things to watch:

Injuries on the Offensive Line.  Jeff Linkenbach didn’t play too bad last week, but that might be slightly skewed because of just how bad both Mike Pollak and Jamie Richard played.  It’d be really nice if Charlie Johnson came back this week healthy.  He practiced fully on Wednesday, so that’s a great sign.

I think Jack Del Rio is coaching for his job on Sunday.  Another blow out loss will mean his team has pretty clearly quit on him, and he’ll need to be replaced immediately.  Maybe the Colts will let them hang around just enough to let Del Rio keep his job, at least until they come to Indianapolis in Week 15.

The Jaguars defense is very familiar with Manning, intercepting at least 1 pass in 6 of the last 7 meetings between the teams.  He’s been extremely careful with the ball so far this season, but there always seems to be a bad bounce that gets intercepted against Jacksonville.  I’m betting we’ll see one this week too.

Both Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis were bottled up pretty well last Sunday against the Broncos.  I haven’t had an opportunity to re-watch the game yet, so I’m not sure whether the Tackles were just really good, or whether they had lots of help.  More on that Friday.  Getting to Garrard on those 3rd down and mediums will be vital to the Colts success.

Prediction:

On paper, this doesn’t look like much of a game, as the Colts have significantly outperformed the Jaguars so far in 2010.  However, familiarity almost always wins out in this series, so I just can’t see a blowout.  Factor in that I think the Jaguars do care about their coach, so they’ll be playing hard to save his job.  I know most teams like to wait until the Bye week if they are going to fire their coach in-season, but that is still 5 weeks away, way too long in a league where every game matters.  I don’t see Del Rio making it much past next Tuesday, as the Colts will win handily, but certainly not easily.

Jags versus Eagles Preview > From NBC Philadelphia.

// September 21st, 2010 // No Comments » // Aaron Kampman, David Garrard, Mike Sims-Walker, jack del rio

Every week during the season, we’ll scout out the Eagles next opponent. This week, that opponent is the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Record: 1-1

The Line: Eagles by 3.5. Again, the Eagles are road favorites going up against a supposedly bad team. They failed to cover last week.

Last Game: A 38-13 beatdown courtesy of the Chargers, who breezed through the Jags as if they weren’t even there. Quarterback David Garrard, who looked so good in the team’s 24-17 opening week win over Denver, got picked off four times and was eventually benched for Luke McCown. LUKE MCCOWN! Oh, that’s not good at all.

The Coach: Jack Del Rio, aka Eddie Money. This is Del Rio’s last season in Jacksonville. He doesn’t know that yet, so shhhhhhhh! I’d hate to spoil the surprise.

The Offense: It’s hard to figure out which Garrard will show up on Sunday: the one who looked so good in the opener, or the one who went to pieces last week. In his best season (2007), Garrard was a highly efficient passer who seemed on the verge of breaking out. But it’s three years later and he still has yet to make that leap. Mike Sims-Walker is a dangerous threat downfield, and you know all about Maurice Jones-Drew. Given how the Eagles fared against the Lions offense last week, I think it’s safe to say the Jags can do some damage.

The Defense: Aaron Kampman was stolen away from Green Bay and looks very much like his old pass rushing self. It’ll be the job of the Eagles’ o-line, which hasn’t been very good thus far, to keep him away from Kevin Kolb, lest Kolb be concussed again and give way to Michael Vick. Yes, that would be tragic. I guess. Kind of.

Key Matchup: Sims-Walker vs. Asante Samuel. Shut down Sims-Walker, and you’ve basically shutdown the Jaguars passing game. They’re considerate like that.

http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/blogs/birds-nest/Out-Of-The-Nest-Eagles-at-Jaguars—103435759.html

Bolts blow up the Jaguars 38-13

// September 21st, 2010 // No Comments » // David Garrard, Tiquan Underwood

Before I list the bad things, I want to first say that San Diego’s excuse that the Jaguars weren’t a big draw is ridiculous. There was teal and a lot of it in San Diego. I don’t know how many tickets the Chargers fans expect their opponents to draw in, but the Jaguars had well over a thousand fans in attendance by my guess. I sat one section over from the surfing group that Alfie wrote about earlier this weekend and eventually moved up and sat with them. They definitely wore their teal loud and proud, never sitting down the entire game. Even when the score was 38-6 they were firing up “We are Jaguars!” chants and “Move those chains” with every increasingly meaningless first down. They took plenty of abuse from Charger fans, but delivered some abuse of their own and were definitely a rowdy group.

And…begin rant. The game plan for the Chargers on offense was very clear to me. Find who the linebackers are covering and throw it to that player. Whether that was Sproles, Gates or even Tolbert, the linebackers were abused in the passing game time and again. Daryl Smith didn’t do too terrible at covering running backs and tight ends, but Kirk Morrison was absolutely abused.

When not a single player on the starting defensive line has more tackles than your starting running back, you probably didn’t have a good game. Enough said.

From my perspective David Garrard looked very comfortable in the pocket this week and did in week 1 as well. Unfortunately he looked so comfortable that he didn’t want to leave. Pressure came and when the escape routes opened that Garrard would make plays with in the past, he stood like the statue he isn’t instead and took the hit.

Finally, special teams was supposed to be the huge factor for the Jaguars and it never was on kickoffs. Tiquan Underwood saw only one seem all game and that return was taken back after a holding penalty. Mike Thomas was never given an opportunity to return a punt, although one of those was after a Rashad Jennings blocked punt.

Oh and one more thing. I had the pleasure of meeting Russell Allen’s mom and uncle as they were setting up their big tailgate. They really seemed like nice, genuine people. End rant.

Garrard’s three touchdown passes, equates to best passer rating and helped Jacksonville beat the Denver Broncos 24-17

// September 13th, 2010 // No Comments » // Aaron Kampman, Daryl Smith, David Garrard, Derek Cox, Marcedes Lewis, Mike Sims-Walker, Tebow

;JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — David Garrard played last season with “Draft Tebow” bumper stickers floating around town and No. 15 jerseys, the ones in teal and black, scattered in the stands.

They may have been a little threatening then.
They certainly don’t bother him now.

Garrard threw three touchdown passes, finished with his best passer rating and helped Jacksonville beat the Denver Broncos 24-17 on Sunday in a season opener the Jaguars called one of the most important in franchise history.
“This was big for us,” said tight end Marcedes Lewis, who caught two TD passes. “We really got some juice out of our squeeze.”
As for Tim Tebow? Well, the former Florida star made his NFL debut in his hometown and got rousing support. But he was a non-factor in the game.
The Broncos can’t say the same about Garrard, who completed 16 of 21 passes for 170 yards. His QB rating was 138.9, besting his previous high set in 2006.
“Everybody in this room believes in Dave and understands he’s our leader,” Lewis said. “This is big for him. It’s big for his confidence. If Dave is going to be great, then everyone else has to be great around him.”
Garrard got plenty of help.
Mike Thomas caught six passes for 89 yards. Maurice Jones-Drew ran for 98 yards. Adam Podlesh dropped two punts inside the 10-yard line. Tiquan Underwood returned a kickoff 53 yards that set up a field goal.
Maybe the most telling stat: Jacksonville, which ranked last in the league with 14 sacks last season, had three in the opener and hit Kyle Orton several other times.
“You get what you emphasize, usually,” said Aaron Kampman, the team’s biggest offseason acquisition who was involved in two sacks. “We have emphasized getting after the passer.”
Kampman kept the outing in perspective, pointing out that Denver played with two rookies (center J.D. Walton and right tackle Zane Beadles) on the offensive line and had All-Pro left tackle Ryan Clady starting five months after knee surgery.
“They had some guys who didn’t have a ton of experience in the league,” Kampman said. “But they’re still NFL players out there.”
The Jaguars, coming off a 7-9 season in which they blacked out nine of 10 home games, needed to get off to a good start to keep fans in the seats and eliminate more talk about relocation.
Tebow’s debut made a victory even more imperative, especially since some Jaguars fans clamored for the former University of Florida star.
The Broncos wasted little time getting Tebow on the field. The college football icon who grew up in Jacksonville entered on the third play. He gained a yard on a quarterback keeper. He returned two plays later and lined up at receiver. Tebow picked up another yard on his second carry, this one coming in the second quarter.
“It was a learning opportunity for me, an opportunity to get better,” Tebow said.
Tebow spent the rest of the game on the sideline. Orton was much more effective — at least until the fourth quarter.
Orton was 21 of 33 for 295 yards, with a touchdown and an interception. Orton’s fourth-down pass to Brandon Lloyd in the corner of the end zone was ruled incomplete with 4:41 remaining. Lloyd, who caught four passes for 106 yards, didn’t get two feet down.
“Made a lot of plays, but left a few out there,” Orton said. “We didn’t make enough plays and that’s unfortunate.”
The Broncos got the ball back with 1:50 left, but Daryl Smith stepped in front of Eddie Royal and picked off Orton’s pass near midfield.
Orton blamed some of the problems on static he was getting in his helmet, possibly the result of a thunderstorm that moved through Jacksonville and forced a 33-minute delay between the third and fourth quarters.
“Anytime you’re on the road in the NFL, you have to be prepared for that,” he said. “We put ourselves in the situation to win, but didn’t make the plays down the stretch.”
Denver might not have been behind had it not been for defensive end Ryan McBean’s two costly penalties. McBean was flagged twice for grabbing Jones-Drew’s face mask on the winning drive. The Jaguars used the extra 30 yards to move 83 yards in seven plays, capping the drive with Garrard’s 24-yard strike to Kassim Osgood.
It was Osgood’s first TD catch since 2004 — maybe the reason he celebrated so wildly.
Osgood was flagged for celebrating, a penalty that gave the Broncos good field position. Orton got them down to the Jacksonville 14, but his third-and-3 pass was tipped at the line of scrimmage and his fourth-down throw was a bit wide.
Garrard didn’t make the same mistakes.
“Those are the types of plays that we got to make all year,” he said.

Game notes
Jaguars CB Derek Cox was benched in the third quarter after getting beat several times. “Tough game for me,” he said. “Some days you’re on, and today I wasn’t on like I want to be.” … Jaguars won their season opener for the first time since 2006. … It was the hottest game in franchise history in Jacksonville. Temperatures reached 93 degrees with a heat index of 105. … Broncos CBs Champ Bailey and Andre Goodman held WR Mike Sims-Walker without a catch.
Copyright by STATS LLC and The Associated Press

Jaguars buck the Broncos, buck Attendance Trends! We are Jaguars!

// September 13th, 2010 // No Comments » // Uncategorized

The Jacksonville Jaguars, considered the NFL’s most vulnerable franchise, opened a crucial season with a gritty 24-17 victory over the Denver Broncos that served as a reminder of their place in the game.

Over 63,000 people were at EverBank Field in temperatures that topped 90 degrees Fahrenheit (32 Celsius), sending a clear message to those who have questioned whether the city has a future as an NFL franchise.

The Jaguars had one of the worst attendance records in the league last year, finishing 30th of 32 teams, and there have been suggestions that moving the franchise to Los Angeles, currently without a team, would make sense for the league.

“It was a huge game for us. I didn’t try to downplay it to the team,” said head coach Jack Del Rio.

“I told the guys we need to start fast. I believe the community stepped up around this football team and this team has stepped up in this community,”

While many fans surely came to watch former University of Florida quarterback Tim Tebow make his much anticipated NFL debut, the overwhelming number of teal-colored jerseys showed the game mattered most to the Jacksonville fans.

There were still empty seats, mostly in the pricey and more centrally-located sections, but outside the old-school stadium, the tailgate parties were buzzing in true American style.

The post-match mood was even more upbeat after an important win for the AFC South team.

Jaguars quarterback David Garrard threw two touchdowns, to tight end Marcedes Lewis, which were both cancelled out by the Broncos.

Denver’s Jabar Gaffney caught an eight-yard pass from Kyle Orton before Knowshon Moreno ran it in from a yard out to level the score in the third quarter.

Jacksonville got out in front with when Josh Scobee nailed a 45 yard field goal, but dark clouds that turned into thunder and lightning forced a 33-minute delay in the game.

When play resumed, the Broncos tied the game at 17-17 on a 54 yard field goal from Matt Prater.

But the Jags ensured a winning start to the campaign when Garrard found Kassim Osgood in the end zone with a 24-yard pass.

It was a much-needed display from the oft-criticized Garrard and Lewis said he was proud of his team mate.

“This is big for him … big for his confidence and everyone around him. David is going to be great and everyone has to be great around him,” he said.

Jaguars Roster Scrum Highlights Tonight FINAL PRESEASON GAME! BeTEAL is ready for some football!

// September 2nd, 2010 // No Comments » // Roster Battles, Scouting

The drama that is the fight to make an NFL roster will play out in the Jaguars’ preseason finale Thursday night against the visiting Atlanta Falcons. When the Jaguars’ starters depart the action early in the game, those that even play at all, the reserves will turn EverBank Field into a job quest.

Here’s one reporter’s attempt to handicap the field.

Quarterback—This one’s easy. The Jaguars kept two last year and they’ll keep the same two this year.

Backs—The Jaguars kept four last year; that number includes running backs and fullbacks. It could be inflated by at least one this year, since kick-returner Deji Karim has been added to the mix, which includes special teams star Montell Owens. Karim, of course, has had hand surgery recently and we don’t know the significance of that injury because the Jaguars do not release injury information in the preseason. All we can do is speculate that Karim will make the final roster and the Jags won’t keep more than one fullback, which would mean veteran Greg Jones and second-year man Brock Bolen could be locked in a drama. Jones is as good as they come for a team that wants its fullback to block. Bolen, however, has come on hard and fast in the preseason. Is Bolen, a minimum-wage player who would represent a significant savings at the position, a threat to displace Jones, who carries a relatively high salary for the position and has struggled to stay healthy?

Tight end—The Jags kept four last year, but reduced that number to three when Zach Miller recovered from his knee injury. If they are to keep three this year, that would mean veteran Ernest Wilford, a pass-catching type, and Zach Potter, a young blocking tight end who’s making the switch from defensive end, are in a battle for the final spot.

Wide receiver—Mike Sims-Walker, Mike Thomas, Jarett Dillard and Kassim Osgood are locks. Osgood, of course, is a special teams star. The Jaguars kept six last year, which could mean that Troy Williamson, Tiquan Underwood and John Matthews, a two-touchdown star of the preseason, are fighting for the final two spots. Or it could mean the Jags will go one light at wide receiver and go one heavy somewhere else.

Offensive line—The number is likely to be eight or nine. The major roster drama is at guard, where it’s thought three veterans – Vince Manuwai, Kynan Forney and Justin Smiley – are playing for two spots. Rookies Kevin Haslam and Daniel Baldridge are locked in a roster battle that could see one make the roster and the other signed to the practice squad.

Defensive tackle—Four would seem to be the number, which means Atiyyah Ellison, Leger Douzable and Walter Curry are likely in a three-for-two-spots competition.

Defensive end—Four is also the likely number, unless someone is just too good to cut. Jeremy Mincey is in a fight for his professional life. Rookie Aaron Morgan is a likely practice squad candidate.

Linebacker—Six is the usual standard, but this is not a deep group and the Jags could go one light here. Rod Wilson, Tony Gilbert and rookie Jacob Cutrera are the bubble guys. It’s thought that two, maybe one, will win a job.

Cornerback—Five is the standard, but return man Scotty McGee is in this group, which could swell its ranks by one. Don Carey, William Middleton and Michael Coe are the bubble guys. One, maybe two of them, will make the final roster.

Safety—Poor play in the preseason clouds this position. Anthony Smith is thought to be a lock. Sean Considine is expected to make the team based on his special teams and utility value. Four is the standard, which means Reggie Nelson, Gerald Alexander and Tyron Brackenridge could be in a three-for-one battle. It must be remembered that Brackenridge can also play corner, which could decrease the number of corners kept and increase the number of safeties.

There are no competitions at kicker, punter and long-snapper.

Let the drama begin.

How Vegas see our Jacksonville Jaguars – Betting Odds & Schedule Analysis

// August 27th, 2010 // No Comments » // Vegas Odds

0-11 Jacksonville Jaguars Betting Odds & Schedule Analysis

The Jacksonville Jaguars were about as average as a team can be in the NFL last year, although that was disappointing for them. The Jaguars were hoping to be contenders again in the AFC South and instead finished in the division’s basement for the second year in a row at 7-9, which followed an even worse 5-11 campaign in 2008. Jacksonville running back Maurice Jones-Drew complained about a lack of respect for his team in the offseason, but playing the Indianapolis Colts tough in two meetings just will not cut it anymore. Jaguars head coach Jack Del Rio is definitely on the hot seat going into this season and will need much more than Jones-Drew to turn things around. Jacksonville saw seven of their eight home games blacked out a year ago due to poor attendance and might be headed elsewhere if the team continues to underachieve.

Odds to win AFC South Division: +1000

Odds to win the AFC Conference: 40/1

Jacksonville Jaguars Odds to win Super Bowl XLV: 80/1

Regular Season Wins Total Line: 7
*all odds quoted from Bodog*

Following is a breakdown of this season’s schedule for the Jaguars:

Week 1 Sunday, September 12, 2010 vs. Denver Broncos
Analysis: The Jaguars were rumored to be interested in drafting Denver rookie QB Tim Tebow and may get to see what they are missing out on in the season opener.

Week 2 Sunday, September 19, 2010 @ San Diego Chargers
Analysis: Jacksonville hits the road only once in the first four games but it will be a difficult matchup against a San Diego team coming off a road opener at Kansas City.

Week 3 Sunday, September 26, 2010 vs. Philadelphia Eagles
Analysis: The Eagles play the second of two straight home games against the Jaguars following a visit to Detroit the week before.

Week 4 Sunday, October 3, 2010 vs. Indianapolis Colts
Analysis: Jacksonville lost both meetings with Indy by a combined six points and had the best chances to knock off the Colts during their 14-0 start.

Week 5 Sunday, October 10, 2010 @ Buffalo Bills
Analysis: The Jaguars begin a stretch of three road games in four weeks before their bye by visiting a Buffalo team that will likely be 0-4 at this point.

Week 6 Monday, October 18, 2010 vs. Tennessee Titans
Analysis: Jacksonville fans can be assured this game will not be blacked out since it will be the team’s only prime-time television appearance on Monday Night Football this season.

Week 7 Sunday, October 24, 2010 @ Kansas City Chiefs
Analysis: The Chiefs return home following back-to-back road games at Indianapolis and Houston.

Week 8 Sunday, October 31, 2010 @ Dallas Cowboys
Analysis: The Jaguars close out the first half of their season by visiting the Cowboys, who play road games at Green Bay and the New York Giants the following two weeks.

Week 9 — BYE WEEK —
Week 10 Sunday, November 14, 2010 vs. Houston Texans
Analysis: Jacksonville swept two meetings with Houston last year thanks in part to a total of 195 yards rushing from Jones-Drew.

Week 11 Sunday, November 21, 2010 vs. Cleveland Browns
Analysis: The Browns start a string of four road games in five weeks against the Jaguars.

Week 12 Sunday, November 28, 2010 @ New York Giants
Analysis: Jacksonville plays the first of three road games in four weeks at New York to start the toughest part of the schedule.

Week 13 Sunday, December 5, 2010 @ Tennessee Titans
Analysis: The Titans and Jaguars split two meetings last season with each team winning by more than two touchdowns on their home field.

Week 14 Sunday, December 12, 2010 vs. Oakland Raiders
Analysis: The Raiders play the second of two consecutive road games at Jacksonville after playing at San Diego and will be logging a ton of miles between the two trips.

Week 15 Sunday, December 19, 2010 @ Indianapolis Colts
Analysis: The Colts face divisional foes in three of the last four weeks, including two meetings with the Titans and this meeting with the Jaguars.

Week 16 Sunday, December 26, 2010 vs. Washington Redskins
Analysis: The Redskins play their third – and final – road game over a four-week period.

Week 17 Sunday, January 2, 2011 @ Houston Texans
Analysis: One of these teams could be in line for a playoff appearance, but which one will it be?

Undrafted Free Agents thrive for the Jacksonville Jaguars

// August 26th, 2010 // No Comments » // Free Agency

OVERCOMING ODDS

Undrafted rookies who made the Jaguars’ roster in Del Rio era:

2003: K Seth Marler, WR Cortez Hankton, DT Matt Leonard

2004: TE Brian Jones, CB David Richardson

2005: G Dan Connolly, KB Derrick Wimbush

2006: T Richard Collier, DE Tony McDaniel, RB Montell Owens

2007: None

2008: CB Isaiah Gardner, KR Brian Witherspoon

2009: LB Russell Allen, DE Julius Williams

On a large scale, Jaguars linebacker Russell Allen believes the reason he made an NFL team, and found himself in a position of prominence, is because of the good he could do with it. Because with this platform, he can brighten the days of children at daniel house, a Jacksonville center for orphans and troubled youth, or speak at a local juvenile detention center.

On a literal level, the reason is this: Allen joined a team last summer with a history of keeping undrafted rookies and one that needed what he could offer.

“I was fortunate last year,” Allen said. “They gave me a fair look. Really gave me a chance. I made the most of it.”

Allen played in all 16 games last season and started five. He’s one of 14 undrafted rookies to have made opening-day rosters under coach Jack Del Rio.

In all but one of Del Rio’s seven seasons, the Jaguars have had at least one. Last year, Julius Williams also made the opening-day roster. Montell Owens, who made the team as an undrafted rookie in 2006, was a Pro Bowl alternate for special teams in 2009.

“What we work very hard at is providing an opportunity for the undrafteds to have a legitimate shot in our camp,” Del Rio said. “I talk to the guys the day they get here, the day we open camp and let them know that we’re an organization that’s going to evaluate everybody here, and if you’re in our camp you have a chance, and it’s a real chance.”

This season, the Jaguars have 12 undrafted rookies on their 80-man roster: offensive tackles Daniel Baldridge and Kevin Haslam, linebackers Kyle Bosworth and Jacob Cutrera, center John Estes, tight end Mike Caussin, cornerback Josh Gordy, quarterback Trevor Harris, running back Chad Kackert, defensive end Aaron Morgan, defensive tackle Kommonyan Quaye and receiver Roren Thomas.

“Just having the opportunity to be around the players and the type of guys that you’re around every day, it’s surreal in itself,” said Morgan, who has caught the team’s eye. “It really makes you work that much harder, because there’s a lot of other people that would love to be in your shoes.

“There’s a feeling that comes over me very time I step out on the field that just makes me want to be here.”

With the team having to cut down to a 53-man rosters and 45 on game days, numbers impact who makes it and who doesn’t. For example, the Jaguars have eight running backs/fullbacks and will likely keep five, at most six, thus hindering Kackert’s cause.

Related: Jaguars fall to bottom in Forbes’ NFL value rankings

Other times, the numbers work in a player’s favor. Injuries on the defensive line gave Morgan more exposure.

“You really can’t look at the depth chart, or the reps you’re getting,” Allen said. “You just have to take advantage of the reps that you do get.”

The art of making it in the NFL is part talent, part timing and part luck. It’s why stories of undrafted players succeeding exist.

Recent examples include players like Kurt Warner, who nobody wanted in the 1994 draft, and who made his NFL debut in 1998.

The Chargers signed tight end Antonio Gates after he went undrafted in 2003. He’s now a six-time Pro Bowl selection. Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo wasn’t drafted coming out of Eastern Illinois that year, either, and made his NFL debut a year later.

Related: Jaguars Notebook: Deji Karim out after thumb surgery

Allen’s ability to play different positions and learn quickly got him noticed by the Jaguars. That, and his poise.

“He wasn’t overwhelmed by the fact that he was here,” Del Rio said. “Even though he may have felt that way, he didn’t appear overwhelmed.”

He played in all 16 games last season and started five when Clint Ingram got injured.

This year, Allen is the Jaguars’ top backup linebacker.

He has a platform.

And, with the help of a local pastor, Allen realized quickly what he wanted to do with it.

“I just really like being around those kids, showing them somebody does care about them,” Allen said. “The kids there have been through tough times obviously. … I think that’s really important.”

Allen and his wife, Ali, the two married this March, go to daniel house on Mondays.

During training camp when Russell couldn’t go, Ali went for him.

“I told Russell this, I feel like when we go there, we get just as much out of it as the kids do,” Ali said. “It’s just such a fulfilling thing to go there, go outside and play. Just feel that connection to the kids and know that you’re enriching their lives.”

In a philosophical sense, to him, it’s why he is where he is. In a literal sense, it’s because of the same opportunity the undrafted rookies on the Jaguars’ roster now have.

Jacksonville Jaguars versus Miami Dolphins Preseason Notes

// August 23rd, 2010 // No Comments » // Uncategorized

Prior to Saturday night’s preseason game with the Miami Dolphins, we gave you a list of the top five things we were going to be watching during the contest. Here is our assessment on what we saw:

1. David Garrard – Garrard needed to bounce back after his lackluster showing against the Philadelphia Eagles in the first preseason game, and he did just that. Yes, the offense went three-and-out on the game’s opening drive, but Garrard was outstanding in leading the team down the field for a touchdown on the second drive. Garrard finished the game having completed six of eight passes for 79 yards and a touchdown. He had a passer rating of 145.3 on the night. It is unfortunate that Garrard had the wind knocked out of him on the third series, resulting in an early exit from the game, but while he was in there, he looked sharp. Let’s hope that trend continues against the Buccaneers in preseason game number three.

2. First-Team Defense – In the first preseason game against the Eagles, the Jaguars first-team defense was unable to stop Philadelphia’s offense. Unfortunately, the same thing can be said about the first-team defense against the Dolphins. Aside from the opening series, where the Jaguars forced a three-and-out which led to a blocked-punt safety, the defense was completely inept when it came to stopping Chad Henne, Ricky Williams, and company. While there is no need to panic just yet, it is getting a little worrisome that the opposing offense seems to have their way with the starting defense.

3. Safety – On a defense that is starting to worry some people, safety is the position of most concern. Anytime you give up two touchdown passes to the tight end, especially one in which he runs untouched for 40 yards, you have to wonder about the safety play. Hopefully, the Jaguars will be able to find a solution before the regular season kicks off.

4. Return Game – Rookie return man Deji Karim appears to be the real deal. He had another good night returning kicks, including a 48-yarder, proving the Eagles game was not a fluke. Fellow rookie Scotty McGee fumbled the punt following the safety, which is not good, but it looks like the Jaguars are going to have a very formidable return game in 2010.

5. The Fans – The kickoff of this game was delayed for nearly two hours due to inclement weather. Fans were not allowed to take their seats because of severe lightning, forcing them to crowd into the corridors. The weather was miserable, but out of the 62,044 tickets distributed, 40,377 came through the turnstiles for this preseason game, which rivals the crowd of some of the perfect weather, regular season games of 2009. We can’t wait to see what the atmosphere at EverBank Field is like during the regular season.

Jacksonville Podiatrist, Dr. Vimal Reddy

// August 15th, 2010 // No Comments » // Uncategorized

Dr. Vimal Reddy, DPM, provides diagnosis, expert care, and treatment of ankle and foot disorders for children’s feet, adult’s feet, and senior’s feet. Dr. Vimal Reddy began First Coast Foot & Ankle Clinic in 2006. The Podiatry, Wound Care, and Custom Orthotic practice has grown steadily, as have both Dr. Reddy’s podiatric credentials and achievements.

Jacksonville Podiatrist Dr. Vimal Reddy believes in comprehensive diagnosis and treatment plan for every ankle and foot care patient. Our supportive podiatric healthcare staff are committed to continuing education and staying up-to-date on the latest techniques.

The experience of Dr. Reddy, including stints with the Miami Heat and Disney’s Wide World of Sports, proves he is an experienced podiatric doctor. His hand picked health care staff are dedicated to relieving your foot and ankle problems. The benefit of this commitment is that many of your foot conditions are treated quickly, comfortably, and effectively with up-to-date technology in a cost-effective environment.

Achilles Tendon Jacksonville

Ankle Instability Jacksonville

Ankle Sprains Jacksonville

Arthritic Foot & Ankle Care Jacksonville

Athletes Foot Jacksonville

Bunions Jacksonville

Calluses Jacksonville

Corns Jacksonville

Crush Injuries Jacksonville

Diabetic Foot Jacksonville

Flat Feet Jacksonville

Fungus Toenails Jacksonville

Geriatric Foot Care Jacksonville

Hammertoes Jacksonville

Heel Spurs Jacksonville

Ingrown Toenails Jacksonville

Injuries Jacksonville

Neuromas Jacksonville

Plantar Fasciitis Jacksonville

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