Jacksonville Jaguars

Golf and Football mix perfectly for the Winn-Dixie Open

// May 5th, 2010 // No Comments » // College Football, ESPN, Winn-Dixie Open

http://buzztap.com/link.jsp?id=1476747&cid=26&source=feed

Submitted by Garry Smits on April 20, 2010 – 7:55pm Garry Smits’ Blog

With the release Tuesday of the Jaguars’ 2010 schedule, the final piece of the football puzzle has been completed.

And officials of two area professional golf tournaments have got to be pretty happy.

The McGladrey Classic, a PGA Tour Fall Series event Oct. 7-10 at the Sea Island Resort; and the Jacksonville Winn-Dixie Open, a Nationwide Tour event Oct. 21-24 at the TPC Sawgrass Dye’s Valley Course will have minimal opposition from football during the weekend rounds.

First, the best news: the Jaguars are on the road Oct. 10 at Buffalo and Oct. 24 at Kansas City. That leaves the McGladrey Classic and the Winn-Dixie Open as the only games in town those Sundays.

The University of Florida does play host to Louisiana State and the University of Georgia is hosting Tennessee Oct. 9. But with any luck, one of those games is likely to be at 3:30 p.m. and the other at night, which shouldn’t bump too much against the third round of the McGladrey Classic. Also, Florida State plays at Miami that day. Again, could be a night game.

However, the Gators and Seminoles are idle Oct. 23, the day of the third round of the Winn-Dixie Open, and Georgia is at Kentucky. That leaves the Nationwide Tour event all alone for the weekend.

Jacksonville Jaguars NFL Draft 2010 > 2nd… err 3rd Round > D’Anthony Smith > DT > Louisiana Tech

// May 3rd, 2010 // No Comments » // College Football, NFL Draft

http://www.beteal.com/2010/03/02/defensive-tackles-in-2010-free-agency-that-jacksonville/

by Jack Harver

In recent years, the Jacksonville Jaguars have seemed determined to draft in pairs early.

Two years ago they traded up for the eighth and 52nd selections in the draft, selecting defensive ends Derrick Harvey (Florida) and Quentin Groves (Auburn) to inject life into a pass rush that had failed to pressure quarterback Tom Brady in the Jaguars’ 2007 divisional playoff loss.

Last year, under new general manager Gene Smith, the best players available for Jacksonville’s first two selections—the eighth and 39th overall—happened to be Virginia left tackle Eugene Monroe and Arizona right tackle Eben Britton.

With the 74th pick in this year’s draft, the Jaguars kept that trend alive. After their surprising decision to nab defensive tackle Tyson Alualu in the first round, the team chose Louisiana Tech’s D’Anthony Smith to further fortify that spot on the depth chart.

“Smith doesn’t have the rare size or athleticism to warrant a first round grade,” according to NFLDraftScout.com , “but he ranks among the more intriguing second tier defensive tackle prospects of the 2010 draft.”

At 6′2″ and 305 pounds, Smith impressed scouts from several NFL teams with a 35″ vertical leap and 9′5″ broad jump at Louisiana Tech’s pro day in March—both numbers suggestive of unusual explosiveness for his frame.

Coupled with Smith’s 30 bench presses of 225 pounds, Jacksonville’s newest addition can’t be considered unathletic.

The Jaguars’ 2009 draft set the bar high for third-round defensive tackles when Temple’s Terrance Knighton turned out to be a force in the middle. Like Knighton, Smith has experience inside in both three and four-man fronts from his 44 starts at Louisiana Tech.

Most concerns about Smith seem to center around the step up in competition he’ll face from the Western Athletic Conference to the NFL.

Considering Jacksonville’s experience with starting cornerbacks Rashean Mathis and Derek Cox, both of whom were FCS prospects, Jaguars fans should have some measure of optimism that the team’s scouts have locked in on another small-school gem.

Between Knighton and Jacksonville’s investment of first and third round picks at defensive tackle this week, 2002 first-rounder John Henderson could be on his way out via trade.

If not, the Jaguars’ combination of veteran presence and young depth at this year’s targeted position will be very impressive.

[Photo courtesy of the National Football Post website.]

Jacksonville Jaguars NFL Draft 2010 > 5th Round > Austen Lane > DE > Murray State

// May 3rd, 2010 // No Comments » // College Football, Gene Smith, NFL Draft

http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-combine/09000d5d816dd05d/2010-Combine-workout-Austen-Lane

Finally Gene Smith selects someone that Jacksonvile fans could kind of anticipate coming. Shortly after selecting small school DE Larry Hart of Central Arkansas, the Jaguars selected fellow small school DE Austen Lane of Murray State. The similarities end there as they are entirely different players. At 6′4, 246, Hart is extremely small for a DE and will likely have to become a linebacker at the next level. At 6′6, 276, Lane is without a doubt a DE and easily has the frame to potentially become an every-downs DE.

Austen Lane’s measurables are off the charts and that is clearly why the Jaguars were willing to take a shot at him. His frame is similar to that of 15th overall selection, Jason Pierre-Paul and he has speed to boot. Lane ran a 4.84 40 time at the combine which is definitely speedy for someone of such a size. Lane was clearly productive at the collegiate level recording 29 sacks in his 4 years at Murray State. Another aspect in which Lane used his height to his advantage was on special teams where he was very successful blocking kicks. Although we may not expect Lane to work his way onto the field much as a DE in his rookie season, perhaps we will see Lane make an impact on special teams. By the way, he was a team captain.

And as I mentioned with Larry Hart, Austen Lane was another player that documented his entire draft process on JB Scouting Inc.. I seriously suggest you go digging through the site and read the journals, truly fascinating insight on the draft process.

Jacksonville Jaguars NFL Draft 2010 > 5th Round > Larry Hart > DE > Central Arkansas

// May 3rd, 2010 // 2 Comments » // College Football, Gene Smith, NFL Draft

The two-time Mississippi Junior College All-State selection at Holmes Community College transferred to Division II power Central Arkansas, but NFL scouts were eager to find the productive defensive end.

Hart won the Southern Conference Defensive Player of the Year in both of his seasons, sharing with award with Stephen F. Austin’s Tim Knicky in 2009. His 43 tackles, 21.5 for loss, 12 sacks and five pass breakups as a junior got him on the NFL radar. Though his production dropped a bit in 2009 (30 tackles, 10.5 for loss, 9.5 sacks, four forced fumbles, two blocked kicks), opposing teams always knew where he was.

Making the switch From linebacker

One of a handful of college DEs making the switch to linebacker at the Texas vs. the Nation all-star game, Hart acquitted himself as a pass-rush force and improving player in space. Teams utilizing a 3-4 base alignment will consider him a possible rush LB and special teamer worth a late-round pick.

Read & React: More reactionary than instinctual. Will get sucked in on play-action and misdirection due to his aggressiveness. Will play contain and is difficult to escape on the edge on those occasions.

Run defense: Lacks bulk and length to play with his hand down in the NFL. Will be covered up on the edge by pro offensive tackles but plays with leverage to prevent getting moved out of his gap. Will shed to get outside but lacks strength to rip off inside to stop ballcarriers. Flows through trash to crash inside and has the speed to chase down backs to the sideline or downfield. Solid tackler.

Pass defense: Inexperienced, but looks fluid and quick enough to handle zone responsibilities. Closes to the ball well when a receiver in his area makes a catch. Follows receivers out of his zone and is not always aware of routes run behind him. Will chase down receivers in other zones to help teammates.

Tackling: Secure tackler in the open field, good upper-body strength to wrap up and drag down ballcarriers. Can be explosive behind the line of scrimmage because he gets low and has good closing speed.

Pass Rush/Blitz: Would be his best asset, as he has the strong hands and relentless nature to chase quarterbacks. Explodes from his stance, uses his lack of height to get under the shoulder of tackles. Quick and flexible enough to turn the corner. Good spin move, can also bull rush using leverage.

Intangibles: Strong effort player, team player, looks capable of learning the linebacker position.

Jacksonville Jaguars NFL Draft 2010 >> Tyson Alualu > First Round Pick > DT > California

// April 23rd, 2010 // No Comments » // College Football, Gene Smith, Jaguar History, Maurice Jones Drew, NFL Draft, Player News, Senior Bowl, Tebow, Thanks Wayne Weaver, jack del rio

Despite Tebow Nation’s notion that they know better than the Jacksonville Jaguars latest savior Gene Smith, the Jacksonville Jaguars zigged when everyone expected them to zag. Choosing to follow Jacksonville Jaguars ex-coach Tom Coughlin’s recipe for front seven dominance, Jacksonville decided to go Stroud-Henderson 2.0 and pair up Tyson Alualu with second year, one man wrecking crew, Terrance Knighton.

Even though it was apparent that Jacksonville could have traded down with San Diego, as they jumped to the 12 spot to grab Fresno State RB Ryan Matthews, I feel the Jacksonville Jaguars had their man, and they took him. Hearing Jacksonville Jaguars’s Gene Smith talk about him was to hear a man who had just gotten a new BMW M series for Christmas.

The newest Jacksonville Jaguar Tyson Alualu may be the ultimate character guy, relative to our culture here on the mainland. I could get into it, but it will be well documented in the Jacksonville media. Born and bread in Hawaiian culture, he is not subject to the diva-esque trappings that so many “Professional Athletes” suffer from. (See Reggie Nelson.) Another team I follow has added numerous American Samoans, you can see the rest of the team rally around them as they live and die with each passing play. It has lead to a Division Championship and a playoff birth. It is a culture that stresses teamwork and working together for the greater good. Something our government should take a long look at.

I applaud the Jacksonville Jaguars’ pick, as I’m sure if there was a trade to be had, Gene Smith would have pulled the trigger. Mel Kiper isn’t hiding extras brains in all that hair, just look at Jimmy Clausen. How did Did Mel Kiper’s ranking and clairvoyance work out for the “Best Quarterback in the Draft.” He woke up today in the same spot he was yesterday, knowing all 32 teams passed on him.

The only other question I have is did fellow Califonia alum Maurice Jone-Drew have a say in this pick? Pocket Hercules gets a vote if I were Wayne Weaver.

Check out some of the videos and check back here for the Jacksonville Jaguars Round Two and Three picks.

Tyson Alualu Highlights from jack bauer on Vimeo.

Jacksonville Jaguars NFL Draft 2010 > CJ Spiller from First Coast News High School Football

// April 14th, 2010 // No Comments » // College Football, Derek Cox, Maurice Jones Drew, NFL Draft, Pocket Hercules, Scouting, Senior Bowl

Local product CJ Spiller would take the pressure off Pocket Hercules

There has been alot of talk about the Jaguars drafting CJ Spiller as some trades further up the draft board have allowed him to “possibly” slip to Jacksonville at #10. My personal feeling is while he would be a wicked addition as a One-Two punch with our beloved Pocket Hercules, The Geek thinks it’s all a smoke screen to garner trade bait to reclaim the second round pick we gave up for Derrick Cox last year.

If the Jacksonville Jaguars did take our hometown boy, i still think it would be a very, very good pick as the last time we had two #1 tailbacks, we got to the Championship game.

After watching some combine tape, I’m a fan of Jason Pierre Paul of USF. We need better coverage and or a better pass rush.

Here is the breakdown of CJ Spiller …

C.J. Spiller Scouting Report by Matt Horkman

Pros: Explosive player that is a threat to score every time he touches the ball. Versatile. Will contribute as a runner, receiver and return man.
Cons: Can he run between the tackles? Probably not a true workhorse back. Doesn’t have great size.
Overall: Playmaker with a ton of talent. The true definition of an all-purpose player. Just as big as a threat as a receiver/return man as he is in the backfield. However, he isn’t Chris Johnson 2.0, but will still be very enticing to teams picking in the top half of round one.

Jacksonville Draft 2010 > Why Jacksonville needs a Second Round Pick

// April 9th, 2010 // 1 Comment » // College Football, Gene Smith, Jacksonvill Jaguars in the Community, Maurice Jones Drew, NFL Draft, NFL Network, Scouting

So as you can imagine I’ve been pouring over draft boards looking for value picks and trying to figure out what the Jacksonville Jaguars are going to do. I have to admit it’s pretty frustrating for Jacksonville not having a second round pick. As lifelong fan of the NFL, some of the best skill players come out of the second round.

Don’t believe me? Well how about a guy name Maurice Jones Drew. This Jaguar is  rubbing elbows with arguably the the most popular first lady since Jackie Onasis and who is quickly becoming one of the darlings of Rich Eisen and the NFL network. He made it to us from California, by way of the Second Round.

Good for our Jaguars, GREAT for Jacksonville.

What Jacksonville Jaguar came in the first round of the draft that year? Marcedes Lewis. Good player who has taken a few years away from that draft to blossom, but has he had the impact that Maurice Jones Drew has had?! Not quite.

As disappointing as not having a second round pick in the 2010 draft has been, knowing that we Got Derrick Cox who has turned out to be AT LEAST a #2 corner only bolsters my faith in Gene Smith. Would I give up a second rounder for Derrick Cox right now. Definitely!

Ideally I’d like to get trade our 1st rounder and 3rd rounder (or preferably a 4th) for 2 Second Rounders. Would You rather have 2 Maurice Jones Drews, or a Marcedes Lewis and Clint Ingram from 2006? Or how about a Matt Jones and Scott Starks from 2005?

As an aside, alot of my fellow Bloggers come up with these dream scenarios where we trade Greg Jones for a second rounder. Grow Up Jacksonville bloggers!

Looking at the 2010 NFL Draft, Jacksonville’s reality is they most likely won;t have a second rounder in the draft. I took a look at how many receivers went in the first two rounds of the 2009 draft last year which was 8. So here are the receivers ranked 8-15 that may come our way in the 3rd round.

Don’t want a wideout in the third round? Well you number 1 receiver come by way of the Third Round, Mike Sims-Walker. Check the post below!

Jacksonville Jaguars NFL Draft 2010 > Wide Receivers available in the 3rd Round

// April 9th, 2010 // 2 Comments » // College Football, NFL Draft, Scouting, Senior Bowl

Jacoby Ford is on the list. Jimmy the Geek thinks he’ll be long gone. Last Year 8 receivers went in the first two rounds. Here is a list of Wide Receivers the Jacksonville Jaguars might take in the 2010 NFL Draft provided by…

http://walterfootball.com/draft2010WR.php

Carlton Mitchell, South Florida

Height: 6-3. Weight: 215.
Projected 40 Time: 4.48.
Combine 40 Time: 4.49.
Pro Day 40 Time: 4.40.
Vertical: . Broad: 10-2.
Projected Round (2010): 2-3.
4/1/10: If Carlton Mitchell wasn’t in “great player” territory, he is now. Mitchell ran a 4.40 at his Pro Day.

3/1/10: Running a 4.49 at 6-3, 215, Carlton Mitchell might be nearing “great player” territory. Can a raw receiver be overdrafted based on his measurables? As long as Al Davis is in the NFL, absolutely.

1/10/10: Carlton Mitchell has declared for the 2010 NFL Draft. Mitchell had 40 catches for 706 yards and four touchdowns in 2009. He’s a mid-late-round prospect, but with a new coach coming in, going into the draft early was probably the safe move.

5/13/09: Carlton Mitchell had a really disappointing sophomore campaign, catching just 28 passes for 405 yards and just one touchdown. Some blame needs to go on Matt Grothe, however. Mitchell’s size-40 time will garner some attention.

7/26/08: Not only does Carlton Mitchell have a very impressive 40 for his massive frame, he also was very productive as a redshirt freshman; he caught 37 passes for 537 yards and four touchdowns, leading the Bulls in all three categories.

Andre Roberts, The Citadel

Height: 5-11. Weight: 195.
Projected 40 Time: 4.44.
Combine 40 Time: 4.46.
Vertical: . Broad: 10-0.
Projected Round (2010): 3-4.
1/29/10: This guy’s stock is soaring. He capped off an incredible Senior Bowl week with a brilliant Thursday practice. Details available in the 2010 Senior Bowl section.

1/28/10: Andre Roberts has been the best receiver on the South team. Details available in the 2010 Senior Bowl section.

1/19/10: As a senior, Andre Roberts finished with 77 catches, 792 yards and eight touchdowns. He also averaged 15.5 yards on punt returns. Roberts will be playing in the Senior Bowl. Make sure you catch our extensive Senior Bowl coverage every day next week.

2/7/09: It’s weird to see someone from the Citadel here, but Andre Roberts deserves it. He finished his junior season with 95 receptions for 1,334 yards.

Demaryius Thomas, Georgia Tech

Height: 6-3. Weight: 224.
Projected 40 Time: 4.60.
Combine 40 Time: .
Vertical: . Broad: .
Projected Round (2010): 3-4.
1/9/10: Demaryius Thomas has declared for the 2010 NFL Draft. It’s not like Thomas is going to learn how to run routes in Georgia Tech’s goofy offense. There was no use in him wasting another year there.

10/10/09: Demaryius Thomas doesn’t really run any routes, but his production (24 receptions, 536 yards, 3 TDs in five games) may make some teams forget about that.

8/9/09: The monstrous Demaryius Johnson caught 39 balls for 627 yards and three scores in 2008.

Jacoby Ford, Clemson

Height: 5-9. Weight: 186.
Projected 40 Time: 4.34.
Combine 40 Time: 4.28.
Vertical: . Broad: .
Projected Round (2010): 3-4.
3/1/10: Jacoby Ford blew everyone away at the Combine with a 4.28 40. You know that a certain undead owner in Oakland was paying attention.

1/19/10: Finished the year with 56 receptions, 779 yards and six touchdowns. Has shown the ability to be a very good punt returner.

2/7/09: Jacoby Ford finished the year with 55 receptions, 710 yards and four touchdowns. Not bad considering Cullen Harper’s early-season ineptness.

10/19/08: Amid Cullen Harper’s struggles, Jacoby Ford has a career-high 26 receptions and 304 yards in seven games.

5/22/08: Jacoby Ford missed six games with an ankle injury. He had 17 receptions for 310 yards and four touchdowns the rest of the year.

Riley Cooper, Florida

Height: 6-3. Weight: 219.
Projected 40 Time: 4.45.
Combine 40 Time: 4.52.
Vertical: . Broad: .
Projected Round (2010): 3-4.
3/17/10: Riley Cooper didn’t run at his Pro Day, but looked very good working out with Tim Tebow.

1/19/10: Riley Cooper had a fantastic finish to his senior year, concluding with 51 receptions for 961 yards and nine touchdowns.

10/10/09: Nice measurables, but not much else. Has 15 receptions in four games.

Jeremy Williams, Tulane

Height: 6-0. Weight: 206.
Projected 40 Time: 4.54.
Combine 40 Time: 4.57.
Vertical: . Broad: .
Projected Round (2010): 3-4.
1/19/10: Jeremy Williams finished the year with 84 catches, 1,113 yards and seven scores. He was also solid on kick returns (24.2 average, 1 TD).

10/10/09: If it weren’t for his vast injury history, Jeremy Williams would be higher on this list. Williams has 26 receptions for 525 yards and three touchdowns through four games this year.

Taylor Price, Ohio

Height: 6-0. Weight: 204.
Projected 40 Time: 4.38.
Combine 40 Time: 4.41.
Vertical: 37. Broad: .
Projected Round (2010): 3-4.
1/29/10: Despite what Mr. Fake Bake says, Taylor Price did not have a good week in Mobile. Details available in the 2010 Senior Bowl section.

1/19/10: A physically gifted but raw receiver, Taylor Price notched 56 catches, 784 yards and five touchdowns in 14 games as a senior.

11/7/09: Taylor Price is turning some heads in his senior season, catching 36 balls for 513 yards and four touchdowns.

10/10/09: A 4.38 at 6-1, 212? Taylor Price might as well begin looking for a house in Oakland.

Marcus Easley, Connecticut

Height: 6-3. Weight: 210.
Projected 40 Time: 4.45.
Combine 40 Time: 4.46.
Pro Day 40 Time: DNP.
Vertical: 37.5. Broad: 10-3.
Projected Round (2010): 4-5.
3/1/10: With barely any playing experience, Marcus Easley is a bit of a project. But he’s undoubtedly physically gifted; at 6-3, 210, Easley ran a 4.46 and notched a 10-3 broad jump on Sunday. He’s a mid-round guy with a lot of upside.

1/19/10: You know this guy is going to work hard – he was a walk-on and had just five receptions entering the year. As a senior, he logged 48 catches for 893 yards and eight touchdowns.

Jordan Shipley, Texas

Height: 5-11. Weight: 193.
Projected 40 Time: 4.44.
Combine 40 Time: 4.57.
Pro Day 40 Time: 4.54.
Vertical: 36.5. Broad: 10-0.
Projected Round (2010): 4-5.
3/1/10: Given his injury history and age, Jordan Shipley needed a strong Combine to cement his Day 2 status. That didn’t happen. Shipley ran a 4.57 in the 40, which will likely push him into Day 3.

1/19/10: Though Colt McCoy suffered an injury on the first drive of the second national championship this year, Jordan Shipley didn’t use that as an excuse to pack it in. Instead, he carried the Longhorns, logging 10 catches for 122 yards and two touchdowns. Shipley finished the season with 116 grabs, 1,485 yards and 13 scores. He also averaged 13.0 yards per punt return with two touchdowns. Shipley will likely be targeted by a spread team like the Chiefs or 49ers.

10/10/09: No surprise that Jordan Shipley has produced great numbers (36 catches, 436 yards in four games). Shipley also has a punt return for a touchdown.

1/4/09: Granted a medical redshirt and will return for the 2009 season. Colt McCoy has to be thrilled.

10/19/08: Jordan Shipley has stepped up as a solid No. 2 option for Colt McCoy; he has 43 catches, 569 yards and nine touchdowns in just seven games. He caught 11 balls for 112 yards against Oklahoma.

Blair White, Michigan State

Height: 6-2. Weight: 205.
Projected 40 Time: 4.51.
Combine 40 Time: 4.50.
Pro Day 40 Time: 4.42.
Vertical: 35.5. Broad: 10-0.
Projected Round (2010): 4-5.
3/20/10: Blair White had a great Pro Day, running a 4.42. He’ll be sought after in Rounds 4-5 for a team looking for a pro-style receiver.

1/19/10: The Blair White Project finished his senior campaign with 70 catches, 990 yards and nine touchdowns.

11/7/09: Through eight games, the Blair White Project has 52 receptions, 766 yards and seven scores.

10/10/09: Blair White is having a great senior season; he has 29 catches, 399 yards and four touchdowns through five games.

Shay Hodge, Ole Miss

Height: 6-2. Weight: 214.
Projected 40 Time: 4.54.
Combine 40 Time: 4.57.
Pro Day 40 Time: 4.55.
Vertical: 33. Broad: 9-10.
Projected Round (2010): 4-5.
1/19/10: Shay Hodge finished his impressive senior campaign with 70 grabs, 1,135 yards and eight touchdowns.

10/10/09: Through four games, Shay Hodge has 17 receptions for 269 yards and three touchdowns. He caught eight balls for 122 yards and two scores at Vanderbilt.

Dezmon Briscoe, Kansas

Height: 6-2. Weight: 208.
Projected 40 Time: 4.56.
Combine 40 Time: 4.61.
Pro Day 40 Time: 4.51.
Vertical: 34. Broad: 10-0.
Projected Round (2010): 5-6.
3/10/10: Dezmon Briscoe helped himself at his Pro Day with a 4.51 40, though Pro Day 40s have been known to be a bit shady.

3/1/10: Dezmon Briscoe ran really poorly on Sunday, notching a 4.61 40.

1/3/10: Dezmon Briscoe has declared for the 2010 NFL Draft. At just 20 years old, Briscoe would have been better off staying in school to avoid a very top-heavy receiver class.

11/7/09: Don’t be fooled by Dezmon Briscoe’s numbers – 54 catches, 841 yards, 5 TDs – he plays in a goofy offense that inflates statistics.

5/13/09: Just look at the numbers: 92 catches, 1,402 yards and 15 touchdowns. Unfortunately, Dezmon Briscoe doesn’t play in a pro-style offense and runs a slow 40, both of which will cost him on Draft Day.

Danario Alexander, Missouri

Height: 6-5. Weight: 215.
Projected 40 Time: 4.57.
Combine 40 Time: .
Vertical: . Broad: .
Projected Round (2010): 5-6.
1/19/10: Missouri’s offense doesn’t translate to the NFL, but Danario Alexander’s numbers (113 catches, 1,781 yards, 14 TDs) are still pretty impressive.

10/10/09: Danario Alexander will be a good fit for a team that doesn’t require its receivers to run routes. Alexander has 35 receptions for 447 yards and four touchdowns in five games.

Mike Williams, Syracuse

Height: 6-2. Weight: 220.
Projected 40 Time: 4.43.
Combine 40 Time: 4.49.
Pro Day 40 Time: 4.53.
Vertical: 36.5. Broad: 9-10.
Projected Round (2010): 5-6.
2/28/10: Mike Williams posted just eight reps of 225 on Saturday despite putting on 10-15 pounds since he quit the Syracuse team in the fall. It’s apparent that Williams spent more time eating Cheetos than lifting in the weight room.

2/27/10: When asked if he was remorseful about quitting on his team this past season during Friday’s Combine interviews, Mike Williams laughed and seemingly shrugged off the question as if he hadn’t given it much thought. Williams is unquestionably talented and will be drafted in Rounds 2-4 by a team that doesn’t care about character. Personally, I wouldn’t even take a chance on this guy in Round 7.

11/7/09: Quit on his team. That’s a no-no. Many teams will shy away, but the Bengals and Eagles might be interested.

10/10/09: Two years after being debacled by academics, Mike Williams has 41 receptions for 623 yards and five touchdowns in five games.

2/7/09: Mike Williams is back at Syracuse after being accused of cheating last year. Hey Mike, next time, just pick “C” for every answer. A 40 is better than the big, fat zero you got.

7/26/08: Mike Williams has a great 40 for his size. He was also very productive as a sophomore (60 catches, 837 yards, 10 TDs). He’d be a lot higher on this list, but he has been suspended for academic reasons. I guess Williams was too lazy to find someone to do his homework and take his tests for him.

Myron Rolle fosters ambition in foster children

// April 7th, 2010 // 4 Comments » // College Football, Jacksonvill Jaguars in the Community, Scouting, Senior Bowl, Tickets

By Garry Smits

STARKE – Ryan Mote passed the helicopter, the patrol boat and the display of modern Army weapons and equipment at Camp Blanding’s parade field Monday and made a beeline for an artificial, 30-foot high rock wall.

Eager to take on his first challenge of the week before it officially started, Mote, a 14-year-old from Callahan, had a National Guardsman strap him into a safety harness, then began scaling the obstacle.

After several attempts to get going, he got halfway up before finally conceding – on this day.

By Friday, when the first Myron Rolle Wellness and Leadership Academy comes to an end, Mote should be reaching the top in more ways than one.

“They may not realize the full purpose of why they’re here right now,” said Sarah Markman, director of Family Support Services of Northeast Florida, who is staying with eight youths from Duval County. “But by the end of the week, they’ll be overcoming a lot of challenges.”

That’s the purpose of the Academy, launched by Rolle, the former Florida State defensive back and Rhodes Scholar, in a joint effort with the Florida Department of Children and Families and the Florida Department of Military Affairs.

One hundred youth from around the state, between 12 to 14 years old and in foster care, are participating in the Academy at no cost. Between Monday and Friday, they will learn about health, nutrition, fitness, sportsmanship, leadership skills and team-building.

There are 18 youths from the First Coast participating, almost 20 percent of the total.

Appearing as mentors or motivational speakers during the week, in addition to Rolle’s constant presence will be NFL players such as Greg Jones of the Jaguars, Samari Rolle of the Ravens, Antrel Rolle of the Cardinals; Daniel “Rudy” Ruettiger, who inspired the movie of the same name; Herman Boone, the former high school coach of “Remember the Titans” fame; and Olympians Rita Buck-Crockett and Lauryn Williams.

They will be assisted by a staff of more than 60 volunteers. Also helping will be members of the National Guard, many of whom are taking time out from training for an upcoming deployment to Iraq.

For Myron Rolle, who has been planning the Academy since late last year, opening day at Camp Blanding was similar to the day of a big football game at FSU.

“This whole week is going to be a fantastic experience for the kids,” Rolle said. “I’m very excited and thrilled.”

Rolle said foster children need to feel “wanted, loved and cared for.”

“This Academy was built to do that,” he said. “We want to have these kids feel included, as if they’re part of something special.”

During the opening ceremony, Rolle challenged the youths to realize their own potential.

“We’re here to provide an opportunity to see greatness in yourself,” Rolle said. “We believe in you. Now, you have to believe in yourself.”

Florida Department of Children and Families secretary George H. Sheldon said the idea for the Academy came from a conversation he and Rolle had last fall, after Rolle found out he had received a Rhodes Scholarship and would be going to Oxford, England, later this summer.

In addition to the speakers and sessions on health and nutrition, the participants will compete in team sports and physical fitness – complete with runs at 7:30 a.m.

“I think it’s going to be fun,” said Jay Jay Thompson, a 14-year-old who lives in Orange Park. “Sports, running, jumping … it’s going to be challenging.”

Sheldon said more important than the physical activity is building self-confidence.

“A lot of these kids have been moved from home to home to home, and there’s a feeling as if they don’t belong anywhere,” he said. “They have come to believe they’re not going to be anything. They can’t dream. This camp will help them to dream, believe and achieve.”

Thompson, for one, was ready to start believing.

“I want to learn to be a leader,” she said. “A leader is someone who knows what they’re about and who they really are.”

garry.smits@jacksonville.com

http://myronrolle.com/

Jaguars should draft DB’s. Why? Peyton Manning. Kiswani’s Top Cornerbacks.

// March 30th, 2010 // No Comments » // AFC South, College Football, NFL Draft, Senior Bowl, University of Florida

Since the Jaguars don’t have a second round pick, and the prospect of Joe Haden lasting until the Jaguars get to pick is slim. Not to mention the train-wreck of University of Florida players to make their way into the Jacksonville locker room.

While i think the immediate need is definitely Safety, Cornerbacks are hard to come by. Hoping the Jaguars can trade out of their pick, I think I’d rather have 2 seconds as the Jaguars need depth, which comes by having as many tackle-willing warm bodies as possible.

Here are the Cornerbacks listed in Kiswani’s order. Kyle Wilson and Parrish Cox personally impressed me. Jerome Wilson out of USF played very well in some unusually stiff competition in the spread happy Big East.

-The Geek

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Kiswani’s 2010 NFL Draft Prospect Ratings — Cornerbacks

The 2010 NFL cornerback draft class is a deep one, although overrated at the top. Florida’s Joe Haden is the only clear-cut, unquestioned first round prospect in the group, with things getting a little bit muddy after that. There is a lot of dissension as to who the number two corner is in this draft, and very different opinions being floated around on prospects like Chris Cook of Virginia and Jerome Murphy of South Florida.

The New York Giants have faced the same issues in the secondary over the past four seasons – inconsistency and injury. With the departure of Kevin Dockery, as well as the questionable durability and inconsistent play of Aaron Ross, the unit could certainly use more young talent.

Here’s a look at the top cornerback prospects in this year’s draft.

ELITE

1. Joe Haden — Florida — 5′11, 193 lbs.

Haden’s athletic ability and ability to match up in man to man coverage put him at the top of this draft class as the clear number one cornerback prospect. Haden shows fantastic fluidity and quickness to match up with wide receivers at the NFL level, and the agility and ball skills to consistently get between his man and the football. Haden is no slouch supporting the run, as he shows the willingness and toughness to attack the line of scrimmage and make plays against the run. Florida cornerbacks have often struggled making the transition to the NFL game, but Haden has all the tools needed to be a stud at the NFL level.

VALUE – Top 15 pick

SECOND-TIER

2. Devin McCourty — Rutgers — 5′11, 193 lbs.

Tough as nails, intelligent, and passionate for the game – Devin McCourty is type of prospect that always seems to find success at the NFL level. McCourty is known for his ability to change football games on special teams, but that shouldn’t overshadow his ability as a cover corner. Extremely athletic with a physical approach to the game, McCourty is an underrated prospect with the tools to be a very reliable player for an NFL secondary.

VALUE – Early 2nd Round

3. Kyle Wilson — Boise St. — 5′10, 194 lbs.

A playmaker at the cornerback position, Wilson flashes game-changing ability that makes opposing quarterbacks wary of throwing in his direction. Wilson plays an aggressive, attacking style of football that NFL defensive coaches love to see and can make opposing offenses pay with the ball skills and return ability to make the big play on mistakes from opposing quarterbacks. Wilson’s one on one coverage skills need some work, but an outstanding combination of speed, strength, and athleticism to go along with his impressive production at Boise make him one of the top defensive back prospects in the draft.

VALUE – Early 2nd Round

4. Patrick Robinson — Florida St. — 5′11, 190 lbs.

This is a kid with all the talent and physical ability needed to be a Pro-Bowl caliber corner in the NFL, but whether that happens will come down to his willingness to be coached and commit to the game to become a more consistent player. A very fluid athlete with long arms and quick feet, Robinson has very impressive man to man coverage skills and shows the athleticism and ball skills necessary to deal with saavy NFL wide receivers.

VALUE – Mid 2nd Round

THIRD TIER

5. Perrish Cox — Oklahoma St. — 5′11, 195 lbs.

Concerns about maturity and character make me a little wary of having Cox ranked this high, but if he can get his head straight and focus on football – this is a complete cornerback. His coverage skills are excellent, as he shows the smooth hips, athletic ability, and speed to give receivers headaches on the outside. He shows great agility and body control and will make a play on the football on any mistake thrown his way. He may not be a hammer, but Cox shows the willingness to drop down into the box and support the run as well. Very impressive prospect but there is certainly some risk here due to questionable maturity.

VALUE – Early 3rd Round

6. Kareem Jackson — Alabama — 5′11, 196 lbs.

A tough, aggressive cornerback coming from a pro-style defense, Kareem Jackson is a guy NFL teams will be comfortable with on draft day. Jackson’s best assets come in his anticipation and instincts, as well as his ability in run support. While he isn’t the most explosive athlete or a stand-out playmaker, Jackson is a prospect who competes both in coverage and against the run and the type of competitive player NFL teams like to have on their defense.

VALUE – Early-Mid 3rd Round

7. Dominique Franks — Oklahoma — 5′11, 194 lbs.

A confident, hard-working prospect with the athletic ability and playmaking skills to be a difference maker in the secondary. Dominique Franks shows good read and react skills, and does a good job recognizing routes and watching the quarterback – assets that will be of great benefit to him at the NFL level. Franks’ skill set translates well to the NFL game, and he has the ability to be a ballhawk at the next level. He will be asked to be much more involved in run support going forward, and while he didn’t show enough willingness to mix it up at Oklahoma, Franks does have the tackling skills necessary to be an asset rather than a liability in run support. Needs to become a more complete player, but certainly has playmaking ability at the cornerback position.

VALUE – Early-Mid 3rd Round

BEST OF THE REST

8. Jerome Murphy — South Florida — 6′0, 196 lbs.

9. Brandon Ghee — Wake Forest — 6′0, 192 lbs.

10. Amari Spievey — Iowa — 5′11, 195 lbs.

11. Akwasi Owusu-Ansah — Indiana (PA) — 6′0, 207 lbs.

12. Chris Cook — Virginia — 6′2, 212 lbs.