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.
The Jacksonville Jaguars today released six players including veteran defensive end Reggie Hayward and first-year offensive lineman Cameron Stephenson. Also waived were four undrafted rookies – punter Robert Malone, cornerback Chris Hawkins, wide receiver Chris McGaha and fullback Ben Stallings.
Resigning Reggie Hayward which to me is the most welcomed scenario. He is the best pass rusher on the Jaguars (Hey; remember how he sacked Peyton Manning; who was pancaked only 10 times in the regular season! That is speaks for itself.) Reggie is a locker room leader and his talent and presence are needed and welcomed in the Gene Smith era. If the Jaguars can resign him, he can be much more than the insurance policy player that Tra Thomas was in the LT position or Torry Holt was for the WRs. I think there is enough fuel in Reggie’s tank for 2-3 seasons at a high level. With Reggie on the roster, the Jaguars don’t need to be in a hurry during the draft to find a DE in the 1st round (not to mention that I think there are NO DE’s who are worth to be picked with that 10th… ). They can target a guy like Austen Lane (no coincidence that I mentioned him; not at all…) in the 3rd round; and can pick the BAP in the 1st. That would be the ideal scenario for the Jaguars in my opinion.
KVB is a player every Jaguars fan knows; who covered the team in the last years. Now the problem is with Vanden Bosch is he had a bad year in 2009 with only 3 sacks. It seems he lost a bit of his power and the departure of Albert Haynesworth has also had impact on him. He might come at a price which may be ideal for the Jaguars (with a wise deal like Tra Thomas and Torry Holt got in ’09). But for example experts like Peter King; believes he might be going to Detroit to reunite with current Lions head coach and former Titans defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz.