Jacksonville Jaguars

Jacksonville signs their “Underwear MVP” Deji Karim.

// July 23rd, 2010 // No Comments » // NFL Draft

The Jaguars today signed rookie running back Deji Karim, the first of the club’s two sixth-round picks in the 2010 NFL Draft. It’s a four-year deal.

Karim was the 180thoverall pick and is now the fifth of the team’s six draft picks to sign a contract. First-round selection Tyson Alualu is the only remaining draft pick to be signed.

Karim, 5-foot-8, 209 pounds, played two seasons at Southern Illinois after transferring from Northeast Oklahoma A&M Junior College. He rushed for 2,080 yards and 26 touchdowns on 316 attempts in 27 games with the Salukis. He finished his career with 10 100-yard rushing games including nine in his final season.

How the National Media Views the Jacksonville Jaguars

// June 14th, 2010 // No Comments » // Aaron Kampman, Coaching Staff, David Garrard, Maurice Jones Drew, Mike Sims-Walker, NFL Draft, Playoffs??? Playoffs!!!?, Rashean Mathis, Thanks Wayne Weaver, jack del rio

Why Your Team Won’t Win the Super Bowl: Jacksonville Jaguars Edition.
Nick Signorelli by
Nick Signorelli
Senior Writer Written on June 13, 2010
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/405022-why-your-team-wont-win-the-super-bowl?search_query=jaguars%20why

No, I am not picking on just the Jacksonville Jaguars! This is a series that I am doing for all 32 of the NFL teams, Why Your Team Won’t Win The Super Bowl.

To me, the Jacksonville Jaguars are one of the strangest teams to figure out. During the NFL’s last expansion, instead of putting a team in the second largest market in America, LA, the powers that be decided to put the franchise in Jacksonville, Florida.

The Jaguars have had numerous problems selling out home games, and have had many games blacked out,for lack of ticket sales.

They have even had games where they would section off parts of the stadium so that people would not see the empty seats.

In my opinion, forget about all the talk about the Rams or the Vikings moving to Los Angeles when their leases are up at their current buildings. In my opinion, it is going to be the Jaguars.

This is not to disrespect the fans of Jacksonville in any way. I actually feel sorry for any city that loses their team. But I honestly believe from the top down the Jaguars are looking to make a change.

For starters this offseason we had the verbal spatting between head coach Jack Del Rio and owner Wayne Weaver over Del Rio’s interest in coaching the USC Trojans when Pete Carroll left to coach the Seahawks.

Del Rio is a former player and coach at USC, and I would be willing to bet the mortgage that the powers that be at USC would have taken Del Rio over Lane Kiffin in a second.

Del Rio has been the Jaguars second coach, only to Tom Coughlin, since the inception of the Jaguars in 1995.

He has made some curious decisions, such as allowing Byron Leftwich to walk out the door and to hand the reigns of the franchise to David Garrard.

Garrard is a decent player, but has yet to prove that he is any where near good enough to lead the Jaguars into the future successfully. And Jacksonville has done nothing to bring in competition for him, or address the situation in the draft.

The defensive line has struggled, even though Aaron Kampman was brought in to help the younger players.

Maurice Jones-Drew and Mike Sims-Walker are two potential superstars, but without a quality offensive line or quarterback, neither one’s skills will reach full potential as long as they are in Jacksonville.

Though there are some bright spots for the Jaguars, there are just too many holes for this team to make a serious run at the Lombardi this year.

My prediction: 5-11, last place in the AFC South.

Jacksonville Jaguars sell 7,670 season tickets!

// May 7th, 2010 // No Comments » // NFL Draft, Tebow, Tickets

Despite the fact that the Jacksonville Jaguars defied national media speculation and passed on Florida Gators quarterback Tim Tebow started a flurry of criticism about how the team is now destined for Los Angeles. Drafting “him” would be the only way to sell tickets and save the franchise.

A little known fact that is either unknown or ignored by quite a few media outlets however, is the fact that two separate marketing firms were hired to gauge how many season tickets said Florida quarterback would generate. What was the verdict? 2,000 to 2,500 season tickets.

Since April 29th and as of yesterday (May 6th), the Jacksonville Jaguars have sold 3,374 season tickets.

What? That’s more than the projected sales he would have brought in!
The season ticket situation in Jacksonville has been a long running national joke for the past couple of seasons. Having 9 of the Jaguars 10 home games blacked out in the 2009 season didn’t help matters, either. Many speculated that the Jaguars would have to draft a certain someone in order to even come close to not blacking out the stadium, but as we all know that certain someone wasn’t drafted by the Jaguars. Instead, the Jacksonville Jaguars selected Tyson Alualu… who wasn’t expected to sell any tickets.
Now, would the Jaguars have sold more than 3,374 season tickets this past week if he had been drafted?

Possibly, but not that much more given the projection.

Some groups have been hard at work pushing tickets around the community, mainly through former Jacksonville Jaguar great Tony Boselli and “Team Teal” and Touchdown Jacksonville. It looks like all of the rallies and their hard work is paying off big time.

Here’s how the Jaguars season tickets have shaken down over the past month of April and 6 days of May:

So, given the chart… the Jacksonville Jaguars have sold 7,670 season tickets since the beginning of April, including 3,374 over the past 7 days.

The ticket problems certainly are not over, but the outlook is very positive for the first time in quite a while. This chart does not factor in the projected 8,000 group sales expected from local businesses, which would cut the remaining total by more than half.

So is it the Tyson Alualu effect?

Doubtful, but it’s fun to throw that out there.

One thing is for certain, the Jaguars need to keep the pace and meet the goal. I believe it will happen.

Jacksonville Jaguars 2010 Draft > All Pass Rush, No over the top Safety crush.

// May 6th, 2010 // No Comments » // Coaching Staff, Derek Cox, Florida State University, NFL Draft, Rashean Mathis, Tickets

If you have read any of the coverage on this blog leading up to the draft, I talked alot about Safety and Cornerbacks. Rasheen is no spring chicken and Reggie Nelson is on his way to the place Jaguar #1 pick go, to go get cut from another another team.

Low and behold, we didn’t pick up any top line talent, let alone talent period to help the secondary. No Myron Rolle in the 6th Round? Sell some Jerseys and engage the beleaguered Florida State Fans NOT making weekly trips to Doak Campbell. You can’t tell me it wouldn’t have resulted in 50 jaguar season tickets due to waning interest in FSU football. Add concessions and $80 jerseys and I think he would have paid his own salary and you add a positive character guy, not to mention someone smarter than the teams Quarterback. How many teams can say they have a backup safety more intelligent than the head coach?

http://www.bigcatcountry.com/2010/5/6/1460403/2010-mini-camp-aftermath-the
by Alfie Crow

One of the areas for concern all off-season and during mini-camp was the safety position. Many people aren’t concerned with the cornerback position all that much, but should they? Some interesting happenings occurred during mini-camp weekend that could potentially be foreshadowing.

As we all know, the saftey position on the Jacksonville Jaguars is a position of dire concern. Former first round pick Reggie Nelson took a nosedive in play after his rookie season and so far in camp hasn’t been any better. There were murmurs of the team trying to move him during the draft to no avail, and even a report earlier in the week about calling around and trying to peddle him now. Outside of Gerald Alexander who the Jaguars traded for last season, everyone else filling in at safety has left a lot to be desired.

Something interesting that did occur however, was at the cornerback position. Derek Cox, who was a 3rd round pick in 2009 that everyone questioned, got a lot of work at the left cornerback position, normally manned by veteran Rashean Mathis. “I thought it was because Rashean [Mathis] needed a blow,” Cox told Michael DiRocco of the Florida Times-Union. “I thought they were just doing a veteran move, letting him sit down and I was just taking the reps on the left side. I guess it’s worth giving it a shot.”

The move shouldn’t be unfamiliar to Cox if it occurs, as he played on the left side in high school and in college at William & Mary. “I like the left side, just because I’ve done it for so long. It’s comfortable for me.” If the move works into being permanent, does that mean Rashean Mathis is being phased out and over to the right side, or is something else in the works?

In 2003, Rashean Mathis was drafted in the second round as a free safety out of Bethune Cookman. He played all 16 games as a rookie, beginning his career at free safety and then moving to starting cornerback as the year went on. With the concern at safety and Cox working in on the left side, is it possible the Jacksonville Jaguars ask Rashean Mathis to make a move back to the safety position in the same way they did with former Jaguar Brian Williams a few seasons ago?

If you think about it, it makes a lot of sense. Mathis is 29 years old, he’ll turn 30 during the season. He’s getting to the point where he will be considered “older” for a cornerback. Mathis play hasn’t wained yet, but he has been hampered by injuries and hasn’t played a full 16 games since 2006. A move to free safety could not only add a real ball hawk in the backfield, but prolong his career. Mathis isn’t really known as a tackler, but at the safety position he can use his range and ball skills to play center field, like the Jaguars hoped Reggie Nelson would be able to do. A move from corner to safety isn’t an abnormal thing for older corners either, especially considering Rashean Mathis’ size (6′1″, 200lbs).

The big question if the move is made however, is who takes over at the right cornerback position that Derek Cox used to man? My first guess would be Tyron Brackenridge, who had a very good season last year starting 5 games as a fill-in corner and nickelback. Outside of Brackenridge, William MIddleton had a lot of work with the first team defense over the weekend. Then there is always the infamous pirated player, Don Carey. Carey had a decent weekend, but you can tell he’s getting his legs out from under him after a year out of football.

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 > 4th Round via Trade > Kirk Morrison > ILB > Oakland Raiders

// May 3rd, 2010 // No Comments » // Gene Smith, Jaguars Trade, NFL Draft, Scouting

The Raiders continued to wheel and deal over this three-day draft, and this morning the exports included Kirk Morrison, who started at linebacker for all five of his years in Oakland.

The Raiders have traded 28-year old inside linebacker Kirk Morrison to the Jaguars for a 4th round pick in the NFL Draft. Morrison played in 16 games for the Raiders last season and he finished up with 133 tackles, 8 tackles for a loss, 2 sacks, 3 forced fumbles and he defensed 1 pass. In his 5 years with the Raiders he played in 80 games in which he has made 632 tackles, defensed 19 passes, he has 5 sacks and 7 interceptions.

“Good Morning. I’m a Jacksonville Jaguar,” Morrison tweeted shortly after announcement of the trade, which sent the LB and a fifth-round pick to Jax for a fourth-round choice that the Raiders turned into Clemson WR/KR Jacoby Ford.

Morrison was not an overpowering inside linebacker, a shortcoming that contributed to the Raiders’ inability to stop the run. But no one ever doubted his heart or his effort. He grew up rooting for the Raiders in the Coliseum, and was among the most popular players in the community. He will definitely be missed.

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 > 6th Round > Deji Karim > RB > Southern Illinois

// May 3rd, 2010 // 1 Comment » // Gene Smith, NFL Draft, Scouting

Posted by Mike Florio on March 11, 2010 11:06 PM ET

As we mentioned earlier tonight, we don’t get too caught up in the touring version of the Underwear Olympics, otherwise known as the various Pro Day workouts.

We also don’t get too worked up about word of the various private workouts and visits, since many of them are meaningless at best, overt smokescreens at worst.  Agents like to spread the word of the sessions simply to get their clients’ names into print.

That said, the agents for Southern Illinois running back Deji Karim have sent out a press release containing some eye-popping numbers generated by Karim at the Northwestern Pro Day.

He ran the 40-yard dash in 4.37 seconds, which if not adjusted due to surface would have tied him for second among tailbacks at the Scouting Combine.

His vertical leap of 43 inches would have been first among all tailbacks, his broad jump of ten feet, three inches would have placed third, his 20-yard shuttle time of 4.05 seconds would have topped all tailbacks, his 6.67-second mark in the three-cone drill also would have been first, and his 19 reps in the 225-pound bench press would have been sixth among all tailbacks.

So, basically, if Karim would have attended the Underwear Olympics, he would have won several medals.

Now let’s see if the kid can play football with the big boys.  We’ll find out in six months or so.

http://www.cbssports.com/mcc/messages/chrono/20425791

Deji Karim, an unknown (to most of us (at least me anyhow…)) RB out of Southern Illinios put up some pretty eye popping numbers at Northwester’s Pro Day.

He ran a 4.37 in his 40 and had a 43″ vertical. More impressive is the size that he performed at; Karim measures in at 5′9″ and 210 lbs. While the height isn’t exactly ideal (although I’d argue that a shorther back stays lower, which is good) his weight is very good for that height/speed combination. He reminds me a lot of another very good, yet very short NFL back: Maurice Jones-Drew.

His Pro Day will move him up the boards, but playing at Southern Illinois doesn’t help his stock at all. There’s a very good chance that he’s available in the 5th round, and if he is I really hope we take a good long look at him.

Jacksonville Jaguars NFL Draft 2010 > 7th Round > Scotty McGee > CB-PR > James Madison

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

Fittingly, the Jaguars finished their 2010 draft by drafting a small school player on the defensive side of the ball. Although, it is highly doubtful that Gene Smith plucked up McGee for his defensive skills. While at James Madison, McGee was renowned for his dynamic return skills and earned All-American honors on special teams. So for the Jaguars, Scotty McGee is a CB like Brian Witherspoon was a CB. That is to say, he’ll likely have 0 impact on defense for the Jaguars.

Not since the days of Reggie Barlow have the Jaguars had a full time kick returner to rely on. Brian Witherspoon looked to fill that role, but he was eventually cut midway through the 2009 season. Earlier in the offseason we debated whether or not it was worth it for the Jaguars to spend a draft pick on a player that would be exclusively returning kicks and clearly the Jaguars scouting department thinks so.