How to fix the Jaguars
I've decided to take a shot at how to fix the Jaguars. While it can't be said that the Jaguars are broken, as they are young and up and coming, they could use more retooling and further addition of talent. I'm guessing they will finish the season around eight wins, so I'm guessing they will be picking in the middle of the rounds. The Jags have a lot of talent, but young talent that needs extended development. The focus has to be on the defense this year, as Derrick Harvey and Quentin Groves are beginning to place doubts in the minds of Jaguars fans everywhere.
Gene Smith seems to have his specific ideals for drafting players, so I'm going to keep BAP in mind, but also take into consideration Gene's like for underrated/small school guys who are hard workers. I'm also assuming we stick with the 3-4 defense for next season. There is no way to tell, but Reggie Hayward's contract is up anyway, so we could again see a lack of bodies at the defensive end spot.
At the end of the preseason we traded Tampa Bay a conditional draft pick for Josh McCown. Hopefully Garrard will stay durable despite the pounding he takes, so McCown will only cost us a seventh. (I'm still clarifying our exact pick situation, so forgive me for any mistakes.)
Round 1: Morgan Burnett-Georgia Tech. (Strong Safety)
I saw this pick in another mock and I'm sticking with it. Mays and Berry are off the board, but Burnett could pull himself up into that conversation. I watch Tech often and I love what this guy can do. He makes plays all over the field, tackles well in run support, and above all is a ball hawk, with seven interceptions last season and 4 so far this season; an area the Jaguars desperately need improvement in. He could kick Gerald Alexander to free safety, and Reggie Nelson to cornerback, and upgrade the secondary as whole. While a pass rusher could be considered a major need here, since the Jaguars are tied with the Jets for 31st in the league in the sack category, with a whopping five quarterback drops, I'm not ready to label Harvey and Groves as busts, as it is their first year in the 3-4 system.
Gene Smith radar: Burnett is highly talented, is in no way a character concern, and could start soon after being drafted, all things that spur Gene's interest. The Jaguars are one of the worst pass defenses in the league, while pass rush help is necessary as well, safety is a major concern.
Round 3: Vince Oghobaase-Duke. (Defensive End/Tackle)
I'm not sure if he will last this long, but if he does, he could be a great 3-4 end. I've watched him a few times over the past two years, and it seems that he has good power and agility. He needs to add more strength to be an effective end in the 3-4, but that should be no problem in Luke Richeson's unique weight training program. While third rounders aren't often looked at to be immediate contributers, the Jags found a nice surprise this season with rookie Terrance Knighton who was drafted in the third round. This pick makes the line another step younger, placing Vince with Knighton and the aging but newly rejuvenated John Henderson.
Gene Smith radar: Vince is another seemingly high character guy who is a great effort player. He is smart, as he went to Duke, which is something Del Rio likes in a player. While a quarterback could be a possibility here, I think the organization still fully backs David Garrard and is not ready to hand over the reigns just yet. A quarterback will be drafted in this draft, but the defense needs to be fixed first.
Round 4: Noel Devine-West Virginia. (Running Back)
Unless a team falls in love with his speed, he should end up being picked around the fourth round. Devine has extreme speed and elusiveness in the open field. He has ability to break arm tackles, and catches the ball well out of the backfield. The Jaguars recently inked Jones-Drew to a pretty lucid contract extension, but the Jaguars don't have a scat type of back that can give Drew a break on third downs and make plays as a dump off option; somebody that Garrard can feed the ball to when teams are pinning their ears back and taking advantage of those rookie tackles.
Gene Smith radar: The team spoke this off-season of getting Garrard some weapons, and it appears they did. Grabbing Devine would add to the quickly developing arsenal of weapons David has now amassed.
Round 5: Thaddeus Lewis-Duke. (Quarterback)
Thaddeus is a greatly underrated player in his senior season at Duke. He has started since his freshman season, and has always been hidden on a bad team; the truth is the guy can really play. He has scrambling ability and is fairly accurate. Has shown some nice down the field arm strength as well. Will remind many Jaguars fans of David Garrard in both build and playing style.
Gene Smith radar: The team knows it needs a developmental quarterback to groom for the future. Thad Lewis reminds the organization of David Garrard, and seems capable of running a passing oriented offense, which is what I feel the Jaguars are headed towards in the future.
Round 6: Ryan Pugh-Auburn. (Center/Guard)
While Ryan Pugh may not come out, as he is just a junior, he represents who Gene Smith would be looking at here. An interior lineman is needed to compensate for Brad Meester, whenever he leaves. Whoever is taken here would be looked at as a developmental prospect who could train and get stronger for the future.
Gene Smith radar: Gene always stays true to BAP, and he could have some guards and centers for the future high on his board at this point of the draft. Stock up on late talent, which Gene's staff seems good at finding, and develop for the future.
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Really like seeing my Burnett pick catching on!
No having a second-round pick really hurts Jacksonville. But you hit just about all their biggest needs.
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by Mocking Dan on Oct 24, 2009 9:05 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Did you consider reversing those picks? DE first and S in the third?
Depending on how far back the Jags pick, say #16 and #80, there might be a better chance to get a good safety in the third round rather than a good DE/DT.
At #16 – Arthur Jones – Syracuse, Brian Price- UCLA, Greg Hardy – Ole Miss, Marvin Austin – UNC, D. Morgan – Ga. Tech, hell even Carlos Dunlap may drop to here.
At #80 – Deandre McDaniel – Clemson, Deunta Williams – UNC, Myron Rolle – Fla. State, Major Wright – Florida, Kam Chancellor – Va. Tech, Darrell Stuckey – Kansas, Myron Lewis – Vanderbilt, maybe even Nate Allen of USF [though I doubt it].
There seem to be a lot of safeties available in 2010 depending on how many skip their senior year. I am expecting the Lions to grab one in the first or second round in 2010. Maybe even waiting for the third round depending on what they consider the best player available at the other spots.
Not having a second round pick for the Jags is going to hurt as that is the ideal spot to get a very good safety.
by NorthLeft12 on Oct 24, 2009 10:38 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I Did
I went back and forth over the first rounder. I was going to give us George Selvie, since he looks like an outside backer in the 3-4; but I’m just not ready to throw in the towel on Quentin Groves or Derrick Harvey, and I’m not sure the Jags are either. I think Harvey can still become worthy of that high first we used on him two years ago, so as a result I took secondary help in the first. But like you said, it could be beneficial to go either way.
If hip hop is dead, then it happened the day that Dilla died.
-Akrobatik
by Bestjagfan on Oct 24, 2009 11:09 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I really dont see Devine falling out of the second round, but I REALLY doubt he will slip out of the third
by TheRealSlimShady on Oct 24, 2009 11:36 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
He May, he may not
Either way he represents what the Jaguars need in another running back. A scat back who can create in the open field and catch the ball. The Jags are fine in the power department, with Greg Jones and Rashad Jennings being bigger backs. I don’t see Drew remaining successful if he takes too many more 33 carry games; just gonna end up another Clinton Portis. If not Devine, maybe someone like Javaris James.
If hip hop is dead, then it happened the day that Dilla died.
-Akrobatik
by Bestjagfan on Oct 24, 2009 1:55 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Is Javaris James the RB for Miami? If so then I agree with you.
by TheRealSlimShady on Oct 25, 2009 12:09 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Word
If hip hop is dead, then it happened the day that Dilla died.
-Akrobatik
by Bestjagfan on Oct 25, 2009 12:40 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Really?
Devine is so small it seems like it will be hard for him to go very high. Didn’t Sproles go in the 4th?
by Brendan Scolari on Oct 26, 2009 9:58 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
. Depending on what underclassmen declare he could go fairly high (round 2-3).
Draft guru in training.
by tj.hendricks on Oct 26, 2009 11:28 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'm sure there's around 31 other NFL
teams that would love to have Sproles on their roster.
Devine is that sort of player.
..."I predict...the Giants are #1"...
...."That's not a prediction meatman, that's a FACT OF LIFE"!.
---Carl
by FreeBradshaw on Oct 27, 2009 10:33 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Easy
Fire the guy in the first picture. Del Rio is a tool.
"Brett Favre was a man who thought he was retired, but he knew it wouldn't last."
by Colts Homer on Oct 24, 2009 5:23 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
We'll see
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The Flavour of the Day is Turf. - Courtesy of the Jacksonville Jaguars
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by TheTealDeal on Oct 24, 2009 7:59 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
The more i hear about Burnett, the more i like about him.
"HULU: An evil plot to destroy the world. Enjoy"
The Flavour of the Day is Turf. - Courtesy of the Jacksonville Jaguars
Keeper of the "That's what she said"
by TheTealDeal on Oct 26, 2009 10:05 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
For the 3rd round point
Derek Cox was also a nice find. He might be a nominee for Def Rookie.
"HULU: An evil plot to destroy the world. Enjoy"
The Flavour of the Day is Turf. - Courtesy of the Jacksonville Jaguars
Keeper of the "That's what she said"
by TheTealDeal on Oct 27, 2009 7:41 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

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