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Jaguars Training Camp: Five Things To Watch

2008-07-25T08:33:00.002-04:00

The Jacksonville Jaguars begin training camp on Friday, 7/25, and Coach Jack Del Rio’s team seems primed for a big year (at least on paper). This may be the deepest Jaguars team top to bottom since the 1999 team that went 14-2 en route to the AFC Championship Game. Though the roster is strong, here are five things to watch closely as the Jaguars begin the 2008 campaign:

1. Will WR Matt Jones Make It Through The Final Cuts? It certainly seems like Matt Jones is at the end of his nine lives. The much-maligned WR has not lived up to his 1st round draft status, and his recent arrest on felony cocaine possession charges is not helping his cause in the eyes of the coaching staff, the fans, and owner Wayne Weaver. Coach Del Rio has stated that Jones will not be cut based on his recent arrest. However, it remains to be seen if Jones will do anything special in training camp to climb out of the doghouse. The only thread of hope he seems to have is that WR Jerry Porter is out for the entire preseason recovering from hamstring surgery. With both the uncertainty of WR Mike Walker’s recovery from a knee injury and the questions still surrounding WR Troy Williamson’s ability to shake off his past woes in Minnesota, Jones may have bought himself some time for one last shot to prove himself.

2. Who Becomes The Starting Strong-Side Linebacker: Clint Ingram Or Justin Durant? Clint Ingram had a great rookie year in 2006 when he was thrust into action because of injuries. But he tailed off a little bit in 2007, and Justin Durant went on to have a stellar rookie campaign once Mike Peterson was out with an injury. Now Peterson is healthy and ready to reclaim his spot at middle linebacker. With the underrated Daryl Smith taking care of the weak side, the battle between Ingram and Durant will be fun to watch. Durant, ironically wearing #56, looks and plays like a young Lawrence Taylor. His speed in getting into the backfield, defending the run, and showing good coverage in passing situations is likely to get him the starting nod on Defensive Coordinator Gregg Williams’ defense.

3. What Contributions Will Rookie DEs Derrick Harvey and Quentin Groves Make In 2008? The Jaguars were criticized by the so-called experts for not pulling the trigger on a trade during the April draft for Dolphins’ DE Jason Taylor and for trading up to spot #8 to take Derrick Harvey from the University of Florida. But clearly, two young defensive ends are better than one aging, soon-to-be-dancing-into-retirement defensive end. Harvey and Groves (as of 7/24) remain unsigned, so hopefully, the Jaguars can be swift at getting the contracts done and the rookies into camp on time. So where do they fit in the grand scheme of things? I would expect to see Harvey and Groves contribute right away. There is no guarantee that DE Reggie Hayward has fully recovered from the devastating ruptured Achilles’ heel injury in 2006. If he cannot prove he is back to normal, it would not surprise me to see the Jaguars cut Hayward and get Harvey and Groves more in the mix. Granted, the Jaguars still have DE Paul Spicer, who is coming off a career year for himself. But he is 33 years old, and I can see the Jaguars rotating Harvey and Groves out in situations to keep the older guys fresh for the season.

4. Can LB Mike Peterson Shake Off The Injuries Of The Last Few Years And Make An Impact In The Final Year Of His Contract? There is no questioning the heart of a warrior. Mike Peterson leaves it all out on the field on every snap he is in the ball game. When you listen to him in interviews, you know he means business. There is no BS when it comes to Peterson. However, the recent injuries of the last few years have started to build. In 2005, he injured his wrist late in the year and was a non-factor in the 28-3 playoff loss to New England. In 2006, he tore a pectoral muscle and missed 11 games. In 2007, he missed 6 regular season games and 2 playoff games with a broken hand. Are there legitimate questions about his durability? Sure. Is there any questioning his heart? No way. You can bet Peterson has a huge chip on his shoulder and wants to prove he is not damaged goods. He knows the crop of linebackers itching to take his place (Ingram, Durant, and D. Smith) are lurking in the shadows. Will he be able to ward them off in 2008?

5. Can RB Fred Taylor Repeat His Stellar 2007 Season, Or Has He Peaked? Fred Taylor is just like his fellow Florida Gator Mike Peterson. He takes his job seriously, strives for nothing but the best, and takes pleasure when people question his abilities and he is able to serve up some tasty crow when his critics are wrong. Taylor got to his first Pro Bowl in 2007 after an amazing season where he ran for 1202 yards and averaged a whopping 5.4 yards per carry. With the combination of a rigid offseason workout routine coupled with sharing carries with RB sensation Maurice Jones-Drew, Taylor has managed to elevate his game as he heads toward the twilight of his career. The critics may be ready to push Fred Taylor out the door. However, Taylor has made it known that he intends to pass Hall of Fame RB Jim Brown before his career is done, which gives Taylor a good two years to potentially do it. Has Fred Taylor peaked? No way. Watch for the Jaguars to heavily showcase the running game again in 2008.

Amazing Victories In Jaguars History (#4 - #1)

2008-07-11T12:59:00.002-04:00

#4--> 1/15/00 vs. Miami Dolphins (Divisional Round) / 62-7: The Jaguars had the best record in the league at 14-2 in 1999, and they were awarded the #1 seed and home field advantage. The first order of business was to welcome the Miami Dolphins to Jacksonville in the Divisional Round of the playoffs. It turned into a fish fry really quick. The Jaguars led 24-0 after one quarter, 41-7 at the half, and eventually had 62 points by the end, which are the second-most points scored in NFL postseason history and the most scored in an AFC playoff game. The 55-point margin of victory is the second-largest for an NFL postseason game, second only to the Chicago Bears' 73-0 victory over the Washington Redskins in 1940. RB Fred Taylor also provided a highlight 90-yard touchdown run that remains the longest touchdown in playoff history. It was a sad exit for one of the NFL’s all-time great quarterbacks as QB Dan Marino was only 11-for-25 for 95 yards.

#3--> 12/28/96 vs. Buffalo Bills (Wild Card Round) / 30-27: The Jaguars had made the improbable happen by winning the last 5 regular season games and clinching a wild card berth. The first destination? A date with the Bills where Buffalo had never lost a playoff game at Rich Stadium. The Bills players did not take the Jaguars seriously. According to excerpts from “Jags to Riches” by Pete Prisco and John Oehser, RB Thurman Thomas commented, “ Jacksonville who?” QB Jim Kelly said on his television show that the Bills had a huge edge over the Jaguars because they had not seen the K-Gun no-huddle offense before, even though the Ravens ran the same offense and lost twice in ’96 to the Jaguars. LB Sam Rogers told the Buffalo News that the Jaguars would be shell-shocked by the Rich Stadium crowd. The Jaguars did not blink, and it was the Bills who got shell-shocked. The “no-name” Jaguars LT Tony Boselli completely shut down All-World DE Bruce Smith. RB Natrone Means pounded the rock for 31 carries and 175 rushing yards. QB Jim Kelly was knocked out of the game late, and backup QB Todd Collins was not a factor as the Jaguars upset the Bills 30-27. Jacksonville who? They knew after that December day.

#2--> 1/4/97 vs. Denver Broncos (Divisional Round) / 30-27: Even with beating the Bills on the road in the Wild Card round the week before, the Jaguars did not earn many believers heading into Denver for the Divisional Round game versus the 13-3 Broncos. The Jaguars (or “J-A-G-W-A-D-S” as Denver columnist Woody Paige dubbed the team) were 13.5 point underdogs to John Elway and company. It started off like maybe the Jaguars did not belong on this stage after all, as the Broncos got out to a 12-0 lead after the 1st quarter. But the Jaguars would tack on 23 unanswered points to quietly take a 23-12 lead. The Broncos were stifled by the Jaguars defense. RB Natrone Means continued his bruising running attack, carrying the rock 21 times for 140 yards. Elway refused to give up, and he pulled the Broncos to within 23-20 with about 7 minutes left in the game. The ensuing drive solidified QB Mark Brunell’s nickname as “Miracle Mark” as he had a legendary 29-yard scramble deep into Broncos territory. A few plays, Brunell threaded a beautiful touchdown pass to WR Jimmy Smith to give the “J-A-G-W-A-D-S” a 30-20 lead with just over 3 minutes remaining. Elway got a quick Broncos touchdown in typical two-minute fashion that has always made Elway a legend. But an onside kick was recovered by the Jaguars, and David truly slayed Goliath. The miracle train that was the ’96 season kept on rolling right to the AFC Championship Game.

#1:--> 12/22/96 vs. Atlanta Falcons / 19-17: The 8-7 Jaguars were riding a 4-game winning streak as they prepared for the season finale with the dismal 3-12 Atlanta Falcons. It seemed like the perfect opportunity to get the first playoff berth in franchise history, and things started out great as Jacksonville took a 13-3 lead at halftime. The Jaguars were already getting help from Buffalo as they were rolling over Kansas City . The stars were aligning for something special. The Jaguars tacked on another field goal 16-3, and the playoff fever was starting to spread through the Jacksonville crowd. But by the end of the 3rd quarter the Falcons were making things interesting, pulling to within 16-10. K Mike Hollis would nail a 42-yard field goal off the upright to pad the lead 19-10. The Jaguars defense seemed lackadaisical as they allowed the Falcons right back into the game. Atlanta completed a 12-play, 77-yard drive that resulted in a touchdown run by RB Craig “Ironhead” Heyward. The lead suddenly was only two points with just less than 6 minutes to play, and the Jacksonville crowd was getting worried. The Jaguars’ next drive stalled, and the Falcons got the ball back. Just like the previous drive, Atlanta moved with ease through the Jaguars’ defense. The Falcons made it all the way down to the Jaguars’ 13-yard line, called timeout with just seconds on the clock, and sent in one of the most sure-footed kickers in the history of the game: Morten Andersen. The snap was good. But Andersen planted his foot and slipped! The kick sailed wide left, and the Jaguars miraculously escaped 19-17 to begin their first trip into the playoffs.

Amazing Victories In Jaguars History (#8 - #5)

2008-07-10T11:45:00.003-04:00

#8--> 12/10/06 vs. Indianapolis Colts / 44-17: The Jaguars stormed out of the gates and never looked back in this game in which the Colts were absolutely thumped. On the Jaguars’ first possession, RB Fred Taylor ran 76 yards from the Jacksonville 6-yard to the Indianapolis 18-yard line. One play later, rookie sensation RB Maurice Jones-Drew pounded his way into the end zone for an 18-yard touchdown score. And that was only the beginning as the Jaguars ran for 375 yards on the day as a team, tying the second-most rushing yards in one game since the AFL-NFL merger. QB David Garrard did not have to do much, only passing for 79 yards. But the Jaguars shredded the Colts 44-17 on the strength of its running game and run defense. Ironically, the Jaguars would lose their next three games and miss the playoffs, while Indianapolis did not lose another game en route to the Super Bowl title.

#7--> 9/22/97 vs. Pittsburgh Steelers / 29-21: The Jaguars were 2-0 as they headed into their Week 4 game against the Steelers. It was the Jaguars’ first appearance on Monday night football, surely the result of their incredible run to the ’96 AFC Championship Game. The big news of the game is that QB Mark Brunell was returning to the starting lineup after sustaining a knee injury in the preseason. Brunell came out slinging the ball to the tune of 303 yards and 1 touchdown. The fireworks at the end of the game provided the real drama. With :06 left in the game, the Jaguars held a slim 23-21 lead, and Pittsburgh K Norm Johnson was lining up for a 40-yard field goal. But the snap was low and it was blocked by DE Clyde Simmons. Jaguars S Chris Hudson scooped up the ball and returned it 58 yards for a game-clinching touchdown. The iconic moment was caught on tape as head coach Bill Cowher pretended to deck Hudson as he was running down the sideline to seal the 30-21 victory.

#6--> 12/20/03 vs. New Orleans Saints / 20-19: The significance of this game was huge on three fronts: QB Mark Brunell’s last game in a Jaguars uniform, a stellar running display by RB Fred Taylor to the tune of 194 yards on the ground, and, of course, the River City Relay. With the Jaguars leading 20-13 and :06 remaining, Saints WR Donte Stallworth caught a 42-yard pass from QB Aaron Brooks, broke a couple of tackles and threw a lateral across the field to WR Michael Lewis at the Jaguars' 33. Lewis went 7 yards and pitched it back to RB Deuce McAllister, who got 5 yards and threw across the field to WR Jerome Pathon. With the help of a good block by Brooks, Pathon ran 21 yards to the end zone for a touchdown score. The Jaguars were stunned. K John Carney lined up for the extra point attempt…..and shanked it to the right. No good! The Jaguars edged the Saints 20-19, as thoughts of the ’96 game versus Atlanta ran through the minds of Jaguars fans and players familiar with the name “Morten Andersen.”

#5--> 1/5/08 vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (Wild Card Round) / 31-29: The Jaguars had just been to Pittsburgh three weeks earlier when RB Fred Taylor scorched the Steelers for 147 rushing yards and a game-clinching touchdown. It was the only regular season home loss for the Steelers. Now the Jaguars not only had to beat the Steelers again on their home turf in Pittsburgh but also beat the odds facing them: no team had ever won in Pittsburgh twice in the same season. The Jaguars thumbed their noses at history on this day, as they jumped out to a commanding 28-10 lead. Much like the game against Pittsburgh three weeks before, the Jaguars let the Steelers back into the contest in the 4th quarter, and suddenly, Pittsburgh was up 29-28. But as the San Francisco 49ers franchise has “The Catch” in their team lore, the Jaguars would have “The Run” in this Wild Card game. Facing a 4th and 2, QB David Garrard would take the snap and run a quarterback draw for 32 yards to the Pittsburgh 11-yard line. The Steelers had to use all their timeouts to stop the clock. With :40 left, K Josh Scobee booted a 25-yard field goal to give the Jaguars a 31-29 lead. On the next drive, QB Ben Roethlisberger was sacked and fumbled the ball away to Jacksonville , sealing the first playoff win since 1999 for the franchise.

Amazing Victories In Jaguars History (#12 - #9)

2008-07-09T02:22:00.002-04:00

#12--> 10/16/05 vs. Pittsburgh Steelers / 23-17: The Jaguars were in Pittsburgh in Week 6, and they were without their workhorse RB Fred Taylor and veteran S Donovin Darius. RB Greg Jones got the nod to start in place of Taylor . On the other side of the field, QB Ben Roethlisberger missed the game, and that put former starter and XFL star QB Tommy Maddox back on the field. The Jaguars’ special teams were anything but special on this day. In the 2nd quarter, punt returner Antwaan Randle-El returned a punt 72 yards for a touchdown score, giving Pittsburgh a 14-7 lead. The two teams would battle back and forth, eventually sending the game into overtime knotted in a 17-17 tie. The Jaguars’ special teams failed right away in overtime as they allowed kick returner Quincy Morgan to run the kick back 74 yards to the Jacksonville 26-yard line. An easy chip shot field goal seemed imminent for Pittsburgh . However, on the second play of the drive, Maddox fumbled the snap from center and the Jaguars recovered. The Jaguars’ drive would stall, and the Steelers would take their second swing in overtime. On the second play from scrimmage, Maddox threw a pass….right to CB Rashean Mathis. He took it to the house, and the Jaguars stunned the Pittsburgh crowd with a thrilling 23-17 win.

#11--> 12/19/04 vs. Green Bay Packers / 28-25: The Jaguars stepped onto the frozen tundra of Lambeau Field and came out swinging as the 12 degree temperature felt colder as the sun started to go down. QB Byron Leftwich tossed a 31-yard touchdown bomb to WR Jimmy Smith to give the Jaguars an early 7-0 lead. But the game eventually evolved into a matchup of RB Fred Taylor’s legs versus QB Brett Favre’s arm. The Jaguars chose not to fight the weather and just pounded the rock on the ground with Taylor, who finished with 165 rushing yards and one big 37-yard touchdown run. Favre did his best to keep the Packers in the game, slinging a late 4th quarter touchdown and converting a two-point conversion with 1:11 left to pull to within 28-25. But the ensuing onside kick failed, and the Jaguars held on for the victory. It was the first time since 1985 that a Florida team had won in Green Bay in December. Favre’s 367-yard passing performance was derailed by three costly interceptions. Other highlights from this game include a bumbling "fumble" call by the referees and a vicious clothesline tackle (defended by Coach Jack Del Rio as legal) by S Donovin Darius on WR Robert Ferguson.

#10--> 9/26/04 vs. Tennessee Titans / 15-12: The Jaguars went on the road in Week 3 riding the wave of a two-game winning streak, where the Cardiac Cats escaped in one game with a miraculous last-gasp touchdown pass and another game after a late fumble recovery sealed the victory. Week 3 versus the Tennessee Titans proved to be another thriller yet another game where the Jaguars just could not get the offensive engine cranked up until late in the game. Tennessee carried a slim 6-0 lead into halftime, and RB Fred Taylor only had 4 carries for 11 yards. But he helped the Jaguars climb back into the game. With :13 left in the game and trailing 12-7, Taylor pounded his way into the end zone. The ensuing two-point conversion was good, and the Jaguars went to 3-0 with a thrilling 15-12 victory.

#9--> 10/24/96 vs. Baltimore Ravens / 28-25: The 4-7 Jaguars seemed like they were on their way to another losing season. The Andre Rison experiment was a complete failure, and there were questions about whether Coach Tom Coughlin had the respect of his locker room. The Jaguars traveled to Baltimore to play the Ravens, who just two weeks earlier lost to the Jaguars by a field goal in Jacksonville . The Ravens stormed out to a 15-point lead, going up 25-10 as the 4th quarter began. But QB Mark Brunell was ready to shine, and he completed touchdown passes to both TE Pete Mitchell and WR Willie Jackson in the 4th quarter. Brunell scampered in for a two-point conversion, and the game went into overtime. K Mike Hollis sealed the amazing win 28-25 with a 34-yard game-winner. The victory was the first overtime victory in Jaguars history, and it also served as the launching pad for the amazing 7-game winning streak on the way to the AFC Championship Game.

Amazing Victories In Jaguars History (#16 - #13)

2008-07-08T10:47:00.003-04:00

#16-->> 11/9/03 vs. Indianapolis Colts / 28-23: The Jaguars were 1-7 heading into this Week 10 game in Coach Jack Del Rio’s inaugural season, and he was fed up at halftime when the Jaguars were down 20-7 to the 7-1 Indianapolis Colts. He had a raging meltdown where he lit into his team and smashed a glass in the locker room to get their attention. It worked brilliantly. Not to mention that RB Fred Taylor had his own motivation for playing the Colts on this day. Rookie S Mike Doss disrespected Taylor during the September 2003 matchup between these two foes by pushing Taylor ’s head into the ground unnecessarily. Taylor promised to punish Doss, and he did that and more. With 1:14 left in the game, Taylor ran 32 yards of his 152 yards on one play, flattening Doss en route to the game-winning touchdown score. The Jaguars held on 28-23 for the win. It was the first time the Jaguars had won a game against Indianapolis.

#15-->> 9/18/06 vs. Pittsburgh Steelers / 9-0: There are three constants in life: death, taxes, and Jaguars-Steelers slugfests. Rewind to Week 14 of the 2004 season when the Steelers and the Terrible Towels of the Pittsburgh faithful invaded Alltel Stadium and escaped with a narrow 17-16 win. That loss, as painful as it was, energized the Jaguars fan base into taking back our house. When Week 2 of the 2006 rolled around, the Monday night football atmosphere was electric. That sea of yellow from 2004 turned into a sea of teal jerseys and white wiggle sticks as the Jaguars fans celebrated a hard-fought 9-0 victory over the Steelers. Pittsburgh only managed 9 first downs and 26 rushing yards, the lowest rushing total ever during the Bill Cowher tenure.

#14-->> 10/28/07 vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers / 24-23: The Jaguars were coming off an extremely disappointing Monday night football loss the week before to the Indianapolis Colts in which several key players were injured. Backup players such as QB Quinn Gray, RB LaBrandon Toefield, and CB Aaron Glenn were asked to shoulder the load in the short week leading up to the game versus the Buccaneers. The Jaguars were facing the ageless veteran QB Jeff Garcia, who had resurrected his career in Tampa Bay and had not thrown a single interception through Week 7. The Jaguars took a 17-13 lead into halftime, even with Gray only throwing two passes the entire first half. Tampa Bay would answer with 10 points in the 3rd quarter as their defense stiffened and helped the Buccaneers take a 23-17 lead. But with 11:37 left in the 4th quarter, Gray found WR Matt Jones on a fade route that resulted in an 8-yard touchdown score. The score was 24-23. Garcia and the Buccaneers had their chances late in the game, but an easy touchdown pass to WR Ike Hilliard was overthrown and a late interception (Garcia’s third of the day) sealed the improbable win for Jacksonville 24-23. It was the first time a quarterback making his first start had beaten a Monte Kiffin defense. Gray only threw 7 passes the entire day, tying a Jaguars franchise record.

#13-->> 9/12/04 vs. Buffalo Bills / 13-10: The Jaguars traveled to Buffalo to face the Bills in Week 1. Jacksonville was hoping to jumpstart a lifeless offense that had many fans grumbling in the preseason. The woes continued as the Jaguars only managed 3 points by halftime, but they continued to claw their way back as the game progressed. Trailing 10-6 with 1:18 left in the game and facing a 4th and 14 situation at the Jacksonville 34-yard line, QB Byron Leftwich found WR Jimmy Smith on a 45-yard bomb that moved the Jaguars into Buffalo territory. But the Bills would force another 4th down situation. With :33 left and facing 4th and 2, Leftwich took the snap in the shotgun and found WR Troy Edwards for a 6-yard gain to the Bills’ 7-yard line. After three straight incomplete passes, the Jaguars were facing their third 4th down conversion situation on the drive. With :04 left, Leftwich took the snap, threw the ball toward the back of the end zone, and rookie WR Ernest Wilford came down with the ball. The referees reviewed the play and determined that Wilford was forced out. Touchdown, Jacksonville ! The Jaguars escaped with a thrilling 13-10 come-from-behind victory.

Amazing Victories In Jaguars History (#20 - #17)

2008-07-07T02:18:00.004-04:00

Today begins a five-part series where we identify the 20 most thrilling wins in Jaguars history. Check back every day this week as we revisit 4 amazing victories per day. Be sure to leave us comments about what you remember about those games. Enjoy!

#20->> 10/1/95 vs. Houston Oilers / 17-16: Win #1 out of 113 franchise wins so far. The Jaguars had lost their inaugural regular season home game in Jacksonville to the Oilers back in Week 1, and were 0-4 heading into the rematch in Houston. The Jaguars took a 10-6 lead into halftime, but found themselves down 16-10 in the 4th quarter. The tides would turn in the Jaguars’ favor as QB Mark Brunell hit WR Desmond Howard for a 15-yard TD strike that won the game 17-16.

#19->> 9/19/04 vs. Denver Broncos / 7-6: From the beginning of the 2004 preseason, the Jaguars’ offense was a sputtering disaster. This game was no different as the Jaguars only managed 8 first downs, 176 passing yards, and 67 rushing yards. The Jaguars held a slim 7-6 lead at halftime, and the majority of the second half was nothing more than a punter’s paradise. Toward the end of the 3rd quarter, Denver K Jason Elam missed a 51-yard field goal that would’ve given the Broncos the lead. But Denver got another chance. With 2:20 in the game, QB Jake Plummer led the Broncos down the field from their 11-yard line to Jaguars 23-yard line. Facing a 3rd and 9 with :37 left, the Broncos could have tried an easy field goal. But Coach Mike Shanahan elected to run one more play. It would backfire as RB Quentin Griffin fumbled the ball, and the Jaguars recovered to seal the ugly yet improbable victory 7-6.

#18->> 12/16/07 vs. Pittsburgh Steelers / 29-22: The first of five classic Jaguars-Steelers games in this countdown. The Jaguars traveled to chilly Pittsburgh to face the Steelers with playoff fever in the wintry air. Jacksonville mauled Pittsburgh in the trenches, and took a commanding 22-7 lead heading into the 4th quarter. But a short pass from QB David Garrard intended for RB Greg Jones was tipped and intercepted by the Steelers. It sparked a 15-point turnaround by Pittsburgh , and the game was tied 22-22. Jacksonville used their double-shot RBs Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew to pound the Steelers run defense, running time off the clock in the process. With 2:02 left in the game, Taylor burst through the Steelers defense for a 12-yard touchdown score to give the Jaguars a 29-22 lead. Pittsburgh attempted one more comeback, but the drive stalled at the Jaguars’ 45-yard line, giving Jacksonville a big AFC road win and inching them closer to a Wild Card rematch with the Steelers only weeks later. RB Fred Taylor also set a Heinz Field rushing record with 147 yards on this day.

#17->> 9/25/05 vs. New York Jets / 26-20: The Jaguars were smarting from a tough loss the week before in Indianapolis , and they were looking to rebound against the New York Jets in Week 3. The Jaguars took a 10-7 lead at halftime thanks in part to RB Fred Taylor’s franchise-record 37 rushing attempts for the game. But Jacksonville started off the 3rd quarter miserably as QB Byron Leftwich’s fumble was returned 33 yards for a Jets touchdown score. The Jaguars would retake the lead 20-17 into the 4th quarter, and seemed to be heading for a victory with 3:17 in the game. But a costly fumble by WR Reggie Williams gave New York new life. With 1:24 left to play, Pennington threw what appeared to be a game-clinching touchdown pass. But the play was overturned, and the Jets had to settle for a field goal to tie the game at 20-20. The two teams took the brawl into overtime, and the football gods chose Jacksonville on this day. On 3rd and 12, Leftwich called an audible and threw a beautiful ball to a streaking WR Jimmy Smith for a 36-yard touchdown score. The Jaguars won the overtime thriller 26-20.

Agonizing Defeats In Jaguars History (#4 - #1)

2008-07-04T11:04:00.002-04:00

#4>> 12/8/02 vs. Cleveland Browns / 21-20: The Jaguars had taken a 20-14 lead with :56 left in the game against the Cleveland Browns. Coach Tom Coughlin decided to have K Danny Boyd squib the ball, which backfired as Cleveland was able to return the ball to midfield. Three plays later with no time left on the clock, QB Tim Couch tossed a 50-yard Hail Mary touchdown pass to WR Quincy Morgan. The extra point was good, and the Browns escaped with an improbable 21-20 victory.

#3>> 1/12/97 vs. New England Patriots (AFC Championship Game) / 20-6: The Jaguars had done the unthinkable in only their second year in the NFL by winning their last five regular season games and two difficult road playoff games to reach the AFC Championship Game. But the Jaguars did not put up much of a fight, and the legendary ’96 run came to a disappointing end as the New England Patriots won 20-6.

#2>> 12/26/04 vs. Houston Texans / 21-0: The Jaguars were riding high after a huge December road win in Green Bay the previous week, and playoff fever was starting to spread among the Jacksonville faithful. But on a cold, blustery December day in Jacksonville that kept many fans away, it really was for their own good as the Jaguars were embarrassed 21-0 by the pesky Houston Texans. QB Byron Leftwich, suffering from a mild concussion sustained late in the 1st quarter, only had 35 yards passing for the game before getting yanked late in favor of backup QB David Garrard. The Jaguars managed franchise lows with just six first downs and 126 net yards gained, and the loss was instrumental in keeping the Jaguars out of the playoffs again. The 21-0 loss was only the second time the Jaguars had ever been shut out.

#1>> 1/23/00 vs. Tennessee Titans (AFC Championship Game) / 33-14: The Jaguars only had 3 losses during the entire season, and they all were at the hands of the Tennessee Titans. The Jaguars took a slim 14-10 lead into halftime of the AFC Championship Game. However, the Titans forced four turnovers and scored 23 unanswered points en route to a 33-14 victory. The loss not only kept the Jaguars out of the Super Bowl but also was the beginning of a 5-year playoff drought.

Stay tuned on Monday 7/7 as we start our countdown of the top 20 most amazing victories in Jaguars history!

Agonizing Defeats In Jaguars History (#8 - #5)

2008-07-03T09:58:00.002-04:00

#8 >> 9/28/03 vs. Houston Texans / 24-20: The Jaguars had a 20-17 lead with about 2:56 left in the game against the Houston Texans until QB Byron Leftwich fumbled the ball away. The Texans marched down the field to get to within inches of the goal line with :02 left in the game. The Texans could have kicked a game-tying field goal, but head coach Dom Capers decided to go for the win. QB David Carr leaped in the air on the next play, breaking the plane before fumbling the ball. The Jaguars pleaded their case about the fumble. But the referees upheld the touchdown call, giving the Texans a 24-20 victory over Jacksonville .

#7 >> 12/17/06 vs. Tennessee Titans / 24-17: The Jaguars were 8-5 and seemed to be on their way to a second-straight playoff berth with only three games remaining. But Jacksonville found themselves in an episode of “The Twilight Zone” in Week 15 vs. the Tennessee Titans. The Jaguars outgained the Titans in total yardage (396-98), total first downs (23-5), time of possession (44:22-15:38), and 3rd down conversions (10-0)…and still lost 24-17. QB David Garrard had a terrible game, throwing three interceptions and losing one fumble. The Titans used two interception returns for a touchdown and a fumble return for a touchdown to generate points in the improbable win over the Jaguars. For the Jaguars, it was the beginning of a three-game freefall that would keep them out of the playoffs.

#6 >> 9/7/03 vs. Carolina Panthers / 24-23: The start of the Jaguars’ New Era under first-time head coach Jack Del Rio was on the road against the Carolina Panthers, and things were positive through the first 2.5 quarters. Jacksonville had jumped out to a commanding 17-0 lead. But the joy was short-lived as the Panthers stormed back to take an 18-17 lead midway through the 4th quarter. The Jaguars battled back to take a 23-18 lead. But QB Jake Delhomme tossed a fourth down, 12-yard TD pass to WR Ricky Proehl with :16 left to give the Panthers a stunning 24-23 victory.

#5 >> 11/25/01 vs. Baltimore Ravens / 24-21: The Jaguars had taken a 21-17 lead with 1:32 left in the game against the Baltimore Ravens. But Jaguars defensive coordinator Gary Moeller called for a prevent defense on the Ravens’ next offensive series, and it backfired miserably. With :09 left in the game, Ravens QB Elvis Grbac found TE Shannon Sharpe for a 3-yard TD pass. Baltimore beat Jacksonville 24-21.

Agonizing Defeats In Jaguars History (#12 - #9)

2008-07-02T10:07:00.003-04:00

#12>> 11/26/06 vs. Buffalo Bills / 27-24: The Jaguars were trailing the Buffalo Bills 24-17 with less than three minutes to go in the 4th quarter. On the drive, QB David Garrard had a huge fourth-down scramble for 16 yards to keep the drive alive. Two plays later, WR Matt Jones caught a 3-yard touchdown pass to tie the game up 24-24. But the Jaguars elected to squib kick the ball, and the Bills started at their own 40-yard line with :28 left in the game. QB J.P. Losman completed two huge pass plays to put the Bills within field goal range with :03 on the clock. K Rian Lindell booted a 42-yard field goal as time expired to lift Buffalo to a 27-24 victory.

#11>> 12/5/04 vs. Pittsburgh Steelers / 17-16: The Jaguars and Steelers have a long history of bruising gridiron battles, and this primetime Sunday night game was no different. The two teams slugged it out for 58 minutes before the Jaguars managed to take the lead 16-14 on a field goal from rookie K Josh Scobee. But Steelers’ QB Ben Roethlisberger orchestrated an outstanding two-minute drive that resulted in a 37-yard field goal from K Jeff Reed. The Jaguars tried a 60-yard field goal as time expired. The distance was there, but the kick sailed wide right, sealing Pittsburgh ’s 17-16 victory.

#10>> 12/17/00 vs. Cincinnati Bengals / 17-14: The Jaguars went on the road in Week 16 of the 2000 season to play the Bengals in chilly Cincinnati . The minus-23 wind chill did not seem to bother the Jaguars at first as they held a 14-7 lead late into the 4th quarter. But with 1:15 left in the game, the Bengals tied up the score 14-14. On the ensuing kickoff, the Bengals caused Jaguars kick returner Shyrone Stith to fumble the ball, and Cincinnati recovered inside the Jacksonville 40-yard line. The Bengals ran the clock down with just seconds remaining, and K Neil Rackers booted a 27-yard field goal to give Cincinnati a 17-14 victory as time expired.

#9>> 11/19/95 vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers / 17-16: The Jaguars had fought back from a 10-0 deficit to pull to within 17-16 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. But the Jaguars decided to pass for a two-point conversion and it failed, and the Buccaneers held on for a 17-16 win.

Agonizing Defeats In Jaguars History (#16 - #13)

2008-07-01T10:34:00.002-04:00

#16>> 11/23/03 vs. New York Jets / 13-10: It was dubbed “The Battle of Marshall Quarterbacks” as former Thundering Herd quarterbacks Byron Leftwich and Chad Pennington squared off against each other. The game was a huge snoozer through three quarters as each team managed only three points. The 4th quarter was a different story. After the Jets took a 6-3 lead from K Doug Brien’s 35-yard field goal with 12:49 left in the game, Leftwich and the Jaguars orchestrated a drive that lasted almost eight minutes. RB Chris Fuamatu-Ma’afala rumbled into the end zone for a 1-yard touchdown score to give the Jaguars a 10-6 lead. After two drives died quickly for both teams, the Jets took over on their own 6-yard line with 3:00 left in the game. Pennington threw on twelve straight pass plays as he moved the Jets down the field, eventually finding WR Santana Moss for a 3-yard touchdown score with :33 left in the game. The Jaguars’ ensuing drive stalled inside their own territory, and the Jets won an ugly game 13-10.

#15>> 12/1/02 vs. Pittsburgh Steelers / 25-23: The Jaguars were trailing 22-10 with about 12 minutes left in the game, but they clawed their way back to within 5 points when QB Mark Brunell found TE Kyle Brady on a 42-yard touchdown pass. Pittsburgh would tack on another field goal with about 4:30 left in the game to go up 25-17. Brunell marched the Jaguars down the field, eventually hooking up with WR Jimmy Smith for a 7-yard touchdown pass with 1:19 left in the game. But the ensuing two-point conversion failed, and Pittsburgh held on to edge Jacksonville 25-23.

#14>> 10/1/06 vs. Washington Redskins / 36-30: The Jaguars were coming off a tough road loss the week before to Indianapolis , and they were off to Washington to face their former field general: QB Mark Brunell. The thrilling game went back and forth as each team traded barbs well into the 4th quarter. With :06 left in the game, K Josh Scobee booted a 41-yard field goal to tie the game 30-30 and send it into overtime. The Jacksonville joy would be short-lived just 1:49 into the overtime period, as Brunell hit WR Santana Moss for a 68-yard touchdown pass. Washington outlasted Jacksonville 36-30, and it gave Brunell some minor satisfaction against the team that gave up on him just three years before.

#13>> 12/17/95 vs. Detroit Lions / 44-0: The Jaguars’ inaugural season was not a successful one in terms of wins. By the time Week 16 rolled around, the Jaguars were long since eliminated from the playoff hunt. However, nobody saw the thrashing that was coming courtesy of the Detroit Lions. Led by QB Scott Mitchell and RB Barry Sanders, they contributed four of the five Lions’ touchdowns in the lopsided 44-0 win over Jacksonville . It was the first time the Jaguars were shut out, and it remains the biggest margin of defeat in Jacksonville history.

Tomorrow, we'll revisit games #12 - #9 on the list. Go Jags!

Agonizing Defeats In Jaguars History (#20 - #17)

2008-06-29T22:37:00.005-04:00

Today begins a five-part series where we identify the 20 most-agonizing defeats in Jaguars history. Check back every day this week as we revisit 4 heartbreaking losses per day. Be sure to leave us comments about what you remember about those games. Don't worry: we promise to cheer you up next week during the series "Amazing Victories In Jaguars History." Enjoy!

#20 >> 12/3/01 vs. Green Bay Packers / 28-21: The Jaguars and Packers clashed on Monday Night Football in only the second meeting between the two teams. The Jaguars held a 21-7 lead about four minutes into the 3rd quarter. But the legendary QB Brett Favre showed why he is the undisputed King of Monday Night Football. He led the Packers to 21 unanswered points, including a 6-yard touchdown run with 1:30 left in the game to defeat the Jaguars 28-21.

#19 >> 12/2/07 vs. Indianapolis Colts / 28-25: The Colts had a 21-7 lead at halftime and seemed to be on their way to an easy victory. But the Jaguars battled back to make the score 21-17 shortly into the 4th quarter. The Colts managed to get a fourth passing touchdown from QB Peyton Manning to go up 28-17 with 8:30 to go in the game. QB David Garrard put the Jaguars on his shoulders and began orchestrating a thrilling comeback. But he threw his first interception of the season that killed one important 4th quarter drive. The Jaguars did manage to get one more touchdown and a two-point conversion to pull to within 28-25. But the defense allowed the Colts to convert a 3rd-and-1 for a first down late in the game, and Manning simply kneeled during the last two plays to seal the victory. The win gave the Colts a commanding lead in the AFC South, eventually winning the division.

#18 >> 12/20/98 vs. Minnesota Vikings / 50-10: Jaguars starting QB Mark Brunell did not start the game due to injury, and backup QB Jonathan Quinn was thrust into the spotlight. Too bad he only threw for 88 yards on this day. The game was fairly close at halftime as the Vikings were only up 12-3. But then all hell broke loose as the Vikings scored 38 unanswered points on their way to a 50-10 shellacking of the Jaguars. The 50 points put up by the Vikings is the most the Jaguars have ever given up in one game.

#17 >> 9/9/07 vs. Tennessee Titans / 13-10: The Jaguars opened the 2007 campaign with some degree of uncertainty against their biggest division rival: the Tennessee Titans. Just nine days before the start of the 2007 season, head coach Jack Del Rio made the bold decision to release QB Byron Leftwich and promote backup QB David Garrard as the starter. Jacksonville had lost the last three games of the 2006 season, and Garrard’s poor play was a key component to the Jaguars missing the playoffs. But Garrard was not the issue during the 2007 Week 1 matchup with the Titans: it was the run defense. Tennessee blistered the Jaguars for 282 yards on the ground, the worst performance ever allowed by a Jacksonville defense. The Jaguars only managed 72 yards rushing on offense. The Titans took a page out of the Jaguars’ playbook by running the ball well and stopping the run en route to a 13-10 win.

NFL Owners Unanimously Opt Out of the Collective Bargaining Agreement

2008-05-20T13:22:00.005-04:00

Today in Atlanta, all 32 NFL owners voted unanimously to opt out of the current collective bargaining agreement, paving the way for an uncapped year in 2010 and possibly a lockout in 2011.

NFL Executive Director Gene Upshaw (pictured left), who represents the NFL Players Association, called the owners "greedy", and fully anticipated the owners to opt out early.

According to ESPN.com, Commissioner Roger Goodell cited high labor costs, problems with the rookie pool, and the league's inability (through the interpretation of the courts) to recoup bonuses of players who subsequently breach their contract or refuse to perform as the three reasons for the owners opting out early.

What's my take?

I don't see where Upshaw gets off calling the owners "greedy," especially when the owners came together in March 2006 to extend the previous collective bargaining agreement and avoided any work stoppage. Was it a dumb move by the owners? Probably. But they knew that it was mostly a move to buy time to work out a better option down the road. It was an old school way of "leaguethink" that has kept the NFL afloat for 30+ years.

Also, the players take in 60% of every dollar that the NFL brings in. So who's being greedy, Mr. Upshaw? He recently reiterated the players would not back down from that 60% number going forward. According to ESPN.com, the NFL will spend roughly $4.8 billion on player costs in 2008.

Commissioner Goodell is absolutely right about problems with the rookie pool. No team really wants that #1 draft pick these days because of how much money is tied up in one player (not to mention the guaranteed money that the league owners are required to dish out). It's out of control, and shame on Mr. Upshaw for not seeing the forest for the trees.

What has made the NFL so great for the last 30+ years is that the owners have typically had one collective mindset in maintaining the integrity of the league as well as generating a revenue pie where everyone can get a taste. The current deal kills any chance for most owners to generate consistent revenue and hurts small-market teams. The whole thing needs to be blown up.

Will a deal get done in a few years? I think it will. But the players association needs to take a hard look at themselves, and realize that Gene Upshaw might not be the guy who is the right man for the job to protect players' interests as well as meeting the owners halfway.

What's your take?

JagNation Atlanta's Mock Draft Picks: 1st and 2nd

2008-04-24T16:15:00.005-04:00

Recent ESPN.com reports out of Miami are suggesting that the Dolphins are willing to move back into the 1st round and deal DE Jason Taylor to an appropriate suitor in exchange for draft picks. NFLDraftScout.com is also reporting that the Dolphins have their eyes set on former Michigan QB Chad Henne as a potential late-1st round pick. What does all of this mean? I believe the Jaguars are going to make a push for Jason Taylor.

Now that DE Jared Allen has gone to the Minnesota Vikings, and Kansas City will probably go for a DE like Derrick Harvey at #17, and given that DE Philip Merling had a throng of Redskins personnel at his workout today, it looks like the Redskins will be willing to take Merling at spot #21. The likelihood of the Jaguars trading up for a defensive end seems to have diminished.

I think that what you are going to see the Jaguars do might involve three scenarios:

The Jaguars and Dolphins swap their picks at spots #26 and #32. Jason Taylor goes to the Jaguars, and the Jaguars give up one of their 3rd rounders. The Jaguars take either DT Trevor Laws, OT Sam Baker, or DE Quentin Groves at spot #32. The Dolphins take QB Chad Henne at spot #26.
The Jaguars and Dolphins swap their picks at spots #26 and #32. Jason Taylor goes to the Jaguars, and Khalif Barnes gets sent to the Dolphins. The Dolphins take QB Chad Henne at spot #26. The Jaguars seemed to have soured on Khalif Barnes (most notably because of his attitude), so I could see a scenario where Barnes is sent packing, and the Jaguars take OT Sam Baker as a future replacement. The Jaguars seem high on Richard Collier, and they could expect him to take over for Barnes as they groom Sam Baker.
The Jaguars simply take the best player available at spot #26 and not reach for anyone. If this happens, I believe the Jaguars will hope that someone like DT Trevor Laws or DE Calais Campbell is still available at spot #58 in Round 2.

What do you think?

Jaguars 2008 NFL Schedule and Highlights

2008-04-15T14:01:00.002-04:00

Jaguars 2008 schedule

Preseason

Saturday, August 9 ATLANTA FALCONS 7:30 p.m. WTEV
Saturday, August 16 MIAMI DOLPHINS 7:30 p.m. WTEV
Saturday, August 23 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers 7:30 p.m. WTEV
Thursday, August 28 at Washington Redskins 7:00 p.m. NBC

Regular season

Sunday, September 7 at Tennessee Titans 1:00 p.m. CBS
Sunday, September 14 BUFFALO BILLS 1:00 p.m. CBS
Sunday, September 21 at Indianapolis Colts 4:15 p.m. CBS
Sunday, September 28 HOUSTON TEXANS 1:00 p.m. CBS
Sunday, October 5 PITTSBURGH STEELERS 8:15 p.m. NBC
Sunday, October 12 at Denver Broncos 4:05 p.m. CBS
Sunday, October 19 OPEN DATE
Sunday, October 26 CLEVELAND BROWNS 4:05 p.m. CBS
Sunday, November 2 at Cincinnati Bengals 1:00 p.m. CBS
Sunday, November 9 at Detroit Lions 1:00 p.m. CBS
Sunday, November 16 TENNESSEE TITANS 1:00 p.m. CBS
Sunday, November 23 MINNESOTA VIKINGS 1:00 p.m. FOX
Monday, December 1 at Houston Texans 8:30 p.m. ESPN
Sunday, December 7 at Chicago Bears 1:00 p.m. CBS
Sunday, December 14 GREEN BAY PACKERS 1:00 p.m. FOX
Thursday, December 18 INDIANAPOLIS COLTS 8:15 p.m. NFLN
Sunday, December 28 at Baltimore Ravens 1:00 p.m. CBS

HOME GAMES IN CAPS

ALL TIMES ARE JACKSONVILLE TIME

What a great schedule! The Jaguars managed to rope in 3 primetime games (as predicted), but getting the Colts at home in Week 16 is going to be the game of the year. Playing Pittsburgh in Week 5 down in Jacksonville is solid as well. Remember that 2004 Sunday night game between Pittsburgh and Jacksonville? Expect another classic matchup.

I'm a little intrigued by the fact that we could have a 10-day break going into the last game of the season with Baltimore. That could really benefit the team, especially if they're making a playoff push as we expect. The Monday night game with the Jaguars and Texans seems odd on the surface, but I know it adds some drama based on how well Houston plays us.

Overall, I am very pleased with the schedule. What do you think?

2008 NFL Schedule Is Upon Us

2008-04-14T16:08:00.003-04:00

The NFL has announced today that it will release the 2008 regular season schedule on Tuesday, 4/15 at 2 PM EST.

So how many primetime games do you think the Jaguars will get? I'm banking on at least 3 primetime games, including a possible Thanksgiving Day game vs. the Detroit Lions. I think they have to put the Jags vs. Colts and the Jags vs. Steelers games in primetime as well.

I feel like a kid at Christmas. Let's go Jaguars! And let's hope the NFL doesn't put the Jaguars on the road for three consecutive games either.

QB David Garrard Is A Rich Man

2008-04-08T13:53:00.007-04:00

David Garrard's patience has paid off as the Jaguars have awarded him the richest contract in Jaguars history. After sitting behind the likes of Mark Brunell and Byron Leftwich for much of his career, Garrard got a chance to shine in 2007. The result? Owner Wayne Weaver and Coach Jack Del Rio made sure that he knows he's the big man on campus now as Garrard can look forward to a 7-year, $60 million contract.

http://www.jaguars.com/multimedia/video.aspx?id=2756

Some people think the Jaguars jumped the gun by signing him this early. I disagree. Garrard was the one who said he didn't want the contract negotiations to linger on any longer, that the amount the Jaguars offered was more than generous and he wanted to just concentrate on football. The contract puts him in line with some of the other top-paid quarterbacks in the NFL. He obviously realizes this is an opportunity of a lifetime, and he just wants to get back to work.

I was a big Byron Leftwich supporter and David Garrard criticizer when the "Big Debate" was taking place over the last few years as to who should be the field general for the Jaguars. Garrard proved me and many others wrong, and I can say I'm glad that he is our starting QB going forward for many more years to come. I like his poise, his confidence, and his willingness to improve. Let's hope he can keep that fire burning now that he's got his big payday. I have no reason to believe he won't continue to give it his all in 2008 and beyond.

What do you think of the Jaguars signing Garrard long-term this early?