June

June 25, 2008   

Williams not necessarily in Jacksonville for the long haul

Gregg Williams

Expectations are sky-high in Jacksonville, particularly for a defense that looks all the more formidable after netting DEs Derrick Harvey and Quentin Groves in the first two rounds of the 2008 draft and picking up veteran CB Drayton Florence from San Diego. But could it be one-and-done for new defensive coordinator Gregg Williams, who’s instituting a high-pressure scheme that largely necessitated the personnel fortifications? The way we hear it, it’s very possible. In a rare situation, Williams and the Jaguars mutually agreed to merely transfer the final season left on Williams’ contract with the Redskins to Jacksonville, rather than ripping up the deal and starting anew. The result is that the Redskins will be paying roughly half of Williams’ deal in ’08 and that Williams is free to do whatever he wants after the season. For a man who longs to get another shot at being a head coach, the situation plays out nicely for him. The Jags were more than willing to oblige, figuring that they likely could re-sign him if he’s unable to garner head-coaching interest, but also could part ways with him without owing him anything if he fails to make the anticipated improvements to the defense.

June 13, 2008   

Jaguars playing mind games, coaxing the best out of OG Williams

Three days after cutting OG Chris Naeole — the Jaguars’ best offensive lineman, whose health was in question after blowing out his knee in midseason of 2007 — the Jaguars re-signed Maurice Williams to a four-year, $16 million deal in March. So the fact that Williams finds himself in the thick of a battle for the starting OLG job with lightly regarded Uche Nwaneri and Dennis Norman is a curious development in Jacksonville’s minicamp. A converted offensive tackle who finally started to tap into his potential after shifting inside when Naeole went down, Williams was expected to form a potent complement to OG Vince Manuwai, who has flipped over to the right side. The way we hear it, Williams’ hold on the starting job isn’t as tenuous as it looks on the practice field. Rather, it’s a ploy the coaches are taking to motivate him to continue his strong play after signing his lucrative deal. Williams’ effort has been called into question, and the hope is that staging a competition will convince him to live up to the terms of his deal. Only $4 million of Williams' $16 million contract is guaranteed.

May

May 30, 2008   

Jaguars' coaches turning up the intensity dial

Thus far, the pairing of Jaguars head coach Jack Del Rio and new defensive coordinator Gregg Williams is a harmonious one. Although he would never admit as much, we hear that Del Rio initially harbored some concern that appointing a fellow “Type A” personality — especially one who’s served as a head coach in the league — to replace the easygoing Mike Smith might cause some friction. With outspoken DB coach Donnie Henderson also in the coaching mix, it shouldn’t come as any surprise that the intensity on the practice field is greater than it had been since Del Rio took control of the team. The energy provided by the coaches isn’t being exhibited merely as the natural byproduct of their personalities, however. With so many newcomers expected to play prominent roles on the defense, the coaches have put it upon themselves to ensure that practice sessions don’t erode into de facto chalk-talk sessions.

May 23, 2008   

Loss of Stroud blessing in disguise for Jaguars

Could Jacksonville's DT rotation actually be even better in '08 after shipping Marcus Stroud to Buffalo? Although it's rarely a boon for a team to lose such a top-shelf talent, word out of Jacksonville is that Stroud was deemed expendable in no small part because of Rob Meier's solid play, for which Meier was handsomely rewarded last week in the form of a four-year, $15 million extension. Additionally, the team expects second-year pro Derek Landri to make a substantial impact as an attacking, penetrating tackle after showing glimpses of things to come down the stretch of his rookie campaign. With rookie DEs Derrick Harvey and Quentin Groves expected to play substantial roles in Year One, the Jags genuinely believe that Meier's consistency will prove more valuable than the sometimes inspiring, sometimes questionable play that Stroud exhibited.

May 16, 2008   

Porter proving to be every bit the receiver Jacksonville hoped he'd be

Jerry Porter

Reactions were mixed across the NFL when the Jaguars inked former Raiders WR Jerry Porter to a six-year, $30 million deal earlier this offseason. Some viewed it as a wise move, sensing the need to pair emerging QB David Garrard with the kind of multi-talented wideout that the team lacked in 2007. Others saw it as a lot of money to invest in an enigmatic player in need of an attitude adjustment. If what was on display at the club’s first organized team activity (OTA) Tuesday is any indication of what will transpire during the season, those who praised the acquisition will be vindicated. Team sources raved about how fluidly Porter moved, and his body control on a couple acrobatic catches was something that hasn’t been seen in Jacksonville since Jimmy Smith hung up the pads two years ago. “There’s no question in my mind that Garrard-to-Porter is going to be a combination that will be very productive for us,” coach Jack Del Rio told the Florida Times-Union after the session.

May 9, 2008   

Jaguars gradually phasing out starting defensive ends

Despite the Jaguars using their first two draft picks on defensive ends, Paul Spicer and Reggie Hayward, the Jaguars’ 2007 starting ends, don’t have to worry about getting cut. “The Jaguars have so much cap room that there’s really no concern,” one team insider said. That being said, the two veterans’ job security extends only through the upcoming season. It’s clear that the Jags are phasing Spicer and Hayward out of the equation, as they wish to indoctrinate draftees Derrick Harvey and Quentin Groves into their defensive scheme. Neither Harvey nor Groves has the strength against the run that the current starters have, but the two rookies’ superior quickness makes them better fits for new defensive coordinator Gregg Williams’ high-pressure defense. The insider said to expect a heavy rotation at end this coming season, with Harvey and Groves getting the majority of repetitions in passing situations.

April

April 25, 2008   

Diminishing powers may convince Harris to bolt from Jacksonville

When Jaguars owner Wayne Weaver hired vice president of player personnel James “Shack” Harris in 2003, Weaver bestowed upon him the final authority over personnel matters. Whether or not he’s officially still the ultimate decision maker is unclear, but word we’re hearing is that Harris’ days in Jacksonville may be numbered. Recently promoted executive director of college and pro personnel Gene Smith is viewed as a rising star within league circles, and Weaver is prepared to expand Smith’s powers even more to ensure he’s not tempted to bolt Jacksonville — Smith was a serious candidate for the Falcons’ GM job that eventually went to Thomas Dimitroff. While it’s unlikely Harris would be fired, a diminishment of authority could convince Harris to leave on his own, especially considering he harbors resentment toward Weaver for firing director of pro personnel and close friend Charles Bailey while promoting Smith.

April 18, 2008   

Jaguars' Florence a grossly overpaid nickel back? Not exactly

Considering the Jaguars already boasted a solid CB tandem of Rashean Mathis and Brian Williams, many eyebrows around the league were raised when the Jags signed former Chargers CB Drayton Florence to a six-year, $36 million deal. The feeling was that Florence, who’s certainly a starting-caliber player, would come in and play nickel back, and that Jacksonville was throwing an exorbitant amount of money at a sub-package player. But according to a source close to the club, Florence is a decent bet to bump Williams out of a starting job. Williams, while arguably the most consistent corner on the team, had the coaches fuming about a disastrous showing against Colts WR Reggie Wayne, who caught all 14 balls that were thrown to him when covered by Williams in ’07. Furthermore, an ongoing legal battle stemming from a drunken-driving arrest in September ’06 muddles his status even more. But this isn’t to say that Williams is likely to see a decrease in playing time. There’s a good chance that, if bumped out of his CB job, he would be inserted at strong safety next to budding star Reggie Nelson. The Jags opted to let ’07 starting SS Sammy Knight walk in free agency, and there figures to be an open competition for his job.

April 4, 2008   

Del Rio deal finalized after tough negotiations

It didn’t come as a big surprise to those close to the club that the Jaguars offered coach Jack Del Rio a five-year contract extension. Del Rio’s success in taking an injury-marred club, particularly on defense, to the divisional round of the playoffs last season proved to the club’s brass that he has what it takes to be the long-term answer. But the negotiation was anything but a simple process. According to a team source, Del Rio was looking for money comparable to the $5.25 million per year that Tom Coughlin is making after signing his extension following the Giants’ Super Bowl triumph. The Jaguars, known for spending judiciously, scoffed at that demand, sensing that a career record of 45-35 for a coach who perpetually plays second fiddle to the Colts’ Tony Dungy in the AFC South hierarchy doesn’t deserve primo dollars. Ultimately, the two sides compromised enough to make the deal a reality, although financial details have yet to be confirmed. The deal keeps Del Rio in Jacksonville through the 2012 season.

March

March 28, 2008   

Jaguars intent on upgrading DE rotation through the draft

With Gregg Williams coming aboard as the Jaguars defensive coordinator, bringing in a few fresh bodies for the DE rotation seemed like an obvious objective. Williams is known for highly aggressive schemes that are dependent upon generating a pass rush off the edge, and the Jags’ current starters, injury-plagued veterans Paul Spicer and Reggie Hayward, don’t inspire much confidence that they’ll thrive in the new system. But so far this offseason, the Jags haven’t done anything to improve the speed at the position. In fact, they let their best pass rusher, Bobby McCray, leave for New Orleans in free agency. It’s not that the team doesn’t see the need to bolster its DE corps. As one team insider said to us, “How many impact pass rushers were actually available in free agency?” The insider said that D-end is the overriding priority entering the draft, and it would come as a surprise if Jacksonville didn’t invest in one with its first-round pick, No. 26 overall.

March 21, 2008   

Garrard's contract discussions developing at a slow pace

Jaguars QB David Garrard has one more year remaining on his deal, and is due to make a little less than $2 million in 2008. Naturally, both Garrard's camp and the Jags recognize the fact that a quarterback of his caliber deserves to be locked into a lucrative, long-term deal. And while a deal could be struck soon, negotiations have been progressing at a slower rate than many believed they would. The sticking point revolves around agent Al Irby's assertion that Garrard deserves a contract commensurate with the deal Tony Romo inked with the Cowboys, which was six years for $67 million. The Jags have countered by saying they believe Romo was overpaid, and that they don't think it's appropriate to commit such money to a player with only one year of full-time starting experience. We hear that Garrard still is likely to get a deal done before training camp, although it wouldn't come as too big a surprise if he agrees to an extension during the '08 season. The one thing for certain is that the Jags will make sure Garrard does not test the open market next offseason, even if it means slapping the franchise tag on him.

March 14, 2008   

Jaguars' secondary looking considerably improved

By bringing aboard CB Drayton Florence and not re-signing SS Sammy Knight, the Jaguars are hoping they’ve made the necessary adjustments to a secondary that was more porous than it should have been in 2007. Considering they boasted a pair of ball-hawking corners in Rashean Mathis and Brian Williams, the Jags weren’t content with ranking 15th in the league in pass defense. Among the culprits for the inadequacies were safeties who lacked either the recognition skills (Reggie Nelson) or the athleticism (Knight) to play well in coverage, and undermanned nickel and dime packages. Things should be different in 2008. Entering his second season, Nelson should be better-equipped to diagnose the pass, and Gerald Sensabaugh, on injured reserve for all but two games in ’07, is more agile than Knight. So, too, is Jamaal Fudge, who will compete with Sensabaugh for the starting safety job opposite Nelson. Florence, whose parents live in Jacksonville, is an ideal nickel back. Bumped out of the starting lineup in San Diego following the emergence of Antonio Cromartie, Florence has the skill set that would have him starting for half of the teams in the league.

March 5, 2008   

O-line becoming bigger concern in Jacksonville

Considering he was considered the Jaguars’ best offensive lineman, OG Chris Naeole’s release on Monday seemed to a be a curious move. But the word we’re hearing is that the club was unnerved regarding his health after a torn quadriceps prematurely ended his 2007 season. On both sides of the ball, the Jaguars are making a concerted effort to rid themselves of players with injury concerns, a chief factor in DT Marcus Stroud’s trade to Buffalo. With Naeole out of the equation, the OG situation becomes even more muddled. UFA Maurice Williams, a converted tackle who acquitted himself nicely at guard after replacing Naeole, is believed to be gone in search of more money. Look for the position to be addressed in the draft. With the acquisition of Jerry Porter and Troy Williamson, the WR corps is far less of an issue than it was at season’s end.

February

Feb. 27, 2008   

Trade for Williamson only slightly helps Jags' WR concerns

The Jaguars took the first step in trying to upgrade their WR corps Tuesday, trading a sixth-round pick to the Vikings for Troy Williamson in a deal that will reportedly become official later this week. The Jags’ substandard wide receivers were looked on as one of the major reasons their offense remained a run-heavy, conservative attack in 2007, as former first-round picks Matt Jones and Reggie Williams failed to live up to expectations. But the problem is that Williamson, while one of the fastest players in the league, has similarly failed to approach expectations. Three years removed from being the seventh overall selection in the 2005 draft, Williamson has just 79 receptions for 1,067 yards and three touchdowns. Word out of Jacksonville is that the acquisition of Williamson only slightly lessens the Jags’ pressing need at the position. Defensive end now appears to be their No. 1 area of need, with wide receiver and safety now neck-and-neck as the second-biggest need.

Feb. 22, 2008   

Jaguars see shift in power over personnel

When the Jaguars’ coaches and front office sit down for their free-agent and draft talks, the titles of the decision makers will remain mostly the same as they were at this time last year. Jack Del Rio is still head coach, and James “Shack” Harris is still vice president of player personnel. The one significant figure whose title did change is Gene Smith, who was promoted from director of college scouting to executive director of college and pro personnel. While Smith’s increased jurisdiction is fairly obvious, we hear that Del Rio will be given more say in personnel matters at the expense of Harris. The catalyst for the change in roles was Del Rio’s preseason decision to go ahead with QB David Garrard and cut Byron Leftwich, a decision that was hotly contested by Harris. After Garrard’s standout season validated Del Rio’s personnel acumen, it appears that Harris’ clout is beginning to slide. Del Rio and Harris have often stood in opposition to each other, and giving one party the clear upper hand in disputes would help alleviate future power struggles.

Feb. 15, 2008   

Addition of Williams signals changes in Jacksonville

Both offensively and defensively, the 2007 Jaguars were rather conservative. But with Gregg Williams now aboard Jack Del Rio's staff, expect that to change, at least on defense. Williams was signed on as defensive coordinator Mike Smith's replacement after Smith left to assume head-coaching duties in Atlanta. Since his arrival onto the NFL stage in 1990, Williams has earned the reputation as one of the more aggressive defensive minds in the game. More than just calling blitzes, Williams — who was fired from his post as Redskins defensive coordinator after being eliminated from the Skins' head-coaching search — calls for numerous stunts from his line and isn't averse to having his ends attack the quarterback at the expense of run support. Consequently, expect the Jaguars to target an explosive edge rusher or two this offseason. Starting DEs Reggie Hayward and Paul Spicer hold up well against the run and are decent pass rushers, but neither possesses the type of speed Williams covets. Free-agent DE Bobby McCray is a sufficient pass rusher, but it's unlikely Del Rio would agree to re-sign him after burying him on the '07 depth chart. On a related note, we hear that the dynamic between Williams and Del Rio will be interesting to watch. Del Rio has traditionally been the maestro when it comes to the defense, but by appointing a strong personality in Williams who has been a head coach in the NFL (Buffalo, 2001-03), it appears that Del Rio is willing to relinquish more control than he's accustomed to doing.

January

Jan. 30, 2008   

Campo leaves Jaguars to take lesser job in Dallas

It seems odd for a coach to willingly leave his current team to take a lesser job with another franchise. But that’s precisely what Jaguars assistant head coach/secondary Dave Campo is doing. On Tuesday, Campo finalized a deal with the Cowboys to become their DB coach — without the assistant head coach label — after Todd Bowles jumped ship to Miami. Even more interesting is the fact that Campo decided to come back to the franchise that dumped him as head coach after the 2002 season. But with his family in Dallas, it was an easy move to make. Additionally, we hear Campo stayed in good graces with the team, which is more than he can say regarding the powers that be in Jacksonville. Word is that Campo, who presided over an underachieving secondary in 2007, was likely to be shown the door. The Jaguars hired former Lions and Jets defensive coordinator Donnie Henderson earlier in the week to be an unspecified defensive assistant, and there was speculation that he was hired to take over Campo's DB duties.