Jacksonville Jaguars Preview Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Expect........to see the ball travel in Matt Jones' direction frequently with the first team on the field. Jones is looking quicker off the line of scrimmage than he did at the end of last season, and appears to finally be displaying the 4.37 speed that scouts raved about at last year's scouting combine. According to the coaching staff, Jones' route-running has improved by leaps and bounds during training camp. Compare Jones' first-year statistics to those of players like Antwaan Randle El, Hines Ward or Drew Bennett, and it's obvious that Jones performed above the curve Vikings Brett Favre jersey
for a rookie receiver entering the league while making a positional transition. History has shown that college quarterbacks who switch to receiver during their maiden season in the NFL have a tough time running routes and displaying the physicality that makes a great receiver. In his first year, Jones' statistics trumped those of the aforementioned QB/WRs in every significant category, especially touchdowns. With five TD grabs in his first year, Jones has solidified himself as a bona fide red-zone threat. Last week, although, he spent some time in the slot, Jones was featured as the Jaguars' X receiver. If that designation carries on to Saturday's game against the Panthers, look to see him running long routes and threatening the deep ball the way he did with a 50-yard touchdown reception last week.....to see a decreased number of drops this week. Coaches Mike Tice and Steve Walters have reportedly lost a lot of patience in a receiving corps that was at the top of the NFL in drops last year. After last week's dropping bonanza against the Dolphins, Tice let players know (very vocally) that a lack of concentration does not pay dividends on the field and will not be tolerated. Hopefully, this "culture shock" is the beginning of a new offensive attitude accompanied by higher standards set by the players for themselves. As former Jaguar Tony Boselli pointed out earlier this week, the disparity in mentality between offense and defense is evidenced by the sideline interviews of defensive leader Mike Peterson and offensive leader Byron Leftwich during the Dolphins game. Leftwich had a more lackadaisical attitude toward the deficient offense seen in the first few series' than Mike Peterson did toward the defense's inefficiency, saying that, "The team is notorious for slow starts. I don't know why."Though there are a myriad of reasons "why", ultimately, a lot of blame has to fall on receivers that are unable to keep their hands on well-thrown passes. Last year, Leftwich's QB rating was a rock solid 89.3 - ninth in the league among starting quarterbacks of 32 teams. Though Leftwich's completion percentage was slightly below that of backup David Garrard, his passer rating (against much tougher opposition) was six points ahead, and with a QB squad where all three quarterbacks have an 80+ passer rating, the man behind center obviously isn't the problem. Someone needed to light a fire under these receivers, and hopefully that someone has.....to see a fade pass into the end zone with almost every early red-zone opportunity. The Jaguars have a first-string receiving group that averages almost 6-foot-5, making jump balls thrown into the end zone almost a requirement for offensive play caller Carl Smith. Jones and Ernest Wilford both benefited significantly from their height in the end zone last year, with five and seven touchdowns, respectively. This Harlem Globetrotters-like trait is a real advantage, especially in a league where starting cornerbacks rarely have a height advantage against receivers much shorter than Jones, Reggie Williams and Wilford. Mike Tice made a living in Minnesota throwing Randy Moss the jump ball in the corner of the end zone. Expect to see those sorts of 4 Brett Favre White jersey
plays called quite a bit on Saturday.....to see David Garrard take a few snaps with the first-string offense. No, this isn't a continuation of the perceived "quarterback controversy" that Jacksonville has had to laughingly endure over the last few years. Both Jack Del Rio and Garrard have made it clear that the job is Leftwich's to lose, not Garrard's to gain. Del Rio has been quoted, stating as definitively as possible, that Leftwich is the starting quarterback for this team. Period. Earlier this week, Del Rio mused that he may give Garrard and Quinn Gray some time with the first-string offense to get a better evaluation of their burgeoning talent. Is he trying to showcase one of these quarterbacks for a possible trade? Maybe. ....to see Chad Owens get some time working with the first-string offense. In only his first game (albeit preseason) since last year's debacle in Indianapolis, Owens has already come a long way. The nervousness and doubt that dominated that disastrous initial experience appears to have been completely erased from his psyche. When Owens opted not to accept Del Rio's challenge to play in NFL Europe earlier this year, to "spend time with his family", the common belief around the Jacksonville community was that Owens had licked the seal on his fate and was destined for another year on the practice squad, or perhaps, the waiver wire. Chad quickly and methodically put those rumors to rest after ending the Dolphins game with 86 yards - fourth most in the NFL. Owens hooked up with Garrard for two huge gains: one was a 24-yard deep middle pass that required a backward adjustment, and the other was a 62-yard touchdown pass on a perfectly-run route that ended with a waltz into the end zone.....to see local high school standout and former Clemson star Jamaal Fudge get a lot of action. Fudge was very impressive last week. He notched eight tackles, three assists and a sack against the Dolphins. Though he earned All-Conference honors and picked off 10 passes during his tenure as a safety at Clemson, Fudge was overlooked in the draft due to his diminutive size. At 5-9, Fudge is probably too short to be an effective safety, but if he's able to make a smooth transition to cornerback or shine on special teams, he'll have a good shot at making the practice squad and moving up to the active roster next year. Still, don't count him off of the 53-man roster this year. Fan favorite Nick Sorenson is going to have to fend Fudge off if he wants to maintain his spot on the team.....to see the Jaguars play musical chairs with their offensive line. The "Line Dance" should be in full force on Saturday, as Del Rio and co. try to get a thorough evaluation of the linemen. The offensive line was often isolated last year as an area of heightened concern, and quite a few offseason moves have validated that opinion.Down-on-their-luck former first-rounders Mike Williams and Stockar McDougle were brought in to compete with some of the starters who finished with subpar seasons last year. Troubled lineman Wayne Hunter and UDFA guard Richard Collier were also signed to the tentative roster to push starters or push for unlikely starting spots of their own. Rounding out the changes to the offensive line are new coaches Andy Heck and Mike Tice. Heck is a former offensive lineman himself, and Tice was among the best offensive line coaches in the league before his promotion to head coach in Minnesota. Hopefully these stalwarts can right the ship that seems, so far, to be sailing in the same direction as last year. Vince Manuwai was wildly inconsistent at left guard against the Dolphins, and Mo Williams offered little protection on the right side. Out of 2010 pro bowl 4 Brett Favre Blue jersey
the starting crew, only Brad Meester and Chris Naeole looked solid. If you are among the vocal few who believe that Leftwich should be the sole scapegoat for the first team's stagnant play last week, make it a point to watch the protection he gets from the offensive line this week.Next Week: vs. Bucs....Stay with Realfootball365.com for more on the Jacksonville Jaguars.