Jacksonville Jaguars Draft Needs 2008
June 8, 2008
Coach Jack Del Rio got more out of his team in 2007 than most experts thought he could. But when you look at how well they played on a game-by-game basis it doesn’t even compare to what the Indianapolis Colts did in the AFC South division. The Jaguars need to attract more team speed starting with the 2008 NFL Draft. They are as tough as they come in this league, but the don’t have a ton of players that can fly around and make plays from sideline to sideline.
2008 Jacksonville Jaguars NFL Draft Needs:
1.) Wide Receiver
The lack of a wide receiver threat has continued to hamper the Jaguars for years now. Reggie Williams and Matt Jones have not lived up to expectations. The main area of concern for the Jags offense is their lack of a deep threat. Jones and Williams are good at going up and grabbing balls in the red zone, but they have problems even getting to the red zone through the air. With QB David Garrard getting that new contract, he needs some targets to fire to in 2008.
2.) Offensive Tackle
Both ORT Tony Pashos and OLT Khalif Barnes are getting past their prime. The explosiveness of the Jaguars offense last season was attributed to Garrard’s emergence, the running backs and the interior offensive line. Barnes possesses talent, but he has yet to live up to it. His character is a big question mark after getting in trouble with the law twice in the last two years. Del Rio appears less tolerant of this behavior than he was early in his tenure as Jags head man.
3.) Defensive End
Bobby McCray played terribly in a contract year and don’t expect the Jaguars to offer him the contract he feels he deserves as a free agent. Paul Spicer and Reggie Hayward have performed great but they have been nicked up along the way. There’s some decent depth at this position, but with McCray likely gone, snatching another DE through the NFL Draft would be wise in Jacksonville.
4.) Tight End
Mercedes Lewis hasn’t panned out since the Jaguars took him in the first round of the 2006 draft. He’s been decent as a receiver, but struggles to block for the Jaguars in the running game. The Jags also have a pair of solid receivers at this position in George Wrightster and Greg Estandia, but they’re neither reliable mashers in the running game. They are also injury concerns.
5.) Middle Linebacker
Mike Peterson has been tardy in 17 games the last two seasons. The Jaguars should have some concern as to how much longer this 32-year-old vet can hold up. Justin Durant was a solid backup as a rookie, but at 230 pounds he is destined to be on the outside. This is a team tailor-made for a middle linebacker to roam free and make plays. A stout defensive line in Jacksonville absorbs much of the offensive line’s attention, and a solid rookie MLB from the 2008 NFL Draft is a necessity.
2008 NFL Draft Prospects to fit Offensive Scheme:
QB David Garrard ran Dirk Koetter’s conservative offense as well as he could in 2007. The Jags do a great job of controlling the clock, not out of choice but out of lack of speed at wide receiver. This methodic offense needs to get a bit faster to maximize their talents. WR Devin Thomas of Michigan State, WR Andre Caldwell of Florida and WR William Franklin of Missouri all have the kind of speed the Jaguars are yearning on the outside. TE Kellen Davis of MSU and TE Brad Cottam of Tennessee can hold their own on the offensive line. OT Oniel Cousins of UTEP would add depth at the tackle position in Jacksonville.
2008 NFL Draft Prospects to fit Defensive Scheme:
The Jaguars run a traditional 4-3 scheme that goes as their defensive line go. Interior linemen have made a living in Jacksonville by eating up blockers and letting their linebackers roam free. Many of their blitzes come from the secondary. LB Dan Connor of Penn State and LB Jerod Mayo of Tennessee would be solid choices at linebacker on Draft Day. DE Quentin Groves of Auburn, WLB Geno Hayes of FSU, DE Dorian Smith of OSU and CB-S Charles Godfrey of Iowa would fit the Jaguars defensive scheme.