By Brian Moore
July 12, 2009

The Jacksonville Jaguars are coached by Jack Del Rio. Del Rio was a hardnosed tough linebacker when he played and his team has always had a similar workman-like tough mindset. DelRio has coached the Jaguars for 6 years. His first year they had a 31percent winning percentage and so did they in 2008. All in all, they are just a shade above .500 with Del Rio.The Jaguars have played in just three playoff games under Del Rio and only won one of them. It is thought by many that Del Rio is on "thin ice" and must produce in 2009.

All personnel moves were taken away from Del Rio including roster cuts. Former scout Gene Smith is the current general manager making the decisions. The previous regime only drafted a single pro bowl player. Del Rio is at a point where he must either embrace the changes or he's going to have to find a new team to coach.

Years ago the Jaguars had Keenan McCardell and Jimmy Smith, two very good wide receivers that opposing defenses had a difficult time dealing with. Since then, the Jaguars have spent many free agent dollars and draft picks to find a quality wide receiver, yet they've come up empty. Del Rio seems to love the ground game and wants his team to pass only if they have to. A throwback offense of sorts. Could that have had something to do with their wide receiver struggles? Wide receiver Matt Jones finally looked good in an injury plagued season last year and Reggie Williams was a red zone weapon. In a curious move, neither have been asked to return. When drafted, Jones was a raw prospect that would take years to develop. Now that he finally was developing, they decided to part ways. What remains at wide receiver isn't ideal. Mike Walker has missed more games due to injury than he's played in the NFL. Troy Williamson was a flop in Minnesota that assistant head coach Mike Tice all but brought over with him to the Jaguars. Nate Hughes is a practice squad player not likely to make the team in 2009. Out with the old, in with the new. Future hall of famer Torry Holt has signed with Jacksonville to give them a genuine, albeit older, threat at receiver. The Jaguars three rookie wide receivers and a rookie tight end to bolster their passing game. Rookies do not generally produce well their first year, however it seems one of them will have to. Either fifth round pick Jarrett Dillard or seventh rounder Tiquan Underwood are likely to be thrust into action. Fourth round pick Mike Thomas is a bit small at 5 foot 8 inches tall.

Sorely needing wide receiver help, in a wide receiver heavy draft, the Jaguars waited til the fourth round and then picked a 5 foot 8 inch guy that is likely to just be a slot wide receiver in the NFL. The interior of the Jaguars offensive line was injured some of last year leaving opposing defenses with just venerable speed bumps in their way to David Garrard. To solve this problem? The Jaguars drafted two tackles. Huh? The reasoning behind this was that they were drafting the best available player. While I found Eugene Monroe and Eben Britton to be impressive prospects, I don't like the move. An exagerated analogy to prove a point: you do not draft a linebacker if you need tight end help. The Jaguars personel issues are well documented and 2009 will bring what 2009 brings.

Monroe will start, he's just too talented to sit on the sideline. Opposite Monroe will likely be 12 year veteran Tra Thomas that came over from Philadelphia. Tony Pashos and Britton will be fighting for those starting spots which should make for an eventful training camp. Jordan Black is also kicking around to play tackle for the Jags. Vincent Manuwai, Brad Meester and Maurice "Mo" Williams are road graders that Del Rio just loves to have his team run behind. Their health is a dramatic concern. Dennis Norman and Uche Nwaneri started a total of 28 games in 2008 and should provide depth. Many criticized their play as starters so whether they're quality depth is debatable. Del Rio should begin the season with a tough offensive line ready to steam roll over the opposition. This is the key to everything for the Jags offense in 2009, watch the injury report before you make any predictions.

Maurice Jones-Drew is Del Rio's "sled dog". He has the team strapped to his back and he is going to pull them as far as he can. Jones-Drew moves from his hybrid backup/part time starter/3rd down back role into the predominant role in the Jags offense after Fred Taylor left to the Patriots in free agency. Jones-Drew is a small but well built runningback that has done well in limited time. He has never rushed for 1000 yards in a season yet many are convinced he's the next big thing. Chauncey Washington and Rashad Jennings have been drafted in the seventh round the last two years to provide depth by backing up Jones-Drew. Fullback Greg Jones can carry the rock on occasion but has not been given too much opportunity to do so.

Quarterback David Garrard was seemingly running for his life some weeks last year. For example, he was sacked seven times by the Titans in just one week. The Jaguars would get behind in games and be forced to pass in a catchup type offense. Jones-Drew provided a nice safety valve when Garrard was under pressure but ideally he'll have time to throw to his tight ends or wide receivers. Garrard is entering his eighth season in the NFL and the Jaguars have faith in him. Previously, he had never thrown for 3000 yards in a season but after his 3620 yards last year, it seems the Jaguars may have been right with this personnel decision. Last year was also the first time Garrard has ever played 16 games so there isn't a whole lot of data to go on in predicting how well he'll do. Any attention Garrard and the passing game can attract from opposing defenses should only help Jones-Drew. Del Rio must recognize this and not only pass when there seems to be no other choice. If so, I would expect Garrard to do fairly well in 2009 if, and only if, the targets develop a repoire with him.

At tight end the Jaguars have promising Marcedes Lewis who has increased his receiving production by at least 180 yards each year he's been in the NFL. They also have Greg Estrandia for depth and special teams work. After departing with former college quarterback turned project wide receiver Matt Jones, the Jaguars drafted (a different) Zach Miller, a former college quarterback, to play tight end.

The Jaguars defense is not a problem. Del Rio's defense's have been finished in the top ten three times and their worst finish was 17th. Poor field position due to special teams, poor offensive performance, and/or turnovers has put the defense in a tough position to defend their goal. As with any team, they need to win some field position battles and give the defense an ample amount of time to rest. The Jags will have their third defensive coordinator, Mel Tucker, under Del Rio but it doesn't seem to matter. Del Rio brings a solid defense to every game.

At linebacker, Justin Durant, Thomas Williams, Clint Ingram and Daryl Smith will all battle for the three starting spot in a 4-3 set. Their versatility to play inside and outside makes them an intriguing group. The Jaguars have a knack for "finding" defensive linemen and developing them. This is one area of which their personnel department has excelled. Second year defensive end Derrick Harvey must improve upon his rookie season but should become a force for the Jags. Reggie Hayward is the starter opposite Harvey but the Jaguars drafted Quentin Groves last year. John Henderson is a top defensive tackle but he'll have to get some help inside. Rob Meier, Derek Landri and rookie Terrance Knighton will battle to get that spot next to Henderson. While at first glance, this is an unimpressive group, this will wind up being a productive group for the Jags in 2009.

The secondary was torn apart by opposing offenses in 2008, so much so that the Jaguars signed safety Calvin Lowry and cornerback Kennard Cox in December last year. The Jaguars are fond of third round pick Derek Cox and will need him to step in at nickelback, if not starting cornerback, right away. Brian Williams can play safety or cornerback well and provides options for Del Rio. Rashean Mathis made the pro bowl and it's been downhill ever since. He must regain his form. Part of the problem with Mathis has been poor play from the safeties. Free agent Sean Considine can be penciled in as a starter until Cox can start at corner and push Williams into the safety spot. Reggie Nelson was a first round draft pick in 2008 that struggled some last year, but has a promising future.

Josh Scobee and the punting combination of Adam Podlesh and Steve Weatherford aren;t exciting and I'd expect the Jaguars to instill some camp competition here to improve the results on the field.

The Jaguars have a very large number of undrafted free agents and rookies that intrigue many. The roster turnover, in it's entirety, may be surprisingly high this summer.