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| | | | | | | | Tuesday, November 14, 2000
Wheels coming unhinged for the Jags
By Alex Laracy
MondayNightFootball.com
Every NFL season, quarterback controversies circulate the league like poker chips in Vegas, and this one has been no different: Jon Kitna versus Brock Huard - which was a mild surprise. Kent Graham versus Kordell Stewart -- not exactly a bombshell. Ryan Leaf versus Jim Harbaugh versus Moses Moreno -- that's a no-brainer.
But Mark Brunell versus Jamie Martin?
|  | | Tom Coughlin's Jaguars are desperate for a win against the Titans. |
Something's rotten in Jacksonville if head coach Tom Coughlin has considered replacing the pillar of the most successful expansion franchise in football history (49-31 in its first five years) with Martin. The veteran backup has thrown fewer touchdown passes in his career (six) than Brunell in his last six games (seven).
Things have gone so peachy-keen for the Jaguars since their inception in '95, you had to wonder when controversy and discord would finally sink its impartial teeth into Coughlin and Co. Well, it happened last Sunday, as the sickened coach benched the fifth-ranked passer in NFL history for Martin during their insipid 15-10 loss to the Ravens after the Jags botched four snaps, fumbled eight times and committed six turnovers.
"I've lost some games in my time, but I've never lost one like that," the fifth-year coach later said. "We just made some of the dumbest things I've ever seen happen."
Coughlin has penciled Brunell in as the starter for Monday night's game against the rival Titans after wavering on the decision on Monday. But at 2-4, even the guy who cleans the restrooms at ALLTEL Stadium has to be looking over his shoulder at potential replacements.
The two-time defending AFC Central champions have lost three in a row for the first time since '96, however, it's not just Brunell who's responsible for the Jags' hibernation. More importantly, it's not too late for this immensely talented team to right their ship in enough time to make the playoffs.
For starters, the Jaguars' 15 turnovers are second only to the Green Bay Packers -- a stat which guarantees failure in pro football. The Jags also sorely miss All-Pro tackle Leon Searcy. After rushing for over 2000 yards in '99, they're currently sporting the sixth worst rushing attack in the league. Fred Taylor is averaging a meager 2.9 yards-per-carry, while backup Stacey Mack has played more like Bernie Mac at 2.7 yards-per-carry.
As a result, defenses are focusing on the Jags' pair of prolific pass-catchers, Jimmy Smith and Keenan McCardell, thus forcing the usually accurate Brunell to repeatedly pass into double coverage. Brunell's league-leading eight interceptions in six games are one less than he had in all of '99. Yet the ninth-year passer is clearly the heart and soul of the Jags, and benching him at this point would be equivalent to conceding the 2000 season.
And once Jacksonville has turned the ball over, its defense that was much-heralded in the preseason has had a difficult time stopping anyone at all. Despite boasting supposed standouts Tony Brackens, Gary Walker, Hardy Nickerson, Kevin Hardy, Aaron Beasley, Fernando Bryant and Donovin Darius, the Jags are a lowly 22nd in the league in overall defense.
Granted, this unit has been on the field longer than it is used to in past years, yet they have failed to rush the passer as effectively as they have in the past. In fact, the Jags' leading sacker is Beasley, a corner, with four, which is generally not the sign of a legitimate Super Bowl contending team. This is a defense stacked with big-play guys -- expect them to start performing like it as the franchise approaches panic mode.
One bright note for the Jags: Kicker Mike Hollis, the all-time field goal percentage leader in NFL history, might make his return on Monday after missing the last four games after back surgery. Steve Lindsey filled in admirably for Hollis, hitting 5-of-7.
While the Titans proved to be the only thorn in the Jaguars' side in '99 by defeating them three times, a Jacksonville win over the defending AFC champs in front of a national television audience on Monday night is exactly what the franchise needs after a disastrous start. If Brunell and the boys lose and sink to 2-5, Floridians might as well start tuning into Grant Hill and the Orlando Magic's exhibition games.
But in the long term, with Coughlin's refusal to commit to Brunell immediately after last week's fiasco, one must wonder how these two will be able to peacefully co-exist together as the season progresses (or regresses). With Brunell's contract up for restructuring after the season, the guess here is that if the Jags don't reach the postseason come December, one of these two will be running the show elsewhere in 2001.
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