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How much better can quarterback Blaine Gabbert be for the Jacksonville Jaguars?

The prevailing national opinion is that, because of how bad Gabbert looked for most of his rookie season, he can’t be a capable NFL quarterback.

But a slew of quality NFL signal-callers played poorly in their first seasons. Gabbert has all sort of new resources, starting with a new coaching staff hired largely because of experience developing young quarterbacks. He got one receiver, Laurent Robinson, in free agency and another, Justin Blackmon, with the fifth pick in the draft. The defense will be healthy, and second-round draft pick Andre Branch, an end from Clemson, could prove to be the final piece of a great group. A great defense is a good friend for a developing quarterback.

Gabbert was skittish at times for sure. But the jump to saying he played scared is too big for me. He’s got a great arm and can fire the ball to spots when he’s given time, and when his targets are in the right spots. He certainly can develop a better pocket presence. Will he?

General manager Gene Smith and many in the Jaguars organization have staked their reputations on Gabbert. The franchise traded up to the 10th spot in last year’s draft to select him out of Missouri. How much he can improve is likely to tell the Jaguars’ story in 2012.

The Jacksonville Jaguars have been accused (occasionally by me) of not doing well enough in assessing how the rest of the league's teams value some players the Jags draft.

Some personnel people around the league say the Jaguars simply don’t care about that. In a way, I admire them for it. Don’t be overly concerned and influenced by the forces around you, by the competition. Do your own thing. Bank on your convictions.

But when it comes to taking Cal punter Bryan Anger in the third round, the Jaguars absolutely should care about league context.

I know at least one other team had him rated as a fifth-rounder.

Anger is the first punter to go in the top 100 picks since 1995, when Todd Sauerbrun went in the second round to Chicago, 56th overall.

There is a reason for that.

It’s important that you don’t punt terribly. But it’s not so important that you punt fantastically, certainly not important enough that you sacrifice the chance to improve at a position that could be on the field for three downs a game.

“I think it will be evident when you get a chance to see him punt: He’s got a strong history which I feel will transfer to this level in helping us defensively with the yardage we can gain in field position,” general manager Gene Smith said.

“… He’s the player in that round at your pick that you feel can upgrade your football team. I think that’s an easy decision for me, to get a starter in the third round.”

Calling a punter a starter is beyond a stretch.

The Jaguars' defense played 970 plays in 2011. The Jaguars' offense played 958 plays. The Jaguars punted 99 times.

“I think it’s first downs that you gain,” Smith said in a further defense of the pick. “And I feel like in the third round it’s not a round that you always get proven starters.”

Really?

In Smith’s three previous drafts, he picked four times in the third round. Guard Will Rackley, defensive tackle Terrance Knighton and cornerback Derek Cox are starters. The only nonstarter, defensive tackle D’Anthony Smith, has missed his first two seasons with injuries.

The Jaguars averaged 41.9 yards per punt last season, 31st in the NFL. They averaged 36.5 net yards per punt, 28th in the NFL. Those numbers were, in part, a testament to the team’s foolish conclusion that greybeard Matt Turk was the man to replace Adam Podlesh, who left for Chicago as a free agent.

The Jaguars cut Turk after five games, going with Nick Harris the rest of the way. Harris was 3 yards (and 5.1 net yards) better per punt than Turk had been.

A longer punt is easier to cover, so this is too simple.

Nevertheless, here is my counterproposal to drafting Anger 70th:

Jacksonville uses an average punter and boosts its net average to what was the midpoint for 2011. By my calculations, that would give the Jaguars an extra 15.5 net yards a game. Then use the 70th pick on an offensive lineman who, as part of a better scheme, could help cut the Jaguars’ sack yardage in half. That would give the team an extra 10.3 yards a game, and also help young quarterback Blaine Gabbert not worry so much about getting crunched.

The overall gain from my plan -- not just estimating the average that will come with a big leg, but actually factoring in context -- would be better.

The goal is not to punt, and you drafted a punter. That was the first thing a reporter in Jacksonville said to coach Mike Mularkey after the pick.

“And hold, hold for extra points,” Mularkey said. “If you want to write about him, he’s a really good holder for extra points and field goals, and he just so happens to be a difference-maker when it comes to punting.”

Oh, he holds, too? Well, that changes everything.

No, actually, any guy on offense with good hands, starting with your backup quarterback, should be able to function as a holder.

Maybe Anger is the league’s best punter and holder for 15 years.

Even if he is, it says here there will be at least three dozen players among the picks after Anger who have more impactful careers than he will. And that’s a modest 20 percent of the 183 guys we’re talking about. If the Jaguars missed on him by two rounds, maybe it’s 64 players. It could be more.

Are the Jaguars, coming off a 5-11 season, good enough that they can pass on such potential people? They are not. Perhaps they are expecting Gabbert to be terrible again, knowing they’ll be punting a ton and being proactive?

They need more guys who can score touchdowns or stop touchdowns. Get more guys who can get you first downs and you’ll punt less, kicking more field goals and scoring more touchdowns. Get more guys who can stop a third-down run or break up a third-down pass and you’ll be fielding punts, not covering them.

Do those things, and getting a few additional yards when you have to kick the ball away doesn’t mean so much.

Know where you have a chance to add guys who fit that bill?

With the third-round pick you just used on a punter.

Too often the Jaguars are a punching bag or a punch line.

This time, they deserve it.

Justin Blackmon will create his own identity.

But personnel jobs in all sports require a degree of comparison. Jacksonville Jaguars GM Gene Smith looks at Blackmon and sees a receiver who falls between Anquan Boldin of the Ravens and Hakeem Nicks of the Giants.

He’s a player who, along with free agent addition Laurent Robinson, can change the team’s offense and the way teams have to defend it, Smith told Jacksonville reporters.

“I think when you get a chance to win on the outside when you’re getting some single matchups because they stack the box in the inside, and even for your tight end when you can draw a safety away from the tight end it creates opportunities inside for you,” Smith said. “Not just in the running game but the inside passing game.

“So I think now we get an opportunity not only to win inside but outside and that’s when you become very difficult to defend; when you have a balanced offense with the ability to win inside and outside. I think that’s where we’re at and I know our offensive staff, with some of the receivers and (receivers coach) Jerry (Sullivan) here, we clearly feel we’ll take a large step towards a lot more play making in our offense.”

Beyond skills, Blackmon will bring attitude to the Jaguars.

“I like the way he lines up and says the guy across from me can’t cover me,” coach Mike Mularkey said. “He just has an edge to him. He has a confidence and air about him that you like receivers to have. I’ve been around receivers like that who have that and that right there gives you a chance to be able to make plays every time you line up and call his number.”

Blaine Gabbert finished last year throwing to Mike Thomas, Jarett Dillard, Chastin West and Cecil Shorts.

General manager Gene Smith was charged with giving a quarterback he traded up for last season better people to aim for.

And Smith has come through, trading up from seventh to fifth and nabbing Oklahoma State receiver Justin Blackmon. He’ll join free agent additions Laurent Robinson and Lee Evans, a reclamation project, in trying to transform the Jacksonville passing offense.

Blackmon stands to be the team’s best receiving option since Jimmy Smith and Keenan McCardell.

The Jags gave up No. 7 and No. 101 in the fourth round to Tampa Bay for No. 5 and the right to add Blackmon.

Hard to find any issue at all with that.

If they find a pass-rusher next, this will be a rousing success.

Thoughts on the Jaguars draft from two people involved in evaluating personnel for NFL teams:

Guy No. 1

“They are a wild card. A hard team to predict, and No. 7 isn’t a great spot.”

“Not Quinton Coples.”

“I don’t know if Melvin Ingram really is a fit. Gene Smith wants a defined position. Maybe they can find a defined position for Ingram. But part of the appeal is the versatility, you can move him around to different spots.”

“Justin Blackmon if he fell, without a doubt, they’d take him in a second. Otherwise I’d say Stephon Gilmore of Fletcher Cox.”

Guy No. 2

“They have a strange profile. They don’t see the board and value the way others do. They always try to trade out. They don’t care if they are regarded as taking a guy too high. They’d rather you think it’s too high than miss him and be kicking themselves.”

“If Blackmon falls to them, he helps the quarterback. He’s pretty damn good. If he’s not there, they can find a receiver later. There are a bunch of guys that can help them. The way to help Blaine Gabbert the most isn’t necessarily with weapons. It’s with the run game and a good defense that turns him into a game manager, maybe like Mark Sanchez.”

“Ingram is pretty good, but it depends on how you use him. He’s less than 6-2. He’s not a fit for everybody. He’s a little better for a 3-4 than a 4-3.”

“Don’t be surprised if it’s Stephon Gilmore. He is squeaky clean. Kirkpatrick is more flamboyant, with more swagger. Gilmore’s a lot like Rashean Mathis, he’s the same size, he moves the same way. He’s fast, he’s productive, he tackles, he intercepts. What don’t you like about him?"

Reading the coverage ...

Houston Texans

General manager Rick Smith’s expecting a top pick who impacts the team, says Dale Robertson of the Houston Chronicle. Robertson interpreted Smith’s comments as suggesting offensive line or linebacker as the most likely first-round leanings.

Houston perspective on Andrew Luck, whose dad, Oliver Luck, was an Oilers quarterback, from John McClain of the Chronicle.

Kicker Neil Rackers left the Texans for Washington, says Mark Berman of Fox 26. Rackers said the Texans didn’t make a big push for him.

Indianapolis Colts

GM Ryan Grigson finally said publicly that Luck is the Colts’ man. Now can the quarterback pry No. 12 from Quan Cosby? Mike Chappell’s story from the Indianapolis Star.

Luck is ready for the NFL and the Colts, says Bob Kravitz of the Star in this video.

Indianapolis needs play-making linebackers and Chappell previews the position in this draft.

Chuck Pagano loves the enthusiasm at minicamp, says Chappell.

Jacksonville Jaguars

General manager Gene Smith has built a reputation as one of the staunchest NFL decision-makers with regard to character issues, says Gene Frenette.

Former Jaguars receivers coach Ted Monken went on to become offensive coordinator at Oklahoma State and tells Frenette why Justin Blackmon would be a great fit for the Jaguars. Odds seem slim that the receiver is still available at No. 7.

The Jaguars' draft strategy needs to change and produce some skill-position players who can help score points, says Nate Dunlevy of Bleacher Report.

Tennessee Titans

Every time the Titans pick, general manager Ruston Webster will be looking at a group of six players from the Titans' board, says Jim Wyatt of The Tennessean.

Whatever cornerback the Titans add in whatever round, he’ll need to be a versatile player, says John Glennon of The Tennessean.

Once again, Matt Hasselbeck is ready to defend his job, says David Climer of The Tennessean.

Reading the coverage…

Houston Texans

Linebacker Bradie James feels like the Texans give him the best chance to go out with a bang, says John McClain of the Houston Chronicle. James looks like a smart veteran addition to me.

Nick Scurfield of the team’s website ties into the National Football Posts positional draft analysis. This time it’s at nose tackle.

This draft will be an interesting philosophical test for the Texans, says Nate Dunlevy of Blaecher Report.

Indianapolis Colts

The Colts will likely use the draft to add a big run stuffer to the middle of their defensive line, says Mike Chappell of the Indianapolis Star.

Advice for Andrew Luck from other quarterbacks who followed legends, from Daniel Brown of the San Jose Mercury News. Hat tip to Mark Alesia.

NFL analysts are concerned about the supporting cast Luck will take the field with, says Chappell.

Jacksonville Jaguars

Gene Smith remains steadfast about drafting a player and not worrying about where he went to school, says Tania Ganguli of the Florida Times-Union.

Ganguli chronicles the ends to which scouts will go to see a player.

The league is looking to add more drama to draft pick announcements, says Vito Stellino of the T-U.

The Jaguars are likely engaged in smoke screening, says Adam Stites of Big Cat Country.

Tennessee Titans

A year after the lockout prevented offseason work with a new staff, the Titans commence their offseason program today, says Jim Wyatt of The Tennessean.

Ruston Webster’s stress relief as he heads into his first draft as GM comes from knowing he’s done his homework, and he has quality scouts around him, says Wyatt.

A slideshow of the Titans' best and worst all-time draft picks, with analysis by Wyatt.

Drafting 12 spots later than last year, it’s much harder for the Titans to foresee what will unfold ahead of them, says David Boclair of the Nashville City Paper.

Terrance Knighton’s eye injury, suffered in a recently nightclub injury, will sideline him until training camp, coach Mike Mularkey said Monday.

“Terrance, due to the injury and the surgery, is going to miss the majority of this offseason for the next three months,” Mularkey said. “With the injury, his inability to lift, run, or do anything physical, he will not be involved in the offseason for at least the next three months. He is at home trying to heal. The healing process is going to take a while and it’s really not an issue we’d like to talk about because he’s not going to be around here due to the injury. The best place for him is at home right now. …”

“There’s a big concern for his health from this team and his family. The healing process has to answer all of those questions. It’s too early right now to give you an answer.”

But general manager Gene Smith indicated at the same team luncheon that going into the draft the team remains optimistic about Knighton’s recovery, but said nothing is definite and the team doesn’t know where Knighton will be in three months.

Knighton had seemingly done good work since the end of the season to keep his weight in check. But now unable to do physical activity for at least the early stages of his recovery, there is an obvious concern about staying at a good number.

“I know that Josh Hingst, who is responsible for helping the nutrition of the food and diets of the players, is going to make a visit to Terrance in person and go through the diet and hopefully help control those things,” Mularkey said. “I’m sure Terrance is aware of the situation. He’s been aware of it the whole offseason.

“He came in here about a week ago when our phase one kicked off and he was in good shape for this time of the year. So I think it’s been something that he’s addressed already early on in this offseason and I think he knows what he has to do. We’re going to try to help him along in that process with a hands-on approach.”

If Knighton can be at the right weight when he returns, it will be a huge boon. He’ll have the resources to help him. He needs to use them. A difficult thing will now be more difficult. But he’s a pro a year away from a new contract and he needs to maximize his chances to play the way he’s capable of playing and to turn it into a financial payoff.

Smith and his top personnel man, Terry McDonough, both said defensive tackle is the deepest spot in the draft. The team also gets back 2009 second-rounder D’Anthony Smith after two seasons lost to injury.

Darrick Seymore from Jacksonville, Fla., writes: The way our new owner, Mr. Khan, rolled into Jacksonville, I was expecting some really flashing things to be happening by now. Not sure if this is the quiet before the storm or something else. What's your take in the apparent lack of activity here in J-Ville?

Paul Kuharsky: Shad Khan is not about flashing things, so far, and that’s fine. Certainly he’s got a general manager and a coach who are not flashy.

Teams who are about flashing, or flashy things, generally don’t fare well. Who’s the last team that won the offseason and the Super Bowl? (That said, Khan could have tempered the big talk about being "all in." It made agents expect that GM Gene Smith was going to be out there with rolls of money, shopping.)

The Jaguars could have done better in free agency, but they retained their key people, added a receiver they like in Laurent Robinson, got a backup/alternative quarterback in Chad Henne and hope for a big draft.

I don’t know what storm you can still anticipate this long after the top free agents are gone.

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Graham from Montreal writes: With Koppen re-signing with the Patriots, what's the Titans' potential opportunities to improve at center in free agency? Is it more likely that we'll see a middle-round pick being used to try to develop a center and maybe also to be used as a long-snapper?

Paul Kuharsky: There was never any evidence the Titans had any interest in Dan Koppen after they lost out on Chris Myers, Scott Wells and even Jeff Saturday.

I think your scenario is the likely one now. It’s quite possible the Titans will go forward with Eugene Amano still in place, or with a rookie or Fernando Velasco; Kevin Matthews could even fight his way into the lineup.

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Jonathan from Fort Wayne, Ind., writes: Find it interesting you question why Irsay would want to be coy with the Luck pick. While I agree it's obvious based on what I've read/heard that the Colts will select Luck, Irsay not sharing has incentive - it keeps the Colts in the spotlight for a little bit longer. After the draft, the Colts will quickly fall from a team that garnered a ton of press the past few years to another struggling team with a promising future. For the first game or two the Colts will once again be thrust in the spotlight as people judge Luck. So, the team needs as much press as possible right now. I think it is mostly a PR move to keep analysts (even if they are 99.99% sure) to at least discuss the decision and the team. Even more so now with the CBA because the team won't need extra time to negotiate the contract. After this draft the Colts won't be talked about very much for awhile based on a roster that should struggle, even with a possible once-in-a-generation quarterback.

Paul Kuharsky: As I’ve written, the team isn’t obligated to reveal anything and can milk it if it likes.

The Colts aren't getting any huge public-relations advantage leading up to the draft that they wouldn’t be getting if the verdict was made public early that they are taking Andrew Luck. When Bill Polian is out there saying it's who team owner Jim Irsay wants, Irsay being coy doesn't really work.

Either way, I would have written this piece that was published Friday, for example. They didn't gain anything from mystery there. And there really is no mystery.

April 26 -- the first day of the NFL draft -- is going to wind up being more about who goes third and what happens with Ryan Tannehill than it will be about Luck or Robert Griffin III, because there is no mystery about them.

Interest in Luck will last all season, no matter how bad the Colts are.

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Matt from Berkeley, Calif., writes: What do you think of Jags fullback Greg Jones? He's been a low-profile player at a low-profile position, but I've only ever read positive things about him - especially from opposing defensive coordinators. Today, I realized he'll be remembered (if people really remember fullbacks) for blocking for both Fred Taylor and MJD. Taylor arguably had a HoF career - at least by the numbers, and MJD is on pace to make an argument as well. What other positions in football have silent contributors stalwartly working to help their team week after week? We as fans often miss such players between the highlights.

Paul Kuharsky: He’s a good player, but Jack Del Rio’s love of him was overboard and he’s been dinged a lot in his career.

The difference between an average fullback and a really good fullback – which Jones is usually rated as being – is not that extreme or significant to me or to most. While the AFC South is now a division with four fullback teams, I prefer teams that have more versatile tight ends serve as the extra blockers.

I wouldn’t exactly call fullback an under-recognized spot, either. When a back has a big season like Maurice Jones-Drew did, the fullback typically gets his accolades. Vonta Leach certainly reaped huge benefits (in a big free-agent contract from Baltimore) after Arian Foster broke through in Houston.

There are a ton of offensive linemen and interior defensive lineman who do dirty work on all or most of the snaps – as compared to the typical third of the snaps of a fullback – with even less notoriety.

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Bobby from Buffalo, N.Y., writes: Just a general NFL question here. If a team with no first-round picks signs a player with a first-round tender such as Mike Wallace, what do they give up or is it even allowed?

Paul Kuharsky: You have to have your original first-round pick to give up. You can’t sign a guy with a first-round tender to an offer sheet unless you have it or make a deal to get it back.

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Todd McShay's got a new scenario-based mock draft out.

I think he's mostly on target for two AFC South teams. I think he's a bit off target on a third, and misses the mark by a great degree on the fourth.

1) Indianapolis Colts

Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford

Scenario 1: (Andrew) Luck is a once-in-a-generation prospect, and adding him is the best option for a team that is starting over in the post-Peyton Manning era.

Scenario 2: The Colts could pull one of the all-time draft surprises and take Baylor QB Robert Griffin III instead, but that doesn't seem likely after Griffin declined to work out for the team.

Kuharsky’s thoughts: Don’t understand why Jim Irsay is being coy? Why not? What’s to be gained by saying it’s Luck? The contract part is simple with the new CBA.

7) Jacksonville Jaguars

Melvin Ingram, DE/OLB, South Carolina

Scenario 1: If (Justin) Blackmon should fall this far the Jaguars have to pull the trigger. They've gone far too long without a true No. 1 target in the passing game, and it's hard to fully evaluate second-year QB Blaine Gabbert without proper weapons around him.

Scenario 2: Jacksonville would certainly like to take advantage of a team looking to get ahead of the Miami Dolphins to draft (Ryan) Tannehill. Moving back and adding picks would help a team that has plenty of needs.

Scenario 3: If stuck here, the Jags go with the best available defensive end. General manager Gene Smith likes safer, more proven prospects, so Ingram fits better than North Carolina's Quinton Coples. Ingram is versatile, explosive and shows a knack for making big plays, while Coples has impressive tools but faces questions about his motor and work ethic.

Scenario 4: If he falls in ahead of Ingram on their board, the Jaguars could take (Riley) Reiff and shore up their offensive line.

Kuharsky’s thoughts: I am in line with scenarios one, two and three and if I am a Jaguars backer I’d be happy with any of the three. Shoring up the offensive line? I don’t love the depth, but if Eben Britton is healthy, they should have enough.

20) Tennessee Titans

Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama

Scenario 1: Cornerback is the team's top need and the Titans would take (Stephen) Gilmore if he were available.

Scenario 2: Kirkpatrick is a good fit in Tennessee's zone-heavy scheme with his size, toughness and instincts.

Scenario 3: Alabama ILB Dont'a Hightower is a possibility. The Titans have a need at the position, and while they like 2011 draft pick Colin McCarthy there is no other inside linebacker worth taking here.

Scenario 4: Take the highest-rated available tackle offensive tackle on their board, whether that's (Jonathan) Martin or (Mike) Adams.

Kuharsky’s thoughts: I completely disagree that corner is the team’s top need. Losing Cortland Finnegan doesn’t automatically create a need as they have people to step up. They’d take one if they think he’s the best player because other areas have dried up. They Titans don’t like Colin McCarthy, they love him, just like they love their tackles, Michael Roos and David Stewart. I see a defensive lineman or maybe a value if Mark Barron or David DeCastro somehow lasts.

26) Houston Texans

Stephen Hill, WR, Georgia Tech

Scenario 1: The Texans would like nothing more than to see (Kendall) Wright fall to them and add a dynamic playmaker opposite Andre Johnson.

Scenario 2: Hightower would also be an attractive option if he were available as a replacement for the departed DeMeco Ryans.

Scenario 3: Hill offers a big, fast option who is raw but could form a dangerous tandem with Johnson.

Scenario 4: Take the best available offensive tackle, in this case Adams, to fill the void left by the release of Eric Winston.

Kuharsky’s thoughts: I don’t know how they stack Wright, Hill and Reuben Randle but another weapon is certainly a need. The inside spot vacated by Ryans is a part time spot that doesn’t require a first-round pick. I’d take a receiver first, but if there is a run, tight end Coby Fleener would be attractive. Offensive tackle wouldn’t be objectionable.

As Adam Schein indicated on the bottom of this piece, the Jaguars have told the people who will choose a team for "Hard Knocks" that they are interested in hosting HBO this summer.

It would be a smart move for the Jaguars but I’d guess HBO feels it can do “better.”

The team can use all the exposure it can get. But it’s hardly filled with the type of personalities that carried the last edition of the show, when the Jets were the subject in 2010. (There was no show in 2011 thanks to the lockout.)

Schein reports the cable network wants the Jets again, but that coach Rex Ryan actually wants to scale back the team’s visibility.

Coach Mike Mularkey and general manager Gene Smith, respectively, are not going to match the personalities of Ryan and Mike Tannenbaum.

But the show doesn’t need big personalities to be a hit.

A look behind the scenes at any NFL team in training camp is fascinating, and no one finds and explores the story lines of a football summer better than HBO.

We’d see how a new staff coaches Blaine Gabbert, how Maurice Jones-Drew operates as the one player on the team with a national profile and how a defense that probably doesn’t have the respect it deserves may well be poised to be one of the league’s best if it can find more of a pass rush.

Every season there are stories, and at least one roster underdog, that find a following that extends well beyond the show.

That’s just the sort of boost the Jags should jump on whenever they get a chance.

There is buzz. There are small nuggets.

But as we try to predict what the teams of the AFC South will do in the NFL draft at the end of the month, let’s remember this: There are a lot of people with minimal or no track records involved in the process, and those people as much as anyone have the ability to keep their scouts quiet.

The Texans are the same as they’ve been.

The Jaguars aren’t vastly different, though new owner Shad Khan could be of some influence in the overall thinking.

The Titans have a new general manager. While Ruston Webster was very influential in last year’s great haul as Mike Reinfeldt’s right-hand man, this is the first draft where he’s running the show and making the final call.

The Colts have a new general manager, and Ryan Grigson is younger and less experienced than Webster, and we have very little actual idea of how exactly he will run a draft room and ultimately make decisions.

I don't think either guy is going to spend a lot of time serving up information, or misinformation, as they complete preparations. So the search for real signals can be even more difficult.

We know Houston GM Rick Smith likes to take tight ends. We know Jacksonville GM Gene Smith likes to mine small schools.

What we don’t know about Webster and Grigson limits our ability to make educated guesses about what they will do. But it sure adds intrigue to what will unfold.

Reading the coverage…

Houston Texans

Jerome Solomon of the Houston Chronicle doesn’t like the trade of DeMeco Ryans.

The right moves don’t always make a team better right away, says Nate Dunlevy of Bleacher Report.

Indianapolis Colts

A survey of executives reveals a large preference for Andrew Luck over Robert Griffin III, citing Luck as a safer pick. Jason Cole of Yahoo asked the question.

Jacksonville Jaguars

Gene Smith says the Tim Tebow debate helped owner, GM and coach build their relationships, says Tania Ganguli of the Florida Times-Union. Shad Khan said it’s a healthy organization. Will such bonding help Blaine Gabbert and the team’s receivers play better? Will such health equate to wins?

The Jaguars are still in touch with receiver Lee Evans, who remains a possibility, says Ganguli.

Tennessee Titans

Kenny Britt’s knee is healing well, he tells Jim Wyatt of The Tennessean. The Titans are encouraged, but no one knows when he will be ready to return and when he will be all the way back.

Reading the coverage ...

Houston Texans

Rashad Butler and Antoine Caldwell are getting starting offensive line jobs by default, but both intend to justify the team’s faith that they can step up, writes Dale Robertson of the Houston Chronicle.

Considering Pythagorean wins and the Texans, with Nate Dunlevy of Bleacher report.

Indianapolis Colts

General manager Ryan Grigson said in the firmest terms possible that defensive end Dwight Freeney isn’t going to be traded or released despite his big cap number, says Phil Richards of the Indianapolis Star.

Jacksonville Jaguars

The Jaguars are 20-28 since Gene Smith became general manager, but Gene Frenette of the Florida Times-Union gives Smith through 2013 to see if he’s got this team on the right course.

It’s not fair to expect Laurent Robinson to be Jimmy Smith, says John Oehser of the Jaguars' website.

Tennessee Titans

A rundown of the Titans' draft picks after they didn’t get any compensatory draft selections, from Jim Wyatt of The Tennessean.

When Tim Tebow said he was not in position to choose between the Jets and Jaguars when Denver was trading him, it sure seemed like he wasn’t being entirely truthful.

John Elway contradicted him and I concluded that Tebow was being literal and that behind the scenes he was talking to agent Jimmy Sexton who was talking to Elway and the Broncos. Players often fail to realize the degree to which their agent is serving as a power broking middle man and speaking on their behalf, and it was a complicated situation for Tebow. Peter King of SI.com reported that Tebow absolutely had a say in where he landed.

The Jaguars could have upped their offer and landed him, but owner Shah Khan didn’t see why to do it when Tebow didn’t want to join them.

Khan talked with Tania Ganguli of the Florida Times-Union.

"That would have been the worst thing for Jacksonville and the worst thing for him. He didn’t want to come, obviously. … Any one of the 53 players we have, have to be committed to Jacksonville, making us be the best team we are. The question was: Did he want to come? And if the decision had been taken out [of his hands] and we got him, that would not be good for him, or for us."

Khan told Ganguli he got a full explanation from Gene Smith about why the Broncos didn’t draft Tebow, and then asked his GM to prepare to make an offer. The owner was in touch with Denver from the moment the Broncos got Peyton Manning, and he said his legal team actually found and investigated the contract language that impacted finances of the deal and prompted some teams to drop off.

As I wrote when Tebow landed with the Jets, he did the Jaguars a favor, as they can now say he didn’t want to come home to Jacksonville.

"It’s well-thought, it’s logical, we’ve offered more money and we have a higher draft pick," Khan said. "It’s up to the player. It’s not up to me. We’ve done everything.

"In a way, this turned out great. If he doesn’t want to come, here we would have blown through a draft pick, blown through money, because cash and salary cap, you’ve blown through all that and we have a player who doesn’t want to be there. From their viewpoint that is a far, far better alternative."

The Jags have done everything. Tebow didn't want them.

Both are true. Both fit neatly in them explaining why he's elsewhere as they move on without him.