AFC South: Rob Meier
Jags part ways with Holt, Thomas, Meier
“After completing our postseason roster evaluation, we’ve made the decision in the best interest of the organization to release three veteran players with tremendous playing history in the league,” GM Gene Smith said in the team’s news release. “All three players have played ten or more years in the NFL and have made a positive impact on the Jaguars organization. These decisions certainly weren’t easy ones, as Torry, Tra and Rob have over 350 starts between them and they still have the ability to contribute for other teams in the league.”
The fact is, they all amounted to insurance and the Jaguars letting them go says they have confidence in the youngsters in the receiving corps and at offensive and defensive tackle.
The Jaguars are going to continue to get younger, and have graduated past the point where Smith and the Jags felt these veterans who’d have minor roles were needed for leadership or tone setting.
Posted by ESPN.com's Paul Kuharsky
The Jaguars cuts, just announced by the team:
Tight end Richard Angulo
Safety Marlon McCree
Running back Alvin Pearman
Offensive lineman Tony Pashos
Linebacker Tim Shaw
Running back Chauncey Washington
Punter Steve Weatherford
Defensive back Brian Williams
Linebacker Thomas Williams
Long snapper Joe Zelenka
Wide receiver Tiquan Underwood
Quarterback Todd Boeckman
Fullback Brock Bolen
Safety Michael Desormeaux
Cornerback Pete Ittersagen
Defensive end Jeremy Navarre
Center Cecil Newton
Wide receiver Todd Peterson
Guard Cameron Stephenson
Running back Josh Vaughan
Linebacker Johnny Williams
The team also placed defensive tackle Rob Meier (shoulder) on injured reserve.
Fans in Jacksonville that don't buy a ticket to the Jaguars' game against Tampa Bay Saturday night won't have a chance to see it on TV until the NFL Network rebroadcasts the Tampa telecast at 7 a.m. Sunday morning.
Here are three issues I wonder about as Jacksonville heads into its second preseason game:
1. The quarterback: We've got David Garrard against Byron Leftwich here, but at this time two years ago they were teammates fighting for a job. Garrard won it, but the shock was that the Jaguars then released Leftwich, who collected a Super Bowl ring as Ben Roethlisberger's backup in Pittsburgh last year. It wouldn't be a good scenario for the Jags if Leftwich, battling to be the Buccaneers' starter, plays well and Garrard doesn't. It would be nice to be able to sense some chemistry between Garrard and a couple of his targets.
2. Pass protection and run blocking: The offensive line is supposed to be revitalized, but it didn't fare well in its first chance. The Dolphins put pressure on the quarterbacks and knocked down a couple passes while limiting the Jacksonville run game. Don't expect a heavy dose of Maurice Jones-Drew and Rashad Jennings is out. But Greg Jones and Chauncey Washington need to fare better, and it starts with their blocking.
3. Pass rush push: Tampa Bay's offensive line didn't fare very well against the Titans defensive line last week. Can the Jaguars' candidates for rotations spots in the defensive tackle mix -- Atiyyah Ellison, Terrance Knighton, Derek Landri -- make some noise and gain some footing that will earn them playing time with John Henderson, a certain starter, and Rob Meier, a certain member of the rotation?
Camp Confidential: Jaguars in search of identity
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| Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images | |
| The Jaguars know they want to give the ball to Maurice Jones-Drew and run the ball often. Beyond that, however, Jacksonville is still searching for an identity. |
Posted by ESPN.com's Paul Kuharsky
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- The Jacksonville Jaguars always intend to be physical.
Beyond that, coach Jack Del Rio isn't looking to shoehorn his team into a predetermined personality.
"What it was when we got here with Marcus Stroud and John Henderson was the Twin Towers," he said. "And that got talked up quite a bit, and now that's changing. Marcus is not here. That's kind of not been what we are. What we are gets described by other people. What I want us to be is a team that works at it, shows tremendous commitment, focus, unselfishness and then we see how people want to label it.
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"I'm not concerned with putting a label on it now and then living up to it."
Still, the Jaguars must answer the most basic NFL questions, the ones that provide the fallback plan when things are difficult: Who are we? And what do we do?
They will be a run-centered team, keyed around trying to build big drives with good line play from a group that's healthy and has reinforcements and looks to spring feature back Maurice Jones-Drew. They will be a linebacker-centered team, looking for three athletes to start showing up as big playmakers.
Beyond that, a 5-11 team from 2008 that has a new general manager in Gene Smith and 32 new players on the roster is still feeling things out, and could be for a while.
That search isn't necessarily a bad thing if it's ultimately fruitful.
"The team identity right now, I really can't answer that question," said Greg Jones, the fullback who's expected to get carries behind Jones-Drew. "I think if you ask me a month from now, a week into the season, I probably can. I think we are still trying to find ourselves, we are still trying to get this train going. We still are working towards it, working hard. We're rejuvenated, and excited about a fresh start. New logo, new uniforms, new GM -- we're just trying to have a fresh start and a great year."
Del Rio's positive disposition comes from the roster turnover. Gone are the team's primary character issues and high-paid players who didn't live up to their contracts. Smith's worked with his coach to retool with high-character guys who have good football smarts, who will buy in and fight through tough times.
In a division where the other three teams won at a .688 clip in 2007, the Jaguars aren't expecting Tennessee, Indianapolis or Houston to come back to them. Ultimately, they will have to track those teams down.
"This team has been flipped upside-down," defensive tackle Derek Landri said. "Everybody is searching themselves for who they are, who they want to be and what they want to accomplish in this league. As a whole, our identity is yet to be made, yet to be found.
"Which is, I think, a scary thing but in a good way. Because nobody really knows what we're capable of. I think we've got something special here that is up and coming, and for a lot of people that's bad news. It's good news for us."
Key questions
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| Steve Mitchell/US Presswire | |
| Can David Garrard prove this season he is the team's franchise quarterback? |
1. Is David Garrard the guy?
Two years into his tenure as the starter, the question is unresolved. In 2007, he was 9-3 as a starter with a 102.2 passer rating. Last year, behind a broken line and with shaky weapons, he was 5-11 with an 81.7 rating.
The Jaguars don't want him to try to carry the team, just to orchestrate things. He talks of getting the ball into his playmakers' hands. But at crucial moments, can he make the right decisions and throw the ball to the right spots?
If he can't, the franchise will be looking for a quarterback in 2010 and Tim Tebow's name will ring out in Jacksonville from just 115 miles away in Gainesville.
2. Where's the pass rush coming from?
The Jaguars traded up for Derrick Harvey at No. 8 in 2007 and drafted Quentin Groves in the second round. They are trying to spark Henderson back to form while sifting through the options for the rest of the defense tackles. Collectively, they must generate a consistent pass rush that alleviates pressure on the secondary and allows linebackers the team keeps praising to start making plays regularly.
Maybe there is a surprise contributor or two. Undrafted rookie Julius Williams out of UConn drew early raves.
3. How will J
ones-Drew do as the No. 1 guy?
In letting Fred Taylor go, Jacksonville was opening more possibilities for MJD. The Jaguars will work hard to get the most out of Jones-Drew, but they also must be conscious of monitoring his workload to maximize the chances of getting the same November and December production as they get in September and October.
That means Jones or rookie Rashard Jennings or another back must prove a viable second option who can take a share of the running back touches on a weekly basis.
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Market watch
The company line is that third-year free safety Reggie Nelson is entrenched as a starter and set to be a key cog in the defensive scheme. But there was a big drop from his first season to his second.
There is a growing buzz among some close to the team and scouts that Nelson isn't the player the team hoped he would be and could even slip out of the starting 11 if he underperforms once the season is under way. Gerald Alexander arrived recently in a trade from Detroit and could make a push for the job if Nelson doesn't recover and find better footing. Still, it's hard to imagine he doesn't get a third season to prove himself.
Newcomer to watch
The Jaguars gave the Patriots a 2010 second-rounder to take cornerback Derek Cox out of William & Mary in the third round. With no clear starter opposite Rashean Mathis on the outside in the secondary, Cox has an early opportunity to stake a claim.
He was carrying himself with confidence early in camp and already working to break a habit he brought from college: a tendency to refocus on the quarterback too soon, giving a receiver a chance to break away.
Observation deck
Kicker Josh Scobee was hitting the ball great in the first week of camp, a good sign for a team likely to win close when it wins. ... Of the three rookie receivers, seventh-rounder Tiquan Underwood has been the most impressive. Meanwhile, fifth-rounder Jarret Dillard has struggled with drops. ... Tackle Tony Pashos reacted just the way a team that drafted two tackles and brought in a free agent (Tra Thomas) would want him to. He lost weight, re-committed and looks quite good. ... Defensive tackle Rob Meier will give great effort, but the team realizes it overextended him last season and will limit him to 20-25 plays a game. ... Left guard Vince Manuwai didn't have a full load early in camp but will be ready to go in the opener. The loss of the line's best run-blocker to a torn ACL in last year's opener began the team's downfall. ... Justin Durant has moved to middle linebacker and it's time for him. Between him, and the outside backers, Clint Ingram and Daryl Smith, a defensive leader must emerge and set a tone. ... While they know they can shift him to safety if they need to, the Jaguars are working Brian Williams at cornerback and nickel and expecting him to be in one of those spots or provide depth there. ... Receiver Mike Walker worked in the weight room on his legs and is confident he can keep them healthy. Now the question is whether he gave up any of his shiftiness by bulking up below the waist. ... Marcedes Lewis is best on routes where he can track the ball the whole way instead of having to find it. If he can catch more consistently, he can do some things after the reception. And yards after the catch may be key for this team considering deep balls aren't Garrard's specialty.
A closer look at Jacksonville DT possibilities
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- The Jaguars think John Henderson can return to the form he showed in back in 2006. Whether he can or can't, defensive tackle may be the Jaguars biggest question mark.
I'm sure they hate when we harp on ancient history. But when the Jaguars had Henderson and Marcus Stroud side by side, teams knew they were in for a physical battle. The duo provided the identity not just of the defense, but of the team.
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| Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images | |
| The Jaguars are looking to tackle John Henderson to anchor the defensive line. |
Can they get it back?
If they do it'll be because Henderson rebounds and a collection of lesser known players combine to be productive around him. Last year Rob Meier was the second starter, but the team has since concluded less is more with him in terms of snaps.
I talked with defensive line coach Ted Monachino and asked him to share an assessment of the interior guys beyond Henderson:
Derek Landri: "His dominant traits are his effort and his quickness. When you tie those things together, he can change plays to help your defense win games. Some of the things that he needs to continue to work on and improve on are just lining up across from a guy and whopping him physically in the run game. But we did enough with Derek that he can still be an effective run player. I think his chances are excellent to be a big player in what we do."
Meier: "What we'd like to do with Rob is get him enough snaps so that he can be effective for every one of them. Rob has a tendency to go in there and spend himself in a hurry. If we try to get 50 snaps out of a guy who plays best when he only plays 30, then that's our fault. We don't ever have to worry about Rob not playing the best he can play when he puts his hand down. Does he have some liabilities? Sure he does. There are things he can get better at. He's similar to Derek. He's got a bigger body and a bigger frame than Derek does, but he's still more of an edgy, penetrating, disrupting defensive tackle. We think he's got plenty of gas left in the tank to contribute. I think the number is 25 to 30 plays."
Atiyyah Ellison: "He's got to be in the right system to perform well. Being in an attacking front that involves some movement and allows for some flexibility in his charges, I think, makes a difference with him. If he had to line up head up and two-gap somebody, which is what they were doing with him in San Francisco, he did a great job at giving great effort to do that, but I think he's more suited to do what we do here. He has been a very pleasant surprise. We didn't have low expectations, but for him to come in and put in the body of work he's put in, that's a very pleasant surprise. Very strong and explosive, a real thick body, but has some legitimate quickness and athletic ability as a pass rusher." [More on Ellison sometime soon.]
Terrance Knighton: "He's a young guy that needs to do some things physically to get himself into position where he can play as hard as he can for as long as possible. We need to get him into a manageable area when it comes to body weight. [He's listed at 325.] I'm talking about what is the best weight that he plays at? We've got to figure that out, we've got to figure out can he play a 60-snap game at the weight he's at? Right now we're seeing great things out of him as far as being able to physically whip blockers, his ability to get off and make some athletic plays in the run game and he's also got a little bit of sneaky pass rush ability."
Two others in the mix are Jonathan Lewis (a worker) and Montavious Stanley (who knows the scheme from a previous stint.)
Will any of those guys be Stroud in his prime? That would be a big surprise. Is there enough there to piece together effective play? The Jaguars sure believe so.
Said GM Gene Smith: "We may have some unknown guys or some unproven guys in that group, but there are some talented guys and it's a very competitive group right now. So, it's going to be interesting to see the cream rise to the top. There is still an evaluation period that needs to take place. We think we've got strength in numbers. We'd like for a couple guys to emerge, guys that take three and four hands to block."
Keeping track of the developments here may be as significant as any in camp.
OK, here's the promised super elite mailbag, where the best question on each team I got Friday got an automatic spot. It didn't work out as well as planned in some ways, so I cheated and went two questions per team figuring you could handle the extra reading. (Yes, I'll buy two people per team a Coke if they find me at camp.)
The jab at Jaguars fans produced a lot of questions about them, way to step up.
Sunday, look for a bonus mailbag with two broader, bonus questions because they were among the best my plea produced.
Onward...
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| Bill Baptist/Getty Images | |
| A healthy Chris Brown could be a big plus for Houston. |
Training camp site: Houston, Texas
Campfires: Weakside linebacker appears to be the biggest battle for a starting spot. Xavier Adibi has bulked up in an effort to become more rugged and withstand the 16-game pounding. Zach Diles appears to be an underdog here, as does veteran Cato June, who signed up after spending time in Indianapolis and Tampa Bay.
Finding a back to complement Steve Slaton is a big priority, but the Texans didn't spend much to increase their options. A healthy Chris Brown could do well in the role, but Houston is living on the edge if it's counting on 16 games from him. Undrafted rookies Jeremiah Johnson and Arian Foster are in the mix along with Ryan Moats and Clifton Dawson
The safety position remains an issue, with Nick Ferguson and Eugene Wilson in line to start now. But the team will allow for the possibility of Dominique Barber to nudge his way into the lineup.
Camp will be a downer if: Anything bad happens to Matt Schaub, Andre Johnson or Slaton. This is an offensive team keyed around that trio, and the loss of any of them for any extended time will be a huge setback.
Schaub's been labeled as injury prone, but it's really been more about being unlucky. It's not as if other quarterbacks would have played through some of the things he's faced. Still, Gary Kubiak's talked about how players can learn how to stay on the field, and he needs his signal-caller to do that.
Camp will be a success if: A defensive identity develops under new coordinator Frank Bush, who's pledged to be more aggressive.
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The Texans need some preseason success on both sides of the ball to carry into the regular season, because another shaky start will be cause for concern based on the team's history. If Houston is to plot a course to its first playoff berth, it needs to avoid a poor start.
Second time around: Slaton was a revelation as a rookie, and while there is uncertainty about who else will get carries, the line should be better. It's the second year for the group under Alex Gibbs running his scheme, which should mean better and more consistent play.
Additionally, not only does the unit have Gibbs and John Benton as coaching resources, but can look to assistant Bruce Matthews, the Hall of Famer who's now part of the staff.
Training camp site: Terre Haute, Ind.
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| Donald Miralle/Getty Images | |
| Peyton Manning's receiving corps will be without Marvin Harrison this year. |
icamp, with Hall not generating much buzz.
Returning defensive tackles Keyunta Dawson, Eric Foster, Raheem Brock (an end on early downs) and Antonio Johnson will be fighting for roles at a position that welcomed back Ed Johnson and has two young, thick additions from the draft in Fili Moala and Terrance Taylor. Getting bigger inside while maintaining athleticism was a priority for the Colts.
The plan at linebacker is for Clint Session to play on the weakside and Philip Wheeler to replace him on the strongside. But guys with starting experience like Freddy Keiaho and Tyjuan Hagler will be looking to take the team away from that blueprint.
Camp will be a downer if: Left guard Ryan Lilja, perhaps the team's best run blocker, can't make it back after the knee injury that cost him all of 2008. Trouble on the return path for cornerback Marlin Jackson (knee) would also be a bad thing.
With those injuries, the two surgeries on Manning's knee, a dinged Joseph Addai and a bunch of additional problems for the offensive line, the Colts got to show that they could survive. It's not anything they want to be in position to prove again.
Camp will be a success if: New head coach Jim Caldwell sets an early tone that gives the team no room for doubt about the transfer of power from his mentor, Tony Dungy. The players also must take to the thinking of new defensive coordinator Larry Coyer (a bit more aggressive) and new, fiery special teams coach Ray Rychleski.
It also would be great if Manning develops increased rapport with Anthony Gonzalez, who's graduated to No. 2 receiver with Marvin Harrison gone. Manning also needs to gain a real feel for the guy who wins the battle for No. 3 as well as the young tight ends, Jacob Tamme and Tom Santi.
Off the record: Even with a new coach and changes on his staff, it's unlikely there will be any different emphasis on preseason results. Indianapolis is 3-15 in the preseason over the last four years and 51-13 in the regular seasons that followed.
The Colts have a good feel for how to get ready and don't have to worry about building fan enthusiasm with preseason wins. Everyone knows to look at smaller things early in the game to gauge the team's readiness.
As Landri bulks up, Del Rio assesses DTs
At the end of a week with three OTA sessions Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio met with the local media. The Jaguars were kind enough to share a transcript, and defensive tackle Derek Landri was a big topic of conversation.
Landri was listed at 282 pounds last year and the team still has him at that number on its Web site's roster. But Del Rio said Landri has bulked up and put himself in position to contend for more time.
"You can't tell for sure in the trenches until you get the pads on, but Derek's done a real nice job of adding some weight, some good weight, and we're going to see how that translates into play," Del Rio said. "I think it'll give him an opportunity to be in the mix for more of an every-down role as opposed to kind of a specialist. I know that's what he really has in his heart; it's what he'd like to see. He's working at it. He's been a great kind of a change of pace guy for us and he's shown up big in some big games and he played well in the playoff game against Pittsburgh a couple years ago. So he's had some moments where he's really made an impact. I think in order to give himself a chance to be an every-down player, he needs to add a little bit of weight and he's working at that.
"I talked to him about (adding) five pounds a year if he could do that. Coaching Ray Lewis in Baltimore, when he came into the league he was 225 (pounds). He added five pounds a year and then all of a sudden you see the guy he is now; he's about 255 pounds. I think if you heap on too much weight all at once it's hard to move, but he's been able to add I think about 15 good solid pounds and we'll see how that translates into play when we get into pads and into camp. But he's the right kind of guy the way he approaches things; very determined, very passionate about football and I don't ever doubt that a guy that has that kind of determination will find a way. I think somehow he's going to find a way to play in this league and play for a long time."
Posted by ESPN.com's Matt Williamson
We examine each AFC South team's "weak spot" based on its 2008 performance. In this post, we explore the Jacksonville Jaguars' defensive tackle position.
Selecting Virginia offensive lineman Eugene Monroe, a potential franchise left tackle, in the first round of the 2009 draft was a smart move for the Jacksonville Jaguars.
But picking Boston College DT BJ Raji instead might have yielded a more immediate return on their investment. This became apparent after Arizona's Eben Britton also fell into Jacksonville's lap in the draft's second round, as there obviously were far fewer defensive tackles of top pedigree compared to offensive linemen. That is obviously an argument that is easy to make now and surely the Jaguars could not have predicted that Britton would have been available so late in the process. But in 2008 Jacksonville's defense was not as stout as it has been, especially after the Jags shipped Marcus Stroud to the Buffalo Bills.
As a result, their defensive tackle position appears to be a liability.
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One of the true calling cards of the successful Jaguars' teams in recent memory was their massive defensive tackle tandem in Stroud and John Henderson. They were two first- round selections with rare size, movement skills and sheer power. Every offense that faces the Jaguars had to specifically account for Jacksonville's monsters in the middle of the defense. Few teams in recent memory have had a pair as formidable.
A lot went wrong with the Jaguars last season and I will not contend that defensive tackle was a bigger weakness in 2008 than the decimated Jacksonville offensive line, but the loss of Stroud was certainly felt in a big way. No longer were offenses afraid to attack the middle of this defense. Passing lanes were easier to discover. Offensive linemen got to the Jaguars' linebackers with more ease. Getting off the field was more difficult for Jacksonville's defense. Opposing offenses didn't have to face as many third-and-long situations. Adding Raji next to Henderson, whose play fell off as he was the center of attention, surely would help alleviate those concerns.
Now the Jaguars are left with Henderson, 30, and Rob Meier, 31, as the likely other starter. Meier has never proven to be anything more than an average starter. He's more suited to be a rotational player at this stage of his career. Derek Landri is much younger and has an excellent motor, but is quite undersized for the position on a full time basis. This doesn't add up to a good situation, especially when/if injuries occur.
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Also, there has been some speculation that the Jaguars will employ more 3-4 looks this season. Presently, there isn't a suitable candidate to man the nose tackle spot unless third-round pick Terrance Knighton makes an immediate impact and shows the ability to occupy anchor against consistent double teams, which is asking a lot for a player as raw as Knighton. Raji would have been that nose tackle for their odd front.
It certainly isn't a knock on Monroe, who could become a great player. He's also surely will help an ailing offensive line along with being the cleaner prospect than Raji in terms of potential character concerns. But Raji would have filled the more immediate need and the Jaguars are quite weak at what was once a tremendous area of strength.
Scouts Inc. watches games, breaks down film and studies football from all angles for ESPN.com.
The Jaguars' starters you'd like replaced
I recently asked Jaguars faithful what starter they would most like to see replaced.
You spread it around, but right tackle Tony Pashos and defensive tackle Rob Meier probably got the most mention.
Thanks for all the feedback. Here's a sampling of what you had to say in comments and notes to the mailbag, with some commentary and reaction weaved in:
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Ty from parts unknown: Rasheen Mathis...or as i call him toast, that guy gets burned way too much to be considered a premier corner.
Paul Kuharsky: There is a long way between "not a premium corner" and replaced. Let's see him with a more consistent pass rush. I think right now he's a good corner and I think he can be very good.
David in Jacksonville: Jaguars to replace : Brian Williams at corner- he is a better safety than a corner. Any WR- Northcutt is a decent slot receiver but we need playmakers on the outside. Meir as a starter- the DT position needs help. Henderson has been in the league awhile and the Jags do not have any other quality tackles on the roster. Hayward- Let Harvey and Groves play the ends so they can develop. The Jags have a lot of holes to fill and need to have a productive draft.
J. from parts unknown: This hurts to say, but I would want to replace Marcedes Lewis. He frustrated me to no end last year with all the key drops he had in games. I realize that he is a good blocker, but he had butterfingers last year. And, even though this guy doesn't start, I never want to see CB William James on the football field again. Wow, bad.
PK: James was atrocious. He's an unrestricted free agent, and I can't imagine with last year's film he's going to find work.
pokerfitz: Marcedes Lewis, I mean seriously how many passes can one guy drop? He's the braylon Edwards of TE's...
PK: We wait and wait for Lewis to become a consistent weapon. He definitely needs to be more reliable to prompt coaches to give him a bigger role.
Terry in Ponte Vedra: Addressing your upgrade question - I would uprade if possible Pashos, B. Williams (at corner) and D. Northcutt.
What Jaguars starter would you like replaced?
It's been a while since I asked a question and sorted through your feedback, so here's a new round of that.
What Jacksonville Jaguars incumbent starter would you most like to see replaced?
This is a little tricky for the Jaguars: Four players who were starters on the season-ending depth chart are gone -- receiver Reggie Williams, left tackle Khalif Barnes, cornerback Drayton Florence and middle linebacker Mike Peterson (who regained his job because of an injury to Daryl Smith).
Let's steer clear of them. I want to know who's scheduled to start that you'd like to see upgraded. I suspect some of you will point to Rob Meier, probably better in a reduced role, or maybe right tackle Tony Pashos, who hardly got rave reviews from pro scouts last season.
It will be interesting to see what you have to say here in the comments or in my mailbag.
I will read all of it and revisit this soon.
Jags boost draft pick total by moving McDaniel
Jacksonville has a lot of holes, and not so many draft picks.
They boosted their total to seven on Thursday, trading defensive tackle Tony McDaniel to Miami for a seventh-round selection, according to ESPN.com senior writer John Clayton. It's unclear which of the Dolphins' three seventh-round picks the Jaguars are getting -- Miami has picks in the round from Cleveland and Carolina in addition to its own.
McDaniel played in 10 games, starting three for the Jaguars last season, which he finished on IR with a toe injury. He was part of a group the team hoped would effectively replace Marcus Stroud, who was traded to Buffalo. But production from the spot was not good, and John Henderson did not have a good year with Rob Meier, Derek Landri and McDaniel getting the bulk of the work.
The position ranks as one of the team's big draft needs.
The Jaguars are without their original seventh-round pick in the draft. The eighth pick of the seventh round belongs to Tampa Bay from a trade.
Jacksonville is projected by an expert in the compensatory draft pick award formula to get another seventh-round selection when compensatory picks are announced, likely next week.
A review of the Jaguars' picks before compensatory selections are awarded at the back end of the third through seventh rounds.
First round -- Eighth overall
Second round -- 39th
Third round -- 72nd overall
Also:
Seventh in the fourth round.
Eighth in the fifth round
Seventh in the sixth round.
Either the fifth, 23rd or 28th pick of the seventh round from Miami.
Does Jones' performance impact Titans' interest in Haynesworth?
I've gotten some well thought-out notes in the mailbag pertaining to Jason Jones and Albert Haynesworth, and I'll let one of the AFC South Blog's regular contributors represent the bunch.
Rob (Fort Myers): PK...did Titans fans just witness our worst nightmare? With Jason Jones and William Hayes playing so well yesterday, will the front office brass get the impression that they don't "need" Albert Haynesworth? Surely they can see the forest through the trees, and recognize that the Steelers O-Line is one of the worst in the league. Not that Jones and/or Hayes are bad players, but to think that the Titans will just move on from Big Al in the offseason without even giving thought of pairing Al and Jones on the D-Line...that would be foolish, right? Also, I know it's a foregone conclusion that Schwartz will likely get a head coaching job. I agree with you that McGinnis is the likely successor at Defensive Coordinator, but I worry more about Schwartz raiding the Titans defensive coaching staff such as Jim Washburn. What are your thoughts on Washburn being on the staff next season?
Paul Kuharsky: Let me take a roundabout route to answering the Haynesworth-Jones element of this by turning to a cautionary tale.
In a road playoff win that had a huge impact on their franchise, the Jacksonville Jaguars may have gotten a false sense of security last season.
The Wild Card round win in Pittsburgh helped coach Jack Del Rio and quarterback David Garrard get contract extensions. It also gave the team confidence, perhaps too much, that they could be OK on the interior defensive line without Marcus Stroud, who'd gone on injured-reserve Dec. 12.
In that win at Heinz Field, tackle Derek Landri had a sack, a fumble recovery and an interception and Rob Meier had a sack.
The team believed Stroud was never going to return to form after microfracture surgery on his right ankle in 2007, it saw production in a big situation from Meier and Landri and it dealt Stroud to Buffalo on March 1, 2008 for third- and fifth-round draft choices.
For the Bills, he's played in all 15 games, getting pretty good reviews while the Jaguars interior line has been far less intimidating and productive with Meier starting and Landri in the rotation.
So, we move to the Titans and Haynesworth.
Yes, Jones was excellent Sunday against Pittsburgh and the second-rounder is going to be a good player. But the Titans would be far better off looking to team him with Haynesworth, not asking him to replace the Pro Bowler.
The Titans want to keep Haynesworth. The thing that puts his return in doubt as he heads towards unrestricted free agency is money, not interest.
And the team understands that while they got a great defensive line performance in a huge game, part of it was thanks to a not-so-great offensive line and Ben Roethlisberger's determination to hold on to it so long so a play couple develop and his inability to keep hold of the ball when he got hit.
I don't think the show of defensive line depth Sunday diminishes Tennessee's determination to retain Haynesworth. I still think it will be difficult to re-sign him.
To your question about Schwartz: If he gets a head job, I believe there are three candidates to replace him as Titans defensive coordinator: McGinnis, Titans defensive backs coach Chuck Cecil and Gregg Williams, who's on his way out in Jacksonville.
I don't know who Schwartz might lure to join his staff, but I'd be quite surprised if Washburn left the Titans.
He's got a great deal of loyalty to Jeff Fisher, who gave him his big break in 1999. He's got a great deal of affection for the players he's working with. And I believe he and his wife love living in Middle Tennessee. I envision his as part of Fisher's staff for as long as he wants to be.
Harvey getting pressures, not sacks
On the Titans and Jaguars stat sheets, the column reads "QBP." For the Colts it's "PR." In Houston: "QB Press."
As with tackles, quarterback pressures are a subjective number that comes out of a specific team's standards as defensive coaches review film.
The AFC South is loaded with top flight pass-rushers: The top four vote-getters in the fan portion of Pro Bowl balloting for AFC defensive ends were from the division.
Scan this list of the top QB pass-rushers in the division and see if anyone jumps out at you:
AFC South QB pressures (with sacks)
Dwight Freeney, 25 (9.5)
Mario Williams, 24 (11)
Derrick Harvey, 24 (1.5)
Tony Brown, 21 (3.5)
Paul Spicer, 20 (3.5)
Albert Haynesworth, 19 (8.5)
Kyle Vanden Bosch, 18 (4.5)*
Reggie Hayward, 17 (1.5)
Rob Meier, 17 (2)
Jevon Kearse, 15 (2.5)
Robert Mathis 14, (11.5)
*Vanden Bosch missed the bulk of five games with a groin injury
Yes, Harvey, the Jaguars quiet rookie who isn't anywhere close to Freeney and Williams in sacks, is judged by his coaches to be in their ballpark with pressures.
Here's Jacksonville defensive coordinator Gregg Williams on how his team judges a pressure and on the progress of Harvey. These excerpts of Williams' recent chat with Jacksonville reporters come courtesy of the team's PR staff.
On what defines a quarterback pressure for him and why Derrick Harvey has so many despite few sacks: "A pressure for us is if you move the quarterback off the spot and be the cause for an incompletion. Does the quarterback get the opportunity to throw on rhythm or throw like there are no linemen on the field as in a seven-on-seven period? Obviously, when he's doing that you're not doing a very good job in your pass rush. What we're trying to do is move him off the spot, move in from the spot, and the pass has to be an incomplete pass. The hit, when we talk about a hit, is only when you're taking him to the ground. You have to take him to the ground."
On what he's seeing from Derrick Harvey, and can he be an impact player: "I would say this; we're always hoping for that to come about. The last two or three weeks we've seen some significant strides. From a technique standpoint and a feel and awareness standpoint; some of the best football players that I've been around have had the feel and instinct of how to play the game outside of coaching and outside of things that you bring up and talk to robots about. He's not robotic. He has a feel for the game, which is good. And the more you play and feel the suddenness and strength and power of an NFL lineman opposed to a college lineman; some things you can do at the level he just came from are just on sheer speed and strength where you win. It's more than that here. You're going to have to have a counter and set people up thinking like a chess match two, four or eight snaps down the road how you're working and impacting your matchup. I'm starting to see those things from him."
On if Harvey has enough moves: "You're starting to see those kinds of moves. When you study you're starting to see him come under and spin. One of the players I had, Sean Taylor, who was just a gifted athlete, had the ability to abort the design of the defense sometimes because he knew where the ball was going to go."
On what the growth period is for a defensive end: "Typically, each one is different. But if I'd have to group it around the one's I've been around that have been successful; they make the biggest impact in that second or third year. You brought up a name and another smile came to my face on Jevon Kearse, another Florida guy who I was a part of. Do you realize that he never put his hand down? He had never been a defensive lineman until we drafted him and put his hand down in mini-camps and started him out that way. It was truly a remarkable first year with a guy like that who had never done it at all. Really the only thing you saw him do that rookie year was line up and go and his athleticism; his speed like a DB or a wide receiver allowed him to make an immediate impact. Now, Derrick (Harvey) isn't that fast. He's not a 4.37 in the 40 at the combine like Jevon was when he came out."
Mailbag: More pleas to see Vince Young
Posted by ESPN.com's Paul Kuharsky
We've sorted through the mailbag and offer this entry in case you're poking around the Web on Thanksgiving morning.
I welcome questions, comments, suggestions, criticism and tasty desserts in the mailbag, which is like the sack Santa carries over his shoulder -- bottomless. I'm Titans-heavy because you're Titans-heavy.
Look for entries from Ford Field in a bit.
JB from TX writes: PK, missed the chat last week, assuming there's none this week on thanksgiving so... 1. You think there might be any thought while Harper is out of moving Griffin to corner and Fuller to safety, just to get the best 4 DBs on the field? I think Carr has done as well as he can but he's clearly not an every down DB, Vinnie plays a ton in the nickel anyway. Just a thought... 2. Read your entry on LenDale. I think w/the weather changing and CJ looking like he may have hit a rookie wall, they should reverse the structure. Keep in mind it was this time of year where LenDale really excelled last season.
Paul Kuharsky: It looks like Harper will be back. If he's out, I think they'll stick with Carr and I think they'd be best with Carr. Griffin doesn't play any corner anymore, and Fuller plays way more nickel than safety. So you'd be moving two guys out of position instead of just playing the backup.
They have some things to figure out in the run game right now. They seem to have lost their way a little, and now that it was a factor in a loss it all comes to the forefront.
Scott in Washington writes: Paul - I've been way too depressed to read about the Jags. That means I've basically missed all of your great blogging. Anyhow I feel like the loss last weekend confirmed that the Jags must focus on rebuilding. I'm going to work through your old postings but is there anything the Jags can/must do with what remains of the season to fix what ails them. Also I'm thankful that the economy is in the dumps because I feel like it would be tough for LA to find the means to buy the Jags. At least we should get a few more years.
Paul Kuharsky: I think they need to be sure they have a handle on everyone. That means being sure the young guys have been in every situation so the team knows what specifically to work on with them in the offseason. Get Derrick Harvey and Quentin Groves and Brian Witherspoon all the experience possible. And it means being ready to make judgments on what the older guys -- the Fred Taylors and Rob Meiers -- have left.
The rebuilding has to start with the lines. It may not be a quick fix and they may be in a spot where they are waiting on hurt guys to recover. They have chemistry and leadership issues they need to try to address too. It's a big endeavor.
Ben in New Haven writes: hey paul, all year long we've heard all of the reporters bagging on vince young and saying how bad he is, but i want to see him in a game even just for a couple plays, see how it works out, or even put him in the wildcat formation, imagine him lining up at wideout, is there any chance the titans would ever do that?
Paul Kuharsky: He can't master the position he's played all his life, but he's a magical solution as a gimmick receiver? I have to admit I don't understand the widespread fascination with this idea. The Titans lost one game. I don't see how it changes anything with regard to his role, which remains backup quarterback. Things have gone great with him very much in the background. I don't expect the team to mess with it.
ABOUT THIS BLOG
Paul Kuharsky
Kuharsky joined ESPN.com in 2008 after 12 years covering the Oilers/Titans and the NFL for The (Nashville) Tennessean. The New Jersey native and Columbia graduate lives in Nashville with his wife and son.
