In The Trenches: Linemen Roster Battles in Jacksonville

Every summer there are positional battles that occur throughout training camps on every NFL roster.

You would like most of your starters to already be in place going into camp and most of the competition to be battles at the backup positions, but this is not the case in Jacksonville this season.

After a disappointing 2008 season, the Jaguars had one of the biggest roster overhauls in the NFL, as 11 players who started at least one game for the Jaguars last year have either been released or simply not re-signed and are no longer on the team.

Whether it was because of disappointing production, locker room cancers, or off-the-field problems, new GM Gene Smith has cleaned up this roster and there will be some major competition for roster positions in Jacksonville, including quite a few starting jobs.

These battles will continue through training camp as the starting lineups will start to take shape and then through the preseason games as the backups will be fighting for the final positions on the depth chart.

The most intense roster battles might be on the Jaguars' offensive live. This is a unit that was decimated by injuries in 2008 and as those players return from injury, they will be fighting both veteran and rookies to regain there starting positions.

Left Tackle

The Jaguars landed 11-year veteran OT Tra Thomas (Eagles) in free agency who looks to have an edge over the young rookies, at least for now. Thomas, a three-time Pro Bowl selection, only allowed two sacks last year in 16 starts with the Eagles. Only two players who started all 16 games allowed less sacks.

However, Thomas will have to fight off rookie Eugene Monroe (Virginia), who was selected No. 8 overall in the draft to be the LT of the future for the Jags. Monroe is an extremely athletic prospect who possesses excellent technique, footwork, and awareness, and has all the tools to be an elite LT in the NFL.

When it is all said and done, Tra Thomas should win this job. He just has too much experience and has proved that he can play the position at a high level. However, it would not be a shock at all to see Monroe take over by midseason, as his potential is limitless.

Right Tackle

With Tra Thomas winning the LT position, that puts Eugene Monroe in a fierce battle for the RT position with incumbent RT Tony Pashos and rookie Eben Britton (Arizona). Pashos is a tough, hard-nosed lineman who dominates in the running game, but really struggled is pass protection at times last year. He gave up 5.5 sacks and led the league with seven holding penalties.

Pashos is not ready to give up his position without a fight though.

"Each and every year I fight to make the team regardless of the scenario who is there and everything," he said. I'm confident in my abilities. I work my tail off and I listen to my coaches.”

Rookie OT Eben Britton seems ready for the challenge as well.

"Every team that passed on me is gonna regret it for the rest of the history of that franchise," he said after being drafted in the second round.

“I'm angry and the chip on my shoulder just got a little deeper. I'm gonna work my [tail] off for the Jacksonville Jaguars and people are gonna regret it. I've got my own agenda and that's first and foremost to take the Jacksonville Jaguars to the Super Bowl. Secondly, I'm gonna be the greatest offensive tackle to ever play this game."

Well, those are some pretty impressive statements from both players, Eugene Monroe should win this job. He will play RT for a year before taking over for Thomas at LT next year, leaving the RT job for Britton. The Jaguars will finally have their bookend offensive tackles in place.

Center

Not a lot of competition here. Brad Miller, Uche Nwaneri, and Dennis Norman will be in the mix, but they all have an uphill battle and little chance to unseat C Brad Meester, who just signed a four year contract extension. Meester is a 10-year veteran who, after missing six games following bicep surgery last year, came back and only allowed .25 of a sack in the final 10 games of the season.

Left Guard

This job is Vince Manuwai’s to lose. He could have some competition from Eugene Monroe, should the Jaguars want to keep him on the left side of the line to prepare him for his transition to LT, but it is more likely that Monroe will win the RT job.

Manuwai is coming back from reconstructive knee surgery to repair a torn ACL that happened in last year’s season opener versus the Titans

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