Jacksonville Jaguars Receivers: Torry Holt and The Guys

(Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)

When David Garrard surveys the field in 2009, there will not be many familiar faces in teal looking back at him from the secondary.  Other than Dennis Northcutt and Mike Walker, the Jaguars receiving corps has been completely rebuilt for 2009. 

It is a good thing.

A critical missing piece for the Jacksonville Jaguars in recent years has been the lack of a vertical passing attack.  Since his arrival in Jacksonville, Jack Del Rio has scoured the ranks to find the magic fairy dust he could sprinkle on an historically pedestrian unit to make them a more potent weapon in the offensive attack.

The Jaguars have traditionally been a very good running team during Del Rio's tenure, ranking near the top of the league in key statistical categories for five of the past six seasons.

Where they have been less successful is in the passing game.  Whether it is an issue with the quarterback, or with injuries along the offensive line, for some reason the Jaguars have simply been unable to get any real traction with their passing attack. 

They have had the occasional flash, but for the most part the lack of consistency in stretching the field with a vertical attack has given opposing defenses ample opportunity to load up the box and come after the quarterback.  Without any fear of repercussion, this strategy has been an effective tool in slowing down the Jaguars offense, and a stumbling block in allowing the team to get to the next level.

So, entering 2009 we see the latest iteration in the long-standing effort to build a receiving corps that could finally break the dry spell for the team. 

Will this finally be the year where they get it right?

For a team desperately looking for the right combination of players to make this work, rebuilding a unit around a 33-year-old veteran would normally seem like a bad approach.  However, when that veteran is a future Hall of Fame receiver, and you have a unit loaded with young talent, it might just be the right approach for this team.

Torry Holt arrives on the scene in Jacksonville as the latest player hoped to be the guy that can turn things around for the receiving corps.  With his impressive track record and his professionalism on the field, the goal is to use him not only to produce on the field, but also to serve as a mentor to the younger players that are fighting for roster spots, and for playing time.

For now, there does not appear to be a challenge to his status as the No. 1 receiver.  This is especially true when looking at his statistics last season.  In a down year, Holt's individual stats are practically identical to the entire receiving corps currently on the roster for the Jaguars.  The hope is that Holt will be able to rebound and validate his status as the go-to guy in this offense, and in the process the younger receivers should learn and develop as a group.

Lining up on the opposite side of the field, for now, is Mike Walker.

Walker has yet to find any real statistical success at the NFL level.  He has had one solid performance in his three year career, putting up more than 100 yards of receiving against Pittsburgh in 2008.  Walker came into the league with high expectations that were tempered because of health issues. 

For the first two seasons, he was struggling with the knee injury that slowed him in college.  In 2008, he appeared to be poised to have a big season.  He was healthy, and ready to get back to the business of making plays.  However, the combination of minor injuries, and personal tragedy that served as a major distraction derailed his hopes of taking the next step.

With 2009 now in focus, Walker seems prepared for the challenge.  In a recent press conference, Walker spoke highly of having Torry Holt on the field to serve as a mentor.  From his perspective, he said that Holt has already helped him to improve his stance at the line, and how he comes out of his breaks during his routes. 

Walker also said that his goal this year was to avoid injuries and to achieve success. He is spending extra time in the weight room working with the new training staff.  He feels confident that by making his body stronger, it will allow him to avoid some of the nagging injuries that have undermined his progress over the past three seasons. 

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