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He understands that consistency is the key to reaching the next level among NFL receivers. Walker has always shown that he has the talent, whether it is route running, hands, or speed. He possesses all of the tools required to be a success at the professional level. He has simply been unable to put it all together up to this point, but with a renewed sense of energy, he seems prepared to make the necessary changes in his approach to become a regular contributor for the Jaguars.
While the two starting receiver positions appear to be a lock barring any surprises, the focus shifts to the rest of the guys vying for spots on the roster.
There is a crowded field trying to win the slot position.
Based solely on experience and production, Dennis Northcutt currently holds the edge. This is obviously not set in stone, but he was one of the more reliable outlets that David Garrard targeted last season, and he is the only receiver that has a significant body of work here in Jacksonville.
He will certainly be pushed by the younger receivers that were brought in during an active offseason, but Northcutt seems to hold all of the cards for now. He has had a solid spring preparing for the upcoming season.
The wild cards in how quickly the receiving corps will fare in 2009 are the rookies. All three players represent a transition from the big, tall, lumbering receivers which became the trademark for drafts over the past six seasons.
While they are definitely smaller in stature, they bring a different dimension to the roster from what was seen previously.
Let's take a look.
The Jaguars took Mike Thomas in the fourth round of the draft this year. A lot of questions surrounded the selection based on his 5'8" height, but nobody questioned his ability. His 259 receptions at Arizona set the Pac-10 all time conference record.
Because of his size, he will most likely challenge Dennis Northcutt for receptions out of the slot position. If he thrives in that role in the preseason, he could push the more costly Northcutt out the door before the end of training camp. He lacks the top end speed to be a legitimate threat outside, but he does have the ability to exploit soft coverage in the middle of the field.
How Thomas responds to the challenge of putting on the pads and dealing with contact remains to be seen. That will go a long way in determining the fate of the veteran, Northcutt.
Another receiver that will be competing for time in the slot is Jarett Dillard. The fifth round pick out of Rice is the first Owl All-American in half a century and a consensus pick for conference honors in Conference USA for three consecutive years.
Dillard has outstanding hands and ball skills, and runs precision routes that allow him to maneuver in traffic.
He proved to be one of the most productive receivers in NCAA history, setting the standard for touchdown receptions (60) and finishing his collegiate career ninth overall for receiving yardage (4,138 yards).
Having a nose for the end zone will go a long way in securing his spot with the team if he proves to be able to continue that trend at the NFL level. The preseason will be a real test of his ability to transition his game for the next level.
The Jaguars grabbed their final receiver in the draft when they spent one of their seventh round picks on Tiquan Underwood.
In most cases, he would be considered Mr. Irrelevant to the Jaguars. However, the one asset that he brings to the table that the other additions do not is pure speed. It could give him a viable shot at a roster position as one of the fastest players in the NFL draft this year.
His speed was readily apparent in the rookie camp in May as he ran right through the secondary on more than one occasion. The concern is that he could wind up being a similar type player to another former Jaguar who had world class speed, Alvis Whitted. As fast as Whitted was, catching the ball was always the problem here in Jacksonville. He simply could not hang on to a football.
His most likely path to the NFL will be via the special team route as a kickoff return specialist or gunner on punts.
He seems like a project based on scouting reports that have listed him as a long strider lacking any suddenness. That makes his route running skills somewhat suspect. If you toss in his reluctance to go over the middle because of his wiry build and it really does point to a special team guy who might be a development project for the long haul.
He has an uphill task ahead of him to just make the roster.
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