Jags Looking to Take Next Step

After a terrific 2007 campaign, the Jacksonville Jaguars go into the ‘08 season, full of hope and even higher on expectation.

In a season that saw them make the AFC division game for the first time since ‘99 and the emergence of a star quarterback in David Garrard, the Jaguars are out to prove that they are no one hit wonder.

This season the Jaguars will be looking to turn from pretenders, to serious contenders in terms of making the playoffs and making a run at the super bowl. 

While the Jaguars have steadily improved each year since Jack Del Rio took charge of the team in ‘03 they have yet to prove that they have the consistency to keep winning every single season.

They are out this year to prove that they're breakout season last year, is not just a one-time thing.

With most of they're team from last year intact there is no reason for Jaguar fans to expect anything less than what this team achieved last season.

The only significant losses are perhaps the loss of Marcus Stroud on defense and Ernest Wilford on offence.

These are not very significant, however as the Jags played a good deal of last year without Stroud, they signed free agent receiver, Jerry Porter, to bolster a very underrated receiving corps.

Anchoring the offence will be arguably the best one-two running in the NFL, in Fred Taylor, who's only gotten better with age and is a figure of consistency.

The ever explosive, Maurice Jones-Drew, can burn you on the ground and on the kick, returns.

With Rasheen Mathis and Terry Cousin in the secondary, the Jaguars could once again make life very miserable for opposing quarterbacks.

The Jaguars this year will be out to prove that they can not only compete with the elite in the AFC, but that they are capable of beating these teams and making it all the way to the Super bowl.

If Del Rio can get them to execute they have more than enough talent to get the job done.

David Garrard returns to prove he is here to stay in the NFL after leading the team to an 11-5 record last year.

With the likes of Jones-Drew and Dennis Northcutt to return kicks, the special team looks pretty darn good as well.

On the defensive end, Paul Spicer and Reggie Hayward are as rock solid and will be a tough team to run against.

Another thing that bodes well for the Jags is that they have proven they can win no matter what the conditions.

They came to the snow in Pittsburgh— twice last year and won. They won in the heat, the snow, the domes… you name it.

Del Rio has this team built to play no matter what the circumstances. 

The big key for the Jags is consistency.

Can they maintain good performances out of they're team week in and week out?

This will be what could separate them from the pretenders and close the gap between them and the Pats and Colts.

All in all, the Jaguars will be ready to go and there is no reason for any Jaguar to not believe in a playoff appearance.

This team may even be ready for a championship berth.