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NFL Draft 2011 Will Give the Jaguars a Chance to Find a Safety

One of the sneaky huge needs for the Jaguars heading into this draft is at safety.

They once had guys like Donovin Darius patrolling the defensive backfield but since he hung it up they have had a glaring weakness that is constantly being picked on by opposing quarterbacks.

According to the Sports Xchange this is an area the Jags really need to find some help in.

“This is probably the Jaguars' weakest position and opposing quarterbacks targeted the safety position. Combined with the weak pass rush, the poor play of the safeties contributed a pass defense that ranked 28th. They dumped Reggie Nelson, a former first-round draft pick who was a disappointment, and veteran Gerald Alexander and went with two young players, Courtney Greene and Don Carey. The problem is they are still learning. Another problem is that the draft is weak in safeties. They had hoped to upgrade the position in free agency until that was put on hold by the lockout.”

I think the Jags will probably try to find a safety in the third round because this is such a shallow draft for safety. They would be wiser to find a guy in free agency, if there is any free agency period this year.

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NFL Draft 2011 Could Be the Chance for the Jacksonville Jaguars to Buck a Trend

Looking at draft trends from the past has been a very interesting piece of information to apply to this year’s draft. The Jaguars have a similar problem to the Colts aversion with offensive tackles, except it is at defensive end.

According to the National Football Post's Joe Fortenbaugh, “Since 2001, the Jaguars have drafted nine defensive ends, but only two (Derrick Harvey, Quentin Groves) have been selected within the top 100 picks.”

I expect that trend to wait for defensive ends to change this year. With the fact that there are so many outstanding defensive linemen available in this draft it would be stupid to pass on an end early.

Even ESPN’s AFC South blogger Paul Kuharsky thinks that this could be the year that the Jags take a chance on a defensive end early.

“Jaguars GM Gene Smith worked to offset that (drafting ends later) by bringing in free agent Aaron Kampman last offseason. And now it appears quite possible Smith will spend the 16th overall pick on a defensive end to complete the makeover of the line that included their top four picks from 2010.”

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NFL Draft 2011 Marks the End of a Rebuilding Process in Jacksonville

It’s hard to believe that a team that has as many holes as the Jacksonville Jaguars have could be nearing the end of a rebuilding plan.

Then again, it’s even harder to believe that this team was a win away from making the playoffs. I can’t tell if that means they are almost rebuilt or if it just means that this division is that bad.

Either way, ESPN’s AFC South blogger Paul Kuharsky thinks that GM Gene Smith has done a good job getting the team to this point.

“The Jaguars head into a the third draft of what they consider to be a four-draft rebuilding process. They have found some very good pieces under general manager Gene Smith's steady hand. He likes guys who played a lot in college and were team captains -- resume lines that are becoming increasingly popular for many teams. Todd McShay said Smith prefers high floors to high ceilings, and it’s an effective way to think following a regime that busted far too many times. Smith’s fifth, sixth and seventh rounds haven’t produced a lot yet, so that’s an area where we can look for improvement.”

The Jags need help on defense and if they can find value in the later rounds then they could be the class of the division for the next few years. That is also contingent on figuring out the quarterback quandary.

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NFL Draft 2011 Could See Michael Lockley Headed to Jacksonville

Michael Lockley is a name that you might not have heard before, but he could be coming to an NFL team near you in the very near future.

The linebacker from Florida Atlantic didn’t get an invite to the combine, but that didn’t keep him from being noticed by a number of teams during his pro day on campus.

According to the National Football Post, “The 6-foot-1, 237-pounder ran the 40-yard dash in 4.56 and 4.62 seconds at his campus Pro Day workout.

“He also registered a 38 1/2 inch vertical leap and a 10-9 broad jump, a 4.27 in the short shuttle and a 6.78 in the three-cone drill.

“He bench pressed 225 pounds 22 times.”

Now those numbers can only tell so much, but he also had a very productive career going over 120 tackles and showed a knack for blocking kicks.

The Jaguars are set to bring in Lockley for a workout on Thursday and I think he could end up being an absolute steal in the later rounds.

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NFL Draft 2011 Could See the Jaguars Going a Different Direction

Every year in the draft, fans seems to have a certain expectation for who their team is going to draft and when those expectations aren’t met, things can turn ugly.

However, when it comes to the draft, that sort of groupthink isn’t always the best route.

Hays Carlyon from the Florida Times-Union thinks that the groupthink for the Jaguars isn’t out of the realm of possible but he thinks the Jags go a different route.

“Selecting (Mike) Pouncey also fills a need. Maybe not as big as the lack of an edge rusher, but the Jaguars are getting old at center with 34-year-old Brad Meester and could use an upgrade at guard. Pouncey could play guard for a year or two before moving to center. The Jaguars have already invested two prime picks at tackle with Eugene Monroe and Eben Britton. Adding Pouncey to the interior would arguably give Jacksonville the top nucleus of young offensive line talent in the league. Those skill players look a whole lot better when they have time and room. Keep in mind, Jacksonville ranked 15th-or-worse last season in points scored (18th), total yards (15th) and passing offense (27th).”

Not a bad pick at all. The only problem I have with it is the absolute lack of good players on defense. I would think that the Jags would go for a defensive lineman because of just how deep the talent pool is in this year’s draft at that position.

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NFL Draft 2011 Rumors Swirling About Jaguars Draft Plans

One of the most difficult teams to project in this draft is the Jacksonville Jaguars. I don’t know if it is because they don’t have a team identity or what, but I could see them going a number of different directions with their pick.

One would think that quarterback would be at the top of the wish list for the Jags, however at a recent luncheon player personal director Terry McDonough didn’t mention a signal caller as part of the team’s draft plans.

“He said the team is in the third year of a four-year rebuilding program that general manager Gene Smith started in 2009.

“McDonough said the Jaguars have to fill some holes with free agents, and they'll be looking for a linebacker, safety, pass-rusher, cornerback, an explosive wide receiver and an interior lineman.

“McDonough said they will continue to stress drafting players with character, but he said he's not looking for choirboys.

“‘We're not in the choirboy business, but you can be a great pro and a class act. You win with professionalism, and you win with character,’ he said.”

That sounds like a smoke screen to me. I know that they have worked out a few quarterbacks and that there is a lot of interest in former Florida State quarterback Christian Ponder.

I would be shocked if the Jags didn’t pick up a quarterback in the draft.

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NFL Draft 2011 Might be the Only Chance For the Jaguars to Fill Their Need at Safety

One of the more underrated needs for the Jaguars this season is at safety. Last year they had a hard time getting any guy to really show that he deserved to be on the field and as a result the Jags had different safeties playing almost every week.

However, with a very shallow draft for safeties and no free agency in the near future the question is just how well will the Jags be able to fill that hole?

According to the Sports Xchange, there is a guy that the Jags have shown a lot of interest in.

“They may have to wait for the middle rounds to get a safety and one they are giving a lot of attention to is Marcus Gilchrist of Clemson.

“He fits the profile of the kind of player that general manager Gene Smith likes. He is smart and a vocal leader even though at 5-10, he doesn't have the ideal height for a safety.

“Defensive coordinator Mel Tucker had dinner with Gilchrist, a sign the Jaguars are interested in him.

“They are looking at the safeties carefully because they know they need to find one in this draft.”

I think the Jags can’t be too picky about the size of a safety when they have such a dire need to fill the position.

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NFL Draft 2011 Might Show the Jaguars Taking a Chance on a Quarterback Early

There appears to be a great need at quarterback among many teams this year and the Jacksonville Jaguars are fairly high on that list. The only problem is that there is also no one that seems like a good pick at No. 16 so it seems like the Jags are going to have to wait until the second round to get a signal caller.

However, Len Pasquarelli mentions that the second round has been a bit of a black hole for quarterback talent historically.

“Amazingly, given the need for quarterbacks in recent seasons, there have been only 21 passers chosen total in the (second round of the) last 20 drafts. Only twice in that period have more than two quarterbacks gone off the board in the second round, and there was actually a stretch of four years, 2002-2005, when there were zero second-round quarterbacks. It hasn't been a particularly good round for drafting quarterbacks, but that figures to end this year.”

So would the Jags be better suited to reach for a quarterback at No. 16 like Christian Ponder knowing that there is going to be a rush of teams trying to get a quarterback in the second round?

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NFL Draft 2011 Might See Da'Quan Bowers End up in Jacksonville

A few months ago it seemed like Da’Quan Bowers was a near lock to be the first guy taken in this draft. However, a bum knee and questions about his productivity have caused him to fall into the late first round. That is until his most recent medical check up.

Now it seems like Bowers could be a legitimate shot to get picked by the Jaguars at No. 16.

According to Gregg Rosenthal from Pro Football Talk, Bowers most recent tests on his knee looked good. However, he also says that doesn’t really mean much to NFL teams.

“No matter what is leaked publicly, every NFL team will make their own evaluation on Bowers’ tests.  Some may pass him; some teams may be more concerned about his knee long-term.”

I think a team like the Jags needs to roll the dice and Bowers might be the perfect guy to put their money on. Best case scenario he ends up being a double digit sack machine like Mario Williams and worst case scenario he is Derrick Harvey with bad knees.  

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NFL Draft 2011 Could See the Jaguars Replace the Disappointing Derrick Harvey

Three years ago the Jacksonville Jaguars picked Derrick Harvey eighth overall and to say that it hasn’t worked out is putting it mildly.

In three season, Harvey has started 32 of the 47 games he played in and he has racked up just eight sacks and seven tackles for loss.

ESPN’s AFC South blogger Paul Kuharsky has been looking back at a few guys from previous drafts that either were drafted later and worked out well or were drafted high that ended up not working out and Harvey qualifies as the latter.

“Del Rio hired the fiery Joe Cullen as his new defensive line coach last season, and Cullen also couldn’t get consistent production from Harvey. After seven games in his third year, Harvey was moved out of the starting lineup, replaced by rookie Austen Lane.”

It surprising to see such a misfire on a guy that even Mel Kiper had high hopes for.

“Will bring exciting pass-rush potential and difference-making capability to the team that brings him into the fold. The lack of consistency is an issue though, so it will definitely be interesting to see how he deals with going head to head on a game-by-game basis with the NFL’s most highly skilled pass-blockers.”

Well, now the Jags are going to have a chance to make amends for the pick because they will likely pick another defensive end in this first round and Harvey will probably be off the team.

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NFL Draft 2011 Looks Like a Chance for the Jags to Upgrade the Linebacker Position

Jack Del Rio is a former All-Pro linebacker for the Minnesota Vikings. When he was hired as a defensive coordinator and eventually as a head coach, conventional wisdom was that he would help the linebacker position make a leap. However, that hasn’t been the case in Jacksonville and now there is talk about flipping nearly the entire group of linebackers heading into next year.

According to a story on Jags Nation only one guy deserves mention as one of the teams primary defensive weapons and that guy is Daryl Smith.

"He probably had his best year as a Jaguar,” Said Del Rio. “He really had a strong year for us."

The story goes on to mention that their need at linebacker probably won’t be filled with their first round draft pick.

“Despite the need at linebacker, the Jaguars don't figure to take a linebacker in the first round because general manager Gene Smith stresses taking the best available player and a linebacker isn't likely to be a good fit at the 16th spot.”

I think that the Jags could use a few linebackers and there are probably some guys that they could get away with taking at No. 16 like Akeem Ayers or Aldon Smith but ultimately I think they hold off.

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NFL Draft 2011 Might See the Middleton Brothers United in Jacksonville

Former Navy standout Wyatt Middleton is working out for the same team that employs his brother William Middleton this week.

That’s right, the Jags are hoping to get the younger Middleton brother to come in and show something that might prompt them to draft him in a few weeks.

According to Aaron Wilson from the National Football Post the Jags are the second team to work out Middleton in the past week. He also visited with the Bengals. He also had some outstanding numbers during his college career.

“Middletown was a four-year starter for Navy and recorded 86 tackles last season with five fumble recoveries and one forced fumble.

“The 6-foot-1, 192-pounder was a team captain who set a Midshipmen freshman record with 88 tackles.

“As a junior, he finished with 68 tackles, two for losses, one forced fumble and two fumble recoveries.

“During his sophomore season, he finished with 80 tackles, one interception, five pass deflections, three forced fumbles and one fumble recovery.”

Now drafting Middleton wouldn’t be a one stop fix, but it would at least give them another guy on defense to add depth.