Profiling the Jaguars: The Decision Makers

Although Jaguars head coach Jack Del Rio currently has the fifth-longest tenure amongst NFL head coaches, the Jaguars coaching staff is far from a pillar of solidarity.  Since Del Rio began his tenure in Jacksonville back in 2003, every single original assistant coach, down from strength and conditioning coaches to special teams coordinators and all the way up to offensive and defensive coordinators have been replaced.  

Despite wholesale changes among the staff in the past seven seasons, Jaguars head coach Jack Del Rio’s job is about as safe as any NFL head coaches job would be, mainly due to the patience of owner Wayne Weaver.  

Weaver believes in the “Pittsburgh” type of philosophy regarding his head coaches, as less transition will equal more stability and, thus, a better chance of on field success.  Del Rio was reaffirmed with a new contract extension following 2007's 11-5 season, which included the first playoff victory for the franchise in eight seasons.  

“The thing I am most excited about is what Jack and his staff have done in terms of fostering an environment that has created an attitude with his players, that they really have an expectation to win, and they believe that they can compete at the highest level,” Wayne Weaver said following that 2007 campaign.

Del Rio is the coaching version of a “gunslinger”.  He routinely goes for fourth downs, is not afraid to get into the faces of his veteran players, and doesn’t shy away from making bold decisions.  There is simply no denying who is in charge in Jacksonville.

With Del Rio seemingly not having to look over his shoulder, he has been able to make tough, gut decisions with his coaching staff.  This year, the Jaguars will have their third new defensive coordinator in as many seasons, as former Browns coordinator Mel Tucker will take over.  

Tucker was in Cleveland for four seasons, serving as the team’s defensive backs coach from 2005-2007, until his promotion to defensive coordinator in 2008.  When head coach Romeo Crennel and his staff were fired, Tucker became a free agent, and the Jaguars scooped him up.  Tucker ran a 3-4 defense, albeit not all that successfully last season in Cleveland, and the Jaguars are expected to implement some 3-4 looks this season as they transition to a hybrid type of defense.  

"We have, over the years, used '30' looks in sub,” Jaguars head coach Jack Del Rio said, “We could do some of that in base as well.”

The Jaguars hope to get back to an attacking style of defense, as Mel Tucker will try to use different types of schemes to fit the team’s current personnel.  A year ago under Gregg Williams, the defensive philosophy appeared to be opposite, as he tried to make the current personnel fit his scheme.

“Our scheme is going to be a little different; back to what it was two years ago,” Jaguars defensive tackle Derek Landri said, “Last year it was a mix of Gregg (Williams’) and coach Del Rio’s. Now it’s more like coach Del Rio’s history. It’s going to be a downhill defense; attack, attack, attack.”

On the other side of the ball, offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter will begin his third season at the helm of the Jaguars offense.  Koetter ran a wide open offense when he served as head coach of Arizona State from 2001-2006, but his offenses in Jacksonville have been anything but. 

Koetter has been hamstrung a bit in his first two seasons as offensive coordinator, as the Jaguars had a new starting quarterback in David Garrard in 2007, and the team’s offensive line was decimated by injuries early on in 2008 and never seemed to find a rhythm. 

In 2009, Koetter has what appears to be a very solid offensive line to work with, as well as the best looking set of receivers the franchise has had in recent years, led by potential Hall of Famer Torry Holt.  Koetter should finally have the weapons to employ his attacking offensive style. 

The Jaguars will have their third special teams coordinator in the last four seasons, as the team chose not to retain Joe DeCamillis and signed former Indianapolis Colts special teams coach Russ Purnell. 

Purnell spent the last seven seasons in Indianapolis (2002-2008) after moving over from Baltimore (1999-2001).  Purnell was part of two Super Bowl championship squads, as he won rings in Baltimore (2000) with Jaguars head coach Jack Del Rio and in Indianapolis back in 2006. 

Most tight end coaches around the NFL aren’t nearly as well known as the Jaguars' Mike Tice.  The former Minnesota Vikings head man is certainly outspoken, and has significant input in the Jaguars personnel decisions, as the team has inked quite a few of his former players including Brian Williams, Troy Williamson, and Todd Bouman.  It is also believed that Tice had major input on the Jaguars selecting Mercedes Lewis in the first round of the 2006 draft, Tice’s first year with the team. 

Jaguars head coach Jack Del Rio has gone through several assistant coaches during his seven-year tenure in Jacksonville.  Everyone in the franchise is hoping that the 2009 combination of coaches will be the right one for success.