Jacksonville Jaguars' Jack Del Rio May Have More Job Security Than He Thinks

Jack Del Rio was given an ultimatum by Jacksonville Jaguars owner Wayne Weaver to get the team to the playoffs in 2011 or the team will have a new head coach in 2012. However, the recent NFL draft did little to help the former NFL linebacker improve his team immediately. Does this mean there is a longer leash on the eight-year head coach?

Del Rio ranks sixth among active head coaches in wins in the NFL. Now in his ninth year leading the Jaguars, he is one of just four current NFL head coaches who have been with their current team more than eight seasons, joining Bill Belichick, Andy Reid and Marvin Lewis. He is also one of only seven active head coaches with eight or more seasons as an NFL head coach.

2011 is Del Rio’s 15th season as an NFL coach and his 26th year in the league. He was named the second head coach in Jaguars history on January 17, 2003. Over the 2003-2010 seasons, the Jacksonville defense ranks 10th in the NFL in yards allowed (316.9 per game) and seventh in rushing (104.0), while the offense ranks third in rushing yards (130.5) and fourth in fewest turnovers (179) under Del Rio.

After the Jaguars finished 8-8 in 2010, losing the last three games of the regular season for the second year in a row, there was speculation that Del Rio would not be retained. However, after meeting with Weaver, new coaching guidelines were outlined. These included Del Rio giving up play-calling to defensive coordinator Mel Tucker and an expressed need for the Jaguars to make the playoffs.

According to Jaguars.com, Del Rio is pleased with the team as the 2011 season approaches.

“We feel like we have a solid foundation that we are building on,” Del Rio said, looking ahead to the 2011 season. “Over the last couple of years we’ve added some blocks that we have established as our foundation, and with these players we can compete for a division title. We’re going to set the bar high and reach for it, demand of ourselves and commit to it.”

The 2011 NFL draft was thought by many as a draft that could help the team, which controlled its own destiny and led the AFC South as late as week 15 in the 2010 season. But, injuries to key players David Garrard, Maurice Jones-Drew and Adam Kampman and poor defensive play in the secondary contributed to the team losing games they should have won, especially games against the New York Giants and Washington Redskins.

At Weaver's press conference on January 3, he gave a little insight to some changes that will occur. Weaver said that he has asked head coach Jack Del Rio to step back from the defensive play-calling and focus more on game management. Instead of acting as the defensive coordinator and head coach, he would just need to be the head coach.

Del Rio agreed, stating he knew the team’s success was the most important thing to concentrate on in the upcoming season.

The draft brought more help to the offense, which includes future starters in quarterback Blaine Gabbert and guard William Rackley. But, late-round defensive backs offer little in the way of improvement right away. The team had 26 sacks last season, an improvement from the 2009 season.

There is growing speculation that the one year left on Del Rio’s contract does not necessarily mean the coach will be gone after the 2011 season, even if the team does not make the playoffs, as Weaver once indicated.

In fact, it was Weaver who has stated that he would “like to see the team in the playoffs” this coming season. But, hamstrung by a draft that could have given the team a top defender on the line or in the secondary, the team reached for other draft choices. General manager Gene Smith and his scouting staff are asking Del Rio to work with the components the team already has and build for a future he may or may not be part of.

None of Del Rio’s assistant coaches have contracts that go past the 2011 season and two former assistants, including quarterback’s coach Mike Shula, left the team shortly after the 2010 season.

There was also speculation that Del Rio was not fired from his current position because of the current lockout and the money he was still owed on his contract.

According to www.bigcatcountry.com, Weaver said he wasn't really an X's and O's type of guy, but said that the Jaguars blitzes were "too vanilla" and he wanted them disguised more.

"The defense has not grown. It goes back to we have not used our draft picks the way we should," Weaver added. He noted the missed draft picks on the defensive side of the ball, including former first-round pick Derrick Harvey. That quote undoubtedly includes former defensive draft picks like Reggie Nelson and Quentin Groves.

With free agency up in the air because of the recent player lockout and a decision that won’t be heard until June, the season still remains very much up in the air. There are holes in the secondary and in the linebacking corps where it is expected that star Daryl Smith may be the only starter returning. Players like Barrett Ruud of Tampa Bay and Ben Leber of San Diego may be available when and if the Jaguars are able to negotiate with players and agents.