Jacksonville Jaguars Report Card: Grading Each Team Unit, Midseason Edition

Did any of us see this coming?

A 2-6 first half of the season, an offense on life support and a head coach who each week defends his team knowing his time in Jacksonville is within nine weeks of being terminated.

Welcome to the life of the Jacksonville Jaguars.

What looked to be a hopeful season starting with the April Draft and an aggressive free-agency period soon turned to dismay with the release of quarterback David Garrard, the uncertainty of defensive lineman Aaron Kampman and the hope that Maurice Jones-Drew's surgically-repaired knee would be completely healed. The Jaguars started for war in the 2011 NFL season.

And then, things got worse.

Gabbert replaced starter Luke McCown in Week 3, the offense never has shown any true life, the offensive line has been a series of injuries and the receivers are as pedestrian as a nomad moving from block to block.

The brights spots on this team have been a running game led by the team's Pro Bowler and a defense that has ranked in or near the top 10 all season.

Even in a shocking Monday night win over a much better Baltimore Ravens team, the defense and kicker Josh Scobee had to bail Gabbert and his partners in crime out.

At the beginning of the season, everyone in the city knew what was on the line, that being a winning season and a playoff appearance, or it was "Goodbye" to head coach Jack Del Rio.

That exit is almost a certainty now. It probably should have been a certainty two years ago.

But, Weaver being a fair man and one of the nicest owners in the league, has stuck with his second coach in only 16 years of existence.

Things need to change. Players need to step up.

While there is fight in this team, there needs to be more effort. And certainly there needs to be a renewed reach to the fanbase that is quickly evaporating.

Each unit has its own responsibilities and have either played well, played poorly or have been nonexistent.

This is how each of these units rank at the midway part of 2011.

Quarterback

In April, we thought we found our answer to Mark Brunell, or even better.

Now, we are wondering what is taking Blaine Gabbert so long to come around.

Is it fear? Is it a line that leaves him exposed at times?

Is it that he is not the right fit for this team? Is it that he is not ready to assume this kind of responsibility?

Whatever the reason, the team must get the rookie back in the form that he showed in college.

He needs to be more consistent and more in sync with receivers.

Right now, he is behind the learning curve.

GRADE: D

Running Back

Maurice Jones-Drew is running the show. Literally.

While the offense struggles, the small powerback continues to run and run and run.

He has had some issues the last two games with fumbling, but Deji Karim has been there to help shoulder the load.

Rashad Jennings was supposed to be the answer to spell Jones-Drew, but he was placed in IR before the season started.

Jones-Drew remains one of the top five runners in the NFL, and if he continues to run the way he is, then there is at least one strength on the offense.

GRADE: B

Receivers

What receivers?

This team passed on several free agents (James Jones, Lance Moore, Chad Johnson) and have nothing to show for it.

Oh, wait, they have resigned Mike Sims-Walker. Not the biggest free-agent signing ever.

Mike Thomas continues to be the team's lead receiver with Jason Hill becoming Gabbert's favorite target. Not very scary, if you ask me.

Gabbert is not on the same page with his receivers, often throwing behind them and overthrowing them on long routes.

Even tight end Marcedes Lewis, who signed an offseason contract extension, has been amiss.

The receivers need to step up with the passing game.

If both work better in the second half of the year, the offense will score points. Right now the team is last in scoring offense and passing offense in the NFL.

GRADE D

Offensive Line

In the 2009 draft, the Jaguars took two studs in Eugene Monroe and then Eben Britton.

The Jaguars are still waiting for a return in their investment.

The Jaguars line has not protected the rookie quarterback as well as it should, and injuries over the course of the season have forced several different lineup changes.

It has been better in run-blocking schemes.

The Jaguars may want to consider a tackle in the draft and maybe backups to help solidify the line.

Inconsistency has proven to the be the only thing for which the offensive line can be counted on.

If both tackles can finally play together this year and the team learns to pass-block better, maybe Blaine Gabbert keeps his jersey a little cleaner.

GRADE: D

Defensive Line

Matt Roth was brought in to rotate with Aaron Kampman, Jeremy Mincey, Austen Lane and anyone else they figured to rush the quarterback.

The tackle play of Terrance Knighton and Tyson Alualu has been very good.

The line can only get better.

The run defense is one of the best in the league, and now there are signs that the pass-rush is coming along.

Look for this unit to get better.

GRADE: B

Linebackers

Clearly the most improved position on the team.

Paul Posluszny and Clint Session have played well alongside Daryl Smith, and it shows, with better tackling and pressuring the quarterback.

Because of their play, this has been a bigger help to the defensive line and improving secondary.

The Jaguars made the right moves in free agency here.

GRADE: A-

Secondary

Dawan Landry, Drew Coleman and Dwight Lowery have all made key contributions on this team.

Derek Cox, when not injured, looks better than last season.

Even Rashean Mathis has played inspired ball the past few weeks.

The team seems to allow big pass plays and then comes up with tight coverage to stop drives. That was evident against Baltimore.

This unit can only get better and will have a better season than the past two years.

Another unit where the free-agent moves are paying off.

GRADE: B

Special Teams

This area is an enigma.

Kassim Osgood and Montell Owens have been hurt.

Cecil Shorts is not the returner the Jags thought he would be.

The punting was awful, and then the team cut Matt Turk and signed Nick Harris, which proved to be a great move.

Then, there is Josh Scobee, who is just tearing it up. He is perfect on field goals and extra points.

The coverage teams need to reduce the penalties, but this unit is improving.

GRADE: B- (Because of Scobee)

Coaching

The defense looks good. The offense looks bad. What else can be said?

Jack Del Rio made some gutsy calls this year starting with releasing David Garrard, and some of his play calls have come into question.

A few weeks ago before the Ravens game, he said he hates losing.

He needs to get offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter to open up the offense.

This is a coaching staff that knows time is running out, and it is the defensive coaches that are keeping this team on life support.

GRADE: C- (As a unit) GRADE F for Del Rio

Outlook

With Indianapolis and Cleveland on the schedule when the team returns to play, this could be a quick 2-0 start to the second half.

A 4-6 record makes things look a lot better, but it does not take away the pains that have accompanied the team all season.

There needs to be consistency everywhere, even with units that have played well.

A 7-9 record is not out of the question, but highly unlikely.

Del Rio should be let go after the season.