Jacksonville Jaguars: 8 Coaches and Players They Must Boot

If there was any doubt as to the Jacksonville Jaguars needing to make wholesale changes to the team after the 2011 season, it was confirmed last night in the 41-14 loss at the hands of the Atlanta Falcons.

Never before have I seen a game in which a quarterback could play pass-and-catch so easily with his receivers, look off two options and find open targets, and see a defense just have its way with a rookie quarterback.

Now that the Jaguars are lined up to find a new coach, and are set with a new owner and the promise that the team will remain in Jacksonville (Shahid Khan's statement on NFL Network), there should be optimism that this team will right itself. But after last night, that doesn't seem to be the case.

One win—a 41-14 (irony) victory over Tampa Bay last week—did not cure anything. The Buccaneers are reeling, and to think that the team in north Florida has cured its ills is a huge mistake.

Players, coaches and management need to be held accountable. These people, especially, may be shown the door—or steps must be taken to improve their performance.

8. Eben Britton

I know this is a strange one to start with, but he was the team's right tackle last season until he was hurt. Then he was hurt for the majority of this season and is now on IR, along with 26 other players.

Britton has the makings of a solid right tackle, but he has been injured more than he has played in the last three years.

The Jaguars need to address that position in the draft or free agency.

7. Guy Whimper

He was a spinning top last night against the Falcons' John Abraham.

Whimper has played some decent tackle and guard this season for the Jaguars, but again, he is not a long-term solution.

He is a backup at best, filling in for Eben Britton, of all people.

Again, a position this team needs to address.

6. Marcedes Lewis

You know things are bad when the Pro Bowl tight end cannot catch more than two or three passes a game.

I know a lot of this is dependent on Blaine Gabbert throwing the ball to him. But he is 6'6" and should be able to make the tough catch.

That is what got him to Hawaii last season.

Zach Potter has played much better than him this season.

5. Blaine Gabbert

Gabbert is in the middle for many reasons. You cannot give up on him yet, in light of what has happened to this team and the coaching staff.

But he is not innocent and should be held accountable.

I would have loved to have seen what former Bengals quarterback Ken Anderson would have done with him. Or Mike Shula.

There is reason to believe, when watching him hit open targets on film, that Gabbert will be great. But he is gun-shy, looks timid and cannot shake off the pass rush.

He needs a full offseason to get his mindset corrected.

This season has really damaged him; maybe bringing in another veteran to work with him would help.

4. Mike Sheppard

The receivers coach, who was the quarterback coach, who was a receivers coach before he came to the team, should get the boot.

Sheppard is not someone who can mold this lot of pass-catchers into All-Stars quickly.

If Shahid Khan revamps the coaching staff, Sheppard is gone as well. Every coach is on a one-year contract.

It is pretty much assured most of them will be gone in three weeks.

3. The Jaguars' Receivers

There are some flashes from Chastin West and Jarrett Dillard suggesting that these two could be good players. But Mike Thomas has been average this season and Mike-Sims Walker was on the field for a Starbucks run.

Get rid of them all and start over.

Jacksonville has the worst receivers in the league. Draft picks and free agency can bring new players to the team and help the rookie quarterback get better.

2. Gene Smith

The general manager is accountable for everything.

Even if he signed a three-year contract extension, he could be on the way out.

Smith's draft choices have not panned out, and there is concern that this draft class will flame out as well because its top pick, a quarterback of the future, seems afraid of his own shadow.

Jeff Ireland or AJ Smith could be available—or some other executive with management experience.

There needs to be a change and a change for the better.

Smith is not better.

1. Dirk Koetter

The offensive coordinator looked better in the win against Tampa Bay.

But that win is sandwiched around two massive losses on national television.

Koetter has a good resume and has been effective in the past with this team. But this season, things have not gone the right way.

A change will do the Jaguars good.