When it comes to the Jaguars, I'm a Coughlin man (except for when they drafted R. Jay Soward.) That being said, I really like the fact that Jack Del Rio has stopped allowing the inmates to run the asylum. I like the fact that they released Leftwich (although I had reservations about Garrard) and that he called Matt Jones out. I know that Coughlin was nobody's friend, but Del Rio had to learn that you could only go so far being popular. I call this kind of coaching the 'pimp hand treatment,' a move that was popularized by the pimp 'Baby Powder' in the epic Method Man & Redman flick, "How High." This treatment requires that you put your 'pimp hand down' on your charges to encourage a desired result. I think the 1st round draftees of the Jaguars (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Jacksonville_Jaguars_first-round_draft_picks) from 2003 to 2006 had started to act a little slack. The release of Leftwich, along with the public questioning of Matt Jones' resolve, has achieved the desired effect of allowing members of the team to stop thinking as individuals and start thinking team. In my opinion, our first round players played like they didn't have room to improve. A bold move was required for Del Rio to keep the locker room, because the 2nd rounders were thoroughly outplaying the first rounders. If you look at the Jaguar drafts from 2003 to 2006, there are more 2d round picks from that period starting than 1st round picks. Only Mercedes Lewis is starting over Maurice Jones-Drew, and who would you think is the more important of the two? Rashean Mathis starts over Leftwich (cut), Daryl Smith and Greg Jones start over Reggie Williams, and Khalif Barnes starts instead of Matt Jones. Now I know that many may say that these other guys don't play the same position, but shouldn't your 1st rounders at least be marginally effective? Shouldn't they be able to beat out a 5'11" 171 lb receiver that was supposed to go into the slot? I mean, I love Reggie Williams' toughness, but he fumbled twice for almost no reason against the Texans. Jacksonville tends to win in spite of the 1st round pick rather than because of them. That's a problem. I hope that the first rounders can dominate when they get a chance, and I love that Jack is starting to hold them accountable for their talent level.
Will4of5
Meghan White
Christina Parker
Hall of Fame ballot: Holdovers
Hall of Fame ballot: Newcomers
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Now, if they can just figure out Peyton Manning tomorrow night...
DC Sports Nut: Slap…
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DC,
You know what? We normally play them well at least once every year, and last year we actually were in both games against the Colts (we lost the first meeting 21-14.) Hopefully we continue to improve, and learn to compete against everyone!
Will4of5
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