I think some folks are really setting themselves up for major disappointment if they think that things are going to come together for the Jags this year allowing them to rack up double-digit victories.
Not to throw cold water on the hopes and dreams of fans, but realistically, a .500 season would be a monumental success for a team that has seen so much roster turnover during the offseason.
With the lack of experienced depth at WR, the team is putting everything on the shoulders of a couple of rookies, and two veterans, one of which is dealing with knee issues that aren't going to get any better at this point. The other veteran has a whopping 217 yards receiving for his career.
The team will be better than they were in 2008 just because they've made significant strides in upgrading their offensive line.
It remains to be seen how improved the defensive line is going to be. The hope is that the draft picks from last year will step up and meet expectations, but that's something that we're certainly rolling the dice with. Then you've got the interior line issues with Henderson winding up in the dog house with Del Rio, no really viable alternative to line up beside him on the line right now, and age starting to play a factor.
Is Knighton going to be the fix?
Will Meier rebound from a difficult 2008?
What about Landri?
Will Hayward transition to the other side of the line replacing Spicer, or will that become an area of weakness for the team?
Will Harvey achieve the double-digit sack totals the team is hoping for?
A lot of the expectations that are being set for this team by fans are based upon everything going right. But, anyone with even the slightest grasp of history knows that things rarely go as planned, and adversity is something the team contends with on a regular basis.
The bottom line is that the Jaguars are rebuilding. They should show some improvement this year, but it won't be doubling the win total, or anything close to that.
The progress will be measured in development.
How will the rookie receivers develop?
How will the rookie defensive tackle comes along?
How will MJD develop as the premiere back, and how will his rookie backup perform?
How will the linebacker corps develop with the shuffling of positions/responsibilities?
How will the defensive backs do this year with the addition of Cox and Alexander to the mix? Will Scott Starks rebound from his injury?
There are so many questions to be answered. The Jaguars already play in one of the most difficult divisions in the entire league, and thinking they're going to make significant enough strides to land them back in the post season this year is a little homerish. The reality is that the team is at least a year away from really making a serious run.
Are the fans going to be patient?
The Jags will certainly be better this year, but I think there needs to be some realistic expectation here. A three win swing would be monumental considering the changes that have been made, but will that be enough for the fans, or will they look at this as a disappointment?
