Jaguars: Camp report | RapidReports | Camp tour | 
Questions | 1 Man/1 Fan
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Observations from Jacksonville Jaguars camp:
1. The 2008 season was a disaster for the Jaguars. Some pegged them as Super Bowl contenders, but they finished 5-11. Injuries and some bad locker-room players contributed to the decline. New general manager Gene Smith has disposed of those players -- including Matt Jones, Jerry Porter and Reggie Williams -- which has earned him the nickname "Clean Gene." With so many young players scheduled to be major contributors, coach Jack Del Rio has had a more physical camp. Expect a physical first preseason game against the Dolphins, too. Last summer, Del Rio felt the Dolphins manhandled his team in the preseason, which set the tone for the rest of the season. "They kicked our butts," Del Rio said. "And it carried over." There has been more hitting in camp, and the day I was there the Jaguars had the most physical practice of any team I've watched.
| Out of Nowhere Man |
 The Jaguars signed defensive tackle Atiyyah Ellison last December off the 49ers' practice squad. He has a chance to be an opening-day starter opposite John Henderson. Ellison was a third-round pick of the Carolina Panthers in 2005, but has bounced around the league the past three years. At 305 pounds, this might be his chance to do more than just play on the practice squad -- a lot more. |
| JvilleJag2 picks DE Julius Williams |
| The undersized pass rusher has wowed the coahes and onlookers since being signed as an undrafted free agent. Williams showed his power when he pressed 225lbs 36 times, one shy of the NFL Combine record. |
| Who is your Out of Nowhere Man? |
2. The Jaguars will be better on the offensive line. Veteran Tra Thomas will start for a while at left tackle -- and he has had a good camp -- because rookie Eugene Monroe missed so much time with his holdout. Monroe will have that job at some point this season. Vince Manuwai is back healthy at left guard and center Brad Meester is stronger after not being able to lift much last season after tearing a biceps muscle in camp. There is a chance Uche Nwaneri could unseat Maurice Williams at right guard. This line will be much better than the injury-plagued group that played in front of David Garrard last season. Right tackle Tony Pashos admittedly has to play better.
3. If the Jaguars are to be better on defense, they have to get more out of tackle John Henderson. In 2006, he was one of the dominant defensive players in the game, but his play has tailed off the past two seasons. His drive has earned him a spot in Del Rio's doghouse, but Henderson is too big and too talented to just send packing. There is some talk that a lingering back problem has forced him to play too high, which leads to him getting blocked easier than in the past. Henderson has to be a force against the run if the defense is to take a step forward.
4. The Jaguars opened a lot of eyes when they traded a 2010 second-round pick to draft corner Derek Cox in the third round of this year's draft. A small-school player out of William & Mary, Cox has had a good camp and could be a starter in the opener. Cox would start opposite Rashean Mathis and could push Brian Williams to the nickel corner spot. Cox has good size and speed and appears comfortable playing man coverage.
5. The Jaguars gave Garrard a $60 million deal in the spring of 2008 and he didn't play well after a good 2007 season. It didn't help that Garrard didn't have good receivers and the line was crippled by injuries, but he also made bad decisions and didn't get the ball deep. The Jaguars have to be better getting big plays in the passing game, which means Garrard has to be better. If he falters, the Jaguars could be forced to draft a quarterback high next spring. Garrard hasn't had a great camp, which has to be a concern.
Mean Greens 
