Oh Hai, Jagsonville!
After a ridiculously long sabbatical, we’re back.
And in case you weren’t aware, Jaguars Football is back too!
The Jaguars’ 2011 season kicks-off this Sunday at EverBank Field against the Tennessee Titans, on the 10th anniversary of the September 11th attacks. A few months ago, when the lockout was in full-swing, it seemed like this day would never come.
It’s here. And we’re ready.
The most recent and significant piece of Jaguars news is obviously the release of quarterback, David Garrard. After 4 years as the starting quarterback and a less than impressive 2011 pre-season, General Manager Gene Smith decided it was time for the Jaguars and Garrard to part ways. Luke McCown was then elevated to the starting position, with Blaine Gabbert backing him up.
To say I was surprised would probably be an understatement. Not so much at the move itself, but rather the timing - 5 days before the regular season opener. That’s crazy, isn’t it? But crazy or not, ready or not, the Jaguars still have to play on Sunday. And they’ll have to do it against a divisional opponent that always presents a tough, physical match-up.
The Titans play a similar brand of football to the Jaguars. They’ve got a new veteran starting quarterback in Matt Hasselbeck, and they’re a run first team, that leans heavily on one of the best (and now highest paid) running backs in the league in Chris Johnson. Recent reports suggest that Johnson will be “limited” in carries and “monitored” on Sunday, due to a hold-out that ended just a few days ago and concerns over his conditioning. However, I still expect the Titans to try to establish the run early.
All in all, this should be the perfect game to open up the 2011 season. A tough, divisional rival at home, combined with the heightened emotion of remembering a day when we all bled together as a nation. The unabashed love, hope and aspirations for a sports team juxtaposed with extremely humbled perspective. I can’t wait to join my friends in the stands and watch the city come together in support of the Jaguars and in support of this great nation.
Here are some match-ups and things to watch for during the game:
- The Jaguars’ Defensive Line vs. The Titans’ Offensive Line: Can the Jaguars pressure the quarterback? It’s been a focus all off-season and pre-season. Is Aaron Kampman fully healed and able to ignite the line once again? Tyson Alualu looked like a man possessed during training camp and pre-season. He seems poised for a break-out year. Alualu’s dominance seems key to the Jaguars pressuring the quarterback.
- The Jaguars’ Offensive Line vs. the Titans’ Defensive Line: As an area of inconsistency in the pre-season, particularly on the left side with Eugene Monroe and rookie guard Will Rackley, can offensive line provide adequate pass protection for Luke McCown. Starting for the first time in several years, he’s bound to have some butterflies. A solid pocket will help him settle down.
- Luke McCown: Gene Smith and Jack Del Rio have said it, and no doubt believe it. Now it’s time for Luke to show that he gives the Jaguars the best possible option to win on Sundays. He was undoubtedly the best quarterback in training camp. But going against 1st stringers on opening day is quite different than practice against your own teammates and pre-season against back-ups. He seems to take more chances and be more aggressive in the passing game than his predecessor. In today’s NFL, this is a must. Let it fly, Luke.
- Maurice Jones-Drew: He’s the catalyst. As MJD goes, so go the Jaguars. It’s important to get him going early, but off-season knee surgery and limited involvement in camp and the pre-season has people wondering if he’s ready to go. I have a feeling MJD wants the first people that find out the answer to that question to be the Titan’s linebacking corps. It will also be interesting to see the kind of workload he gets. There was a lot of talk in the off-season of limiting the wear and tear on Jones-Drew with the hopes of having him more fresh late in the season. With Rashad Jennings out for the year, the Jags will turn to Deji Karim to spell Jones-Drew and play the “change-of-pace” role with home-run potential.
- The Jaguars’ Receiving Corps: Mike Thomas and Jason Hill are the starters but didn’t show too much in the pre-season. Rookie Cecil Shorts III showed flashes of play-making ability, but also showed that he’s still a rookie. Can they gain separation and make life easier on McCown? Will a new quarterback keep them grounded or give them new life?
- The Jaguars’ Back Seven: The Jaguars spent a lot of money in free-agency to try to improve a defense that ranked at the bottom of the league last year. He’s not exactly Peyton Manning or Aaron Rodgers, but Matt Hasselbeck has shown the Jaguars that he can light them up (See Week 5, 2009). On paper, the Jaguars are much better on defense than they were then.
- Deji Karim, CS3 and the Return Game: Although often overlooked, you can win or lose a game on special teams. The Jaguars were very good on special teams last year. They’ll be good again this year. It’s a phase they are capable of winning every game. Cecil Shorts will be handling punt returns and Karim will be fielding kick-offs. Karim has consistently shown his explosiveness and almost returned a kick-off for a touchdown this pre-season against the New England Patriots. With kick-offs moved up to the 35-yard-line, it seems like he’ll get less opportunities. However, when an opportunity does presents itself, the Jaguars should capitalize and give McCown a shorter field.
