Training camp in August in Jacksonville, Florida is probably one of the least appealing things in the world for everyone involved. If you have ever been to mini camp or training camp, you’ll remember that Josh Scobee’s goofing around is about all you can see up close. However, this year, the Jaguars have added a little something to sweeten the deal: they’re putting seating closer to the action. I am sure I am not the first to sigh and say “Finally”.

The schedule goes as follows:

Monday, August 3 Practice at 10:45 a.m. and 7:00 p.m.
Tuesday, August 4 Practice at 10:45 a.m. (special teams only) and 7:00 p.m.
Wednesday, August 5 Practice at 10:45 a.m. and 7:00 p.m.
Thursday, August 6 Practice at 10:45 a.m. (special teams only) and 7:00 p.m.
Friday, August 7 Practice at 10:45 a.m. and 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, August 8 Practice at 10:45 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. scrimmage in stadium
Monday, August 10 Practice at 9:00 a.m. and 4:15 p.m. (special teams only)
Tuesday, August 11 Practice at 9:00 a.m. and 4:15 p.m.
Wednesday, August 12 Practice at 9:00 a.m. and 4:15 p.m. (special teams only)
Thursday, August 13 Practice at 9:00 a.m. and 4:15 p.m. — last day of training camp, last day practices are open to the public

Even though the Jaguars have done a lot to give the team a face lift, there are still a lot of pressing needs that the Jaguars have to address if they’re hoping for anything else besides the accomplishment of a winning season. 

1. Depth at Quarterback

Yes, this is the number one need. Why? There is doubt about David Garrard after last year’s performance. However, if Garrard goes down for an extended period of time, the team would be crippled. The two backups the Jaguars have are Cleo Lemon and Todd Bouman.

One almost had a winless season, the other joined the league before Google was a website. 

Bouman may not lose the game for the Jaguars (which is all you can really ask a backup quarterback to do) but he certainly wouldn’t be able to lead the Jaguars to successive wins. I don’t think Lemon would be able to do either task based on his performance with the Miami Dolphins.

The Jaguars used to have fantastic depth at quarterback when Byron Leftwich was the starter, Garrard was the second stringer and Quinn Grey stood at third. Garrard deserves to have that kind of depth behind him as well. The Jaguars could pick up some one like Rex Grossman, who has starter experience and has local appeal as a former Gator quarterback. 

2. A Defensive Tackle for the future

John Henderson is getting older and last season he didn’t perform as well as he did in years past. The Jaguars picked up Terrance Knighton in the third round to help with this problem. He will be able to learn under some one like Henderson and eventually be able to take on his duties full time when Henderson’s time with the Jaguars is done.

However, the Jaguars still need to replace Marcus Stroud and Knighton can’t be both Henderson and Stroud. They need some one to complete their 4-3 defensive line for years to come and if they can’t find some one this off season expect the Jaguars to draft a defensive tackle in the 2010 draft. 

3. Wide Receiver

Yes, this all the way at number three.  It has been a need for so long that it is hard to believe it isn’t the most important.

A team can operate without a stand out receiver. It won’t be flashy. It may not be fun to watch sometimes. But it can operate. It can win games. That is why in the best-available draft philosophy, Eugene Monroe gets picked over Michael Crabtree.   

It is still a need, though. The Jaguars might have addressed it with a diamond in the rough in one of the six wide receiver rookies they have on their roster. They also might have addressed it with Torry Holt but there still needs to be a long term solution.

We won’t really know if this need has been resolved until the season gets underway and the rookies get to show the world what their made of.  Until then, the Jaguars are stuck in a perpetual state of chasing the ghosts of Jimmy Smith and Keenan McCardell.

We all know the 2009 Jaguars will look different. Their helmets are shinier. Their uniforms have upgraded thread technology to have the jerseys breath easier. David Garrard has dropped a few pounds.

And, notably, there are a few new faces wearing what can only be dubbed as the new “armpit stripe” and a few old faces that certainly will not be. 

Fred Taylor is the most recognized face that will not be returning this year. He will be dawning red, white and blue in New England. Other players like Matt Jones and Reggie Williams will be watching the Jaguars games on TV. It will certainly change how the plays are set up, especially when you consider who the Jaguars have replaced them with.

The Jaguars made two big moves in signing Tra Thomas and Torry Holt. Thomas, who is a giant of a man, is an experienced veteran looking to fill the holes on the offensive line. Holt, with his magically disfigured finger,  was signed to help the Jaguars chase the ghost of Jimmy Smith.

In the draft, the Jaguars also picked up two offensive tackles, a defensive tackle, a cornerback, a handful of wide receivers, a quarterback playing as a tight end and a running back. 

So how will all that change the way the Jaguars play in 2009? 

The Jaguars obviously addressed a crippling need in the offensive line. If they were successful in their draft and in the signing of Thomas, it will completely open up their playbook. The Jaguars struggled with the fundamentals in 2008: protecting the quarterback, running the ball and, you know, actually putting up points. 

By having depth at the offensive line, the Jaguars will give themselves a fighting chance. Instead of losing the game in the trenches, they will ensure the long, draw out drives that led them to success in 2007.

Garrard will have the ability to throw down the field because he will be given time to do it. Even if Holt turns out to be a dud, Garrard succeeded in his job in 2007 with Dennis Northcutt, Matt Jones and Reggie Williams. Garrard has proven that if he isn’t rushed he is able to throw accurate, intelligent passes. 

Another plus of a healthy offensive line is that Maurice Jones-Drew will actually be able to move the ball down field without having to dodge three tackles before he reaches the line of scrimmage. Garrard’s dump passes to Jones-Drew in 2008 ensured that Jones-Drew would be sore the next morning from all the knocks he endured.

Now he doesn’t have to worry about that. Jones-Drew doesn’t have the burst of speed in the open field like Fred Taylor does but he will definitely be able to deliver down after down with a capable offensive line. 

The most interesting addition to the team is former college quarterback turned NFL tight end Zach Miller. He is the small school’s Tim Tebow. He can run, he can throw, he can block. I know a lot of people make disparaging comments about Miami’s wild cat formation but he would fit that part perfectly. 

Yeah, I know. It is a trick play. But is anyone going to complain when it puts points on the board? Did anyone say anything when special teams super star Montell Owens scored on a trick play against Houston in 2008? No. We’re happy with what we get.

It is the off season right now. It is hard to see how the moves that the Jaguars made would hurt the team. After last year’s performance, it is hard to imagine anything could hurt the team much more. But hey, the NFL is controlled chaos. You can plan for everything and still be unprepared. 

The Jaguars have gone through a redefining stage this off season. Now it is time to see that translate into redefining the play on Sundays.

There is no doubt about it. Playing in the AFC South is playing knowing that your best may not be good enough. When you play along side the Colts, Titans, Jaguars and Texans you know your journey to the playoffs won’t be with a confident strut. It will be more like a few cautious steps as you always look over your shoulder, seeing how close your competitor is behind you. 

The Titans managed to snatch the lead out of the Colts’ hands for the first time since 2003. With the fall of Vince Young and the rise of Kerry Collins, the Titans went on to win 11 games straight. However, a key component of those wins will not be returning to Tennessee in the 2009 season. Albert Haynesworth will be playing happily with his engorged contract in Washington. It is difficult to see Tennessee winning the division again but that does not mean they will not be an ever-present thorn in the side of the Jaguars’ playoff chances. Defeating the Titans is something the Jaguars have always struggled to do. 

Even though the Colts relinquished their hold on the AFC South, they were still a force to fear and respect. They started off their season on a bad foot (or should I say a bad knee?) but managed to recover in typical Colts fashion. When things started to look bad, Peyton Manning got his hands on the ball and you knew there was too much time left on the clock to count them out. The Colts started off  3-4 but ended the season with an 12-4 record. Even though they are under a new head coach, Tony Dungy’s presence will still be felt. As we saw with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, that is sometimes all you need in order to get into the playoffs. The Jaguars still have to get their Colts monkey off their back in order to have any strong presence in the post-season. 

The Texans are the wild card. They probably won’t make it to the playoffs but they will surely get in the way of anyone who tries. They are a young franchise but they are gaining ground with every season that passes. They certainly have the number of every AFC South team. The Texans splitting the wins with their AFC South brethren is not a hard idea to swallow. The Jaguars are the last AFC South opponent they face and you would be smart to bet on the fact that they will play that game for all its worth. 

The Jaguars themselves are a huge “if”. It will be remarkable if they make it as far as the playoffs this season. It would be much more likely to see them stronger in the 2010 season when they have another draft under their belts and they are able to fill more of their holes. However, that seems to be just the type of element the Jaguars thrive on. The Jaguars are the team to surprise you when you’re least expecting it, a story told throughout their short history.

One question was posed to me more than any other during the 2008 season.

“What went wrong?”

Some blamed David Garrard, the wide receivers, the defense being soft, the coaches, locker room chemistry. When your ship starts to sink as quickly as the Jaguars’ did last year, it is hard to find a captain to go down with it. Fingers were pointed at everything and everyone. I’m sure if you looked hard enough you’ll be able to find some one on the internet who blames the Jaguars’ failure on the conservative outfits of the cheerleaders.

If you asked fans then what the future of the franchise would be you would only get a response full of doom and gloom. That was in December.

It is now May. Hope has seeped into the minds of fans everywhere. Gene Smith is amazing. Did you see that draft? Our prayers have been answered. Derek Cox is going to lead us to the Super Bowl one pick at a time.

That is… until August comes around and the first preseason game is knocking at the door. Suddenly the mini-camp and training camp super stars falter against men bigger, faster and more talented than them. The fan barometer switches into panic mode and all is lost because Cox was smoked by some back up wide receiver on the Dolphins.

So what is a realistic expectation for the Jaguars?

They could make the playoffs if luck goes their way.

It is very true that the Jaguars seemingly helped themselves in the off season thus far. Torry Holt is a star player. Eugene Monroe and Eben Britton can only help the offensive line. However, they also lost Fred Taylor. Maurice Jones-Drew is a phenomenal player but there is still a nagging question: can he carry the load himself? Then you have to ask about Garrard. Was that first year a fluke and the second year a real showing of his talent? Or is the other way around?

The season ahead is not a walk through the park. The Jaguars have patched up some shaky areas but their list of needs is still too long to make a safe bet on them making the playoffs. Sure, they have guys at the offensive line. They have a wide receiver in Holt. They have Garrard.

What happens if Garrard gets hurt? The Jaguars have absolutely no depth at quarterback. If Holt turns out to be wash up, there is hardly anyone on the roster that could help carry that load.

Those are hurdles the Jaguars will have to overcome in order to get to the playoffs. They can do it if things go like they’re planned. If Garrard returns to form. If Holt provides the offense with a weapon. If the defense can stand up to the pass game. If Jones-Drew can carry the load by himself.

It is a whole lot of ifs but in the world of controlled chaos that is professional football, having luck on your side is sometimes all you need to see those ifs turning into reality.

Today was the first day of the Jaguars Mini Camp and it was great to see the team back on the field.  There was a healthy crowd considering it was at 4pm on a Friday and the crowd definitely had a postive buzz.  The defense worked on the far field so it was hard to see much of their practice so my details on them are a little sketchy.  I did see lots of the new WRs along with the QBs.   Now for a few notes:

-Garrard is leaner, Landry is bigger and the O-Line is absolutely huge.  Tra Thomas and Eugene Monroe were particularly large.

-Jarret Dillard has great hands, never letting the ball get to his chest.  He was also able to get out of his routes quickly.

-Mike Thomas did look short on the field but he caught everything that was thrown his way.  I was worried that Garrard would overthrow him but he was able to keep the ball down.

-The real highlight was Derek Cox who was quick to the ball and even got an interception.  All the doubters beware, we could have another Mathis in our midst.

-Brian Williams was lined up as a CB and Considine was playing Safety.

-Tiquan Underwood dropped a few balls.

-Torry Holt looked to be kind of going at half speed to me but you have to figure that an 11 year veteran has little patience for mini camp.

-The word out of the morning was that Lemon looked bad but I thought he wasn’t too terrible in the afternoon.  The other young QBs did not look impressive.

-Saw Weatherford hitting some corner kicks, Podlesh looked mediocre.  This should be interesting at training camp.

If there is anything else you want to know just leave  a comment below and I will do my best to answer your questions.

Want to see all of the new rookies plus free agents Tory Holt and Tra Thomas in action?

Well this weekend you will have the chance as the 2009 Jaguars take to the field for their annual mini camp.

There will be 5 workouts but only three will be open to the public. Here are the times and dates of the public workouts:

Friday May 1st at 4:00 p.m.

Saturday May 2nd at 10:30 a.m.

Saturday May 2nd at 4:00 p.m.

Black and Teal will definitely be at the Saturday morning workout so if you see us in the stands make sure to say hi!

After trading the 7th round pick that they acquired by trading Tony McDaniels, the Jaguars were left with just the two compensatory picks that they were awarded.

With the first of the picks, the Jaguars selected RB Rashad Jennings from Liberty. Rashad was on Twitter during the draft and I watched as he got more and more disappointed as the rounds went by. I sent him a tweet telling to keep his head up and that I hoped the Jags would pick him up. Sure enough they did and we got a steal at the end of the 7th round. In 2008 he rushed for 1,507 yards and scored 17 touchdowns. For more proof check out this highlight film:

With their second pick in the 7th round, the Jaguars selected Tiquan Underwood WR from Rutgers. Though he was overshadowed in the draft by his teammate Kenny Britt, Tiquan Underwood bests him in terms of speed, putting up a 4.41 time at the combine. He also had a second best vertical leap at the combine jumping 41.5 inches. (On a side note, I find it interesting that the Jaguars drafted the three receivers with the best vertical leaps at the combine. Dillard had a 42.5, Underwood had a 41.5 and Thomas had 40.5) Check out this footage of Tiquan Underwood in action:

The first thing you will say when I say Zach Miller from Nebraska-Omaha is: Who?

Believe me, I said the same thing too when I saw the pick come in. So I did some research and I like what I see.

He was a college QB, similar in size and speed to a Tim Tebow, but projected at the NFL as a TE. Here are some nasty videos of him in college that shows the moves that he has in the open field:

Now I know this could bring back flashbacks of Matt Jones but remember this is a 6th round pick, not a 1st round pick. Is the Wildcat in our future?