How Bad Are the Jaguar Receivers?
After watching the Jacksonville Jaguars get beat up by Peyton Manning and company, I came away thinking that the Jaguars offense, especially at the receiver position, needs a huge upgrade. Mike Walker should return next season giving the offense another playmaker. The offense is based on running the ball around aging Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew. The 31 year old Taylor is playing well enough but cannot have many years left in his career. In fact, he has seen his carries per game average decrease for several years.
With David Garrard under center, the Jaguars are left with few playmakers. Yes, Garrard has been solid, but Jones-Drew is arguably the only playmaker on the offense. The wide receivers have not played well. They have invested two first round picks on pass catchers that do not start, Reggie Williams and Matt Jones. Through six games, those two have combined for 19 receptions. In fact, second-year tight end, Marcedes lewis, has more receptions and yards than either.
In 2008, expect a new coaching staff, new starting receivers (other than Northcutt in the slot), and possibly a new quarterback. The Jaguar quarterbacks have totaled a mere 107 pass completions in 172 attempts and only scoring passes. This is not bad, but shows how conservative the offense has been so far limiting any chance of a big play other than Maurice Jones-Drew breaking a long play.
The positive side of things is that the Jaguars are 4-2. But have relied on their stout defense to win the games. In the six games so far this season, the offense has scored 17 or fewer points four times. The good news is that the defense has held their opponents under that number five times.
How long can the defense carry the team? I cannot imagine it will last too long with the upcoming schedule. Look for Jacksonville to be a borderline playoff team. With the Leftwich debacle and now the injury to David garrard, things could get ugly very quickly.
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