Jaguars Journal
by Sam Kouvaris
August 13, 2010
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Eagles Preview
We had a little exercise on the radio show today (The Sam Kouvaris Show, 10AM, 1010XL in Jacksonville) where we ran down the all-time Jaguars team.
Some positions are easy: MJD, Fred Taylor, Jimmy, Keenan, Boselli, Searcy and Brackens. But that’s just about where it ends. Perhaps Rashean and maybe Daryl Smith. And Brad Meester gets some support at center.
But the whole point of the exercise was to identify whom on the 2010 Jaguars qualifies as one of the best Jaguars of all-time at his position. Or even if they have the potential to get there.
The conclusion: not very many.
And that’s not a good predictor of what might happen to this team this year.
Clearly tonight’s game against the Eagles isn’t going to make or break anybody’s career but it’s another step in shaping the roster this year. It’s been a busy week for the team and very different kind of week. Off to Atlanta for a couple of days, back here for practice then off to Philadelphia for an actual game. Some players react to that by stepping up their game, others just can’t handle the break from the routine. So this week is as much of a mental game as a physical competition.
Don’t expect to see much from the starters, especially the skill players. Hopefully David Garrard and MJD get a few reps in, have some success and get off the field. Let’s see what their backups can do when called on to produce. It’s not just about the 22 starters; it’s about the 53 guys on the final roster.
On offense, we’ll see if Mike Thomas can continue his outstanding performance in this camp and take it into a game situation. It’s a position the Jaguars have to improve on if they expect to be a contender. There’s some competition in the middle of the offensive line, but it’ll be a makeshift group based on the different players who are sitting out because of minor bumps and bruises.
Defensively, we won’t see much continuity tonight but some positions have to show improvement. Derrick Harvey has to give fans some hope that he’ll be putting pressure on the quarterback this year. Kirk Morrison has a chance to let everybody know that he can play as well as he can talk. And Sean Considine can show that there’s a correlation between what he can do against his own teammates and what he can bring to a game.
No injuries would be a real plus because camp still isn’t even over. That’ll finish next Wednesday.
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