BetUS $500 Match Bonus
Sign up for a new account with BetUS and deposit $500 or more to get a $500 match bonus!

$20 Free Play at Sportsbook.com
Your first bet is free when you open a new account at sportsbook.com!

Jacksonville Jaguars 2009 NFL Predictions

Written August 11, 2009 by InfoPlays

2009 Jacksonville Jaguars NFL Predictions The Jacksonville Jaguars have undergone an extreme makeover after last year’s debacle. They have a whole new front office, and new general manager Gene Smith wanted players with talent and character. Fred Taylor, the 16th-leading rusher in NFL history, was released. Also among the departed are Matt Jones, Reggie Williams, Khalif Barnes, Mike Peterson, Gerald Sensabaugh and Paul Spicer. Also gone are last year’s free agent signees in Jerry Porter and Drayton Florence, both of which were busts. 15 players ended the season on the injured reserve last year, but with most of them back the Jaguars are expecting big things in 2009. Jacksonville is listed at +240 to win the AFC South according to the most recent NFL odds at Sportsbook.com.

Offense: After posting a stunning 102.2 quarterback rating in 2007, Davard Garrard struggled to get his team to score points last season. It was largely due to injuries on the offensive line. There are also questions about his leadership skills because he’s a quiet guy who doesn’t get on his teammates. He has vowed to become a more vocal leader this season in hopes of turning this franchise around. Getting Maurice Jones-Drew signed long-term was the team’s top priority in the offseason, and that was even before they released Fred Taylor. He is now on board with a five-year contract worth $31 million. Jones-Drew will be the cornerstone of this offense for years to come. He led the team with 824 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns last season. He also led all NFL running backs with 565 receiving yards on 62 receptions. Greg Jones mans the fullback position and he’ll get some carries this year to spell Jones-Drew. Montell Owens and Chauncey Washington will fight for carries as well.

The Jaguars have used their No. 1 pick on a receiver three times, and three times they have come away disappointed. Two of those picks in Matt Jones and Reggie Williams are gone, as is Jerry Porter who was supposed to be their No. 1 guy last season. Enter Torry Holt. Though his 64 catches for 796 yards and three touchdowns last season in St. Louis were low by his standards, he would have been the toast of Jacksonville had he put of those numbers for the Jaguars. Dennis Northcutt put up a pair of 100-yard games late last season, but he has been traded away in the offseason. Mike Walker has battled through injuries in his first two seasons and the Jags really need him to stay healthy and produce on the field in his third season. Troy Williamson played in only eight games last season, and he has problems with dropping the ball. The Jaguars drafted a pair of wide receivers in the middle rounds of the draft in Mike Thomas from Arizona and Jarett Dillard from Rice and they have high hopes for both guys. Tight end is in good hands with Marcedes Lewis who has great hands and isn’t afraid to block in the running game. Three starters return from injury on the offensive line, and three high-profile newcomers were added in the offseason to shore up the blocking. Jacksonville spent their first two draft picks on Eugene Monroe from Virginia and Eben Britton from Arizona. These two could anchor the tackles spots for years to come. Tra Thomas was signed as a free agent for a proven tackle to mentor the rookies. Center Brad Meester returns healthy, and guards Vince Manuwai and Maurice Williams return from injury. In their absences last season, the line earned quality depth as Dennis Norman and Uche Nwaneri saw significant action. Right tackle Tony Pashos will really be pushed for playing time considering his penchant for holding penalties has him in the doghouse.

Sign up for a new account at BetUS to get your NFL betting underway with $500 free cash! All you have to do is deposit $500 or more initially to claim your bonus!

Defense: Del Rio has always been a hard-nosed defensive-minded coach, and he wants his team to get back to playing that way in 2009. Tackle John Henderson is back to anchor the middle of the line. Rob Meier started 15 games at the other tackle spot last year, but he hasn’t lived up to Del Rio’s expectations and could find himself playing behind third-round draft pick Terrance Knighton from Temple. Ends Derrick Harvey and Quentin Groves return with a year’s experience under their belts. Reggie Hayward starts at the other end. Del Rio likes backup Mkristo Bruce. The linebacker position remains solid even with the departure of Mike Peterson. Daryl Smith moved to middle linebacker last season and played well there. Del Rio believes Smith is a Pro Bowl-caliber player. Clint Ingram and Justin Durant are both big hitters on the outside who each started 12 games last season. Brian Iwuh and Thomas Williams are the backups, but surprisingly the Jaguars didn’t go after linebackers in the offseason so depth remains a concern.

Cornerback Rashean Mathis is the leader and playmaker of the secondary, and he returns healthy after going on the injured reserve with a knee injury last season. He comes up with big interceptions, but he also gives up his share of big plays by gambling a lot. Brian Williams moves back to cornerback after an experiment at safety last season. The Jaguars are looking for early help from Derek Cox, whom they gave their 2010 second-round pick to New England in order to be able to move up and get him out of William & Mary. If Cox is fit to play in his rookie season, then Williams may yet be back at safety. Free agent safety Sean Considine from Philadelphia must help Reggie Nelson return to his 2007 form. Nelson’s play suffered last season at free safety because he had to coach the secondary while on the field. Defensive backs Gerald Alexander and Marlon McCree have been signed in the offseason to give the secondary more depth, but not much extra playmaking.

InfoPlays Prediction: 4th in the AFC South – There are more question marks surrounding the Jaguars than any other team in this division. Sure, we could see them challenging the Colts for the title, but with all the injuries they suffered last season this team is filled with question after question. The offensive line should be better, but there’s no guarantee their rookies will pan out. The defense has far too many holes across the board, especially at linebacker and in the secondary, to be counted on to make a big improvement from last year. The Jaguars didn’t hold any opponents to less than 14 points last season, and they gave up 20 or more points in 12 of their 16 games. That’s not going to cut it.

NFL Picks can help you out when you can’t seem to win on your own! Sign up with InfoPlays and trust in our football picks to treat you right this season!

If you liked this article, you may also be interested in:

No comments yet, but your thoughts are welcome!

Comments

Got something to say?