2011 Jacksonville Jaguars Team Preview | NFL Predictions
It seems as though the Jacksonville Jaguars are always in the playoff hunt with three weeks or fewer to go in the regular season, and that – when placed in such a position – they always seem to fold at the end.
2011 Jacksonville Jaguars Team Preview/Predictions
2010 Record: 8-8
ATS Record: 6-10
The 2010 season was no different.
The Jaguars needed a victory and an Indianapolis Colts loss to the Tennessee Titans in order to make the playoffs, but they couldn’t overcome the absence of their top two offensive players.
Trent Edwards was forced to start at quarterback for David Garrard, who had to undergo finger surgery in the last week of the regular season, and Rashad Jennings replaced Maurice Jones-Drew at running back because of a right knee injury that also caused season-ending surgery.
The Jaguars finished the season on a three-game losing streak for the second consecutive year. One could truly say that Jacksonville limped to the finish line.
The Jaguars, who finished their campaign 8-8, have some decisions to make if they want to improve and make the playoffs for the first time since 2007.
Heading into the 2011 season, the biggest question mark is at the quarterback position. Even though Garrard had a decent season in 2010, he had problems with being consistent on a week to week basis and he isn’t getting younger. Jacksonville therefore decided to try to address this need in the 2011 draft, and they selected Blaine Gabbert with the 10th overall pick.
Gabbert will get a chance to prove his worth in the preseason and could even win the starting job, but even if he doesn’t, it still appears that Garrard’s days are certainly numbered.
With Mike Sims-Walker heading to St. Louis via free agency, the Jaguars need to find an established receiver who will be able to complement Mike Thomas on the other end of the field. Thomas is not exactly a number one option at wideout; he is more suited to be a second or third option.
Mercedes Lewis will command more attention from defenses this season, but he will need help if the Jags’ passing game is truly going to thrive. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
One key for the Jacksonville in 2011 with be the health of defensive end Aaron Kampman, who needs to prove that he can stay healthy as he heads to the end of football career.
If he can’t, Jacksonville will need to find someone to step in at defensive end. Derrick Harvey decided to take his talents to the Mile High City to play for the Denver Broncos, and Jacksonville failed to get a premier talent to replace him either in free agency or the draft.
The Jags will more than likely bring back Kirk Morrison at middle linebacker, but the two other linebacker spots could easily use an upgrade for the Jacksonville defense.
The real issue with the Jacksonville defensive unit lies within the secondary, especially the safeties.
None of the current safeties on the roster were talented enough to start for most other NFL franchises, and that reality made average corners Rashean Mathis and Derek Cox look a lot worse than they really are.
If this situation is not addressed in the near future, it will be difficult for the Jaguars’ defense to improve from 2010.
2011 Jaguars Futures
Super Bowl Odds: +6550
Conference Odds: +3050
AFC South Odds: +700
2011-2012 NFL Regular Season Wins: Under 6.5
2011 Jaguars Predictions:
Place they’ll finish in AFC South: 3rd
Place they’ll finish in AFC Conference: 14th
Over/Under Wins Prediction: OVER
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