48-year old head coach Jack Del Rio is on the hot seat in Jacksonville.  He led the Jaguars to an 8-8 record last year as they just missed the playoffs.  The Jaguars are now 65-63 (50.8%) during the regular season and 1-2 (33.3%) in the post-season under Del Rio.  Cutting David Garrard earlier today and going with Luke McCown as the starting QB is going to make things even tougher for the Jaguars in 2011.  I have a feeling that Del Rio might be fired by December.

The Jaguars are likely to be a run first team again in 2011.  26-year old Maurice Jones-Drew says that his knee is 100% for the 2011 season.  Drew played in 14 games (all starts) for the Jaguars last year and he carried the ball 299 times for 1,324 yards (4.4 ypc) with 5 TD carries.  He also caught 34 passes for 317 yards (9.3 avg) with 2 TD grabs last season.  The Jaguars will likely try to watch Drew’s workload in 2011 in an attempt to keep him in one piece all year long.  Drew has played in 77 games (34 starts) in his first five years with the Jaguars and he has carried the ball 1,141 times for 5,248 yards (4.6 ypc) with 54 TD runs.  He has also caught 235 passes for 2,099 yards (8.9 avg) with 7 TD grabs so far in his career.

26-year old Rashad Jennings proved to be a very capable replacement for Maurice Jones-Drew when he was injured or needed a break.  Jennings played in 13 games (3 starts) for the Jaguars last year and he carried the ball 84 times for 459 yards (5.5 ypc) with 4 TD runs.  He also caught 26 passes for 223 yards (8.6 avg) last year.  Jennings is a really good RB, so the Jags don’t suffer much of a dropoff offensively when he’s on the field.  Jennings has now played in 28 games (3 starts) in his first two years in the NFL and he has carried the ball 123 times for 661 yards (5.4 ypc) with 5 TD runs.  He also has caught 42 passes for 324 yards (7.7 avg) in his NFL career to date.

24-year old Deji Karim made most of his rookie money on special teams returning kickoffs.  He played in 11 games (0 starts) for the Jaguars last year and he carried the ball 35 times for 160 yards (4.6 ypc).  Karim also caught 3 passes for 10 yards (3.3 avg) last year.  Karim had a solid rookie year in which he proved to be a big asset for the Jaguars.  He has a bright future with the team going forward.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE JAGUARS RBS IN 2011:  A

Time could be running out for 33-year old David Garrard.  That is because the Jags’ used their first round pick last April on 21-year old rookie QB Blaine Gabbert.  Garrard needs to get off to a good start in 2011 to keep his starting job at QB.  Garrard played in 14 games (all starts) for the Jaguars last year and he completed 236 of 366 passes (64.5%) for 2,734 yards with 23 TD passes and 15 INTs (90.8 QB Rating).  Garrard also carried the ball 66 times for 279 yards (4.2 ypc) with 5 TD runs last year.  Garrard is a very underrated QB in my opinion as he has never really had a good set of receivers to throw to in Jacksonville.  Garrard has now played in 86 games (76 starts) inn his first 9 years with the Jaguars and he has completed 1,406 of 2,281 passes (61.6%) for 16,003 yards with 89 TD passes and 54 INTs (85.8 QB Rating).  Garrard also has carried the ball 380 times for 1,746 yards (4.6 ypc) with 17 TD runs for the Jags.  Garrard has a 39-37 (51.3%) record as the starting QB of the Jaguars.

21-year old Blaine Gabbert is the Jaguars’ QB of the future.  The Jaguars traded up to get Gabbert who was their highest rated QB on the draft board.  He is going to be a solid QB for a long time and he might get his first taste of the NFL during the 2011 regular season.  David Garrard is on thin ice at QB, so the Jaguars might turn to the future this year with Gabbert at QB.  The better way to do things would probably be to let Garrard play this year while Gabbert learns before just throwing him into the fire.

30-year old Luke McCown will be the Jags’ #3 QB in 2011.  McCown played in 1 game (0 starts) for the Jags last year and he completed 11 of 19 passes (57.9%) for 120 yards with 0 TD passes and 0 INTs (76.6 QB Rating).  He also carried the ball 1 time for 4 yards last year.  McCown has now played in 16 games (7 starts) in his first seven years in the NFL and he has completed 154 of 260 passes (59.2%) for 1,739 yards with 9 TD passes and 10 INTs (74.8 QB Rating).  McCown also has carried the ball 22 times for 161 yards (7.3 ypc) in his NFL career. 

PROJECTED GRADE FOR JAGUARS QBS IN 2011:  B-

23-year old WR Mike Thomas played in 14 games for the Jaguars last season and he returned 26 kickoffs for 644 yards (24.8 avg).  Thomas will likely be moving into the starting lineup at WR but they don’t have anyone better than him to return kickoffs in 2010 so I see him keeping the job.  He has a lot of moves that often get him extra yards so the Jags should consistently have good starting field position for the offense in 2010.

The Jaguars have good reason to expect more out of the O-Line in 2010 as the unit has a good mix of young up and coming players and veteran know how.  LT Eugene Monroe was a first round pick of the Jags in 2009.  He has more than enough talent to become a dominating left tackle in the NFL.  But the Jags will have to keep him motivated and focused as Monroe didn’t seem to play hard on every play as a rookie.  Vince Manuwai is a dominating run blocker when healthy and he will be able to help out Monroe when he needs it.  Veteran Brad Meester is a tough guy that makes all of the line calls but he appears to be running on fumes.  Uche Nwaneri will likely have to hold off Kynan Forney for the starting RG spot.  Nwaneri runs hot and cold while Forney is a very solid pass blocker.  It’s possible that they will share the spot in 2010.  RT Eben Britton was outstanding as a rookie last season as he plays with a very nasty demeanor.  He could be a Pro Bowler in the very near future for the Jags.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE JAGUARS O-LINE in 2010:  B

47-year old head coach Jack Del Rio enters the 2010 season firmly on the hot seat.  Del Rio led the Jaguars to a very disappointing 7-9 (43.8%) record last season.  The Jaguars are now 57-55 (50.9%) in Del Rio’s 7 years in charge.  Del Rio is also 1-2 in his career in the post season.  Personally I think the Jaguars have to make the playoffs in 2010 for Del Rio to keep his job past this season. 

28-year old kicker Josh Scobee cost the Jaguars some games last season by leaving points on the field.  He played in 16 games for the Jaguars last season and he made 18 of 28 field goals (64.3%).  Scobee has also made 30 of 31 extra points as he finished last season with 84 points for the Jags.  Scobee has now played in 88 games in his career and he has made 122 of 159 field goals (76.7%).  He has also made 189 of 192 extra points as he has 555 career points.  Scobee needs to play better or he will be looking for a new job as early as 2010.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE JAGUARS KICKERS in 2010:  C-

25-year old Mike Sims-Walker was finally healthy in 2009 and he showed what he could do.  Sims-Walker played in 15 games (14 starts) for the Jaguars last season and he caught 63 passes for 869 yards (13.8 avg) with 7 TD grabs.  The Jaguars hope that Sims-Walker takes the next step which would provide them with a true #1 WR which they have not had since Jimmy Smith played for them.  Sims-Walker has now played in 24 games (15 starts) with the Jags and he has caught 79 passes for 1,086 yards (13.7 avg) with 7 TD grabs.

23-year old Mike Thomas really played well as a rookie last year for the Jags.  He played in 14 games (4 starts) for the Jaguars last season and he caught 48 passes for 453 yards (9.4 avg) with 1 TD grab.  Thomas also carried the ball 12 times for 86 yards (7.2 ypc) last season.  Thomas projects out to more of a #3 type WR because of his size but he might have to start for the Jags in 2010.

24-year old Jarrett Dillard missed half of his rookie year due to injury.  Dillard played in 7 games (0 starts) for the Jaguars last season and he caught 6 passes for 106 yards (17.7 avg).  The Jags probably have Dillard penciled in as the #3 WR but he could be beaten out for that job in training camp.

27-year old Troy Williamson is a speed burner who had an outstanding pre-season for the Jags last season before getting injured in the Jags second game of the year which caused him to miss the rest of the season.  Williamson played in 2 games (1 start) for the Jags last season and he caught 3 passes for 34 yards (11.3 avg).  Williamson has now played in 49 games (24 starts) in his five years in the NFL and he has caught 87 passes for 1,131 yards (13.0 avg) with 4 TD grabs.  Williamson could either work his way into the starting lineup or a backup role…..or off the roster based on his play this summer in training camp.

30-year old Kassim Osgood was lured to sign with the Jaguars this off-season with the promise of using him a lot on offense.  Osgood played in 16 games (0 starts) for the Chargers last season and he caught 1 pass for 17 yards.  Osgood has now played in 108 games (17 starts) in his NFL career and he has caught 33 passes for 647 yards (19.6 avg) with 4 TD grabs.  Osgood will still play a lot of special teams for the Jags as he has made it to three Pro Bowls in that capacity.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE JAGUARS WRs in 2010:  C

26-year old Marcedes Lewis will have to fight for his starting job this season as Zach Miller came on strong late in his rookie year in 2009.  Lewis played in 15 games (all starts) for the Jaguars last season and he caught 32 passes for 518 yards (16.2 avg) with 2 TD grabs.  He has now played in 62 games (50 starts) in his five years with the Jags and he has caught 123 passes for 1,524 yards (12.4 avg) with 7 TD grabs. 

25-year old Zach Miller came on strong late last season for the Jaguars.  He was a sixth round pick two April’s ago so the Jaguars might have a draft steal on their hands.  Miller played in 14 games (0 starts) for the Jaguars last season and he caught 21 passes for 212 yards (10.1 avg) with 2 TD grabs.  Look for Miller to push Lewis for the starting job this training camp.

31-year old converted WR Ernest Wilford will serve as the Jags’ #3 TE in 2010.  Wilford played in 15 games (7 starts) for the Jaguars last season and he caught 11 passes for 123 yards (11.2 avg) with 1 TD grab.  He has now played in 85 games (44 starts) in his six years in the NFL and he has caught 155 passes for 2,142 yards (13.8 avg) with 15 TD grabs.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE JAGUARS TEs in 2010:  B

29-year old Greg Jones will be back in 2010 to open up holes for Maurice Jones-Drew and he’s good at his job.  Jones played in 13 games (7 starts) for the Jaguars last season in which he carried the ball 4 times for 23 yards (5.8 ypc).  He also caught 5 passes for 14 yards (2.8 avg) last season.  He has now played in 71 games (41 starts) in his five years with the Jags and he has carried the ball 261 times for 892 yards (3.4 ypc) with 9 TD runs.  Jones has also caught 42 passes for 307 yards (7.3 avg) with 3 TD grabs in his career to date.  Jones isn’t your typical FB as he can play tailback if the need arises for the Jags in 2010.

26-year old Montell Owens will battle 25-year old Brock Bolen for the right to back up Jones in 2010.  Owens played in all 16 games (0 starts) for the Jags last season in which he carried the ball 2 times for 1 yard (0.5 ypc).  Owens has now played in 62 games (0 starts) in his NFL career and he has carried the ball 4 times for 44 yards (11.0 ypc).  He has also caught 2 passes for 17 yards (8.5 avg) in his career.  Owens has a leg up on Bolen who played in his first 3 NFL games (0 starts) last season without touching the football.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE JAGUARS FBs in 2010:  B