Jacksonville Jaguars

A new, less dictatorial coach and a fun-loving defensive star have everyone smiling at last

By Jeffri Chadiha

Team Page | Schedule | Depth chart | 2002 Stats | Predicted finish: 3rd in AFC South

A curious reporter posed the question, and Hugh Douglas answered the only way he knows -- candidly. The period for signing unrestricted free agents was only a few days old when Douglas was asked if he might join the Jaguars following five seasons with the Eagles. He said if he did, it would be "only for the money."

The Jaguars showed they are serious about upgrading their defense by luring Douglas away from Philadelphia. Bill Frakes

It was a throwaway line, but now that the three-time Pro Bowl defensive end is a Jaguar, he's still trying to live it down. He says he hadn't realized at the time that Jacksonville ranked higher in total defense (20th in the NFL) than his most ardent suitors, Kansas City and Seattle. Nor had he studied Jacksonville's roster closely enough to see that it had some really talented players. "Eventually I realized the situation wasn't that bad," he says.

Though Douglas did go for the money (he received a $6 million signing bonus), he believes Jacksonville has more promise than last season's 6-10 record might suggest. Jack Del Rio, the player-friendly new coach who was hired last January to replace straitlaced Tom Coughlin, wants his defense to set a tone, and the 6'2", 280-pound Douglas should be just what the Jaguars' tepid pass rush needed. Douglas has 73 1/2 sacks in eight NFL seasons, and last year he notched 12 1/2, despite playing nearly half the season with a painful bone bruise on his left knee. Jacksonville had only 36 sacks in 2002, and no Jaguar got more than 6 1/2.

Mike Smith, the Jaguars' new defensive coordinator, loves Douglas's exceptional lower-body strength, quick hands and relentlessly aggressive play. Smith also hopes that Douglas will have a positive impact in the locker room. He was the resident jester in Philadelphia, gleefully baiting teammates and often supplying the funniest quotes to reporters. He has been more subdued since coming to Jacksonville, but Del Rio says, "He'll lighten things up, which is what we want to do with this group."

Douglas, 32, has already found plenty of other jokesters in his new workplace. "I think I'm getting paid back for all the stuff I pulled in Philadelphia," he says. "There isn't a day that goes by that I'm not the butt of somebody's joke. [Linebacker] Eric Westmoreland rips on my hair and my clothes every chance he gets. I've learned there's a lot of personality on this team. The guys probably couldn't show it under the last coach, but they're letting it out now."

Jacksonville's defense could create problems for opponents if Douglas hits double digits in sacks. The health of defensive end Tony Brackens -- who is recovering from an appendectomy and microfracture surgery on his left knee -- remains uncertain, but promising defensive tackles John Henderson and Marcus Stroud, who each had 6 1/2 sacks in 2002, are both back. Seeking to improve the unit's speed, the Jaguars added free-agent linebackers Mike Peterson, who led the Colts in tackles in 2002, and Keith Mitchell. Jacksonville should be more aggressive, reflecting the principles Del Rio used while coordinating a Panthers' defense that ranked second in the league last season. "Our attitude is focused on playing faster," says strong safety Donovin Darius. "Last year we were passive. We played a lot of zone and read-and-react schemes, and at times we weren't all on the same page. I can already tell we'll be more in sync."

The 40-year-old Del Rio has injected energy into a franchise that sorely needed it after eight seasons under the dictatorial Coughlin. The new coach acknowledges he doesn't have a great feel for his team yet. "I'm looking forward to seeing how they respond when adversity hits," he says.

Douglas is ready. He's heard talk that the large signing bonus he received will sap his motivation and that his knee might be worse than he'll admit. He scoffs at both suggestions. "I don't know when all these issues came up with me," he says. "Everything was fine when I was helping Philadelphia make the playoffs. Now my age is a factor and my knee is a question mark. But people can say what they want. If I just play my game, I'll be fine."

Enemy Lines: An opposing scout's view

"Offensively, I think they're trying to get their line settled for the next few years. They've got a lot of young guys up front, and they signed a good player in Chris Naeole. He gives them a surly attitude, and if he gets his hands on a guy, you can forget about it. He's a mauler.... If they get that line set, they have to feel good about their running game, because Fred Taylor is the most underrated back in this league. He's injury-prone, but when he's healthy, he's scary.... I don't know what their deal is with Mark Brunell. We think he's a very good quarterback, but they screw with him every year.... Obviously Hugh Douglas isn't a long-term answer, but he should give them one or two good years.... They need Tony Brackens to get healthy. He was on the verge of being great, a guy who could get 15 sacks a year, but he's never come back from the knee injury he had a few years ago.... The addition of Mike Peterson was big. I liked him when he was in Indianapolis because he gave [the Colts] some personality.... They've really improved their personnel. The question is, how well can Jack Del Rio and [club vice president] James Harris work together?"

Under the Gun

Cornerback Fernando Bryant is a four-year starter, but at 5'10", 180 pounds, he may be too small for coach Jack Del Rio, who loves big corners. That's why he tried trading Bryant this spring. Bryant still has good instincts and terrific closing speed, but he's in the final year of his contract. He'll spend most of this season auditioning for other teams.

Issue date: September 1, 2003