J A C K S O N V I L L E   J A G U A R S
Go-To Guy | Weakest Link | Burning Question | Offseason Movement

Glance Head coach: Tom Coughlin 2001: Results 2002: Draft picks Training camp: July 25 at ALLTEL Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla.  2002 Schedule Date  Vs.  Time  Sept. 8  IND.  1 p.m.  Sept. 15  at K.C.  1 p.m.  Sept. 22  Open     Sept. 29  NYJ  1 p.m.  Oct. 6  PHI.  4:15 p.m.  Oct. 13  at Ten.  1 p.m.  Oct. 20  at Bal.  1 p.m.  Oct. 27  HOU.  4:15 p.m.  Nov. 3  at NYG  8:30 p.m.  Nov. 10  WAS.  4:05 p.m.  Nov. 17  at Hou.  4:15 p.m.  Nov. 24  at Dal.  1 p.m.  Dec. 1  PIT.  1 p.m.  Dec. 8  CLE.  1 p.m.  Dec. 15  at Cin.  1 p.m.  Dec. 22  TEN.  1 p.m.  Dec. 29  at Ind.  4:05 p.m.

By B. Duane Cross, CNNSI.com

It's the most sweeping overhaul Jacksonville has seen since the team revamped its logo in 1994 -- even before its first game -- replacing the leaping jaguar on a silver helmet for the animal's growling head on a black helmet.

Jacksonville rolled the dice in 2001 ... and the ivory came up snake eyes. The Jaguars' offseason ledger tipped the scales about $28 million over the salary cap, thanks to last season's restructuring of 32 veterans' contract that pushed money into 2002.

The end result: Jacksonville now is without six of its top seven defensive players (Hardy Nickerson, Kevin Hardy, Gary Walker, Renaldo Wynn, Seth Payne and Aaron Beasley) and two of its top four offensive players (Tony Boselli and Keenan McCardell), not to mention kicker Mike Hollis. The releases of Nickerson and McCardell alone allowed the Jaguars to free $6.5 million under the cap.

And now, the Jaguars -- younger and inexperienced -- are not expected to compete for a postseason berth this season.

However, all is not hopeless. Mark Brunell and Jimmy Smith, Pro Bowl candidates at quarterback and receiver, respectively, remain. And Fred Taylor, though oft-injured, is returning.

Taylor, who has played in 40 of 64 regular-season games since being drafted in the first round in 1998, predicted he will lead the NFL in rushing this season and will "learn how to play not at 100 percent" while "stepping out of bounds" more often this season to help avoid injuries.

Smith, never one to pull punches or side-step a question, is matter-of-fact in his evaluation: "Well, it can go one of two ways. It can continue to get worse, or it can get better. I don't know what's going to happen."

Head coach Tom Coughlin, whose task-master tactics have been openly criticized by several veterans, said the Jaguars' personnel decisions has been a sign of the times. "It's a time of change in our country," he said. "It's a time of change in the National Football League. And it's a time of change for our football team and our franchise."

Fact Mark Brunell has been the QB in 94 percent of the Jaguars' victories, accounting for 62 of the team's 66 wins (including postseason).

Mark Brunell, QB -- David Garrard, a former East Carolina QB who was taken in the fourth round by the Jaguars, promptly announced: "I'd like to give [Mark Brunell] a sense of urgency, knowing he has a guy behind him. I want him to know I'm right on his heels. I'm ready to go. Ready to play.

"I can lead the offense up and down the field," Garrard said. "I can take you to big games. I can take you to the Super Bowl, I believe, one day."

Somehow, we're just not buying that Brunell should panic; this isn't the mid '90s Packers with Brett Favre, Ty Detmer, Kurt Warner and Brunell in camp.

Brunell is still the straw that stirs the drink in Jacksonville. After all, this is a franchise that seemed to be on the road to long-term success -- 53 wins in its first five years -- before derailing the past two seasons (13 wins total). The Jaguars were one victory away from the Super Bowl in 1996 and '99, but roster turnover has led to the current state of rebuilding, which includes 20 rookies.

"We ascended until we reached our pinnacle," Brunell said. "Since then, it's been a struggle."

Without Boselli on hand, those struggles may continue for Brunell; he has been sacked 111 times during the past two seasons and has thrown 27 interceptions -- two more than the previous three seasons combined.

Still, Brunell has averaged 3,217 yards passing and 18 touchdowns in his seven seasons with Jacksonville.

Fact Jaret Holmes has not missed a kick in his NFL career, converting four field-goal attempts and four point-after attempts.

Kicker -- Oh, there are many holes on this roster, but the exit of Hollis could be the one that proves toughest to fill. He is the only kicker the Jaguars have ever known, save a four-game stretch in 2000 when he had back surgery. Now, he's Buffalo's.

Hollis entered last season as the third-most accurate kicker in NFL history. An 18-for-28 year dropped him to sixth all-time (80.65 percent), but part of the problem could be traced to a new snapper and holder, which seemed to have gotten Hollis off his game.

He also was a vocal opponent to Coughlin's autocratic leadership style.

So where do the Jags go to get their kicks? Hayden Epstein, Jaret Holmes or Derek Schorejs.

Epstein, the team's seventh-round draft pick, is expected to battle Holmes, who has attempted four field goals in his three-teams-in-three-seasons NFL career, for the starter's job.

How soon will the top two draft picks fit in?

Fact Combined, Seth Payne and Gary Walker accounted for 10 percent of the Jaguars' tackles in 2001 and 29 percent of the team's sacks.

Jacksonville's top two choices, defensive tackle John Henderson and tackle Mike Pearson, will have ample opportunity to make the starting lineup. The expansion draft gutted the trenches as Payne, Walker and Boselli were taken by Houston.

Henderson, the ninth overall pick, was hampered during his senior season at Tennessee with nagging ankle and back ailments. The 6-foot-7, 207-pound Pearson, taken in the second round, has the unenviable task of trying to replace Boselli.

"We talked for actually the last three days about the football player who would have great presence in our locker room, who would be the guy that we could depend on the most as a character guy, as a leader," Coughlin said on draft day. "That person became John Henderson."

As for Pearson, who was nicknamed "Baby Boselli" while at Florida, Coughlin said the choice "was without a doubt the best quality for this pick."

With Pearson at left tackle, Maurice Williams will remain at right tackle with Zach Wiegert at left guard, free agent signee Chris Naeole at right guard and Brad Meester at center.