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2008 Jacksonville Jaguars NFL Picks & Predictions

Written by Jimmy Boyd

Following their second 12-win season in the past three years, the Jacksonville Jaguars appear on the verge of an AFC South title. But in order to take the division, they can’t afford to be swept by the Colts again. Find out if the Jags can dethrone their division rivals with the NFL predictions in Jimmy Boyd’s 2008 Jacksonville Jaguars season preview.

Offense

David Garrard spent several years playing behind Byron Leftwich, but after out playing him in training camp last year, he was given head coach Jack Del Rio’s endorsement. The move was then made to cut Leftwich and to make Garrard the man. The move seemingly saved Del Rio’s job and earned Garrard a $60 million contract extension.

The Jags boasted the second best rushing attack in the league in 2007 with the tailback tandem of Fred Jones and Maurice Jones-Drew. Taylor rushed for 1,202 yards last season to move into 17th place on the all-time rushing list. The Jags may need to win with this combo now, however, as Taylor is 32 and won’t have many more 1,000-yard seasons left in him. Jones Drew is a multi-purpose back in much the same mold as Marshall Faulk. He has totaled more than 2,000 yards of total offense in each of his first two seasons.

The Jags have been missing a go-to wideout since the retirement of Jimmy Smith and they may have landed one in signing free agent Jerry Porter. There’s no doubt about the talent that this guy has, but he’s always been a number two receiver and has only caught more than 51 balls twice in Oakland. The Jags also brought in the speedy Troy Williamson from Minnesota in hopes that he will overachieve.

None of the Jaguars linemen have made the Pro Bowl, but that just goes to show you that a unit can excel by working well together even if its individual parts aren’t the most talented. Depth is a problem, but as long as the Jags can continue to run the football effectively, they have no reason to touch this unit.

Defense

Jacksonville’s line play trailed off last season, especially its ability to pressure the QB. If Tom Brady picking them apart in the playoffs isn’t a wake up call, then I don’t know what is. The Jags traded up to nab defensive ends Derrick Harvey and Quentin Groves in the draft. Both players are expected to make an immediate impact and they will have to for the Jags to get over the hump in the AFC.

Getting Mike Peterson back is a major blessing. The team greatly missed him at middle linebacker the last six games of the regular season and in the playoffs. He is the surest tackler on the squad and allows Darryl Smith to move back outside where he is more comfortable. Justin Durant will likely play on the other side of Peterson.

Rashean Mathis caught a case of the injury bug last season and the Jags are desperately hoping that the cornerback can return to his Pro Bowl form of 2006. Brian Williams played the other corner spot and really struggled. In fact, the Colts’ Reggie Wayne went 14-for-14 when he was matched up with Williams. The Jags signed corner Drayton Florence from San Diego to help bolster one of their weaknesses. All in all, this is a unit that teams will still be able to take advantage of.

Special Teams

Maurice Jones-Drew is a kickoff return specialist averaging 26.2 yards per return and Chad Nkang is a great energy guy who set a franchise mark with 30 special teams stops. Kicker Josh Scobee missed much of last season with a quad injury, but he was solid when he returned making 12 of 13 field goal attempts.

Prediction – 2nd AFC South

The Jaguars should once again be able to handle the Texans and the Titans, but the Colts still have the edge in this division because Jacksonville must find a pass rush and some solid corners. The Jags should be playoff bound once again in 2008 however.

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