QUARTERBACKS: Starter - David Garrard. Backups - Cleo Lemon.
Garrard enters the season confident that he can post similar numbers to those that he achieved in 2007. He’s already thrown more than twice as many interceptions than he threw (in 325 attempts) last year. There is a considerable drop off in ability, confidence and experience to Lemon. Garrard will also have to prove to his doubters that his play in '07 was not a one-time wonder, but he hasn’t done so. He has had a good training camp but didn't play particularly well in the preseason games until the second half of the third game against Tampa Bay.
RUNNING BACKS: Starters - RB Fred Taylor, FB Greg Jones. Backups - RB Maurice Drew, FB Montel Owens, RB Chauncey Washington.
Taylor and Drew took much of the pressure off Garrard a year ago by rushing for the second highest total by two backs on the same team in the NFL. The two complement each other as well as any two backs in the league. Taylor may be a step slower than what he use to be, but he's a smarter, more elusive type back now. He has his sights set on eventually cracking the top 10 list of career rushers in the league and knows he has to have two solid years in which to do it. Drew could be more effective this year if Brian Witherspoon takes over kickoff chores, a job that Drew has been asked to do the past two seasons.
TIGHT END: Starter - Marcedes Lewis. Backups - Greg Estandia, Richard Angulo.
Lewis showed great improvement a year ago from his rookie season to last year and most important, Garrard feels comfortable with him. Lewis' blocking may never achieve the status of his predecessor Kyle Brady, but it has improved a lot and should be even better this year. Estandia is a big target the team will use around the goal line, while Angulo is solid overall.
WIDE RECEIVERS: Starters – Matt Jones, Reggie Williams. Backups - Dennis Northcutt, Jerry Porter, Mike Walker, Troy Williamson.
This could be the surprise unit of this team or it could be a major disappointment. Already Williamson falls into the latter category and will be joined by Porter if he doesn't get healthy and back out on the playing field. Pleasant surprises would be Jones and Walker, though the latter still needs to show more consistency. Jones figured to be cut shortly after his arrest for cocaine possession this summer, but he survived that ordeal and had his best training camp since 2005 when he was the team's No. 1 draft pick. Reggie Williams had a team-record 10 TD catches a year ago and a repeat effort there would go a long way to making this a successful unit for '08.
OFFENSIVE LINE: Starters - LT Khalif Barnes, LG Uche Nwaneri, C Brad Meester, RG Chris Naeole, RT Tony Pashos. Backups –Dennis Norman, RG Tutan Reyes, OT Charles Spencer.
The Jags had three new starters on their offensive line due to a rash of injuries, but center Brad Meester is now back. Norman is adequate, but Meester was missed for his leadership in calling out assignments for the others. Pashos has had a disappointing year after posting a solid season in '07.
DEFENSIVE LINE: Starters - LDE Derick Harvey, DT John Henderson, DT Rob Meier, RDE Reggie Hayward. Backups - DE Paul Spicer, DE Quentin Groves, DT Tony McDaniel.
The two spots that will receive the most scrutiny on defense will be the end positions. First will be to watch and see if the veterans Spicer and Hayward can hold up all season, Spicer due to his age, Hayward due to injuries. Beyond that will be the watchful eye on rookies Harvey and Groves. Both will be utilized in passing situations, though it's hoped that both could eventually turn into full-time players.
LINEBACKER: Starters - MLB Daryl Smith, OLB Clint Ingram, OLB Justin Durant. Backups - OLB Mike Peterson, OLB Brian Iwuh, MLB Thomas Williams.
This is possibly the deepest position on the team with four players capable of starting with no drop-off whatsoever no matter who's on the field. Peterson has the most at stake as he's in the final year of his contract and at age 32, he'll need to show that he can keep up with the other three younger players. If Smith was playing the middle, he might be in the hunt for a Pro Bowl spot, he's that good. He has moved there the past two seasons when Peterson went out with season-ending injuries, and could become a fixture there next year if Peterson's contract is not renewed. Durant and Ingram will both be in the lineup for the next half dozen years.
DEFENSIVE BACKS: Starters - CB Brian Williams, CB Rashean Mathis, SS Gerald Sensabaugh, FS Reggie Nelson. Backups - CB Brian Witherspoon, CB Drayton Florence, FS Pierson Prioleau.
This was supposed to be a stronger unit than last year with the arrival of Florence, but it has been a failed experiment thus far. Nelson was supposed to have a breakout year, but he seems to be adverse to contact. He showed flashes of brilliance at times last year but also had his share of rookie mistakes. Those could be curtailed this year and he will eventually rank among the league's best. Prioleau is an experienced veteran.
SPECIAL TEAMS: P Adam Podlesh, PK Josh Scobee, LS Joe Zelenka, KOR Brian Witherspoon, PR Brian Witherspoon.
The last four games of the season Podlesh averaged 50 yards per punt. Prior to that he was in the low 40s. Jaguars coaches would likely accept something in between this year but would of course prefer his mark to be in the upper 40s. If Podlesh can get as reliable as Scobee, the Jaguars would have one of the best kicking tandems in the league. Scobee missed the first eight games of the season when he was injured during warm-ups in the opener a year ago. He still managed to hit on 12 of 13 field-goal attempts and led the team in scoring with 62 points in those eight games. Witherspoon would be a big bonus if he can handle both of the kick returning duties.
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