(05-19-2024, 06:55 AM)Caldrac Wrote: [ -> ]This is easy:
Tony Boselli
Fred Taylor
Jimmy Smith
Mark Brunell
Logic is simple for me as well while being applied here. Until this franchise can show me another run of consistency that includes four straight play-off appearances, two AFC Championship game appearances and multiple players on the roster that are truly pro-bowl worthy (regardless whether that event is a joke now), with multiple memorable franchise plays, performances or moments?
It'll be difficult to topple these four players. I was five years old when this city was awarded it's team, I grew up spoiled. I know this. I watched this team flip my Dad from being a Steelers fan and my Mom and Grandfather from being Dolphins fans. All along that time frame seeing the Jaguars absolutely beat up on or straight up dominate those very same teams they cheered for.
I remember the Denver games. I remember the Buffalo and Miami games. I remember the records set, the big plays made, the narratives, the excitement. There was never a more fun time than being a Jaguars fan in the very beginning. Nothing has come close to matching that.
Even with the sparks found in 2017 and 2022. It was just that, sparks. That team from the 90's stood over an anvil for four straight years and kept the sparks flying, came close twice to winning it all. We may never see something like that again.
Can’t say it any better. When these 4 guys were together on that football field, they were capable of putting up points in bunches, and they did. They took down giants in that 1996 playoff run. Those Jaguar teams also won back to back Divisions back when they had 5 teams in old AFC Central. I’m 1997 they won 11 games, in 1998 they won 11 games, and in 1999 they won 14 games. That’s 36 wins over that span, with just 12 losses. They scored 394, 392, and 396 points during those years. Those 3 seasons are still to this day, in the top 6 of most points scored in a season in Jaguars History. 2017 is number 1 with 417 points, followed by 2007 with 411 points, and 2022 (1 extra game) with 404 points.
Most rushing TDs in a single-season:
2006 - 23
*1999 - 20
*1997 - 20
*1998 - 19
2002 - 19
2009 - 19
The Bills were 9-0 on wildcard weekend at their stadium, and the Jaguars went in there and took the souls from the circles wagons of those Buffalo Bills. They were never supposed to come close to winning that ball game. Boselli put the clamps on the all-time career sacks leader and 1996 Defensive Player of the Year Bruce Smith. They knocked out HOF’er Jim Kelly, and they kept the HOF’er Thurman Thomas in check enough to come out of there with the Jaguars first ever playoff win.
The very next dad-gum week they waltzed into Mile High to face off with HOF’er John Elway, Rod Smith, Steve Atwater, Bill Romonawski, HOF’er Shannon Sharpe, Neil Smith, and HOF’er Terrell Davis. On 3rd and 5, late in the 4th quarter, Jimmy Smith went and got it, and helped secure the 2nd ever playoff win in franchise history. A lot of guys forget that he scored an TD the previous week against the Bills too in a clutch moment. Even though the Jaguars were 18 point underdogs, they shocked Denver at Mile High, and snatched their souls.
2 years later Fred Taylor comes along, and the Jaguars got that sweet revenge on the Patriots, who kept them out of the Super Bowl in 1996. Fred Taylor got loose on them boys in the 1998 playoffs, and helped the Jaguars get their only playoff win against those New England Patriots.
The following season, Ol’ Freddy T got loose again, and this time it was against HOF’er Dan Marino and the Miami Dolphins. Taylor went on to set the NFL record for the longest run in NFL playoff history, and shortly after that he was at it again with one of the greatest catch and runs you’ll ever witness as he made 8 guys miss on the way to paydirt.
Tony Boselli had his big moments against Bruce Smith and the Buffalo Bills.
Jimmy Smith had his biggest moment against the Broncos when he faded to glory.
Mark had his biggest moment when he put the ball where only Jimmy could get it, on that 3rd and 5 play. Brunell had another big moment against the 1996 Broncos when he scrambled for a huge first down. And the following week against the Patriots, he hurdled a defender.
Fred Taylor had his biggest moments against the 1999 Miami Dolphins and the 1998 New England Patriots, and the 2007 Steelers.
All 4 of them had huge moments in many other games, but those are the biggest moments in franchise history, and they all came in the playoffs.
I’m the biggest Mark Brunell fan in the history of the franchise, but I’m also the biggest Fred Taylor and Jimmy Smith fan. Tony Boselli’s work on the field speaks for itself. He represents the Jacksonville Jaguars franchise in those sacred halls of the pro football Hall of Fame, and soon his pals Fred and Jimmy will join him.
These 4 guys together, in their prime, made the Jacksonville Jaguars a dangerous team that was capable of beating any team in the league.
If I had room for a 5th guy, it would be a toss up between Donovin Darius or Tom Coughlin. Darius will never be in the Pride of the Jaguars and he’ll never sniff Canton, but if you was around when he suited up then you know what I’m talking about. If you know, you know. Just a no nonsense type of guy on the field and would absolutely knock the snot out of your nose, including guys like Jerome Bettis, Kyle Brady, Keyshawn Johnson, Randy Moss, and any other tall/big player. He didn’t give a rats toe about all that, he was laying wood at all cost. Just ask Robert Ferguson.
Tom Coughlin built this franchise from the ground up and a lot of his hand picked guys helped bring early success to this franchise. Guys like Mark, Tony, Fred, Jimmy, Keenan, Big John, Stroud, Darius, Boselli, Searcy, and the list goes on. Most of his guys stuck around a long time, even those 2005 and 2007 playoff teams. David Garrard was selected by Tom Coughlin and we got a lot of mileage out of that 4th round pick.
I would probably lean towards Coughlin but Darius would make me think long and hard.
My Jaguars Mount Rushmore has to be:
Mark Brunell
Tony Boselli
Jimmy Smith
Fred Taylor
They were all great for multiple seasons and all 4 played a huge role in helping the team win games.
Some other candidates would be:
Tony Brackens
Josh Allen
Trevor Lawrence (need more playoff games)
Jones-Drew
Wayne Weaver
Donovin Darius
Tom Coughlin