http://www.spotrac.com/research/nfl/upda...teams-503/

 

For people that don't want to navigate the article here is the brief recap. The Jags have 59.9 million in cap space available, right at 10 mil more than the next highest teams. This is including their draft pool projections so it is more accurate than the other cap space estimates I have seen. They also have a much higher than average 70 players under contract, and much lower than average 14 FAs of their own. This is their blurb on the Jags FA spending situation: 

 

Oh to be the GM in Jacksonville this offseason, who currently has just under $60M cap dollars to "play with" - and that's after accounting for a $7.3M draft pool. They can add to that figure by cutting ties with RB Toby Gerhart and backup QB Chad Henne. We expect to see plenty of new faces in a Jaguars uniform in the coming months. 

 

The biggest worry is that there are an inordinate amount of other teams flush with 20+ million or much more in cap space this year, 17 teams to be exact. Even though we have the most cap space by a lot there will still be fierce competition for FAs. The Raiders, Browns, Jets, Colts, and Bears (and I'm sure a lot more) have all said they are going to be big spenders in FA. It is a good FA class overall, but I still fear that there will simply be so much competition that we will ultimately be disappointed with the marquee FA haul that the Jags wind up with. 

This years pass rushers are (rightly) getting a lot of attention. But how do they compare with last year's monster... Jadaveon Clowney ?


I had to remind myself just how intimidating he was... 6'5". 266lbs 4.53 seconds for the 40m 37.5 vertical jump 21 reps on the weights... He has 34.5" arms


Fowler, by comparison is 6'3" 261lbs. 4.6 40, 32.5 jump and 19 reps And 33 3/4" arms


Gregory is 6'5", but (as we know) was only 235lbs he had a 4.64 40, 36.5 jump and 24 reps. He has 34" arms


And (just picking one more) Leonard Williams is 6'5, 302lbs. He did the 40 in 4.97, a 29.5 jump And has 34.5 inch arms.


So Clowney out measures them all - but they come pretty close on their combine scores (Gregory would be very close if he put on some bulk...)


All good news if you are picking high in this year's draft.

Per Jason Lacanfora

 

Per rotoworld

CBS Sports' Jason La Canfora expects the Jaguars to "make a very strong play" for free agent Ndamukong Suh.
The Jaguars are sitting on a pile of cash, and owner Shad Khan is ready to open the wallet. They've been linked to a ton of big-name free agents thus far, including Randall Cobb and Julius Thomas. Suh would be the centerpiece of coach Gus Bradley's aggressive, attacking defense. The only thing is convincing Suh to be part of another rebuild. He's going to break the bank wherever he signs.
 

The Jaguars won't be messing around come 03/10/15.

So in looking at the current Defense, I think it's safe to say that depth needs to be added to the ILB corps. By that, I mean the MIKE 'backer and the SAM who is referred to as the OTTO in the current Defense. However, this doesn't seem to be all that deep of a draft for the position so it prompted me to go afield in order to find prospects. Also, it's more fun to project than to just pick names off of a list. Let me lay out the structure that I was working with:

 

<p style="margin-left:40px;">The idea that the team will not use a Weekday(night) pick on this position as I feel like there are greater needs elsewhere on the roster, but rather spend a Fourth or later Round selection on the position.

<p style="margin-left:40px;"> 

<p style="margin-left:40px;">The player(s) will not be required to start immediately, but can be "Core Four" Special teams guys, LBs like doing Special Teams stuff anyways. Due to this, undersized guys that may need to add bulk are considered.

<p style="margin-left:40px;"> 

<p style="margin-left:40px;">Due to the pass rush via blitz nature of the OTTO spot, special consideration was given to smaller DEs that may have pass rush skills but not necessarily the frame to play on the Line in the NFL. Yes, I understand that the LEO spot allows for undersized players, but the players in this thread will be considered as LBs first.

<p style="margin-left:40px;"> 

<p style="margin-left:40px;">The player must have a stout enough build to be able to stack either a Tight End or pulling Offensive Lineman in order to support the run defense. As arbitrary numbers I want the player to be 6' 3" or greater and weigh more than 240 lbs, but those values are not set in stone by any means.

<p style="margin-left:40px;"> 

<p style="margin-left:40px;">Pass defense is not a primary consideration as the Tight End can be passed off to the SS but zone drops into flats are key. The point here is that the player needs to be athletic enough to drop but not to necessarily cover Jimmy Graham all over the field.

 

All of that being said, I present these prospects. Anything that you have to add on the players is appreciated and please feel free to add your own players that you feel will fit the role. Oh, and always, feel free to throw insults, vitriol, snide remarks, and comments about mother as you see fit.

Note that the MockDraftable profile is relative to other players at the position that they were registered in, so it may not be a great fit, but I like the site so I'm including it anyways.

 

Kyle Emanuel - NFL.com draft profile - MockDraftable profile

 

 

Zack Hodges - CBSSports.com draft profile - MockDraftable profile

 

 

Davis Tull - NFL.com draft profile - MockDraftable profile

 

 

Zack Wagenmann - NFL.com draft measureables - MockDraftable profile

To me, Byron Jones was the clear winner of the combine. Not just because of the spectacular numbers he put up, but just from the awareness he received as so many of us went from "who the heck is he?" to "How high can my team take him?"

 

There is very little video of him (just one DB cutup as of now), so I will just copy/paste a string of tweets from the draftnik that seems to know him best since I don't want to personally comment on someone I don't have a good feel on but needs to be known. 

 

Ethan's tweet about the idea of Jones being converted to play single high safety is the most intriguing part of Byron's package. Decent size with phenomenal attributes and great ball skills from being a WR for most of his career? Sounds like the #1 guy I want in the third round now if he is still available.

 

Here is an interview Ethan had with him while at UCONN: http://www.theuconnblog.com/2014/9/27/68...systems-go

Here is another interview with another respected draftnik Dan Kadar: http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2015/2/23/80...jump-uconn

Here is his ridiculous spider chart: http://mockdraftable.com/player/4977/position/22/

The football season is over, and the measurements and times of the various college prospects are now official to NFL teams. In the upcoming weeks, free agency will start and NFL draft boards and needs will be adjusted as teams sign free agents and debate the comparative abilities between college players, and in many instances, weigh the strength of a free agency position vs. the strength of that same position in the draft pool.

 

What do you hope happens in the next couple of months?  What don't you want to happen?  What do you predict will happen?  It doesn't necessarily have to be Jaguars related.

 

Hope:  The Jaguars land at least two impact players in free agency.  I'm not talking about mere starters.  I'm talking about true difference makers for this team...guys who can make positive momentum and game changing plays, whether it be an established star, or a guy who doesn't have the big name but can thrive in our systems.

 

Fear:  That a division foe will land one of those type players above.  The thought of an explosive guy like C.J. Spiller ending up in Indy causes me indigestion.  The Colts do not need any more explosive, big play ability.

 

Prediction:  Washington DT Danny Shelton will sneak into the top 5, maybe even with Tennessee.

 

Hope:  if the Jaguars miss out on their preferred defensive stud in the first round, they can pull off a trade down that can net them a nice haul of extra picks without moving down too far, and still land an impact player with the first pick.

 

Fear:  The trade down causes them to miss out on a player they targeted lower, settling for a lesser player.

 

Prediction:  WV WR Kevin White will be drafted higher than expected.

 

Hope:  In addition to the two players mentioned in the first listed hope, that somewhere between FA and the draft, the Jaguars land a guy who can solidify RT.  I think if you solidify that position, you improve the performance of the OL overall.  J.J. Watt is a great player, and by all accounts he's a great guy.  But watching him notch SIX (6) sacks against us in two games last year was demoralizing.  Watching Ryan Kerrigan notch four sacks over the RT was nauseating.  If the RT we acquire, either via FA or the draft, becomes a star with us, I'll be thrilled.

 

Fear:  The new offensive schemes befuddle Bortles and the receivers and it takes them longer to catch on to them.

 

Prediction:  The Falcons and Bears will draft heavily on the defensive side of the ball, and one of them, most likely the Falcons, will trade ahead of us in at least one early to mid round to get a defensive player.  Tennessee will be another top ten team that should draft heavy on the defensive side of the ball.

The combine is out of the way now, so time for another testing of the collective waters...


Simple question...


Assuming we don't trade back in the draft and that you can pick any player.  Who do you take with the number 3 pick ?

If he isn't available, who is your number two pick ?

And if neither of them are available, who is your third favourite ?


my 1,2,3 would be...


Williams

Fowler

Gregory

I suspect most people will have similar lists by now (maybe substituting one of Fowler and Gregory with Ray or Beasley)

What do you guys think of Adrian Amos S in the 4th or 5th round?

 

- 6ft 218lbs

-Very fluid  in coverage 

-Athletic enough to cover ground with ease

-Versatile,has spent time at cornerback

-Not a big hitter by any stretch of the imagination but displays good form

- According to NFL.com ,he allowed just 3.9 yards per target in 2014

-May not be the future at safety but would be a considerable upgrade over Josh Evans in my opinion

 

4.56 40 time and was in the top safety performers in the 20 and 60 yard shuttle

 

If there was a kicker in the draft who could score every time from your own forty yard line, where would he go? Where would you take him?


Alternatively, what if it was a punter who could down the ball inside the ten every single punt?


(Please don't talk about Anger I just want to get your thoughts on this)

I don't know, this might be bad:

 

http://seattle.suntimes.com/nfl/7/72/695...o-released