Quote:The answer to the opening question is "No, last year's roster was NOT more talented than the one JDR had for most of his career."

 

JDR coached here from 2003-2011.

 

Let's do a position by position comparison

 

QB:  JDR had BL, DG most of his career here.  Bradley had Gabbert, Henne, and a rookie BB.-Edge: JDR

RB:  JDR had FT still in his prime last 5 years and MJDs entire prime career.  Bradley had MJD's last year here, Gerhart, and DRob.  Edge:  JDR

WR:  JDR had Jimmy Smith towards the end, MJ, RW, Wilford:  Bradley had Blackmon for maybe a grand total of half a season, the current young guys.  Edge: JDR.

TE:  JDR had Brady, Wrighster, and ML during his prime and best ever season.  Gus?  ML the past two years, Clay Harbor, and not much else.  Edge:  JDR.

 

OL:  JDR had Vince Manuwai, Chris Naoele, and Brad Meester in their primes.  Also had Mo Williams at RT.  Gus had Brad Meester at the very end, Luke Bowanko, a rookie Linder, Luke Joeckel, and an assortment of disasters at RT.  Edge:  JDR

 

DL:  JDR had Stroud and Henderson at their peaks, Terrance Knighton, Reggie Hayward, Rob Meier, Bobby McCray when he had a ten sack season.  Gus had Miller, Marks, Ryan Davis, Chris Smith, Chris Clemons, Red Bryant one year.  Edge:  JDR

 

LB:  JDR had Mike Peterson, Rookie and in his prime Daryl Smith, and several others.  Gus had Poz, Telvin Smith one year to date, Geno Hayes.  This is the closest matchup thus far, but I'd still give the edge to JDR.

 

DB:  JDR had Rashean Mathis in his prime, DD, Deon Grant, Brian Williams among others at RCB.  Gus had Dwayne Gratz, Cyp, Colvin for half a year, McCray.  Edge;  JDR and it isn't even close.

 

The players you credit JDR for having were on teams JDR took us to the playoffs with.  If you cite those players, then give credit to JDR for the playoff appearances.

 

 

How about JDR's last 3 years here, the 2009/2010/2011 seasons which were his worst years as the Jags HC?  He had "lost the team" as some say.  He had Gene Smith doing his drafting.  He had:

 

no Fred Taylor

no Jimmie Smith

no Mike Peterson

no Donovin Darius

no Marcus Stroud

no Kyle Brady

no Chris Naeole

an injured Rashean Mathis that was only able to play half of the time

a banged-up Vince Manuwai

a banged up John Henderson (and only for one year, 2009)

...and a rotational qb trio of Garrard, McCown, and Gabbert.

 

He had MJD and Daryl Smith, Marcedes Lewis, Brad Meester (yawn) and that's about it.  And he went 18-25 during that time.  Gus has gone 7-25 with a team that would "run through walls" for him that was assembled by a much-better GM in Caldwell.

 

JDR gets the edge for having 2 years of "old" Jimmy Smith, Matt Jones, Reggie Williams, and Ernest Wilford over the "current young guys" that Gus has?  Discarding your obvious bias for a moment, you will see that JDR got more out of the team than the talent dictated he should have.  Gus has not done that.  Reason?  Gus is not a good HC, but JDR was not too bad.

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