2019 will mark the 25th on field season of Jaguars football. A quarter century!  Of NFL football in Jacksonville!

Whoda thunkit back in 1992?

Where has the time gone?!?  Indeed, time flies when you're having fun.

While the team has yet to win or appear in the Super Bowl, the past 24 years have been a lot of fun.

I still remember the goofy grins people had here when Jacksonville was awarded the team.  I still remember the kid at Christmas excitement I had seeing the completed stadium for the first time.  Boyz II Men singing the National Anthem still resonates.  I still chuckle with Coughlin as the fans chanted "playoffs" when exiting down the ramps after beating Pittsburgh for the team's first ever win at home.  I remember the team used to paint santa hats on the logo during Christmas time until the NFL put the kibosh on it.  I remember the cathartic win over the then hated Carolina Panthers, who were the media darlings. 

The fun of following that second year stretch from 4-7 to 9-7 and the first ever playoff appearance was a blast continues to set the standard, IMO for fun seasons, as it was totally unexpected.  Every team that we needed to lose lost over the last few weeks.   More importantly, the Jaguars did their part, at least until the final game, where they were outplayed by a 3 win Atlanta team.  But then we caught a break when a guy who normally did his job, hall of fame kicker Morten freaking Andersen, missed a 30 yard FG after making something like his last 59 straight from that distance.  Of course, despite being there at the game, just like Morten Andersen, I missed the kick- because I couldn't bear to watch.  But I remember the jubilant pandemonium afterwards, as a fan jumped into my arms and people embraced.  I recall running into my obnoxious Bills fan buddy after we knocked out the Bills in our first playoff game.  He wasn't so obnoxious then.  Sullen is a word that leaps to mind as he slunk out of Blockbuster video wearing his blue Bryce Paup jersey.

We all have had our share of similar memories over the years.  This is one reason why, no matter how much the team ticks me off...no matter how much the team disappoints me, I can't stay too mad at them.


Here are some of my actual on field thoughts over the last 25 years:

If I had to pick a 25th anniversary Jaguars team it would look like this

QB-Mark Brunell
RB-Fred Taylor
FB-Greg Jones
WR-Jimmy Smith
WR-Keenan McCardell
TE-Kyle Brady
LT-Tony Boselli
LG-Vince Manuwai
C-Brad Meester
RG-Chris naoele
RT-Leon Searcy

RE-Yannick Ngakoue-Tough decision over Brackens.  Both have had many game turning plays.  Yannick has done it over a longer period of time than T-Brack.
DT-Marcus Stroud-Lots of good DT prospects from which to choose
DT-John Henderson
LE-Calais Campbell
OLB-Telvin Smith
MLB-Mike Peterson
OLB-Kevin Hardy-He played SAM in his early years.
CB-Jalen Ramsey-if he stays healthy and out of trouble, he is destined for greatness and a spot in the pride-possibly Canton.
CB-Rashean Mathis-Was a tough one over Bouye, but Mathis has more game changing plays.

FS-Deon Grant
SS-Donovin Darius

K-Josh Scobee-I like Hollis, too, but I think Scobee had more dramatic game winning kicks and a stronger leg.
P-Bryan Barker

Top Five Games

1.  30-27 win over Denver in 1996 Divisional Playoffs-Some 23 years later, I still say screw Woody Paige and his "Jagwads," article.
2.  45-41 win in Pittsburgh in 2017 Divisional Playoffs
3.  375 yards rushing over the Colts
4.  First ever MNF win over the Steelers.  Cowher's reaction to the blocked FG and the dejection of Steelers fans leaving the game were classic.
5.  1998 win over Tampa-great crowd, great game.  Had the feel of a college rivalry game.

Top 5 favorite players-not necessarily the best players, just my favorites to watch

1.  Maurice Jones Drew-Seemingly a big play waiting to happen.  Judging from my spot as a fan, he seemed to have a blast playing the game.

2.  Tony Boselli-made watching OL play cool.  I still remember Paul Maguire observing "Tony Boselli just collapsed the entire right side of the Steelers defense!"


3.  Jimmy Smith-His fly routes were something to behold

4.  Tony Brackens-The first DE capable of taking over a game.  Had two of the most important defensive plays in team history during that 1996 playoff run

5.  Jalen Ramsey-Seeing him physically maul receivers while blanketing them on their routes is a lot of fun.

Top 3 defenses:

1.  The 2017 team.  Set a team record for sacks, and scored a bunch of points.  Tons of game changing plays and ruined the Steelers season.

2.  The JDR era "might getcha" group.  Lots of fun to watch dance to that song.  Very intimidating bunch, especially against the run.  only thing they lacked was a pass rusher.

3.  The 1999 defense.  They had their share of game changing and field flipping plays-just not as many as the 2017 group.  Imagine if Capers had a Jalen Ramsey at CB.

Top 3 mistakes:

1.  Cutting LB Eddie Robinson.  I list this because he was better for the defense than what they asked Bryce Paup to do, and cutting him enabled him to return to the tacks- along with him, our playbook.  Perhaps we don't lose to the tacks three times and maybe we go to the Super Bowl without that information.

2.  Firing Tom Coughlin.  Weaver himself said it was the biggest mistake of his tenure as Jaguars owner.  JDR wasn't bad, but TC is a HOF coach.

3.  Passing on HOF/Pro Bowl QBs.-I don't think the team knew they were passing on HOF signal callers at the time, but what would Jaguars history look like if we had either Big Ben, Aaron Rodgers, Russell Wilson, DeShaun Watson or Patrick Mahomes?

Biggest annoyance:  The college first Gator homers.  Oh my God how annoying, overbearing and insufferable that group was in their incessant advocacy of Danny awful, Steve Spurrier, and Tim Tebow.  They became "Gator Skins" and "BroncGators," and to this day, swore up and down Wuerffel and Tebow failed because of some anti Christian bias in the NFL.  They had signs on the overpass over I-95 urging the team to sign Tebow, and some guy wearing a sandwich board advocated the same thing.  BTW, that sandwich board guy's message was "Why not sign Tebow?"  In one of the few times I have heckled someone at the stadium, I said "Because he sucks, that's why!"  It was so cathartic.

These are just a few of my thoughts over the last 25 years of Jaguars football.  I will add more as they come to me and as time permits.  in the meantime I welcome your perspectives.

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