Predicting the Jaguars Final 53 Player Roster

Week 3 of the preseason is completed, which means two things. #1 – The regular season is right around the corner. #2. The final rosters will soon be announce. Everybody’s trying to guess who will make the final cut from the players precariously teetering on the roster bubble. Here are my fianl 53 players and practice squad suggestions for the 2011 Jaguars.

 Offense:

•  QB: David Garrard, Blaine Gabbert, Luke McCown.

I know carrying three QB is kind of a luxury, but I have a couple of arguments to back this up. 1. Looks like David Garrard will be the starter, but his one big advantage, his durability, is starting to fade, which is no surprise considering how many hits he’s taken in the past several seasons. If something happens to David and the Jaguars decide to release/trade McCown at final cuts, they’d likely just call up Todd Bouman to back up Gabbert for the rest of the season. I have no problems with Todd, who did a more than decent job last year against the Chiefs, but it’s not like he’ll push Gabbert. McCown, on the other hand, would be viable competition for our 1st round rookie. Another reason to keep all three QBs is to maximize their value for a potential trade up to the Week 6 deadline. Who knows who will be injured in the NFL and which teams will find themselves in desperate need of a starting-caliber QB and prove to be a worthy trade partner for Garrard or McCown later in the season?

•  RB: Maurice Jones-Drew, Rashad Jennings, Deji Karim

No arguments here except – stay healthy, guys! Oh, and I hope DuJuan Harris didn’t revealed himself for too many other teams. He is a really great RB, but I just can’t see Jaguars going with seven backs.

• FB: Greg Jones, Brock Bolen, Montell Owens

Keeping all the three FBs was a great choice last year. Brock Bolen progressed, Montell Owens went to the Pro Bowl, and Greg Jones is still a beast.

• WR: Mike Thomas, Jason Hill, Cecil Shorts, Jarrett Dillard, Kassim Osgood and Jamar Newsome

The first five are locks, because of experience and Kassim’s role as a special teams ace. But which UDFA rookie will make the team out of Armoin Binns, Jamar Newsome, and Dontrelle Inman is hard to call, right now. The 4th preseason game will be very, very important for these players. Right now, I think Newsome is slightly ahead and Binns and/or Inman will be on the practice squad.

• TE: Marcedes Lewis, Zach Miller, Zach Potter

Miller must stay healthy and this is a make or break year for him. He was drafted to become a pass catching TE, who can draw coverage away from the receivers. He’s done that in a few games, but has struggled to stay active. If he cannot prove himself in ’11, the patience might run out, and a familiar target for Blaine Gabbert, Missouri TE Michael Egnew, may be the one to replace him. The third TE spot is interesting: Haynos vs. Potter is a very intriguing competition, but don’t count out Tommy Estrada, the UFDA rookie from Boise State.

• O-line: Brad Meester, Uche Nwaneri, Eugene Monroe, Eben Britton, Will Rackley, Jason Spitz, Guy Whimper, John Estes, Tony Moll

I think the Jaguars are set at center with Meester, Spitz, and Jeff Lageman’s long time personal favorite, John Estes. Spitz can play all three interior positions and is a reliable backup. The big problems are at tackle – Eben Britton is coming back from a minor surgery and a serious shoulder injury. How ready or rusty will he be (can he play at all?) is a question nobody can answer right now. Eugene Monroe is so inconsistant, that the great Tony Bosseli called him out last Wednesday in Jaguars This Week. Boselli thinks Monroe is too light, and he can play much better then his current form shows. (also to be fair, Eugene must keep 1 eye of rookie Will Rackley as well. The backup tackle position isn’t better either. Guy Whimper often struggled, but could bhelp in 1-2 games if needed. The other tackle is a 3 way race, now that Kevin Haslam heading to IR. Veteran Tony Moll had a really bad game against Atlanta. Daniel Baldridge, the giant size 2nd year player is still a bit raw. And UDFA rookie from Grand Valley, Cameron Bradfield showed some sign he might be capable to took the job. For these 3 the Rams game will be a big test. I picked Moll, but his spot very shaky (to say the least…)