With the Jags going to the Superdome this week, how can we expect the Jags’ signal caller to do?  Will there be another superb 89 yard drive against a weak defense, or will he crack under the pressure of the ex-Gregg Williams blitz attack?

The Saints are a team in flux.  The offense will still burn you every which way and the defense may still be powerful enough to make sure they can win some games when the defense does need to step up.  Fortunately for Gabbert, it’s the preseason and he doesn’t need to get into a shootout opposite Drew Brees.

However, he does need to show that he can excel against a unit that has been quite intimidating over the past five or so seasons.

Let's not see something like this against the Saints. Source: Douglas Jones-US PRESSWIRE

The ability to stand up to pressure has been shown, as has Gabbert’s ability to throw the ball with a bit more authority than his first year.  Will this be a continuation on Friday?  That’s the real question that everyone wants to know.  I think that it’s possible – maybe even probable.

The Giants were the Super Bowl champs.  The Saints are perennial contenders.  Game two of the preseason will be another David vs Goliath matchup for Gabbert.  He needs to keep cool and know that what matters is playing well, not trouncing the opposition.  Football isn’t really a sport like golf or tennis where you play within yourself, but in this case Gabbert needs to keep that in mind.

With Justin Blackmon in for this game, the Jags should be able to spread the ball around a bit more.  Laurent Robinson and Gabbert have a relationship being built, but look for Gabbert to try and fire some to Blackmon to see what he can do.  Mike Thomas made a big move last week to show why the Jags should keep him around and will probably want to demonstrate his skills are still sharp.  Everyone will be vying for a roster spot more competitively because as the preseason progresses, open jobs become more scarce.

With increased receiver play (at least anticipated) Gabbert should be able to do pretty well in the few drives he’ll be on the field for.  I predict Gabbert will fall somewhere along the lines of 7 of 12 for 74 yards, no thrown touchdowns, and an interception against a ballhawking defense.  Hopefully no fumbles for Gabbert as well.

Thoughts?  We’ll see how it plays out tomorrow.

- Luke N. Sims

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Jacksonville Jaguars middle linebacker Paul Posluszny (51) Mandatory Credit: Fernando Medina-US PRESSWIRE

Many teams have experimented or have switched to a base 3-4 defense; including the Jaguars in the Gregg Williams days of 2008. While switching, player personnel must be heavily considered due to the different type of talent needed to fulfill the scheme. Experimentation, and a terrible draft that no longer exists, led to failure, and the Jaguars have stuck with what they know under current defensive coordinator Mel Tucker.

For the past eight years, Daryl Smith has anchored the defense with consistent play. Playing both outside and inside in his career, Smith is one of the lesser known versatile players that has made plays for the Jaguars year after year. As stated in an article by Football Outsiders.com, Smith was the best in “Defeats” in 2010, topping play makers like DeMarcus Ware and Ray Lewis. Smith is both underrated and unknown because he plays for a small market team and lacks the chances to rack up sacks like his 3-4 counterparts. He needs to step up and account for more defeats this season by recording more turnovers. With his supporting cast now a year together, their play will allow him to reach a higher level.

Posluszny or “Poz”, had Jaguars fans rejoicing when he joined the team this past season. Being miscast in the Buffalo Bills 3-4 defense, Poz wanted to pursue a team in a 4-3 to play at his highest level. The Jaguars came knocking aggressively as they desperately needed a new Mike, which would allow Smith to play to his strengths on the outside. Poz lead the team in tackles, but struggled at times in pass protection, his only knock when signing as a Jag. In the modern day NFL, linebackers are being asked to be more athletic to keep up with faster Tight Ends and play solid zone coverage. Poz is a classic MLB who would thrive in years past when the passing game was still developing. Being a three down player, Poz will need to improve his coverage for the upcoming season.

Another piece added with Poz was Clint Session off of the Colts. Session was excited to play for a team with more beef on the front lines, referring to Defensive Tackles Terrance Knighton and Tyson Alualu. Session hasn’t played a complete season since 2008, which was his biggest concern for him during free agency. He played nine games this past season, being marred by concussions, with his second ending his season. Session was a bit of a gamble of a free agent, and may prove useful if healthy, but newly extended Russell Allen may end up replacing the injury plagued Session.

Jacksonville Jaguars linebacker Russell Allen (50) Mandatory Credit: Matt Stamey-US PRESSWIRE

Russell Allen has been a career backup with a promising future as a Jaguar. He recently resigned for recording three turnovers, (1 interception and 2 forced fumbles), as well as half a sack replacing the injured Session. If Session or one the other LB’s cannot stay healthy, Allen will be a great plug in.

The final player to round out this list is “The Real” Brandon Marshall. Marshall will most likely play a special teams role unless lightning strikes twice and the Jaguars have more players on injured reserve than the active roster.

If the Jaguars are to enter top 5 contention and elite status, all players must work on their own issues, weather it be recording more turnovers, playing tighter coverage or staying healthy. However, each player must actually perform all three tasks in order for the defense to become elite.

- Antonio Furgiuele

Unfortunately for the NFL, the bounty programs have come to light and have marred the reputation of a great franchise and led us to discover that they have gone on for years.  Kurt Warner wasn’t surprised by the news of the bounty system, Brett Favre hasn’t made a comment about how unusual it all is.  It’s just the way football has been played for ages.

And by “just” I mean a terrible way to go about things.

The NFL is a man’s sport.  But it’s a sport of respect.  The guys who play passionately but respectfully, like Kurt Warner or Ed Reed, tend to get noticed and are, in turn, respected back.  But guys who are trying to kill the opposing players.  To injure the opposition…well there isn’t a whole lot of respect for people like that.

As much as people think the NFL was harsh on Sean Payton in their one-year suspension for not stopping the bounty scandal, it’s tough not to want to go hard on a guy who allowed a coach to speak about knocking out a concussion prone receiver on the first few hits.  It’s tough not to go hard on a coach that knew what was going on, or had some knowledge of it, and still allowed his assistant to speak so vulgarly to the team in the locker room about the other team.

Football is a young person’s game.  It’s a game that 24-29 year olds can excel at.  It’s a game that brings 21 and 22 year olds in, gives them more money than many jobs will pay, and asks them to perform in front of thousands of fans.  That alone is enough of an eye-opener for a kid just out of college.  But keep in mind that it molds them.  Every one of those kids gets shaped by the NFL.

And when your coach is telling you it’s alright to knock opposing players out and intentionally injure someone…well that’s not something I’d want my kid learning.

Gregg Williams was a cancer on the Saints and a cancer for the NFL.  The audio proves it.  It’s the signal of everything he did.  And it’s just one tape.

Hideous.

It makes me proud that the Jaguars are a high character franchise.  When stuff like this surfaces, it’s nice to know that this kind of things won’t be occurring in Jacksonville.

- Luke N. Sims