Although the Jaguars only won five games last season, the argument can be made that the Jags should have won more. In close games, there is usually a turning point that swings the momentum and clinches the game for one of the teams. With that in mind, let’s delve into some of the critical moments in the Jags’ 2011 season and how they might have turned out with the 2012 team.

Week 3 – Jacksonville at Carolina

Then: Jaguars mismanage the clock at the end of the game.

Despite limiting Cam Newton to 158 yards and 53 percent passing, the Jaguars somehow relinquished their lead to the Panthers late in the game. The Jaguars still had a chance to drive down the field with a little over one minute left in the game, but the Jaguars weren’t ready to run a play quickly after the officials reviewed a short pass to Marcedes Lewis with 16 seconds left.  The Jaguars only ran one more play – an incomplete pass to Jason Hill.

Now: Jaguars give themselves a chance by intelligently handling the clock situation.

Blame for the clock gaffe can be passed around to Blaine Gabbert, Brad Meester, and especially Jack Del Rio. Blaine was in his first NFL start and Meester didn’t have much practice time to get comfortable with him. Jack Del Rio was never known for being a great game manager (“Gamblin’ Jack” isn’t the most flattering nickname).

Despite that lush head of hair, Del Rio too often looked helpless on the sideline. Matthew Emmons-US PRESSWIRE

Despite that lush head of hair, Del Rio too often looked helpless on the sideline.

Fortunately, the Jaguars now have a coaching staff with a much higher attention to detail. Mike Mularkey and company have already established a culture of effort and preparation, something that will lend itself to minimizing mistakes on gameday. Couple that with Gabbert having experience in an offense he’s more comfortable with and you can expect the Jaguars to get more than just one play off with 16 seconds left in a game in 2012.

Week 5: Cincinnati at Jacksonville

Then: Matt Turk punts the ball 22 yards to set up Cincinnati’s game-winning touchdown

The Jaguars found several ways to lose this game, but the most glaring mishap was Matt Turk punting the ball 22 yards. This came after several other terrible punts, which prompted the crowd to boo. In a very classy act, Turk proceeded to goad the crowd after being booed. The Jaguars were hanging on by a thread in that game and after going three-and-out, Turk needed to put the defense in a good position to maintain the lead. He instead gave the Bengals a short field and Andy Dalton capitalized with a touchdown pass to AJ Green.

Screw you. Fernando Medina-US PRESSWIRE

Screw you.

Now: Bryan Anger punts the ball at least 45 yards and puts the defense in a position to close the game.

If Bryan Anger ever punts the ball 22 yards it will be because he punted it with a broken leg. By all accounts, Anger has a monster leg and is consistently booming punts 50+ yards with a 5 second hangtime in practice. I don’t think we’ll be worrying about a poor, game-killing punt for a very long time in Jacksonville.

Week 11: Jacksonville at Cleveland

Then:  Jaguars can’t score with two plays at the one yard line at the end of the game.

With eight seconds left and down 14 to 10, the Jaguars had two plays to try and win the game. On the first play, Jason Hill dropped a catchable pass (Joe Haden was playing good defense on him as well). On the second play, there seemed to be a miscommunication between Mike Thomas and Gabbert as Blaine threw the ball well behind Thomas to end the game.

Let's take this moment to personally thank Jason Hill for ruining what could have been one of the greatest moments in Jaguars history. Eric P. Mull-US PRESSWIRE

Let’s take this moment to personally thank Jason Hill for ruining what could have been one of the

greatest moments in Jaguars history.

Now: A Jacksonville receiver catches the game winning touchdown.

Close inspection of Jason Hill’s drop shows that he opted to let the ball into his body instead of snatching the ball out of the air with his hands. This allowed Joe Haden to make a play and break up the completion. On the second play, it appeared that Mike Thomas didn’t know which way to go after he turned around on his route to face the QB. He was indecisive, forcing Blaine to throw it one way while Thomas went the other.

The hope is that the Jaguars revamped receiving corps will eliminate these crippling plays in 2012. Justin Blackmon is known for his strong hands and his ability to make a play on the ball. Additionally, the tutelage of new receivers coach Jerry Sullivan will hopefully prepare his position group to know what to do on every play.

In every game there are plays you can point out that significantly affected the outcome. The three I chose to highlight are specific situations from last year that the team will perform better in because of significant upgrades to personnel and coaching. If these three turning points went the other way, the Jaguars potentially end up at a respectable 8-8 and possibly better with some consistent play at the quarterback position.

-Daniel Lago

Editor’s Note:  This is a post from special contributor J. Neal Sims.  He is an excellent writer and superb older brother.  Neal writes from Burnsville, Minnesota.  Please welcome him to the Black & Teal community.

One word: Hands.

The Jags lack a significant receiving threat to match the mega running game from MJD. This allows defenses to stack the box, go after the run and Blaine Gabbert. To do this, opposing defenses just have to play the receiving core tight. This is a big problem. Solution: Draft a big time wide receiver to open up the running game, and take the pressure off Gabbert.

Of the top four receiving threats Jacksonville had last year, not one of them had a catch rate above 60%. From best to worst: Dillard 58%, Thomas 48%, Lewis 46%, and Hill 45%.

When watching games last year, Jags receivers did not get separation from defenders, making already small windows at the pro level smaller for their young quarterback. When Gabbert did thread the needle, the receivers caught less than 50% of total attempts thrown their way. Sure, the opposing defenders played well, but as a receiver you are paid to shake those defenders, make yourself a target, and catch the ball.

Play calling can be blamed a little bit, since the average per catch is 9 yards or better for the group, but that also attributes to the 40 sacks delt to Gabbert. It takes too much time to run the deeper routes. The pass protection side of the offensive line can share the blame, but let’s be realistic, this is just a Mike Martz lite playbook. With an offensive line specialized in run blocking you have to shorten the routes and get some yards after the catch. You can not get YAC if you can not get separation, this is called “being covered”. You do not want your quarterback throwing to covered receivers.

Evans is a great addition for the season, but is more of a deep threat receiver; which fits the system, but not the need. He does run excellent routes, and let us hope that rubs off on the rest of the receiving core. The one thing he will do is open up the mid and underneath routes, since he is an established deep threat.

All of this brings me back to the #7 pick in the draft: a big time wide receiver.

Justin Blackmon Blackmon (if he does not go to St. Louis) would be ideal, but if not available, they have to take Michael Floyd. It does not matter if it will be considered a reach by McShay and Kiper, it is a necessity. Just look at what Calvin Johnson did for the Lions if you need a recent example of a big time wide receiver turning around a bad team.

Both are big red zone targets (Blackmon at 6’1″ and Floyd at 6’2″) and both are physically athletic to stretch that window for Gabbert to throw into. Blackmon is fast, but is considered more agile to shake defensive backs, and has the ability to go over the middle. Floyd has an amazing first step, understands coverages well, and has perhaps the best vision of any wide receiver in this upcoming class. Oh yeah, and they can catch, spectacularly even. That being the most important thing of all.

- J. Neal Sims

(Stats from ESPN.com and footballoutsiders.com)

Or we, the fans, are completely aloof as to the needs of the team.

John Oehser had it right when he wrote,

Outside owner Shad Khan and General Manager Gene Smith, no one knows for sure – and that’s pretty much par for the NFL course.

Marshall, we weren't even interested and I still miss you! Source: Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-US PRESSWIRE

It was, and still is, the opinion of this writer that the Jaguars are going to pursue a better receiving corps in free agency.  That said a number of very good receivers have come off the board.  Of these, Stevie Johnson (resigned with Bills a week before free agency), Marques Colston (signed hours before free agency began), Vincent Jackson (signed with Tampa Bay), Pierre Garcon and Josh Morgan (signed with the Washington Redskins), Randy Moss (signed with San Francisco), and a surprise Brandon Marshall trade from Miami to Chicago for two third round picks in 2012 and 2013 respectively.

The Jags have hardly been mentioned amongst all of this hullabaloo.

ESPN’s AFC South blogger Paul Kuharsky recently mentioned that he thinks the Jags will still try to make a play for Mario Williams.  Not only does he think that they will, he thinks that they should.  Who else thinks that they should?  All of Jaguar nation.  Except maybe the front office.

While no word has come out of Shahid Khan or Gene Smith yet (after all, they like to keep things quiet), we, the Jaguars faithful, have got to begin wondering just what game the Jaguars are playing at.

It’s common knowledge that the goal for the team is to build through the draft.  But to what end?  Consistently, Gene Smith has traded up with picks to grab players he finds alluring.  I agree with the strategy on the whole, but none of the players being developed with those picks have any market value to trade for more picks to add more blood and more development to the young Jaguars roster.

And beyond all that, at the Jaguars’ greatest position of need, Gene Smith has not performed well.  Here at B&T, we outlined just how poorly he has done.  Are we to assume that the Jaguars are actually pleased with their current receiving corps?   Has Jarrett Dillard made his way off the injury cart enough make a play?  Will Mike Thomas be forced out of the slot due to underperformance yet again?  What about past attempts?  Did Jason Hill suddenly become the deep threat we all dreamed of?

The only assumption I can make based on the complete lack of depth, and action to fit that depth, at wide receiver is that the Jaguars are going to make “plays” again in the draft.  Plays for the likes of Justin Blackmon perhaps?

But at what cost?

It’s assumed picks will probably be involved in order to trade up an nab the star wide receiver from Oklahoma State.  Or perhaps there will be a move to trade back and acquire as many mediocre talents at wide out that we possibly can?

I’m not really certain.

In fact I’m straight up confused.

If anybody has any light whatsoever on this, please, please shine it my way.  Nay, shine it toward all of the fans.  Because as much as I’m behind Gene Smith, I just can’t make heads nor tails of his actions in free agency thus far.

- Luke N. Sims