Dec 23, 2012; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Justin Blackmon (14) warms up before the start of the game against the New England Patriots at EverBank Field. Mandatory Credit: Melina Vastola-USA TODAY Sports

Jimmy Smith was an amazing athlete. He’s the all time leader in receptions for the Jaguars, led the team in receptions for 9 straight seasons to be exact, and was voted to the Pro Bowl five times. More importantly, he’s one of my favorite Jaguars of all time. But with all those acollades, he had a problem. Many problems actually. And they all started with a problem of making bad decisions. Decisions that led to multiple run ins with the law.

I thought Justin Blackmon was a pipe dream prior to the 2012 NFL Draft. He was electrifying to watch in college and I felt he’d be long gone by the time the Jags were on the clock. He was the consensus #1 wideout by a long shot. His only red flag was a DUI he got while in college. Just a bad decision, right? Then in June of last year he received another DUI. Another “bad decision” that led to a delayed signing by the Jaguars, as they had to protect themselves by creating a safety net contract. Then, just days after the 2013 draft, another bad decision led to Blackmon being suspended for four games to start the season. Are you seeing the trend here?

Blackmon recently stated he doesn’t feel he has a substance abuse problem. But his track record might say otherwise. As the 2013 season begins, Justin Blackmon will start the season on suspension for violating the league policy on substance abuse, at the same time  Jimmy Smith will be serving a 6 year sentence for drug possession and firearms charges. Although I do hope that Blackmon is like Smith on the field, I can only hope he’s the furthest thing from him off the field. Despite a prolific NFL career, Jimmy Smith will primarily be remembered for his bad decisions that led to his demise. So take note Mr. Blackmon and try to learn from the mistakes of a former Jaguar great.

- Jason Abarca

The old and the new align in Jacksonville.  The Jaguars are beginning a rebuild like the one Fred Taylor was the icing on the cake for.  Source: Rob Foldy-USA TODAY Sports

Jacksonville Jaguars general manager David Caldwell has said there is no timeline on the team’s rebuild.  Head coach Gus Bradley has said he isn’t worried about the record and that he just wants the guys to come out and compete and keep getting better.

But as fans it’s nice to figure out when our team may finally make it to the Super Bowl.

Some teams, like the 2011 San Francisco 49ers, are able to turn it around in a season.  Some teams, like the 2004 Pittsburgh Steelers, are only a quarterback away from becoming competitive.  Yet these are the success stories.  How would it happen for any other team?  Fortunately the Jags are such a young team with a history of success that we can jump back to the founding and see what it takes.

So, let’s look at the Jags’ history to see how long it takes until the Jags are built up enough to truly compete.

The trade for Mark Brunell gave the Jaguars a starting-caliber quarterback immediately.  Source: Howard Smith-USA TODAY Sports

1995

• The Jags are in their inaugural season.  They finish the season just 4-12 but their are signs of success.  Mark Brunell,  Tony Boselli, Jimmy Smith, and James Stewart are all on the team and begin the bond to create an offensive force.

1996 – The Cinderella Season

• The Jags have an amazing end to the season, winning their final five regular season games to finish 9-7 and sneak into the playoffs.  They continue the run and ultimately lose to the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship.  The 1996 Jags outplayed their talent at every level.  But they put some key pieces in place.  Kevin Hardy, Tony Brackens, and Aaron Beasley all come in to help make the defense much more of a presence to match it’s offense.

1997 

• In 1997 the Jags start to put it together.  Their talent level and wins are beginning to align more and the 11-5 record in just their third season is more than deserved.  The biggest personnel gain for the Jags is Keenan McCardell who balances Jimmy Smith at wide receiver.

1998

• The 1998 team composition is what makes Jacksonville a threat in their best season: 1999.  Fred Taylor and Donovin Darius both comes to the Jags through the draft and immediately have an impact.  The team finishes 11-5 again but flames out in the divisional playoffs.

1999 – The Ultimate Jags Team

• Finally the Jaguars have “their year.”  The 1999 season is the season the Jaguars are best built.  They finish 14-2, stomp the Miami Dolphins in the divisional playoffs, and lose to the Tennessee Titans in the AFC Championship. The Titans are the only team to beat them the entire season (three times).  Fernando Bryant is the biggest impact new acquisition but can’t control the Jags losing.

From 1999, the Jags fall apart.  They just aren’t the same anymore.  The run from 1995-1999 resulted in an impressive 49-31 record with most of their losses in their inaugural season.  The Jaguars hit on a number of draft picks, including Boselli, Stewart, Hardy, Brackens, Taylor, and Darius.  They also did well in free agency and trades with by acquiring key pieces like McCardell, Smith, and Brunell.  Role players and decent starters were also acquired in the draft. They had very few busts.

The 2013 Jaguars are year one.  They are the 1995 Jags.  Don’t expect 8+ wins in year one.  It may take a few years, but you have to trust in the talent evaluation.  If the Jags are to emulate their success from before they will need to hit on draft picks, find key free agents to sign, and not be afraid to move past “mistakes.”  The 1997 draft did little to help the Jaguars and they moved past it rather than trying to fit their coveted picks into the lineup.

The Gene Smith era was the opposite of what happened in the Jaguars’ early history.  The Dave Caldwell era could take less or more time than the four year build-up the Jags took before reaching 14-2 in 1999, but like all good things it is important to understand that it takes time for something special to come.

- Luke N. Sims

Feel free to leave comments on here or visit us at Facebook or Twitter!

You can also find me on Twitter @LukeNSims

Every yard counts now man.  Make it count and make us proud! Brian Spurlock-US PRESSWIRE

When was the last time a Jaguar receiver had a 1,000 yard season?  Really think about it.  Last year, Marcedes Lewis led the team in receiving yards with 460.  Not exactly the numbers of Rob Gronkowski, yet there he was at the top of the Jaguars anemic offense.

Whether you remember it or not (answer at the bottom), Cecil Shorts III may be the Jaguars best chance to get there in a while.  Through nine games, Shorts has 561 yards receiving.  His 62 yard per game average puts him on pace to reach 992 yards for the total 2012 season.  Assuming he stays healthy and has a couple bigger games than just 62 yards it is well within the realm of possibility that the Jaguars field a 1,000 yard receiver.

While there have been a lot of failed small-school prospects on this roster, Shorts is looking to shape up as a legitimate NFL receiver (a league leader, perhaps?) and this is his breakout season.  As Blackmon continues to fade and Laurent Robinson opens up more opportunities with his more aggressive play (he’s outplaying Blackmon in my opinion), look for Shorts to get even more targets as the second half of the season continues.

While Chad Henne continues to focus on Robinson and other targets when he gets into games, Shorts and Gabbert have had some real chemistry developing.  Assuming Gabbert sticks out the season this could be a big deal for the Jaguars.  Do you think he’ll do it?

To answer the earlier question, the last Jaguar receiver to have 1,000 yard season was Jimmy Smith in 2005.  Since his retirement following that season the Jaguars have had Matt Jones, Reggie Williams, Mike Sims-Walker, and Mike Thomas all get close but none have actually passed 1,000.

- Luke N. Sims

Feel free to leave comments on here or visit us at Facebook or Twitter!

You can also find me on Twitter @LukeNSims