What happens if the Jaguars start off 0-4? Should we make the switch to Henne? I’m of firm belief that the only way a player can get better is by actually seeing game action. Last season could be considered a scratch. Gabbert suffered the lack of a full offseason called the lockout. Entering the somewhat rushed training camp, he was under the idea that he would “sit and learn.” Guess what kid? David Garrard will be cut mere weeks away from the season opener and YOU will be forced into a starting role in which you had absolutely no time to prepare for. With all of these factors thrown into the equation, I don’t care if the Jags start off 0-6 and end up picking in the top 5 of the 2013 draft. Give Gabbert a chance. We’ll never know what we have in him if we do not play him. I can live with this situation.

What I cannot live with is Gabbert going down mid season, regardless of how well or how poorly he is playing, and we do not have an adequate replacement. Enter Chad Henne.

I was thrilled when the front office went out and signed a relatively young, veteran quarterback with NFL experience. Yes, Henne has somewhat of an injury history. At the same time, he’s kind of been thrown into bad situation after bad situation in Miami. No one really seemed to ever buy into him and he was quickly thrown to the wayside.

Mandatory Credit: Jody Gomez-US PRESSWIRE

Henne was taken in the 2nd round in the 2008 NFL draft by the Miami Dolphins. Since then he has posted a career 60.7% completion percentage, thrown for 7,114 yards, 31 touchdowns, 37 interceptions, and has a quarterback rating of 75.7. The numbers are quite pedestrian. I see many fans scoff at the notion of such a mediocre quarterback taking the reigns of a team with a top 10 draft pick at the helm. Blaine’s got upside right?

I scoff at the notion as well, but I can’t help but think that we as fans forget the importance of a back up quarterback until the starter goes down. Remember the 2006 Bears? Yeah, Kyle Orton pretty much took the team into the playoffs before Sexy Rexy Grossman blew it in the big game. Looking on into the future I can’t help but to think that we hit a home run with this signing. Henne could easily still be in the mix as a starter in the league on some teams. Name another team that has a 2nd quarterback on the roster that could step into the starting line up and run the offense. It’s hard to do and in today’s NFL when injuries ravage teams, you cannot undermine the importance of a quarterback like Chad Henne.

Now am I saying if Gabbert doesn’t progress as fast as we’d like to see, we should just throw in the towel and let ole’ Chad take over? No. But we signed Henne for depth, and I’m sure he knows his role, knows what it takes to play in the league, and if Blaine goes down look for Henne to be ready to play.

-David R. Johns

Lloyd, a perpetual journeyman of a wide receiver has a dynamic personality, plays with a spark, provides a speedy deep threat for any team, and has proven that he can be a productive receiver in numerous different schemes across the nation.

Originally drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in the fourth round of the 2003 draft, Lloyd really came into his own in 2010 with the Broncos.  He posted an impressive 1448 yards and 11 touchdowns under Josh McDaniels’ poorly run operation.

With the departure of McDaniels, the failure of Kyle Orton, and the new direction of head coach John Fox, Lloyd was sent to St. Louis after four games with the Broncos.  It is his fifth team in nine years.  Come 2012 he will have been on six in 10 years.

While the wide receiver has consistently been shuffled from place to place, he has provided good fits for the teams he has played for.  Usually a role player, demonstrated during his stints with the Bears and Redskins, Lloyd was impressive when he needed to be.  He posted 733 yards with San Francisco his third year in the league.  Despite changing teams in 2011 he still managed an impressive 966 yards in only 15 games.

At only 6’0″ tall and 192 pounds, Lloyd is not going to be filling the number one spot for the Jags but could provide a solid number two.

But how could he end up with the Jags?  Having expressed a keen interest in signing with the New England Patriots, Lloyd may not be as big a member of the AFC Champions in 2012 as he may desire.  The Patriots have been stacked with receiving threats for years and with the emergence of Aaron Hernandez and Rob Gronkowski, wide receivers have become more expendable.  (See: Underwood, Tiquan)

The Jags aren’t really looking for another undersized wide receiver to line up opposite an as-of-yet undefined #1, but if Lloyd ends up not signing with the Patriots, look for the Jags to make an offer.  Even if it’s a lowball.

When you need as much help as the Jaguars, nobody is ever ruled out.

- Luke N. Sims

Image Courtesy: ARO Drive

Pictured left to right: Johnny Unitas, Joe Montana, Tom Brady

Cruising around the web today, I noticed a reader commented with the term “franchise quarterback”. This is a term that has often bothered me. When should it really be used? How does one actually define the franchise quarterback? Most use it as a description for a quarterback that is above-average and participates in multiple playoff games. Granted, that’s not what they’re thinking when they say that, but it is the end result and by these regards, I would label current Jaguars QB David Garrard a “franchise quarterback”. Is he deserving?

Let’s define it.

(more…)