November 5, 2011; Gainesville FL, USA; Florida Gators head coach Will Muschamp reacts with safety Josh Evans (24) after they blocked a field goal during the first quarter at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

In base defensive packages, four positions constitute the defensive secondary.  Two cornerbacks, one strong safety, and one free safety.  Heading into the 2013 NFL Draft, the Jacksonville Jaguars only had the free safety position truly settled with Dwight Lowery returning to the familiar role.  The other returning starter, cornerback Mike Harris, seems to be the odd man out among a new defensive scheme that requires stronger, more physically imposing cornerbacks to play aggressively.  It’s a tough change for the comparatively undersized Harris and I hate to see him shut out because he is a hard worker, but in all honest he outplayed players last year who should no longer be starting in this league.

Last season the Jaguars’ defense dropped from the eighth best passing defense in 2011 to 22nd.  The play of Aaron Ross was absolutely horrendous, Rashean Mathis was woefully behind his younger counterparts, and it took Harris weeks and weeks to catch up and play the game at an effective level.  Dawan Landry, the starting strong safety the previous two seasons, was cut this offseason for a lack of range.

But the 22nd ranked defense this past season is now being reorganized by a man that led the Seattle Seahawks’ defense to become sixth in the league against the pass in 2012.

The reconstruction of the Jaguar secondary begins and ends with head coach Gus Bradley.  He told general manager Dave Caldwell the types of players he wanted and Caldwell went out and got them.  Johnathan Cyprien (SS) and Dwayne Gratz (CB) figure to start immediately.  Demetrius McCray (CB) and Jeremy Harris (CB) figure to compete for time on the field.  Safety Josh Evans is going to be involved in some way, he’s just too talented to ignore.  Now, with the addition of Marcus Trufant, the Jaguars have an experienced player to add a veteran presence to an extremely young unit.

The Jaguars aren’t just throwing players at the secondary.  Fivedraft picks, a handful of undrafted free agents, and a veteran addition make this secondary so much more than it was heading into the draft and the mid offseason period.  But it isn’t just about warm bodies.  The players selected are quality.  They bring in a new era of potential and success that the Jaguars haven’t seen from a secondary unit since the days of Donovin Darius and Rashean Mathis dominating.  No longer with the secondary be a liability.  It is becoming a strength.

- Luke N. Sims

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January 1,2013; Tampa, FL, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks defensive end Jadeveon Clowney (7) against the Michigan Wolverines during the second half of the 2013 Outback Bowl at Raymond James Stadium. South Carolina Gamecocks defeated the Michigan Wolverines 33-28. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

The past couple of weeks have shown us a sign of things to come. First, the Jaguars did NOT draft their Quarterback of the future in 2013. Signing a couple of QB competitors in Draft Free Agency is hardly the future of Jacksonville. A few days later, Justin Blackmon gets suspended for four games to start the season off on the wrong foot. Then the news comes out that Blaine Gabbert will be given every oppurtunity to prove that he’s the future of the organization. All of these headlines scream one thing, “High First Round Selection”. The new regime isn’t looking at building a team just for next season, but building a team for many seasons to come. So with that, let’s look into the future and see who the Jaguars might be picking.

Jadeveon Clowney, DE South Carolina: (2012- 54 Tackles/13 Sacks/3Forced Fumbles) If you haven’t seen the hit he put on Michigan’s Vincent Smith, you must be living under a rock. He was the top recruit coming out of High School and will be the best player coming out of College. He’s been labeled the “Andrew Luck of defensive players” and a player of his caliber only comes along once every 10 – 15 years. He’s dominated the past two years in the SEC and he’s not even remotly close to reaching his full potential. Regardless of how bad the Jaguars need a Franchise QB, Clowney is a player you don’t pass on and will give Luck, Locker & Co. nightmares for years to come.

Johnny Manziel, QB Texas A&M: (2012- Passing 3706/26TD/9Int, Rushing 1410/21TD) Johnny Football reminds me of the QB play of Drew Brees and the athletisism of Cam Newton. Watching him is like watching a video game. People will pick him apart, looking for any kind of flaw. Too short, doesn’t go through all his reads, not an “NFL Quarterback”. News Flash, there’s a new NFL and a new NFL quarterback. Just look at what RG3, Colin Kaepernick and Russell Wilson accomplished last year. Taking Manziel and pairing him with his favorite Left Tackle in Luke Joeckel and you’ve got a recipe to turn the AFC South upside down.

Teddy Bridgewater, QB Louisville: (2012- Passing 3718/27TD/8Int, Rushing 26/1TD) Teddy Bridewater plays with the type of swagger you see in Aaron Rodgers and Joe Flacco. Not cocky or arrogant, but calm and collected. He plays with confidence in his abilites and plays with brains before brawn. He reminded people that Louisville is something more than a basketball power house. NFL size, smarts, accurate and can use his wheels to get out of trouble. He also picks defenses apart before the ball is snapped. As long he keeps it up, there’s no reason he won’t be in the conversation for the #1 pick.

With the way things are lining up, I just don’t see the Jags picking outside of the top three next year. If Gabbert makes vast improvments, then great. If not, then even better. Next year’s class will have “Elite” talent at various positions. Example, taking Clowney at #1 you’d still be able to grab someone like A.J. McCarron or Aaron Murray at the top of the second round. Both of which would have gone before any QB this year IMO. I’m looking forward to a bright future in Jacksonville and them contending in the next 3-4 years.

-Jason Abarca

October 20, 2012; Gainesville FL, USA; Florida Gators defensive back Josh Evans (9) reacts after they beat the South Carolina Gamecocks at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Florida Gators defeated the South Carolina Gamecocks 44-11. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

The NFL Draft is just a couple weeks old but attention has moved past it to rookie minicamps, offseason speculation, and coach speak.  For draft specific sites like NFL Mocks, the draft analysis never ends.  On Tuesday they put together their analysis of the Jacksonville Jaguars’ draft.  Let’s take a peek at how the Jags did.

• Luke Joeckel:  A+
• Johnathan Cyprien:  A-
• Dwayne Gratz:  B+
• Ace Sanders:  B+
• Denard Robinson:  A-
• Josh Evans:  C+
• Jeremy Harris:  C+
• Demetrius McCray:  C
• Overall:  A-

Some websites seem torn about whether the Jaguars’ first round selection of Joeckel was a smart one or not, but NFL Mocks  agrees with the Jacksonville front office that the move was wise.  In fact, writer Justin Bales notes that Joeckel may not have had the desired strength as a left tackle in his first year.

Grading the other players seems pretty straightforward.  Cyprien is a first round talent, fills a need, and will be a leader and immediate starter on defense.  Gratz will likely be the same.  It’s tough to grade Sanders, Harris, and McCray much differently unless you factor in that most players drafted in the mid and late rounds are likely not going to have a major impact early in their careers.

The oddest grades and analysis from Bales are Robinson with an A- and Evans with a C+.  Without a real position in the NFL it makes sense to see a pick like Robinson, no matter how exciting he will be, fall to a B level grade.  Bales is really high on Robinson, calling him a “freak of nature” and has elite speed.  His athleticism isn’t in question, but whether he can hone his skills at a position is.

Evans is a bit of a question mark, but not because he was a sixth round selection.  He had a strong collegiate career at the University of Florida and was overlooked by many because of the excellent play of first-round selection, and fellow safety, Matt Elam.  Bales’ beef with Evans was that he didn’t work his way through blocks all the time.  I think we’ll see Evans surprise some people and make justifying a C+ much more difficult when analysts look back at the 2013 NFL Draft.

- Luke N. Sims

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