Ray was part of the Jaguars offseason roster last year before being told to bulk up and give it another go some other time.  He’s back for the 2012 offseason but his shot at a roster spot just became a whole lot shakier with an arrest.  The previous arrest of Justin Blackmon may play a big role in how the team handles other arrests through the year in establishing a new coaching staff and changing the culture of the team with it.  General Manager Gene Smith is still in charge and does not tolerate poor behavior from his players, but with the influx of Mike Mularkey and his new staff we may see a shift toward giving more players some leeway if they have game.

We just don’t know if Mr. Ray has any game to bring.  He may not be around long enough to show it during training camp.

- Luke N. Sims

Any given Sunday the Jaguars can make their dreams come true.  Some opponents will be better.  Some opponents will be worse.  But no matter what, the Jags will control the product that they put on the field.  And it all starts with Training Camp.

Training Camp is the time when rookies unseat veterans.  Training Camp is the time when players start to prove whether they’re worth that $36 million they were signed for.  It’s the time when the grass is green, watered from the sweat of hard work and the desperation that players face as they showcase their talents before the critical eyes of the coaches.

The players are evaluated, weighed against each other.  The weakest get cut first, until the final roster is made.  The lucky ones become starters, the unlucky are sent packing.  Those in between keep their hopes alive as backups or practice squad members.

Training Camp is about evaluation, determination, and aggravation.  The offense has been installed, underdogs have fans now, and the players want nothing more than to make an impact.  There’s no turning back when training camp starts.  From July 26 onward, the Jaguars are thinking about one thing: playoffs.

Keeping the eyes on the prize is what’s important.  If you can make the team better, you stay.  If you can’t, you’re out.  It’s a tough business, the NFL, but those who stick around make it great.

It’s the weekend and news is short during the deadzone, but it’s almost training camp.  Keep your eyes on the prize and enjoy the video:

He did all of this after a lockout-shortened offseason.  During that offseason he was much like Sunshine in Remember The Titans.  He came in, wasn’t exactly popular and had to make an impact.  Unlike Sunshine, Gabbert didn’t make a positive one. But what if he had had that entire offseason to make an impression?

Aug 21,2010; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback David Garrard (9) throws the ball against the Miami Dolphins during the game at EverBank Field. Mandatory Credit: Fernando Medina-US PRESSWIRE

When a first round quarterback is waiting in the wings, it adds pressure to everyone.  The starter wants to keep his job for as long as possible, the offensive line needs to prove it can be cohesive and flexible enough to match the young guy’s play style.  The receivers need to start cementing a relationship that could make them the go-to guy for years to come.  There are two ways you don’t want it to go: The Blaine Gabbert/David Garrard way and the Brett Favre/Aaron Rodgers way.  One way, the new guy gets to sit behind a starter and learn for a period of time and enter a dysfunctional publica relations disaster with the competency, confidence, and skills to be an effective starter.  The other, the new guy enters completely unprepared and muddles through a rookie and (probably) sophomore quagmire while trying his hardest not to sink.

Give me the Brett Favre/Aaron Rodgers dysfunction every time.

Being the leader of the team and making an impact during the offseason is often overlooked by those of us who pay attention to football.  Sometimes the best players aren’t the leaders of the franchise.  Sometimes the leaders are leaders in the locker room only.  Sometimes just being with your teammates cements your spot with the team by making you an important off-the-field contributor.  Gabbert didn’t have an opportunity to do any of these extra-curricular impacts or on-field contributions last offseason.

This season should be different though.  This season, Gabbert has a chance to make an impact during the offseason.  He can work harder, stay later, interact more, and be the leader the Jags need him to be.  We won’t know until everyone starts telling us what’s going on in the locker room, but pretty soon I think we’ll see the young man from Mizzou leading the Jaguars up toward stardom.

- Luke N. Sims

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