June 12, 2012; Jacksonville FL, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Blaine Gabbert (11) hands off to running back Jalen Parmele (34) during minicamp at Florida Blue Health

What’s that you say? It’s only the fourth day of practice and that idiot Jason is predicting the final 53? Well, not exactly…

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QB Todd Bouman
RB Ciatrick Fason
LB Tony Gilbert
DT Jesse Mahelona
DE Kenny Pettway
DE Bo Schobel
DB Trae Williams
TE Chris Brown
DE Mkristo Bruce
OT Andrew Carnahan
TE Charles Davis
CB Isaiah Gardner
CB Michael Grant
WR Ryan Hoag
G/OT Pete McMahon
C/G Drew Miller
CB Rashod Moulton
LB Lamar Myles
WR D’Juan Woods

There were grumbles over if the Jaguars would keep Todd Bouman as the third string quarterback after his strong performance in the preseason. Obviously, Jack and company thought Cleo Lemon performed well enough behind the first string offensive line.

Both D’Juan Woods and Ryan Hoag were competing with Troy Williamson for that final wide receiver spot. Willaimson didn’t really get much of a chance to play in preseason due to nagging, unknown injury but he performed amazingly well in the final game against the Redskins. Williamson’s touchdown pass sealed his spot on the roster. Too bad. I was hoping for Hoag to get the spot so I could get the rest of the Jaguar world to call him “Bachelorette” (coined after ther reality tv show he was in).

I am glad Thomas Williams made the team. I have been following him closely because he has a blog on yardbarker:

When I got drafted by Jacksonville I went in as realistic as possible. I knew that you aren’t guaranteed anything and that you never know when it’s going to be over. That’s why I focused on enjoying every moment: the games, the practices, taking plane trips, walking through airports, getting the veterans food, everything. I was going to prepare and play as hard as I could and just see what happens. I prayed before our last preseason game at Washington. I went out there and for 60 minutes I was going to leave everything out there. After the game I had no regrets. We had the day off yesterday, and then a team meeting, and Coach told us that if you’re not a starter to keep your phones on and stay in Jacksonville. A few guys had already been released but they had more cuts to make to get to the limit. I called one of the guys in the front office today, right before the USC game started to find out what time the cuts were going to be made. He told me congratulations Thomas, you’ve made it. The cuts have already been made. I immediately called my mom and told her. I knew she was waiting. She called this morning to say hi. She was really happy and that lifted a weight off of her shoulders. I called my dad and he was excited. I got text messages from a bunch of my friends because they had been following it too. I must say, it hasn’t really sunk in yet. It was a goal and I’m thrilled, but it hasn’t fully hit me. I’m sure after watching the Trojans today with my friends it will start to hit me. I am officially a Jacksonville Jaguar!

Brian Witherspoon, an undrafted free agent, also made the team. He is going to be our return man because he is crazy fast. It is always good to see an undrafted guy make the team. It is those stories that make preseason worth it.

If you look at the positions these guys played, you can pretty much gather why they were cut even without seeing them play. Smolko was a career practice squad guy who got signed and cut by the Jaguars more than once. He was also one of eight tight ends that the Jaguars had collected. The same can be said about Broussard who had been tettering on the edge for quite some time. Even with Broussard, Edwards and J. Harvey getting the ax, the Jaguars have seven wide receivers on their current roster. There was talk of Matt Jones being one of the guys who was booted until his outstanding preseason performance. That is when it became obvious that Broussard was going to be the one to go.

The Jaguars have until August 30th to slim their roster down to the traditional 53 man roster we know and love. Several players will be playing for their job in the final preseason game against the Washington Redskins tomorrow night.

For example, Del Rio likes to keep only two quarterbacks around so that draws into question Todd Bouman‘s performance over the preseason. Bouman played well against Miami, scoring us the only two touchdowns we got that night. He may have earned himself a bench spot at third string, especially if he plays particularly well against Washington.

Wide receiver, as mentioned above, is bloated at seven. Reggie Williams, Dennis Northcutt, Matt Jones and Mike Walker have all but guaranteed themselves a spot on the roster. Jerry Porter, with his large contract, will also make the roster despite not playing due to injury. Will Del Rio want to keep a sixth one around? Troy Williamson probably hopes so.

There are other bubble guys that are looking to fill up back up spots. Jamaal Fudge (a Jacksonville native) and Pierson Prioleau (the guy who made game saving plays in both the Tampa Bay and Atlanta games) are battling at defensive back. Uche Nwaneri and Tutan Reyes are looking to fill in Brad Meester‘s spot as he recovers.

This is what preseason is about. This is what makes it interesting. Some people enjoy freaking out about the first stringer’s performance but that isn’t really the story. It is about these bubble guys who are fighting desperately to get a job doing what they love to do. It is about finding those guys who are the undrafted break out players. It is its own excitement.