How much of a departure would Schottenheimer be from the approach Mike Mularkey brought to Jacksonville?  Source:  Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

With Thursday’s firing of head coach Mike Mularkey, the Jacksonville Jaguars are in the market for a new head coach.  While some teams, like the Kansas City Chiefs and the Cleveland Browns, have started filling their vacancies, the Jaguars are just beginning.  Potential candidates range, but the proposed emphasis seems to be on offensive coordinators.  Today we’ll look at current St. Louis Rams offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer.

Schottenheimer was identified as a candidate for the HC job by Adam Schefter and the Jaguars requested permission from the Rams to interview Schottenheimer.  Schottenheimer served as the OC for the New York Jets for six seasons prior to spending this past season with the Rams.  During his time as OC, Schottenheimer offenses have done a good job of establishing the run.  He has had three top 10 seasons in yards rushing and has helped the Jets get to the playoffs multiple times.

During his time with the Rams, the team got noticeably closer to their potential and the players frequently outplayed their talent level.  If you had said the Rams would finish the season at 7-8-1 and 6-1-1 in the division, I doubt I would have believed you.  A large part of that is head coach Jeff Fisher’s approach to building a strong foundation the right way, but part of that is Schottenheimer helping players like Sam Bradford and Danny Amendola start to get on track toward reaching their potential.

All in all, Schottenheimer is a well respected OC in the NFL even if his team’s numbers are never so stellar that they jump off the page.  Part of that is being part of rebuilding efforts in New York and St. Louis and part of that is being attached to Mark Sanchez with the Jets.  With a clean slate, the ceiling will be terribly high with Schottenheimer at the helm.

Brian Schottenheimer’s father is legendary coach Marty Schottenheimer of the Kansas City Chiefs and San Diego Chargers.  Marty finished his career 200-126-1.  If pedigree is part of the process, then give the nod to Schottenheimer.  If it’s based on past experience, I don’t see the Jaguars taking a swing on him right now.

- Luke N. Sims

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Somehow people still pay this guy to perform. Source: Brace Hemmelgarn-US PRESSWIRE

What’s even more worrisome about Robinson is that his struggles can be documented back to the beginning of training camp.  Robinson was found “pressing” and “trying to find his groove”, with the Jaguars passing game as a whole being criticized by its coaches early in camp.  After three pre-season games, it appears as if the Jaguars first-team offense has made strides; yet Robinson looks left behind.  He’s caused more pass-interference penalties (2) than he has catches, and although causing pass-interference penalties is clearly a positive thing, having one catch through three games is just as clearly negative.

However, there are reasons not to think that the state of Laurent Robinson is all that dire.  To start, remember that before the season started, Robinson was catching passes from arguably the worst quarterback in the NFL last year.  There clearly was an adjustment period that had to take place – one that was highly influenced by Blaine’s growth in the offseason and during training camp.  Furthermore, although there was quite a bit of negative press surrounding Robinson at the beginning of training camp, the tune turned positive as training camp progressed.  As we moved deeper into training camp, Robinson “appeared to get on the same page” as Gabbert and that the “growing confidence between the two players was evident”.  Moreover, Robinson has been “getting open consistently” – which was a major factor hindering the wide receiver play and Gabbert’s development last year.

Hey, if Coach Mularkey's not worried, I'm not worried. But he sure looks a little worried here, doesn't he? Source: Chuck Cook-US PRESSWIRE

Lastly, it’s easy to forget Laurent Robinson’s history in all of this.  I know we expected a number 1 receiver at his peak age (27) when we signed Robinson, but for that expectation Robinson is very much a work in progress.  The injury-plagued star that we signed has started just 24 games – under two seasons worth – and played in 52 games – just over three seasons worth.   Moreover, he has had no experience as a number one receiver – a player who dictates the way defensive coverages are organized.   Although he’s 27, the injuries he’s faced thus far in his NFL career have hindered his development – making it more plausible that it took up to year  5 in the NFL and age 26 for Robinson to finally tap into his potential.  It’s not like Robinson hadn’t shown promise before – he had a 100 yard game toward the end of his rookie season and was the leading receiver for the Rams through three games before a fractured fibula sent him to the injured reserve in 2009.  At the end of the day, Gene Smith and Co. saw a player in Robinson that finally got an opportunity last year while he was healthy and made the most of it.  When they signed him, they expected him to build on that year to develop into the primary down-field threat for a future franchise quarterback – but they didn’t expect him to be “the guy” right away.  While as fans we look for a quick reward when it comes to signing free agents, a free agent signing truly can’t be judged for at least two or three years, especially one like this in which the player has to adapt to a new role.   But we may not even have to wait a couple years.  By all reports, Robinson and Coach Mularkey are both “optimistic”, and it’s not completely unexpected to see a guy who took some time to get adjusted at the start of training camp to also need a little time to get adjusted to game-action during the pre-season.

Patience, young grasshoppers.  Let’s give the cat a chance before we throw him to the wolves.

- Zain Gowani

However, the Jaguars can take punitive action against Blackmon for “Conduct Detrimental to the Club.”  In this case, giving poor public awareness to the team, probably losing a lot of deals for endorsements, marring a reputation built on character, etc.  The ist actually seems to be endless when you think about it.

The team can definitely do something though, and we should fully expect them to.

This is the look of a very miffed general manager. Source: Phil Sears-US PRESSWIRE

Justin Blackmon became famous in college and has had the national spotlight on him since his draft selection.  He is not some run of the mill, two year receiver out of college.  He is the top receiver of his class and probably one of the best of the past three years.  He made General Manager Gene Smith look like a genius for only trading away a fourth round pick to move up and take him ahead of the St. Louis Rams.  A lot was resting on this guy.

Like any good early 20 year old, he let it slip through his fingers due to dumb action.

Two days after OTAs ended, Blackmon was back in Oklahoma flirting with a law that is designed to save lives.  DUI laws are not in place to protect the person driving.  If you’re dumb enough to drive while drinking then it isn’t the job of the state to do anything other than pick up your car after you total it into a tree.  Instead, DUI laws are designed to get drunk drivers off the road so that families, pedestrians, and other people driving the same street(s) will be safe from the drunk driver.

DUI laws should be respected.

So much so that in Oklahoma they have an aggravated DUI charge for anything over .15 (almost double the legal limit of .08).  Justin Blackmon blew a .24.  I don’t know about you, but it takes a bit of time (and some steady drinking) to get that drunk.  A .24 doesn’t just represent bad decision making from driving, it represents a commitment to sitting down and not getting up until the floor is swaying beneath you.

A commitment to sitting down and getting drunk.  Driving while clearly intoxicated (it’s tough not to tell you’re that drunk unless you’ve already blacked out).  A disregard for state and federal law.  Reckless Endangerment….

It’s not looking good for Blackmon.

All of those things are conduct that is detrimental to the Jacksonville Jaguars.  The team prides itself on having a locker room of leaders.  A locker room of men who play a boys’ game.  A locker room of men who hold themselves to a higher standard than the average football player.

I’ve advocated for the team suspending him.  I’d do it right after signing him.  And if the league doesn’t let him play for another two or three games after that….well it’s all fine by me.

Team discipline is far more impactful than a league mandate handed down from on high.  Head Coach Mike Mularkey is well liked by his players.  His respect must be earned.

Blackmon will be struggling to gain it back all year long.

- Luke N. Sims

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