Top and flop 5 of the 2010 offseason moves
By Zoltan Paksa
The off season is far from over; and we haven’t even hit the dead zone yet (the time period between the last OTAs and training camp) yet Terry and I thought about the changes that have happened (or not happened) in the off season so far and we have some comments. So we asked, what have the Jaguars done right and what have they done wrong. So here are our Top 5 Top/Flop list.
Here are our top 5 things that the Jaguars did well:
1) GM Gene Smith once again ignored Mel Kiper and Drafted Tyson Alualu: The more we know about this guy, the more we are wondering how we didn’t discover him before the draft. Check out new MLB Kirk Morrison about Tyson:
"“Man, I think a lot of people don’t really know him. But talk about a guy who has a motor! At DT, you might not be able to see his immediate impact, but as a linebacker, what he’s doing up front, has been awesome. I like what he’s doing.”“A lot of people will be surprised how good he is. He’s a big guy who works hard. He looks complete, and will surprise some people with his play.”"
Sounds good to me from a veteran player like Kirk.
2) New coaches – Joe Cullen, Rob Boras, Ernest Byner: Cullen will make our D-line a nightmare for the opposite teams offensive coordinators; and most importantly the opposite QBs. Rob Boras will make the Jags TEs a very lethal weapon. Earnest Byner will move Maurice Drew and the rest of the RB/FB group to the next level. We liked the work of Mike Tice and Kennedy Pola but these new guys are might be better. (We don’t want to be mean; but to be a better D-line coach then Ted Monachino was; is not a too difficult thing.)
3) The trades with Oakland: The Jaguars traded a 4th round pick for Kirk Morrison and a 5th round pick was one of the biggest steal of the draft. A typical Al Davis kind of draft move; and the Jaguars thank him very much. And let us not forget the “Quentin Groves trade” too. Gene got a 5th round pick from a very underachiving player. And the fact that the Jaguars got a 4th pick in 2011 from New Orleans for that particular pick made this trade even more good looking. Does anyone realize that in this trade the Jaguars got more value for Quntin Groves then Pittsburgh got for Santonio Holmes? Didn’t realize that, did you?
4) Aaron Kampman free agency pick up: Jack Del Rio just said today Kampman’s recovery is ahead of the schedule; and the head coach expects him to participate 100% at training camp. Take this development and add in his motor; and I feel sorry for Peyton Manning and Matt Schaub (not really)
5) Tony Boselli in charge of ticket sales: He is earning his “Ring of honor” once again and in a major way. It is good that the Jaguars have such a classy player such as Tony Boselli. What he and the Jaguars are doing to promote the team is incredible. The fans can’t say a single bad word about the Jaguars didn’t do everything they could to push the ticket-sales up. The 30/30 idea was a really good idea! If you are a Jaguars fan and you don’t have a season ticket; and you can afford to buy it; please do it! You will not regret it. This team will pay you back in excitement!
Now let’s see the moves we dislike from the front office!
1. Safety position is almost a mess and they did nothing to fix it!: As I wrote in my secondary and defense conclusion articles; the position ain’t looking good. The fact remains that we must hope that Reggie Nelson will pick up where he left at 2007, his rookie season. Help us Reggie, you are our only hope! (Ouch, that hurts my head!)
2. Held on to John Henderson too long – lost trade value: Stunning but true -after a month of being released, John Henderson still doesn’t have a new team. It is unfair to John; the greatest of players ; but shows how little value he actually has. I hate to say this, but the Jaguars should have tried to trade him between the last season and the draft.
3. Cut of Montavius Stanley: This move makes the Jaguars very thin at Knighton’s place at DT. If something happens with Terrance; Attyah Ellison is all the Jaguars have. We would be better off to see a competition between him and Stanley for the backup job. Now if Knighton becomes injured or he has a bad year, that would be almost as serious blow as if the Jaguars would lose Maurice Jones-Drew or David Garrard. Or Rashean Mathis…
4. The Rashean Mathis holdout: Which (he is a key player; the Jags can’t replace) makes this situation even worse. It is a perfect “Catch-22”. Does he deserve more money that he receives right now (especially if you saw how much money Brian Williams; and Drayton Florence got when they played here)? Yes! Is it the right time to do this demand; after a very bad season in ’09 where he was often injured and was sometimes torched (Seattle; anyone?)? Sadly but the answer is no. I hope the situation will be solved; in the way that both sides will be happy, but Terry and I fear; that it will be a difficult thing. We wonder if the Jaguars are handling this correctly.
5:. We found only 4 big concerns; so Terry and I offer to you the oppurtunity to tell us; which is the biggest issue that was a mistake for doing or not doing by the front office. So please; leave a comment about the suggestions; and if you agree with our list!
Terry O’Brien & Zoltan Paksa