Black & Teal Awards ‘10
By Zoltan Paksa
- Best Special Teams Player: Montell Owens & Kassim Osgood
We are talking about the AFC Special Teamer Pro Bowl selection and the 1st alternate here, people! I think that says all. The rest of the ST unit (Karim, Scobee, Podlesh- check the stats to see how well the Jaguars ST played all year) were pretty solid most of the time. But these two players stand out.
Runner-up: Adam Podlesh
Josh Scobee and Deji Karim all deserve honorary mentions and if they had avoided some bad mistakes (fumbled returns, missed kicks) late in the season, I would have given the award to one of them. Because of that, I awarded the runner-up position to Adam. He had his best year as a professional by far and it should earn him a new contract.
- Disappointment of the Year: Rashean Mathis
I hate to put a (by myself also) really respected veteran; who did so much for the Jaguars here; but his off-season demands for more money and a contract extension and they way how badly he played almost all season long; making this decision too easy for me. I hope he can get a chance by the Jaguars (maybe not at CB; but once again in FS); but in ’10 he was certainly not played as a shut down or a Top 10 corner (which was his reputation) but a below average starter. I hope he can bounce back in Jacksonville in ’11.
Runner-up: Derrick Harvey
We taught the problem is in coach Ted Monachino. And a missing partner. But he got new D-line coach in Joe Cullen; and the opposing DE was Aaron Kampman when he was a starter. And he produced not so much with the new opportunities. He had 2.5 sacks but only career low 11 tackles. Not to mention he lost his starting job twice (first to Mincey, who actually lived with the opportunity- as all the mention in the positive mention shows; then to Austen Lane; who many says put great effort in the 8 games he started). I just don’t see him returning for the Jaguars and I hope Gene can find a trade partner; and the Jaguars can get a low round pick or player for him.
- Best Unit: Special Teams
Let the Jaguars’ rankings in various Special Teams categories speak for themselves (along with the fact that Montell Owens was awarded lone “Special Teamer” (non-returner) spot in the Pro Bowl, Kassim Osgood is the first alternate, and Josh Scobee and Adam Podlesh are also listed as backups).
Jaguars Rankings:
| AFC | NFL | |
| Field position (30.2) | 7th | 13th |
| Opp. field position (28.2) | 4th | 6th |
| Opp. start position after kickoff (25.4) | 3rd | 8th |
| Average start position after kickoff (27.1) | 8th | 15th |
| Kickoff returns of 20-plus yards (55) | 1st | 1st |
| Kickoff returns of 40-plus yards (5) | 2nd | T-6th |
| Punt return average (10.0) | 9th | 18th |
| Opponents punt return average (6.5) | 3rd | 4th |
| Opponents punt returns of 20-plus yards (0) | T-1st | T-1st |
| Opponents kickoff returns of 20-plus yards (30) | 4th | T-5th |
| Opponents kickoff return average (21.5) | 5th | 10th |
Runner–up: Running Backs
The Jaguars had the third best rushing attack in the whole league. 2395 total yards; this is 149.7 yards pro game. Maurice Jones-Drew run 1324 yards; with 7 100+ rushing games (6 of them were in a row); with an injured knee. Rashad Jennings had 2 100+ games; with 4 TDs; including a 74 yard TD run against Oakland. QB David Garrard had also great numbers: 279 rushing yards; and 5 TDs which is his career best. Rookie Deji Karim in his very limited field presence managed to produce 160 yards.
These are the players and units I most believe deserve recognition. Who would receive your awards for the 2010 Jaguars?
– Zoltan Paksa