Shad Khan's big swing for Jaguars could be massive hit or colossal miss

Eleven year MLB veteran Desi Relaford couldn't believe the pitcher had tried to hit him again.

In the previous game, the opposing Colorado relief pitcher had blown the save by giving up multiple home runs before deciding to bean Relaford out of frustration. In the very next game, the same closer returned to the mound to, once again, give up back-to-back home runs, thus blowing the save before again facing Relaford.

As the ball whizzed behind the Phillies shortstop, he felt his anger rising and thought, "That's it. I'm going to crush this ball."

Relaford was not a home run hitter. He practiced his swing carefully and rarely did he TRY to hit a home run, opting to instead go for base hits and reserving his aggressive swings for optimal circumstances.

But, by trying to hit Relaford twice in two days, this pitcher made it personal, and Relaford was determined to serve justice. "Two days in a row where I was his anger management pillow," recalled Relaford, "Nah, not today."

"The problem with trying to do something you don't ordinarily do is that you can disrupt your mechanics. I practiced hitting a certain way - my motion, my tempo. It's like trying to lengthen your golf swing or throw a harder punch. It can disrupt your motion."

Desi Relaford

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So, what does this have to do with football? More specifically, with the Jacksonville Jaguars?

This offseason has featured major upheaval and a yearned-for complete reboot of the franchise, perhaps in spite of owner Shad Kahn's druthers. Having clearly preferred to keep former GM Trent Baalke, Khan rebuffed local reporters' inquiries about a total front office overhaul, suggesting that a complete reboot would be akin to "throwing the baby out with the bath water."

Reluctantly, Khan finally relented and initiated a top-down restructuring that included installing fan favorite Tony Boselli as executive vice president of football operations.

Those moves in and of themselves would constitute a big swing for Shad Khan. But, by adding the variables of inexperience across the board, Khan could either crush the ball or find himself laying on his backside in the clay listening to the ump yell, "Strike three!"

The inexperience in all of the recent hires for the Jaguars is eyebrow-raising. None of them... not EVP Tony Boselli, head coach Liam Coen, general manager James Gladstone, offensive coordinator Grant Udinski, or defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile have ever held their current title before.

While each of the new Jaguars was celebrated individually as a good hire, their collective inexperience represents a massive swing for the fences. But, given the Jaguars' long-endured suffering, such a swing may be exactly what was needed.

"I'm a Jaguars fan," said Relaford in a recent conversation concerning the team. "I root for them, but lately it's just no fun. As a former professional athlete, I can tell you that the problem is organizational. The owner has tried to change coaches here and there, do this and that, but ultimately the main problem was the organization."

"When you are a part of a great organization, you know it. It starts with the owner and goes all the way down to the cook. Everyone is in complete alignment."

Desi Relaford

So, a major overhaul was called for. But, by filling the building with first-time hires, Shad Khan is truly putting all his might into this swing. Only time will tell if such a gamble will pay off, and it could take a while.

Failure is a distinct possibility. Certainly, a grace period is called for in order to find out if this collection of wunderkinds can work some magic. But, even if it doesn't, at the very least Khan has set aside his reservations and gone for broke. What they've been doing hasn't worked. So, even at the risk of striking out famously, why not give it a go?

"I sent that ball to the moon."

Desi Relaford

Relaford had some choice words for the pitcher as he rounded the bases. His big swing paid off, and justice was served. The Philadelphia Phillies celebrated victory. Sometimes, big risks pay off, and fans in Duval now have hope that their beloved Jaguars can taste the success currently being enjoyed by another Philadelphia franchise. At least there's a chance.

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