Power Ranking Number 21: Jacksonville Jaguars

The offense starts and ends with running back Maurice Jones-Drew, and he had a heck of season last year and the Jaguars need that again this season. Many people wanted to run quarterback David Garrard out of Jacksonville this off-season but the Jaguars stuck with him, and he needs to repay the front office and coaching staff faith in him by leading them back to the playoffs. Wide receiver Mike Sims-Walker had a break-out season last year and need to keep the momentum rolling in 2010. The Jaguars need to find other wide receiver to take the pressure off of Sims-Walker and if they can do that they should have a very good balanced offense.

People are still killing the Jaguars for drafting Tyson Alualu with the 10th overall pick in this past Aprils draft, but they are hoping that he will provide pass rush on the inside to a team that was lacking it last year. Defensive end Derrick Harvey needs to step it up this season or he could be label as a first round bust. Trading for middle linebacker Kirk Morrison could prove to be one of the Jaguars better off-season moves. Rashean Mathis is still one of the better cornerback in the league but need to stay healthy this season as he missed 6 games last year.
The Jaguars we right in the hunt to make the playoffs last season and then they lost 5 out of the their last 6 games to but the coaching staff on the hot seat this year, they need a return to the playoffs this year or head coach Jack Del Rio might be looking for another job.

Southern Illinois Karim not a sleeper anymore

Southern Illinois running back Deji Karim came into the NFL Draft process without a lot of fan fare, but he is one of the fast rising players as we lead up to the NFL Draft. He was one of the NFL Draft sleepers when he first arrived in El Paso, TX for the Texas vs. the Nation game, but he is a sleeper no more.

Karim this past season rushed for 1,694 yard and 18 touchdowns averaging 7.1 yards per carry. He also caught 17 passes for 212 yards and 1 touchdown averaging 12.5 per reception. He was invited to play in the Texas vs. the Nation game, but was given an invite to the NFL Combine.

“At first it was a disappointment (not to get invited to the NFL Combine), but I knew I had to do something at my Pro Day to open their (NFL scouts) eyes,” said Karim.

Karim did just that at his Pro Day, where he, out jumped the best running back in Indianapolis by two inches in the vertical jump (43 inches). Karim measured in at 5-8 1/2, 209 pounds and ran the 40 yard dash in 4.40 seconds, the short shuttle in 4.33 seconds, and the three-cone drill in 6.95 seconds. He measured a 10-foot-3 inch broad jump and did 19 reps of 225 pounds.

“I start training down in Florida even before the Texas vs. the Nation game, and it really helped me their and also get everything out of my ability to have a great Pro Day,” said Karim.

After his performance at the Texas vs. the Nation game and his Pro Day, people started to take notice of him and he end up having personal visiting with a number of teams including the Detroit Lions, Jacksonville Jaguars, San Diego Chargers, Philadelphia Eagles, and the Indianapolis Colts.

But despite all the post season success that Karim is having he knows he can still improve.

“I need to work on my blocking, I have the effort but I need to improve on my technique,” said Karim. “I also need to work on my vision at the second level when I’m running the ball.”

With Karim being one of the fast risers on every teams draft board soon we will all find out what team he goes to.

News & Notes

Tulsa CB John Destin has received significant interest from the following teams, the Green Bay Packers, Carolina Panthers, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Miami Dolphins, and there is a good possibility he will get drafted in the later rounds.

DB Dominique Daniels of Nicholls State had a personal workout with the Atlanta Falcons.

DB Dominique Daniels of Nicholls State had a personal workout with the New Orleans Saints.

QB Blake Joseph of Sam Houston State has significant interest from the following teams, the Green Bay Packers, Carolina Panthers, Tennessee Titans, New Orleans Saints, and Jacksonville Jaguars. Many scouts feel that he has a better arm then last year quarterback out of Sam Houston State, Rhett Bomar who was drafted in the 5th round by the New York Giants.

DE/FB James Peters of Abilene Christian at his Pro Day measured in at 6003, 259 pounds and the ran the 40 yard dash in 4.62 seconds. He measured a 9-foot-9 inch broad jump, a 39.5 inch vertical jump and did 44 reps of 225 pounds. He projects as a full back at the next level and did a personal workout for the Dallas Cowboy.

How the McNabb trade effects the draft.

With the news that the Philadelphia Eagles traded quarterback Donovan McNabb to the Washington Redskins, not only is Washington getting a possible Hall of Fame type quarterback but now the impact of the NFL Draft will be felt.

Now with the Redskins have their quarterback there is no shot that they will draft Notre Dame quarterback Jimmy Clausen, if like we figure the St. Louis Rams draft Sam Bradford number one overall. The Redskins will most likely draft the best offensive tackle at number four hoping that Russell Okung of Oklahoma State is still there.

So the biggest question mark is where does Clausen go, well right now it looks like he will be available for the Buffalo Bills to select him with the ninth overall pick, but if he doesn’t go there how far will he fall. Would the Jacksonville Jaguars think about him at number ten? Or what about the San Francisco 49ers and one of their two first round picks if they are not sold on Alex Smith. Then there is always the Oakland Raiders, and we know they where looking at Donovan McNabb. A dark house could be the Kansas City Chiefs, since Clausen’s former head coach Charlie Weis is now the offensive coordinator and he has been all around the country working out college quarterback so that tells me they are not sold on quarterback Matt Cassel.

The other person in this situation is Jason Campbell and where does he go now, the Redskins don’t have to trade him, but I would think that they would want to. Some dentations for him could be Buffalo, Jacksonville, Carolina, Cleveland, or even Oakland. We have to see, but things now are getting more interesting.

Another note of interest, the Eagles only have two quarterbacks on their roster, so expect them to draft one late, or sign a few as un-drafted rookie free-agents.