Jaguars coach Del Rio doesn’t consider Garrard an elite QB

The Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Jack Del Rio appeared on ESPN’s Jim Rome Show Thursday. Unlike other coaches who may always give good words on the team’s star player, Del Rio’s comments on Jaguars’ starting quarter David Garrard sounded interesting.

Being asked whether Garrard is a Super Bowl-caliber quarterback, Del Rio said that David Garrard as a quarterback is not good enough. He compared Garrard to the starting quarterbacks of teams that have won multiple championships. He though quarterbacks like Peyton Manning or Joe Montana could be called elite quarterbacks. Garrard is not because the Jaguars do not have any elite quarterback as they never won championship.

Garrard, in his ninth season of wearing Jaguars jersey, becomes only the second Jaguars QB to compete in the Pro Bowl following Mark Brunell. But his production in 2009 was dissatisfying- he completed only 60.9 percent of his passes for 3,597 yards, with 15 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.

Jaguars CB Mathis unlikely plays Sunday against Bills

According to the Jacksonville Jaguars Coach Jack Del Rio, cornerback Rashean Mathis is very likely not to play this Sunday’s game against the Buffalo Bills while taking care of his injured groin.

Getting hurt in the 24-22 victory over the New York Jets last Sunday, Mathis underwent tests Monday to determine the severity of his injury. Earlier this month, he already missed a game with a broken index finger on his left hand. Safety Reggie Nelson started in his place in the game against the Tennessee Titans, missing several tackles and being beaten for a touchdown, and the team lost the game at 30-13.

It seemed that the team was unwilling to accept that they would have to play this Sunday’s game without Mathis, as Del Rio declined to say who would start as replacement, although he admitted that Mathis would not be good enough to wear back his Jaguars jersey and play for the next week or two.

Jaguars have plan of expanding market to Orlando

According to the Orlando Sentinel, the Jacksonville Jaguars relieve their financial pain by expanding market to Orlando as the NFL might add two more games to its schedule in the next few years.

The team plans to play some of the team’s games in Orlando, so that there will be a lot more people to sell the jaguars jerseys and tickets in Jacksonville will become slightly more valuable. I have to say it is really a good plan, especially when the team finds it hard to sell tickets in Jacksonville. It is natural for them to seek bigger market, but they should also remember that the performance on field talks much more.

"In the past, we have reached out to try and cultivate that market and haven't had as much success as we would have liked," the Jaguars owner Wayne Weaver said. "We probably need to do a better job. That's a given. We are looking at a long-term strategy and thinking out of the box on how we can build a fan base in Orlando."

Jaguars receiver Williamson might miss the season with a shoulder injury

The Jacksonville Jaguars receiver Troy Williamson tore his labrum during Sunday’s 31-17 loss to the Arizona Cardinals. As Coach Jack Del Rio did not have test results, fellow receivers said Monday that Williamson could be out for the year.

Williamson was a first-round pick by the Minnesota Vikings in 2005, and his performance was the team’s biggest surprise during the preseason. He caught 12 passes for 247 yards and a touchdown, and earned a starting spot opposite Torry Holt. If he was out for the season, the Jaguars would have to choose a starting receiver from Holt, Mike Sims-Walker, rookies Mike Thomas and Jarett Dillard. Another receiver Nate Hughes was released by the Jaguars on Monday.

According to Sims-Walker, something was torn on Williamson’s shoulder. At least it was much more serious than a little Shoulder sprain. Losing Williamson should be a big loss to the team, but it also gave the other receivers a chance to compete for the starting job. Like Thomas said, they have been prepared and ready for whatever opportunities and would take advantage of them.

How much load Jones-Drew can handle from Jacksonville Jaguars

It seems that Maurice Jones-Drew has become the most important part of the Jaguars offense. The club rewarded him with a new contract. Many believe that the Jaguars will win or lose based on the play of Jones-Drew. But how much of a load can he handle?

Franchise running backs have small windows in this league when it comes to top production, and for the Jaguars, this should be on their minds when camp opens up. Jones-Drew’s workload needs to be monitored during practice, during preseason games and into the season because when or if his legs begin to tire, this offense will sputter. If they get former USC running back Chauncey Washington who can limit the number of touches for Jones-Drew in the preseason, he will be able to give Washington some touches in the regular season, before he changes mind to choose new england patriots jersey.
Jones-Drew a special talent. For some players, trying to tackle him is like trying to tackle a bowling ball rolling downhill, covered in grease. But the Jags should be careflu not to wear him down during training camp before the regular season begins.