Jacksonville Jaguars. Ummm, Kinda In Trouble?
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This was originally posted on my blog, The Legend of Cecilio Guante, here.
I'm back in full force football mode. It's time. I'll comment on baseball from time to time, interesting goings-on in the NBA world (you know, shootings and the like), heck I may even mention the U.S. Open if the mood strikes me. But, for the most part, it's pigskin time. We've waited all year and now there's plenty to talk about.
Today, we're going to discuss something that has (in my opinion) been somewhat minimized in terms of recent NFL news. I'm talking about the release of Byron Leftwich.
Now, before you go nuts, I do not believe Byron is an elite quarterback in this league. Far from it. I've always liked his work ethic, his arm, his "grittiness." However, I am under no illusion that he is/was a stud quarterback.
That said, I'm certainly not sold on David Garrard either. And, frankly, if I'm a Jacksonville Jaguars diehard, I'm downright frightened about the Jags QB situation. One can debate the importance of the QB play in the league and a good defense can cure a lot of ills (see the Chicago Bears).
Personally, as a Jets fan, the Jags D has scared me more than just about anyone over the past few years. Maybe it's the black unis, the gi-normous tackles, the headhunting secondary, dreadlocks flying...whatever it is, throw it all together and I'm a petrified when we take the field against the Jags, particularly down in Florida.
But the signal-callers do make a difference, and I can't get over the Jags depth chart at the position. Right now, it includes two QBs, Garrard and fourth year pro Quinn Gray. Garrard and Gray. Now, I've spent some time perusing the depth charts of all the teams in the NFL. Using no particular scientific formula, I've decided that the only quarterback crews arguably as weak (or incredibly questionable) as Jacksonville's belong to the Brownies, Chiefs, Vikings, Raiders, Falcons and Lions. This takes into account the cumulative decentness of the first-through second or third-stringers on each team (it's a very precise analysis).
Here's the thing, though. Nobody in their right mind thinks the Browns, Raiders or Lions are going anywhere (sorry, Detroit). Arguments can be made for the Chiefs, Vikings and Falcons, but I for one would not be inclined to put money on any of them going 9-7 or better. In contrast, some do believe the Jags will contend for a playoff spot in the AFC. This is why the Garrard-Gray combo has to be troubling. Granted they may pick up a veteran back-up as insurance but, regardless, I'd be very unsettled as a Jags fan.
It will be interesting to see where Byron lands. Time will tell, but I've got a bad feeling about this Jags team. A stingy D can only cover things up for so long. Partner the QBs with a fragile backfield and a WR corps that still hasn't lived up to the hype and it could be a long season in Jacksonville.
