Jags preseason schedule
The NFL announced it’s preseason schedule this afternoon and some usual suspects are on tap for the Jags this preseason. Exact times and dates have only been announced for nationally televised games.
Jacksonville opens the preseason on the road in Philadelphia against the eagles. Then week 2, the Jags return home to play Miami. Week 3, Jacksonville travels to Tampa and the Jaguars will wrap up preseason at home against the Falcons.
QB workout for Jags
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Reports state that Notre Dame quarterback Jimmy Clausen will have a private workout with the Jaguars prior to his pro day at Notre Dame on April 9th. Clausen is widely considered as the #2 quarterback that will be selected in this month’s draft, but could see a free fall through the first round similar to that of fellow Irish quarterback Brady Quinn experienced.
While quarterback is a position that will need to be addressed as David Garrard was pedistrian at best last year. But I don’t know if selecting Clausen at #10 overall would be a wise move.
The Jaguars need to get pressure on opposing quarterbacks and improve on an anemic 14 sacks last year. The free agent signing of Aaron Kampman will help, but selecting a DE in the first round to play opposite Kampman on the line might be a more pressing need.
Jags hope 30/30 is 20/20
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Jacksonville Jaguars ownership stated yesterday that due to “overwhelming public response” the 30/30 ticket plan deadline has been extended. The deadline for the plan which allows season ticket holders to lock in 2010 prices for 3 years was set to expire today, March 31st. But Jaguars CFO Bill Prescott announced that the plans deadline has been moved back to May 31, 2010.
The plan allows ticket holders to pay for 30 games over 30 months interest free. Attendance at Jaguars home games has been pathetic at best and has been some cause for concern to ownership and the league. Persistent rumors about the Jaguars moving to California has swirled around the internet for nearly a year now.
The economic downturn in the real estate market and the record 12.3% unemployment rate have hurt ticket sales for not only the Jaguars, but the cross state Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Bucs co-owner Joel Glazer told the St. Petersburg Times last week that Bucs fans could expect home game blackouts this coming season. Something Jaguars fans are all to accustomed to.
As I wrote last week in this space, the one team that hasn’t been mentioned in the Donovan McNabb sweepstakes is the Jaguars and I think he’d be a perfect fit. And nothing puts butts in the seats more than winning.
How about McNabb to Jax?
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Philadelphia QB Donovan McNabb has been rumored to be traded all across the league during the last week. St. Louis, Buffalo, Oakland, but what about a trade to Jacksonville? Well this is what the Jaguars Stadium looked like last year:
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So how close is Jack Del Rio to the hot seat? Why not roll the dice this year and see what happens? Are jags fans happy with Garrard at the QB position? I don’t think so, and I think a draft day trade of the Jaguars #74 pick and the second round pick in 2011 might be enough to swing a deal.
Why not pull a trigger on such a deal? The Jags aren’t getting fans in the seats, reports early on were about the Jaguars wanting to draft Tim Tebow out of the University of Florida to fill the seats. Ownership conducted a poll of season ticket holders, and Jags fan didn’t want the Jaguars to draft Tebow.
Why not fill the seats with a Pro Bowl quarterback? This team went 7-9 last season and has the offensive talent of Maurice Jones-Drew.
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The Jaguars suffered from very shaky play from the quarterback position last season, with Garrard only throwing 15 touchdowns. A trade for McNabb would boost that number by 12. The emerging wide receiver that no one knows about, Mike Sims Walker, is about to explode onto the scene this coming year if he has a quarterback who can deliver the ball.
So why not pull the strings and make the trade? You play in the AFC South, with Peyton Manning and Matt Schaub in Houston. The ball is flying around your division, Garrard isn’t getting it done. A quarterback tossing 15 scores isn’t going to win the AFC South division. And if you can’t win your division, you aren’t going to compete for the Super Bowl.
So as the empty seats await in Jacksonville for 2010, grow a pair and make a move. If you want fans in the seats, make a commitment and go after a proven winner. Otherwise, sit there at #10 in the first round and continue to select failed draft choices and maybe next year, the tarps can cover portions of the 200 level.
