Five biggest mistakes in Jaguars history
The Jaguars are once again looking like a team with no identity and no national following. It's at times like this that we have to wonder, what went wrong? Now, I'll try to answer that very question. Here's your list of the Jaguars' five biggest mistakes -- ever.
5) Hiring Gene Smith: Right now, it's hard to argue against this pick on the list. Since taking over, the Jaguars have, arguable, gotten even worse than the mess that he has been attempting to pick up since early 2009. As it stands, the Jaguars have no franchise quarterback, no offensive playmakers (save for MJD, a pre-GM Gene era pick) and no pass rush. Yeah, it's bad.
4) Drafting Derrick Harvey: Hindsight is always 20/20. This pick still burns me to think about. Harvey was a terrible player with little to no work ethic. He was the embodiment of the idea that the Jaguars were one player away. The falloff during the 2008 season was inevitable, but this pick made it hurt that much more.
3) Benching Mark Brunell in favor of Byron Leftwich: I've said for about a decade now that Mark Brunell had quite a few good years left, but the Jaguars bailed on him during the third game of the Jack Del Rio era. Since that now infamous benching, the Jaguars have been without a true franchise quarterback, although you could argue that David Garrard looked like one in 2007.
2) The decay of the QB position: From 2003 to 2011, the Jaguars didn't draft a single quarterback. Blaine Gabbert was supposed to be the answer at the most important decision, but he hasn't panned out to this point. I know this is only his second year, but it doesn't look good.
1) Firing Tom Coughlin: Coughlin was a great coach when the Jaguars hired him, and he's a great coach now, some 17 years later. The Jaguars had a collapse following their success in the 90s, and they needed to rebuild. Yes, Coughlin was partially at fault for that collapse, but he should have been instrumental in turning the team back around. Had the Jaguars kept faith in Coughlin, do you think the team would be where they are now? I doubt it.
Shack Harris was worse then Gene Smith. Monroe is a home run. Alualu is good, not worth the 10th overall pick. However, I can see him playing in the NFL 6 years from now. Matt Jones & Reggie Williams couldn't play after their careers here. You guys won't give this guy 5-6 years. You guys also made up your minds at week 5. Let them keep playing until week 11 for an example. If they start clicking at the end of the season. That's when we could see more growth.
Yes, he missed on JPP. If JPP wasn't risky. He would have never made it to 15th overall. He would have been 4th-5th overall. I can understand why other GM's passed on him. I remember when vic even stated he had mouth watering talent, but only played 7 games at USF. When you're recruiting a DE with 7 games of tape and he admitted people just told him to go after the QB. It's hard to burn a 10th overall pick on that type of player. However, I did want S Earl Thomas. However, I can see why he took Alualu to help get DT's to start piecing together DE's.
In 2011, Gabbert was the highest graded QB on NFL.com. The Panthers even admitted they were very close on taking Gabbert 1st overall. You guys do realize Gabbert is younger than Geno Smith and Matt Barkley? Those 2 QB's are in college lol. You guys gave up on a QB before he can finish his 2nd season.
You guys also gave up on another players whom is a WR, another known position to start of slow. Wayne wasn't good until his 4th year. Roddy White wasn't good until his 3rd year. We have the worst fanbase in the NFL. It's a fact. I'm sorry. All you guys do is cry and need a bib.
@Indy! They are not going to LA! I wish you and all the other naysayers will get over it. They have been sold out 3 years in a row! What about Miami, Tampa, Oakland, Buffalo and San Diego? They cannot say that! There is a great fan base down here. They are loud and raucous really let the opposition hear it. Perhaps you should attend a game here and see how nice of a stadium we have and how the experience is.
That was all on del rio not shack. 2 of the 4 years with Gene we've been within a game of winning the division
The end of the Shack Harris era was rough, but there was a time period in the middle that was pretty solid. Gene Smith's teams have yet to have a playoff appearance which is why he made the list.
The Coughlin mistake is because of what he's become. He sent the team into salary cap hell, which is why he was fired. Surprised you put hiring Gene Smith as GM and not have hiring Shack as GM. That was by far the worst hire. Gene has at least hit on multiple picks. This season has been a bummer because of injuries. If our OL, Cox, or Daryl Smith were healthy along with Rashean we would be better than our record says.
Matt jones he supposedly ran a 40 4.3..... #crickets ....maybe he ran it eventually lol
