SBNation.com User Blog: Alex Glenn

5 Things we learned from the draft

Alex Glenn — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 04:50:51 -0000

1) The front office really did believe Blaine Gabbert would have been this years best QB

The Jaguars had every chance to grab a signal caller to replace Gabbert this year and they didn't. Even after securing the O-line in round 1 by picking Joeckel, they still passed on Geno Smith, Matt Barkley and Ryan Nassib. QB's this year really slid down the board . Despite that, the Jaguars didn't feel Geno, or any other QB prospect, was worth a 2nd or later pick. This becomes even more apparent when you take into consideration Caldwell said in the first three rounds you want guys you expect to come in and start. Needless to say, they didn't think any of the QB's could come in and start right away. Now, is this an endorsement of Gabbert or a indictment of the QB class? The answer probably lies somewhere in between.

2) Caldwell and Bradley didn't have Jordan or Ansah rated as top tier prospects.

The only real complaint about the Joeckel pick is that it was a waste to pick a RT #2. Bradley and Caldwell most certainly understand positional value, so why would they use this pick for a RT? For one, Joeckel was the #1 player on their board. Even if the Chiefs took Joeckel, Caldwell and Bradley stated in a presser that Fisher would have been the other choice. These two fully understand that a pass rusher holds more value than a RT. So, in choosing Joeckel, they essentially told us they had Jordan and Ansah graded much lower than Fisher and Joeckel. When looking at their board they probably saw three things that led them to RT. The most obvious is that Joeckel and Fisher were probably the two highest rated players on the board, regardless of poistion, and not just ahead of Ansah and Jordan. Second, the talent drop off from round 1 to round 2 was the most significant for the OT, compared to other needs.This became even more true with the reach of several prospects late in day 1.CB was especially deep and S had enough talent to wait until the 2nd. Third, who else graded out high enough to take #2. Sharrif Floyd would have been a popular choice pre-draft. Apparently NFL GM's didn't agree. Dion Jordan? A player with limited production in a pass happy PAC-12 coming off an injury? I'll admit that I would have liked the Jordan pick. Hell, I though the reports of an interest in OT was a smoke screen. Looking at the tape, it is hard to argue that Jordan is the same level prospect as Joeckel. In the end, Caldwell chose the highest rated player, in an area of need, with lower positional value; over a player at another area of need, with a lower grade and higher positional value.

3) They didn't like the DE talent outside round 1.

This is such a glaring need, why wasn't it addressed? Well. part of this question I touched on earlier in regards to Ansah and Jordan. I state #3 this way because I have no doubt they liked Jordan, Ansah and Mingo(among others) that went in round 1. Carradine and Hunt could have been taken in round 2. With the "we need starters" attitude in the first 3 rounds, they didn't meet the criteria. Carradine likely due to injury and it is no secret that Hunt is a project. DaMontre Moore doesn't seem like a scheme fit and Lemonier was very similar to Andre Branch. To top it all off, they would have to beat out Babin. Safe to say that was unlikely to happen. The one that I don't understand was passing on Okafor in round 4. With the approach being to get effective rotational or role players, I thought for sure he was going to be the pick. Instead they picked Sanders in the 4th then shoelace in the fifth. Which means......

4) This won't be the same 'ol Jacksonville.

How would one describe Sanders and Robinson? Electrifying, or fast, is probably the first thing that comes to mind. Bradley said many times how he wanted to be FAST. Caldwell echoed this, also saying how when they evaluated the roster the lack of speed was noticeable. CSIII is the only guy that really stands out to me as being fast.Well, that should no longer be the case. In a power running game, such as the one we've been running for years, speed isn't as important. The drafting of Robinson and Sanders more than likely signals a change in offensive philosophy.I don't believe we are going to all of a sudden become Detroit but maybe now we won't be stuck in 1994.

5)On the surface, this appears to be a good draft.

In the grand scheme of everything, immediate draft grades are often inaccurate. They tell you NOTHING about what will happen and are often dripping with opinions instead of objective response. However, spirits seem to be high and our grades,found here , seem to be high for the most part. If you base our draft off of a combination of prospect grades, need and scheme fit, it looks as if things are heading in the right direction.

1) The front office really did believe Blaine Gabbert would have been this years best QB

2) Caldwell and Bradley didn't have Jordan or Ansah rated as top tier prospects.

3) They didn't like the DE talent outside round 1.

4) This won't be the same 'ol Jacksonville.

5)On the surface, this appears to be a good draft.

Poll

How would you grade the draft?

A

41 votes

B

31 votes

C

1 votes

D+... Oh my god, I passed? I passed!

0 votes

f*** it!

1 votes

74 votes | Poll has closed

SBNation Writers Mock Draft

Alex Glenn — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 14:41:38 -0000

They currently have us Mocked as taking:

2)Geno Smith QB WVU

33)Sio Moore LB UCONN

When I look at these picks, to me at least, it screams Gene Smith. I would reserve judgement until the season because I have faith in the new regime. I must admit, I wouldn't be optimistic. I personally don't think Smith is good enough to be taken #2. I also think Jonathan Banks, Alex Okafor, Margus Hunt, Jamie Collins, Terron Armstead,Larry Warford, Nassib or Barkley would be better for the #33 selection. What are your guys thoughts?

They currently have us Mocked as taking:

2)Geno Smith QB WVU

33)Sio Moore LB UCONN

QB Rumors

Alex Glenn — Sat, 30 Mar 2013 15:33:39 -0000

I've been watching this offseason rather closely. It is a common debate for Jaguars fans whether or not the team should take Geno Smith #2 overall. My opinion, is that they shouldn't. I feel it is a bad idea to draft in such a down QB year and would prefer for them to draft from the strength of this years class. Apparently, a lot of the other top teams feel the same way. Kansas City decided they would rather go with Alex Smith than to draft Geno #1.Oakland is reportedly about to acquire Matt Flynn, which would lead me to assume that they,too, will be passing on Smith. Hmmmmm, both of the teams closest to us in draft order have shown that they would rather take an older veteran with limited amounts of success. I think that kind of shows what people are thinking about this years QB class. Not Much.

Geno Smith "slow eyes"

Alex Glenn — Sat, 23 Mar 2013 04:21:41 -0000

I recently wrote an article you can find here. In this article I said that Geno,among other things, wasn't very good at anticipation or throwing guys open. A lot of people disagreed with me, which is perfectly fine, but some went as far as to question if I was being biased or just making stuff up. Greg Cosell in an interview with NFL Network which you can find,here, says a lot of the same things about Geno as I do. This isn't to say that I'm write or wrong, just that someone who has been scouting and looking at tape for a very long time agrees with me. He also goes on to say he isn't sure if Geno Smith, or any QB this year, is on a Ryan Tannehill level, which I also happen to agree with. I will say that I believe Smith has the highest ceiling of any QB in the draft this year.

Arm strength is one of the attributes Geno Smith has an advantage in over Nassib, Barkley and Wilson. This isn't me being snide but having a true question. Just like any other form of strength, can't arm strength be improved? Tom Brady, Joe Montana and Drew Brees all had their arm strength questioned coming out of college. Yet, when I watch Brady and Brees they no longer seem to have weak arms. My assumption,which could be completely wrong, is that arm strength is created out of a combination of muscular strength, arm length and technique. Two of those things can be improved. I'm not saying that Kellen Moore can transform into Jay Cutler or Matthew Stafford. It seems reasonable though that Nassib and Barkley could improve their arm strength enough for it to not be a problem. If you have any information on this please comment and inform! It would be greatly appreciated.

My reply, to the reply of the"case against Geno Smith".

Alex Glenn — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 06:39:26 -0000

After reading the posts by Chris Eastman and Ryan Clark I just had to pitch in. I decided to watch film of Geno Smith from this last year and to be as analytically objective as I could. I watched Geno's games against UT,OU, TTU and KSU. These were two of his best and two of his worst games. I did this because I wanted to get a good idea of what it looks like when he does bad and when he does really well.I didn't include the Baylor game because I wanted to see how he fared against decent competition.The Baylor D was so porous, I felt any tape from that game wouldn't be accurate in helping me determine his next level capabilities. Here are the conclusions I came away with:

The Good:

1)Top tier arm strength- Smith does a very good job throwing the deep ball.He also has the arm strength to throw the comeback route, when on the hash mark, to the wide side of the field. He's not Jay Cutlet but in no way is arm strength a deficiency for Geno.

2) Good accuracy- Does an excellent job placing the ball. Even on his INT's they are usually on target, he just gets fooled by the coverage or his receiver doesn't win the 1-on-1 battle. He occasionally breaks down on his mechanics but is still top tier in terms of NCAA QB's.

3) Athleticism- Has the ability to slip pass rushers and do some damage with his feet. Reminds me of Aaron Rodgers in this aspect. Doesn't look to run unless he has no other option.When he does run, he has the ability to do some damage. Not RGIII but can get you some first downs and make some plays.

The Bad

1) Becomes far less efficient when throwing over the middle- Most of his misfires seem to come in the intermediate-deep middle throws. He has some big plays over the middle but they usually come when the field is WIDE open. He doesn't do well when there is traffic.I believe his issues with this tie into my next point.

2) Not good at anticipation or "throwing guys open"- Throwing over the middle often requires a QB to be able to use some anticipation, which Smith doesn't do much of. I can't really remember seeing a play where Smith threw to a spot before his receiver made the break. He only really does this on comeback routes when the WR is man'd up with the CB. KSU,especially, exploited this. You can see Smith being baited into some bad throws because he has a hard time diagnosing zone coverages. In zone, you have to lead your WR into the open area on slants,posts etc. If you throw it when he appears open, you will lead the WR into another zone. Watching to KSU game is the best example of this.

3) Pocket awareness/prescence- For someone as elusive and fast as he is, he sure did seem to get sacked a lot. I will admit that his O-line didn't do him many favors. However, there were numerous instances where he could have stepped up to avoid the sack but didn't. Ball security is another issue. He had the ball stripped several times in just the 4 games I watched.

Overall opinion:

Geno Smith has the physical tools to succeed in the NFL. However, many a bust can claim the same thing. I like Geno as a prospect, just not at #2. I agree with the "experts" on this one, he is a mid-1st round talent. I think a good cover 2 team will give him all kinds of trouble. This will force him to throw guys open, which isn't something he is particularly good at. Cover 2 does a good job taking away the 5 yd outs and 10-12 yd comebacks Smith likes so much. If you take away the deep routes, you can really limit Smith's effectiveness as a passer. Geno will more than likely experience some serious growing pains as a rookie. He can definitely overcome these issues but it SHOULD take time. I don't think drafting another "upside" QB so early in the draft is what the Jaguars need right now. With the talent this draft has to offer at CB,OT, OG, OLB and DT, I think we should look elsewhere. I don't think he will be around long enough for his draft position to match his value.

The Good:

The Bad

Overall opinion:

3/14 Mock. Updated for FA

Alex Glenn — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 17:31:35 -0000

My how things have changed. To steal from Johnny O, let's get to it!

Pick 8- Trade (2) to Buffalo for (8) and (41). - Xavier Rhodes CB FSU.

This pick stays the same from my previous mock draft. I know, some of you think this is too high for Rhodes. I still maintain that because of his fit into Bradley's scheme, this would be a great pick. From watching tape on both Milliner and Rhodes, it is my opinion, that Rhodes is the better press man corner. Rhodes measurements are exactly what Bradley looks for. 33 3/4" arms, you know Bradley has gotta love this guy. I think CB is currently our most pressing need. I believe Babin and Branch will perform very well in the new defensive scheme and surprise people. The knock on Rhodes is his zone coverage abilities in short and intermediate areas.Luckily when Bradley does run zone, he runs cover 3 almost all the time. This leaves Rhodes in the deep third. I just see the perfect example of need and scheme fit meshing together. If Jarvis Jones is around at this pick, I think he could very well be the choice. However, with more and more reports coming out about his health no longer being an issue, I don't see him getting past Detriot at #5 and Cleveland at #6. Some might think we won't get this much for the 2nd pick. Luckily for us, Buddy Nix is an idiot. After dumping Fitzpatrick and having no viable starter behind him, the Bills are in a bit of a pickle. Matt Barkley doesn't have the arm strength to handle the weather in Buffalo. They are desperate, so I think they give us their 1st and 2nd to grab Geno Smith. His pro day showing should help solidify this.

Pick 33- Alex Okafor DE UT

Okafor seems to be sliding a little bit in mocks. You don't often see him projected as a first rounder anymore. Okafor isn't the coveted speed rusher like the other DE's you hear about in this draft. He is a strong side end who has great technique with his hands. He will be good against the run and serve well as a complementary pass rusher. He did post 12.5 sacks this last year despite Jackson Jeffcoat being injured early in the season. He managed to produce while being the focus of every team he played against. If we are able to get him here, this could be one of the biggest steal's of the draft. I will take time to explain why Margus Hunt won't be our pick here, even if available. There is not doubt Hunt has unbelievable upside. It is also reasonable to expect that it will take Hunt 2 years to really develop. That being said, let's look at his age. Hunt was born on July 14, 1987. This means he will be 26 before the season starts. It also means he will be 28 when he starts hitting his potential. Assuming it takes two years for him to develop. Hunt would be 30 by the time his rookie contract expires. I don't think this fits into the youth movement that Bradley and Caldwell are trying to employ.

Pick 41- Arthur Brown LB KSU

With it looking like Daryl Smith won't be back, this pick makes a lot of sense. This kid has a lot of speed for the LB position. He reminds a lot of people of LaVonte David from last year's draft. If he performs like David, then we sure have a keeper on our hands. Brown is a "jack of all trades" backer. He will be good against the run and in coverage. I would actually expect him to replace Poz as the dime package LB in passing situations. If Brown is gone, I think this pick gets traded. I only have expert mock drafts to use as points of reference on where players will be selected. Based off that, it is very likely Brown makes it to the second round. Look for the highest rated DT here if Brown is gone and they keep the pick. Kawaan Short, Jonathan Hankins, Jesse Williams, John Jenkins are all options here.

Pick 64- Terron Armstead OT ArkPB

No, this isn't just a fad pick. His combine performance does mean a lot to certain teams. Teams who use a lot of zone blocking, like the Jaguars, will be very interested in this athletic tackle. His speed will make him very effective in reaching the 2nd level and being able to execute pull blocks with unmatched quickness. The hardest thing about projecting Armstead is figuring out where he will go. I've seen anywhere from the 2nd to the 5th round. I'm projecting him somewhere in between.

Round 4 pick 1- Highest rated QB remaining

I'm copping out on this one. Most people will assume Matt Scott but I'm not entirely sure he'll be the highest rated QB at this point. I don't think the Jaguars wait longer than this to get a QB. I think they want a real competition.Grabbing any of the QB remaining further back than this probably won't result in someone who will push Gabbert or Henne.

Round 5 pick 2-Sanders Cummings CB Georgia

Big and physical, operates best in press man. Sounds like a Bradley guy to me. We sure do need bodies in the secondary also. Potential steal here.

Round 6 pick 1- Knile Davis RB ARK

Has the speed and explosiveness this team needs. Should be a good addition as a shotgun/scat RB. I'm also projecting him here as a PR/KR. I think he could be a solid addition and fill some needs.

Round 7 pick 2- Cooper Taylor S Richmond

Fits the bill as someone who could come in and play the role Kam Chancellor did in Seattle. Physical 6'4" safety with good speed for his size. Could be an enforcer in the box. Has the tools to cover NFL TE's.

Now it's your turn to shred this mock to pieces or tell me you love it! Lets see what you got!

My how things have changed. To steal from Johnny O, let's get to it!

Pick 8- Trade (2) to Buffalo for (8) and (41). - Xavier Rhodes CB FSU.

Pick 33- Alex Okafor DE UT

Pick 41- Arthur Brown LB KSU

Pick 64- Terron Armstead OT ArkPB

Round 4 pick 1- Highest rated QB remaining

Round 5 pick 2-Sanders Cummings CB Georgia

Big and physical, operates best in press man. Sounds like a Bradley guy to me. We sure do need bodies in the secondary also. Potential steal here.

Round 6 pick 1- Knile Davis RB ARK

Has the speed and explosiveness this team needs. Should be a good addition as a shotgun/scat RB. I'm also projecting him here as a PR/KR. I think he could be a solid addition and fill some needs.

Round 7 pick 2- Cooper Taylor S Richmond

Now it's your turn to shred this mock to pieces or tell me you love it! Lets see what you got!

A great first day of free agency for JAX

Alex Glenn — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 13:52:48 -0000

What?! How can we have had a good first day? We didn't do anything? Well, let me explain.First, Jarvis Jones is apparently checking out medically and we sure need ourselves a pass rusher. Now to my main point. It has been said repeatedly that this year it would be much harder than others to trade back. Well, for the Jaguars at least, this may no longer be the case. Jarvis Jones clearing medically is great for us if we choose to pick him. It also works out very well to help us trade back. Jones is most likely the highest rated pass rusher on MANY NFL teams' big board. Him being cleared medically should heavily increase trade interest. In a year where there are supposedly no "Elite" prospects, there actually appear to be 3. Joeckel, Fisher and Jones. Unlike Mingo, Jordan and Ansah, Jarvis Jones grade isn't based solely on upside. Jones has produced fantastic numbers in the countries best conference for 2 years. He also has more moves and better use of his hands than Bjoern Werner. After watching plenty of his tape, I fully expect some teams to come knocking for our 2nd overall pick.

As if that weren't good enough news, Buffalo released Ryan Fitzpatrick and Cleveland signed Paul Krueger during the first day of free agency. Why is this good news? Well, now Buffalo sure does need a QB and so does Cleveland. Releasing Fitzpatrick leads me to believe the Bills have spotted their guy in the draft. I also don't think you oust an incumbent unless you believe "that guy" can come in and play right away. That leaves us with Geno Smith and Matt Barkley. I'm purely speculating but I believe wholeheartedly it is Geno Smith. He has experience is the cold for one. He also has much better arm strength than Barkley. This will help Geno in the cold and I don't expect the Bills want to go from one weak armed QB(Fitzpatrick), to one with only average at best arm strength, in Barkley. Now on to Cleveland. Many experts project them taking a pass rusher in the first round. Well, now that they have Sheard and Krueger, they very well could be looking at something else in the first round. They do need a WR, CB and QB. According to several reports I've read, the Browns are looking to upgrade over Weeden and McCoy. While they very well could go with a CB or WR in round 1, QB makes a lot of sense, too. QB holds much higher positional value than a WR or supplemental CB. The Browns do,after all, have one of the best CB's in Joe Hayden. Lets say that the Browns decide they want a CB in round 1. If they are targeting Milliner, how likely do you think it is he gets past Philly at #4? They just ousted DRC and Nnamdi. I know, I know, this is all speculation but c'mon! You can't tell me this isn't at least making the possibility of a trade back look more likely. Jax has a lot of holes to fill, so if I want to dream about us having new found ways to trade back, just let me!

Lesser known DB prospects who are probably on the Jags radar

Alex Glenn — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 05:22:43 -0000

Here is an extensive list of prospects who the jaguars are possibly targeting. Bradley runs a Cover 3 or press man coverage almost ALL the time. Knowing this, there are certain prospects that can be found later, that may be able to fit into what Bradley hopes to do. I am basing these conclusions on the idea that what we saw from him in Seattle will be very similar to what we can expect in Jacksonville.Here you go!

Safeties:

(FS)Shamarko Thomas and Earl Wolff-While they don't grade out as high, both of these players could potentially fill the same role Earl Thomas did in Seattle. Both of them are a little undersized but posses elite speed. In Bradley's press man scheme it is the job of the corner to NEVER get beat over the top and to the outside. If they do give up anything, they are suppose to be sure to funnel the receivers back to the middle of the field where they will drift into the deep safety's zone responsibility. The deep safety is responsible for a very large area over the deep part of the field. To effectively cover this area, elite speed is an absolute requirement. They both run in the high 4.3 to low 4.4 range and have elite vertical jumps to contest jump balls(Thomas-40.5 Wolff-39). They are also physical tacklers who could be effective when occasionally used in blitzing packages.Cover 3 also requires a safety, usually the FS, to cover the deep middle as well. Wolff's biggest issue is his tendency to get pushed around while up close to the line. This problem will be avoided,more often than not, by putting him in the deep 3rd. Thomas biggest issue is a concern over TE's and large WR's in the seam, as he is only 5'9". These prospects aren't perfect but, in this particular system, could flourish.

(SS)TJ McDonald and Cooper Taylor- Both of these prospects are projected as good run defenders and "enforcers" who will probably struggle in deep coverage. They also lack elite speed to keep up down the field with quick twitch receivers. However, in Bradley's scheme the SS is not often asked to do this. These players would be tasked with filling a role similar to what Kam Chancellor had in Seattle. These large,big bodied safeties (McDonald 6'2" 220 Taylor 6'4" 230) have the potential to excel in the box against the run. They also have the length, size and athleticism to cover NFL tight ends.In cover 3 the SS has the weak side curl/flat responsibility. This helps keep these big bodied enforcers around the line of scrimmage.

Corners:

Robert Alford- People have become enamored with the height of the Seattle cornerbacks. While this is a trait Bradley most certainly looks at, length is possibly more important.Darrelle Revis is only 5'11" and he can manhandle larger receivers in press coverage.Why? He possesses good length and has 32 3/8 arms, as well as unbelievably strong hands. Alford has 32" arms. Slightly smaller but it shouldn't be enough to be a concern. Alford is an elite athlete. At the combine he registered a 4.39 40, 40 in. vertical, 17 bench reps and a 132 in broad jump. His bench numbers should indicate that he can deliver a strong punch in press coverage. While a lot of you might not know his name, I would be surprised if he made it out of the 2nd round. The only thing keeping him from being a 1st round pick, in my eyes, is the fact he plays for a small school. It is always harder to evaluate how a player will transition to the NFL when he has been playing less than ideal competition. I love this guy as our 2nd rounder, especially if we trade our 33rd pick and move a few slots back.

Darius Slay-Great speed(4.36 40), good height (6'0") and length(32 1/4" arms).He isn't the best at change of direction. This is a much bigger issue when playing off than in press.He should be able to do well covering the deep 3rd in a cover 3 scheme. Needs to brush up on consistency and technique. These are things coaching could possibly fix. Probably ends up as a 3rd round draft pick.

Tharold Simon- Physically fits the Bradley mold. 6'2" with 32 3/4inch arms.Ran a 4.51 40. Not spectacular speed but Sherman ran a mid 4.5. He possesses poor pressing technique, though. Simon could also benefit from getting stronger in the upper body. He registered a lowly 9 bench reps. As a late round pick he could show promise. NFL coaching and strength training could serve him well. Simon is good at locating the ball once in the air. More of a project player who could develop into something special.

Demetrius McCray-Another player who fits the Bradley mold. At 6'1" and 33 7/8"(Whoa!) arms.Runs a 4.54 40.His huge issue, is strength. He only managed 4, yeah 4, bench reps at the combine.He would be brought in as an UDFA.

Safeties:

Corners:

A realistic mock

Alex Glenn — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 15:39:45 -0000

Some of you will love it, some will hate it. But, hey, isn't that just how these things go? I decided to get all crazy and throw in draft day trades, so I hope you enjoy the madness.

Rd. 1(pick7)- Xavier Rhodes CB Florida State- Sometimes a pick just makes too much sense to ignore. Rhodes is a physical press happy cornerback with great length and fantastic measurables. Bradley has to see this guy and become a little giddy. Rhodes combine performance answered any questions teams had about his athleticism. There was never any doubt about his skills as a football player, just concerns over him being able to handle the receivers with elite speed and quickness. From the looks of his combine and tape, he should be just fine.Some may consider this a reach for the #7 pick.For me, he is such a perfect scheme fit for what Bradley wants to do. I don't think it is a reach at all.Realistically we could trade anywhere in the 6-9 range.I picked the Cardinals because their QB situation is the most dire. Listen all you want to draft experts. Historical precedent says that someone will make a trade to get Geno or Barkley. We might not get much. I'm gonna get crazy and guess we get Arizona's 1st and 2nd and in return we give a 1st and 4th.(either ours or the 4th rounder we obtained from the Lions in the Thomas trade.)

Rd. 2(pick 33) Dallas Thomas OG/T Tennessee- I love this pick because of its versatility. We could have Thomas play guard or right tackle. He also possesses above average athleticism for the position which bodes incredibly well for fitting into the new zone blocking scheme. This is a perfect case of need meeting value.D.J Fluker was an option here but I felt he didn't have the quickness or athleticism to fit with the zone blocking scheme.

Rd. 2(pick 38 from ARI) Margus Hunt DE SMU- It took me awhile to choose between Hunt and Kawaan Short out of Purdue. I ultimately chose Hunt because this gamble could provide the Jaguars with one of the best DE's in the league, over time. His measurables are off the charts. Also, he continued to improve from year to year at SMU which shows you he is learning effectively. While we wait for him to develop he can still contribute on special teams. This guy blocked 17...yeah you read that right.....17 punts/kicks. His length isn't going anywhere so neither should his ability to block kicks. There is just too much here to pass up. I wouldn't mind switching it to Hunt at 33 and Thomas to 38. I did it this way because I felt Thomas was the safer pick, so he went first.

Rd. 3 (pick 66)- Sylvester Williams DT NC- Caldwell said he will be drafting for need, so here you go. Good value and fit.

Rd.4- Zack Dysert QB MIA-OH- Best QB left on the board. The connection to Scott is overblown just like the whole Greg Roman thing.

Rd.5- Shamarko Thomas S SYR- Do you really want Prosinski to see the field anymore? We also happen to have an over priced safety hitting free agency next year.

Rd.6-Knile Davis RB ARK- We need explosiveness, especially on special teams. This is our guy. From what I've been able to find, he is projected anywhere from rd.5 to UDFA. I think he works well here.

Rd.7-Rex Burkhead RB NEB- I think he will prove to be a valuable backup to MJD

To get this list I referenced CBSsports, Bleacher Report and NFL.com to try and obtain realistic ideas about projected draft rounds. Hope you like it!

Some of you will love it, some will hate it. But, hey, isn't that just how these things go? I decided to get all crazy and throw in draft day trades, so I hope you enjoy the madness.

Rd. 3 (pick 66)- Sylvester Williams DT NC- Caldwell said he will be drafting for need, so here you go. Good value and fit.

Rd.4- Zack Dysert QB MIA-OH- Best QB left on the board. The connection to Scott is overblown just like the whole Greg Roman thing.

Rd.5- Shamarko Thomas S SYR- Do you really want Prosinski to see the field anymore? We also happen to have an over priced safety hitting free agency next year.

Rd.6-Knile Davis RB ARK- We need explosiveness, especially on special teams. This is our guy. From what I've been able to find, he is projected anywhere from rd.5 to UDFA. I think he works well here.

Rd.7-Rex Burkhead RB NEB- I think he will prove to be a valuable backup to MJD

To get this list I referenced CBSsports, Bleacher Report and NFL.com to try and obtain realistic ideas about projected draft rounds. Hope you like it!

Why the Jaguars WILL be able to trade down

Alex Glenn — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 17:01:13 -0000

It is a common belief that it will be exceedingly difficult for teams to trade down this year. The consensus is that there isn't much of a difference in talent from the #2 spot to around the #25 spot. While, for the most part, this is true, there are a couple very important positions to watch.

First, is quarterback. We all know Geno Smith is not a "can't miss" or blue chip prospect.However, he is the best this class has to offer. It is my belief that Smith is the sole QB capable of starting from day one. I'm far from the only one who feels this way. Assuming the Chiefs grab Joeckel first, there could be a lot of interest for a Smith trade up.Oakland, Cleveland, Arizona, Buffalo and New York(Jets) all draft in the top ten and will more than likely have a vested interest in being able to pickup a QB that is ready from day one. Such high demand in such a cluttered area of the draft can only help promote bidding wars to drive up the likelihood, and value, of a trade. I would feel much better about drafting Werner, Mingo, Jarvis Jones, Ansah(my personal favorite),Jordan, or even Warmack, in the 6-9 area than #2.Being able to grab an extra pick and still grab a player that fits a need would be great.

The other position, is left tackle.If the Chiefs were to take Geno Smith that leaves us with the ability to shop Luke Joeckel. Unlike Smith, Joeckel is considered by just about everyone to be a true blue chip player. Even though there are 2 blue chip tackles(Joeckel,Fisher) there are up to 8 teams(Arizona,San Diego,Miami[Long is a FA],St.Louis,Chicago,Indy, Phi and GB) that could be looking for a franchise left tackle in rnd 1. If Jason Peters has trouble returning, you could see interest in trading up skyrocket. Another scenario is if Joeckel is selected number one and Peters struggles to return from injury.This could entice teams like Arizona and San Diego to trade up with Jax in fear of both Fisher and Joeckel being off the board by the fourth pick.

Chicago is another team to watch. Chicago has a very talented roster with one glaring weakness, the offensive line.Convincing Jax to drop all the way to 20th will most likely require CHI to give up their 1st, 2nd and a later(5-7th) pick.This is a costly move but if Joeckel or Fisher can come in and play like Kalil did for Minnesota, it could mean a world of difference for the Bears. I think it is realistic for CHI to think that all it would need is to stabilize the OL to become a true super bowl contender.

Lane Johnson is the wild card here. His rise or fall on teams big boards will heavily affect how this all plays out. As it stands right now most people have Fisher and Joeckel at the top in a different class than everyone else.This is how it needs to stay to benefit Jax the most. Scarcity and value is what will drive and motivate trades.So here's to hoping Joeckel and Fisher stay the only two elite LT prospects.

Poll

Will the Jaguars be able to trade down? If so, should they?

Yes, they'll be able to and yes, they should

54 votes

Yes, they'll be able to but no, they shouldn't

3 votes

No, they won't be able to . If they can, they should.

42 votes

No, they won't be able to nor should they.

3 votes

102 votes | Poll has closed

Draft options for Jax part 1

Alex Glenn — Wed, 09 Jan 2013 22:01:05 -0000

Unlike mock drafts I'm going to be focusing on viable options for the first two rounds of April's draft . Here we go for round one...

Rd 1- Geno Smith, Star Lotulelei, Jarvis Jones, Luke Joeckel, Damontre Moore, Bjoern Wener.

Geno Smith- He isn't a prospect like we saw in last years draft. However, he is still the most complete QB in this year's class. Smith posseses good pocket presence, good down field accuracy and ideal size. His biggest issue is his habit of locking onto his first read which will lead to turnovers at the next level. Despite struggling at times this previous season Smith still maintained a superb TD/INT ratio. This should serve as an incouraging sign for any team looking to obtain his services. He won't be the highest rated player on the board but the ineptitude of Henne and Gabbert could make the Jags call his name.

Star Lotulelei -This is my personal choice for the Jags. With Knighton struggling mightily, as well as being a free agent, this makes Star a very plausible pick. He is a great space eater who can draw double teams to free up the linebackers. Star doesn't really possess any rush moves other than to bull rush forward.He can help collapse the pocket up the middle and disrupt the QB's rhythm. Unlike Smith, Star will be one of, if not the, highest rated players on the board. His best attribute is his ability to penetrate the backfield and strafe down the LOS on running plays.

Jarvis Jones- It is hard to project Jones until the doctors at the combine get a chance to examine his spine. All injury concerns aside, this guy can seriously play some football. Jones is an absolute stud of a pass rusher who also is good in coverage and against the run. He also possesses a very wide range of pass rushing moves. Uses his hands great and keeps his pad level low helping him turn the corner. He might have some issues when being run at directly. Isn't the most powerful guy so might have a hard time shaking off a lineman who is gunning straight for him. Without Spinal Stenosis I would be willing to bet a lot of money this guy would be the Jags pick.If he is determined by the combine doctors to be in great condition, I hope they take him.As things stand now, there is too much uncertainty for me to like him over Lotulelei.

Luke Joeckel- Considered by some to be the top rated prospect in this years draft. It's usually between Joeckel and Lotulelei, just depends on who you ask. Joeckel is a top notch pass protector who utilizes sound technique and possesses elite size. He absolutely dominated the SEC talent he faced this year, which is why he is praised so highly. Isn't the most powerful run blocker but is by no means weak in the area. He would need to bulk up some to adapt to the NFL, but I doubt that will be a problem. My biggest issue with Joeckel as the jags pick is that he would most likely be put at the RT position. RT is often needed as the run blocking mauler who opens up holes to the RB's right side. Which is usually the preferred side to run on. This isn't Joeckel's specialty which could lead to some growing pains. Regardless, bringing in a player of his quality to your team is NEVER a bad thing.

Bjoern Werner-Sorry, but I'm drinking the haterade. I don't think Werner is as elite of a prospect as others do. I think he's more of a 10-15 area pick, not a #2. While a great pass rusher, he has a tendency to disappear for a few games.Werner has 7.5 of his sacks in two games. He also posted 0 sacks in 8 of his 14 games played. I feel like his stats are a bit inflated due to a 4 sack game against Murray state. Not exactly a tough opponent. I will give him full credit for his 3.5 sack game against Florida. He was fantastic. He also hasn't produced at a extremely high level for 2 years like the other prospects listed above.

Damontre Moore-" Possesses a lean, lanky build with plenty of room for additional muscle mass. Flashes a quick first step off the snap. Has long, strong arms and uses his hands well to defeat blocks"(CBS Sports). He has experience in the "Joker" position which could make a possible transition to a 3-4 OLB easier. However, he isn't an elite athlete and can sometimes disappear in games. I.E- the cotton bowl against Oklahoma. I like Moore more than I like Werner but would still prefer Lotulelei, Joeckel or Jones.

Unlike mock drafts I'm going to be focusing on viable options for the first two rounds of April's draft . Here we go for round one...

Rd 1- Geno Smith, Star Lotulelei, Jarvis Jones, Luke Joeckel, Damontre Moore, Bjoern Wener.

Poll

Who would you draft

Geno Smith

9 votes

Star Lotulelei

29 votes

Jarvis Jones

17 votes

Luke Joeckel

11 votes

Bjoern Werner

6 votes

Damontre Moore

2 votes

74 votes | Poll has closed