JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) -Jacksonville Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio has endured some barbs this offseason, with most of them coming from close friends and colleagues.
The digs had little to do with attendance, television blackouts or that four-game losing streak that knocked Jacksonville out of the postseason picture.
They revolved around defense – or a lack thereof.
The Jaguars had an NFL-low 14 sacks in 2009, struggled to tackle and ranked near the bottom of the league in just about every defensive category. It was a glaring weakness for a franchise designed to play solid defense and a huge concern for Del Rio, who made his mark on that side of the ball as a player and an assistant coach.
The NFL draft, which begins Thursday night, should give the Jaguars a chance to reshape the unit.
“We clearly would like to add players on the defensive side of the ball,” Del Rio said. “I think every position on the defensive side of the ball could use an influx of talent. We feel pretty good about a few of the parts, but we also feel that’s an area we need to improve.”
Fortunately for the Jaguars, this year’s draft is filled with potential defensive stars. That’s one reason general manager Gene Smith would prefer to trade down from the No. 10 spot in the first round and acquire extra selections.
Smith and Terry McDonough, the team’s director of player personnel, have been talking with teams since the scouting combine about potential moves.
“We’ve been networking with the league and having constant dialogue,” Smith said.
The Jaguars only have six total selections and don’t have a second-round pick. They traded that one to select cornerback Derek Cox in the third round last year, a move that clearly paid off. Cox started every game as a rookie and finished with 72 tackles and four interceptions.
Cox was one of several rookies who played significantly last season. Left tackle Eugene Monroe, right tackle Eben Britton and defensive tackle Terrance Knighton turned out to be some of the team’s best draft picks in recent years. Receivers Mike Thomas and Jarett Dillard, tight end Zach Miller and running back Rashad Jennings also played key roles.
But can the Jaguars do it again? Can they piece together another standout draft class?
pain with that.”
Even with all the youngsters in the mix, the Jaguars have plenty of holes to fill – mostly on defense.
Although they signed defensive end Aaron Kampman in free agency, they know he’s coming off major knee surgery and might not be full speed when the season begins. And since 2008 draft picks Derrick Harvey and Quentin Groves have been disappointments, no one would be surprised to see Jacksonville go after a pass-rusher like South Florida’s Jason Pierre-Paul or Georgia Tech’s Derrick Morgan at No. 10.
The Jaguars also could opt for a linebacker. Justin Durant and Clint Ingram haven’t progressed like the team hoped, leaving both position alongside Daryl Smith open for competition. Alabama’s Rolando McClain would seem to be a perfect fit.
“We’re going to be a swarming, attacking defense that can tackle,” Del Rio said. “We just didn’t do that. If nothing else, that mentality, that mindset has got to be re-established. We are going to be an attacking front. We are going to be a team that knows how to tackle and gets people down.”
Tennessee defensive tackle Dan Williams and Florida cornerback Joe Haden also could be options with the 10th pick.
But the Jaguars secretly would like to see Notre Dame quarterback Jimmy Clausen, Clemson running back C.J. Spiller or maybe even an offensive tackle – either Oklahoma’s Trent Williams, Maryland’s Bruce Campbell or Iowa’s Bryan Bulaga – fall to that spot. If so, they believe that would entice another team to trade up.
“You can’t anticipate anything at this point,” Smith said. “Teams have said they’re willing to be trade partners, and we think it’s a good thing if we can help each other, but there hasn’t been a lot of substance to our conversations.”
Even fewer details.
“They don’t want show their hand completely,” McDonough said. “They may have a player in mind, but they don’t give you the player’s name. Right now, they want you to commit to things that aren’t realistic. When it gets close and a player they really covet is there, they’ll come up there and try to get him.”
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