JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) -Torched by division rivals Peyton Manning, Chris Johnson and Andre Johnson last year, it was fairly obvious where the Jacksonville Jaguars needed to improve.
As the NFL draft unfolded, it became even more clear how general manager Gene Smith and coach Jack Del Rio felt about their defense: It needed a complete overhaul.
The Jaguars used their first five draft picks to revamp a unit that ranked 23rd in the league in 2009 and finished with a franchise-low and NFL-worst 14 sacks.
“We wanted to rebuild the defense this year,” said Terry McDonough, the team’s director of player personnel. “We felt, watching the defense last year, we needed speed up front on defense. We’ve done that, acquiring multiple defensive tackles, multiple defensive ends. We’re going to be very young up front, very active, very fast. We’re very excited about the prospects we have to rebuild our defense up front.”
Fans might not feel the same.
The Jaguars could have used a big-name college player – Florida quarterback Tim Tebow or Clemson running back C.J. Spiller – to invigorate a fan base that has shown little interest in buying season tickets and avoiding television blackouts.
Instead, they decided to focus on upgrading the roster, especially on the defensive side of the ball, with the belief that winning will solve the franchise’s problems.
That remains to be seen. But the defense certainly should be better, especially with the offseason addition of free agent defensive end Aaron Kampman.
“In any good defense or offense, your foundation starts up front,” defensive line coach Joe Cullen said. “That was one of the key things we wanted to do, build a strong foundation for now and the future.”
Jacksonville drafted California defensive tackle Tyson Alualu with the 10th overall pick Thursday and chose Louisiana Tech defensive tackle D’Anthony Smith in the third round Friday with the 74th selection. The Jags then traded their fourth-round pick to Oakland in exchange for veteran linebacker Kirk Morrison and a fifth-rounder Saturday.
Morrison, who led the Raiders in tackles the past four seasons, became expendable when Oakland drafted Alabama star Rolando McClain in the first round.
less of how long I’ve been there, you pretty much give him the keys to the car and the reins to the football team to be your starting middle linebacker in a 4-3 scheme.”
Morrison, who recently signed a one-year tender worth $2.51 million this season, will step right into the middle of Jacksonville’s defense. His arrival will allow Daryl Smith and Justin Durant to play outside and probably send Clint Ingram to the bench.
“For me, it’s a new beginning,” Morrison said. “I feel like I was drafted all over again.”
The Jags continued to add defensive talent with two fifth-round picks. They drafted Central Arkansas defensive end Larry Hart with the 143rd selection, then took Murray State defensive end Austen Lane 10 spots later.
“They want my hand on the ground, trying to help them get after Peyton Manning a little bit,” Hart said.
Hart, a 6-foot, 250-pounder, earned Southland Conference defensive player of the year the last two years. He played two seasons at Holmes Community College in Mississippi before transferring to Central Arkansas, where he finished with 73 tackles and 21.5 sacks.
His height probably prevented him getting drafted earlier. His relentless motor put him on Jacksonville’s board.
down and get a guy that is 6-foot like myself. I think I have my advantages and disadvantages.”
Lane doesn’t have any size issues. The 6-foot-6, 272-pound Wisconsin native does have a mean streak, though.
“My first goal is to hurt a quarterback,” Lane said. “I don’t just want to sack a quarterback. I want to hurt somebody. That’s my mentality. … I want to cause pain.”
With all the defensive moves, the Jaguars believe they should be better equipped to compete with AFC South opponents.
“I’m aware they had some problems on the defensive line,” Lane said. “This draft was really focused on the defensive line, and they got some really good guys.”
Jacksonville also picked Southern Illinois running back Deji Karim (No. 180) and James Madison kick returner Scotty McGee (No. 203) in the sixth round.
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