Jaguars News

Sunday's Jaguars vs. Bills game will be blacked out
Comment
November 19
Jacksonville Times-Union
 
"The Jaguars made it official Thursday that their game against the Buffalo Bills on Sunday will be blacked out on local TV. It's the fifth regular season game and the seventh, counting the two preseason games, that has been blacked out. The Jaguars have won two games in a row, but continue to struggle selling tickets."
Jaguars RB Maurice Jones-Drew exuding star power
Comment
November 19
Jacksonville Times-Union
 columnist Gene Frenette
"Derek Landri has watched the phenomenon unfold since the Jaguars lineman and the powerful little running back were teammates at De La Salle (Calif.) High, where they never lost a game. Tight end Marcedes Lewis had an inkling when he was with the little dynamo at UCLA that the current face of the Jaguars had rock-star potential. They understood that whether it's production on the field or fan popularity, Maurice Jones-Drew has an unmatched power of attraction. "Maurice is one of these guys that when he walks into a room, the energy shifts," Lewis said. "Everybody wants to talk to him. Everybody wants to be around him." Jones-Drew doesn't have to take a knee at the 1 to take center stage. He ..."
Bills coach makes debut vs. Jags, his former team
Comment
November 19
Jacksonville Times-Union
 
"Perry Fewell is going to have a homecoming of sorts Sunday in Jacksonville when he makes his head coaching debut. Fewell, a former Jaguars assistant coach under Tom Coughlin who has never been a head coach on any level, was suddenly vaulted into the position Tuesday when Buffalo Bills owner Ralph Wilson fired Dick Jauron and offered Fewell the job on an interim basis. Fewell, 47, who was hired as the Bills' defensive coordinator at the start of the season, didn't expect Jauron to be fired during the season, but a 44-17 loss to Tennessee last Sunday prompted a change. The loss dropped the Bills to 3-6. "We're professional people," Fewell said of Jauron's firing. "That's the nature of ..."
Former Jaguars player Jimmy Smith sentenced to 18 months probation
Comment
November 19
Jacksonville Times-Union
 
"Relieved his legal ordeal is all but behind him, former Jaguar Jimmy Smith looked forward Wednesday to what he calls his new career: helping kids avoid the drug dependency that snared him. "That's my job for the rest of my life," Smith told the Times-Union after pleading guilty to felony crack cocaine possession and three misdemeanors. "If I can help one kid from going down the path that I did, it will all be worth it." Pursuant to a plea agreement with the State Attorney's Office, Smith, 40, was sentenced to 18 months' probation, including six months' house arrest. He must submit to random drug testing, meet weekly with a drug counselor, perform 100 hours of community service and not ..."
CB Mathis to miss Buffalo game
Comment
November 19
Jacksonville Times-Union
 
"Scratch cornerback Rashean Mathis from the Jaguars' list of defensive starters for Sunday's game against the Buffalo Bills. Coach Jack Del Rio ruled Mathis out because of a groin injury the cornerback suffered last week in the fourth quarter against the Jets. The Jaguars could also be without linebacker Justin Durant, who missed practice Wednesday with a head injury. Mathis underwent an MRI exam Monday. Apparently, the results weren't satisfactory enough to keep him in the lineup. "He won't play this week," Del Rio said. "It could be a little while. With Rashean, he's proven over time to kind of beat the prognosis. Some guys just heal quickly, and Rashean's been that kind of guy for us." ..."
Ex-Jaguar Fewell becomes foe as Bills' head coach
Comment
November 19
Jacksonville Times-Union
 
"Perry Fewell is going to have a homecoming of sorts Sunday in Jacksonville when he makes his head coaching debut. Fewell, a former Jaguars assistant coach under Tom Coughlin who has never been a head coach on any level, was suddenly vaulted into the position Tuesday when Buffalo Bills owner Ralph Wilson fired Dick Jauron and offered Fewell the job on an interim basis. Fewell, 47, who was hired as the Bills' defensive coordinator at the start of the season, didn't expect Jauron to be fired during the season, but a 44-17 loss to Tennessee last Sunday prompted a change. The loss dropped the Bills to 3-6. "We're professional people," Fewell said of Jauron's firing. "That's the nature of our ..."
Touchdown Jacksonville has big plans for Jaguars' Dec. 17 game
Comment
November 18
Jacksonville Times-Union
 
"Since the new Touchdown Jacksonville was announced Nov. 4, the group of Jacksonville businesspeople have begun work to spur Jaguars ticket sales. The group is also working to do something less tangible: bring back the enthusiasm that has lit the city many times since the Jaguars began play 14 years ago. Lack of attendance this season has caused every home game to be blacked out on TV and has raised speculation that team would move to Los Angeles, which does not have a National Football League team but is building a NFL-ready stadium. At its second public event Tuesday at Jacksonville Municipal Stadium, the group announced progress is being made. First, ticket-selling efforts now are ..."
Jaguars' Mathis might miss game vs. Bills
Comment
November 17
Jacksonville Times-Union
 
"The Rashean Mathis watch is back. Mathis, the Jaguars' best cornerback, missed the game at Tennessee on Nov. 1 with a broken left index finger and now he's in danger of missing Sunday's game against the Buffalo Bills with a groin injury. Coach Jack Del Rio said Monday that Mathis will undergo an MRI and Del Rio willhis status Wednesday, but said Mathis might miss time. Mathis was injured midway in the fourth quarter making a hit on Braylon Edwards after Edwards caught a 16-yard pass. Mathis wasn't available for comment Monday, but said after the 24-22 victory over the New York Jets on Sunday that "it doesn't look good." If he can't play, the Jaguars will have to decide whether to move ..."
Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio outthinks the thinker
Comment
November 17
Jacksonville Times-Union
 
"Take a bow, Jack Del Rio. Not only is the Jaguars coach smarter than a fifth-grader, he outfoxed the NFL genius, Bill Belichick, with much better use Sunday of his cerebrum. Yes, the same Del Rio that is a punching bag when Jaguars fans are unhappy, actually came across as the guru. Meanwhile, a man regarded as a football Dalai Lama simply took leave of his senses. Belichick had a massive brain cramp, going from Coach Hoodie to Coach Doofus in one unbelievable moment of hubris against the Indianapolis Colts. Eight hours earlier, Del Rio proved to be the enlightened one against the New York Jets. Once inside the red zone, Del Rio instructed Maurice Jones-Drew to not score a touchdown in the ..."
Maurice Jones-Drew apologies to fantasy owners about taking knee against New York Jets
Comment
November 16
New York Daily News
 
"Maurice Jones-Drew became the first running back to rush for more than 100 yards on the Jets this season. He also scored a touchdown. But his numbers could have been bigger. "I apologize to all my fantasy owners," said Jones-Drew, who dropped to a knee instead of scoring a fourth-quarter touchdown to give Jacksonville the lead. "I had myself (Sunday), too. It was a tough call, but whatever it takes to get the win." The play went against all of of his instincts. He saw a wide-open hole to the end zone, with Jets players practically waving him in. That's when the Jaguars running back fell down at the 1-yard line. With Jacksonville trailing 22-21, Jones-Drew's play with 1:48 left enabled ..."
Jones-Drew takes a knee to seal Jags' win
Comment
November 16
New York Post
 
"Maurice Jones-Drew had a clear path to the end zone and was inches away from his second touchdown of the day, because the Jets were trying to let him score. Instead, the Jacksonville running back knelt to the ground -- untouched -- with about 1:45 to go in the game. "It was a tough decision, but the coaches were like, 'Just take a knee, we're going to try to get them to waste a timeout,' " Jones-Drew said after the Jaguars beat the Jets, 24-22, yesterday at Giants Stadium after Josh Scobee's ensuing 21-yard field goal as time expired. "We knew they were going to try and let us score and try to get the ball back and be able to run their two-minute offense," Jones-Drew said. "Coach said ..."
Jaguars use their heads to give Jets the boot
Comment
November 16
Jacksonville Times-Union
 
"This was the moment of truth for the Jaguars. Trailing the New York Jets 22-21 with 5:04 left, they took over on their 17, needing a long drive and at least a field goal to keep them in playoff contention. They answered the call and beat the Jets 24-22 on Josh Scobee's 21-yard field goal on the final play of the game. The Jaguars (5-4) moved above .500 for the first time this season and put themselves in the middle of the wild-card chase. The offense drove the ball 80 yards to the Jets' 1-yard line, where Maurice Jones-Drew deliberately fell down so the Jaguars could run time off the clock before the Scobee kicked the game-winner. "What a great football game,'' said Jaguars coach Jack Del ..."
Competitive Jones-Drew unaccustomed to not scoring
Comment
November 16
Jacksonville Times-Union
 
"Not the first time Maurice Jones-Drew's decision to kneel at the 1-yard line, rather than score a touchdown with his team trailing 22-21, was unusual, but not unprecedented. Eagles running back Brian Westbrook did it in 2007 against the Cowboys. With the Eagles ahead 10-6, Westbrook purposely fell down at the 1-yard line rather than score on a 25-yard TD run. The Cowboys were out of timeouts and the Eagles ran out the clock to win. Westbrook apologized to fantasy football owners after the game."
New York Jets lose to Jacksonville Jaguars as playoff hopes take huge hit
Comment
November 16
New York Daily News
 
"When Rex Ryan arrived in New York, he vowed to establish the "Organized Chaos" mantra that defined his Baltimore defenses for a decade. The Jets have adopted that mentality, all right, with a slight variation that covers the entire team: Disorganized chaos. They deserve a "dis" after giving away a virtual must-win game Sunday to the Jaguars, a crushing 24-22 loss at the Meadowlands that left them "barely breathing" (Ryan's words) as far as playoff hopes. Playing like it was their first minicamp together, the Jets wasted two second-half timeouts because of miscommunications between the sideline and the huddle, blew a pass coverage on the biggest play of the game and - the ultimate irony - ..."
Losing a Chess Match, and a Game
Comment
November 16
New York Times
 
"The Jets lost to the Jacksonville Jaguars, 24-22, on Sunday on a last-second field goal that ended a surreal two-minute drill filled with cold calculation by both sides. This was the Jets' fifth defeat in their last six games as their early-season bluster has been replaced by recriminations. But for neutral observers, Sunday's finishing sequence at Giants Stadium was both unorthodox and memorable. It included a Jets defense trying to allow a touchdown to give Jacksonville the lead and the Jaguars refusing to score it. And it had nothing to do with either team trying to lose. Jaguars running back Maurice Jones-Drew, one of the stars of the game, intentionally dropped to his knee before the ..."
Dillard breaks leg, out for season
Comment
November 15
Jacksonville Times-Union
 
"Jacksonville rookie receiver Jarett Dillard sustained a broken leg Sunday in the Jaguars' 24-22 win over the New York Jets and will be out for the season, according to coach Jack Del Rio. "It was a break," Del Rio said. "I believe it was the ankle. I don't know specifics, but it was a break. We'll lose him for the year." Dillard suffered the injury on a 7-yard catch near the sideline in the second quarter. Dillard was tackled on the play by cornerback Donald Strickland, and immediately taken to the locker room for x-rays."
Run-happy Jets present huge test for Jaguars
Comment
November 15
Jacksonville Times-Union
 columnist Gene Frenette
"Jack Del Rio wants so badly to summon his old Jaguars defense, preferably the one from 2005, that created havoc, devoured quarterbacks and chased people off the field. So far, it's been nothing but a pipe dream. On the side of the ball that defines him most as a head coach, Del Rio has painfully watched the Jaguars look vulnerable in every way imaginable this season. There's no sign of his defense developing any kind of swagger, never mind sustaining excellence. All the Jaguars have are fleeting moments of respectability, such as holding the Indianapolis Colts to 14 points in the season opener and stuffing the lowly Kansas City Chiefs last week for 56 minutes. The process of rebuilding a ..."
New York Jets looking to regain swagger against Jacksonville Jaguars in 'must-win' game
Comment
November 15
New York Daily News
 
"In a span of four weeks, the same amount of time it took the Yankees to march through the postseason en route to a world championship, the Jets pushed an undefeated season to the brink of ruin. Wrap your brain around that. It was a one-mortgage-payment free fall, leading to this: A Meadowlands showdown Sunday with the Jaguars that could determine the outcome of the season. Everyone from Rex Ryan to the 53rd player has called this a must-win, a virtual playoff game for a couple of 4-4 teams. They're all in. "We're (ticked) off, which is good," veteran guard Brandon Moore said. "We know we're better than our record shows, but you can only use that for so long. We've had a lot of weeks of ..."
Jaguars' Jones-Drew a handful
Comment
November 14
Bergen Record
 
"Rex Ryan would like to clear up one misconception about Jacksonville's prolific 5-foot-7 running back, Maurice Jones-Drew. "He's short. He's not small," the Jets' coach said of the 208-pounder. "That's a big man, a big, powerful man. He's low to the ground [and] has great balance. When you think he's down, he's still up. We've got to make sure we get him on the ground. We've got to have more than one guy on him." Jones-Drew is sixth in the AFC in rushing with 737 yards, averaging 5.1 yards a carry. He leads the NFL with 11 touchdowns, all rushing. He was limited in practice Thursday with a knee problem, but practiced full Friday. "He's just a tough guy," Ryan said Friday. "He's a bowling ..."
Jaguars wide receiver Ernest Wilford out vs. N.Y. Jets
Comment
November 14
Jacksonville Times-Union
 
"The Jaguars declared tight end Ernest Wilford out for Sunday's game at the New York Jets because of a low-grade high ankle sprain. Optimistic earlier this week about his chances of recovering in time to play, Wilford spent Friday working on a stationary bike as the team practiced. It's unclear how much time the team expects Wilford to miss, but it's likely he'll be ready to return to practice next week when the Jaguars begin preparations for their Nov. 22 game against Buffalo. Wilford had started the past two weeks opposite Marcedes Lewis. He has five receptions this season for 61 yards. Rookie Zach Miller, who contributes mostly on special teams, is expected to take Wilford's snaps Sunday ..."
NY Jets' Bart Scott, Jacksonville Jaguars' Maurice Jones-Drew looking forward to trash-talking battle
Comment
November 12
Newark Star-Ledger
 
"Jets chatty linebacker Bart Scott loves to play against Jaguars running back Maurice Jones-Drew. Not only is Jones-Drew one of the NFL's premier players at his position, he's one of the league's top trash-talkers. That Scott is a bone-jarring defender and Jones-Drew is a game-breaking tailback only makes the stakes higher and the banter louder. ''Well, I'm a little upset that (Scott) said I'm the third-best trash-talker in the league,'' Jones-Drew joked Wednesday in a conference call with reporters. ''I thought I was the best. We're going to have to talk about that on the field.'' Scott ranks Bengals wide receiver Chad Ochocinco and Dolphins linebacker Joey Porter just ahead of Jones-Drew. ..."
Bryan Smith will start at defensive end for Jacksonville Jaguars
Comment
November 12
Jacksonville Times-Union
 
"Coach Jack Del Rio isn't looking for the New York Jets to come up with any surprises Sunday against the Jaguars. "I don't think there's any secret to the fact they're trying to run the ball," Del Rio said. "They're a run-first offense. They're a run-first team." With the league's top-rated rushing offense featuring a solid offensive line and running back Thomas Jones, the Jets like to run to control the ball and keep teams from teeing off on rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez. The Jaguars are ranked 22nd in rushing defense and are still tinkering with their defense. They switched from the 3-4 to 4-3 last week and are making a change in their starting lineup this week with Bryan Smith stepping ..."
Smith will start at defensive end for Jacksonville Jaguars
Comment
November 12
Jacksonville Times-Union
 
"Coach Jack Del Rio isn't looking for the New York Jets to come up with any surprises Sunday against the Jaguars. "I don't think there's any secret to the fact they're trying to run the ball," Del Rio said. "They're a run-first offense. They're a run-first team." With the league's top-rated rushing offense featuring a solid offensive line and running back Thomas Jones, the Jets like to run to control the ball and keep teams from teeing off on rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez. The Jaguars are ranked 22nd in rushing defense and still tinkering with their defense. They switched from the 3-4 to 4-3 last week and are making a change in their starting lineup this week with Bryan Smith stepping ..."
Jaguars' Bryan Smith to make first NFL start
Comment
November 12
Jacksonville Times-Union
 
"Coach Jack Del Rio isn't looking for the New York Jets to come up with any surprises Sunday against the Jaguars. "I don't think there's any secret to the fact they're trying to run the ball," Del Rio said. "They're a run-first offense. They're a run-first team." With the league's top-rated rushing offense featuring a solid offensive line and running back Thomas Jones, the Jets like to run to control the ball and keep teams from teeing off on rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez. The Jaguars are ranked 22nd in rushing defense and are still tinkering with their defense. They switched from the 3-4 to 4-3 last week and are making a change in their starting lineup this week with Bryan Smith stepping ..."
Game is key to playoff hopes
Comment
November 12
Jacksonville Times-Union
 
"Halfway through the season, the Jaguars hesitate to call Sunday's road game against the New York Jets a must-win affair. "Every week is like that," running back Maurice Jones-Drew said. "Each week, we have to take it like it's a high-stakes game, and it is." The difference is this game might go a long way toward determining the remainder of the Jaguars' season and their playoff hopes. Both teams, at 4-4, already find themselves in precarious positions at the halfway point. "We're not caught up in the [if] 'that team wins, this team goes this direction,' " Jaguars quarterback David Garrard said. "You never know how it's going to play out, but definitely this game for both teams does mean a ..."
Student takes Jaguars QB to school
Comment
November 11
Jacksonville Times-Union
 
"When the knock came at John Fitzgerald II's front door Tuesday morning, the 8-year-old started to run toward his bedroom. He'd been anxious all night about this moment, when Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback David Garrard was picking him up for school at Timucuan Elementary. "He said, 'Mom I'm nervous,' " his mother, Michele Neal, said. John was one of 34 winners from the 75,000 entries in the NFL Take a Player to School event. He won a T-shirt, hat, an autographed football and a few other mementos. Plus, Garrard visited the family's Westside house, took them in a limo to the school, spoke at a pep rally for the school and joined John's class for some exercises. John introduced Garrard to ..."
Jaguars want off the .500 carousel
Comment
November 10
Jacksonville Times-Union
 
"For the Jaguars, getting over the .500 hump is like trying to scale Mount Everest. The Jaguars (4-4) pulled back to .500 for the third time this season Sunday when they beat the Kansas City Chiefs 24-21. They previously were 2-2 and lost at Seattle 41-0 and were 3-3 and lost at Tennessee 30-13. Now they start the second half of the season against a New York Jets team that has lost four of its last five games after a 3-0 start, and has the same 4-4 record as the Jaguars. If the Jaguars are to have the second-half playoff surge that coach Jack Del Rio is touting, they have to put together a winning streak. But in the past three-and-a-half seasons, the Jaguars keep coming back to .500. Since ..."
Chiefs' onside kicks give Jaguars some anxious moments
Comment
November 9
Jacksonville Times-Union
 
"When Kansas City scored on a 54-yard bomb from Matt Cassel to Chris Chambers with 2:32 left in the game, everyone knew what was coming next. Trailing 24-13 and needing two scores, the Chiefs lined up for an onside kick. Kansas City kicker Ryan Succop hit a knuckleball into the Jaguars front wave of blockers. The ball bounced off the hip of Jaguars 322-pound tackle Atiyyah Ellison and into the arms of Succop who made his first recovery of one of his own kicks spanning his high school, college and professional career. Ellison, a regular on all kickoff return teams, expressed surprise that the ball came his way. "Usually when they kick it, the ball goes over my head and I'll block someone," ..."
Jaguars' defense undergoes alignment change
Comment
November 9
Jacksonville Times-Union
 
"Tennessee's Chris Johnson not only ran all over the Jaguars last week, he appeared to run them right out of the 3-4 defense. After Johnson's 228-yard performance last Sunday, the Jaguars switched from a 3-4 defensive alignment to a 4-3 against Kansas City and posted a 24-21 victory. The Jaguars held the Chiefs to just two field goals for the first 57 minutes. The Chiefs came into the game ranked 30th in the league on offense, and were without suspended running back Larry Johnson. But coach Jack Del Rio said it wasn't Chris Johnson's running that prompted the switch. It was the lack of pass rush. The Jags had just five sacks in seven games. The 3-4, Del Rio said, "never really materialized ..."
Big numbers for Jaguars' Sims-Walker against Chiefs
Comment
November 9
Jacksonville Times-Union
 
"Mike Sims-Walker may have a shot at becoming the Jaguars most productive receiver since Jimmy Smith retired after the 2005 season. He still has a long way to go to match the five-time Pro Bowler, but he did something Sunday in the Jaguars' 24-21 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs that no Jacksonville receiver had done since 2000. His 147 receiving yards on six catches was the most by a Jaguars receiver since Smith had 147 yards against Arizona in 2000. Sims-Walker caught a 61-yarder for a touchdown and a 45-yarder to set up a field goal. On both plays, the Chiefs' coverage broke down and there wasn't a defender in Sims-Walker's zip code when he made the catch. He has 100 receiving yards ..."
Rookies played a key role in win
Comment
November 9
Jacksonville Times-Union
 
"Several Jaguars rookies took part in an interesting 11-play sequence in the first half of the team 24-21 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday. The string of plays underscored the mixed-bag performances of a talented rookie class taking on key roles. Running back Rashad Jennings started the sequence with a 28-yard touchdown run off tackle with 4:33 left in the opening quarter. It was the first NFL touchdown for the seventh-round pick from Liberty. "I just saw the end zone and wanted to take off towards it," Jennings said. "It was great block[ing] by the offensive line." On the Jaguars' next series, rookie offensive tackle Eugene Monroe was called for holding, which erased a 22-yard ..."
Forget about style points; it's an old-fashioned Jaguars win
Comment
November 9
Jacksonville Times-Union
 columnist Gene Frenette
"Two things we knew for certain would happen in the Jaguars' game Sunday against the Kansas City Chiefs: There would be a one-third empty Jacksonville Municipal Stadium and a rousing, emotional response for servicemen and women honored on Military Appreciation Day. But if you're trying to figure out the hometown NFL team, maybe it's best to leave that one alone. I doubt Sigmund Freud could get a handle on the Jacksonville Chameleons, er, Jaguars. They keep changing their colors from week to week, and now their base defense is undergoing alterations. Halfway through the 2009 season, it's hard to tell if this 4-4 outfit is just a mediocre team that has benefited from a suspect schedule (three ..."
Jaguars hang on and hang in against Chiefs
Comment
November 9
Jacksonville Times-Union
 
"The Jaguars stayed true to form in continuing their pattern of following blowout defeats with wins against bad teams. They fought off a late Kansas City rally and topped the Chiefs 24-21 on Sunday to improve to .500 at the halfway point of the season. "We didn't quite finish the way we wanted," Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio said. "But we will take that 'W'." In doing so, the Jags responded to most of the criticisms about the team's weak spots. - They pressured the quarterback (three sacks). - They made timely tackles (Chiefs leading rusher Jamaal Charles finished with just 36 yards). - They pass protected and defended against the pass fairly well (gave up only one sack, and limited Kansas ..."
Chiefs get going too late in 24-21 loss to Jaguars
Comment
November 9
Kansas City Star
 
"The Chiefs spent two weeks working on tweaking the offense, working on fine-tuning, working on improvement. The play calls and approach looked different. The result did not. Kansas City lost again Sunday, and it did it the same old way: poor pass protection, questionable play calls, and the appearance of a disorganized unit that couldn't adjust quickly enough. Coach Todd Haley took a magnifying glass and scalpel to his offense for two weeks. Time was supposed to help the Chiefs swerve back onto the road toward progress. But this didn't look much like progress: a 24-21 loss to Jacksonville, a team with problems and a fan base that seems leery that improvement is taking place. Sound ..."
Succop gives Chiefs a chance on field goals
Comment
November 9
Kansas City Star
 
"Ryan Succop has proved himself to be invaluable and indispensable - and anything but irrelevant. Succop, the Chiefs' kicker and last pick in this year's NFL draft, offers the team something it doesn't have at many other positions: a sure thing. Most of the time, anyway. He made two field goals during Sunday's 24-21 loss at Jacksonville, and recovered his own onside kick late in the fourth quarter. But the most surprising thing happened as the first half expired. Succop missed a field goal. Never mind that it was a 56-yarder into a stout breeze. "I expect him to make every one," said punter Dustin Colquitt, who is the holder on field goals. "But (56 yards), going into the wind? That's a ..."
After the bye week, the Chiefs go bye-bye again in a 24-21 loss to Jacksonville
Comment
November 9
Kansas City Star
 
"The Chiefs' new offense didn't seem much more effective than the old one -- before the score was out of reach, anyway -- and Kansas City's erratic defense couldn't hide its many weaknesses. The bye week and the extra time didn't seem to help the Chiefs, who lost their seventh contest of the season, staggering toward the midpoint of 2009 with a 1-7 record after the Jaguars' 24-21 win today at Jacksonville Municipal Stadium. Chiefs coach Todd Haley said he spent part of his time during his team's open date trying to identify what had held back Kansas City's offense. It didn't have a rushing touchdown in the first seven games, quarterback Matt Cassel was under constant pressure and the Chiefs ..."
Charles, Smith run well in limited opportunities
Comment
November 9
Kansas City Star
 
"The Chiefs were happy enough with their running game their first time without the suspended Larry Johnson. His main replacements, Jamaal Charles and Kolby Smith, combined to average more than 5 yards a carry. The problem is that the Chiefs gave them the ball a total of only 10 times in a 24-21 loss to the Jaguars on Sunday. The game quickly became unbalanced for the Chiefs. They handed the ball to their running backs - including Dantrell Savage - 12 times while Matt Cassel threw 39 passes. The Jaguars, who had been playing a 3-4 defense, surprised the Chiefs by playing mostly a 4-3. "It wasn't what we practiced against," Chiefs coach Todd Haley said. "I thought for the most part we had an ..."
Chambers, Long catch on quickly for Chiefs
Comment
November 9
Kansas City Star
 
"It took eight games and countless wide-receiver combinations, but the Chiefs finally hit on one that worked in Sunday's 24-21 loss to the Jaguars. The most recent additions to the group, Chris Chambers and Lance Long, led the way. Chambers, who joined the Chiefs only last week, scored two touchdowns - both in the last 3 minutes of the game. Long, promoted last month from the practice squad, was the game's leader in catches with eight. He also cost the Chiefs when he failed to get out of bounds to stop the clock when they were trying to get into field-goal range late in the first half. The Chiefs had to settle for a 56-yard attempt by Ryan Succop that fell short. "It was a bad play by me," ..."
Only constant is inconsistency
Comment
November 8
Jacksonville Times-Union
 
"As the Jaguars reach the midway point of the season with today's home matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs, the overriding theme so far is how remarkably inconsistent this team has been in every facet of the game. Pick most elements — the passing game, the linebackers, the offensive line, special-teams play — and coach Jack Del Rio will see that production fluctuates like a yo-yo from week to week. About the only sign of consistency is the team's pathetic pass rush and inability to get opposing teams off the field on third down. Some of this was to be expected with a young team in primarily a rebuilding phase. However, the trend so far of the Jaguars continually delivering performances ..."
Mathis, Monroe to start for Jaguars
Comment
November 7
Jacksonville Times-Union
 
"This time, the lineup shuffling should be a welcome occurrence. Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio said Friday that cornerback Rashean Mathis will start Sunday against the Chiefs, along with rookie left tackle Eugene Monroe. Mathis sat out last week because of a broken left index finger. Monroe didn't start at Tennessee because the team opted to go with veteran Tra Thomas, who had experienced success earlier this season against Titans defensive end Kyle Vanden Bosch. Mathis' return means Reggie Nelson will resume his role as a starter at safety opposite Gerald Alexander. Monroe joins a starting offensive line that - partially due to injury and illness - switched out personnel on five occasions ..."
Jaguars nab safety Smith
Comment
November 7
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
 
"The Green Bay Packers came close to reacquiring safety Anthony Smith on Friday but lost out to the Jacksonville Jaguars because of the National Football League waiver system. An executive in personnel for an AFC team confirmed what had been reported on nationalfootballpost.com, that Jacksonville was awarded Smith over a claim put in by Green Bay. The waiver system at this time of year is based on inverse order of the standings. At 3-4, the Jaguars had claiming priority over the Packers, 4-3. If Smith had been awarded to the Packers, they would have had to remove a player from the 53-man roster. A good guess is that the club would have released one of three backup safeties: Matt Giordano, ..."
Jaguars aim to rev up pass rush
Comment
November 6
Jacksonville Times-Union
 
"In the wake of the Tennessee Titans' record-setting 305-yard rushing performance against the Jaguars last Sunday, much of the focus this week has been on improving the tackling and the run defense. But another important factor in the game against the 1-6 Kansas City Chiefs this Sunday might be the Jaguars' ability to put heat on quarterback Matt Cassel. Kansas City's overall offense and passing offense rank 30th in the league in yardage gained. The Jaguars' run defense figures to improve this week because Rashean Mathis is back practicing with a cast on his broken left index finger and has said it's not giving him any problems. His return enables Reggie Nelson to switch back to his safety ..."
Jaguars game vs. Chiefs blacked out
Comment
November 6
Jacksonville Times-Union
 
"The Jaguars' home game against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday is not a sellout and will be blacked out in the Jacksonville area and secondary markets, the team said this afternoon. The team could have requested a 24-hour extension, but did not. All of the Jaguars' home games have been blacked out so far this season. The Jaguars ticket office will be open from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. through Friday, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. on Saturday, and on 10 a.m. on Sunday."
In a down economy, NFL viewership is up
Comment
November 6
Washington Post
 
"When this NFL season began with some franchises struggling to sell tickets, there were concerns about the impact that the uncertain U.S. economy would have on the nation's most prosperous sport. While those concerns have turned out to be justified in a few NFL cities and unfounded in others, there has been an unforeseen development: The NFL's television ratings are soaring this season, and some analysts say it appears to be the result of consumers cutting back on other, more costly leisure activities in favor of watching pro football on TV. "I think there's only one answer and that is the NFL and television are actually getting the so-called 'benefit' of the recession," said Neal Pilson, ..."
Man found guilty of shooting Jaguar Richard Collier
Comment
November 6
Jacksonville Times-Union
 
"A jury convicted Tyrone Romero Hartsfield of attempted first-degree murder Thursday evening in the shooting of former Jacksonville Jaguar Richard Collier. Hartsfield shook his head as the verdict was read, and his sister, sobbing, had to be led out of the courtroom. The defendant was also found guilty of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. One day earlier, Hartsfield had emphatically and tearfully told jurors he is innocent. "I ain't shot nobody. That ain't me," he said. "… Y'all got an innocent man up here on the stand." But prosecutors accused Hartsfield of feigning his tears for sympathy and having "an explanation for everything." "You want to do any more crying before we get ..."
Jaguars game vs. Chiefs blacked out
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November 5
Jacksonville Times-Union
 
"The Jaguars' home game against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday is not a sellout and will be blacked out in the Jacksonville area and secondary markets, the team said this afternoon. The team could have requested a 24-hour extension, but did not. All of the Jaguars' home games have been blacked out so far this season."
Jaguars practice in full pads, work on tackling
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November 5
Jacksonville Times-Union
 
"The Jaguars plan to remedy their woeful tackling performance last week at Tennessee with more than just tough talk from coach Jack Del Rio. For the first time since the regular season began, the players came out for workouts Wednesday in full pads. "Obviously, it's got to be an emphasis," Del Rio said of the team's tackling. "You've got to tackle to play good defense, we understand that. It's not going to be an issue for us. It can't be. We'll find a way." The Jaguars have rarely practiced in full gear during the regular season in Del Rio's tenure. Tennessee running back Chris Johnson played a role in the change. The Jaguars struggled with consistency in tackling in the first six games. ..."
Give ball to Jones-Drew
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November 3
Jacksonville Times-Union
 
"The Jaguars believe they've figured out a way to get the ball in the hands of running back Maurice Jones-Drew. They'll make what coach Jack Del Rio called "hard ball calls." That means quarterback David Garrard will be told on occasion not to call audibles out of running plays and into passing plays. Garrard changed the play from a run to a pass a few times in the first quarter-and-a-half of the Jaguars' 30-13 loss to the Tennessee Titans on Sunday, including on their first two offensive plays. That strategy worked in the first game against the Titans, when Garrard checked from runs to passes and threw for 323 yards and three touchdowns in a 37-17 victory even though Jones-Drew had just ..."
Chiefs will give Charles a chance to run against Jacksonville
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November 3
Kansas City Star
 
"Sooner or later, the day will come when the Chiefs no longer build their running game around the talents of Larry Johnson. That being the case, Jamaal Charles might be wise to consider Sunday's game against the Jaguars an audition of sorts. Chiefs coach Todd Haley might be looking at it that way. The game in Jacksonville will be their first of the season without Johnson, who is suspended. The Chiefs confirmed Monday they have reached a settlement with Johnson that will keep him out of Sunday's game. It also will be the Chiefs' first look at Charles as their featured back. He's been mostly a third-down back since joining the team as a rookie last year. "I think this is an opportunity for ..."