Averages support distribution

Mar 26, 2001 at 07:00 PM

Join jaguars.com Senior Writer Vic Ketchman as he tackles the fans' tough questions.

Brian W. Fullford from Jacksonville:
With the steady improvement of Kyle Brady as a go-to receiver, will Coughlin start to use more short, play-action type calls to Brady and Taylor, or will he continue to call pass plays that target Jimmy Smith and Keenan McCardell primarily?

Vic: : Last season, Brady caught 64 passes and Taylor 34. That's 100 catches combined by the tight end and running back. How could you want more than that? Let's look at it this way. Smith averaged 13.3 yards per catch and McCardell averaged 12.8; Brady 11.4 and Taylor 6.7. Those averages would seem to support the way the ball was distributed.

Paul Baimbridge from Temecula, CA:
Do you think the Jaguars should get a backup quarterback in the draft, like the Jets did last year to back up Vinny Testaverde?

Vic: I think the Jaguars have to consider drafting a quarterback for developmental purposes, but you shouldn't expect a rookie quarterback to be a backup. Chad Pennington was not Testaverde's backup; Ray Lucas was. Pennington, however, is now the Jets' quarterback of the future. In a perfect world, the Jaguars would re-sign Mark Brunell, Jonathan Quinn would use his NFL Europe experience to develop into the backup he needs to be, and the Jaguars would find a quarterback in the draft they believe is worthy of development.

Robert Bloch from Neptune Beach, FL:
I thought about the cap and came up with the idea of creating what I call an "uncapped 11." Do away with the franchise and transition tags and make a cap exemption category for 11 players per team. This way all teams can keep their fan fixtures in place. Owners and GMs will like having the "Uncapped 11" because if the players they designate don't produce, they can be released without the whole team suffering for "dead money." What do you think of it?

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Vic: It's a great idea if the intent is to find ways to defeat the salary cap and drive salaries higher. The idea would cost teams a lot more money and, of course, you know what that would mean. A lot of teams have abused the cap and are now having to curtail their spending, and look what it's done to free agency. Finally, the cap is working. Unfortunately, the Jaguars are not in position to take advantage of it. I'll repeat my answer to a similar question previously: "The cap is our friend. Take care of the cap and the cap will take care of you."

Patrick Taylor from Jacksonville:
If the Jags plan on being contenders next year, then don't you think we need some offensive linemen.

Vic: Repairing the offensive line is the top priority and should be the Jaguars' early-rounds focus in the draft.

Ryan Patrick from Charlotte, NC:
This year seems to be another great quarterback year with Brees, Weinke, Vick and Heupel all entering the league. Since Brunell's production is down and he's not as mobile as he used to be, why not trade Brunell for a high draft pick to take one of these fine players?

Vic: This is not a good year for quarterbacks. Michael Vick is the only one who has pedigree credentials, and it's unlikely the Jaguars could trade up high enough (first pick) to get him. If the Jaguars draft a quarterback, it's more likely he'll be a long-range developmental candidate.

Jason Wulfekuhle from Cheyenne, WY:
I'm confused. I think a lot of people would agree with me when I ask this question. If the Jaguars want to keep Brunell and Brunell wants to stay with the Jaguars through the rest of his career, then why haven't they come to an agreement yet? It doesn't make much sense.

Vic: Jason, here's what I think the problem is: Mark Brunell wants to stay with the Jaguars and make many millions; the Jaguars want Brunell to stay with the Jaguars but not make many millions.

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