THIS WEEK: The Jacksonville Jaguars play their first game in the state of Florida on Friday, August 4 in Joe Robbie Stadium when they face the defending AFC East champion Miami Dolphins. Kickoff is at 7:00 p.m. EDT. The Jaguars are 0-1 in preseason play following a 20-14 loss to the Carolina Panthers in the Hall of Fame game. The Dolphins will be playing in their first preseason game of 1995.
RADIO BROADCAST: This game will be broadcast on WOKV (690 AM) and WKQL (96.9 FM) and the Jaguars Radio Network, with play-by-play man Brian Sexton and color analysts Matt Robinson and Deron Cherry. Reporter Jennifer Kumik will contribute to the pre-game and half-time shows. More than 30 affiliates in five states on the Jaguars Radio Network will also broadcast the game.
PRESEASON TV BROADCAST: The Jaguars' four remaining preseason games will be televised on WTLV, Channel 12, with Kevin Harlan and Mike Golic calling the action. Harlan is in his second year as an NFL broadcaster for the Fox Network. Golic played defensive tackle for nine years in the NFL for Houston, Philadelphia and Miami before retiring following the 1993 season. He is now a broadcaster for ESPN. In addition, the game will be broadcast on WCPX (Ch. 6) in Orlando, WCTV (Ch. 6) in Tallahassee, and WSAV (Ch. 2) in Savannah, Ga.
TICKET INFORMATION: Tickets for the game are available. The Dolphins Ticket Office phone number is (305) 620-2578.
THE SERIES: This is the first game between the Jaguars and Dolphins. They do not meet during the 1995 regular season.
THE OPPONENT: The Dolphins were the first expansion team in the American Football League, beginning play in 1966. The Dolphins played in the Super Bowl in their sixth season (1971) and won the Super Bowl in their seventh year (1972). Altogether, the Dolphins have played in five Super Bowls, winning twice. Last season, the Dolphins finished 10-6, winning the AFC Eastern Division. They defeated Kansas City in the first round of the playoffs, then lost to San Diego in the AFC divisional playoffs. During the offseason, the Dolphins were perhaps the busiest team other than the two expansion clubs, in signing free agents. The Dolphins currently have 19 former first-round draft picks on their roster.
THE COACHES: The two head coaches, Tom Coughlin for the Jaguars and Don Shula for the Dolphins, are stark contrasts -- at least in terms of the number of NFL games they have coached. Coughlin appeared in his first NFL game as a head coach last week against Carolina, while Shula has coached 474 regular-season games, 35 playoff games and more than 150 preseason contests. Coughlin served as the head coach at Boston College from 1991-93, compiling a record of 21-13-1, with two appearances in bowl games. Coughlin was previously an NFL assistant coach with the New York Giants (wide receivers, 1988-90), Green Bay Packers (wide receivers and passing game coordinator 1986-87) and Philadelphia Eagles (wide receivers, 1984-85). Shula has a regular-season record of 319-149-6 (.679). In fact, when Shula coached his first NFL game in 1963, Coughlin was a high school senior at Waterloo Central in Waterloo, N.Y.
JACKSONVILLE-MIAMI CONNECTIONS: Current Jaguars players who were previously on the Miami Dolphins' roster are OLB Brant Boyer (1994, played in 14 games), OT Jeff Novak (1994, played in six games), and WR Mike Williams (46 games played from 1991-94).
In addition, a number of Jaguars players are from the state of Florida:
WR Shannon Baker Born in Lakeland; attended Lakeland High and Florida State
P Bryan Barker Born in Jacksonville Beach
TE Derek Brown Grew up in Merritt Island; attended Merritt Island High
RB Leon Brown Born in Jacksonville; attended Paxon High
TE Carlos Etheredge Attended the University of Miami (Fla.)
DE Gonzalo Floyd Born in Orange Park; attended Orange Park High
OLB Reggie Freeman Born in Clewiston; attended Clewiston High and Florida State
WR Ernest Givins Born in St. Petersburg; attended Lakewood High
SS Monty Grow Born in Inverness; attended Citrus High and the University of Florida
CB Al Jackson Born in Pensacola; attended Pine Forest High
WR Willie Jackson Born in Gainesville, attended P.K. Yonge High and the University
of Florida
FB Dexter McNabb Born in DeFuniak Springs; attended Walton High and the University
of Florida
SS Vidal Mills Born in Tampa; attended Jefferson High and Bethune-Cookman
CB Dave Thomas Born in Miami; attended Miami Beach High
LAST WEEK: The Jaguars lost to the Carolina Panthers 20-14 in the 33rd annual Hall of Fame game in Canton, Ohio, when a last-minute, goal-line drive failed on fourth down. The Jaguars had more first downs (17 to 16), more passing yards (201 to 143) and more total yards (292 to 271) than the Panthers, but they lost the ball on four turnovers.
NOTES FROM LAST WEEK: A total of 74 of the 90 Jaguars players saw action last week vs. Carolina … The attendance of 24,625 established a Hall of Fame game record, topping the previous mark of 23,952. There were also 809 media credentials issued for game coverage, another record … WR Desmond Howard scored the first touchdown in Jaguars history on a 66-yard punt return with 4:13 remaining in the second quarter. It was the first points of the game … QB Steve Beuerlein started the game and completed 6 of 9 passes for 108 yards with one interception … QB Mark Brunell saw extensive action and was the Jaguars' leading rusher with 35 yards on 4 carries, including a team-best 18-yarder, while completing 8 of 18 passes for 88 yards and one interception … QB Andre Ware had only 4 pass attempts, completing one for 6 yards … TE Rich Griffith led all Jaguars receivers with 4 catches for 40 yards … RB James Stewart and WR Ernest Givins each had two receptions … WR Jimmy Smith was on the receiving end of of the Jaguars' longest pass play, a 48-yarder from Beuerlein to the Carolina one-yard line which set up Stewart's one-yard touchdown plunge … P Bryan Barker posted an impressive 46.3-yard average on 4 punts with one touchback and one inside the 20 … The Jaguars were efficient on fourth down against Carolina, converting 3 of 4 attempts, but they converted only 4 of 13 third-down plays … Leading tacklers for the Jaguars were LB James Williams, DT Corey Mayfield and CB Al Jackson, with 6 total tackles each … DT Don Davey and DE Jason Simmons each got credit for a sack, and Simmons also forced a fumble on his sack … At halftime the Jaguars had a possession time advantage of 15:56 to 14:04, but Carolina led for the game with a 31:34 T.O.P. to the Jaguars' 28:26.
FROM COACH COUGHLIN: îObviously, what hurt us (against the Panthers) was the turnovers. It's hard to win a football game when you turn the ball over four times and the other guy turns it over none. Still, we had an opportunity to win at the end of the ballgame. We're very disappointed not to win, but there were some opportunities to evaluate some people under game conditions, and to that extent, it was good.
ìThe fact that we have five (preseason) games is a plus. This was a good chance for us to come together as a team. It was the most we've had with any one unit today, so obviously it was a plus.
ìI think we have to do a better job rushing the passer. I don't think we put much pressure on the passer. It was decent enough against the run, but there's some people who will try to put it on the ground against us, and we'll see if we can hold up. This was a pretty good show for a defense.
ìI wish I could've done something to make the difference today. We had the ball; we knocked on the door; we just didn't win at the end.î
JAGUARS INJURY UPDATE: RB Reggie Cobb suffered a sprained knee against Carolina but is expected to play against Miami. DT Don Davey also suffered a sprained knee and MLB Bryan Schwartz had a shoulder injury.
The following players did not dress for last week's game: OT Tony Boselli (knee), OT/OG Jeff Novak (knee), DE Joel Smeenge (calf), OLB Brant Boyer (knee), MLB Ryan McCoy (groin) and OL Rod Smalley (hamstring).
REMAINING PRESEASON GAMES:
Thursday, August 10 at Detroit Lions 7:30 p.m.
Friday, August 18 ST. LOUIS RAMS 7:00 p.m.
Friday, August 25 DENVER BRONCOS 7:00 p.m.
TRAINING CAMP SCHEDULE: The Jaguars are holding their first training camp at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. Practices are daily at 8:40 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Practices are usually two hours in length. Head coach Tom Coughlin is available for interviews immediately after the morning practice, or approximately 10:40 a.m. Players are available for interviews during their lunch time, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Check with the Jaguars' Communications Office in DeBot Center for the daily practice schedule, credentials and to schedule interviews.
JAGUARS BACK IN JACKSONVILLE: The Jaguars will end training camp and arrive in Jacksonville following their third preseason game against the Detroit Lions on Thursday, August 10. For the remainder of the preseason, they will practice on the two fields adjacent to the new stadium.
ROSTER MOVES: On July 26, the Jaguars signed center-guard Rich Tylski, a first-year player from Utah State. Tylski spent the 1994 season on the New England Patriots' practice squad. He had been waived by the Patriots prior to being claimed by the Jaguars. The addition of Tylski brings the Jaguars' roster count up to the league limit of 90 players under contract.
SIZING UP THE JAGUARS: Here's a look at the big and short of the Jaguars' roster:
300 pounds or more: 7
185 pounds or less: 6
6-5 or taller: 20
5-10 or smaller: 10
Tallest player: Defensive end John Duff is 6-foot-8.
Heaviest player: Offensive tackle Tony Boselli weighs 323 pounds.
Smallest player: Placekicker Mike Hollis is 5-foot-7.
Lightest player: Cornerback Eric Stephens weighs only 171 pounds.
Notable: The Jaguars' offensive line that started last week against Carolina averaged 6-5 and 300 pounds. The defensive line was 6-4 and 279 pounds.
Oldest player: P Bryan Barker is 31, born June 28, 1964.
Youngest player: QB Rob Johnson, 22, is the only Jaguars player born after 1972 (March 18, 1973).
FAX ON DEMAND: All Jaguars press releases can be obtained through the InfoConnection fax-on-demand system. To receive the Jaguars' press releases each week via fax, dial (404) 399-3066 on your fax machine and enter the NFL password: 7575. Key in 1000 for an NFL directory of releases. More specific information will be provided when available. Press releases will be available on Monday afternoons.
NFL CALENDAR:
August 22 -- Roster cutdown to maximum of 65 players on active list by 4:00 p.m. EDT (the 28 existing teams cut down to 60 players).
August 27 -- Roster cutdown to maximum of 56 players by 4:00 p.m. EDT (the existing teams cut down to 53 players).
August 28 -- Clubs may establish a practice squad of five players by signing free agents who do not have an accrued season of free-agency credit.
September 1 -- All clubs are required to identify their 49-player active list by 7:00 p.m. EDT. No later than 1:30 before kickoff, clubs must identify their 45-player active list and third quarterback, if any.
September 3 -- The Jaguars host the Houston Oilers in their inaugural game.
September 18 -- Jacksonville and Carolina are required to reduce their active/inactive lists to 53 players.
October 10 -- Trading deadline.
