Join *Jaguars Inside Report *Senior Editor Vic Ketchman as he tackles the fans' tough questions.
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David Wielgus from Orlando, FL:
I know we've only seen Joseph Tuipala in preseason action, but the guy seems to have a motor and a knack for leveling ball carriers. What can you tell us about Joseph Tuipala?
Vic: I agree with your assessment. Joseph Tuipala is a try-hard guy who has the size and toughness to be a capable backup middle linebacker. The only knock on him might be that he lacks speed, but that's true of a lot of productive players. Brant Boyer wasn't the fastest linebacker, but when wasn't he productive?
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Chuck Holland from Jacksonville:
With the salary cap still being a big concern with the team this year and for next year, what do you think of cutting Carnell Lake and Renaldo Wynn, which would save over $10 million toward the salary cap. I think Lake is over the hill and Wynn, at best, is an average player. Now, with these moves this would free up the team to make some moves to improve and create some depth on the offensive line. The strength of the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball will dictate how far this team will go. Vic, what do you think of Jeff Smith? I think he is a bust and they should cut him and put Aaron Koch at center. How soon will John Wade be available? I am very impressed with the performance of Paul Spicer at defensive end. Don't you think he deserves to start with the first team? I would like him to start with Walker, Stroud and Brackens on the defensive line.
Vic: Releasing Carnell Lake would create a minimal savings this season; his $500,000 salary, minus the salary of the player who would replace him on the roster. However, the Jaguars would probably save $2.275 million on next year's salary cap; that's the amount of incentives Lake is likely to earn if he is on the roster this year. That amount has been creatively designated as "not likely to be earned," which means it would have to count against the 2002 cap. In Renaldo Wynn's case, the Jaguars would save only his $477,000 salary this year, minus the salary of the player who would replace him on the roster. There would be no Lake-like savings in 2002 by cutting him now. He is due a $6 million roster bonus next March, which won't be paid and will effectively send him into unrestricted free agency. Wynn's greatest value to the Jaguars is as a player on their roster this season. Jeff Smith has come under a lot of criticism lately, but we need to reserve judgement on him until the offensive line rounds into shape. Smith was paid a $200,000 signing bonus on a one-year contract last spring. That amount can not be extinguished. Cutting Smith would save his salary, $500,000, minus the salary of the player who would replace him on the roster. Aaron Koch appears to be a valuable utility lineman. John Wade's situation is still uncertain and it will take time to determine whether or not he can come back from surgery on a foot that has been injured three times in the last year. Paul Spicer has been nothing short of sensational and he is clearly competing for playing time.
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Dean Boyer from Stuarts Draft, VA:
It seems to me that before Dom Capers the Jaguars defense was based on a soft zone coverage that was a product of Coughlin's bend-but-don't-break defensive philosophy. Capers brought the zone-blitz, which was a more attacking style and the defense went to number one in the league. Now, Capers is gone and we appear to be back to the soft philosophy that allows us to be picked apart. Is this an accurate observation and, if so, do you think this is how Coughlin believes defense should be played?
Vic: Tom Coughlin has said on several occasions that he wants an attacking defense with a strong pass-rush and tight pass-defense, but I don't think he's willing to accomplish those goals by exposing his defense to the big play with a reckless and risky scheme. I agree with your assessment that the defensive scheme during the preseason has been conservative, but no one has told the defensive linemen not to sack the quarterback, or has ordered the secondary to allow completed passes. I'll give the scheme time, but, quite frankly, I can't help but wonder if the Jaguars have the personnel to play an attack-based defensive scheme. Don't forget that, last year, with Dom Capers as their defensive coordinator, the Jaguars allowed a lot of big plays and big drives. Defense was the Jaguars' weakness last season.
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Tyler Davis from Jacksonville:
I'm very worried about the Jaguars' offensive line this year. Besides Boselli, the Jaguars have mainly an inexperienced line that provides mediocre blocking at best for Fred Taylor. Do you think Taylor is concerned about his line after what he saw against the Chiefs, and do you think it will affect his year statistically? I know Taylor's playing for money, as well as for a Super Bowl, so, everyone has been saying this will be his career year, however, the blocking he's stuck with scares me.
Vic: Fred Taylor wasn't effective last season until the offensive line began to take shape. He has to be concerned about the current state of the Jaguars' offensive line, but he also knows it can and probably will change with time. There's no other way to improve than to continue working on it. Teams don't cut Pro-Bowl offensive linemen.
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Vic Ketchman is the Senior Editor of Jaguars Inside Report, the official team newspaper of the Jacksonville Jaguars. One-year subscriptions may be purchased by calling 1-888-846-5247.
