THIS WEEK: The Jacksonville Jaguars will travel to Champaign, Ill. to play the Chicago Bears at 8:00 p.m. EDT Friday. It will be the third preseason game for both teams. The Jaguars are 0-2, and the Bears are 1-1. The Bears are playing all of their home games this season at the University of Illinois' Memorial Stadium while Soldier Field is being rebuilt.
The Jaguars are coming off a 20-0 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last Friday night in Jacksonville. The game marked the first shutout loss for the Jaguars since 1995 and the first time ever that they did not score at home. There were signs of optimism, as RB Fred Taylor had another fine outing in limited action. Taylor rushed four times for 25 yards, gaining a first down on three of his carries.
Taylor and QB Mark Brunell have played little during the preseason, with Taylor carrying only 12 times in two games and Brunell playing only seven series so far. Jacksonville used 76 players against Tampa Bay, and another 12 players missed the game because of injuries. The team has 47 new players and could have as many as 10 new starters this season. The new players include six unrestricted free agents, six veteran free agents, 13 first-year free agents, two trade acquisitions, one player obtained off waivers, nine draft picks and 10 undrafted rookies.
"No excuses," said Coughlin. "Perhaps I should have stayed with the run. Absolutely I would have (if it was the regular season). It's like playing (rookie quarterback) David Garrard. It's the preseason and he's the No. 2 guy; he needs to play. But we have to play to our strengths more — run the ball, play-action pass, utilize Fred Taylor and Stacey Mack, and utilize the tight ends more."
The Jaguars' overall preseason record is 18-13.
TELEVISION BROADCAST: The game will be televised locally on WJXT Channel 4, with Sam Kouvaris calling the play-by-play, former Jaguar Jeff Lageman adding analysis and ex-Jaguar Tom McManus as the field reporter. The game will also air in Savannah on WSAV-TV and in Orlando on WRBW-TV, as well as tape delayed on the Sunshine Network. The Jaguars Pregame Show airs 30 minutes before kickoff at 7:30 p.m. with hosts Jennifer Candelino and McManus.
RADIO BROADCAST: All Jaguars games are broadcast on WOKV (690 AM) and WKQL (96.9 FM) and the Jaguars Radio Network. Brian Sexton calls the play-by-play and former NFL quarterback Matt Robinson adds analysis, with Jennifer Candelino serving as field reporter for the preseason. Sexton and Robinson are in their eighth season together. Robinson, Vic Ketchman and Cole Pepper handle the pre-game show (three hours before kickoff on both stations), and Pepper and ex-Oakland Raider Pete Banaszak do the post-game show. A total of 16 affiliates in three states on the Jaguars Radio Network will also broadcast the game. The Florida affiliates are: Altamonte Springs (WHOO-AM, 1080), Bradenton WAMR-AM, 1320), Brooksville (WRUF-AM, 850), Chiefland (WRUF-AM, 850), Cocoa Beach WHOO-AM, 1080), Crescent Beach (WFOY-AM, 1240), Crystal River (WRUF-AM, 850), Dade City (WRUF-AM, 850), Daytona Beach (WELE-AM, 1380), Deltona (WHOO-AM, 1080), Flagler Beach (WFOY-AM, 1240), Fort Myers (WAMR-AM, 1320), Fort Pierce (WPSL-AM, 1590), Gainesville (WRUF-AM, 850), Haines City (WHOO-AM, 1080), Lake Buena Vista (WHOO-AM, 1080), Lake City (WNFB-FM, 94.3), Lakeland (WHOO-AM, 1080), Live Oak (WNFB-FM, 94.3), Longwood (WHOO-AM, 1080), Madison (WSTI-FM, 105.3), Melbourne (WHOO-AM, 1080), Ocala (WRUF-AM, 850), Orlando (WHOO-AM, 1080), Ormond Beach (WELE-AM, 1380), Palatka (WIYD-AM, 1260), Palm Coast (WFOY-AM, 1420), Port Charlotte (WAMR-AM, 1320), Port St. Lucie (WPSL-AM, 1590), Sanibel (WAMR-AM, 1320), Sarasota (WAMR-AM, 1320), St. Augustine (WFOY-AM, 1240), Stuart (WPSL-AM, 590), Tallahassee (WNLS-AM, 1270), Titusville (WHOO-AM, 1080), Venice (WAMR-AM, 1320), Winter Garden (WHOO-AM, 1080). Georgia affiliates are: Brunswick (WWSN-FM, 103.3), Cuthbert (WCUG-AM, 850), Dawson (WCUG-AM, 850), Hinesville (WIFO-FM, 105.5), Homerville (WWSN-FM, 103.3), Jesup (WIFO-FM, 105.5), Quitman (WSTI-FM, 105.3), Savannah (WFXH-FM, 106.1), Thunderbolt (WFXH-FM, 106.1), Valdosta (WSTI-FM, 105.3), Waycross (WWSN-FM, 103.3). South Carolina affiliates are: Beaufort (WFXH-FM, 106.1), Hardeeville (WFXH-FM, 106.1), Hilton Head (WFXH-FM, 106.1), Port Royal (WFXH-FM, 106.1), Ridgeland (WFXH-FM, 106.1).
ON THE INTERNET: The Jaguars website has unveiled a re-designed look for the 2002 season. For breaking news, columns, feature stories, press releases, historical information, video highlights, rosters, depth charts and statistics, go to www.jaguars.com Updated daily, the Jaguars' Official Web Site has been ranked among the 100 Best Sites in the World by PC Magazine. The site also features online ticket buying, new merchandise offerings and multimedia, including video of Jaguars television shows and live radio game broadcasts.
THE OPPONENT: The Bears have won the most games in NFL history and have claimed nine NFL Championships in 82 seasons. They started as the Decatur Staleys in 1920, and won championships in 1921 (their first season in Chicago), 1932, 1933, 1940, 1941, 1943, 1946, 1963, and Super Bowl XX in 1985. The Bears have had 25 players inducted in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, the most of any NFL team. After making the playoffs eight times in 11 seasons between 1984 and '94, they missed the postseason from 1995 to 2000. In 2001, the Bears won their division and finished with a 13-3 mark, the second-best record in the NFC. However, they were defeated in the Divisional Playoffs by the Philadelphia Eagles.
THE SERIES: The two teams have played three times, with the Bears holding a 2-1 lead. In 1995, the Bears won 30-27 in Jacksonville in the Jaguars' seventh game ever. In 1998, the two teams met on opening day, with the Jaguars winning 24-23 at Soldier Field. Last January 6, the final game of the 2001 regular season, the Bears won 33-13 in Chicago.
THE LAST TIME: The last time the Jaguars played a regular-season game, on January 6, 2002, they lost their 2001 season finale to the Bears 33-13 at Soldier Field, finishing the season 6-10. It marked the first back-to-back losing seasons in franchise history and the team's worst record since its inaugural season of 1995. The loss was the Jaguars' worst in 28 games. The Bears' Anthony Thomas rushed for 160 yards and a touchdown in leading Chicago, which allowed the fewest points in the NFL and held the Jaguars to two second-half touchdowns. Mark Brunell was intercepted three times and the Jaguars lost a fumble, as the Bears scored 13 points off turnovers, 10 of them in the first half as they took a 13-0 halftime lead. The Jaguars had their opportunities, though. On their second possession, they drove to Chicago's 8-yard line but Brunell was sacked on third down and then Mike Hollis' field goal attempt was blocked. Then, on the first drive of the second half, the Jaguars recovered a Chicago fumble in Bears' territory, but three plays later Brunell was intercepted by Keith Traylor, a 350-pound lineman, who rumbled 67 yards with the ball. The Bears scored in two plays and were up 20-0. Brunell later hooked up with Jimmy Smith and Keenan McCardell for touchdowns.
THE COACHES: Jacksonville head coach Tom Coughlin (62-50 in regular season, 4-4 in postseason) has led the Jaguars to two AFC Central Division championships and two appearances in the AFC Championship game in seven seasons as the only head coach in franchise history. The Jaguars made the playoffs all four seasons from 1996 to '99 — a first for an NFL expansion team. In 1999, the Jaguars had the best record in the NFL (14-2), advancing to the conference championship game before losing to Tennessee. In 1998, Coughlin guided his team to its first AFC Central Division championship with an 11-5 record. The Jaguars defeated the New England Patriots in a Wild-Card game before losing to the New York Jets in the Divisional playoffs. In 1997, the Jaguars were 11-5 and finished second in the AFC Central, and they were defeated by Denver in the Wild-Card playoffs. In their second season in 1996, the Jaguars advanced all the way to the AFC Championship game, finishing second in the division with a 9-7 record. In the playoffs, the Jaguars upset the Bills and Broncos on the road before losing at New England. In 1995, the Jaguars finished with four victories in their inaugural season. Coughlin became head coach of the Jaguars on February 21, 1994 following three successful seasons as head coach at Boston College. He compiled a record of 21-13-1 from 1991 to '93 at Boston College, and had two bowl game appearances, as well as a ranking of 13th in the final AP poll of 1993. A veteran of 31 years in coaching, he 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).
The Bears won just 11 games during Dick Jauron's first two seasons in Chicago, but he engineered a remarkable turnaround in 2001. Jauron led the Bears to a 13-3 record and their first NFC Central title since 1988 and their first winning season since 1995. Prior to coming to Chicago, Jauron spent four seasons as the defensive coordinator of the Jacksonville Jaguars. During Jauron's stint, the Jaguars made the playoffs three consecutive years (1996-98), advancing as far as the 1996 AFC Championship Game. Jauron began his coaching career as an assistant with the Buffalo Bills. He spent one season in Buffalo before joining the Packers' coaching staff. He served as defensive backs coach under three different head coaches (Forrest Gregg, 1986-87; Lindy Infante, 1988-1991; Mike Holmgren, 1992-94). Jauron was a running back at Yale (1970-72) and still holds the school career rushing mark with 2,947 yards. He was drafted by the Detroit Lions in the fourth round of the 1973 NFL draft. Jauron was converted to defensive back and played five seasons for the Lions (1973-77). He was named to the Pro Bowl following the 1974 season. Jauron joined Cincinnati in 1978 and played with the Bengals until he retired in 1980. He finished his career with 25 interceptions, including six as a Bengals' starter in 1979, and he returned two for touchdowns.
COUGHLIN ENTERS EIGHTH SEASON WITH JAGUARS: Jaguars head coach Tom Coughlin is in his eighth season as the team's head coach, tied for the third-longest tenure of any NFL coach with his current team. In addition, Coughlin has the fifth-best record of all current NFL coaches in division games (minimum of 20 wins) and the seventh-best record in home games (minimum of 16 home games). Records include all teams coached by an individual during the regular season.
JACKSONVILLE-CHICAGO CONNECTIONS: Bears head coach Dick Jauron was the Jaguars' defensive coordinator from 1995 to '98; offensive assistant Pete Carmichael was the Jaguars' WR coach from 1995 to '98; and LB coach Gary Moeller was the Jaguars' defensive coordinator in 2001 … Three former Jaguars are on the Bears: FB Daimon Shelton (1997-2000), QB Jim Miller (1997) and WR Ramondo North (practice squad 2001) … Six Bears have ties to north Florida: WR Dez White (Orange Park and The Bolles School), CB Roosevelt Williams (Jacksonville and Terry Parker High), DE Alex Brown (White Springs and University of Florida), OT Damion Cook (Bethune-Cookman), PK Paul Edinger (Lakeland), and RB Adrian Peterson (Alachua) … Bears defensive coordinator Greg Blache served as the defensive coordinator for the Jacksonville Bulls of the USFL in the 1984-85 season … LB Danny Clark is from Country Club Hills, Ill. … Players who were college teammates include: Jaguars OT Mike Pearson and Bears DE Alex Brown at Florida; Jaguars OT Maurice Williams, PK Hayden Epstein and OT Chris Ziemann (I.R.) with Bears WR David Terrell and RB Anthony Thomas at Michigan; Jaguars TE/LS Joe Zelenka and Bears CB Reggie Austin and TE Dustin Lyman at Wake Forest; Jaguars LB Danny Clark and Bears P Steve Fritts and C Luke Butkus at Illinois; Jaguars LB Edward Thomas and CB Kiwaukee Thomas and Bears RB Adrian Peterson at Georgia Southern; Jaguars S James Boyd and CB Bruce Branch and Bears RB Eric McCoo at Penn State; Jaguars TE Stevan Fontana and Bears CB Todd McMillon at Northern Arizona; Jaguars RB Elvis Joseph and DE Roshaun Matthews; Jaguars OT Zach Wiegert and Bears DT Christian Peters at Nebraska; and Jaguars CB Bruce Branch and DB Renard Cox and Bears WR David Terrell at Huguenot High in Richmond, Va.
INJURY UPDATE: Three players were injured in the Tampa Bay game: CB Ike Charlton (foot), TE Chris Luzar (finger) and LB Eric Westmoreland (hamstring). A total of 12 players missed the game because of injuries or surgery: WR Darnay Scott (shoulder), S Donovin Darius (shoulder), C Kevin Long (knee), G/OT Derrick Chambers (neck), G/OT Zach Wiegert (knee), OT Freddie Moore (knee), TE Kyle Brady (neck), WR Micah Ross (knee), TE Ryan Prince (ankle), DE Tony Brackens (knee), DE Stalin Colinet (knee) and DT Tim Morabito (groin).
NEXT WEEK: The Jaguars will close out their 2002 preseason schedule when they host the Dallas Cowboys at 8:00 p.m. Thursday, August 29 at ALLTEL Stadium. The Jaguars are 2-1 vs. the Cowboys in the preseason, winning in both 1998 and '99 before losing last year. The series is tied 1-1 in the regular season, with the Jaguars winning 23-17 last season in overtime on the road. The two teams will meet again during the 2002 regular season when the Jaguars travel to Dallas for a game on November 24.
LAST WEEK: The Jaguars were defeated by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 20-0 on Friday night at ALLTEL Stadium. The game marked the first time the Jaguars have been shut out since 1995 and the first-ever time they did not score at home. Fred Taylor and Mark Brunell played only three series, as rookie David Garrard quarterbacked the Jaguars most of the game. Taylor gained 25 yards on four carries and Brunell completed 6 of 9 passes for 40 yards. With Garrard at the helm, the Jaguars drove into the Buccaneers' red zone twice in the second half. But field goal attempts by rookie PK Hayden Epstein were blocked twice, with the Jaguars coming away with no points. The Buccaneers were playing on only three days of rest after playing on Monday night. They played three veteran quarterbacks and took a 13-0 lead at halftime in winning for the second time this preseason.
NOTES FROM THE BUCCANEERS GAME: The Jaguars have an 18-13 record in the preseason in eight seasons. … The Jaguars had fewer yards (239 to 289) and fewer first downs (14 to 16) but more time of possession (32:58 to 27:02). … The Jaguars converted only 4 of 15 third downs (27 percent), while the Buccaneers converted 4 of 13 (31 percent). … The strength of the Jaguars was their run defense, which held Tampa Bay to 35 yards on 21 carries … The Jaguars had their first turnover of the preseason and two takeaways (for the second straight game). … David Garrard played seven series and completed 11 of 17 passes for 76 yards and one interception. Roderick Robinson and rookie Quinn Gray saw action in the fourth quarter. For the second straight game, Garrard led the team in rushing, this time with 30 yards. … Jaguars quarterbacks were sacked four times for 34 yards in losses. The Jaguars got their first two sacks of the preseason, by Marcus Stroud and Rob Meier. … Damon Gibson and Adam Tate caught three passes each to lead the team. … Chris Hanson punted eight times for a 41.6-yard average, one touchback and one inside the 20 (he had five kicks returned for 31 yards). … Jaguars captains were: RB Stacey Mack, G Chris Naeole, S James Boyd and MLB Wali Rainer.
FROM COACH TOM COUGHLIN ON THE BUCCANEERS GAME: "It was not a very well-played football game. There are no excuses. I still think we're going to be alright on defense. I'm very disappointed in the offense tonight, although I still say we'll be able to run the ball. It is a preseason game. We're just going to have to analyze it, narrow it down in terms of the people we can count on and try to go forward from there."
(on the Jaguars receivers not getting open) "That's part of it, without a doubt. We tried to do some things with play-action, which are two-receiver routes. They recognized it wasn't a run and covered us. That has been the case. We've not been able to create opportunities for ourself. We have work to do there."
(on the kicking game) "I'm very disappointed in the kicking game. I really believe that (Hayden) Epstein was coming along well. He didn't have a real good week of practice, but I didn't expect him to drive the ball into the backs of our offensive linemen twice. And that's exactly what happened. To call those two blocks, they ought to give those two blocks to Hayden.
(on Fred Taylor) "I thought Fred ran the ball up in there hard. He had a couple of really nice runs."
FROM QB MARK BRUNELL: "I think the issue tonight was points. At times we moved the ball and I thought our passing game improved. We've got some work to do. What we saw with the first group was a defense that really sat back, played a lot of two-high and they were giving us a lot of one-on-one. They allowed us to run the ball, which was good, but we just didn't get points. We had some good plays got some first downs, but certainly not enough."
(on getting better) "You want to get better as the preseason goes on. We've played only two games and we have two left. Obviously, there is a sense of urgency since we have not moved the ball like we want or put points on the board like we should be at this point. We have some time. Preseason games are very important in building a football team. I think we made some strides from a week ago. I think we're better than we were a week ago. Now it's important that after our next preseason game we are better than we are today."
(on the Jimmy Smith holdout) "My stand is Jimmy is not here. It's unfortunate that we're in this situation, but we are. Do I want Jimmy back? Yes. We all want Jimmy back. This is the business side of what we do. But I am confident that it will get resolved."
FROM TE PETE MITCHELL: "We just have to keep working. I hope that when we get over the injuries — like Darnay Scott not being out there to work on timing — and of course with Jimmy Smith, things will work out. Some of it is timing; some of it is execution. We're actually running the ball pretty well, but then like tonight, when the defense throws an eight-man front at you, we've got the passing game going. We've just got to keep working. It will come."
FROM LB T.J. SLAUGHTER: (on fan reaction to the loss) "If they're our fans, they'll stick behind us. I think we have work to do, but overall the first unit did pretty good. We pretty much shut down the run, so they didn't have the opportunity to do anything but pass. We just made the wrong calls a couple of times. We have to get back to the drawing board and making sure everybody's communicating on the same page."
NEW FACES: There are 47 new players among the 89 on the Jaguars' current training camp roster. Here is the breakdown:
Unrestricted free agents (6) — WR Patrick Johnson, C Kevin Long, G Chris Naeole, G/OT Raleigh Roundtree, WR Bobby Shaw, FB Detron Smith
Veteran Free Agents (6) — DE Marco Coleman, DE Stalin Colinet, DT Jeff Miller, TE Pete Mitchell, DT Tim Morabito, G Daryl Terrell
First-Year Free Agents (13) — OT Mark Bristol, DT Donald Broomfield, S Noah Burroughs, DE Mike Cecere, C Carey Clayton, WR Henry Douglas, TE Stevan Fontana, MLB Rashad Harris, LB Aaron Humphrey, OT Freddie Moore, WR Jimmy Redmond, PK Derek Schorejs, S James Watkins
Trade (2)— CB Ike Charlton, LB Wali Rainer
Waivers (1) — DL Matt Sweeney
Draft Choices (9) — DT John Henderson, OT Mike Pearson, LB Akin Ayodele, QB David Garrard, TE Chris Luzar, DT Clenton Ballard, WR Kendall Newson, CB Steve Smith, PK Hayden Epstein
Undrafted Rookies (10) — CB Bruce Branch, G Chrys Bullock, DT Jovon Bush, CB Jermaine Chatman, LB Victor Ellis, QB Quinn Gray, DE Javor Mills, WR Corey Parchman, WR Ellis Spears, RB Adam Tate
2002 POSITION ANALYSIS: Here is a position-by-position breakdown of the Jaguars:
Quarterbacks (4) — Mark Brunell returns for his eighth season with the Jaguars and remains one of the top quarterbacks in the NFL. In 2001, he started 15 games and completed 289 of 473 passes for 3,309 yards (numbers that were the third highest of his career) and passed for 19 touchdowns, one short of his career high. The No. 6-ranked passer in NFL history, Brunell is the only quarterback in the league who has ranked among the top 11 in each of the last six seasons. He has a 57-42 record as a starter. Vying for the No. 2 job are rookies David Garrard and Quinn Gray and second-year pro Roderick Robinson. Garrard, the team's fourth-round draft choice out of East Carolina, is playing with the second unit and trying to prove that he can earn the backup role. In college, he passed for more than 9,000 yards and 60 touchdowns while starting all four seasons, and he also ran for 21 scores. Gray is an undrafted rookie out of Florida A&M, and Robinson has had previous stints with the Colts and Jaguars, though he has never played in a regular-season game. Gone: Jonathan Quinn
Running Backs (8) — Fred Taylor is back and 100 percent after missing the final 14 games of last season with a torn groin muscle. In 2000, Taylor missed the first three games of the season with a knee injury, then went on to rush for 1,399 yards and score 14 touchdowns, including a streak of nine consecutive 100-yard rushing games that tied for the third-longest streak in NFL history. He is the Jaguars' all-time leading rusher. There is plenty of depth behind him. While Taylor was out last season, Stacey Mack took over and rushed for 877 yards and 10 touchdowns, totals that are the fourth highest in franchise history. Mack has started 13 games in three seasons since coming out of Temple as an undrafted rookie in 1999. Another rookie free agent, Elvis Joseph, was a surprise in 2001. As a rookie, he was the team's third-down specialist most of the year, rushing for 294 yards and catching 18 passes. He also returned a kickoff for a touchdown. The starting fullback is Patrick Washington, another rookie free agent who returns for his second season. Washington opened six games and was the lead blocker all of 2001. Former Denver Bronco Detron Smith is pushing Washington and is also one of the league's best special teams players. Gone: No one
Wide Receivers (11) — Jimmy Smith is a holdout. Even at 33, he remains one of the finest receivers in the NFL. Since 1996, he has been the NFL's most prolific receiver, with the most receptions (562) and the most yards (7,972) — numbers that are second to only Jerry Rice in any six-year span in NFL history. Smith, who has been voted to the last five Pro Bowls, has six straight 1,000-yard seasons and in the past three years has caught 116, 91 and 112 passes. Behind Smith are veterans Darnay Scott, Bobby Shaw and Patrick Johnson. Scott, who was signed on July 23, caught 386 passes for 5,975 yards and 36 touchdowns during his eight years with the Bengals. He is one of the NFL's best deep threats, averaging 15.5 yards per catch over his career. Shaw is a possession receiver who plays out of the slot. He caught 92 passes for 1,468 yards (15.9 average) in four years in Pittsburgh. Johnson is the fastest of the group, a second-round draft choice of the Ravens in 1998 who has 59 career receptions for 898 yards (15.5 average) and seven TDs. One of the three will start opposite Smith, but all four will play in multiple-receiver formations. Vying for a backup role are Damon Gibson (the team's punt returner), first-year pro Henry Douglas, Jimmy Redmond (who starred in the NFL Europe League in the spring), seventh-round draft choice Kendall Newson, Jacksonville native Micah Ross and two others. Gone: Sean Dawkins, Keenan McCardell
Tight Ends (6) — Kyle Brady has developed into one of the league's best all-around tight ends in his three seasons with the Jaguars, during which time he caught 132 passes for 1,461 yards and six touchdowns. He is also one of the best blocking tight ends and a key to the team's passing game. Back after a three-year absence is Pete Mitchell, who remains the Jaguars' third-leading all-time receiver (166 receptions for 1,845 yards and nine TDs). Following three years with the Giants and Lions, Mitchell will back up Brady but will also play a role as a possession receiver and as an H-back. Rookie fourth-round pick Chris Luzar is the tight end of the future. At 6-7, 265-pounds he complements Brady well, and he is a fine pass receiver who could see ample playing time as a rookie. Ryan Prince is back for this second season, and Joe Zelenka is the team's long snapper. Gone: No one
Offensive Line (17) — Tony Boselli is gone, but the additions include five veterans and one high draft choice, in addition to several returnees, making for fierce competition in training camp. The right side of the line is set, with former Saints No. 1 pick Chris Naeole at right guard, and Jaguars 2001 No. 2 pick Maurice Williams at right tackle. The No. 1 center is John Wade, who started 18 straight games in 1999 and 2000 before losing his job because of a foot injury. He is healthy again. The left guard is likely to be Brad Meester, who has started 32 straight games since being drafted in the second round in 2000. The starting left tackle will be either second-round draft choice Mike Pearson or veteran Zach Wiegert. Pearson, a three-year starter at Florida, is a skilled pass blocker was briefly sidelined by a sprained ankle. Wiegert has started 82 games in seven NFL seasons, though never at left tackle. There is quality depth in Raleigh Roundtree (who started 41 games the last four years in San Diego), Daryl Terrell (who started 10 games for the Saints a year ago), and Todd Fordham, who started 20 games for the Jaguars the last two seasons. All three players can play both guard and tackle, and Fordham also played center in the second preseason game. Gone: Tony Boselli, Aaron Koch (I.R.), Jeff Smith
Defensive Line (16) — With three players who started all 16 games a year ago having departed, the defensive front will be the most revamped position on the team. The lone returning starter is Tony Brackens, the all-time leading sacker in Jaguars history. In 2001, Brackens made 11 sacks in the final 12 games. He is still rehabbing from offseason knee surgery and has been sidelined since the first day of training camp. The new left end will be 10-year veteran Marco Coleman, a skilled pass rusher with 56.5 career sacks. A Pro Bowler just two years ago when he notched 12 sacks with Washington, Coleman is being counted upon for veteran leadership as well. The starting tackles are projected to be Marcus Stroud and either Larry Smith or John Henderson, the Jaguars' first-round draft pick. Stroud did not make any starts as a rookie in 2001, but he played in all 16 games and came on late in the season. Henderson, the highest-drafted defensive lineman ever by the Jaguars (No. 9), was the 2000 Outland Trophy winner at Tennessee and the second defensive tackle selected in 2002. The backups at end will be Paul Spicer, Rob Meier and five-year veteran Stalin Colinet, with undrafted rookie Javor Mills drawing praise early in training camp. At tackles, the reserves are expected to be Tim Morabito and sixth-round draft choice Clenton Ballard. Gone: Seth Payne, Gary Walker, Renaldo Wynn
Linebackers (10) — T.J. Slaughter returns at weakside linebacker. He has started 15 games in two seasons at both weakside and in the middle. Eric Westmoreland is pushing for playing time at weakside and plays linebacker in the nickel defense. Former Cleveland Brown Wali Rainer was obtained in a Draft Day trade and is the new starting middle linebacker. He has 44 starts in three NFL seasons, making 436 tackles. The new starter at strongside linebacker is expected to be Danny Clark, who has been the Jaguars' top special teams player since being drafted in the seventh round in 2000. Clark started three games late last season and shows lots of promise. Another possibility at the strongside is Akin Ayodele, a third-round draft pick this year out of Purdue who is making the transition from collegiate defensive end to pro linebacker. Ayodele has impressed so far in the preseason and sees action in third down packages. Again, there is a lot of depth. Backup MLB Joseph Tuipala made a team-high 20 tackles on special teams a year ago, and reserve WLB Edward Thomas started four games in 2001 and is also a stellar special teams player. Gone: Donny Green, Kevin Hardy, Hardy Nickerson, Jeff Posey, Joe Wesley
Defensive Backs (15) — Hard-hitting Donovin Darius will start at strong safety for the fifth straight season. He has led the team's secondary in tackles each of his four years, and he has started all 57 games in which he has played. Darius was a Pro Bowl alternate in 2001. There is competition at free safety between Marlon McCree and Ainsley Battles, each of whom started 11 games last season. McCree was a seventh-round draft pick a year ago who was converted from college linebacker and quickly earned a starting role. Battles was a waiver pickup from the Steelers prior to the 2001 opener who has a knack for forcing turnovers (he also scored a TD last year). Backing up Darius is James Boyd, a third-round draft pick in 2001. The starting left cornerback will be Fernando Bryant for the fourth straight year. Bryant was named to every All-Rookie team in 1999 and specializes in man coverage. He missed six games with a foot injury in 2001. The new starter at right cornerback will be Jason Craft, who replaces the departed Aaron Beasley. Craft, who started eight games last season and was the team's nickel back for the other eight, has never missed a game in three seasons. He's the fastest defensive back on the squad. The nickel back will be third-year pro Kiwaukee Thomas, while the dime role will be either Boyd, trade acquisition Ike Charlton (a second-round pick of the Seahawks in 2000) or rookie Steve Smith, a seventh-round pick this year. Gone: Aaron Beasley
Kickers (3) — For the first time in franchise history, Mike Hollis is not the placekicker. Competing for the job are Hayden Epstein, a seventh-round draft pick, and Derek Schorejs, who has had previous tryouts with three NFL teams and played in the Arena League. At Michigan, Epstein was a candidate for the Lou Groza Award (nation's top placekicker) as both a junior and senior. He scored 163 points in college, hitting 26 of 42 field goal attempts. Returning for his second season as the punter is Chris Hanson, who joined the team midway through last year's training camp and was a big surprise. In his first full NFL season, Hanson ranked sixth in the NFL with a 43.6 gross average and fourth with a 37.1 net average.
