These two Jaguars fans at Radio City were left shaking their heads after the team picked Mizzouri quarterback Blaine Gabbert.



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-- SEAN JOHNSON
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Armed with five picks in the first four rounds of the fast-approaching 2011 NFL Draft and a willingness to wheel and deal 'em, the Jacksonville Jaguars could be one of this year's movers.

General manager Gene Smith, who's entering his third year riding the wave of two promising classes from '09 and '10, has been quoted as having "interest in every round to make a move."

Somewhere between the 16th and 49th overall selections, the value should be right for a big one, literally: Ryan Mallett, the 6-7, 253-pound, rocket-armed quarterback from Arkansas, is a perfect fit for Jacksonville's unique situation under center.

With three years and around $25 million left on starter David Garrard's contract, the Jaguars aren't

looking to hand their current franchise guy a headset any time soon. Behind him, Jacksonville can choose between three backups with starting experience to retain in case of emergency for 2011.

Normally, head coach Jack Del Rio doesn't keep more than two quarterbacks on his 53-man roster. But with only a 30-something signal caller and replacement level talent on the depth chart at that position now, the Jaguars are in a predicament unique among the NFL's 32 teams this year.

Only the Cincinnati Bengals, who might lose Carson Palmer this off-season, and the Seattle Seahawks, who've already traded for Charlie Whitehurst as a prospect behind Matt Hasselbeck, are also faced with preparing for so entrenched a veteran's upcoming departure.

Enter Mallett, whose physical talents are as unparalleled as his mental flaws are fixable.

When scouts describe the 22 year-old gunslinger as "spraying live bullets," they mean that he zips the football to receivers six yards away or 60 -- that latter number being right in the wheelhouse for a quarterback who's ballparked his range at "around 80 (yards)." Razorbacks receiver Greg Childs raved in interviews about his quarterback's accuracy, leading receivers into yards after the catch.

Mallett's 5.37-second 40-yard dash at his pro day was a laugher, but more pertinent concerns about his mobility inside the pocket have cropped up during the draft process. Popping in the tape from Arkansas' loss to Alabama goes a long way toward addressing that nitpick, and it's the sort of thing an NFL quarterback coach can fine-tune going forward.

Besides, in a league where defenders are penalized 15 yards for merely brushing Peyton Manning's helmet, pocket pressure is cleaner and less threatening now than it's ever been for passers.

The oft-whispered "character concerns" swirling around Mallett don't merit discussion. If there's fire under that smoke -- and only those who've dealt with the player directly can decide authoritatively on that point -- he'll be off Gene Smith's radar entirely.

And as for check-downs, Mallett's biggest criticism of his own game?

Here's a clipboard. Learn the offense, practice hard and thoughtfully, and let's trot that laser arm out after a year or two of NFL schooling. That's the least amount of time Jacksonville can expect to upgrade on Garrard, and Mallett's fluctuating first- or second-round value and high upside make him the perfect mark for a trade down to do it.

Pull the trigger, GM Gene. As we're constantly reminded, it's the year of the quarterback.

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-- JACK HARVER
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The potential 2011 season will bring a lot for the Jacksonville Jaguars: Teal-Outs aplenty and no more television blackouts for home games. Get ready for Jaguar country to be rocking with victory.

Sunday, Sept. 11 TENNESSEE TITANS 1 p.m. CBS
Every year, this game comes down to the final drive. That, or the Jags get completely blown out. However, since it's the first game of the season, both teams will be equally prepared—or unprepared—and this will come down to the final drive. Maurice Jones-Drew will pound the ball up the gut seemingly a million times this game, and will lead the team to a slim victory.

Sunday, Sept. 18 at New York Jets 1 p.m. CBS
The Jets are a very solid team. This is a big AFC matchup for the Jaguars, if Jacksonville can take down the Green Machine and Mark Sanchez, it will be a statement to the rest of the league. The Jaguars will need to fight fire with fire because the defense will not be able to contain the Jets' offense. David Garrard and MJD will need to put the team on their backs.

Sunday, Sept. 25 at Carolina Panthers 1 p.m. CBS
If we don't win this game, there are problems that need to be dealt with.

Sunday, Oct. 2 NEW ORLEANS SAINTS 1 p.m. Fox
This is a home game, which might not affect anything, but could give the Jaguars a slight advantage because the Saints are coming off of a heartbreaking loss to the Seahawks; believe me, that one still hurts. But realistically, Drew Brees will probably throw the ball up and around Jacksonville's weak pass rush.

Sunday, Oct. 9 CINCINNATI BENGALS 1 p.m. CBS
The Bengals had a season to forget last year. This shouldn't be a tough win for Jacksonville, but it could end up being one if Chad Ochocinco decides to start playing football again instead of fútbol.

Sunday, Oct. 16 at Pittsburgh Steelers 1 p.m. CBS
The Jaguars will put up a good fight, but the Steelers will want to make it back to the Super Bowl after a tough loss to the Packers. Ben Roethlisberger will put on a show at Heinz Field.

Monday, Oct. 24 BALTIMORE RAVENS 8:30 pm ESPN
The Jags are on Monday Night Football again. The last time they played on Monday night they got trounced by the Tennessee Titans 30–3. Hopefully it's not much of the same, and I can see the Jaguars coming up big on their first of two Monday night appearances.

Sunday, Oct. 30 at Houston Texans 1 p.m. CBS
There's some bad blood between these two teams. The Jags ended their season with a loss to the Texans last year and would not like to repeat that performance. Arian Foster's breakout season last year will not be repeated, so the Jaguars should have some fun this week and put some crooked numbers up on the board.

Sunday, Nov. 6 -- BYE --
We can't lose.

Sunday, Nov. 13 at Indianapolis Colts 1 p.m. CBS
After the bye week, the Jaguars are on the home stretch and are going to be vying for the playoffs. This game starts a string of incredibly tough games, one of two against the Colts and a game against the Falcons and Chargers.

Sunday, Nov. 20 at Cleveland Browns 1 p.m. CBS
This is an un-loseable game, so to speak, if the Jags want to make the playoffs.

Sunday, Nov. 27 HOUSTON TEXANS 1 p.m. CBS
Another must win home game in Jacksonville, this starts a three-game home stand. The Jags will need to win two of the three to remain in contention.

Monday, Dec. 5 SAN DIEGO CHARGERS 8:30 pm ESPN
Big game here on Monday Night Football. The second Monday night game at home. Garrard will need to battle on the frontline against Philip Rivers for supremacy of the air.

Sunday, Dec. 11 TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS 1 p.m. Fox
Shouldn't be that tough of a win unless Josh Freeman ends up having an incredible year. Other than him, the Bucs aren't too dangerous, Jones-Drew should run through their front seven.

Thursday, Dec. 15 at Atlanta Falcons 8:20 pm NFL Network
This is the toughest game on the Jaguars' schedule. Matt Ryan and the high-flying Falcons were a very tough team to beat last year (except in the playoffs). But know for a fact that they will be back with a vengeance; they want rings. This could be down to the wire, or could be over in the first quarter.

Saturday, Dec. 24 at Tennessee Titans 1 p.m. CBS
The only thing on the Jaguars' Christmas list this year is to beat the Titans here. They'll be playing a different team, the last time they faced each other was in early September. The Jaguars will be prepared, and the Titans will be run-down with a shaky quarterback situation and no wideouts as weapons on the sidelines. Jaguars win this one easily.

Sunday, Jan. 1 INDIANAPOLIS COLTS 1 p.m. CBS
A New Year's Day matchup against the Colts can only bring two things. Since the division is tight of late, the winner of this game could decide who wins the AFC South, or it could just give the Colts a No. 1 seed in the playoffs. They have Peyton Manning, enough said.

Notable stats projections:
-- Jaguars record: 9-7
-- Maurice Jones-Drew: 1,600 yds rushing, 14 TD
-- Mike Sims Walker: 900 yds receiving, 9 TD
-- David Garrard: 3,200 yds passing, 21 TD

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-- JULIAN CLARKE
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Looking to get a bead on the Jaguars' priorities heading into next week's NFL Draft?

Then don't worry about their current roster. Gene Smith, now in his third season as Jacksonville's general manager, has disavowed himself time and again of needs-based drafting.

Come Thursday and Friday, he'll send the top name on his draft board to the podium each time the Jaguars pick. Not until late Saturday, when Jacksonville's due to submit the 182nd overall selection, will he consider straying from that method for the sake of his depth chart.

It's not that the team's roster doesn't have holes, of course. In the long run, maximizing the value of each pick will stock the Jaguars' depth chart with talent. But there are a few spots where the right rookie could help out right away—or, at least, where he'd have fewer entrenched starters to depose.

Taking the same far-sighted approach as the brains behind Jacksonville's operation, here's a look at the prospects for a newcomer at each position with the Jaguars, in 2011 and beyond.

Learn on the Job! (DE, FS/SS)
After scrapping his way to the top of Jacksonville's junk heap at safety last season as a practice squad signing, Courtney Greene played well enough to justify a new contract once the NFL's labor mess gets resolved. Opposite him, the Jaguars could put a rangy center-fielder type like South Carolina's Chris Culliver to good use in their Cover 2, taking heat off their embattled corners.

Closer to the line of scrimmage, Jacksonville would love to put a little pressure on opposing passers, too. The Jaguars' 26 sacks in 2010 almost doubled their woeful '09 total (11) but didn't strike fear in the hearts of division rivals Peyton Manning and Matt Schaub.

With the 16th overall pick, Jacksonville's in position to add a young, fast-twitch edge rusher -- Missouri's Aldon Smith, Purdue's Ryan Kerrigan, or maybe even a falling top-10 talent like Robert Quinn or Clemson's Da'Quan Bowers.

Help Wanted (WR, LB, CB)
At receiver and linebacker, the Jaguars have a few tough decisions to make when/if free agency starts: Mike Sims-Walker, Kirk Morrison and Justin Durant are all due for new deals. Adding new blood to the depth chart at either position next Friday would be a step toward sending one or all three packing.

Neither Rashean Mathis nor Derek Cox is on the chopping block this summer, but neither played well enough in 2010 to justify passing on a potential starter at corner.

Colorado's Jimmy Smith would be a reach in the middle of the first round, and LSU's Patrick Peterson shouldn't make it out of the top 10, but Jacksonville would have to take a long look at Prince Amukamara should he fall from this year's jumble of top-tier talents.

Apprenticeship (QB, G/C)
The Jaguars would do well to line up long-term replacements at three crucial positions on their roster—only one of which has been hyped obnoxiously by an ESPN "Year of ..." campaign.

Yes, Jacksonville has a need at quarterback, along with all but six or seven NFL teams if the talk from the loudest talking heads is to be believed. David Garrard is a young 33, but he won't be around forever. From among the jumble of seven rookie passers fighting to get drafted Thursday, all but two or three should be available for the Jaguars midway through the first round.

In front of Garrard, Brad Meester and Vince Manuwai have been a good enough center-guard combo for the better part of a decade that Jacksonville's been able to get away with having little to no depth behind them.

With every passing year -- especially since both have been sidelined by significant injuries in the past two seasons -- it gets harder to justify passing on young blood in the middle of the trenches.

Accepting Applications (DT)
Between Gene Smith's shocking top-10 selection of Tyson Alualu last April and his third-round steal of Terrance Knighton in '09, the Jaguars put teeth back into a defensive line that had sorely missed former Pro Bowlers Marcus Stroud and John Henderson.

Still, they're a little short on quality depth up the middle. Third-rounder D'Anthony Smith's recovery from last year's preseason ankle injury will be a key preseason story to watch, but adding another big body to the rotation with a middle-round pick next Friday couldn't hurt.

We'll Let You Know (RB/FB, TE, OT)
Jacksonville proved that "best player available" meant just that two years ago, drafting tackles Eugene Monroe and Eben Britton with first- and second-round picks despite needs elsewhere on the roster.

Assuming the Jaguars make re-signing Marcedes Lewis their highest priority in free agency, even a top rookie talent would be in for an uphill battle to earn playing time at these positions.

That doesn't mean they'll rule those players out, mind you. For this organization, competition in camp means just as much as competition on Sundays -- the one leading directly to the other.

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-- JACK HARVER
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Tom Brady is a great NFL quarterback — perhaps the greatest ever — because his killer instinct doesn't have an "off" switch. It's not just that he reads defenses, makes throws, and gets in his teammates' (and the game officials') faces every Sunday for 60 minutes. It's that he watches film, works with his receiving corps, and critiques himself every weekday for hours on end.

That consistent killer instinct is what separates the league's 12 playoff teams — or at least 11 of them, with the exception of whichever miscreant ends up crawling out of the putrid NFC West — from the pack of franchises that, while stocked the same with professional athletes, ficker on and off between winning and losing form.

In losing 20-17 to the down-and-out Washington Redskins, the Jacksonville Jaguars proved that they're not ready to join that elite group yet.

Maurice Jones-Drew's absence wasn't the problem. Jacksonville's Pro Bowl bell cow, beloved by fantasy football owners, would have done better than second-year backup Rashad Jennings, but the Jaguars' ground game suffered mainly this week (as last week) from missed assignments up front. Specifically, Uche Nwaneri added another sub-par effort to what's been a disappointing year for him and Jordan Black — whether due to injury or ineffectiveness — had to be replaced by Guy Whimper.

David Garrard wasn't the problem, even though his two interceptions led to 10 of Washington's points, including the game-winning field goal in overtime. As much as his early overthrow forced Jacksonville to play catch-up, Garrard successfully brought the Jaguars back by calling his own number late in the fourth quarter on a 20-yard touchdown run.

Then, with the offense pinned inside the 15-yard line by rookie Deji Karim's bumbling kickoff return, a hit to Garrard's throwing arm sent a sideline throw flailing to Washington's Kevin Barnes for the pick.

Jacksonville's defensive "rushmen" weren't the problem, either. They only managed one sack—Larry Hart's dogged takedown of Rex Grossman to end the Redskins' last drive in regulation — but Tyson Alualu and Terrance Knighton forced Washington to run strictly outside the tackles, and Austen Lane and Jeremy Mincey spent most of the afternoon wreaking havoc in the flats.

But taken together, the warts on the Jaguars' solid Sunday were enough to lose a very winnable game. Last year, Jacksonville's four-game crash landing to end a promising season was a case of an overacheiving team running out of gas.

This year, the improved Jaguars just haven't kept the pedal to the metal.

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-- JACK HARVER
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