As players get bigger, stronger and faster coupled with rules of the game
being in constant change, conventional wisdom suggests that players from
different eras cannot be compared. However, I have decided to defy that
notion.
Though the Jacksonville Jaguars have only existed since 1995, the NFL
game has still changed on some fronts in that short span. The Jaguars have
made the playoffs seven times in their 26 years of existence and are one of
four teams to have never played in a Super Bowl. Jacksonville has made the
AFC Championship Game three times, only to fall short of reaching the
Super Bowl. The Jaguars reached the postseason four times in their first five
seasons.
There are some rigid criteria in making this team. The player needed to have
played at least three seasons as a Jaguar. Since the free agency era began 30
years ago, that standard needs to be in place. One-year rentals don’t make
this list. Personality or legal flaws are not a deterrent to making this team.
This is football, not the Boy Scouts. Being in the Hall of Fame is the
first consideration coupled with impact on the franchise. The number of
All-Pro seasons are a top consideration with longevity also helping
immensely.
Generational reminders
All eras matter. Being on a Jaguars team that made a Super Bowl run does
not get you a hall pass on this team. Winning or losing eras, all high-level
performers get considered.
Since the Jaguars have only existed for 25 years, there is not enough quality
for honorable mention at every position. To that point, on offense, I’m
taking enough receivers to play four, enough running backs to have a change
of pace and enough tight ends to play two. On defense, I want enough
defensive linemen and linebackers to bounce between a 3-4 and 4-3 and
enough defensive backs to play dime coverage.
OFFENSE
QB -- Mark Brunell
The Jaguars acquired Brunell in a trade from the Green Bay Packers, which
was the first trade in franchise history. With Brunell under center, the Jags
advanced to two AFC Title Games in the first five years of the franchise’s
inception. Brunell was a Jaguar for nine years (1995-2003) and is a three-
time Pro Bowler. He holds all the Jaguar passing records. Brunell is also
fifth in franchise history in rushing yardage.
RB -- Fred Taylor, Maurice Jones-Drew
Taylor spent 11 seasons (1998-2008) as a Jaguar and, though he was injury
prone, is the franchise’s all-time leader in rushing yardage. Taylor is also fifth
in franchise history with 286 receptions. Taylor’s lone Pro Bowl season
came in 2007, when he was also second-team All Pro. Jones-Drew is the No.
2 all-time leading rusher in franchise history but is the most impactful
running back to wear a Jags uniform and is No. 4 in franchise history with
335 receptions. Jones-Drew was the NFL leading rusher in 2011. He is also
a three-time Pro Bowler and All Pro (two as a first-teamer).
FB -- Greg Jones
Jones spent nine seasons (2004-2012) as a Jaguar, paving the way for both
Taylor and Jones-Drew. Jones’ presence is as big of a reason as any why
Jones-Drew was the NFL leading rusher in 2011. Jones also filled in
occasionally as a running back.
WR -- Jimmy Smith, Keenan McCardell, Allen Robinson, Allen Hurns
Smith and McCardell are one of the most underrated receiving tandems in
NFL history and were Brunell’s security blanket. They were a tandem for
six years (1996-2001) and were nicknamed “Thunder and Lightning.”
Smith was an original Jaguar and is by far the franchise’s all-time leading
receiver. Smith was a five-time Pro Bowler, two-time second-team All Pro
and led the NFL in receptions in 1999. McCardell is the second-leading
receiver for the franchise. McCardell was a two-time Pro Bowler. Robinson
recently completed his second season with the Chicago Bears and is the
No. 3 receiver on this team by default. Hurns recently completed his first
season as a Miami Dolphin and is the No. 4 receiver by default. Robinson
was a Jag for four seasons (2014-2017) and caught 202 passes in that span.
He was a Pro Bowler in 2015 and led the NFL in touchdown receptions
that season. Hurns caught 189 passes in four years as a Jag. He averaged
14.1 yards per catch and reeled in 21 touchdowns.
TE -- Marcedes Lewis, Kyle Brady
Lewis recently completed his second season as a Green Bay Packer but was
a Jag for 12 years (2006-2017). Lewis was a well-rounded tight end both
as a blocker and receiver. Lewis is third in franchise history behind Smith
and McCardell in receptions. Lewis’ lone Pro Bowl season was 2010, when
he was also second-team All Pro. Brady signed a free agent contract with
the Jags in 1999 and spent eight seasons with the franchise. Brady was an
excellent blocker and very durable, missing just seven games. Brady is
sixth in franchise history in receptions.
OT -- Tony Boselli, Leon Searcy
Boselli was an original Jaguar and is perhaps the best player regardless of
position in franchise history. He is also one of the best not to be inducted
into the Hall of Fame. Injuries cut Boselli’s career short but in seven years
as a Jag, he was a Pro Bowler five times and three-time first-team All Pro.
In Jacksonville, McDonalds unveiled the “Boselli Burger.” Searcy spent
five seasons (1996-2000) as a Jag, helping the franchise reach two
AFC Championship Games in four years. Searcy was a Pro Bowler in
1999.
OG -- Vince Manuwai, Chris Naeole
Manuwai and Naeole never earned any postseason honors in his eight
years (2003-2010) but were solid starters. He started 105 of the 111 games
in which he played. Manuwai led potent running games in 2006 and 2007.
Naeole spent eight seasons (2002-2009) as a Jag. Naeole was part of an
offensive line that set a franchise record for rushing yardage in 2006.
C -- Brad Meester
Meester was a career Jag for 14 seasons (2000-2013). He became the third
rookie in franchise history to start all 16 games. Meester holds the franchise
record for seasons played (14), games started (209), games played (209)
and consecutive games started (92).
DEFENSE
DE -- Calais Campbell, Tony Brackens, Yannick Ngakoue, Joel Smeenge
Campbell was a Jag for only three years (2017-2019) but it was an impactful
stretch of time. Campbell, who is now a Baltimore Raven, was a Pro Bowler
in all three years in Jacksonville. Campbell helped the Jags reach the
AFC Championship Game in 2017. That season, he was first-team All Pro
and Pro Football Writers Association NFL Defensive Player of the Year.
Campbell is fourth in franchise history with 31.5 sacks. Brackens was a Jag
for nine seasons (1996-2004) and is the franchise’s all-time leader with 55
sacks. Brackens was a Pro Bowler and All Pro in 1999. Ngakoue recently
finished his fourth season and is third in franchise history with 37.5 sacks.
He made the NFL All Rookie team in 2016 and was a Pro Bowler in 2017.
Smeenge was an original Jaguar and spent six years (1995-2000) with the
franchise. He is No. 3 in franchise history with 34.5.
DT -- Marcus Stroud, John Henderson, Malik Jackson
Stroud and Henderson were a stout defensive tackle tandem from 2002-
2007 and were a nightmare for opposing ground games. Stroud was a Pro
Bowler in three of his seven years as a Jag. He was second-team All Pro
in 2003. Henderson was a two-time Pro Bowler and second-team All Pro
in 2006. Jackson, who is now a Philadelphia Eagle, came to the Jags as a
free agent from Denver, whom he helped win a Super Bowl one year prior.
Jackson made the Pro Bowl in 2017 and was part of a defense that was
nicknamed Sacksonville.
OLB -- Daryl Smith, Kevin Hardy, Justin Durant
Smith spent his first nine seasons (2004-2012) as a Jag. While he never
earned any postseason accolades, he surpassed the 100 tackle mark seven
straight times. Smith is the franchise’s all-time leading tackler. Hardy
became the first Jag rookie to start on opening day. Hardy made the NFL
All Rookie Team in 1996 and was a Pro Bowler in 1999. That season,
Hardy was also first-team All Pro. Hardy is sixth in franchise history with
28.5 sacks. Durant spent his first four NFL seasons (2007-2010) as a Jag.
In that span, he tallied 272 tackles.
ILB -- Paul Posluszny, Myles Jack, Mike Peterson
Posluszny spent seven years (2011-2017) as a Jag after four as a Buffalo
Bill. Posluszny was a Pro Bowler in 2013, a bright spot in an otherwise
horrific 2-14 season. Jack recently completed his fourth season as a Jag.
In that span, he has tallied 287 tackles. Peterson played 15 seasons for three
different teams, including six as a Jag. Peterson was second-team All Pro
in 2005.
CB -- Jalen Ramsey, Rashean Mathis, Aaron Beasley
Ramsey had an acrimonious split from the franchise that led to a trade to
the Los Angeles Rams but in his time as a Jag, Ramsey was a top-flight
cover man. He was a Pro Bowl performer for two years as a Jag and was
first-team All Pro in 2017, helping Jacksonville reach the AFC
Championship Game. Mathis spent 10 of his 13 seasons (2003-2012)
as a Jag. Mathis was a Pro Bowler in 2006 and is the franchise’s all-time
leader with 30 interceptions. Beasley spent his first six NFL seasons
(1996-2001) as a Jag, helping the franchise reach two AFC Championship
Games in four years. Beasley is No. 2 in franchise history with 15
interceptions.
S -- Donovin Darius, Chris Hudson, Reggie Nelson
Darius spent virtually his entire career as a Jag (1998-2006) before
spending the 2007 season with the Oakland Raiders and Miami Dolphins.
Darius made the NFL All Rookie team in 1998 and was a secondary
mainstay. Hudson was an original Jaguar that spent four years (1995-
1998) with the franchise. Nelson spent three seasons (2007-2009) as Jag
and was on the NFL All Rookie team in 2007. Nelson spent his first three
seasons (2007-2009) as a Jag. He made the NFL All Rookie Team in 2007.
SPECIAL TEAMS
K -- Josh Scobee
Scobee was an accurate kicker, making good on 80.8% of his field goal
attempts. Scobee tied a record for most consecutive field goals (20) in
franchise history. Scobee is the franchise’s all-time leading scorer (1,022
points).
P -- Bryan Barker
Barker played for eight different teams over 17 years. Barker was an original
Jaguar and played for the franchise for six years (1995-2000). In his career
with the Jags, he averaged 43.5 yards pr punt.
RETURN -- Reggie Barlow
Barlow played five years (1996-2000) for the Jags during their best years.
In that span, he averaged 10.8 yards on punt returns and 23.3 on kickoff
returns. He also returned three kicks for touchdowns.
HEAD COACH -- Tom Coughlin
Coughlin built his Hall of Fame resume as a two-time Super Bowl winning
head coach for the New York Giants, knocking off the New England
Patriots twice. However, the fact that he immediately made the Jags relevant
is also part of his legacy. Coughlin is from the Bill Parcels coaching tree,
he was a meticulous game-planner and stern disciplinarian. The Jags went
68-60, which looks modest, under his watch but two trips to the AFC
Championship Game in the franchise’s first five seasons is pretty impressive.
The Jags fired Coughlin after three straight losing seasons but still have
not adequately replaced him.
TEAM -- 1999.
The Jaguars have had three teams reach the AFC Championship Game.
The 1996 and 2017 versions had lightning in a bottle feel. The former went
11-5 and the latter 10-6, winning the division, a wild card game at home
and a divisional playoff game on the road before losing the AFC Title Game
on the road to New England. The 1999 team, however, was dominant,
going 14-2 in the regular season, winning the AFC North Division. The
Jags made mincemeat of the Miami Dolphins in a 62-7 drubbing in the
AFC Divisional round before losing 33-14 to the Tennessee Titans at home
in the AFC Championship Game. Interestingly enough, the Titans were the
only team to beat Jacksonville, also defeating them 20-19 and 41-14 in the
regular season. The Jags had a balanced offense with Brunell being a dual
threat quarterback throwing to Smith and McCardell along with the dual
threat skills of Taylor at running back. The Jags also had a punishing
defense that gave up the fewest points in the NFL with 217.
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