Jag fan checking in

[*Legion*]

Hello Jets fans. A Jaguar fan here checking in, thanks to your moderator's advertising on Jag boards.

A close follower of a team can always get you the tidbits that the national media overlooks, so here's a few for you Jets fans to remember for this week's game:

* Although they have said the opposite publically, an observer would have to draw the conclusion that the Jaguars were somewhat concerned about giving Fred Taylor too big of a workload early. But after two games in which Taylor's knee managed to hold up and not swell after the game, it sounds like they're finally going to lean on him the way the team traditionally has. The lack of a running game late really made things hard on the Jags O last week, as those pass rush happy Colts D-linemen didn't have to worry about screens or draws.

* Don't think too much about the team losing Donovin Darius. Remember when the Jags were shopping Darius for a trade in the offseason? That's because they felt Deke Cooper was too good to keep on the bench. Cooper was signed to a one-year RFA tender of $1.43 million - not exactly the kind of money you throw at at a player that you expect to be a backup. When things turned for the better with Darius, they ended up keeping both players, and it looks like that was a fortunate move. Cooper does not hit like a ton of bricks the way Darius does, but he is more adept as a pass defender (he's not strictly a SS like Darius is - Cooper has spent time at the FS spot as well). The Jags got lucky to have their first (and hopefully only) season-ending injury occur at the position where they are most capable of filling the hole. There are other positions on the team where such an injury to the starter would have been devastating.

* I'm sure you've heard about Matt Jones. The physical freak of nature that's laid back and personable. The college QB turned slash. Jones is an ongoing story for the Jags every week. The coaches get a little more daring and creative with him as they go, and he'll do whatever he's asked. Play slot WR. Line up at QB and run the keeper. Run the option. Take an end-around handoff. Despite the many different looks, the team has wisely kept his role limited, instead of trying to make him do too much all at once - so far, he has played on just a select number of snaps each game, even if each snap is a different use of him. He still has a lot of learning to do before he becomes a complete NFL player (though his being a college QB has put him further on the curve than other conversion projects, like, say, your typical track-star-into-WR project). He's not yet ready to set the world on fire, but when you watch the Jags play this year, one thing to always ask is, "what are they going to do with Jones this week?".

[BwanaZulia]

I don't know, a hurt QB and an old RB, sounds like you guys are in trouble.

BZ

[Byron#7]

I don't know, a hurt QB and an old RB, sounds like you guys are in trouble.

BZ

That's funny.

[Ryno the Jet]

Hello Jets fans. A Jaguar fan here checking in, thanks to your moderator's advertising on Jag boards.

A close follower of a team can always get you the tidbits that the national media overlooks, so here's a few for you Jets fans to remember for this week's game:

* Although they have said the opposite publically, an observer would have to draw the conclusion that the Jaguars were somewhat concerned about giving Fred Taylor too big of a workload early. But after two games in which Taylor's knee managed to hold up and not swell after the game, it sounds like they're finally going to lean on him the way the team traditionally has. The lack of a running game late really made things hard on the Jags O last week, as those pass rush happy Colts D-linemen didn't have to worry about screens or draws.

* Don't think too much about the team losing Donovin Darius. Remember when the Jags were shopping Darius for a trade in the offseason? That's because they felt Deke Cooper was too good to keep on the bench. Cooper was signed to a one-year RFA tender of $1.43 million - not exactly the kind of money you throw at at a player that you expect to be a backup. When things turned for the better with Darius, they ended up keeping both players, and it looks like that was a fortunate move. Cooper does not hit like a ton of bricks the way Darius does, but he is more adept as a pass defender (he's not strictly a SS like Darius is - Cooper has spent time at the FS spot as well). The Jags got lucky to have their first (and hopefully only) season-ending injury occur at the position where they are most capable of filling the hole. There are other positions on the team where such an injury to the starter would have been devastating.

* I'm sure you've heard about Matt Jones. The physical freak of nature that's laid back and personable. The college QB turned slash. Jones is an ongoing story for the Jags every week. The coaches get a little more daring and creative with him as they go, and he'll do whatever he's asked. Play slot WR. Line up at QB and run the keeper. Run the option. Take an end-around handoff. Despite the many different looks, the team has wisely kept his role limited, instead of trying to make him do too much all at once - so far, he has played on just a select number of snaps each game, even if each snap is a different use of him. He still has a lot of learning to do before he becomes a complete NFL player (though his being a college QB has put him further on the curve than other conversion projects, like, say, your typical track-star-into-WR project). He's not yet ready to set the world on fire, but when you watch the Jags play this year, one thing to always ask is, "what are they going to do with Jones this week?".

Nice job Legion. I agree with most of what you said, especially the progression of Jones, but I am not sold on Cooper. It's a whole new world when you're seeing the majority of the snaps instead of a select few. However, I still expect a hard faught battle, and I am glad this one is in the Meadowlands.

[Byron#7]

[Nice job Legion. I agree with most of what you said, especially the progression of Jones, but I am not sold on Cooper. It's a whole new world when you're seeing the majority of the snaps instead of a select few. However, I still expect a hard faught battle, and I am glad this one is in the Meadowlands.

Deke Cooper more than held his own playing a little more than a half against Peyton Manning and the Indy offense. The Jets passing attack, with all due respect isn't half as good as Indy's. Cooper will hurt us more in the run stopping department than anywhere else.

[faba]

Pretty ironic that both the Jets and Jaguars have QB's and starting running backs with injury or recovering from injury issues.

Matt Jones I am anxious to see this guy and what your coaching staff is trying to do with him- hoping that you are not too successful no matter what it is!

[Ryno the Jet]

[Nice job Legion. I agree with most of what you said, especially the progression of Jones, but I am not sold on Cooper. It's a whole new world when you're seeing the majority of the snaps instead of a select few. However, I still expect a hard faught battle, and I am glad this one is in the Meadowlands.

Deke Cooper more than held his own playing a little more than a half against Peyton Manning and the Indy offense. The Jets passing attack, with all due respect isn't half as good as Indy's. Cooper will hurt us more in the run stopping department than anywhere else.

Hey, not trying to put Cooper down, but one half, albeit against the league's most prolific offense, does not place him in Canton. I'm just saying he is not proven yet, but I'm not saying he won't be good, it just remains to be seen.

[Byron#7]

Deke Cooper more than held his own playing a little more than a half against Peyton Manning and the Indy offense. The Jets passing attack, with all due respect isn't half as good as Indy's. Cooper will hurt us more in the run stopping department than anywhere else.

Hey, not trying to put Cooper down, but one half, albeit against the league's most prolific offense, does not place him in Canton. I'm just saying he is not proven yet, but I'm not saying he won't be good, it just remains to be seen.

I would rather have DD(Donovon Darius) in the secondary but I don't have that option. I really don't think he'll be exposed in the passing game as much as trying to stop the run. If Deke Cooper gets to Canton, it'll be because he bought a ticket and went on a road trip like the rest of us.

[JAGGATOR1]

TIME OUT! I'm calling BS on Legion!!!

The whole thing about Cooper being too good to keep on the bench and the Jags wanting to trade Darius is complete fabrication and nonsense.

Every Jag fan knows its been an ongoing saga for 3 years in a row with Darius. He was slapped with the franchise tag 3 YEARS IN A ROW!!!

Anyone recall in the offseason what happened? It was Darius that called the Vikings for an interview and was publicly demanding a trade because he was pissed about the franchise tag.

The fact is he wanted too much money and the Jags refused to pay, but weren't gonna let a player of Darius' caliber just walk out the door without some kind of compensation.

Now....

As for Cooper, I agree his strong suit is pass coverage. It remains to be seen how he does against the run though. The good thing is, hes still young and has a good staff to coach him up. Hopefully those two things will step up his game and he fills in admirably in Darius' absence.

[PETROCK]

I don't know, a hurt QB and an old RB, sounds like you guys are in trouble.

BZ

A hurt QB and an old RB? That sounds familiar.

[BwanaZulia]

A hurt QB and an old RB? That sounds familiar.

That was the joke..

BZ

[*Legion*]

Every Jag fan knows its been an ongoing saga for 3 years in a row with Darius. He was slapped with the franchise tag 3 YEARS IN A ROW!!!

Yes. And THIS offseason, they put a trade price tag on him. Darius went hunting for trades, AFTER the Jaguars made it clear that they would listen to trade offers.

Your offseason memory is fuzzy so quickly?

The team was very clearly prepared to enter the season with Deke Cooper as a starting safety.

[Alfies]

Just an FYI, Deke Cooper was the Jaguars starting FS until Deon Grant was brought in. He has clocked hours as a starter.

[NJ]

That was the joke..

BZ

Yeah it was BZ... but one of those unfunny reality jokes

[BwanaZulia]

Yeah it was BZ... but one of those unfunny reality jokes

True. True.

I should know my crowd here and put in a few more smilies for the clowns.

BZ

[Speedyg]

Nice job Legion. I agree with most of what you said, especially the progression of Jones, but I am not sold on Cooper. It's a whole new world when you're seeing the majority of the snaps instead of a select few. However, I still expect a hard faught battle, and I am glad this one is in the Meadowlands.

Deke Cooper started 10 games for the Jaguars at FS in 2003, and more than held his own. He racked up 59 tackles, 1 interception, and 3 pass defense that year. As have been said, he's actually a better defender against the pass (him being more of a natural FS) than Darius. That being said, he is susceptible to play-action passes (same with Donovin). But otherwise, he does a great job of providing help over the top of the corner.

Thanks to his speed (4.40, with some rumors claiming that it's actually SUB 4.40, like in the 4.38 range), he has more range than Darius when it comes to defending the pass. He's not as good as Darius against the run though. He uses his size (6'2, 210) and speed to fill the running lanes, but he's nowhere near the tackler that Darius is. Still, he does an adequate job of coming up for run support, if nothing more than just to fill lanes and hopefully slow the RB down until the rest of the defense comes (and yes, our defense WILL swarm the ball carrier).

[TheSlinger]

When I heard DD was out for the year, I was heartbroken, and thought it was a huge loss. It still is a big loss, but I expect my disappointment was more because of the fact that Darius posts on the Jags MB.

Safety is our best position of depth, except DL. We have Deke as our starter now, who as you've been told is good enough. We also haev Gerald Sensabaugh - a projected 2nd round talent who's a great athlete. And Nick Sorenson in an emergency.

[JAGGATOR1]

Yes. And THIS offseason, they put a trade price tag on him. Darius went hunting for trades, AFTER the Jaguars made it clear that they would listen to trade offers.

Your offseason memory is fuzzy so quickly?

The team was very clearly prepared to enter the season with Deke Cooper as a starting safety.

I distinctly recall speculation and rumor on the medias part.

Show me a valid team source that stated they would listen to trade offers BEFORE he pulled his stunt with the Vikings.

If they felt that confident in Cooper, what was the point of tagging him? Just to annoy him? They could entertain trade offers without the tag...

[Smizzy]

Jags D can't hold Chad Pennington under 50 pts tomorrow

[copycat781]

Jags D can't hold Chad Pennington under 50 pts tomorrow

You've had enough to drink tonight