Jaguars News Wire

In a game that both teams played well both offensively and defensively, with few mistakes on either side, the Jaguars versus Colts game in Indianapolis came down to one factor: luck. Luck would have it that Indianapolis would emerge the victor, as a Hail Mary catch by Reggie Wayne at the end of the first half would prove the deciding score in the 28-24 defeat of Jacksonville.

With both teams finding success through the air, the offense matchup became Indianapolis quarterback Peyton Manning versus Jacksonville's defensive backs and Jacksonville quarterback Alex Smith versus Indianapolis' defensive backs in an unusual adjustment away from Jacksonville's smashmouth offensive style. Both quarterbacks looked good, with Manning the only one to throw a pick or be sacked yet still putting up more yards and touchdowns than Smith.

Jacksonville's defense was more effective than Indianapolis, coming up with an interception by Stanford Routt late in the second quarter that would trigger a scoring drive for Jacksonville. The defensive line consistently put pressure on Manning, registering two sacks and numerous hurries and hits, and Indy's offensive could only register fifteen yards rushing for the duration of the game. Jacksonville's defense would also force the only punt of the game in the fourth quarter with a resulting scoring drive that would put Jacksonville up by three late in the game. In return, Indianapolis also effectively shut down Jacksonville offensive centerpiece Maurice Jones-Drew with a resulting 3.3 YPC and 54 yards on 16 attempts, although they would allow a rushing touchdown to fullback Greg Jones for the first score of the game. Indianapolis would also force a fumble by Mike Thomas in the redzone that would halt a possible Jacksonville scoring drive.

With the loss, Jacksonville falls to 4-5 and is now for the second week tied for lead of the AFC South. Next week Jacksonville takes on the likewise 4-5 Cleveland Browns in Cleveland.

-Jacksonville defensive tackle Terrance Knighton suffered a torn shoulder labrum late in the game that will keep him out for several games. D'Anthony Smith will start in his place opposite Tyson Alualu at defensive tackle in the meantime.
-Jacksonville quarterback Alex Smith's strong performance for yet another week may guarantee his starting spot for the remainder of the season, barring injury.
-Following another poor performance by receiver Mike Thomas where he failed to get open and suffered another fumble, Thomas may find himself taking part in more returns and less snaps at receiver. Fellow receiver Jason Hill has shown well in his few snaps and is a potential replacement for Thomas as the starter.

Jacksonville is proud to announce that Jaguars News Wire will return starting for Week 16's game in Tennessee. Additionally, starting in the playoffs, the Wire will be reporting in a revised format that will include accompanying video clips of action in the game. Next season, this will become standard for all games.

Additionally, the Wire announced a number of off-season segments, including organizational reviews and awards segments and also full coverage of the 2012 NFL Draft.

Notes:
-Outside linebacker Clint Session suffered a broken jaw in this week's game against Atlanta and will miss the rest of the regular season. Should Jacksonville make the playoffs, Session is predicted to be ready to go. Backup and special teams ace Scott Shanle will take over in the meantime.
-Rookie quarterback Blaine Gabbert took over and performed well after veteran Alex Smith floundered for yet another game. Coach Warmaster was quoted as saying the situation is "tenuous" and not to read into any decisions made mid-game. Gabbert may yet remain the backup to Smith.

After a disappointing loss to Baltimore in Jacksonville's first playoff game in over half a decade, GM/Coach Warmaster said that this Jaguars team needed some changes to realistically compete.

That is exactly what Jacksonville has gone out and done this offseason. Low on cap room and high on players to be re-signed, some tough decisions had to be made. This included trading away a trio of big impact players from previous seasons.

The players that were moved: Stanford Routt, Corey Webster, and Terrance Knighton. Each player played a big part in last season's playoff drive and number 2 seed in the AFC. However, Routt just turned 30, Webster is well into his 30s, and Knighton has been continuously outperformed by younger counterpart Tyson Alualu at defensive tackle.

Routt was acquired early in the 2011 season with wide receiver Darrius Heyward Bey in a blockbuster trade that sent linebacker Daryl Smith and a pick to Oakland.

"We needed to shake things up a bit," explained Warmaster. "Routt was our highest paid player, and we felt for the money his impact was no longer what it once was or what it should be for that pay.

Webster was claimed on waivers late in the season as an upgrade in the secondary, but has been largely recognized as having lost a step this late in his career. Other players released by Jacksonville include cornerback Chris Johnson, receiver Chad Ochocinco, safety Courtney Greene, and defensive end Aaron Kampman.

Through the three trades, Jacksonville acquired defensive lineman Matt Shaughnessy, defensive tackle Keron Spence, receiver Dextrell Wallace, and a 2nd and 3rd round pick in the upcoming draft. Shaughnessy and Spence project to be rotating out at run-stopping d-linemen opposite dominant pass rusher Tyson Alualu. Wallace is a possession receiver that should see little time this season barring injuries.

Jacksonville has five picks in this year's rookie draft, although no first round picks. We will have coverage of the 2013 NFL Rookie Draft as Jacksonville drafts.

Update:
Jacksonville sources are reporting that runningback/kick returner Reggie Bush has been traded to Kansas City in return for the 24th pick in the 3rd round in another salary dump move.

First Round Picks:
None

Second Round Picks:
25th: LT Najee Ford (80 OVR B Potential) - Pick Grade: A - Best available player on board. Athletic lineman fit to start. Should serve as fully able replacement for any offensive line position.
26th: CB Kemnavus Odom (67 OVR C Potential) - Pick Grade: C+ - Drafted upon team need and pure skill. Excellent coverage and physical skills for a press corner. Ball hawk. Room for some development.

Third Round Picks:
17th: HB Akeem Tate (75 OVR B Potential) - Pick Grade: B - Best available player on board. Good speed for running back. Hard to tackle. Lacks burst and instincts to get through hole. Will never be an every down back due to stamina concerns.
24th: TE Kian Gilbert (71 OVR C Potential) - Pick Grade: C+ - Athletic, well rounded tight end. Good catching skills. Gets off line well. Decent blocker. Some for development. Projects as long term replacement for incumbent Marcedes Lewis.
26th: MLB Rashard Hawkins (68 OVR C Potential) - Pick Grade: C - Athletic, decently well rounded linebacker. Exhibits some difficulty tackling. Good pass rushing skills. Decent coverage skills. Some room for improvement.
31st: C Steven Myers (61 OVR B Potential) - Pick Grade: C - Developmental lineman prospect. Good pass blocker, but needs to work on run blocking skills to become viable lineman in NFL.

Undrafted Free Agents:
SS Anfernee Beasley (63 OVR D Potential) - Athletic, physical safety. Excellent catching skills for a safety. Hard hitter, although with poor man coverage skills. Excellent zone coverage skills. Projects as long term backup, centerfielder-type safety. Very little room for improvement.

-Houston receiver Jacoby Jones left the game early in the second quarter with an injury, but returned later.
-Jacksonville cornerback Dunta Robinson, who started in Week 1, was waived shortly after the game. Robinson appeared washed up and with talented young corners behind him, was waived in favor of depth elsewhere. DE Stylez White was added to the roster on waivers.

Jacksonville won their first game of the season against Tennessee with a five point margin in a rainy game tonight. With lots of offense and little defense, the fourth quarter featured thirty-five points between the two teams.

The team featured opposites on offense, with Tennessee finding few holes in the run game and aired it out for most of the game, while Jacksonville relied on the legs of Maurice Jones-Drew after shaky play by quarterback Blaine Gabbert once again.

"The rain's one factor, but he's just not finding the sweet spot," said coach Warmaster91. "We're trying to go back to the fundamentals on offense and get back to where we we're last season."

Jacksonville's pass offense only totaled 85 yards tonight, while Gabbert threw two interceptions to the defense to complement poor throws off target all game long. Jacksonville looks to be returning to an entirely run offense after creating a limited, but efficient, passing attack in 2012.

Tennessee's spread offense offered issues for the Jacksonville defensive back core, even with three interceptions by the Jaguars defense. Tennessee quarterback Jake Locker was tremendously efficient at times, completing efficient screen passes and big plays down field, while other times having trouble with the rainy conditions.

The Jaguars next face the 3-0 Bears in Jacksonville, who have yet to play their Week 4 game yet.

-Prior to the game, Jacksonville signed receiver/returner Samson Fields and waived safety William Moore.
-In the third quarter, Tennessee receiver Kileon Waugh suffered a herniated disk. Waugh is expected to miss significant time.

-Prior to the game, Jacksonville signed offensive lineman Eddie Argo and waived defensive lineman Stylez White.
-Jacksonville linebacker Paul Posluszny left the game with a strained quadricep late in the 4th quarter. Posluszny is expected to miss next week's game with the injury.

First Round Picks:
19th: CB Sherard Eddie (77 OVR B Potential) - Pick Grade: B - Eddie is a talented, athletic corner who should make an immediate impact in the pass defense. Excellent catching skills. Excellent size for a corner and top of the league vertical ability. Poor tackling skills and lacks physicality on the line against receivers. Projects as a starter in the near future, with plenty of room for improvement.

Second Round Picks:
18th: SS Roderick Collins (70 OVR B Potential) - Pick Grade: C - An athletic safety, Collins has plenty of upside but needs to improve to make an impact on this defensive backfield. Decent tackling skills and sub-par coverage skills may develop with time. Decent catching skills, although paired with poor vertical ability. Projects as a balanced safety capable of playing anywhere should the need arise. Will make an immediate impact on special teams.

19th: HB Deandrew Montgomery (72 OVR B Potential) - Pick Grade: C - A speedy running back with the ability to make defenders miss, Montgomery has great vision to the hole and burst to accompany it. An electric returner for Utah as a senior, he should take over the returner role for Jacksonville with little trouble. Needs work holding onto the football. Plenty of room for development. Projects as a future change of pace back.

Third Round Picks:
19th: QB Bobby Murray (77 OVR B Potential) - Pick Grade: B - The best remaining player on the board, Murray projects as a developmental quarterback with the ability to step in should Gabbert fall to injury. Strong arm. Needs to work on short accuracy, but has good accuracy on medium throws and excellent deep throw ability. Pocket QB with little scrambling ability. Projects as a backup to Blaine Gabbert, but due to erratic play from Gabbert this past season, the situation could change very quickly.

Undrafted Free Agents:
HB DeVaughn Terrell (65 OVR C Potential) - A fast, elusive back with burst out of the backfield. Ball carrying issues may fix with work over time. Some room for improvement, although will never develop into an impact player. Inflexible and injury prone, Terrell may not last long on the roster.

RG Sir Sanders (67 OVR C Potential) - A strong, physical blocker, Sanders projects as a backup lineman in the NFL. With the ability to block on the move and good size for an interior lineman, stands a good chance of making the final roster.

LE Darius Simpson (64 OVR D Potential) - A big, albeit athletic end, Simpson exhibits developed ability to beat blockers on the pass rush, but projects as a poor run defender in the NFL. With a low ceiling and little room for improvement, may have a tough time cracking the final roster.

LB Antwon Thomas (63 OVR D Potential) - A quick, athletic linebacker with ability to pass rush and play the run, Thomas stands a chance to crack the final roster as depth for a depleted linebacker core. Excellent tackler. Good coverage skills. Could make an immediate impact on special teams.

LB Cy Reed (58 OVR D Potential) - A thumper, Reed will need to exhibit a good balance of coverage and pass rushing skills to compensate for poor run stopping ability and tackling skills. Could make an impact on special teams, but will have trouble evading final cuts.