The Jacksonville Jaguars

[duvaldude08]

Just noticed that the Mayor tweeted this:

"I want to thank Shad Khan & Peter Racine from the #Jaguars who have made a $1 million commitment to our military veterans."

Hopefully the doubters out there will start seeing that Mr. Khan is committed to the city.

Not only the donation, Plus they offered leadership support to develop a veteran guidance center to help veterans transition back to civilian life. I believe these are the thing we were missing under WW leadership. Its admirable to donate to charities and things of that nature, but things of this nature is who you really get the cities support.

[KenFSU]

Really random Jacksonville football history question that has been bugging me:

Does anyone know why the 1927 Florida-Georgia game was played at Barrs Field (a baseball field) rather than Fairfield Stadium (built for football)?

[Tacachale]

I'll have to check but I'm pretty sure Fairfield Stadium wasn't complete until 1928.

[KenFSU]

That's where my confusion comes in. I initially thought that Fairfield wasn't completed until 1928. That year is regularly cited as the opening of Fairfield Stadium. However, I've found several newspaper articles from 1926 mentioning Fairfield as the site of both the Chicago Bears/Jacksonville All-Stars game and a Geneva College/Oglethorpe college game. I'm fairly certain that Fairfield had to be open in 1926, but if it was, why in the world was the 1927 Florida-Georgia game held at Barrs?

[KenFSU]

Got it!

It appears as if nearly every online resource is wrong about this one.

Fairfield Stadium did host the 1927 Florida-Georgia game, not Barrs field. And, despite nearly every website (including the Jaguars own, I believe) referencing a 1928 opening for Fairfield Stadium, it seems as if it was open as early as 1925.

Weird.

[downtownjag]

That's pretty sweet. I'd like to see the front page of the times union/sports section after Morton Anderson missed the field goal, if you can!

[duvaldude08]

Deep from the archives. Just a little trip down memory lane.

 
 
       
Historic pounding

Taylor, Jaguars run roughshod over Dolphins 62-7

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Posted: Wednesday February 02, 2000 12:11 PM

    Jacksonville's Fred Taylor totaled 18 carries for 135 yards and a touchdown. He also caught a 39-yard touchdown pass from Mark Brunell. AP
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (CNNSI.com) -- The Jacksonville Jaguars can say it in song if they want. There's no doubt they are a legitimate Super Bowl threat.

In the second-most overpowering playoff performance ever, the Jaguars routed the Miami Dolphins 62-7 Saturday to move one win away from the Super Bowl they've been pointing toward all season and singing about the past week.

It was the most points the Dolphins have ever given up.

With Dan Marino and Jimmy Johnson stumbling through possibly their last game, the Dolphins (10-8) didn't offer much of a challenge. Still, for at least one day, those who doubted the Jaguars (15-2) because of their soft schedule and ridiculed them for their Super Bowl rap song can give it a rest.

Among the stars were Fred Taylor, who had two highlight-reel touchdowns, and defensive lineman Tony Brackens, who recovered a fumble and literally danced his way into the end zone.

SI's Peter King on Johnson, Marino
Jimmy Johnson has told friends he plans to step down as Miami Dolphins' coach as soon as the season ends, and the season ended in inglorious fashion with the Dolphins' loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Dave Wannstedt would almost certainly be Johnson's replacement. And since Wannstedt and Dolphins' owner Wayne Huzienga share Johnson's feelings about Marino, the legendary quarterback is almost certainly through in Miami as well.

Marino, after his head clears from Saturday's disaster, may still want to play, and could wind up with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Even before Saturday, Johnson had simply had enough after a frustrating season full of distractions.

 
"This was one of those games where things are going well, you get confidence, you get it rolling and you start making a lot of plays," said offensive lineman Ben Coleman. "Then we didn't let up. We made play after play after play and all of the sudden, we're running away."

To say the least.

Only the 1940 Chicago Bears, who beat the Washington Redskins 73-0 for the NFL title, have scored more points in the playoffs. The 55-point margin also is the second-largest in playoff history.

It may have been the most embarrassing loss for Johnson and Marino in their storied careers. It was punctuated by a cold blast of water from the sprinkler system in the south end zone soon after a Jaguars touchdown made it 55-7.

"I've never experienced a game like this in my life," said Marino, 38, who deflected questions about his retirement. "Even as a kid, I've never had a game like this."

Marino was 11-for-25 for 95 yards before Johnson pulled him early in the third quarter. More telling: By the time gimpy Jaguars quarterback Mark Brunell was lifted with a 38-0 lead, Marino had thrown two interceptions, no completions and lost a fumble that was returned for a touchdown.

It was all part of a stunning 20-minute period in which the Jaguars pulled off enough spectacular plays to stake their claim as not only a Super Bowl favorite, but an exhilarating one at that.

It should bring an end to the issue of the soft schedule.

And the Super Bowl rap?

Epic blowouts
Biggest margins of victory in NFL postseason games
Margin    Final score    Year
73    Chicago 73, Washington 0    1940 NFL Championship
55    Jacksonville 62, Miami 7    2000 AFC Divisional
49    Oakland 56, Houston 7    1969 AFL Divisional
48    Buffalo 51, L.A. Raiders 3    1991 AFC Championship
46    Cleveland 56, Detroit 10    1954 NFL Championship
46    N.Y. Giants 49, San Francisco 3    1987 NFC Divisional
45    San Francisco 55, Denver 10    1990 Super Bowl
 
"We knew if we lost, that would be hanging over our heads," said one of the singers, defensive lineman Gary Walker. "That got taken out of proportion. I guess they can take it to the team that wins tomorrow and get it started again."

The Jaguars will play host to the winner of Sunday's game between Indianapolis and Tennessee next week for the AFC championship. They'll have trouble topping this.

"When you look at who we've got -- Brunell, Taylor, McCardell, Smith -- you know you're going to put points on the board," Walker said. "But I can't say we expected that many."

Jacksonville's most memorable play might have been Taylor's 90-yard touchdown run, the longest in NFL playoff history.

The second-year running back appeared all-but-tackled behind a picket line of Dolphins defenders. Somehow, he stutter-stepped his way around the line to break into the open. Then, with a trademark burst of speed, Taylor won a 70-yard foot race with Brock Marion for a 17-0 lead.

Two plays later, Brackens provided another memory.

Sweeping in from the right, he stripped Marino and recovered the fumble. He got up and started strutting, mobbed by teammates who thought the play was over. Noticing Brackens hadn't been touched down, linebacker Bryce Paup shoved his teammate toward the end zone. By the time Brackens figured out what was happening, he had crossed the goal line.

On Jacksonville's next possession, Taylor took a screen pass and outmaneuvered four more flailing Miami defenders for a 39-yard score and a 31-0 lead.

Taylor finished with 135 yards rushing and 39 receiving. He sat out the second half and couldn't match his 162-yard performance in his postseason debut last season.

"I've been saying all week I was ready to play," said Taylor, hampered most of the year with a sore hamstring. "I got tired of sitting around watching other games. I guess I was ready to go."

Complementing the big plays were a 25-yard touchdown run by James Stewart, a blocked punt by Corey Chamblin and an 8-yard touchdown pass from Brunell to Jimmy Smith.

In the second half, backup quarterback Jay Fiedler hit Smith for a 70-yard touchdown and followed with a 38-yard scoring pass to Alvis Whitted for a 55-7 lead. That's when the sprinklers came on, blasting the Dolphins huddle with cold water to pile on to an already humiliating day.

"It's tough to describe," said Dolphins center Tim Ruddy. "We made some blunders at the start and it went downhill from there."

The Jaguars led 41-7 at halftime, tying the postseason record for most points in a half.

Jacksonville held a 24-0 advantage after one quarter, leaving Johnson to spend most of the game with arms folded, staring blankly at the field, seemingly emotionless despite the humbling loss.

"I guess this thing is full-circle," Johnson said, sounding like a coach who has had enough. "I was on the other side of one of these where we got about seven takeaways from an opponent in the Super Bowl. It was a runaway, but I've never been on this side before."

The Dolphins committed seven turnovers. They closed the season losing seven of their last 10, fueling thoughts somebody has to go -- either the coach, the quarterback or both.

Marino is undecided about his future, but there's been widespread speculation he'll retire after he missed five games with a neck injury and finished with the worst quarterback rating (67.4) of his storied 17-year career.

Meanwhile, all Johnson has to show for his four seasons in Miami are two playoff victories, hardly memorable considering the way the Dolphins have exited the last two years: This loss comes on top of last year's 38-3 thumping at the hands of Denver last season that led Johnson to quit for a day.

Drop Kicks: Mark Brunell, who went 5-for-9 for 105 yards, said he didn't take any major hits to his injured left knee. ... Fred Taylor's 90-yard touchdown run was the longest in NFL history. It surpassed an 80-yard run by Roger Craig of the San Francisco 49ers in a 1988 playoff victory over Minnesota. ... Jaguars kicker Mike Hollis made a 45-yard field goal to extend his streak of successful field goals in the playoffs to 14. He followed with a miss from 39 yards. ... Jacksonville's 24-0 lead after one quarter matched the largest first-quarter playoff lead ever. San Diego led Miami by the same score in their 1981 playoff classic, a Chargers' 41-38 overtime win. ... Second-year receiver Alvis Whitted scored the first offensive touchdown of his career, a 38-yard touchdown pass from Jay Fiedler. ... James Stewart left with a sprained ankle after rushing 11 times for 62 yards and a touchdown. ... Fiedler fiinished 7-for-10 for 172 yards. ... Autry Denson and Stanley Pritchett led the Dolphins in rushing with 10 yards each.

[duvaldude08]

Jimmy Johnson done in Miami

Click here for more on this story
Posted: Saturday January 15, 2000 04:39 PM

    Winds of change: Following Saturday's debacle, both Jimmy Johnson and Dan Marino are expected to blow out of town. AP
NEW YORK (CNNSI.com) -- Even before Saturday's fiasco in Jacksonville, Jimmy Johnson and Dan Marino were just about done in Miami.

Sports Illustrated's Peter King has learned that Johnson told friends he plans to step down as Miami Dolphins' coach as soon as the season ends, and the season ended in inglorious fashion with the Dolphins' 62-7 playoff loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Dave Wannstedt would almost certainly be Johnson's replacement, King reports. And since Wannstedt and Dolphins' owner Wayne Huzienga share Johnson's feelings about Marino, the legendary quarterback is almost certainly through in Miami as well.

Marino, after his head clears from Saturday's disaster, may still want to play, and could wind up with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Even before Saturday, Johnson had simply had enough after a frustrating season full of distractions and constant talk about friction between him and Marino.

King also has learned that the Green Bay Packers really want Marty Schottenheimer. They would first have to work out a deal with the Kansas City Chiefs, since Schottenheimer is still under contract with them for two years.

[duvaldude08]

And the attendance for that game was 75,173 

[Keith-N-Jax]

Yeah but we need a smaller stadium right?

[Non-RedNeck Westsider]

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d5d82917d4c/article/jaguars-justin-blackmon-will-be-most-impactful-offensive-rookie

The proliferation of the passing game in the NFL has made it imperative to have a No. 1 receiver on the roster to compete with the elite teams in the league.

The lead receiver is now the second-most important offensive position in the game (behind quarterback). In many cases, the No. 1 wideout enhances an elite quarterback's ability to pick apart the league's top defenses, while also serving as the primary playmaker on offense. In other instances, the presence of a dynamic go-to target can mask a serious deficiency at quarterback and allow an offense to thrive despite questionable play from the signal-caller.


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In Jacksonville, the arrival of Justin Blackmon should ignite an offense that struggled mightily a season ago with a shaky Blaine Gabbert under center, putting the Jaguars in position to compete in the AFC South.

Some will certainly scoff at the notion of Blackmon making a major difference on the offense, due to the Jaguars' suspect quarterback play. But here are three reasons why the rookie playmaker will make the biggest impact of any offensive rookie in the league:

1) Blackmon is the quintessential No. 1 receiver.

The term "No. 1 receiver" has been loosely applied to productive receivers throughout the league, but the role requires more than putting up big numbers at the position. A true No. 1 serves as the anchor of the passing game and flashes the ability to dominate the game with his playmaking skills on the perimeter. From moving the chains on critical third-down receptions to providing big plays on vertical routes, a No. 1 receiver routinely sparks an offense.

In Blackmon, the Jaguars have landed the most dominant receiver in college football. He was an unstoppable force in the Big 12, compiling 252 receptions for 3,564 yards and 40 touchdowns in an illustrious career at Oklahoma State. Most of that production was compiled over the past two seasons, when opponents knew Blackmon was the Cowboys' top option, yet found few solutions for slowing him down on the perimeter.

I witnessed the difficulty of defending Blackmon when I watched Oklahoma State and Stanford duke it out at the Fiesta Bowl in January. Blackmon was unquestionably the best player on the field on that day, and deservedly walked away with the MVP award after finishing with eight receptions, 186 yards and three touchdowns. That's quite a feat, considering the outstanding performances of fellow first-round picks Andrew Luck and Brandon Weeden in that contest.

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When I evaluated Blackmon's college tape, I saw a routinely dominant playmaker with exceptional skills. At 6-foot-1, 215 pounds, Blackmon is a big, physical pass catcher with outstanding hands and ball skills. He excels at using his size and strength to create separation from defenders at the top of routes, and is at his best when working over the middle of the field. Blackmon is not a polished route runner, but routinely runs away from defenders on in-breaking routes like slants and square-ins. As a runner, Blackmon shows extraordinary strength and explosiveness with the ball in his hands. He blows through arm tackles and has a knack for turning short passes into big gains in the open field.

In looking at weaknesses in Blackmon's game, I would point to his lack of elite speed. He is not a world-class sprinter on the perimeter, so he will need to incorporate some deception (double moves and/or play-action fakes) to run past elite corners in the NFL on vertical routes. However, this is only a problem if the Jaguars miscast him as the designated deep threat in the passing game.

If Blackmon is placed in his customary role where he is able to run an assortment of short and intermediate routes over the middle of the field, there is no reason why he can't deliver the kind of performance in Jacksonville to remind those fans of the great Jimmy Smith in his heyday.

2) Blackmon has a superb teacher in Jerry Sullivan.

For all of the talent that Blackmon brings to the field, it will be his mentality that determines how quickly he becomes a dominant player in the NFL. Fortunately for him, he will learn the nuances of the game from one of the finest position coaches in the league.

Sullivan, a 19-year NFL coaching veteran, has a distinguished track record for developing young receivers. He has mentored the likes of Anthony Miller, Tony Martin, Herman Moore, Germane Crowell, David Boston and Anquan Boldin, while earning the reputation as one of the game's finest teachers.


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In watching Sullivan tutor receivers on the practice field in the past, it has been his attention to detail that stands out in my mind. From emphasizing the importance of running out of the break on comebacks to "stacking" defenders following an effective bump-and-run release, Sullivan points out the subtleties that allow receivers to consistently work open against tight coverage. In addition, he conveys the importance of depth and spacing against zone coverage.

Sullivan's presence will certainly accelerate Blackmon's development and help him thrive as the Jaguars' No. 1 receiver from Day 1. Blackmon wasn't the best route runner at Oklahoma State, but rather an explosive athlete with a keen understanding of how to use his physical tools to get open. Although those tactics were overwhelmingly successful against collegians, Blackmon will need more tools in his tool box to defeat the elite cornerbacks in the NFL. Sullivan will help him develop those skills, which could lead to big numbers from Blackmon in Year 1.

Sullivan's experience as an offensive coordinator will also help Blackmon make a significant impact on the Jaguars' offense. As the Arizona Cardinals' play caller in 2003, Sullivan directed an offense that featured Boldin prominently in the game plan, helping him finish third in the NFL in receptions (101) and receiving yards (1,377) on the way to being named the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year. While he won't play a major role in calling plays for the Jags on game day, his ability to suggest proper utilization of the Jaguars' new No. 1 wideout will prove invaluable.

3) The wide receivers are the primary playmakers in Mike Mularkey's system.

For all of the talk about Mularkey being a proponent of run-first football, his history as an offensive coordinator suggests that he loves to put the ball in the hands of his playmakers on the perimeter.

Mularkey once directed a Pittsburgh Steelers offense that featured a pair of 1,000-yard receivers in Plaxico Burress and Hines Ward in consecutive seasons with Kordell Stewart and Tommy Maddox at quarterback. He most recently worked his magic in Atlanta by orchestrating a Falcons offense that featured a 4,000-yard passer, a 1,000-yard rusher and three pass catchers with 50-plus receptions.

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Roddy White, the Falcons' No. 1 receiver, tallied 100-plus catches for the second straight season and surpassed the 1,000-yard mark for the fifth consecutive year. Most impressively, rookie Julio Jones led all rookies in touchdown receptions (, while ranking second and third in receptions (54) and receiving yards (959), respectively, in only 13 starts.

Mularkey will exploit Blackmon's strengths as a playmaker by routinely aligning him in spots where he can take advantage of his size and power against defenders on the perimeter. Mularkey will also feature short and deep crossing routes to get the ball to Blackmon on the move and capitalize on his explosive running skills. He utilized similar tactics in Atlanta to get White and Jones untracked in Atlanta.

Given Mularkey's track record for getting excellent production from his pass catchers, I believe Blackmon is primed for an outstanding rookie season in Jacksonville.

[KenFSU]

Yeah but we need a smaller stadium right?

Wayne Weaver referred to these 70,000+ crowds in the first few seasons as "artificial attendance."

He attributed these crowds to initial excitement over the new franchise, surging civic pride, and unsustainable consumer overreach.

At one point, Jacksonville was 4th in the league in ticket revenue

We should be incredibly proud of our attendance figures in the last two years, and I don't think it's completely fair to compare 2012 figures to 1997

[duvaldude08]

Yeah but we need a smaller stadium right?

Wayne Weaver referred to these 70,000+ crowds in the first few seasons as "artificial attendance."

He attributed these crowds to initial excitement over the new franchise, surging civic pride, and unsustainable consumer overreach.

At one point, Jacksonville was 4th in the league in ticket revenue

We should be incredibly proud of our attendance figures in the last two years, and I don't think it's completely fair to compare 2012 figures to 1997

Yeah I agree. But you know. If you look over the past 17 years, we our attendance has really not dropped drastically. If you go back to 2004, our attedance has been 62,000-69,000 the past 8 years. Thats actually not bad at all really. The 75,173 was the largest crowd we had, but of course that was a home playoff game also.

[KenFSU]

That's the supremely frustrating thing. The notion that Jacksonville does not support it's NFL franchise is just patently untrue. Our per capita attendance rate absolutely blows every other franchise out of the water with the exception of Buffalo. It's irritating that the national perception exists, but it's really depressing that people in Jacksonville have bought into it.

[duvaldude08]

That's the supremely frustrating thing. The notion that Jacksonville does not support it's NFL franchise is just patently untrue. Our per capita attendance rate absolutely blows every other franchise out of the water with the exception of Buffalo. It's irritating that the national perception exists, but it's really depressing that people in Jacksonville have bought into it.

I know Ken. IMO we have had the most sucess in 17 years out of any franchise in the NFL. Not many team can say they done what we have in 17 years. We have continously defied odds. Not to mention we have broken, set and tied several NFL records. And we will always be known as the best NFL expansion Franchise. Its said we cant "sell out" a game, but we continuously sell more tickets than markets 2 and 3 times bigger than we are. We have had our ups and downs just as any other franchise, but its odd that the city and some fans have bought into the garbage the media spews. We act like we have low self esteem.