Better Know the Jacksonville Jaguars: Ask Big Cat Country

by Jonathan Loesche on Aug 23, 2010 1:08 PM EDT

Hey Bucs fans

I'm John, one of the editors at SBN's Jaguar site, Big Cat Country. The Jags travel to Tampa to take part in that all important 3rd preseason game. It will be a good test to see how far each team has come, and what still needs to be done. It may only be preseason, but bloggers need to get ready too, right? If you have any questions, feel free to hit us up.

Content provided by a member of Bucs Nation and does not necessarily reflect the view or opinions of Bucs Nation.

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Comments

What are your thoughts on Mike Thomas?

by Yankees10 on Aug 23, 2010 1:30 PM EDT reply actions

Really coming into his own. He’ll be the #2 guy opposite MSW this year.

Big Cat Country, The #1 Jaguars blog on the net

by Jonathan Loesche on Aug 23, 2010 2:19 PM EDT up reply actions

How's McCown doing up there? Any threat to Garrard?

Will MSW repeat last year’s success? Any concerns over MJD handling the full load again?

As you can always expect come from behind victory is when you least expect it.

by Buc Wild on Aug 23, 2010 1:36 PM EDT reply actions

After having a very mediocre offseason (every QB did) McCown had the best preseason game any Jags QB ever had Week 1 vs Philly. He looked most pedestrian vs Miami, but still put up respectable numbers. If nothing else, he looks like a back up who won’t cause us to have to run 20 straight times to open up a game.

As for MSW, I think so. His biggest thing is to not be so feast or famine. He had plenty of games with 2 or less receptions last year.

As for MJD, he’ll be fine.

Big Cat Country, The #1 Jaguars blog on the net

by Jonathan Loesche on Aug 23, 2010 2:22 PM EDT up reply actions

Normally

the famine comes with the injuries. Many people didn’t know he was playing through a calf injury late in the year when his production dropped.

by Ewdtrey on Aug 23, 2010 8:50 PM EDT up reply actions

How awesome is MoJo?

And how terrible is Jack del Rio for passing 3 straight times instead of using him in a goal-line situation?
/frustrated fantasy owner

Also, how did the fanbase react to drafting Alualu, and how has he been so far?

by Sander on Aug 23, 2010 4:06 PM EDT reply actions

We love MJD

As how Jack use him: In the second part of the season last year; he was sometimes ineffective even when Jack used him in 3rd and 4th down. And with the arrival of (speedster) rookie RB Deji Karim; I think he will see less opportunies at 3rd downs.

ALualu is a fan favourite; now that we know what kind of player he is. He produced better stats in ciollege; then your 1st round pick McCoy. I will compare the 2 DTs performace throught this year to see if Tyson was a reach (as many saying to us and GM Gene Smith)

He had a little holdout; then after 1 week practice he injured his calf. He returned too practice last week; and played against the Dolphins last Saturday. His 1st play was a sack with other new Jaguars memeber Aaron Kampman. But he had a typical rookie 1st game after that- nothing special was seen from Tyson in the 2 and hald series he played.
If he can practice all week this week; this game will be a much better test for him.

Life without knowledge is death in disguise

Follow me on twitter @iktriad

by Zoltan from Budapest on Aug 23, 2010 4:24 PM EDT up reply actions

Don't forget

Rashad Jennings, who will probably be the first backup to MJD.

by Ewdtrey on Aug 23, 2010 8:52 PM EDT up reply actions

BTW

what goal line situation are you talking about?
I have no qualms with Del Rio about passing in the red zone. Defenses put 22 eyes on MJD. They go all out to stop him. In that case it’s usually better to use another weapon. In fact I would like to see us pass a little more often on 1st and goal.

by Ewdtrey on Aug 23, 2010 9:12 PM EDT up reply actions

49ers game

I misremembed, it was only 2 straight passes.
At 1st and 7 he ran the ball and got to the 4-yard line. Then went incomplete pass, timeout, incomplete pass, missed field goal. That was in the 4th quarter while down 17 so I didn’t get how he didn’t go for it on 4th down either.

Anyway, I don’t think there’s anything wrong with passing in short yardage situations, especially when the other team is trying to stop the running game so badly, but it’s not like your passing game was all that efficient last year.

by Sander on Aug 23, 2010 9:25 PM EDT up reply actions

Sorry, 3-yard line

by Sander on Aug 23, 2010 9:26 PM EDT up reply actions

How is the attendence and support going up in Jax? Any improvements to what it was?

I know I was very excited what Jacksonville got the team, it’s great for Florida and it’s not too far of a ride to drive up there when the Bucs play. I keep hearing that they are moving to LA, and I know I don’t want that to happen, I don’t feel they deserve any team honestly.

If an optimist had his left arm chewed off by an alligator, he might say in a pleasant and hopeful voice, "Well this isn't to bad, I don't have a left arm anymore but at least nobody will ever ask me if I'm left-handed or right-handed" but most of us would say something more along the lines of "Aaaaaa! My arm! My arm!" DANIEL HANDLER (as Lemony Snicket)

by bucnut1 on Aug 23, 2010 5:40 PM EDT reply actions

So far this year

is going very well. We are about 2000 tickets away to have a blackout free season. This year Teamteal – an organization who wants to keep the Jags in Jacksonville with Tony Boselli in charge did everything they could to advertise ticketsales.

The team tried every possible things to bring in new people to the stadium with 30/30 package and other benefits. The local business interests stepped up for the Jags this year. Everbank is a local bank on the rise who sponsoring the stadium for 5 years.

So I can say this: although the whale ids not 100% saved; but it’s moving tovard the sea.

Life without knowledge is death in disguise

Follow me on twitter @iktriad

by Zoltan from Budapest on Aug 23, 2010 5:54 PM EDT up reply actions

I really hope you guys stay in Jacksonville

I have a soft spot for the Jags.

by Sander on Aug 23, 2010 6:56 PM EDT up reply actions

Thanks

Life without knowledge is death in disguise

Follow me on twitter @iktriad

by Zoltan from Budapest on Aug 23, 2010 7:35 PM EDT up reply actions

Glad to see some people stepping up.

We’re gonna be facing blackouts for the first time since 1997-98, but 3-13 will do that around here.

by bucnut1 on Aug 23, 2010 9:38 PM EDT up reply actions

Posted one of these over at Big Cat Country

http://www.bigcatcountry.com/2010/8/23/1638299/ask-bucs-nation

Go over there and answer some of their questions if you like, guys.

by Sander on Aug 23, 2010 5:43 PM EDT reply actions

Thanks very; very much!

Life without knowledge is death in disguise

Follow me on twitter @iktriad

by Zoltan from Budapest on Aug 23, 2010 5:54 PM EDT up reply actions

Thank you, I didn't know this week's game-so i didn't know which site to go to.

So you can keep knocking but won't knock me down
No love lost, no love found

by 4QB on Aug 23, 2010 6:29 PM EDT up reply actions

What are the (very) early thoughts/returns on DT Alualu?

Cannons... fire them.

Bucs Nation - SBNation's home for discussion of all things regarding the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

by Craig T on Aug 23, 2010 6:01 PM EDT reply actions

In the first couple of minutes

the whole fanbase asked “Who?” and many of us was disapointed.
But the more we know about Tyson; the more we like like him.

Life without knowledge is death in disguise

Follow me on twitter @iktriad

by Zoltan from Budapest on Aug 23, 2010 6:18 PM EDT up reply actions

I remember a lot of pre-draft buzz about him...

and taking him was a good move. I think the stink is over taking him THAT early – probably a full round higher that most expected. If he plays well, no one will remember all of this talk, but if he doesn’t… ugh.

by Cracker Ball on Aug 23, 2010 7:02 PM EDT reply actions

We hope so

that will be the case about Tyson too.

Life without knowledge is death in disguise

Follow me on twitter @iktriad

by Zoltan from Budapest on Aug 23, 2010 7:35 PM EDT up reply actions

Now we're on the topic of the draft

There was a lot of buzz pre-draft about drafting Tebow because he’d bring in tickets. That seemed like a pretty bad idea to me, but whatever. How did the fanbase feel about the possible drafting of Tebow?

by Sander on Aug 23, 2010 7:51 PM EDT reply actions

Jaguar fans didn’t want Tebow, bandwagon Gator fans and several local media hacks did

Big Cat Country, The #1 Jaguars blog on the net

by Jonathan Loesche on Aug 23, 2010 8:35 PM EDT up reply actions

Went to UNF....there is a ton of Jag/Gator fans though.

I think the support for Tebow would have been overwhelming in Jax.

"I like to believe that my best hits border on felonious assault." ~ Jack Tatum

by MNeilson on Aug 23, 2010 8:43 PM EDT up reply actions

I also don't think you can deny that he would have added some serious competition at Quarterback.

"I like to believe that my best hits border on felonious assault." ~ Jack Tatum

by MNeilson on Aug 23, 2010 8:44 PM EDT up reply actions

He doesn't offer

any serious competition at the starting QB position, at least not in the immediate future. I think the recent 9 million dollar extension to Kyle Orton just cemented that thought in a lot of people’s heads.
He’s a similar player to McCown, so he could offer him some competition for sure.
As for the ticket sales…I don’t know that people would buy season tickets just to see Tebow sit on the bench.

by Ewdtrey on Aug 23, 2010 8:59 PM EDT up reply actions

Not sure Orton was anything more than a security blanket.

Obviously, the jury is still out on Tebow. I don’t think you can say with any accuracy that he is going to be a starter or not in this league. Also, Orton is far better than Garrard. It’s hard to compare Tebow’s situation in Denver where he has another high-profile backup and a fairly good starting quarterback to one in which he would have found himself in in Jax. Garrard’s time is limited, Orton’s is not.

Also, do I think Tebow would have sold out stadiums? Probably not. However I guarantee he would have sold A LOT more tickets than Alaula will.

"I like to believe that my best hits border on felonious assault." ~ Jack Tatum

by MNeilson on Aug 23, 2010 9:30 PM EDT up reply actions

Eh? Garrard's not really any worse than Orton

And Tebow’s not ready to be a QB now. He may be in two years, but he’s not now, and no analyst thinks he is. I don’t think even his coach thinks he is.

by Sander on Aug 23, 2010 9:36 PM EDT up reply actions

He's not any worse than Orton?

I never said Tebow is ready to be a starter. All I said is he would offer competition. If Mccown is offering it, I’m not sure how you can say Tebow wouldn’t?

Also, here is the general stat lines for both Orton and Garrard….without even getting into DVOA, DYAR which separates them quite a bit…

TD – O 21 G 15
INT – O 12 G 10
YPA – O 7 G 6.9
Comp. % O 62 G 60.9
Rating O 86 G 83

"I like to believe that my best hits border on felonious assault." ~ Jack Tatum

by MNeilson on Aug 23, 2010 9:47 PM EDT up reply actions

For there to be competition, Tebow would actually have to be competing with Garrard

If he isn’t ready to start, he isn’t competing is he?

Garrard’s pretty much about as good as Orton, but Orton was in a much better situation last year.

by Sander on Aug 23, 2010 9:52 PM EDT up reply actions

Leading up to the preseason

McCown was competing with Garrard.

Would you say McCown is a NFL Starter? Probably not.

"I like to believe that my best hits border on felonious assault." ~ Jack Tatum

by MNeilson on Aug 23, 2010 9:55 PM EDT up reply actions

McCown is a lot closer to being ready to start games in the NFL than Tebow

But the amount of competition there is being overplayed by the media in my opinion. Garrard has that job locked up.

by Sander on Aug 23, 2010 9:57 PM EDT up reply actions

I would disagree about McCown and Tebow....but it's all subjective.

"I like to believe that my best hits border on felonious assault." ~ Jack Tatum

by MNeilson on Aug 23, 2010 10:00 PM EDT up reply actions

At least at this point.

"I like to believe that my best hits border on felonious assault." ~ Jack Tatum

by MNeilson on Aug 23, 2010 10:00 PM EDT up reply actions

Some of the fans may think

that McCown is actually competing with Garrard, but he really isn’t. You’re trying to say there is a competition between them because Garrard went 5 of 10 with 2 dropped passes and a throw away in the first preseason game. Garrard has been outplaying him all of training camp.

by Ewdtrey on Aug 23, 2010 11:07 PM EDT up reply actions

Sure does sell a lot of jersey's.

by bucnut1 on Aug 23, 2010 9:41 PM EDT up reply actions

ya I don't get that

hey I am gonna go pick up a new $100 jersey think I’ll get the name of a QB who might not get to play a regular season game in the next 2 seasons on the back
???? I hope he busts now just so all these people have these jerseys and are like ‘well shit maybe I should have waited to see if the guy was any good’
I am still iffy about getting a Freeman Jersey( I am afraid to jinx him)

by ShiftyShayne on Aug 23, 2010 9:47 PM EDT up reply actions

The Jaguars hired TWO different marketing firms to put a number on the “Tebow Effect” for ticket sales. Both concluded the Jaguars would sell between 1,500 and 2,500 tickets because of Tebow.

They sold 5,000 within 2 weeks after the draft

Big Cat Country, The #1 Jaguars blog on the net

by Jonathan Loesche on Aug 23, 2010 10:48 PM EDT up reply actions

Also

The team split the season into two half packs, ticket wise

The one that doesn’t have the Denver game is outselling the one that does include the Denver game 3-1

Big Cat Country, The #1 Jaguars blog on the net

by Jonathan Loesche on Aug 23, 2010 8:36 PM EDT up reply actions

Incredibly misleading

when you consider the pack with the Broncos game includes the Browns, Raiders and Skins while the other pack includes games against division rivals Colts, Texans and Titans. One package is clearly better than the other and any football fan/Jags fan would recognize that.

"I like to believe that my best hits border on felonious assault." ~ Jack Tatum

by MNeilson on Aug 23, 2010 9:32 PM EDT up reply actions

If I'm going to watch Tebow I'm not buying 5 crap games to see one game.

I’m holding out hope I can get a single game ticket.

"I like to believe that my best hits border on felonious assault." ~ Jack Tatum

by MNeilson on Aug 23, 2010 9:34 PM EDT up reply actions

Yet the argument was that Tebow fans would flock to the Jaguars

But they’re not flocking there to watch Tebow play in Jacksonville. Football fans are doing the opposite and apparently outnumber the Tebow fans 3-1.

by Sander on Aug 23, 2010 9:37 PM EDT up reply actions

Gator fans will flock to watch Tebow, just like they did for the Redskins.

I’ll never forget the people wearing the mixture of gator blue and orange with redskin maroon and gold, very sickening.

by bucnut1 on Aug 23, 2010 9:43 PM EDT up reply actions

Left out Spurrier, lol, when he left UF to go to Washington.

by bucnut1 on Aug 23, 2010 9:44 PM EDT up reply actions

If your a Tebow fan you aren't going to buy tickets to 4 crappy games to see one player.

My point was that your holding out hope to get a single game ticket. I would bet anything that the game sells out with ease.

"I like to believe that my best hits border on felonious assault." ~ Jack Tatum

by MNeilson on Aug 23, 2010 9:48 PM EDT up reply actions

They're 2000 tickets away from sellouts for the entire season

Of course that game sells out.

You’re probably right that people aren’t going to buy season tickets just to ser Tebow. But you’d expect some people to, yet the impact is apparently negligible.

Would getting Tebow add some people in the stands? Probably. But I don’t know if it would be that ‘save the franchise’ significant.

by Sander on Aug 23, 2010 9:54 PM EDT up reply actions

Never said it would be.

All I was defending was the statement that Jaguar fans didn’t want him. To say that discounts all the Jaguar fans that are also Gator fans in the area.

"I like to believe that my best hits border on felonious assault." ~ Jack Tatum

by MNeilson on Aug 23, 2010 9:57 PM EDT up reply actions

Most rational Jaguar fans didn’t want to draft him because we knew he wasn’t a 1st round caliber QB. Those who did only wanted to do so because they thought he was the only way the franchise wouldn’t pack up for Southern California in a few years.
As I said before, most of the “Draft Tebow” movement was from Gator fans who had two inch thick Orange and Blue glasses. It also didn’t help the most prominent local sports radio channel in Jax is decidedly Pro-UF/Anti-Jaguar.

Big Cat Country, The #1 Jaguars blog on the net

by Jonathan Loesche on Aug 23, 2010 10:55 PM EDT up reply actions

Not all

Jag fans that are Florida fans wanted Tebow. In fact, A LOT of Florida fans didn’t want to draft him, especially before the 3rd round.

by Ewdtrey on Aug 23, 2010 11:14 PM EDT up reply actions

To Counter

Then why should the team to have expected all of these Gator fans to buy season tickets when Tim would’ve been doing the same thing he’ll be doing as a Bronco, holding a clipboard and coming in for a few short yardage situations?

Big Cat Country, The #1 Jaguars blog on the net

by Jonathan Loesche on Aug 23, 2010 10:56 PM EDT up reply actions

The price of the half pack

is about the same price for a single game in many stadiums. So even if you were to give away the 3 other tickets you’d be getting fair market value in many places.

by Ewdtrey on Aug 23, 2010 11:11 PM EDT up reply actions