The Jaguars finished a disappointing 5-11 in 2008, cleaned out a bunch of players in the offseason, and entered 2009 hoping to see the light at the end of the tunnel.Instead, the situation in Jacksonville looks as dim as ever.
The Jaguars opened the season with a Week 1 loss at Indianapolis, then got smoked in their home opener on Sunday -- in front of an announced crowd of less than 47,000. Things only got worse on Monday, with the announcement that veteran wide receiver Troy Williamson is likely out for the season with a shoulder injury.
"I was sick," receiver Mike Sims-Walker said of learning about Williamson's situation. "I didn't wake up prepared for that. ... That's a bad loss for us."
And just to make sure Monday was totally miserable in Jacksonville, the Jags also cut a pair of players.
One was wide receiver Nate Hughes, who dropped a fourth-down pass in the end zone with Jacksonville trailing Arizona by 14. Tight end Greg Estandia, who committed a costly illegal motion penalty Sunday, was the other player handed a pink slip.
It's hard to imagine the situation getting much worse for Jacksonville -- which is almost certain to go without selling out a game this entire season -- but the schedule might pile it on. Jacksonville heads to Houston in Week 3, hosts Tennessee in Week 4, and travels to Seattle in Week 5 before welcoming in the Rams for what could be one of the most poorly-attended NFL games in recent history.
As it often does, the blame for this complete meltdown -- remember, Jacksonville finished 11-5 in 2007 and won a playoff game at Pittsburgh -- will almost certainly land on the head coach, in this case Jack Del Rio. The axe could fall sooner rather than later, too. It's one thing to be a losing team. But to be a losing team that's not generating any fan interest is the kiss of death.Heck, even the Lions sold out their home opener, a game that marked their 19th-straight loss.
There's really no way around a major rebuilding project at this point for the Jaguars. There are some pieces here and there, most notably stud running back Maurice Jones-Drew. But the AFC South is quickly turning into a beast -- Indianapolis is 2-0 with Peyton Manning at QB, the Texans still have the look of a sleeper, and Tennessee is the best 0-2 team you're going to find. Quite simply, the Jaguars just don't have the talent to stack up against any of those teams.
Worse yet, their fans appear to realize what a lost cause this looks like. When there's ineptitude on the field and apathy off it, you can bet significant changes aren't far behind.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
9-22-2009 @ 4:18PM
Michael Carpenter said...
have seen empty stadiums in many markets over the years when their teams were losing every week! Panthers, Miami, Saints, Chargers, and so on. The fact is the Jaguars have not played consistently well since 1999, winning a big game then losing the next week to a struggling team, making the playoffs a couple of times only to be man handled by better build teams. No star power except MJD and Fred Taylor who is gone now along with the fact when they do bring in big names fans are afraid to buy a jersey because they will be gone the following year. Jacksonville is a great market for a NFL team but since 1999 every year it seems to be a rebuilding year, releasing star players firing the coaching staff with the exception of last year where expectations were high and we know the results of last season. The only markets that would support such a mess would be teams with great traditions like the Cowboys or Steelers where those teams have been so deeply rooted over the generations. Bring someone like a Tebow which would get the city excited and bring national attention but as of right now there may only be two three players that anyone knows about outside of Jacksonville and part of that is because of the turn over of the players and how can anyone expect to develop young players when every year the head coach is firing his staff. Jacksonille has the fans they just need the Jaguar front office to put something they can support on the field because promoting change and new hope every year is getting old.
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9-22-2009 @ 4:19PM
Geezer said...
Honestly, Week 2 just wrapped up. Isn't it a tad early for the eulogies to begin?
I don't see them beating Houston, but I do see them grinding out a win against a cringeworthy Tennessee team and steamrolling over the underachieving Seahawks and Rams. That would put them at a respectable 3-3, a far way away from "major rebuilding."
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9-22-2009 @ 5:27PM
Ernie said...
Empty stadium?? Whats that??? I live in the NY area and NEVER saw the stadium half empty, except
for pre-season games. The Giants pack them in even
during the bad seasons. The Jets also do quite well. Anyway,good luck to all you Jag fans keep
your chins up.
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9-22-2009 @ 10:22PM
anthonymonroe78 said...
The team should consider moving to San Antonio. If the fans don't want to support football in Jacksonville, you have to move to a city that will support your team. It wouldn't hurt either if you got some personnel in the front office and on the field that want to win.
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9-27-2009 @ 6:54PM
ric said...
san antonio????? now that's funny. san antonio is an even smaller market than jacksonville. as inconsistant as the jags have been the last few years do you really think that they would continue to support them after the novelty of having an nfl team wore off? what the jags need is a new OWNER or at least one that will stop making incredibly stupid trades
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9-28-2009 @ 7:49AM
eyegetit1 said...
The Jags played a good team Sunday (Texans) and won! Take that all you defeatists. The people in Jacksonville better get off the beach and support this team or they will be gone and the area will never see a NFL team in the area again. The team lost two pre-season games by a couple of points, lost the opener by 4 and now the fans are throwing them under the bus. Fair weather fans make me sick. Having the Jags in Jacksonville has been the best thing that has hit the area since the Navy base. I sat in Tampa the first two years the Bucs were there with no wins and the seats were still filled to capacity. Where is your loyalty Jacksonville? This is a good team, support them or lose them! Just think, next year Jacksonville native Tim Tebow will be in town!
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