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HOT TOPIC
Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio will be under the microscope this year, more so than any of his three previous years since replacing Tom Coughlin as head coach following the 2002 season.
Del Rio had his contract reworked at a significant increase, though only one additional year was added to his original five-year contract. Last year's 12-4 regular season record was impressive, albeit the club's schedule was ranked among the easiest in the NFL.
It won't be that soft in 2006. The Jaguars' schedule drops teams like woeful Arizona and San Francisco and replaces them with contenders Dallas, Miami and New England, not to mention the talent-loaded NFC East teams.
Coming out of the first part of the team's offseason voluntary workouts, Del Rio was upbeat about the status of the current club.
"This has probably been the smoothest offseason we've had," Del Rio said. "Each year we've been looking to address certain issues in the offseason and just continue to build this football team. I think the staff is getting closer to what I'd really like to have.
"The types of players that we have here are more in line with what I'd like to have here. So each year it's gotten a little bit better. With this being my fourth offseason here, I feel good about where the team is headed and the type of commitment they're giving the coaching staff and the players and coaches all pulling together to help us win."
Del Rio was an 11-year veteran in the NFL and was known for his aggressive, tough style of play as a linebacker. His success as an NFL coach is well documented, ranging from serving as linebacker coach for the Baltimore Ravens for three seasons including the Super Bowl championship team of 2000 to serving as defensive coordinator for the Carolina Panthers in 2002.
He has certain characteristics that he wants Jaguars players to possess.
"Size, speed and temperament is all what I'm looking for," he said. "We want those players who can be all-weather type of guys, not just play when it's beautiful, 70 degrees and sunny, but to be able to function when it's real hot, real cold, and when it's dry or muddy. We feel like we're building that type of football team, the kind that can go in and play tough in a tough environment."
PLAYER NOTES
--Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio thinks quarterback Byron Leftwich could be in line for a big year. Leftwich had a 3-1 ratio of touchdowns to interceptions through 11 games last year before suffering a fractured ankle against Arizona.
"This is a big year for Byron for proving his development and showing his potential," Del Rio said. "I remain a fan of his because I really like smart, tough players. I like guys that are intelligent, guys that tough. Obviously he has a very strong arm and when you that combination of smart and tough in this league, it usually finds a way to succeed at a high level. I'm banking on that."
--Jaguars veteran long-snapper Joe Zelenka said there was no resentment by Jaguars players towards Fred Taylor for skipping the team's voluntary "organized team activities". While the rest of the Jaguars took part in the team's organized team workouts, Taylor was a no-show, opting instead to work out on his own and with several other NFL players on the beaches of south Miami.
"When Fred showed up, the guys could see what great shape he was in, which told us that he had been working really hard on his own in Miami," Zelenka said. "As long as guys are taking care of themselves and getting ready for the coming season, no one will have a problem with Fred not being in these team voluntary workouts."
The Jaguars coaching staff gave the players this past week off, but the organized workouts will resume the following Monday. Taylor is not expected to join his teammates and probably won't return to Jacksonville until just prior to the start of the mandatory training camp in late July.
--Del Rio insists that too much attention is given to the schedule.
"It's the NFL and that means any team can beat anyone else on any given Sunday," he's proclaimed numerous times in the past. "I look at what happened in Houston last year where they didn't quite get it done, yet we played the same schedule as them. There was nothing easy about that schedule last year. I think it's hard to win in the NFL."
He won't have to defend playing a soft schedule this year. The Jaguars will take on five NFL teams (Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh, New England, New York Giants, Washington and Indianapolis twice) a total of six games, four of which will take place in Alltel Stadium.
"Looking at this year's schedule, it's even stronger than last year. It's probably as strong a schedule as you can face."
STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL
FRANCHISE PLAYER: None.
TRANSITION PLAYER: None.
UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS
--LB Greg Favors (not tendered June 1).
RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: None.
EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS FREE AGENTS: None.
PLAYERS RE-SIGNED
--CB Terry Cousin: UFA; terms unknown.
--LB Tony Gilbert: Potential RFA; terms unknown.
--QB Quinn Gray: ERFA; terms unknown.
--WR Cortez Hankton: RFA; $721,600/1 yr.
--TE Brian Jones: ERFA; terms unknown.
--OG Vince Manuwai: RFA; terms unknown, had been tendered at $721,600.
--DT Rob Meier: Potential UFA: 3 yrs, terms unknown.
--C Dennis Norman: Potential UFA; terms unknown.
--CB David Richardson: ERFA; terms unknown.
--C Brett Romberg: ERFA; terms unknown.
--RB LaBrandon Toefield: RFA; $721,600/1 yr.
--DE Marcellus Wiley: UFA; terms unknown.
--TE George Wrighster: RFA; $721,600/1 yr.
PLAYERS ACQUIRED
--WR Troy Edwards: UFA Lions; terms unknown.
--P Toby Gowin: FA; terms unknown.
--LB Nick Greisen: UFA Giants; 2 yrs, terms unknown.
--OT Wayne Hunter (waivers Seahawks).
--WR Randy Hymes: UFA Ravens; terms unknown.
--OT Stockar McDougle: UFA Dolphins; $1.065M/2 yrs, $100,000 SB/$100,000 WO; 2006 cap: $735,000.
--CB Brian Williams: UFA Vikings; $32M/6 yrs, $10M SB.
--OT Mike Williams: FA Bills; $5M/2 yrs, $2M SB.
--DT Tony Williams: FA; terms unknown.
PLAYERS LOST
--LB Akin Ayodele: UFA Cowboys; $17M/5 yrs, $5M SB.
--S Deke Cooper: UFA Dolphins; 1 yr, terms unknown.
--OT Mike Pearson: UFA Dolphins; 1 yr, terms unknown.
--OT Ephraim Salaam: UFA Texans; terms unknown.
--WR Jimmy Smith (retired).
--LB Tracy White: Not tendered as RFA/Packers; $555,720/1 yr, $25,000 SB.
--LB Jamie Winborn: UFA Buccaneers; $1.6M/2 yrs, $200,000 SB.
--CB Kenny Wright: UFA Redskins; terms unknown.
MEDICAL WATCH: No updates.
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