Quote
Jaguars GM planning to build his team through the draft
Posted: February 6, 2013 - 10:18pm
By Vito Stellino
The Jaguars aren’t likely to be big players in free agency, are willing to listen to offers for the second pick in the draft, and plan to install the zone blocking scheme that Denver was noted for in the Mike Shanahan era.
Those are some of the decisions the new Jaguars brain trust has already made as it looks for ways to rebuild the team.
General manager Dave Caldwell said his philosophy is “slow and steady’’ and that means he will be cautious in free agency.
“We’ll be active but we’re not going to be overly active,’’ he said. “We’re not going to go after high-priced free agents. We’ll be ready if something we like presents itself, but we’re not going in to make a big splash.
“We’re going to be a draft-driven team. I anticipate building through the draft. That’s our vision … and supplement where we need to in terms of getting some depth through free agency.’’
As for it taking time to build through the draft, Caldwell said, “You’ve got to do it right if you want sustainability over a 10-12 year period.’’
Caldwell seems content to give quarterback Blaine Gabbert more time to establish himself.
“We’ve got the second-youngest quarterback in the NFL,’’ he said.
Of Gabbert’s struggles last season before he got hurt, Caldwell said, “That was his second year. What were they saying about other quarterbacks after their second year? We’re looking for improvement [in his third year]. We need to build around him. We’ll upgrade whenever we can upgrade.’’
Head coach Gus Bradley said he has visited with Gabbert and said, “He’s been very impressive so far in our conversations.’’
One of the big decisions ahead for the Jaguars is what to do with the No. 2 overall pick. They will study the top prospects at the NFL scouting combine later this month.
“There are going to be players that emerge as a legit number two candidate, and there will be more than one,’’ Caldwell said.
He’s also not ruling out trading the pick.
“There will be some trade partners that may want to come up, but you have to have a trade partner in order to trade down. So as we get closer to April, we’ll find out who’s going to be a viable trade partner and who are the players that we’re really keying in on,’’ he said.
They also have to decide which of their own free agents they want to keep, a process that will start at meetings on Thursday.
Among the Jaguars set to become free agents are LB Daryl Smith, DBs Derek Cox and Rashean Mathis, C Brad Meester, G Eben Britton, RB Rashad Jennings and DT Terrance Knighton.
When Caldwell was asked about running back Maurice Jones-Drew, who has one year left on his contract and is recovering from a broken foot, he said, “That’s going to be an evaluation process. He needs to get healthy first. He needs to get on the field and we’re going to need a full body of work to evaluate him.’’
Jones-Drew will be running behind a new blocking scheme this year.
Offensive coordinator Jedd Fisch plans to install the zone blocking scheme that was popularized by Alex Gibbs when he was the Denver offensive line coach under Shanahan. Fisch learned it when he worked for the Broncos for a year.
The scheme originally featured smaller, quicker linemen, but Fisch said bigger linemen can adjust to it and he believes the Jaguars’ personnel can make the transition to it.
It’s been somewhat controversial over the years because of the cut blocks and chop blocks, which are now illegal.
“The rules have made it harder to do it as often,’’ Fisch said. “They’re going to call more chop blocks. They’re going to call more penalties if you’re not a disciplined team doing it. If you’re doing it legally, then that’s fine. And you can’t practice it. That’s a big issue because you never want to do it to your own players.’’
Read more at Jacksonville.com:
http://jacksonville.com/sports/football/jaguars/2013-02-06/story/jaguars-gm-planning-build-his-team-through-draft#ixzz2KGEZ3fP1