Jacksonville has been the team that has been the hardest to watch, yet they also have typically come up with ways to win. The Colts lost a game early to them in the 2010 campaign with an improbable field goal from Josh Scobee as time expired (ask Kelvin Hayden, Reggie Wayne, or Brodie Eldridge about their hands in that game). Jacksonville, like all the other teams in the south, have built their team around the running game in an effort to increase their time of possession which in effect will give Peyton Manning less time with the pigskin. Jacksonville has done very well with this endeavor. Though Arian Foster of Houston may be the future of NFL running backs having lead the league in rushing in 2010, Maurice Jones-Drew has been a dominant NFL back for multiple years now.
In addition to MJD, the Jaguars have David Garrard, their pedestrian quarterback, has put up decent numbers in years past, but nothing flashy. He has led Jacksonville to a good number of regular season wins, only to fade down the stretch and come up just short of the playoffs. Last season is a prime example. Jacksonville controlled their own destiny down the stretch coming into Indy, the Colts took a close one from them. After that loss both MJD and Garrard ended up on IR even while the team still had a chance barring some help from Indy's opponents.
We've talked a lot about the Jaguar's past. What about their future? I've already mentioned that I see Houston as the most legitimate threat, meaning I don't think Jacksonville bodes as much of a threat in the division. The main reason why is because Jacksonville might be entering the Blaine Gabbert era. Though Gabbert might prove to be a legitimate player, eventually, however he is a rookie and for the 2011 season, that bodes well for the Colts. If the answer is Garrard, I think the Colts win again. Though Garrard is an average quarterback who can pick up a few wins, the Jaguars were a few ball bounces away from being 0-2 vs Indy last year.
Don't expect much out of Jacksonville, a team with a below average defense, a poor passing game, and a great running back. What do you think?
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