Defensive line
You couldn't write a better script for what happened with the Jags D-Line this off-season. Tony Brackens, the teams all-time sack leader, was cut, then re-signed then cut again. Very recently, Jacksonville let Hugh Douglas go, after overspending for him as a free agent in 2003. The team was expected to draft a DE with at least one of its first two draft picks, but they passed on Udeze and Will Smith, and did not take a DE until their final pick, when they selected Bobby McCray. Jorge Cordova was drafted as a LB, but was expected to be used significantly as a pass rusher. However, he will see no action after a knee injury placed him on injured reserve.
Despite all of this, the team is moving forward smoothly and feels it has capable guys to fill the losses. Paul Spicer is now going to get an opportunity to showcase his talent. He will be an every down end. The Jags will use a package of players to get after the quarterback on the other side. Draft pick Bobby McCray, second-year player Brandon Green, and veteran Lionel Barnes will all compete for a starting spot.
Defensive tackle could be the Jaguars strongest starting position, with Marcus Stroud and John Henderson. These two players form one of the best defensive-tackle tandems in the entire league. Stroud made his first Pro Bowl in 2003, and Henderson played just as well, and sometimes better at certain points in the season. Stroud and Henderson were the biggest factor in the Jags improvement to the second best run-stopping defense in the NFL. Depth is a serious problem, however. Rob Meier received a good amount of playing time last season, but is not much of a pass rusher. Fourth-round pick Anthony Maddox does not appear to have a shot at making the final 53-man roster.
The defensive line was clearly a position the Jaguars wanted to improve this off-season, and was supposed to be the No. 1 priority. Nothing was improved at all, though and the line now has more question marks than it did at the end of last season.
Linebackers
The linebacking corps is solid. Along with the running backs and offensive line, this is one of the Jaguars deepest positions. Two starters are set. Mike Peterson will be the starting middle linebacker. It took a lot of hard work and effort for Peterson to transform into a Mike back, after playing weak side his whole career. A former Gator, Peterson was happy to be back home, and was the Jags defensive MVP down the stretch, and the team finished the final half of the season 4-4.
Akin Ayodele will be starting at either weak side or strong side. Ayodele is one of the most underrated players in the NFL. Not many people know about him, but he is a rising star, and could become one of the best LB's in the NFL very soon. What position Akin starts depends on who starts opposite of him.
Daryl Smith is a guy who has made coaches and fans very excited. You could call him a steal in the draft, even as the 40th pick overall. He's strong enough to shut the gaps, and fast enough to cover. Greg Favors was brought in originally to play strong side, but it appears Smith has beat him out. Favors started for the Carolina defense that went to the Super Bowl last January. Tommy Hendricks was also signed this off-season, and surprisingly may have moved ahead of Favors as well. Hendricks was also brought in as a special-teams player, but has shown enough improvement to compete for a starting role. He will keep his special teams role as well, and can be used as a gunner, something the squad has plenty of.
