Jags off to a Less-Than-Impressive Preseason Start in Preseason

I have to admit--in my first post here--that I am not actually a Jaguars' fan, though I may quickly become one. Truth be told, I am an obsessive Notre Dame and Chicago Cubs' fan (this is the year!). But having recently moved to Jacksonville, I have decided in the name of objectivity to write about the Jaguars.

Their first two preseason games, however, were anything but pretty, even the 20-17 opening win over Atlanta. Wayne Weaver, Jack Del Rio, David Garrard, and company could not have been pleased with the team's effort in their 19-14 loss to the Miami Dolphins and it didn't take a rocket scientist or brain surgeon to see that the fans were less than pleased with their team that finished 12-6 last year.

Ahh, yes, it is the preseason; no reason to worry, right? Maybe so, if the first and second offenses are moving the ball and the defense is getting stops and turnovers. But that hasn't really been the case. The first team offense got stuffed by a Miami team that won--count them--one game last year. The only points the Jags scored were orchestrated by third-string quarterback Todd Bauman. According to the Jaguars' official website, Fred Taylor said they were "out-physicalled" against the Dolphins. Never mind the grammar; his point was evident on the field.

Garrard, in the first year of not really having to earn his starting spot, is coming off a year in which he completed 64% of his passes, threw for eighteen touchdowns with only three interceptions. I remember the first pick he threw; it was week 13 in Indianapolis in a 28-25 loss. There aren't too many whose names aren't Brady or Manning who wouldn't be thrilled with Garrard's numbers from last year, and Fred Taylor averaging five-and-a-half yards a pop didn't hurt either. And yet and yet.

The city of bridges faithful will not be satisfied with a nine or ten win season and an early exit from the playoffs. After last year's eleven-point second round ousting from eventual Super Bowl Runner-Up New Englad, Jax fans areready for its team to take the next step--that is to say over teams like New England, Pittsburgh, Indianapolis, and San Diego, which have had more success in the postseason.

But nothing will be easy in the AFC South with the always-dominant Colts and an improving Texans' team. Never mind that the Colts' have lost two preseason games; they've been doing it without Manning, which won't be the case during their season opener against the Chicago Bears.

So will the first two games be a wake-up call for the Jags? Will Garrard's brilliance return? I guess we will see, starting this Saturday in Tampa.