 |
| Al Messerschmidt / Getty Images |
| Jaguars head coach Jack Del Rio has a 51-48 career record over the course of his six seasons in Jacksonville. |
As part of NFL Network's 32 teams in 32 days series, airing daily on Total Access, NFL.com takes a look at a key question facing each NFL team.
NFL Network analyst Brian Baldinger and NFL Network host Paul Burmeister discuss the status of Jaguars head coach Jack Del Rio. After a 5-11 mark during an injury-plagued season in 2008, is Del Rio on the hot seat this season?
Read their takes and then enter the discussion below.
Baldinger: Jaguars have a shot Everything has changed lately in Jacksonville except Del Rio. The organization has changed coordinators, changed general managers, changed just about everything. The only constant is Del Rio.The Jaguars really can't afford another season like they had last year when they finished 5-11. The season before, they finished 11-5 and went to the playoffs before losing to New England in the second round, but everything was on track. But then they completely fell apart last season. It started early. When you lose all those offensive linemen early in the season like they did, it has a trickle-down effect for the rest of the team. David Garrard had little protection and no receivers to throw the ball to. I think the Jaguars have a chance to rebound this season and compete. If they go back and compete this year, I think Del Rio is fine. The Jaguars do have a shot at the playoffs -- they have talent. They have talent at running back and that offensive line can be very good if they stay healthy. They also added two young tackles in the first two rounds of the draft in Eugene Monroe and Eben Britton. The Jaguars do have a shot. But they have to be very, very disciplined about what they're doing. Del Rio seems to have problems with a lot of guys there. | Burmeister: All about progress Yes and no. No in terms of wins and losses and reaching the postseason. I don't think there's a certain number of wins the Jaguars need to hit, or a level of the playoffs they need to reach. A big YES, however, regarding progress made from last season.It wasn't just the losing record that stung Jacksonville last year, it was the negative turn the season took. There was just very little positive to it. It was like a dark cloud -- in the form of injuries and bad locker-room energy -- that found the Jags early on and followed them until the season ended. That's what has to be different about this season. There needs to be evidence of a changed environment. Wins are the obvious way to measure that, but I think the evaluation of Del Rio will go beyond wins and losses. It will include improvement made from the start of the season to the end. It will include the team emanating a positive feeling. It will include the excitement created in the community, some of which was lost last season. I think they're on the right track. There's a very good synergy between Del Rio and new GM Gene Smith. They put together what looks to be an excellent draft class and they eliminated the locker room "problems" from a year ago. I also believe the coaching staff will be better, too. The offensive staff remained intact, and I like that continuity. Defensively, Del Rio and new coordinator Mel Tucker have much more in common philosophically than he and Gregg Williams did. |
View all comments >>