Then came the news everyone had been anticipating for a few years. The Weaver family was going to sell the Jaguars to Shahid Khan, owner of automobile manufacture Flex-N-Gate Corp. The new owner vowed to turn the organization around and put Jacksonville "on the map".
First order of business was to hire and new head coach. In January 2012, former offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey was hired to fill that position. On January 13, it was announced that interim head coach Mel Tucker would remain on the staff as defensive coordinator/assistant head coach and that former Falcons quarterbacks coach Bob Bratkowski would become offensive coordinator. On January 20, 2012, hired John Bonamego, as special teams coordinator. They also hired running backs coach, Sylvester Croom, tight ends coach, Bobby Johnson, and wide receivers coach, Jerry Sullivan, to the coaching staff. All the new coaching staff were set in place. Now to construct a winning football team to improve last years record of 3-8.
Jaguars resigned upcoming unrestricted free agents. Amongst the top was DE Jeremy Mincey, CB Rashean Mathis (who was coming back from an ACL surgery) and DB Dwight Lowery. Jaguars also signed free agents WR Laurent Robinson, WR Lee Evans and CB Aaron Ross. Which these acquisitions filling spots desperately needed, all that was left was building the future through the draft.
Jacksonville had the 7th overall pick in the draft and were projected to with the top defensive end in the draft to fill the void that Aaron Kampman has had yet to fill, coming off his 2nd ACL injury in two years. The draft started strong with the first two picks being the top Quarterbacks Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III. Picks 3-10 were still unsure. Then the trades started coming in. Vikings traded the 3rd overall pick to the Cleveland Browns who selected RB Trent Richardson. Now the Vikings were on the clock and just gained additional picks from the Browns, but still got the player they wanted, OL Matt Kalil. Tampa Bay Bucs were on the clock. Within the first minute of their picking time, an annoucement came on. Tampa Bay trades picks with the Jacksonville Jaguars, who are now on the clock. Every Jacksonville fan knew what time it was. "With the 5th selection of the 2012 NFL Draft, the Jacksonville Jaguars select.....Justin Blackmon, wide reciever, Oklahoma State". It was a move that did not cost much for the Jags (a fourth and sixth round pick) and they got the player they REALLY wanted. In the second round the Jaguars selected the top projected defensive end, Andre Branch from Auburn. And in everyones surprise, with the third round pick that Jaguars selected the #1 punter in the draft, Bryan Anger from Cal.
It is now the beggining of May and camps are starting. With the expansion of a 90-man roster opposed to the 80-man roster from last year, the Jags are looking to fill their team with untamed talent to push the starters to their full potential. With the expanded roster, the Jaguars signed QB Jordan Palmer (brother of Bengals QB Carson Palmer) and former Vikings FB Naufai Tuhi; two veterans that can push the starters and lend them advice.
Its only a matter of time till we see what this new group of Jaguars can do. Will Blaine Gabbert have his break-out year with a full camp? Will Justin Blackmon be the next Jimmy Smith? And how about these new free agent pick-ups? Will Laurent Robinson produce like he did with the Cowboys? Will Lee Evans not be a disappointment and more of a Torry Holt in the case of tutoring the new wide-outs?
All the answers will be answered once the season starts in mid-September. Go Jaguars!