After mulling over the Jerry Porter injury, it's clear that its a concern.  However, if you consider what David Garrard and the 2007 Jaguars accomplished, it's certainly not a reason to panic.

If we were to assume the worst, that being a Jerry Porter that never plays in 2008 at full strength, the Jaguars would still have improved their receiving corps with the addition of Troy Williamson and the (theoretical) emerging of Mike Walker.  If Dennis Northcutt, Reggie Williams, Ernest Wilford and Matt Jones can take the Jaguars to the playoffs, it's a foregone conclusion that Northcutt, Williams, Williamson, Walker, and (maybe) Jones can do better than 2007.

Just think about it.  It's painful to know that our next great hope to replace Jimmy Smith is hurt and will not appear until the regular season, but the improvements on offense are still there.  It's another year under Koetter's system, another year for Garrard to improve, another year of Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew, and another year for Williams, Northcutt, Walker, and whomever else to get better.

The gut reaction is to freak out.  But I can't help but look at the facts and not be overwhelmingly worried.  Losing Porter for any length of time is a concern, as it means that the team will have to execute their ground game to perfection, just like usual.  The margin of error is a little tighter, but there's still no reason to expect anything less out of the Jaguars.

So relax, take a deep breath, and enjoy the next few weeks.  Watch the wide receivers extra close in camp, but whatever you do, don't panic.

-Chris

[Note by River City Rage, 07/18/08 10:11 PM EDT ]UPDATE: Jerry Porter underwent a surgical procedure to repair his hamstring.  Jaguars.com, to it's credit, has a very in-depth story on what happened.  Clearly, this is now a "thing", and we'll monitor it closely.  Now, do your homework this weekend and figure out the recovery rate of this injury.

John Clayton of ESPN is reporting that Jaguars Wide Receiver Jerry Porter will likely miss part of training camp due to a lingering hamstring injury from training camp.  You'll recall that Jerry "came up lame" during a drill during OTA's that caused him to have limited participation in minicamp, this indicates that the injury is a bigger problem than we realized.

From Clayton:

Porter hurt the hamstring toward the end of an offseason practice in May, according to the Florida Times-Union. According to two sources, he will not be ready for the start of camp next Friday. Porter is expected to recover in time for the start of the regular season.

Porter's absence from training camp will be a setback to the offense. The Jaguars gave Porter a six-year, $30.4 million contract with the hopes of using him as a No. 1 receiver. Porter told reporters this spring he wasn't going to rush back from the injury because hamstring problems tend to linger.

The Jaguars have the depth to carry then through until Porter is healthy. Troy Williamson, acquired from the Vikings in an offseason trade, has impressed coaches with his speed and pass-catching ability. Reggie Williams is the starter on the other side. Dennis Northcutt can work the slot.

He's exactly right, the Jaguars have the depth.  If anything, Porter is the "known quantity" of the Jaguars wide receivers, and his absence from practice means that Williamson, Walker, and long-shot guys like D'Juan Woods, Jeron Harvey, and Clyde Edwards get a few more chances to prove their value. 

While establishing a relationship with a new quarterback is important, Porter is a professional veteran receiver, so I trust that he's able to study and understand the offense without too much trouble.  While not having him on the field with Garrard and the other receivers is troubling, it's still over a month until the regular season, and there's plenty of time to get him going in the latter weeks of August.

As far as injuries go, the Jaguars are relatively unscathed, with Porter being the most notable.  

As an interesting twist, the absence of Porter might lead the Jaguars to contradict my previously reported rumor of an imminent Matt Jones release because of a need for another warm body at receiver.  If there were to be some sort of amazing Matt Jones reclamation project, the fates would be smiling on Jones right now, because there's a slight opening for his services during camp.

It would be an awful experience for Jones, considering the intimacy of the fans to the practices, but his last best shot is through hard work. 

As usual, we'll be watching this closely.  It's not like Porter is undergoing major knee surgery or anything, so it's hopefully a minor thing.  The upside of this is that some of the deeper receivers will get a better look by the coaches, which is never a bad thing.

-Chris

Rumor:

There's a  rumor flying around that Matt Jones is in Jacksonville today and meeting with the Jaguars.

There's also the classic public relations news of dropping "bad" stories late in the afternoon on Fridays, when the cycle is shut down for the weekend. If Matt Jones is in Jacksonville, and IF the Jaguars are going to cut him, late afternoon on Friday is a good time to do it.  This happens all the time in politics, typically in the form of a news dump at 4:50 on Fridays in Washington.  By the time Monday comes around the perception is that the story is old news and gets passed over.

I've not found any hard confirmation that Matt is in the building, but there's enough smoke here to suspect some sort of fire.  As soon as I do, I'll update this accordingly.

Speculation:

There's no way the Jaguars open training camp on Friday with Matt Jones on the roster.  The intimacy of players and fans, as well as the distaste toward Jones by his teammates because of perceptions of being lazy would turn camp into a circus.  Because he's a bubble player anyhow, the Jaguars should let the players who want to be there compete and cut the dead-weight that is Matt Jones.

More to come as it comes!

-Chris

[Note by River City Rage, 07/18/08 12:28 PM EDT ] Edited to reflect that the Jaguars did not sweep the Texans last year, I had forgotten that the week 17 game when the Jaguars rested all their starters that the Texans pulled out the win.

DeMeco Ryans: If he's smiling, the Jaguars are hurting

The Houston Texans: Things we already knew.

There is no surprise to the Houston Texans if you're a Jaguars fan.  We know that they're building a defensive core that will rival the best in the league.  We know that the best wide receiver in the AFC South is not in Indianapolis, it's in Houston.  Of the 31 teams in the NFL, the Jacksonville Jaguars were the first hubris-ridden giant to fall to the Texans tenacity.  When we sit down and look at the calendar, it's the Texans that serve as a benchmark for the Jaguars season, not the Colts.  Sure, winning the division means running rampant over Peyton Manning and company, but to win the division means beating the teams you're supposed to beat, and the Texans have proved time and time again that they won't lay down for the Jaguars.

Face it, proving that the Jaguars are the cream of the AFC South crop means not falling for the yearly trap of the Texans.  Just as the team needs to remove the "yeah, but" about not beating the big teams, not dropping a game to the Texans is just as critical.  For the Houston Texans partisans who are inevitably reading this, I'm being complimentary toward your team.

This is a group that's done nothing but scare me every time we face them, and that's coming off a year where they were NEARLY swept by the Jaguars.  (The Jaguars were already locked in the playoffs)  Quite simply, everything goes out the window, everything that we know about Jacksonville is put to the fundamental test on Sundays in Houston.  Imagine the devastation to the Jaguars season if they offset an early season win against Indianapolis and Tennessee by dropping an "expected win" to the Texans.  These are the things that keep me up at night.

Better Know a Rival: The Houston Texans

Nobody knows a team better than a partisan.  Thankfully, my friends at Battle Red Blog were happy enough to entertain my questions and give very honest answers.  This is not the hyper-optimism you'd expect from a scrappy up-and-coming team, this is good stuff.  As usual, my questions are in BOLD.

Walk us through the Texans offseason. What's the biggest change coming off of last season? What is the most overrated move/underrated move. What issues still need addressing? Anything you would have done different?

You can't talk about the offseason without mentioning the draft. While a lot of "experts" thought that Duane Brown was a reach, he was immediately plugged into the starting lineup and has been going against Mario Williams in minicamp and OTAs. If he can learn to deal with the monster that is Mario, then I think he'll adjust well to the rest of the league.

Also from the draft we picked up several key pieces that have been garnering praise from the coaching staff. Antwaun Molden is said to be further ahead than Fred Bennett was at this point last year. Adibi and Slaton have also shown flashes of the athleticism that made them NFL worthy. Even the last two picks (Barber/Brink) have been tendered contracts.

Most underrated move would have to the Chris Myers signing. It goes hand in hand with bring Alex Gibbs aboard. He knows the intricacies of both the guard and center position within the ZBS, having started at both for Denver. As our new starting center, he already knows the calls and is being sort of on the field coach while the rest of the guys get up to speed. Second to the Chris Myers signing would have to be hiring of Ray Rhodes. He's serving in more of an advisory capacity, but he's been able to rework defenses time and again. Look to him to change up some of the coverage schemes to best suit the young secondary.

With that said, the secondary has to be one of the biggest question marks on the team. If Reeves turns out to the be CB that Dallas was glad to get rid of, then we're in serious trouble. If he adapts well to Rhode's tutalege, then we could have the makings of a solid secondary. Only time will tell.

Alex Gibbs brings with him a pretty solid reputation for helping to produce big running games and solid offensive lines, that and cut blocking. Will Gibbs find the missing piece in the Texans running game?

Alex Gibbs may - Chris Brown and Steve Slaton were extremely successful running in schemes that were made famous by Alex Gibbs. Ahman Green (if he has anything left) is slated to be the starter, but I see him being pushed by both of those guys. Reportedly, Chris Taylor looks to be a good fit for the new running scheme... as with Green and Brown, health will be an issue.

Suffice to say that high hopes abound with Alex Gibbs running the show.

I am an admirer of the Texans defense, especially the trio of Mario, DeMeco and Amobi. What are your expectations of these three, and perhaps more importantly, who aren't people talking about that is a playmaker on defense? How about the secondary?

Expectations are for unequivocal improvements. Amobi, a year older, wiser, and stronger should be able to power through the wall he hit his rookie season. Mario has proven to the the force he was brought here to be. He'll be seeing his fair share of double and triple teams... which should open up blitzing lanes for one of the speedy linebackers we picked up in the offseason (Adibi/Thompson) and allow for better pressure from the rest of Mario's linemates. Colvin could also find success playing opposite Mario.

 How will the Texans do in the ultra-competitive AFC South? Is this the year when the Texans find a wild-card spot? What is your best case and worst case season?

The Texans were outright dismal in the division last year. Five of our eight losses came in the division. If we pull out those two games against Tennessee last year, we would have been in the playoffs instead of the Titans. We were that close. I think the team has improved but our strength of schedule is going to be rough... A winning record in our division should equate to a playoff berth. Worst case is we slide back to 7-9, best case is that we split in the division 3-3 and we finish strong en route to the playoffs with a 10-6 record.

 What weaknesses do the Texans have that keep you up at night?

Injuries. That's about a bad of a weakness as you can have. Our guys have led the league with 17 players on IR each of last two years. Injuries on the o-line, at starting QB, starting RB, starting WR, starting CB, starting LT, starting C... the list goes on and on. A healthy season is imperative.

Thanks!  You can read more about the Texans at the fantastic Battle Red Blog. 

Expectations:

The Texans have something to play for this year.  Last year was their best season since their inception and there's enough unpredictability in the NFL to see the Texans surprise a few people.  Unfortunately, the Texans have two definite playoff teams in the Jaguars and Colts ahead of them, as well as the unstable but good enough for a wild card Titans on the docket.  

What I'd like to see out of the Texans is for them to surprise the Titans or Colts, actually, especially the Colts the way they surprised the Jaguars over the last few years.  When the enemy of your enemy is your friend, a "surprise" win over the Colts would do the Jaguars a fantastic service.  So, despite the pain, the Texans are a team to watch out for.  Their defense is scary, Andre Johnson is fantastic, and Alex Gibbs will punish defensive linemen.

Give them their due, but I fully expect the Jaguars to sweep the series.  Come on, what do you expect?  If the Jagaurs lose to the Texans early on, we'll know full and well that thinking about a Super Bowl is horribly premature.  More so than the early Colts game, the week 4 matchup against the Texans is a barometer for the Jaguars season.  An easy win is a good sign, a struggle to put them away will raise an eyebrow, and an outright loss changes everything.

When we consider the season, it's tempting to focus on Indianapolis, but don't forget the lesson of years past, never, ever, ever let your guard down with Houston.

-Chris

While this is fairly flagrantly borrowed from Gonzo at the Daily Norseman, I think we'll find it useful.  This is the Jaguars preseason schedule, with the scheduled re-broadcasts on the NFL Network.  I've got a sneaking suspicion that I'll be watching the first three games on the second go-around, though +5 bonus points to anyone who's willing to burn and overnight me a DVD so I can chart playing time and substitutions.

Pre-Season Game 1:  Atlanta Falcons vs. Jacksonville Jaguars

Actual Game Date and Time:  Saturday, 9 August, 7:30 PM,
NFL Network Re-Broadcasts:  Sunday, 10 August, 10:00 AM; Tuesday, 13 August, 7:00 AM

Pre-Season Game 2:  Miami Dolphins vs. Jacksonville Jaguars

Actual Game Date and Time:  Saturday, 16 August, 7:30 PM
NFL Network Re-Broadcasts:  Monday, 18 August, 1:00 PM; Thursday, 20 August, 9:00 AM

Pre-Season Game 3:  Jacksonville Jaguars AT Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Actual Game Date and Time:  Saturday, 23 August, 7:30 PM
NFL Network Re-Broadcast: Tuesday, 26 August, 9 AM (Only one re-air, bastards)

Pre-Season Game 4:  Jacksonville Jaguars AT Washington Redskins

Actual Game Date and Time:  Thursday, 28 August, 7:00 PM
NFL Network Re-Broadcasts: None, probably because this is a national game.  Thank you NBC!

It's preseason, but at least it's football.  I'll admit that I'm a nerd who actually enjoys watching them because of the position battles and the speculation as to who's playing for a roster spot.

-Chris

With training camp just around the corner (July 26th), Big Cat Country is taking a look at the progress made by the Jaguars to address their biggest offseason questions.  Today's episode revolves around the addressing the pass rush. 

Where to Begin: (not) Under Pressure

When the Jacksonville Jaguars left the playoffs after a painfully disappointing and embittering loss to New England, the offseason needs wrote themselves.  The Jaguars had just participated in the Tom Brady passing school, where an ineffective pass rush had allowed Brady to complete 26 of 28 passes, a number that would haunt the Jaguars defense. 

The front four of the Jaguars struggled during the 2007 season to bring effective and consistant pressure against opposing quarterbacks.  For the Jaguars, this led to a multitude of problems, from allowing opponents to come back into games to forcing the secondary to cover receivers for so long that finding the open man was only a matter of time.  While many football pundits looked at the Jaguars secondary as the biggest weakness, based off of the passing numbers, the problem seemed to start in the trenches.  Not pressuring the quarterback allows for more passes and more successful plays.  Even the best quarterbacks in the league, Peyton Manning and Tom Brady have shown that relentless pressure can bring them down to earth, no pun intended.

Of the 37 team sacks during the season, 10 of them came against the Steelers, Raiders and Texans in the last part of the season.  These are significant because the 5 against Pittsburgh came across a very damaged offensive line, Oakland and Houston were in essence meaningless games.  When the Jaguars faced critical games against Tennessee and Indianapolis, the sacks and pressure were far fewer.  The Jaguars only sacked Manning four times in two meetings, Vince Young had it harder, falling to the turf 8 times, though his scrambling style makes him an easier target, if that makes sense.  (Seriously, with Young's tendency to read and run, the Jaguars defense "sacked" him more often because he'd often find himself behind the line of scrimmage with nowhere to run.  Manning throws the ball away and prevents the sack, or in many cases, find's the open receiver)

All was not bad in the Jaguars pressure though, Football Outsiders rated the Jaguars 10th in pass rush, using their metric that factors in down, distance, and opponent.  This is ahead of teams like Indianapolis and Houston who might have had better rushers, but got the sacks in situations that were unimportant.  An example of an "uninmportant sack" is when the Colts have a significant lead and they get to the quarterback on third and impossible. 

Addressing the Problem: Free Agency or Draft:

Bobby McCray, a powerful but inconsistent defensive end finished the 2007 campaign with merely three sacks, not nearly enough to earn him the contract he wanted from the Jaguars.  Marcus Stroud, while not a pass-rusher, was dealt to the Buffalo Bills for a draft pick, changing the defining makeup of the defensive line.

The Jaguars hit free agency hard, grabbing two receivers and a cornerback right out of the gates.  Most, including myself, expected the team to look at the talent available, whether it be trading for Jared Allen, Jason Taylor, and Terrell Suggs, or acquiring Justin Smith or Antwan Odom from the free agency market.  Yet as free agency developed, the Jaguars were out of the mix for all of these guys.  There was certainly speculation that they'd make a big move or draft pick trade to get a top tier end, but once the money was spent and the draft approached, there was nobody left that was worth spending or trading to pick up.

With the late selection in the First Round, the Jaguars were looking at getting a 2nd tier defensive end, should one be remaining on their board in the first round.  Getting the instant help they needed would require an aggressive move.  When the Atlanta Falcons signed Matt Ryan, Baltimore became a likely trade partner as they targeted Joe Flacco, and the Jaguars had their chance.  It cost them two third round picks and a fourth to make the move, but they moved from 26th to 8th overall, and selected Derrick Harvey, a nasty pass-rusher, the third best in the draft.

The second round saw another trade, this time for Quentin Groves, a player considered by many to be a first round talent that fell into the middle second.  This move was particularly shrewd, as the Jaguars jumped in front of the Tennessee Titans, who were likely to have selected Groves.

Problem Solved?

To determine if the Jaguars addressed this issue enough, FSBlueApocalypse and I will look at the best-case and worst-case scenarios.  These are, as best we figure, the ends of the ranges as far as possible results go.  The actual results will be somewhere in the middle, though hopefully toward the "best case". 

Best Case:By FSBlueApocalypse

Quentin Groves and Derrick Harvey represent the shining hope for this years team. They are for all practical purposes our draft class this year, and with any hope will be adding to Peyton Manning’s knee problems in Week 3. Groves and Harvey have the potential to add 20 sacks for our defense this year. Will they get there, maybe, maybe not. But it adds the extra fear into offensive lineman we go against. 

Derrick Harvey comes out of Florida as a top prospect. Though some accuse him of taking plays off, when I see highlights of him putting the top pick of this years draft, Jake Long, on his ass I have hope. Harvey won’t have the tremendous expectations of a Matt Ryan or Darren McFadden on him which should help.

Quentin Groves comes out of Auburn as one of their best defensive players ever. He helped lead an upset of over UF last year and one of the most feared players in the SEC. While the general opinion was that he is a tweener, he fits nicely in the new system. He will basically be a guided missile towards Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, Vince Young, etc. Simply put, if he does his job, he’ll replace MJD as the best 2nd round pick in Jaguars history.

Another gargantuan question is can Rob Meier replace Marcus Stroud? I mean, Meier has been the premier back up DT in the league for awhile now, but can we count on him for those critical 3rd and 4th down stops that need to be made. While Stroud has not been his usual self with injuries, I would say Stroud at 90% is better than 90% of the starting DT in the league at the moment. Rob Meier has a history of being a dependable back up but what will happen if he doesn’t pull through for the entire season?

Worst Case:

To bring things down a bit, imagine if Reggie Hayward fails to improve in his second season after Achilies surgery, leaving the Jaguars with an opening day starter with one leg, despite all the energy and strength he brings to the field.  Combine that with the rookie duo suffering from a slow learning curve and the 33 year-old Paul Spicer acting his age and the Jaguars quickly find themselves in the same position in 2008 as they did in 2007. 

Rookie defensive ends, particularly ones that specialize in pass-rushing, have less to learn as they transition to the NFL.  Top rated ones, such as Derrick Harvey, can have immediate impact, a la Freeney, because their job is at its core, a one-on-one battle to get around an offensive linemen and pursue the quarterback.  This battle is more physical than mental, and allow younger players to have an impact without needing a season or two of study to emerge.

That said, the Jaguars face some fantastic offensive lines, and expecting Harvey and Groves to get to Manning, Brady, Young, and others right at the start is unreasonable.  If they struggle with size and speed, they may not be the instant answer the team needs to rachet up the pressure.  If the rookies struggle and the combination of Spicer and Hayward fail to improve, the Jaguars will see no change in the pass rush, and the Mike Smith "rush four, everyone else cover" defense will come back.

Gregg Williams may be an attack style coordinator, but he's not going to bring the heat if his players can't get there.  Should the defensive ends prove ineffective, a cover 2 underneath defense becomes the status quo, the secondary covers for longer, and we start to focus on the addition of Drayton Florence as the "difference maker" on defense.

This "worst case" is hopefully unlikely.  Hayward is very competitive, and will be fighting for his career during training camp, if he's got anything left in his weak leg, he'll show it on the field.  Spicer is now well compensated and should perform accordingly, otherwise the Jaguars wouldn't have been so free with the dollars.  Harvey and Groves have a hard job ahead of them, but one within their skill range.

Without being to pessimistic, the Jaguars Pass-Rush must be considered in terms of the "worst case".  Expecting too much out of any of the ends is dangerous, especially for the rookies.  If Harvey and Groves combine for 12 sacks and contribute to a few hurries, they've had a good season.

There you go, we debate, you decide.

-Chris

  
Quick Bytes: The daily digest of everything you need to know about the Jacksonville Jaguars (and other things).

: Cornerback Scott Starks is working with the Clara White Mission to "strike out" homelessness at the Stars and Strikes Celebrity Charity Bowling on Saturday, July 19th.  The event is at the Jax Lane Bowling Center, and will have Rashean Mathis, Maurice Williams, Reggie Nelson, and Gerald Sensabaugh as well as "many more".  More information about the event can be found here.  Kudos to the Jaguars for participating and showing the good side of the team!

:Your humble narrator, me, did an interview with the Pigskin Podcast.  If you think I've got a face for radio, do yourself a favor and give it a listen.  I make a very funny pun about Matt Jones.  Well worth the download.

: Tennessee Titans defensive tackle and face stomper Albert Haynesworth did not come to a long-term contract extension before yesterday's deadline.  Haynesworth and the Titans were hoping to work out a contract and remove the franchise tag, but terms were not reached.  According to league rules, all the Titans can do is extend a one year deal and try again next offseason. 

: The Houston Texans over at Battle Red Blog smell blood in the water in the AFC South, just like we do with the Peyton Manning surgery.  Sure, the Texans also think they'll split the series with the Jaguars this year, but there's no shame in a little irrational exuberism.

: Stampede Blue, our somewhat annoying but generally friendly Colts fans, have a good take on the Packers and Brett Favre.  Why are the Colts talking about Brett?  Because it's (sadly) the big story in football right now. 

: Alex Marvez of Fox Sports writes about the importance of the pass-rushers first step.  Derrick Harvey and Jack Del Rio are interviewed.  Good Stuff.

I'll be back in the morning with a closer look at the defensive line, some Jaguars news, and other exciting things!

-Chris

Adam Caplan is reporting to JagNation.com that Jaguars fifth-round pick, defensive back Trae Williams has signed a four-year deal.  Details at JagNation.com

Williams is expected to compete with Scott Starks and Gerald Sensabaugh for the Jaguars nickelback job.

Williams is described by scouts as a perfect nickel cornerback prospect. Trae Williams and Scott Starks will battle it out for the fourth corner position with the loser possible being the fifth corner, or cut if the Jaguars choose not to keep 5 corners.

[Note by River City Rage, 07/16/08 1:12 AM EDT ] Once again, big thanks to Robb for reporting this here.

The Jaguars now have three of five draft picks under contract.  Second round pick Quentin Groves and first round pick Derrick Harvey are next, and should be signed before the start of training camp.  As of now there is no indication that either pick is proving difficult to sign and both "should" be ready for next Friday's opening of training camp.

Trae Williams is going to have to prove himself a valuable asset in the Jaguars secondary to beat out Scott Starks, simply because Starks is beloved by the coaches for his hard work and willingness to do whatever they ask.  If the Jaguars carry five corners, Trae has a good shot, unless the 5th spot is for Brian Witherspoon, who can return kicks.

This is one of the more interesting position battles, albeit one that will be overshadowed by the battles at safety and linebacker. 

-Chris

Indianapolis assures us that Peyton Manning is in no danger of missing time after a bear attack.

Indianapolis Quarterback Peyton Manning underwent a surgical procedure to remove an inflamed bursa sac, according to a statement made by general manager Bill Polian on Monday afternoon. 

The Statement:

“Peyton Manning had an infected bursa sac removed from his left knee this afternoon. The procedure was routine. The Colts’ medical staff expects a full and complete return to action in four to six weeks.

“Peyton had been receiving conservative treatment for an inflamed bursa sac in consultation with the club’s medical staff since February, 2008. This course of treatmentwas productive until Peyton experienced increased pain and early signs of infection.

“Peyton will meet with the press as normally scheduled at the opening of training camp.”

Don't Panic, Everything is normal, There is nothing to worry about:

The Indianapolis Colts are the only team in the league that I've ever observed that have such a casual attitude toward injuries.  They have their franchise quarterback and most important player undergoing surgery for an infected knee, two all-pro defensive players in Bob Sanders and Dwight Freeney missing time from surgeries of various significance, and a starting linebacker that tears a pectoral muscle during a workout.  But there's never anything to worry about.

I bring this up here for two reasons.  1. If there was any doubt that the Jaguars time in the AFC South is now, it's gone.  While a perfect victory against the Colts means that they lose at full strength, it's undeniable that this is something to keep an eye on. 

2.  To make clear that this injury and procedure are minor as far as knee surgeries go, and despite the implication of sites like ProFootballTalk, this will probably be long behind Manning and the Colts by the time we meet on the field.

Let's be clear.  When the Jaguars defeat the Colts, it's better for them to do so with Freeney, Sanders, Manning and everyone else at full health.  It's all about removing the "yeah, but" from the Jaguars, and it's all about beating the healthy and functional Colts.

So, let me be the first to wish Manning a quick recovery.  I know Derrick, Quentin, Paul, Rob, John, Reggie, Derek, Justin, Mike, Daryl, Rashean, Brian, Reggie, Gerald, and Drayton are all thinking the same thing.

Get Well Soon!

-Chris