No longer a bright-eyed rookie, Jaguars quarterback Byron Leftwich is more mature, in better shape and appears ready to take control of ...
By TIM SULLIVAN
Published September 12, 2004
JACKSONVILLE -- The lights dimmed on another muggy night practice session during Jaguars training camp. Most players and coaches, dripping with sweat, filed into the locker room. Most of the approximately 3,000 fans left the bleachers to head home.
Even the NFL Films crew, in town to shoot a four-week documentary series, packed its equipment and closed up shop for the night.
But Byron Leftwich was still there. He stayed late to get in some extra throws, took a light jog, then took the long walk down the players' runway, stopping every two seconds or so to make sure every remaining fan received his autograph.
The cries echoed as he threw his Sharpie onto jerseys, posters and rookie cards. "Byron!" "Mr. Leftwich!" "B-Left!" "Go get 'em No. 7!"
Was this a special occurrence? Was Leftwich under some order to stick around and play public relations specialist while his teammates were already in the showers?
"Nah," said a tired security guard waiting for the last player to exit so he could lock up for the night. "He does this every night. Every night. They love him, he loves them. He makes for some long days."
The Jaguars hope opposing defenses will be saying the same thing this season.
In a town without many superstars, and on a team that hasn't tackled a playoff berth (much less a winning record) in four years, Leftwich is a breath of fresh air. Eighteen months after being selected No. 7 overall out of Marshall University, the second-year quarterback has developed into the face of the franchise and an icon in the city. No longer in the shadow of Mark Brunell and no longer haunted by his rookie holdout, Leftwich, 24, is the man ... on and off the field.
"He's grown, there's no question about that," running back Fred Taylor said. "He's doing a great job out here. As a player and as a person, he's grown all the way around."
He really didn't have much choice in the matter.
Thrown into a starting role due to an injury to Brunell in his final season as a Jaguar, Leftwich had to learn, literally, on the run. He started 13 games, won five of them and gained lessons he swears he'll take with him into every game. He completed 239 of 418 passes for 2,819 yards. He threw just 14 touchdowns and was picked off 16 times.
But, hey, no regrets.
"I talked to some of those (rookie quarterbacks) like (the Giants') Eli (Manning) and (the Chargers') Philip (Rivers) and none of those guys want to wait around for their chance to start. I was the same way," Leftwich said. "My personal belief, is that it's hard to learn how to play quarterback in this league sitting on the sideline. If someone can explain to me how to do that, I'll be amazed. I think the best way to learn is to be out there playing. I did that last year and that's only going to help this year."
An offense with upgraded talent around him should do the same. The Jaguars drafted University of Washington wide receiver Reggie Williams in the first round and Florida State running back Greg Jones in the second. Mix the new players in with Taylor, a four-time 1,000-yard back, and Jimmy Smith, a seven-time 1,000-yard receiver, and the Jaguars' offense could be among the league's best.
"We've added some weapons, no question," Leftwich said. "We already had some weapons, and now we have even more. From a quarterback's standpoint, I'm just real fortunate to be on a team like this, a team with this kind of talent."
But with all the skill comes expectations. Even in the AFC South, where perennial playoff contenders like the Colts and Titans dwell, the Jaguars have drawn attention from preseason publications and television analysts. During the first week of camp, ESPN's SportsCenter aired a Fact or Fiction segment on whether or not the Jaguars will be this year's version of the Panthers, a worst-to-first scenario.
"We're in a tough division, we understand that. But we know, if we go out and do the right things, then we'll have a chance to win it. That's the way we're looking at it," Leftwich said. "We're not worried about what other teams did in the offseason. We're just focused on the things we did and have to do to improve our team.
"And that's where we are right now. You know, the expectations are high. But no one's expectations are higher than mine. Not only me, but as a team. We're not going to rely on other people to put pressure on us. We understand that everyone is predicting great things, but it's still up to us."
That's fine by offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave. He calls the plays in the Jaguars' complicated West Coast system and at least this season, knows Leftwich is prepared to handle just about all of them.
"He's so damn mature. He's always prepared when he walks on the field and that's where it all starts," Musgrave said. "He's got tremendous leadership qualities, the guys really follow him when he's out there, and that's what we need coming out of the huddle."
The problem last year, though, was once he broke that huddle, things would often break down. He fumbled 11 times, lost six of them. He was sacked 19 times, four coming in one game, a 24-17 loss at Baltimore.
Musgrave attributes a lot of that to jitters. But he also thought that Leftwich could have been in better shape.
"Collectively, we wanted him to get stronger," he said. "I don't think that he spent a lot of time in the weight room at Marshall, but he's really committed himself here. He's in much better shape now. He's stronger (and) he is more explosive from center, which helps his timing with the receivers at this level."
Leftwich's 6-foot-5 frame now holds 245 pounds. He is by no means chiseled, but he has shed some of the baby fat he carried around last year. Perhaps that'll help him escape pressure a little more, perhaps it'll buy him some more time to find the open receiver.
Because once he learns how to do that with more efficiency, the more opportunities he'll have to show off that golden right arm.
"You know, he's got such a great arm," Williams said. "He puts that ball right where he needs to be and he's patient with it. When it needs to be whipped right in there, that's what you're going to get. When it needs to have a soft touch, he knows just how much. He can do whatever needs to be done."
Perhaps signing all those autographs helped a little.
FOR THE FANS
STADIUM: Alltel Stadium.
CAPACITY: 76,877.
TICKETS: Individual game tickets are on sale for $20, $30, $45, $65, $70, $95, $175, $215.
Call (904) 633-2000.
PARKING: Available at private lots surrounding the stadium.
DIRECTIONS: From Tampa-St. Petersburg, take I-4 East to 1-95 North. Once in Jacksonville, take the Union Street exit and follow the signs to the sports complex.
RADIO: No regular programming in the Tampa Bay area.
