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Jaguars: What's new

Compiled from Times wires

© St. Petersburg Times, published September 1, 2000

BREAKDOWN: Despite last season's 14-2 record, best in franchise history, the Jaguars opened training camp with 34 new players -- 11 draft picks, five undrafted rookies, nine veterans and nine new first-year players.They may need a bunch as the season rolls along. The Jaguars have had breakdowns in places they can least afford -- offensive line and running back. The line has been decimated by injuries, the biggest suffered by tackle Leon Searcy, gone for most if not all of the season after undergoing surgery for a torn quadriceps tendon. And they will start the season with their other star tackle, four-time Pro Bowler Tony Boselli. He is at less than full strength following surgery for a knee injury that knocked him out of the playoffs. Training camp took its toll with Joe Chustz (back), Todd Fordham (knee) and Zach Wiegert (elbow) going down. All that makes Anthony Cesario coach Tom Coughlin's players. He's healthy. "One man's misfortune is another man's opportunity," Coughlin said. "If some guys can take advantage of that, we'll be a better football team when we get them all back competing again." Cesario didn't play a down as a rookie last season, but he spent part of training camp working with the first team at right guard, a position he will likely relinquish to Brenden Stai. The Jags traded a draft choice to Kansas City to get Stai. Cesario also is Wiegert's backup at right tackle and started the preseason opener there. The Jaguars are hoping rookie Brad Meester from Northern Iowa will have an immediate impact. He likely will start at left guard, but he could play center, where he played in college.

HANDOFF TO...: All the changes in the line will make it interesting for the running backs -- the healthy ones. That does not include third-year ex-Gator Fred Taylor, who has yet to make it through the season wihout injury. He didn't even make it into the season without one this time, spraining his MCL in the preseason game against the Giants. His absence early on is magnified by the departure of James Stewart, who signed with the Detroit Lions. So the bulk of the early work will fall to Stacey Mack and Chris Howard. As weak as the running game appears to be, that's how strong the passing game seems. Despite having the AFC's best receiving duo, Jimmy Smith and Keenan McCardell, the Jaguars couldn't resist using their first-round draft choice to take R. Jay Soward, a three-year starter and a four-year letterman at Southern California, which turned out Keyshawn Johnson. Coughlin is counting on the team to wear down the opponents as it did last year, outscoring them by greater margins as the game progressed -- 61-44 in the first quarter, 109-81q in the second, 103-40 in the third and 123-52 in the fourth.

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