Jaguars head coach Jack Del Rio.
(AP Photo/Brian Blanco)
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Usually the day before the game, I will post up a Q&A with an Examiner of the 49ers' opponent for the week. I tried to contact the Jacksonville Jaguars Examiner but it looks like he has been MIA for a little while.
Despite that, I do feel that the 49ers have a huge task on Sunday. The Jaguars have been a surprise team this year at 6-4. Many thought that the team would be in a rebuilding mode after going 5-11 in 2008. However, the team has revamped their lineup from their 2007 playoff team and the attitude remains the same.
Jaguars head coach Jack Del Rio brings his intensity and football smarts to a Jaguars team that is playing just like their head coach once did.
Del Rio spent 11 years in the NFL as a linebacker from 1985-1996. He was hired to be the Jaguars head coach following the 2002 season after serving as defensive coordinator for the Carolina Panthers. He is currently one of nine former NFL players that are head coaches in the league today.
The Jaguars have adopted Del Rio's intense attitude on the field. The team continues to play hard on every down. And during the team's current three-game win streak, the resolve and smarts of the head coach are reflected in their wins.
Most notably two weeks ago, Del Rio instructed running back Maurice Jones-Drew to stop at the New York Jets 1-yard line to ensure the team would have the final play of the game. The plan worked out and the Jaguars would end up winning the game on a field goal on the last play without giving the Jets offense a chance to see the ball.
Del Rio and 49ers head coach Mike Singletary have both come from the same paths. Not only did these two coaches play linebacker, but both played in the league for almost the same amount of years. Singletary played one year more than Del Rio and both coaches have seen some ups and downs from their team as head coach.
The Jaguars are 56-50 since Del Rio was hired in 2003. Del Rio has seen a handful of injuries and struggles during the tenure, but was bold enough to remove then franchise quarterback Byron Leftwich from the team in favor of David Garrard in 2007. Garrard would lead the Jaguars to an upset win over the Pittsburgh Steelers in the first round of the playoffs that year.
Singletary made a similar move (twice) as head coach. Singletary removed quarterback J.T. O'Sullivan in his first game as head coach last season. And this year, he removed Shaun Hill as starting quarterback in favor of Alex Smith. Benching O'Sullivan led to the rise and success of Singletary at the end of the 2008 season. The promotion of Smith, however, has led to only one win since Week 6.
Both head coaches were on the bubble to begin this year. For Del Rio, he has shown great progress with a very talented team that started the season 0-2. And after last year's slide, it was hard to imagine Del Rio with the Jaguars for an extended period of time. Now at a 6-4 record, the Jaguars are playing a lot better than expected and Del Rio could end up being in talks for Head Coach of the Year.
Sinigletary is on the bubble for probably not living up to his own expectations. Singletary went 5-4 last year and brought the 49ers back to respectability. After a 3-1 start this season, the team has only one win since. Some people are starting to wonder if Singletary was the right man hired for the job. Despite a strong end to last season, the team is stumbling towards the finish line this year.
On Sunday, both former linebackers will face off for the first time with a lot on the line. A win for the Jaguars put the team at 7-4 and in good position to make the playoffs. The 49ers on the other hand just need a win to be relevant in playoff talks. It should be a very good matchup for this Sunday.
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