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49ers 2009 opponent breakdown: Jacksonville Jaguars (Week 12)
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Can Maurice Jones-Drew handle the load as the team's new full-time back?
(AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
The Jaguars finished at a disappointing 5-11 after some predictions saw them as one of the most dangerous teams in the league. But with a huge overhaul of players lost through free agency and trades, the Jaguars are looking to find their identity again as a team.
The 49ers cannot overlook the Jaguars. Under head coach Jack Del Rio, he has established a Jaguars team that can continue tough play throughout games. The Jaguars will capitalize on any 49ers mistakes.
2008 Record: 5-11 (4th AFC South)
Last meeting: 12/18/05 @ Jacksonville (Jaguars win 10-9)
2009 schedule: Week 12 @ San Francisco
Top 3 best players: RB Maurice Jones-Drew, CB Rashean Mathis, DT John Henderson
Notable draft picks: T Eugene Monroe, T Eben Britton
Notable new acquisitions: S Gerald Alexander, WR Torry Holt, T Tra Thomas, S Sean Considine, S Marlon McCree
Notable losses: RB Fred Taylor, WR Jerry Porter, WR Matt Jones, Dennis Northcutt, OT Khalif Barnes, CB Drayton Florence, LB Mike Peterson, S Pierson Priouleau, S Gerald Sensabaugh, DE Paul Spicer
This will be the Jaguars' first ever visit to San Francisco and overall third meeting between the two teams. Both teams have had their ups and downs since their last meeting.
Like the 2005 game, David Garrard will be starting (unless he gets hurt or performs poorly). Garrard is looking to prove himself this season after a very shaky 2008 campaign. With an offense that has seen a handful of changes at wide receiver, Garrard will have a tough assignment all season long to provide a solid passing game.
His best target is running back Maurice Jones-Drew. With Fred Taylor going to New England, Jones-Drew will now be the full-time starting running back. Over the past few seasons, we can see how Jones-Drew can plow through holes and use his breakaway speed to go outside. But how much wear and tear can his body take since he won't be splitting time with Taylor?
Jones-Drew is tremendous in the open field and can be hard to tackle due to his small size. One missed tackle can lead to a huge gain.
Garrard can always check down to Jones-Drew, but the team's offense is hoping that their wide receivers can step up. As it has been for the Jaguars for many seasons, they have not found a consistent #1 wide receiver. The signing of Torry Holt might be that answer. But if you look at the wide receivers roster, there isn't much else that can really "WOW" the crowd. Mike Walker and Troy Williamson are the only two receivers remaining from last year's team under contract. Both combined for 21 catches last year.
Knowing that the wide receiver group needs help, the Jaguars took three in this past April's draft. Expectations for any of them to make any major impacts for this season aren't high at this point. But for Holt, he is also out to prove that he still has some gas left in the tank. At the age of 33, Holt has to make big strides in an offense that has been focused on running for years.
And for that running game, the acquisition of Tra Thomas to compensate for Khalif Barnes' departure should help out the offensive line. Last year, the offensive line suffered many injuries, which was one of many reasons why the Jaguars were very unimpressive last year. One thing to watch out for during camp this summer is whether rookie tackle Eugene Monroe could leapfrog Thomas for the starting job. Monroe has been reported to have been very impressive so far this off-season and Jack Del Rio has said that either of his rookie tackles (Monroe and Eben Britton) could end up as starters opposite each other f they continue to impress.
And one more note on offense comes at the tight end position. Marcedes Lewis has seen his catch totals increase every year since his rookie year in 2006. If ever any offense struggles, the tight end becomes a favorite target for the quarterback. The 49ers should most definitely take note of him.
On defense, the Jaguars also went through many changes. The team is putting their hopes on their two first round picks last year in defensive ends Derrick Harvey and Quentin Groves. The Jaguars are hopeful that these two can end up making an impact this season. But for Harvey (the #8 pick last year), he still has to prove himself in front of veteran Reggie Hayward. But in the long run, these two will be the future of the team.
With Mike Peterson's departure from the linebacker group, Clint Ingram, Daryl Smith and Justin Durant have to step up for the Jaguars. These three linebackers are very experienced, so it won't be too much of an adjustment for any of them. But the hardest hit for the Jaguars defense is the secondary.
Reggie Nelson has come into his own at the free safety position, but Gerald Sensabaugh's departure forced the Jaguars to look for a replacement. The team signed former Eagle Sean Considine in hopes that he can help bring stability at the strong safety position.
The corners for the Jaguars feature Rashean Mathis and Brian Williams. Williams totaled 80 tackles last year and Mathis has averaged over four interceptions per season. These two, especially Mathis, will be very dangerous to the 49ers offense. Mathis is always a threat to take the ball to the house on any interception. He had one in the playoff game against the Steelers two years ago and he had two pick-sixes last year.
In order for the 49ers to win the game on offense, they must also establish the run. The Jaguars had the 13th best rush defense last year. If the 49ers can establish a nice 1-2 punch with Gore and Coffee, then they can most definitely open up the field for passing.
The key to the game might just be in the passing game of Jacksonville. It will be interesting to see how well the wide receivers gel together by Week 12. If the Jaguars cannot establish consistency in the passing game, the 49ers have a great chance in preventing much of the Jaguars offense to move. It will be hard for Maurice Jones-Drew to become a successful back in this game if the passing attack isn't there, obviously. It will be a lot of pressure for Jaguars to succeed in the air.
This should be a close game for the 49ers. There are still a lot of holes in both squads doesn't convince me of either team's superiority over the other. I'll give the edge to the 49ers on this one, but this might be a close game that goes down to the wire.
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EDIT: 49ers sign LB Brit Miller from Carolina by claiming him off waivers.
Trying out Twitter for 49ers updates. Check me out here @SLam49ers
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