ESPNMAG.com - Jacksonville Jaguars

LAST SEASON: 6-10, fifth in AFC Central
PROJECTION: 3rd in AFC South


	You need more than an OL to stop Henderson.

The Jags will probably count out Fred Taylor before they count on him. And, given the weak O-line and lack of weapons at WR, they'll go 6–10 whether he plays or not.

STRONG SIDE

DL: The Jags D-line can bring it. DE Tony Brackens (11 sacks in 2001) is coming back from knee surgery, but he's still an explosive playmaker. And Jacksonville used its past two No.1 picks on SEC stud DTs John Henderson and Marcus Stroud, who could become a dominant interior tandem. Henderson (6'7", 318), this year's first-rounder, will immediately command double teams, which will free up Stroud, last year's No.1, to make plays. Free agent Marco Coleman comes over from Washington, providing a run-stuffer at left end and some much needed locker room presence after the Jags' salary-cap purge.

WEAK SIDE

OL: What do you expect when you lose Tony Boselli from an O-line that was a liability even with him? The signing of former Saints RG Chris Naeole helps, but this line is geared for run-blocking rather than pass-blocking. Note to Mark Brunell: Watch your back -- and your front. LT Zach Wiegert has struggled so much that second-round pick Mike Pearson might replace him. RT Maurice Williams, who protects Brunell's blindside, is no Boselli.

AFC South

1. Colts

2. Titans

3. Jaguars

4. Texans

Scouting Report Index

OTHER UNITS

QB: Mark Brunell found himself on his back a league-high 57 times. But the three-time Pro Bowler, who turns 32 on Sept.17, still has a golden touch: His career 60.3 completion percentage ranks among the best in NFL history. If Brunell goes down, look out -- rook David Garrard is the best backup.

RB: Fred Taylor's averaged 4.7 yards per rush in his career, but he's missed 24 of Jacksonville's past 64 games, including 14 last season because of a groin injury. If he's injured again, Stacey Mack -- a big, slashing back without Taylor's game-breaking ability -- must be ready.

WR: Keenan McCardell's gone and Jimmy Smith held out until he got the big money. Now that he's getting paid, he'll earn it, because he'll be double-teamed all year. FAs Patrick Johnson and Bobby Shaw struggled in camp with little things (learning the plays) and the big things (catching the ball).

LB: Ballhawk T.J. Slaughter moves to the middle, replacing leading tackler Hardy Nickerson, a cap casualty along with Kevin Hardy. Slaughter finished fourth in tackles (54) despite playing only nine games. The outside LBs, Eric Westmoreland and Danny Clark, have started a total of five games.

DB: Safety Donovin Darius, the secondary's leader, is tough against the run but struggles in coverage. CB Fernando Bryant has great quickness but gambles too much, and S Marlon McCree and CB Jason Craft aren't very physical. The starters had just 5 picks among them last season.

ST: P Chris Hanson was a pleasant surprise last season (43.6 average). K Mike Hollis, good for PATs (29-31), but shaky on FGs (18-28), had to go. His replacement is rookie Hayden Epstein.

This article appears in the September 16 issue of ESPN The Magazine.