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| Thursday, May 1 Jaguars work quick to sign kicker Marler By Len Pasquarelli ESPN.com |
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During a 2002 season in which the Jacksonville Jaguars compiled a 6-10 record, the club lost five games by three points or less, and one of many significant components for the failure was a .704 field goal conversion rate that ranked as the NFL's fourth worst.
Which is why, in the hours following the conclusion of the draft last Sunday evening, the Jags completed what might be the most important free agent addition in the entire league. There will be, for sure, some solid contributions in 2003 from the legion of undrafted free agents signed by teams from the remnant pool remaining when the lottery concluded after 262 selections. But few free agents figure to have the chance to make the kind of impact that kicker Seth Marler could have with the Jacksonville franchise. Regarded by many scouts as the premier placement specialist in the draft pool, Marler, inexplicably went unselected last weekend. The only kicker chosen in the lottery was Josh Brown of Nebraska, taken by Seattle in the seventh round. But the Jaguars signed Marler to a free agent contract Sunday evening and the move could end the frustration through which the team suffered a year ago. "I don't know why no one drafted the guy," said the special teams coach for an NFC club that attempted to sign Marler after the draft. "But I know he was the first guy we wanted (as a free agent). But to tell the truth, he probably did a smart thing signing on where he did. I'd say he's got a hell of a shot to be the Jaguars' kicker." Marler, 22, kicked for four seasons at Tulane and converted 66 of 91 field goal attempts and 135 of 143 extra point tries. While he struggled in 2002, making just 20 of 33 field goals, there were mitigating circumstances, not the least of which was having to assume the team's punting chores in addition to his placement duties. Marler had never punted before, even in high school, but averaged a respectable 42.9 yards. For most scouts, though, his substandard 2002 performance did not overshadow the fact Marler won the Lou Groza Award as the nation's top kicker one year earlier, and that he possesses the poise, power and accuracy to succeed at the NFL level. Marler also has a quick approach to the ball and his average "getaway" time is 1.31 seconds. Marler's older brother, David, kicked at Appalachian State and, ever since he shagged balls for his sibling, his goal has been an NFL career. To enhance his chances, he worked last summer with strength and fitness guru Mackie Shilstone in New Orleans and added 10-12 pounds of muscle and, obviously, more leg strength. Possessor of virtually every Tulane kicking and kick-scoring record, Marler will compete with veteran journeymen Danny Boyd and James Tuthill for the Jacksonville job. Neither has ever kicked an entire season in the league, and with a new coaching staff onhand for the Jaguars, there are no inherent loyalties. Indeed, Marler has been told he will compete evenly with the two veterans. There are, of course, more high-profile players who signed free agent contracts in the days since the draft ended and, as noted earlier this week by ESPN.com, many of them were quarterback prospects. By unofficial count, more than 200 free agents have signed on with clubs as undrafted free agents. The largest signing bonus, to date, was $22,500, which the San Francisco 49ers paid to former Brigham Young offensive lineman Ben Archibald. Len Pasquarelli is a senior writer for ESPN.com. |
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