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Jeff Fisher could be Jaguars' nemesis one more time as NFL Draft approaches
By Vito Stellino (Vito Stellino's Blog
The Jaguars rivalry with coach Jeff Fisher has waned now that he is coaching the St. Louis Rams and they play the Jaguars only once every four years.
It was different when he was coaching the Titans in the Jaguars division and beat them three times in 1999, including a victory in the AFC title game that cost them a Super Bowl berth.
He then needled the Jaguars by saying Alltel Stadium, which was the name of EverBank field in those days, was one of his home fields.
It turns out, though, that Fisher could be the Jaguars’ nemesis one more time now that he has the second pick in the draft he picked up from Washington in the Robert Griffin III trade.
The conventional wisdom in the draft is that Houston will take a quarterback with the first pick and St. Louis will take an offensive lineman with the second pick, leaving the Jaguars to get the best pass rusher, Jadeveon Clowney.
Clowney will host his Pro Day Wednesday at South Carolina and it is the big event on the NFL calendar this week.
Considered the best athlete in the draft, Clowney figures to have a spectacular pro day.
But Fisher could stymie the Jaguars by taking Clowney himself or trade the pick to a team that wants him.
Fisher has a bigger need for an offensive lineman than a pass rusher and he has been expected to take Greg Robinson of Auburn or Jake Matthews of Texas A@M in the draft at the second spot. Matthews is the son of Hall of Fame offensive lineman Bruce Matthew, who once played for Fisher.
Still, Fisher has opened the door for Clowney and the St. Louis Post-Dispatch even has the Rams taking him in their mock draft.
Fisher said last week at the owners’ meetings, “I’ve learned over the years that you never have enough pass rushers. And I think it’s not only us, but other teams that are in our situation, are creative enough to find ways to get (Clowney) on the field and put him in a position to make plays.’’
There was speculation that Clowney took plays off last year to avoid getting hurt as he recorded just three sacks.
Fisher brushes that off.
“Not if you watch the games, it’s not (a red flag). Because the effort’s there. You’ve got to give the offenses credit, too. I mean they were aware of where he was. They turned the center towards him. When the ball came out, they’d check out with backs just like we do in our league with good rushers. So, no, you see a lot of other really big plays throughout the year. Consistent big plays, whether they’re chase down plays down the field or plays against the run,’’ Fisher said.
Of course, Fisher could be bluffing about his interest in Clowney. It’s part of the draft tradition to keep opposing teams guessing.
But if Fisher pulls a surprise and takes Clowney or trades the pick to a team that wants him, the Jaguars will have to go in a different direction.
They’re not likely take an offensive lineman with the third pick after selecting Luke Joeckel with the second pick last year so wide receiver Sammy Watkins or pass rusher Khalil Mack would appear to be their next options.
The Jaguars are likely to be impressed by Clowney Wednesday, at his Pro Day, but they won’t know until May 8 if they can get him.
Houston is still expected to take a quarterback with the first pick but coach Bill O’Brien insists all options are on the table and the Texans have a dinner meeting planned with Clowney Tuesday night before his workout. It remains to be seen if that visit will be a smokescreen.
So the draft intrigue will continue for the next few weeks.
By Vito Stellino (Vito Stellino's Blog
The Jaguars rivalry with coach Jeff Fisher has waned now that he is coaching the St. Louis Rams and they play the Jaguars only once every four years.
It was different when he was coaching the Titans in the Jaguars division and beat them three times in 1999, including a victory in the AFC title game that cost them a Super Bowl berth.
He then needled the Jaguars by saying Alltel Stadium, which was the name of EverBank field in those days, was one of his home fields.
It turns out, though, that Fisher could be the Jaguars’ nemesis one more time now that he has the second pick in the draft he picked up from Washington in the Robert Griffin III trade.
The conventional wisdom in the draft is that Houston will take a quarterback with the first pick and St. Louis will take an offensive lineman with the second pick, leaving the Jaguars to get the best pass rusher, Jadeveon Clowney.
Clowney will host his Pro Day Wednesday at South Carolina and it is the big event on the NFL calendar this week.
Considered the best athlete in the draft, Clowney figures to have a spectacular pro day.
But Fisher could stymie the Jaguars by taking Clowney himself or trade the pick to a team that wants him.
Fisher has a bigger need for an offensive lineman than a pass rusher and he has been expected to take Greg Robinson of Auburn or Jake Matthews of Texas A@M in the draft at the second spot. Matthews is the son of Hall of Fame offensive lineman Bruce Matthew, who once played for Fisher.
Still, Fisher has opened the door for Clowney and the St. Louis Post-Dispatch even has the Rams taking him in their mock draft.
Fisher said last week at the owners’ meetings, “I’ve learned over the years that you never have enough pass rushers. And I think it’s not only us, but other teams that are in our situation, are creative enough to find ways to get (Clowney) on the field and put him in a position to make plays.’’
There was speculation that Clowney took plays off last year to avoid getting hurt as he recorded just three sacks.
Fisher brushes that off.
“Not if you watch the games, it’s not (a red flag). Because the effort’s there. You’ve got to give the offenses credit, too. I mean they were aware of where he was. They turned the center towards him. When the ball came out, they’d check out with backs just like we do in our league with good rushers. So, no, you see a lot of other really big plays throughout the year. Consistent big plays, whether they’re chase down plays down the field or plays against the run,’’ Fisher said.
Of course, Fisher could be bluffing about his interest in Clowney. It’s part of the draft tradition to keep opposing teams guessing.
But if Fisher pulls a surprise and takes Clowney or trades the pick to a team that wants him, the Jaguars will have to go in a different direction.
They’re not likely take an offensive lineman with the third pick after selecting Luke Joeckel with the second pick last year so wide receiver Sammy Watkins or pass rusher Khalil Mack would appear to be their next options.
The Jaguars are likely to be impressed by Clowney Wednesday, at his Pro Day, but they won’t know until May 8 if they can get him.
Houston is still expected to take a quarterback with the first pick but coach Bill O’Brien insists all options are on the table and the Texans have a dinner meeting planned with Clowney Tuesday night before his workout. It remains to be seen if that visit will be a smokescreen.
So the draft intrigue will continue for the next few weeks.
