Regardless of where fans look on the web, there won’t be any NFL power rankings out there without the Jacksonville Jaguars at the very bottom. That’s why it was refreshing to see ESPN’s latest post-free agency power rankings list the team 30th, which is a spot higher than their last power rankings.
Jags beat writer Michael DiRocco added in his take for the Cardiac Cats and their newest ranking by declaring that Urban Meyer’s addition was the best offseason move the team has made.
30. Jacksonville Jaguars
Way-too-early ranking: 31
Best offseason move: Hiring Urban Meyer
Meyer, in addition to being one of the most successful college football coaches in history, was probably the one person whose name could energize the fan base. More importantly, he’s doing a reevaluation of the franchise. He made one huge mistake — hiring Chris Doyle, who was released from the University of Iowa after multiple players accused him of using racial slurs and bullying and belittling players — but it was fixed a day later when Doyle resigned. Meyer is an excellent evaluator of talent and has done a good job of surrounding himself with experienced NFL assistants as well as others that he has worked with before and trusts.
The Jags are likely going to have to rely on their coaching staff more than ever this year in terms of bringing in familiar faces as personal meetings have been eliminated at the moment. They heavily relied on their coach’s personal experiences with many of the free agents they added and will undoubtedly do the same in the draft as all the prospect meetings have been virtual this season.
As for Meyer’s talent evaluating skills, fans will get to see just how well he knows the collegiate football realm after spending almost two decades there as a head coach. With five top-100 picks, the stakes have never been higher for the front office to deliver and bring the Jags the talent they desperately need.
