Draft Analysis: Jacksonville Jaguars
Posted: Thursday June 11, 1998 04:47 PM
Fred
Taylor 1st round, 9th overall
Running back, Florida
Comments: Has been compared to Emmitt Smith, who also came
out of Florida. Has an excellent combination of strength and speed. May not
start early in the year, but will eventually take job from underachieving
James Stewart ... could
be best back in draft – big, workhorse-type runner. Donovin
Darius 1st round, 25th overall
Safety, Syracuse
Comments: Big-time playmaker in college. Hits like a truck.
Much better coming forward than backwards, and will project at strong
safety. May not start, but should see time as a rookie –- man-to-man skills
are a question mark. Cordell
Taylor 2nd round, 57th overall
Cornerback, Hampton
Comments: Small-college guy that could be a nice
developmental pick ... very raw and will need a lot of work, but has
excellent size and strength for cornerback, along with good speed and cover
skills ... some teams even projected him as a potential safety because of
range and hitting ability ... could develop into an excellent bump-and-run
type cornerback ... huge upside on this guy if he listens and learns.
Jonathan
Quinn 3rd round, 86th overall
Quarterback, Middle
Tennessee State
Comments: Will be No. 3 quarterback. Has a
lot of time to develop behind quality starter and backup in Steve Matthews. Has a lot
of upside -- best athletic quarterback in draft ... great pick. Tavian
Banks 4th round, 101st overall
Running back, Iowa
Comments: May be a steal in the fourth round. Banks had a
solid senior season. Has excellent change of direction in the open field,
and better than average speed. Will eventually unseat Stewart, and this
will be he and Taylor's unit. Harry
Deligianis 4th round, 118th overall
Defensive
tackle, Youngstown State
Comments: Seems like somewhat of
a reach in the fourth round, especially when the Jaguars appear to be
loaded on ends – defensive tackle was actually a much bigger need ... has
good size and speed and some inside push and penetration but may have
trouble sticking, unless he can beat out one of the aging veterans. John Wade
5th round, 148th overall
Center, Marshall
Comments: Will add depth to talented Jacksonville line ... solid
football player, can backup at center and guard ... somewhat of an
overachiever that gets by on intelligence and work ethic ... good
short-area skills -- a productive guy that hasn’t faced top-notch
competition. Lemanzer
Williams 6th round, 179th overall
Defensive end,
Minnesota
Comments: Jaguars finally got much-needed
defensive end, but he is a one-year college producer as a sack artist.
However, he has played against good competition and does have some upside
as a speed rusher off the edge ... not very strong vs. the run and
basically a one-dimensional guy ... nice upside here if he can come close
to his senior-year production in the Big Ten (18 1/2 sacks) ... Jaguars
need him to develop. Kevin McLeod 6th round, 182nd
overall
Fullback, Auburn
Comments: Somewhat of
an unknown player on many team boards, especially as a fullback because he
spent most of his time at tight end ... will be asked to fill role for
Jaguars as a blocking fullback ... if he can do the job, it will up grade
the Jaguar run game and offense. Alvis
Whitted 7th round, 192nd overall
Receiver, N.C.
State
Comments: Not a very polished guy, but he has great
speed and explosiveness and he is a guy that can stretch a defense ... will
need route refining and a lot of work, but in 7th round teams are looking
for one redeeming quality and he has it -- speed. Brandon Tolbert
7th round, 214th overall
Linebacker, Georgia
Comments: Another athletic-type guy with speed ... has a chance to
stick in a nickel linebacker role where he can cover backs in passing
situations ... he should also be excellent on special teams, and his range
and speed gives him a legitimate chance to stick in some capacity.
|
