Del Rio: Leftwich must prove he's healthy (1 Viewer)

[JaxBill]

Convenient way out for a Garrard start?

Also, Matt Jones should practice but is questionable.

Del Rio needs proof

Coach says sore ankle affected Leftwich, who will be watched closely.

By VITO STELLINO, The Times-Union

Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio faces a tough question after conducting a detailed videotape review of quarterback Byron Leftwich's shaky play in Jacksonville's 27-7 loss in Houston.

Del Rio has decided that Leftwich must demonstrate his ankle is healthy before he gets the green light to start in Philadelphia on Sunday.

Del Rio, who said at his Monday news conference that he didn't think Leftwich's ankle was the reason for his poor play against the Texans, changed his mind after spending four hours Monday night reviewing the tape of Leftwich's play in the Houston game and comparing it to his play in the past. He decided the sore ankle caused Leftwich to struggle.

Del Rio said he called Leftwich in for a meeting and videotape review Tuesday to show Leftwich some plays on which his sore ankle obviously affected his play.

"I brought him in today and looked at a few plays that I had a real concern with. I said if you're feeling this much pain, it's affecting your play, you have to acknowledge that it's sore. I can slow down the tape and watch it, and obviously it was bothering him,'' Del Rio said.

Del Rio then outlined to Leftwich how he'll judge whether Leftwich can play Sunday after he watches him in practice this week. The team was off Tuesday and opens drills for the Eagles today.

"I told him it was important he demonstrate he's healthy enough to function at a high level to help us win. We can't have another repeat of what occurred last weekend," Del Rio said.

Del Rio said his comments Monday that the ankle wasn't a problem came after a quick review of the whole game. Del Rio first revealed his conclusion that Leftwich's ankle was a problem on his weekly appearance on Sirius NFL Radio on Tuesday. He gave more details to the Times-Union in a phone interview.

Leftwich woke up last Friday with a sore ankle but said he was ready to play Sunday, and Del Rio said he tends to let his starters go if they're 90 percent, but he said it turned out that Leftwich "ended up being a lot less than that."

Leftwich completed only 14 passes for 125 yards. Some of his throws were way off target.

Del Rio said after the game he would have pulled Leftwich after the first series of the third quarter if the quarterback hadn't led the team on a touchdown drive.

Backup quarterback David Garrard went 4-1 as a starter last year after Leftwich broke the same ankle that is bothering him now.

Del Rio also said that wide receiver Matt Jones has been cleared to return to practice today, but his hamstring isn't 100 percent, and he'll be listed as questionable. Defensive tackle Marcus Stroud won't practice and will be listed as doubtful, but he might practice later in the week.

 

[SpecOpLoad]

BUMP for a Garrard owner!

 

[TheLaw]

update?

 

[[scooter]]

Lots of coaches using the "injured starting QB" excuse this season.

 

[Da Guru]

Garrard is better.

 

[Futility]

Garrard is better.

Instead of blasting you for a useless post, I'm going to try to draw something useful out of you. WHY do you think Garrard is better? What skills does he possess that are a better fit for the Jags than Leftwich? Follow-up question: Since Garrard's playing time has obviously been very limited, how did you draw those conclusions?

 

[MLBrandow]

I really hope he benches Leftwich for a few weeks. The guy is clearly not healthy.

THey should have benched him last week. If Garrard started after taking reps with the first team all week, they probably walk out of Houston with a W.

 

[thecardiackid]

Garrard is better.

Instead of blasting you for a useless post, I'm going to try to draw something useful out of you. WHY do you think Garrard is better? What skills does he possess that are a better fit for the Jags than Leftwich? Follow-up question: Since Garrard's playing time has obviously been very limited, how did you draw those conclusions?

 

[shake zula]

ESPN's John Clayton reports Byron Leftwich may be in danger of losing his starting job to David Garrard for the rest of the season.Impact: Clayton compares the situation to the one in Dallas, where Drew Bledsoe lost his job to a more mobile Tony Romo. Garrard is considered much more mobile than Leftwich. With Garrard appearing likely to start in Week 8, he may be auditioning to be the Jags' starting QB for good.

If this ends up being the deal, I'd be beyond shocked. I don't see the apeal of Garrard, but hell that's just one man's opinion...

 

[MLBrandow]

My question is why everyone thinks Leftwich is even in danger of losing his job?

His per game numbers last year almost exactly cloned those of McNair's '03 Co-MVP year.

Leftwich is a great QB. Garrard is a very solid QB, but he is not the starter.

 

[Raider Nation]

If DG starts, would you be more inclined or less inclined to start Reggie Williams?

I'm in the dark here.

 

[shadow2k]

My question is why everyone thinks Leftwich is even in danger of losing his job?

Grass is always greener on the other side. If a team isn't undefeated, there's always someone who's yelling for the backups.

 

[shiekra]

ESPN's John Clayton reports Byron Leftwich may be in danger of losing his starting job to David Garrard for the rest of the season.Impact: Clayton compares the situation to the one in Dallas, where Drew Bledsoe lost his job to a more mobile Tony Romo. Garrard is considered much more mobile than Leftwich. With Garrard appearing likely to start in Week 8, he may be auditioning to be the Jags' starting QB for good.

If this ends up being the deal, I'd be beyond shocked. I don't see the apeal of Garrard, but hell that's just one man's opinion...

I thought we already determined that ESPN is not a source to be relied upon anymore... see shock jock thread

 

[SeniorVBDStudent]

Garrard is better.

Instead of blasting you for a useless post, I'm going to try to draw something useful out of you. WHY do you think Garrard is better? What skills does he possess that are a better fit for the Jags than Leftwich? Follow-up question: Since Garrard's playing time has obviously been very limited, how did you draw those conclusions?

Aside from better mobility, better accuracy, non-zero ability to throw a touch pass, and absence of that ridiculous windup on his throws, I'd say Garrard doesn't offer any significant advantages over Patrick Ewing (I mean Leftwich).[/Leftwich hate]

 

[JaxBill]

Local reports and Adam Shefter say that Garrad will start Sunday. Whether this is a long-term change or just an injury-start remains to be seen. (Leftwich did not practice Thursday either).

The fans have been screaming for Garrard. The Jags O-line leaves much to be desired, especially in pass-protection. I agree that Garrard provides more mobility. However, I still think that a healthy Leftwich is the better QB, long wind-up and all.

From what I've seen of Garrard, he hasn't showed me the ability to make secondary reads. Usually Garrard's style is:

- drop back

- look for his primary receiver

- start scrambling

- look around to see if any of the DBs have come off the receivers

- if so, toss one up

- if not, tuck and run

 

[JaxBill]

Leftwich left out in latest practice

Quarterback, who has an injured ankle, could sit in favor of David Garrard.

By VITO STELLINO, The Times-Union

Byron Leftwich's throw at the start of practice Thursday signaled that the Jaguars quarterback might not throw this weekend in Philadelphia.

After the stretching period at the start of practice, Leftwich flung his shoulder pads to the ground, a sign that he wouldn't practice and that backup David Garrard would take the snaps with the first team.

The Jaguars issued their injury report at the end of practice, confirming that Leftwich didn't participate, but coach Jack Del Rio hasn't made an announcement on whether Garrard will receive the starting nod Sunday against the Eagles.

During the 30-minute media viewing period, Leftwich stood and watched in a red jersey top that the quarterbacks always wear while Garrard and Quinn Gray went through drills.

The decision to hold out Leftwich, who was supposed to split snaps with Garrard this week, was another sign that Del Rio isn't convinced his starter's ankle has healed well enough for him to play well. Del Rio said Wednesday that he will only play Leftwich if he feels his ankle has healed well enough for him to perform effectively.

Both Garrard and Leftwich said before practice that they haven't been told which one will start Sunday.

"I don't know anything," Leftwich said. "I guess I'll find out whenever Sunday or pre-game. I don't know. I'll find out at some point.

"I'll be ready for any situation. I don't want to say too much."

Garrard said he wasn't even told Wednesday that he would split snaps with Leftwich until after he called his wife at lunchtime and she told him that the news already had appeared on the team's Web site. At the start of practice, Jaguars quarterback coach Ken Anderson gave him the official word, and Garrard said, "I already know."

Garrard is trying not to spend time thinking about what a chance to showcase his talent in Philadelphia could mean to his career.

"I'm looking at it as an opportunity to help the team win," Garrard said. "I'm really tired of [talk] of trying to showcase. If you start getting into all the hype of what it means and showcasing your talent and all stuff [you can become distracted]. I just believe in playing well and showcasing your talent that way."

Of the signs that he could start Sunday, Garrard said: "Is this just smoke or because you're going to play? You never know. That's probably the most difficult part when you hear some stir in the news and the media going on."

Garrard, who has started eight games in his NFL career since being drafted in the fourth round out of East Carolina in 2002, said he hasn't lost his drive to become a top player.

"I want to play here or somewhere else," he said.

A native of East Orange, N.J., Garrard has purchased about 15 tickets to Sunday's game for friends and relatives.

In his first game in Philadelphia, Garrard said he can't compete with Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb because he doesn't play defense, but he said, "He's someone I look up to as a quarterback. He has a similar style. He's somebody I'd like to hone my game after."

Leftwich seemed encouraged about the condition of his ankle after the Wednesday workout, although he said it wasn't 100 percent.

"It was the best it felt prior to the last two weeks," he said. "Hopefully, I can keep getting better and won't have any setbacks or anything and be ready to go on Sunday.

Leftwich, however, appeared dejected, and when asked why he seemed to be taking it personally, he said, "I'm cool."

But then Leftwich was more candid as he said, "Even though I know it's about the ankle, anytime you're questioned just when you give everything you've got week and week out, sometimes it bothers you. I know what I can control, and I try not to worry about everything else I can't control."

He also tried to be upbeat about the Jaguars' position in the season, even though they have lost three of their last four games.

"We've got to understand we're 3-3. It's not like we're 0-6," he said. "Let's make sure everybody stays focused and understands it's not over. It's not time to panic. We still have 10 football games. We've got to be prepared to try to win every single one of them."

 

[Da Guru]

If DG starts, would you be more inclined or less inclined to start Reggie Williams?

I'm in the dark here.

If Garrard starts look for a big increase in Wilfords value. Wilford came on strong after Garrard took over last year.

 

[Sputnikv8]

KFFL also reporting Lefty is out this week.

Jaguars | Leftwich OUT for Week 8

Fri, 27 Oct 2006 11:15:58 -0700

Jacksonville Jaguars QB Byron Leftwich (ankle) missed practice Friday, Oct. 27, and will not play in Week 8.

 

[TommyGilmore]

My question is why everyone thinks Leftwich is even in danger of losing his job?His per game numbers last year almost exactly cloned those of McNair's '03 Co-MVP year.

Holy cow you couldn't be more wrong!1. McNair had a 3.4-1 TD-INT ratio -- Leftwich's is 1.4-1.2. McNair's passer rating was 100.4 -- Leftwich's is 79.03. McNair's completion % was 62.5 -- Leftwich's is 59.04. McNair threw for 230 yards per game -- Leftwich averages 193.5. McNair's winning % was .714 -- Leftwich's is .500.I could go on and on. But it's nowhere close to a "clone".

 

[Mr. Brownstone]

Garrard is better.

Instead of blasting you for a useless post, I'm going to try to draw something useful out of you. WHY do you think Garrard is better? What skills does he possess that are a better fit for the Jags than Leftwich? Follow-up question: Since Garrard's playing time has obviously been very limited, how did you draw those conclusions?

Aside from better mobility, better accuracy, non-zero ability to throw a touch pass, and absence of that ridiculous windup on his throws, I'd say Garrard doesn't offer any significant advantages over Patrick Ewing (I mean Leftwich).[/Leftwich hate]

Better accuracy. Are you serious???

 

[LHUCKS]

I think both Lefty and Garrard are good NFL QBs.

 

[Trap Play]

Leftwich out according to ESPN:

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2640823

 

[The Duff Man]

Great. My dynasty QBs are Leftwich, Hasselbeck and Roethlisberger. I picked up Huard to fill in on Wednesday. Thursday I find out he is hurt. Our waiver wire closed Wed night.