Jags are in a 'rush' to imitate Giants success

The Giants' Super Bowl victory is three months old. But their defensive blueprint for success was hardly forgotten during the NFL draft last weekend.

The Jaguars clearly took notice by selecting defensive ends with their first two picks. The Jets want us to believe they are thrilled with Vernon Gholston, whom they'd love to envision planting Tom Brady on the turf. And as Bill Parcells appears to be distancing himself from his best player, pass rusher and dancer, Jason Taylor, he picked a defensive end in round two and three of his first draft as Dolphins executive.

Pass rushers always come at a premium. But bringing the pass rush in waves with a stable of defensive linemen might be the Giants' lingering legacy from disrupting Brady like no team ever has in such a big spot.

Suddenly, no one is worried about drafting defensive ends early -- as the Giants did with Justin Tuck in 2005 and Mathias Kiwanuka in 2006 -- even if the position is not a pressing need.

"They took (defensive) ends the last few years (and) people wondered why," Jacksonville coach Jack Del Rio said. "Now, all of a sudden, instead of criticizing them like we have for the last few years, everyone (says), 'That's the thing to do.' "

The Jags were desperate for players capable of pressuring the quarterback. But not just any quarterback. They are an anemic 1-8, including the postseason, the past three years against Brady and Peyton Manning while going 31-11 against the rest of the league. If the Jags can't beat Peyton, they'll never win the AFC South.

In January's playoffs, Jacksonville had a strangely passive defensive game plan against the Patriots that resulted in one sack of Brady, who completed all but two of his 28 passes.

A couple of weeks later, the Giants battered Brady, sacking him five times in the Super Bowl.

So the Jags traded up in each of the first two rounds, selecting defensive ends Derrick Harvey of Florida and Quentin Groves of Auburn.

"Defensive linemen rarely fall to you," Del Rio said. "We brought in an aggressive mentality (to the draft), and I think you've seen the result."

http://www.nj.com/columns/ledger/graziano/index.ssf?/base/columns-0/1209875744185770.xml&coll=1

Jagsbch,

Do you really think the Jaguars are the only team in the NFL that are wanting to duplicate the Giants success?

I think not, this is why, one the Jaguars have made a stand that they want to be the best defense in the game. Also there are many teams that know that you need tons of pass rush if you are going to get QBs like Peyton Manning, Tom Brady and Drew Brees to slow down there onslaught of passing attack on you. Just look at the Jags / Saints game with 450 yrds passing.

The Giants had soemthing other did not, a pass rush that was a true force to reckon with.

When the Jags played the Patriots the only thing that stopped the Jags from going on to the AFC Championship was two drop passes from Matt Jones and Dennis Northcut.

The Defense did the best they could with 12 players on IR last season.

Not counting the number of players that were already hurt and still wanting to play.

When the Giants played the Pats in the Superbowl the difference was an Oline that  could not with stand the consent brutal force of the Giants defense to control the passing and rushing game.

Eli Manning was great and had the ability to move around in teh pocket to get to his WRs, the difference there was that the Giants OL was able to hold off the aging Pats Defense that became critical at the wrong moment and intern cost them the game.

This years Jags will look just like the 2000 Ravens(Del Rio LB Coach) and 2002 Panthers (Del Rio DC) the difference is age, size and having Gregg Williams that will bring the house in more way than he could with the Redskins

INFL, 

You beat me to it...I just stating that the Jags roster resembles the Ravens roster as far as the defense:

Piece by Piece:

Reggie Nelson: Younger version of Ed Reed - Same Ability

Gerald Sensabaugh: Similar to Will Demps

Derrick Harvey: D Line Coach compared him to Terrell Suggs

Mike Perterson: A smaller version of Ray Lewis

Rashean Mathis:  Chris Mccalister

Q Groves:  Peter Bowleware type of player.

Scott Starks: Duane Starks like player.

When you really break it down, it scary.  I can't wait to see how all the pieces come together this season.

As far as the Giants success.  The Giants have two DE that are probowlers on both side and Justin Tuck could start for any other team.  I don't know any other team that has 3 pass rushing ends that play at such a high level.  The Jags are hoping that they can get one of those type players in Harvey/Groves.  If both pan out, skies is the limit.