When Shad Khan bought the Jacksonville Jaguars, he was lucky the media and fans were calling for the head of former head coach Jack Del Rio. Dissatisfaction with the coaching staff’s decisions from play calling to clock management was so strong, Shad Khan’s arrival glimmered in the spotlight like hope personified. “We Khan Do It” t-shirts were promptly printed and Khan mustache replicas were handed out to fans at game time. If we were to measure the success of the new owner in fan welcoming, the Jaguars would already be sure they picked the right guy. With the upcoming season being Khan’s first full season as an NFL team owner, Jaguars fans need to see a fine balance of player development as well as concern for the city of Jacksonville.
As rumors of moving the franchise elsewhere continuously surround the Jaguars, Khan is already displaying a foothold in Jacksonville. Last week, city officials accused the Jaguars of defaulting on their lease for EverBank Field despite following proper procedures in hiring new facility management. Shad Khan immediately wrote a letter to Mayor Alvin Brown indicating Khan’s robust involvement in the economic growth of Jacksonville, including promoting the city in Europe. Khan’s defense of the Jaguars retaining their home came as a command for the city to drop the default claim rather than the Jaguars negotiate new terms. Thanks to Khan’s leadership, the default claim was immediately withdrawn.
Fan are grasping at evidence the Jaguars are progressing as a team in the offseason. According to a Jacksonville.com report, Shad Khan asked General Manager Gene Smith to pursue Tim Tebow in trade talks. Although Tebow did not “come home” to the Jaguars, Khan only saw minimal criticism as “JUDA15” t-shirts were sold and the team began rolling out new offensive plans. The Jaguars do not need Tim Tebow. The Jaguars do not even need a star quarterback. What the Jaguars need is a strong motivator and development specialist. Luckily, the new head coach, Mike Mularkey, has the same ideas as Khan when it comes to spicing a young team with veteran talent.
Both Mularkey and Khan were directly involved with the NFL Draft decisions this year. Taking WR Justin Blackmon at 5th overall and DE Andre Branch 38th in the second round showed an initiative Jaguars fans have not seen since the draft of WR Marcedes Lewis. However, Blackmon has presented Khan with his first disciplinary debacle after being arrested for a second DUI in 2 years on June 3rd. The new CBA agreement may prevent the NFL from punishing Blackmon, but it will be interesting to see if Khan takes the same “YOU fix the problem” approach on the field as he does off the field.
In order to even out the new blood, Khan adds WR Laurent Robinson who has played for 4 other teams in 5 years. Last year on the Cowboys, Robinson stepped in for numerous injuries in the receiving core, posting 11 touchdowns for the year. Paired with Marcedes Lewis, Robinson will display leadership not only for the rookie Blackmon, but also for the underwhelming Jaguars receiving squad.
Mindful the receivers need to be thrown the ball, Khan has given second year QB Blaine Gabbert the proper tools to develop after shock treatment from last year’s lockout. Bringing in former Miami Dolphins QB Chad Henne as Gabbert’s mentor is Khan’s smartest decision yet. Jaguars.com reports Gabbert as improving in all areas from balance to follow through, but let’s say Gabbert still has to put the entire offensive load on star RB Maurice Jones-Drew. Henne can take some of the pressure of the running game with his proven ability to lead receivers rather than forcing the ball through coverage. This coming season can be rough with starting personnel changes every game, but it has to be a winning season to keep filling the newly reopened seats at EverBank Field.
In order to nurture his positive image, Shad Khan’s trade and draft decisions must impress this year, and quickly. Jaguars fans love seeing Jones-Drew punch through the defense for touchdowns, but we are desperate to watch the ball sail into the endzone. With his “stand your ground” attitude, Shad Khan has already shown the NFL the Jaguars are here to stay. The performance of the players will ultimately decide whether or not Khan’s quick promise to bring a Super Bowl to Jacksonville was a wise one.
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