by Joe Wilhelm Jr.
Staff Writer
Jacksonville Jaguars owner Wayne Weaver saw progress in his organization this year, not that there wasn’t disappointment.
During a news conference Monday at EverBank Field, Weaver explained that he expects his organization to continue to improve from this year’s 8-8 record and “compete at the very highest level. We will be in the playoffs next year. I don’t think there is any doubt about it.”
Weaver announced that Head Coach Jack Del Rio will continue to lead the team.
“When you look back at the things we have accomplished, I think we have grown a strong culture,” said Weaver. “I think we are stronger by keeping this group together.”
Fan support began to drop for Del Rio as the Jaguars finished the season with a three-game losing streak. But Weaver spent Monday morning talking with eight to 10 players about the future of the Jaguars and continued the conversation with Del Rio in the afternoon.
During those sessions, Weaver said he was convinced that his team was close to taking the next step toward progress and that replacing Del Rio would be a “knee-jerk” reaction.
Though Del Rio will stay at the helm next season, there will be changes.
“I believe very strongly that it is hard for a head coach to be a coordinator and call the plays. I’ve asked Jack to step back on that and take charge of game day the way head coaches need to,” said Weaver.
“I think he will have a better overall view of making sure that he is on top of the game during the game. I’ve been critical of our football team in the past of not making adjustments during the game, and it will give Jack a chance to be more aware of everything that is going on the field,” he said.
Weaver also challenged defensive coordinator Mel Tucker to be more creative with the blitzes by disguising them better and not being so “vanilla.”
The front office didn’t escape challenges.
When asked, Weaver didn’t have a kind description for the Touchdown Club seats that are directly behind the benches of home and visiting teams. Because of the location, they are constantly in the background during the football game and aren’t the most densely filled seats in the stadium.
“When you look out from where I sit, the east stands (Touchdown Club) are an eyesore,” said Weaver. “I’ve challenged our ticket sales department to figure out a better way to sell our premium seats. We’ve reduced prices, but we have got to come up with a plan to make those seats more affordable. They are 60 percent of our gate.”
While the Jaguars have challenges, some of the community leaders in the Team Teal ticket drive said they will continue their support.
“The (Team Teal) effort was very important for Jacksonville. I think it was very successful,” said Wayne Hogan, a Team Teal member and attorney at Terrell Hogan.
“The fact that we had no blackouts means that the community came together to support the Jaguars, who had a surprising season that ended when we had injuries to key players. But it certainly bodes well for next year and years to come,” said Hogan.
“The Weavers are due a tremendous amount of credit for sticking with Jacksonville while Jacksonville stuck with them,” said Hogan.
He plans to continue supporting the Jaguars and didn’t believe Jacksonville was shortchanged by a team that finished the season with three losses.
“When you look around the league, there are many cities that have teams that didn’t have anything close to a shot at the playoffs,” said Hogan.
“Notwithstanding having had marquee players, marquee coaches, and they didn’t get nearly as far as the Jaguars did,” he said.
Former Florida Times-Union Publisher Carl Cannon was part of Touchdown Jacksonville, a group developed in the early 1990s to convince the NFL that Jacksonville could support an NFL team. The group was revived in 2009 to generate enthusiasm for ticket sales and help eliminate television blackouts. He doesn’t see the group fading away anytime soon.
“Touchdown Jacksonville, the group that started the effort to sell the tickets, was extremely pleased with the response from the fans this season,” said Cannon.
“The team could have done a little bit better, but I think we probably had three or four of the best games I’ve seen in the stadium in the last 10 years take place this season. I think the fans got their money’s worth and we are looking forward to next year,” he said.
While having hoped for better than an 8-8 season, he said few people he has spoken to regretted being part of the Jaguars this season.
“Most of the people, especially first-time ticket buyers, were happy to be a part of it,” said Cannon.
“From that standpoint, I don’t think that anyone is disappointed with their investment. As fans, we all want our team to win, but we are pleased with the effort that was put forward,” he said.
Cannon was pleased with the efforts on and off the field. “Team Teal” was created to rally season ticket holders to bring more fans into EverBank Field and avoid television blackouts, giving the Jaguars the 12th man advantage. Team Teal Commissioner Tony Boselli oversees a group of 500 team captains who have helped to “Revive the Pride,” the organization’s motto.
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