By the end of 2007, the Jacksonville Jaguars seemed to be one of those up-and-coming, safe AFC playoff teams, not quite on par with Peyton Manning and the division rival Indianapolis Colts, but certainly a franchise to be reckoned with. Coach Jack Del Rio hadn’t had a losing season since debuting in 2003, and the Jaguars were so confident 2008 would be their year they spent big money on free agents, notably Jerry Porter, and talked as if they were Super Bowl contenders.

Then they went out and won a mere five contests. Del Rio didn’t get all the blame, obviously, as he’s still around, but another year like the last one and he likely won’t be. The Jaguars suddenly became a team in dissension on and off the field, and there were many offseason changes in an effort to get the franchise back on track. Front-office members are gone, the wide receiver corps and offensive line look a lot different, and the team’s all-time leading rusher is now plying his trade for another AFC playoff hopeful, setting up Maurice Jones-Drew to become a fantasy monster.

One could argue the Jaguars have nowhere to go but up after a very disappointing season, but then again, with so much pressure on so many key figures, from quarterback David Garrard to other skill players on offense to the coach, maybe that’s just not true.

Article via ESPN, written by Eric Karabell – http://sports.espn.go.com/fantasy/football/ffl/story?page=nfldk2k9jaguarscamppreview