Jags DE Hayward Yet to Get Tackle

JAGUARS NOTEBOOK: DE yet to get tackle

By BART HUBBUCH, The Times-Union

Two games into the preseason, the Jaguars don't have much to show for their $10 million investment in defensive end Reggie Hayward.
Hayward, the team's marquee free-agent signing, failed to record a sack, tackle or assist for the second time in as many games Saturday night in a 20-17 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Hayward, who came from Denver in March after notching a career-high 10 1/2 sacks last season, played into the second quarter along with the rest of the Jaguars' starting defense against Tampa Bay but once again did not turn up on the postgame statistical sheet.

That was in sharp contrast to his replacement, Rob Meier, who took over for Hayward at right end just before halftime and immediately sacked backup Tampa Bay quarterback Chris Simms. Meier then moved inside to right tackle and had another sack of Simms on the next play.

"I feel like I'm out there making the plays I'm supposed to make," Hayward said after the Jaguars improved their exhibition mark to 2-0. "It's preseason, so you really can't gauge anything because you're not playing the whole game. Right now, I'm feeling comfortable that I know the system."

Hayward played roughly one quarter in the preseason opener against Miami and provided pressure that led to a Marcus Stroud sack on the Dolphins' first series, but that has been the extent of Hayward's contribution so far.

Hayward insists the Jaguars have no reason to worry about his production.

"The plays are going to come," he said. "They have to come. The more you play, the more opportunities you're going to get. It's just a matter of time and a matter of making that transition to the regular season. My expectations are very high."

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We hear veterans on the Jaguars’ proud defense have been irked by the showmanship of second-year WR Reggie Williams. One observer says Williams has become a “junior T.O.” After dancing in the endzone to celebrate a score during practice drills a day before, Williams began talking trash and taunting CB Chris Thompson, another second-year player who was checking Williams in coverage. “Don’t try me, don’t try me,” was Williams’ cry to Thompson. When Thompson ripped the ball from Williams on a subsequent play, the entire defense shouted toward Williams, “Don’t try me, don’t try me.” One team captain, special-teams demon Nick Sorensen, was outspoken against Williams’ antics, as were a host of others. Team sources also say that rookie WR Matt Jones, questioned prior to the draft because of poor practice habits, has done nothing to prove those critics wrong. Jones hasn’t shown the great speed he did at the Scouting Combine. One fellow receiver says Jones appears to be “running in slow motion.”

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A4toZ said:

I think the Jag fans on their board dispise the TU for their Jag bashing. Regardless, stats don't show everything... how much has Hayward's pressure and playing allowed for other teammates to get to the QB or make a play?


..... but still interesting in a humorous way.

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Team sources also say that rookie WR Matt Jones, questioned prior to the draft because of poor practice habits, has done nothing to prove those critics wrong. Jones hasn’t shown the great speed he did at the Scouting Combine. One fellow receiver says Jones appears to be “running in slow motion.”

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