Jags sign punter Nick Harris, release Matt Turk
Posted: October 11, 2011 Filed under: Jacksonville Jaguars | Tags: Matt Turk, punter, Nick Harris 2 Comments »
Welcome to Jacksonville Nick Harris! Here is the official release:
Jaguars sign punter Nick Harris, release punter Matt Turk
The Jacksonville Jaguars today signed free agent punter Nick Harris and released veteran punter Matt Turk. Harris is in his 11th NFL season and has spent time with Denver, Cincinnati and Detroit. The Jaguars also waived tight end Brett Brackett from the practice squad. Also, linebacker Jacob Cutrera was signed from the Jaguars practice squad to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers active roster.
Harris, who will wear jersey number 2, has played in 159 games since entering the league as a fourth-round draft pick of the Broncos in 2001. He has punted 804 times for 34,138 yards with a 42.5-yard average and 35.3 net with 226 punts downed inside the 20. He missed only one game from 2001-10.
The 33-year old Harris spent the past seven seasons with the Lions where he punted 90 times for a 44.6-yard gross average (35.8 net) in 2010. He had 24 punts downed inside the 20. He holds Lions franchise records in punts (627) and punting yards (27,074) and ranks third in gross punting average (43.2). He played the 2001-02 seasons and the first five games of the 2003 season with the Bengals before signing with the Lions.
In 2006, Harris ranked fifth in the NFL in gross punting (45.0 avg.) and tied for eighth with a 38.2-yard net average. He led the NFL in 2005 with a career-high 34 punts downed inside the 20.
A native of Phoenix, Arizona, Harris was regarded as one of the nation’s premier punters during his collegiate career at California where he earned his bachelor’s degree in American studies and a master’s degree in education. He attended Westview High School in Arizona where he played linebacker, running back and wide receiver.
24 hours later….JDR Monday edition of that’s what he said
Posted: October 10, 2011 Filed under: Jacksonville Jaguars, Jags Audio | Tags: defense, Jack Del Rio, Blaine Gabbert, offense, Bengals, Matt Turk Leave a comment »
So I am aware of the 24 hour rule. But here we are, a day removed from Jacksonville’s heartbreaking loss to the Cincinnatti Bengals, and for some reason, it doesn’t feel any less dissapointing. I’m sure JDR feels the same way, but I’ll give him credit–he seemed much more composed today than he did when he was sitting at that post game press conference around this time yesterday. Now that the head coach has had a chance to “cool off,” let’s hear what he had to say in today’s edition of JDR: that’s what he said:
Here are Del Rio’s opening comments to today’s presser: JDR1
The comment was then made that “adversity reveals character” followed by the inquiry as to what JDR has seen out of his team in the past 24 hours: JDR2
I then had a chance to ask Del Rio about Blaine in particular and how he has handled the tough start to the season, especially as a rookie: JDR3
JDR was then asked whether or not the lock out has been a contributing factor to where they are right now: JDR4
Matt Turk didn’t win any one over yesterday with both his punting and his goading of the crowd to boo him afterwards. Jack agreed that that was no good: JDR5 (side note: JDR also confirmed today that the team will be trying out punters tomorrow.)
Because there’s been such a focus on the negative, Jack was asked to help us see what is positive about this team right now: JDR6
And finally, fans were frustrated that twice the Jags chose to kick field goals rather than try to punch it in on 4th down in the red zone. JDR explained why the decision was made to take the 3 pts: JDR7
I’ll let you know as soon as I hear an update on the punter situation…
And the wheels keep falling off; Loss to Bengals aftermath
Posted: October 9, 2011 Filed under: Jacksonville Jaguars, Jags Audio | Tags: defense, Jack Del Rio, Blaine Gabbert, offense, Marcedes Lewis, Brad Meester, Bengals, speical teams, Matt Turk, Mauirce Jones-Drew Leave a comment »
No sarcasm today. No jokes or quotes or movie references. That was just… awful. I can’t remember the last time I have seen a team unravel so quickly in the last two minutes of a game. From Matt Turk’s punt to the last second score by the Bengals after the botched lateral. Enough of my words though. Because Jack Del Rio and the players have enough to say. And just a warning, it’s not pretty…
Let’s start with JDR. Here’s the head coach’s words following the 20 to 30 final: JDR1
Del Rio was then asked about what he thought happened on the botched snap in the fnal minutes of the game: JDR2
Del Rio has said repeatedly that he thinks he has a good football team. Because of that, the question came up concerning whether he sees his guys making the plays in practice and just not executing them in game time situations: JDR3
Jack then addressed the punting and the punt returns: JDR4
Defense was up next: JDR5
Jack then talked about already being on the hot seat and how much this loss will play even more into that: JDR6
So will there be any personnel changes as far as players who aren’t getting the job done? JDR7
So is it safe to say this is the toughest loss Del Rio has experienced as head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars? JDR8
Now that we’ve heard from Del Rio, let’s hear from a few players on their reaction to this loss and more:
First, here’s Maurice Jones-Drew with his opening thoughts after the loss: MJD1
Next up, QB Blaine Gabbert on the botched snap: Gabbert1
According to C Brad Meester however, the blame fell to him: Meester1
Blaine was then asked if he thought that,after hitting Jason HIll for the 74 yd touchdown pass, that would be enough to put it away. Here’s what he had to say: Gabbert2
Gabbert isn’t the only one frustrated though. Here’s tight end Marcedes Lewis with how he feels following today’s game: Lewis1
Marcedes was targeted twice at the goal line and couldn’t convert on either attempt. He addressed both of those plays after the game: Lewis2
It’s dark days down at Everbank Field right now. And Jacksonville’s schedule doesn’t get any easier. The only silver lining of today’s game was that we were all given a box of Jelly Belly Jelly Beans to commemorate Ronald Reagan’s 100th birthday. I’m going to go drown my sorrows in some toasted marshmallows….
