The 2011 season was the Jacksonville Jaguars' 17th in the National Football League (NFL). It was also their ninth season under head coach Jack Del Rio, but he was fired on November 29 after going 3–8 in the team's first 11 games and replaced on an interim basis by defensive coordinator Mel Tucker. Del Rio finished his tenure in Jacksonville with an overall 69–73 record in the regular season and 1–2 in the playoffs. He was also just 4 wins shy of surpassing his predecessor, Tom Coughlin, as the winningest head coach in Jaguars history. The Jaguars had hoped to improve on their 8–8 record from 2010, but exceeded their loss total in Week 13, and were officially eliminated from postseason contention. With the 10th pick in the 2011 NFL draft, they selected quarterback Blaine Gabbert from the University of Missouri, and Gabbert would replace Luke McCown as the starting quarterback in Week 3.
The 2011 season saw a dramatic increase in production from the Jaguars defense. This was due in part to offseason acquisitions Dwight Lowery, Dawan Landry and Drew Coleman in the secondary; linebackers Clint Session and Paul Posluszny; and defensive linemen Matt Roth and John Chick. The development of players such as Terrance Knighton, Tyson Alualu, and Jeremy Mincey also helped improve the pass rush. Even after suffering a multitude of injuries, the Jaguars defense managed to finish with the sixth-ranked overall defense in the NFL, having finished 28th overall previous season. Jacksonville's offense, however, was not as efficient. The Jaguars finished last in the NFL in passing yards and total offensive yards gained in 2011.
Offseason
Players added Pos. Player 2010 TeamCB Drew Coleman New York JetsS Dawan Landry Baltimore RavensLB Paul Posluszny Buffalo BillsDE Matt Roth Cleveland BrownsLB Clint Session Indianapolis ColtsG Jason Spitz Green Bay Packers
Players lost Pos. Player 2011 TeamQB Todd Bouman S Don Carey Detroit LionsS Sean Considine Carolina PanthersLB Justin Durant Detroit LionsQB Trent Edwards Oakland RaidersQB David Garrard DE Derrick Harvey Denver BroncosG Vince Manuwai LB Kirk Morrison Buffalo BillsP Adam Podlesh Chicago BearsWR Mike Sims-Walker St. Louis Rams
NFL draft
The Jaguars acquired this first-round selection in a trade that sent a 2011 first-round and a second-round selection to the Washington Redskins. The Jaguars acquired this third-round selection in a trade that sent a 2011 third-round and a sixth-round selection to the San Francisco 49ers. The Jaguars acquired this fourth-round selection in a trade that sent a 2010 fifth-round selection to the New Orleans Saints. The Jaguars traded their seventh-round selection to the Miami Dolphins in exchange for G Justin Smiley.
Undrafted free agents
+ 2011 undrafted free agents of notePlayerPositionCollegeArmon BinnsWide receiverCincinnatiCameron BradfieldTackleGrand Valley StateCole BrodieCornerbackSouth Dakota StateGreg EllingsonWide receiverFIUMatt EstradaSafetyNorthern ArizonaTommy GallardaTight endBoise StateWade GraysonGuardArkansasBrandon HarperGuardDukeDuJuan HarrisRunning backTroyT. J. HeathCornerbackJacksonville StateDontrelle InmanWide receiverVirginiaJalil JohnsonCornerbackJackson StateAndrew LewisDefensive tackleSyracuseMike LockleyLinebackerFlorida AtlanticScott LutrusLinebackerUConn
Staff Jacksonville Jaguars 2011 staff Front office Chairman/CEO – Wayne Weaver Senior vice president of football operations/general counsel – Paul Vance General manager/senior vice president of player personnel – Gene Smith Director of football administration – Tim Walsh Director of player personnel – Terry McDonough Assistant director of pro personnel – Louis Clark Assistant director of college personnel – Tim Mingey
Head coaches Head coach – Jack Del Rio
Offensive coaches Offensive coordinator – Dirk Koetter Quarterbacks – Mike Sheppard Running backs – Earnest Byner Wide receivers – Johnny Cox Tight ends – Rob Boras Offensive line – Andy Heck Assistant offensive line – Ron Heller Offensive quality control – Matt Griffin Defensive coaches Interim head coach/defensive coordinator – Mel Tucker Defensive line – Joe Cullen Assistant defensive line – Paul Spicer Linebackers – Mark Duffner Defensive backs – Cory Undlin Assistant defensive backs – Thom Kaumeyer Defensive quality control – Brandon Blaney
Special teams coaches Special teams coordinator – Russ Purnell Assistant special teams – Craig Aukerman Assistant special teams – Nate Kaczor
Strength and conditioning Strength and conditioning – Luke Richesson Assistant strength and conditioning – Jason George Strength staff assistant – Mike Eubanks Strength staff assistant – Anthony Lomando
Final roster
Preseason
Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 August 11 at New England Patriots L 12–47 0–1 Gillette Stadium Recap 2 August 19 Atlanta Falcons W 15–13 1–1 EverBank Field Recap 3 August 27 at Buffalo Bills 1–2 Ralph Wilson Stadium Recap 4 September 1 St. Louis Rams L 17–24 1–3 EverBank Field Recap
Regular season
Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 September 11 Tennessee Titans W 16–14 1–0 EverBank Field Recap 2 September 18 at New York Jets L 3–32 1–1 MetLife Stadium Recap 3 September 25 at Carolina Panthers L 10–16 1–2 Bank of America Stadium Recap 4 October 2 New Orleans Saints L 10–23 1–3 EverBank Field Recap 5 October 9 Cincinnati Bengals L 20–30 1–4 EverBank Field Recap 6 October 16 at Pittsburgh Steelers L 13–17 1–5 Heinz Field Recap 7 Baltimore Ravens W 12–7 2–5 EverBank Field Recap 8 October 30 at Houston Texans L 14–24 2–6 Reliant Stadium Recap 9 Bye 10 November 13 at Indianapolis Colts W 17–3 3–6 Lucas Oil Stadium Recap 11 November 20 at Cleveland Browns L 10–14 3–7 Cleveland Browns Stadium Recap 12 November 27 Houston Texans L 13–20 3–8 EverBank Field Recap 13 San Diego Chargers L 14–38 3–9 EverBank Field Recap 14 December 11 Tampa Bay Buccaneers W 41–14 4–9 EverBank Field Recap 15 at Atlanta Falcons L 14–41 4–10 Georgia Dome Recap 16 December 24 at Tennessee Titans L 17–23 4–11 LP Field Recap 17 January 1 Indianapolis Colts W 19–13 5–11 EverBank Field Recap Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Game summaries
Week 1: vs. Tennessee Titans
Week 2: at New York Jets
Week 3: at Carolina Panthers
Week 4: vs. New Orleans Saints
Week 5: vs. Cincinnati Bengals
The loss ended the Jaguars' seven-game home winning streak against the Bengals and marked their first home defeat to Cincinnati since the 1995 season.
Week 6: at Pittsburgh Steelers
Week 7: vs. Baltimore Ravens
Week 8: at Houston Texans
Week 10: at Indianapolis Colts
Week 11: at Cleveland Browns
Week 12: vs. Houston Texans
Week 13: vs. San Diego Chargers
Week 14: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Week 15: at Atlanta Falcons
Week 16: at Tennessee Titans
Week 17: vs. Indianapolis Colts
Standings Division
Conference
Awards and records Maurice Jones-Drew, Franchise Record, Most Rushing Yards in One Season (1,606). Maurice Jones-Drew, 2011 NFL Rushing Yards Leader.
References