| These fans got their wish on Monday. (US Presswire) |
The decision to fire Jaguars GM Gene Smith wasn't made simply because of a 2-14 campaign in 2012. And it wasn't made because the Jaguarslost to the Titans 38-20 in Nashville on Sunday in the season finale.
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It had more to do with what happened the past four Aprils as opposed to anything that happened on a Sunday. Smith's four drafts as GM yielded the Jaguars no Pro Bowl selections. Here's a quick recap of who he picked:
2009 (overall pick)
(8) T Eugene Monroe; (39) G Eben Britton; (72) DT Terrance Knighton; (73) CB Derek Cox; (107) WR Mike Thomas; (144) WR Jarett Dilliard; (180) TE Zach Miller ; (250) RB Rashad Jennings; (253) WR Tiquan Underwood.
2010
(10) DT Tyson Alualu; (74) DT D'Anthony Smith; (143) DE Larry Hart; (153) DE Austen Lane; (180) RB Deji Karim; (203) CB Scotty McGee.
2011
(10) QB Blaine Gabbert; (76) G Will Rackley; (114) WR Cecil Shorts; (121) S Chris Prosinski; (147) CB Rod Isaac.
2012
(5) WR Justin Blackmon; (38) DE Andre Branch; (70) P Bryan Anger; (142) LB Brandon Marshall; (176) CB Mike Harris; (228) DT Jeris Pendleton.
Despite having four top-10 picks during his tenure, the Jags' overall talent level hasn't improved during the past few seasons. Many of Smith's top draft picks haven't been complete busts, but they have failed to develop into the impact players Jacksonville needs to be competitive.
Picking Gabbert is the decision that Smith will be linked with the most. Gabbert had a disastrous rookie season in 2011 and despite efforts to protect him better and to surround him with better players, he only made small strides in 2012 before an arm injury ended his season early.Monroe has developed into a quality starter at LT, but Britton, who was picked in the second round in 2009, has failed to develop. The top four picks in 2010 were aimed at fixing the DL. Hart is no longer on the team and the other three picks -- Alualu, Smith and Lane -- have been inconsistent.
Smith took a lot of heat in 2012 for drafting a punter in third round, though Anger had a great year. Branch really struggled and fell out of the regular rotation, while Blackmon came on strong in the second half of the season and appears to be on his way to being a good pick.
The picks weren't all bad for Smith. He found Cox, an emerging top CB, in the third round in 2009. Shorts is also developing into one of the league's top young receivers. He was a bargain in the fourth round of 2011.
Smith made a few good selections, but he just didn't make enough during the past four years to keep his job.
For more Jaguars news and analysis, follow Daniel Lewis @CBSJags.