FanHouse MarcusStroud

Training camps are underway, the NFL season is right around the corner, and to get you ready for 2008, FanHouse previews all 32 teams, "heat index" style. We'll rate each club in 10 categories on a scale of 1 to 10, high score wins.

Quarterback: The J.P Losman era has come to its logical conclusion. Which is to say, he probably won't be around after this season. Trent Edwards, the team's 2007 third-round pick is now the starter, and if the Bills are to have any chance to improve on last year's 7-9 record, it will lie largely with him. Heat Index: 5

Running backs: Marshawn Lynch had a relatively quiet offseason until he accidentally ran over a pedestrian and bonked out before the cops showed up. The case has been settled, and he won't miss any time, which is great news for a Bills offense that can't afford to lose one of its best players. I suspect the hit-and-run victim might feel differently, however. Fred Jackson is more than capable behind Lynch. Heat Index: 8

The Jacksonville Jaguars still have plenty of salary cap space to burn, even after the signings of receiver Jerry Porter, cornerback Drayton Florence, and backup QBs Cleo Lemon and Todd Bouman.

Maybe they should start focusing on the defensive line next. The Jaguars lost two potential starters on the defensive line over the weekend, with defensive tackle Marcus Stroud being traded to Buffalo for 3rd-round and 5th-round picks and defensive end Bobby McCray signing with New Orleans for 5 years and $20 million.

McCray was always ready to leave Jacksonville, as he racked up 10 sacks in 2006 but remained a backup behind Reggie Hayward and Paul Spicer in 2007 -- "here to go," as we used to say when I was a prostitute. Stroud, meanwhile, was sent away after a season fraught with injury and steroid trouble. Rob Meier filled in admirably for him late in the season, but the Jags know they can do better.

The only question is whether the Jags will attempt to upgrade that line in free agency or in the draft. Given the free agents currently available, I suspect Shack Harris will choose the latter.

The Jacksonville Jaguars are looking to trade defensive tackle Marcus Stroud, agent Drew Rosenhaus said today on ESPN First Take.

When healthy, Stroud has been one of the best defensive tackles in the NFL, and he was an all-pro in 2003, 2004 and 2005.. But he turns 30 in June and has missed 12 games in the last two years, which calls into question whether the Jaguars want to keep paying out the hefty salaries on the five-year contract he signed with the Jaguars in 2006. Stroud's three remaining seasons have base salaries of $5 million in 2008, $5.5 million in 2009 and $6 million in 2010.

The most obvious potential suitor for Stroud's services would be the Atlanta Falcons, whose new head coach, Mike Smith, was Stroud's defensive coordinator in Jacksonville the last five years. Smith likes using big tackles in the middle of his defensive line, and Stroud certainly qualifies there.

The Jacksonville Jaguars seem to be proving the old adage that depth is good until you have to use it.

Most defenses couldn't handle the losses of middle linebacker Mike Peterson, who broke his hand three weeks ago, and defensive tackle Marcus Stroud, who was placed on injured reserve this week after injuring his ankle last Sunday. He previously missed four games because of a steroid suspension.

The Jaguars, though, seem to be getting along without them. Since Stroud's suspension began, Jacksonville is 4-2 with only road losses to the Colts, who are 11-2, and the Saints, who have a well-coached offense. Veterans Rob Meier and Grady Jackson have filled in well for Stroud, and linebackers Daryl Smith and Justin Durant have been solid in Peterson's absence. More importantly, the Jags haven't allowed an opponent to run for more than 100 yards in the last five weeks.

That run defense and its depth, however, will be tested in Pittsburgh on Sunday. We may find out then just how much the Jaguars miss guys like Stroud and Peterson. The only thing we know for sure is that they can't afford any more injuries on defense right now.

Few things went wrong for the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday, but the one thing that did was a pretty big one.

Playing in his first game back after a four-game steroid suspension, defensive tackle Marcus Stroud sprained his right ankle yesterday on the first play from scrimmage in the second half. He did not return to the game, and depending on the severity of the sprain, he could miss the rest of the regular season.

The Jaguars may now have to finish the season without two central players in their defense. Middle linebacker Mike Peterson broke his hand three weeks ago and isn't expected back until the playoffs begin, if then.

Blame DeShaun Foster for this one, Jaguars fans. If he had ever learned how to take care of the football, he might not have coughed up the ball, and the resulting scrum wouldn't have gotten Stroud injured. Foster now has seven fumbles on the season. In fact, you might as well blame Panthers head coach John Fox for this, since he refuses to start the better running back.

The Jacksonville Jaguars signed defensive tackle Grady Jackson yesterday, and today we may have learned why they suddenly decided they were in the market for a run-plugger in the middle.

Pro Football Talk, citing a report from radio station 1010XL in Jacksonville, says that Jaguars defensive tackle Marcus Stroud will be suspended soon for violating the NFL's policy on anabolic steroids and related substances.

The report says that Stroud's A sample tested positive and that there are not yet results back from his B sample. Stroud will have the opportunity to appeal but will most likely be suspended four games.

Denver's quest for a 3-0 start would get a boost if John Henderson of the Jaguars misses the first game of his NFL career. Henderson is doubtful because of a head injury he suffered against the Falcons last Sunday and hasn't practiced all week. If he does miss the game it would end the sixth-year veteran's consecutive games played streak at 82, which is equal to the number of games the Jags have played during his career.

That streak is a testament to Henderson's durability and the fact that he's started 78 of those games tells you how good he's been since entering the league. His absence would be a big benefit to the Broncos offense. Henderson and Marcus Stroud, also nicked up, are nearly impossible to clear from the middle of the line on running plays and passes find them collapsing the pocket. That puts the quarterback on the move, ups the chances of a rushed throw and can lead to the kind of turnovers that bedeviled Jay Cutler in Oakland last weekend.

No Henderson doesn't mean disaster for the Jaguars, however. Likely replacement Rob Meier has 11 sacks over the last two seasons although he started just nine games. He doesn't have the same bulk that the two-time Pro Bowler does, though, and won't offer the same resistance to the running game. That's good news for Travis Henry and good news for Mike Shanahan who hardly needs help composing a winning offensive gameplan. With Gerald Sensabaugh placed on injured reserve earlier this week the Jags are well below 100% for Sunday. That's a dangerous way to enter a road game with a team piling up 450 yards of offense a week.

To get you ready for week 3, FanHouse is previewing all 16 NFL games. Here is the Jacksonville Jaguars/Denver Broncos preview.

2007 Records:
Jacksonville Jaguars: 1-1 (t-2nd in AFC South)
Denver Broncos: 2-0 (1st in AFC West)

Last Week:
Jacksonville 13, Atlanta 7
Denver 23, Oakland 20 (OT)

Last Meeting: October 2, 2005 – Denver 20, Jacksonville 7.

When the Jaguars have the ball: The Jaguars desperately need to establish their running game and may have a chance against a defense that gave up 156 yards to Lamont Jordan. The Broncos will load the line to stop Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew from getting on track but need to do a better job at the point of attack. With the focus on stopping the run there will be chances for David Garrard to make big plays down the field. He's been very good through the first two weeks but the Jags haven't turned his success into enough points. If Jack Del Rio calling Matt Jones lazy lights a fire under the wideout it would help them find the end zone. Integrating six new starters and moving D.J. Williams to middle linebacker has left the Broncos learning on the fly. That should give the Jaguars an opportunity to finally gain some momentum offensively.

You would think this game is the kind the NFL wants. Two teams fighting for one of the last playoff spots available, playing in one of the great venues in all of sports. Two teams with well-respected head coaches. Two teams that, at one point in the season, many thought would make some noise in the playoffs.

It almost seems like the NFL is giving the Chiefs and Jaguars a bit of a short shrift, doesn't it? There isn't much hoopla surrounding this game, but it should be a really good one. Neither team is going to let up, both teams will be scoreboard-watching, and both teams will be playing with a sense of desperation.

When the Chiefs run the ball

We have all heard it. Larry Johnson is about to set the attempts record for running backs, and no, he is not terribly happy about it. Nonetheless, he will have to do it if the Chiefs are going to score some points. The problem is that it will not be easy. The Jaguars boast one of the finest defensive lines in the league, and the defense goes as the line goes. I am not going to mince words-- the Jaguars' defensive tackles are awesome. They make me jealous. If the Chiefs' defensive tackles could make half the impact that Marcus Stroud and John Henderson make, the Chiefs' defense could be a top 10 defense.

Thus, we have the makings of a terrific matchup. The strength of the Chiefs' offensive line is up the middle. The strength of the Jaguars' defensive line is up the middle. This will be a battle of 300-pound titans, and Johnson will have to win a couple of those battles for the Chiefs to have a chance.