imported_Taylor#21

Jaguars release Darius
Young players emerge

By Vic Ketchman, jaguars.com senior editor
06/14/07

The youth movement at safety has officially begun, as the Jaguars informed Donovin Darius on Thursday morning that the team was releasing him. So ends the Jaguars career of the player who has started more games than any other defensive player in franchise history.

An influx of young talent at the safety position would seem to be at the root of Darius’ release. He’s coming off a season in which he sustained a broken leg in a week-11 game against the New York Giants. He missed 14 games in 2005 after suffering a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his knee.

The Jaguars used their 2007 first-round draft choice on safety Reggie Nelson, then added safety Josh Gattis in round five. Third-year safety Gerald Sensabaugh is expected to step into a starting spot.

Darius had been sidelined during spring practices while he recovered from his broken leg.

Jaguars.com will update this story following Thursday morning’s practice.

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"Hallo, meine dispatcher says there is something wrong mit deine Kabel?"

krzyroone

Man - that kind of sucks. I always liked Darius but I guess he's had a bit of the injury bug the last few years. He was always a good pro.

imported_steadypimpin

some team will pick him up for sure.

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VDavis85n'uffsaid 12/9/04 - 5/10/07 You will not be missed



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Predator

I wasn't expecting this to happen this year... but it's not a huge suprise. Sensabaugh has shown he can play. Looks like Nelson/Sensabaugh as our safeties. Definitely going to be an elite cover team... our run support will be hurt a bit with Darius out though. Our linebackers are going to need to play awesome, and stay healthy.

klh7768

I think it's a big surprise.............yeah he might have been released in a year or two and as a Jags fan you might have smelled that one out..............but not the rest of us. Now who will pick him up............

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DawkinsINT

If he can come back healthy, he would look great next to Brian Dawkins....

Bobo

If he still has one lef to run on, he's better than Lameont Thompson. And with the odd idea of turning Mike Griffin into a CB, we may be a nice fit for him....I don't think there's many Titans players left from the good ole days that would hate the guy anyway

Predator

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(klh7768 @ Jun 14th ) [snapback]2025441[/snapback]</div>He's missed most of the past 2 seasons anyways.

Predator

Jags need to fill big shoes
Del Rio gives overview


By Vic Ketchman, jaguars.com senior editor
06/14/07



Gerald Sensabaugh says he’s ready to go, but he acknowledges that he’ll be attempting to fill very big shoes.

“He was a ferocious hitter. It’s unfortunate he has to go,” Sensabaugh said of the release of long-time Jaguars strong safety Donovin Darius. The team announced on Thursday morning that it was releasing Darius.

Sensabaugh is the key player in the Jaguars’ attempt to replace Darius, who had spent the spring attempting to recover from a broken leg he sustained late last season. Darius had been unable to participate in practices.

“I hope they do have that confidence in me,” Sensabaugh said. “I have to make sure I can fill his shoes.”

Sensabaugh was a fifth-round draft choice in 2005. He quickly used his athletic ability to impress coach Jack Del Rio, who believes Sensabaugh can provide a combination of run-support and pass-defense abilities.

The selections of safeties Reggie Nelson in the first round and Josh Gattis in the fifth round of this spring’s draft made the release of Darius possible. The Jaguars now find themselves with a stockpile of young safeties. Nelson has already assumed the starting job at free safety, which was vacated by Deon Grant when he signed with Seattle in free agency.

“Reggie and Josh are going to be good players for us. We still have competition at the safety position,” Sensabaugh said.

Asked if he believes he’s ready to assume a starting job, Sensabaugh said: “I’ve felt I’ve been ready. I’ve always felt like I’ve been ready. It’s time for me to show what I can do. I hope I can translate what I’ve done in OTA’s to the season.”


“He’s been a real class guy off and on the field,” coach Jack Del Rio said of Darius. “He’s been a positive influence in our locker room. I told him this morning that I respect him as a player and as a person.”

Jaguars College Scouting Director Gene Smith said he likes what he saw from his young safeties in spring practices.

“During OTA’s, they’ve shown the ability to do the things (we) want our safeties to do,” Smith said. “Donovin was a tempo-setter in the run game. When the pads go on, that’s what will determine if we have that guy.”

Thursday marked the Jaguars’ final practice of the spring. The next time the team takes the practice field will be for the start of training camp on July 28.

“The area that’s been most scrutinized is the passing game because it’s lagged,” Del Rio said in giving an overview of his team as it leaves spring drills behind. “I’m confident we’ll be improved. We’re going to throw it and catch it better this year.”

Del Rio was emphatic about the state of his starting quarterback, despite the fact the Jaguars are interested in acquiring Daunte Culpepper. Del Rio reaffirmed his commitment to Byron Leftwich as the team’s starter.

“Byron is our quarterback,” Del Rio said. “We’re not going down that road. I’ve been very clear that this is a supporting role,” he added about the interest in Culpepper.

Leftwich spent the spring adapting his skills to new offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter’s system, and Del Rio likes the fit.

“I think they suit Byron Leftwich very well,” Del Rio said of the plays in Koetter’s playbook. “I like what I’m seeing. I like the progress I’m seeing.”

The competition at wide receiver is likely to be the feature attraction of training camp, and Del Rio did nothing on Thursday to downplay the hype. In fact, he stoked the embers.

“We’re searching for someone to emerge. Coming out of OTA’s, the guy who’s put himself into position is Charles Sharon. Where a guy was drafted, how a guy was brought here; how they got here doesn’t really matter. It’s wide open (at wide receiver),” Del Rio said. “Everybody is going to have an opportunity. We need someone to stand up and take charge.”

Rookie third-round draft choice Mike Walker finished OTA’s with two strong performances this week. Might he emerge as the Jaguars’ number one receiver?

“We’re going to let the most productive guys play and emerge,” Del Rio said. “I think we have the guys here and I think we’re going to be able to find the guys we need to do what we want to do offensively.”

smeagle

he will look great in eagle green.

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representin' section 227 - r.i.p. section 736