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Jaguars square off with No. 1 overall pick

The Jaguars will face the NFL’s first overall pick for the second straight season as they battle Colts quarterback Andrew Luck on Sunday. The Jaguars faced Carolina’s Cam Newton in week three of the 2011 season, a 16-10 loss in Charlotte.

The Jaguars have squared off with five quarterbacks selected with the number one overall pick in their rookie season –Tim Couch (1999), David Carr (2002), Alex Smith (2005), JaMarcus Russell (2007) and Newton (2011) - and own a 2-2 record in those games.  Russell did not start on Dec. 23, 2007 against the Jaguars.

In their 18-year history, the Jaguars have faced 14 quarterbacks selected with the first overall pick including Peyton Manning (19 games), Carr (9 games), Vinny Testaverde (8 games), Couch (6 games), Drew Bledsoe (5 games), Troy Aikman (2 games), John Elway (2 games), Eli Manning (2 games), Smith (2 games), Michael Vick (2 games), Jeff George (1 game), Newton (1 game), Carson Palmer (1 game) and Russell (1 game).

Don’t count 0-2 teams out

The Jaguars are off to an 0-2 start for the fifth time in franchise history but there is still reason for optimism.  Since realignment in 2002, 70 of the 120 playoff teams (58.3 pct.) began the year at either 1-1 or 0-2.

Jaguars cornerback Aaron Ross addressed the team on Monday and knows from experience how a season can turn around quickly.

In 2007 Ross played for a New York Giants team that won six straight games after losing their first two games.  The Giants became one of four teams since 2002 to start a season 1-1 or 0-2 and go on to win the Super Bowl that season (2011 New York Giants; 2007 New York Giants; 2003 New England; 2002 Tampa Bay).

There are six teams with a perfect record through two games – Arizona, Atlanta, Houston, Philadelphia, San Diego and San Francisco – and an NFL single-season record 20 teams with a 1-1 record at the end of two weeks.

Back-to-back division games

Looking for their first win in 2012, the Jaguars play a second consecutive division game as they visit the Colts on Sunday, September 23 at Lucas Oil Stadium.  Kickoff is set for 1:00 p.m. 

The Jaguars and Colts are meeting for the 23rd time with the Colts holding a 15-7 advantage in the series. The Jaguars swept the season series in 2011 for the first time with a 17-3 win on Nov. 13 and a 19-13 victory on Jan. 1.  The Jaguars have won three of the last four games including two straight at EverBank Field.

Different teams

The Colts and Jaguars last met in the 2011 regular season finale and both teams have had an overhaul since the contest including new head coaches for both teams in Mike Mularkey and Chuck Pagano.  Jaguars assistant head coach/defensive coordinator Mel Tucker is the only coordinator that is back on either team. 

Of the 90 players that participated in the season-finale, 46 are no longer on the 53-man rosters of the teams. The Jaguars had 22 players participate in the season finale that are no longer on the club’s 53-man roster including seven starters. For the Colts, 12 of the 22 starters from the game are no longer on the roster and 24 players total.

Jones-Drew knows Colts

Jaguars running back Maurice Jones-Drew will play his 13th career game against the Colts on Sunday.  Jones-Drew has scored 13 touchdowns (9 rushing, 3 receiving, 1 return) and recorded seven 100-yard rushing games in the previous 12 outings against the Colts. 

Jones-Drew has eclipsed 100 rushing yards in four of the last five games including 169 yards in the 2011 season finale.  He averaged 101.0-yards per game in the 12 games against the Colts, second only to former running back Curtis Martin (109.7) for the most rushing yards per game against the Colts franchise.

Mincey hoping for encore performance

Defensive end Jeremy Mincey would like to pick up where he left off against the Colts in 2011. Mincey combined for 17 tackles, five sacks and three forced fumbles against the Colts in 2011 including 2.5 sacks in each game. 

Mincey sacked and forced a fumble of quarterback Dan Orlovsky on Oct. 13, 2011 in the fourth quarter that was recovered by Tyson Alualu.  He concluded the season with 2.5 sacks and two forced fumbles on Jan. 1.

Did you know?

Quarterback Blaine Gabbert owns a 2-4 mark in six division games with both wins coming against the Colts.  Gabbert completed 25 of 40 passes (62.5 pct.) for 210 yards with two touchdowns and one interception for an 82.3 passer rating in 2011 against the Colts.

Anger among NFL leaders

2012 third-round draft pick Bryan Anger led the NFL during the preseason with a 48.3-yard punting average and his solid play has continued through the first two weeks of the regular season.  Anger leads the AFC and ranks second in the NFL with a 52.6-yard gross average and sixth with a 43.5-yard net. 

Anger finished with nine punts last Sunday against Houston for a 51.3-yard average and 42.8-yard net.  The nine punts tied for the second-most in team history.  Adam Podlesh holds the team record with 10 punts on Nov. 16, 2008 against Tennessee.

Twenty-two tackles for Allen

Linebacker Russell Allen opened the season as a starter for the first time in his career and is tied for the team lead after two games with 33 tackles.  Allen registered a career-high 22 tackles last Sunday against Houston, tied for the second-most in franchise history. The 22 tackles were the most by a Jaguar since 2002.

Colts to honor Edgerrin James

The Colts will induct Edgerrin James into the club’s Ring of Honor at halftime of Sunday’s game.  James played seven seasons (1999-2005) for the Colts.

James squared off against the Jaguars 10 times in his career, nine as a member of the Colts, and registered 831 rushing yards, the third-most by an opposing player against the Jaguars in team history. 

Familiar face on Colts coaching staff

Colts assistant special teams coach Brant Boyer spent six seasons (1995-2000) with the Jaguars. Boyer was the club’s 22nd pick in the 1995 expansion draft.  He still ranks second in franchise history with 94 career special teams tackles in 68 games while also starting seven games at linebacker. He was the franchise’s leading special teams tackler for 10 years following his last season in Jacksonville in 2000. Montell Owens broke Boyer’s record late in the 2010 season.

Florida ties on Colts roster

The Colts have three players with ties to Florida in wide receiver Lavon Brazill (Lantana, Lake Worth High), defensive tackle Ricardo Mathews (Jacksonville, Terry Parker High) and wide receiver Reggie Wayne (Univ. of Miami).

Colts cornerback Josh Gordy was originally signed as rookie free agent by the Jaguars in 2010 and spent the preseason with the club. Colts tight ends coach Alfredo Roberts served in the same capacity for the Jaguars from 2003-06.