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Sharon stands out in win
Injuries are concern

By Vic Ketchman, jaguars.com senior editor
08/18/07

The Jaguars won the game but suffered a couple of injuries that were clearly a concern for head coach Jack Del Rio as he met with reporters following his team’s 31-19 win over the visiting Tampa Bay Bucs.

First-round draft choice Reggie Nelson and second-year defensive tackle Tony McDaniel left the field with what appear to be significant leg injuries. Nelson sustained a sprained ankle in the first half and McDaniel suffered a sprained knee in the second half. Both players had to be helped from the field to the team’s locker room.

“These guys will likely miss a little time,” Del Rio said of Nelson and McDaniel. “Chris Naeole, we think he’s going to be OK.”
Naeole limped off the field in the first half with a sprained knee. He wasn’t nearly as hobbled as Nelson and McDaniel.

Those injuries marred an otherwise fun night for the Jaguars, who started slowly on offense but uncovered a couple of impressive receivers as the night wore on.

Charles Sharon would seem to be the big winner of the night. He caught three passes for 54 yards and his first catch of the evening, a leaping grab along the Tampa sideline in the second quarter, made an impression on Del Rio.

“That’s the one thing that stuck out,” Del Rio said.
Sharon was the Jaguars’ star of spring drills and he’s making a move to become the team’s star receiver of the preseason, too. It’s a move that could land him a roster spot, or maybe even more.

“He’s making plays,” quarterback Byron Leftwich said of Sharon. “Chuck got this swagger about him.”

Sharon is an adept route-runner and his best routes are the quick-out and curl. “I haven’t seen anybody be able to stop like that since Jimmy (Smith),” Leftwich said.

Broussard, a seventh-round draft choice who may be the Jaguars’ most impressive rookie, caught two passes for 29 yards and continues to display a polish to his game that few expected.

“I’m just trying to make the 53. I’ve taken the coaches by surprise but I haven’t surprised myself,” said Broussard, a speedster who’s proving football is for skinny people, too.

“I think I’m competing for a spot on the team, but I’d be grateful for a starting spot,” Sharon said. “I still have to prove myself. That’s the goal every day.”

I wondered how Sharon would mature at the next level. I was always a bit concerned that his confidence could be his downfall, but it looks like he's harnessed it into some great play.

I think it's pretty much solidified that Sharon's made this team, now it's time to move into the starting role over Northcutt.

Rollo83 wrote:“He’s making plays,” quarterback Byron Leftwich said of Sharon. “Chuck got this swagger about him.”

Sharon is an adept route-runner and his best routes are the quick-out and curl. “I haven’t seen anybody be able to stop like that since Jimmy (Smith),” Leftwich said.

Strong words from the starting QB!

Okay, here are a few links:

Jack Del Rio's Press Conference (he talked briefly about Sharon, but didn't really say TOO much):

http://www.jaguars.com/multimedia/video.aspx?id=2402

Vic Ketcham's in Game Blog (he said that the leaping catch that Sharon made might have won him the roster spot):

http://www.jaguars.com/news/article.aspx?id=6233

NFL.com gave Sharon the game ball last night:

http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter?season=20 ... e_id=29477

Go Sharon!

Glad to see Sharon making the most of his time in these precious pre-season games. Now I hate to say this , but past experience prevents me from out right giving Sharon a roster spot for the Jags at the moement. One would assume that he has nearly locked one up but BG skill position players have not had much luck getting onto final 53-man rosters lately. I would feel more comfortable about it if Chuck continues to get the ball thrown to him in the remaining games and he makes some more plays. Chuck needs to keep showing em what he can do.

That being said, with Sharon I feel more confident than in years past about a skill player from BG making it on a NFL roster.

“Chuck got this swagger about him.”

Nice grammar. You have to love the Marshall education.

I just watched a replay of "the" catch. Very nice indeed!

From the afore-linked Jags liveblog:

Sharon just made a catch on a simple out pattern and the comment was made to me, "What a nice route," and it was. It was crisp and sharp and he made the catch with his two hands away from his body. He's a good-looking receiver. His time may have arrived.

That's great to hear, and also something I noticed with Steve Sanders' catches for the Browns last night. He got his hands away from his body and made the catch. Textbook. Of course, he almost got burned and had one of those knocked away while pulling it in, but he got out to recover the fumble, which is nice.