Heading into the 2012 offseason the Jaguars are expected to start making some major changes on offense and keep adding pieces to an improving defense. With a new coaching staff lead by new Head Coach Mike Mularkey and the most likely addition of a many talented free agents and rookies, there are certain players that need to have a great offseason (Mini-camps, Training camp, and Preseason) and maybe some luck in order to really have a chance to make this team or at least have a chance. These players can be found on both offense and defense as well as on young and old. Let's take a look at a few of these players:

Jarrett Dillard (WR): When I think of players who really need to prove themselves this offseason, Dillard is one of the first that come to mind. Drafted in 2009, Dillard has been injury prone for most of his short NFL career. In 3 seasons (Two if you don't include they season he missed due to injury) he has only 35 receptions for 398 yards and 1 TD. Dillard was one of Gene Smiths's first picks and there was a lot of hope that he could be a steal for the Jaguars. In previous off seasons he has flashed a lot of talent but has yet to see that really translate to the regular season. With the Jaguars receiving unit guaranteed to see a major overhaul, Dillard may find himself on the streets if he doesn't perform well this offseason. If the Jaguars add 2 to 3 receivers, Dillard will find himself fighting for the 5th WR spot which will probably come down between himself, Shorts and Osgood. Dillard also recently received a increase due to a clause in his contract to 1.2 million. This increase could actually hurt Dillard as his production has been weak and if the coaching staff doesn't value his talents, he could find himself being released in order to better use that money.

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TEST TEST, MIC CHECK

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Judging a team defense is very hard to do from a statistical standpoint. While team ranks often are based on total yards allowed per game, often that statistic alone can be very misleading.This is especially true to the whole philosophy of a "bend but don't break" defense. Others may stress points allowed or points allowed per game as a key factor of a good defense. That logic is also not without flaws as it doesn't consider field position, a terrible offense or turnovers that directly lead to points. As we all know time of possession isn't a guaranteed recipe for success, as often the 2011 Jaguars won that statistic and still managed to lose 11 games. So how do we judge a defense outside of the realm of the eye test?

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The Jacksonville Jaguars look to be major players in free agency during the 2012 NFL offseason. The Jaguars potentially will have close to $50 million with the ability to roll over unused cap room from the 2011 NFL season, the team can make a big splash on multiple players like they did last offseason. Jaguars general manager Gene Smith says he expects to add to the wide receiver group in both free agency and the 2012 NFL Draft.

"There will be some receivers on the open market who can help our situation," Gene Smith told John Oehser of Jaguars.com. "We don't know at this point which ones will be out there, but we feel like it's a position we can upgrade through pro free agency, and the college draft," he said. "We're trying to add weapons on offense and it will be a combination of pro free agency and the draft."

"You evaluate all of the players, then as players re-sign or if they do get tagged, they're no longer in play and you adjust accordingly," Smith said. A receiver like DeSean Jackson is expected to get the franchise tag, while guys like Stevie Johnson have already began contract negotiations with their current team. "You can only concern yourself with what you have control over. You have a strategy going in, but as things change, you have to be prepared to adjust."

Editor Note: When I put out the ad for contributors to add to Big Cat Country, I was approached by a Jacksonville Jaguars fan from Mexico City, Mexico. He was interested in writing some articles in spanish, as he noted that Mexico is a fast growing NFL country but there is a severe lack of online content in spanish. I invited Issachar to contribute once a week in spanish, and during the season he will translate each weeks Game Preview into spanish. I'm curious as to they type of response we'll get, so if you speak spanish... Enjoy!

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Jeremy Mincey is still fresh off of one of the best seasons from a defensive end for a Jaguars player in several years and, according to a source, the team wants to make sure he stays in Jacksonville.

While the two sides have not yet sat down to negotiate and have not talked contract figures at all to this point, the Jaguars were also set back by a head coaching search and the filling of the coaching staff that followed shortly thereafter. Now they will turn their attention to their own free agents, beginning with Mincey, whom they will likely begin negotiations with in the coming days.

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The Jacksonville Jaguars will be able to hold mini-camps and OTAs this offseason, as there is no NFL lockout to deal with this season. New Jaguars head coach Mike Mularkey will get things started with a "Veteran Orientation" in April. The orientation will be completely voluntary, but I would expect most if not all of the Jaguars veterans to be in attendance.

The Jaguars coaching staff are in the process of forming the playbook right now and determining the terminology they will use. As John Oehser notes, the mini-camp will cover just the bare essentials like how the team plans to get in and out of the huddle and how to line up in their different formations.

The Jacksonville Jaguars will be looking to sign at least one free agent wide receiver in the 2012 free agency period. One of those targets could be Buffalo Bills wide receiver Stevie Johnson. Johnson and Bills have exchanged contract proposals, according to a report by Rodney McKissic of The Buffalo News. Johnson is currently scheduled to hit free agency in 2012 as an unrestricted free agent.

Johnson broke out in his third season with the Buffalo Bills in 2010, catching 82 passes for 1,073 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns. Johnson repeated that performance in the 2011 season, hauling in 76 passes for 1,004 receiving yards and 7 touchdowns. Johnson was originally drafted by the Bills in the seventh-round of the 2008 NFL Draft, but looks to sign a long-term deal in Buffalo, or somewhere else if he hits free agency.