I wonder if on the back of Justin Blackmon’s jersey they can just write the word “HOPE”.  When I look at Blackmon’s film from Oklahoma State, that is exactly what I see…Hope.  Hope may be all Jacksonville Jaguars fans really need right now because, sadly, it has been some time since they have had any.  Not since the 2007 Jaguars knocked off the Steelers, only to lose to the (not for much longer) undefeated Patriots, have Jaguars fans had any hope.  Since that time it has been a myriad of head-scratching, disappointing, and questionable decisions.  The wide receiver spot especially has been a revolving door for disappointing talent that has seen the likes of Reggie Williams, Ernest Wilford, Matt Jones, Mike Sims-Walker, and an aging Torry Holt go through it.  The Jaguars have never gone after the big names in free agency, and have subsequently remained a sort of after thought in the NFL.  Only Jaguar fans are ever really interested in what goes on in Jacksonville.  Notice I said fans, not the people of Jacksonville; as there are still thousands of seats covered with Jaguar tarps due to a lack of ticket sales.

Now, however, there is hope.  Now there is Justin Blackmon to compliment Maurice Jones-Drew, and hopefully give Blaine Gabbert that much-needed target that has been missing in Jacksonville.  While the Jaguars also added free agent Laurent Robinson to their wide receiver corps,  it is not only Blackmon’s obvious talent and physical prowess that lends hope to the Jags, but his relentless work ethic.  Blackmon makes you forget that Blaine Gabbert was the lowest (yes, the absolute lowest) rated quarterback in the NFL last year.  He allows you to overlook the fact that Jacksonville drafted a punter with their third round pick.  Blackmon eases my worries about MJD not yet reporting to OTAs, and he gives Jaguars fans a reason to make the trek to EverBank Field and see the tarps lifted.  I know it may be early, and not yet proven, but that’s what hope is…a feeling that what we want can be had.  Justin Blackmon gives us that.

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