The Jaguars are hoping that Jason Babin, who became a symbol of the collapse of the Philadelphia Eagles, can help revive their defense.
Babin was signed to a five-year, $28 million contract by the Eagles a year ago and had 18 sacks but the Eagles failed to make the playoffs with an 8-8 record.
Things got worse this year and defensive line coach Jim Washburn, who was Babin’s coach in Tennessee before he signed with the Eagles, got some of the blame for the poor defensive play.
And Babin was cut by the Eagles and the Jaguars were one of eight teams to put in a claim for him and they were awarded him because of their 2-9 record.
The Jaguars are ignoring his problems in Philadelphia and think he can help their pass rush.
“It’s a good pickup,” coach Mike Mularkey said. “He’s had a lot of success over the last three years and we could use some help in that area. He’ll fit what we’re doing. (Defensive line coach) Joe Cullen and he have a relentless type of mindset. I just think it’s going to be good for us, really good for us.”
Mularkey said the move is a sign the Jaguars aren’t giving up on the season.
“We’ve got five games and we’re trying to win these games. It’s a sign that we’re trying to show our team that we’re trying to win right now, that this is not, “Play the young guys and do the evaluating,’” Mularkey said. “We’re trying to win and we’re doing whatever we can to improve our roster. This is a great move.
“Let’s start working him in the plan and see what we have to do to get him up to speed as quickly as we can. Can he play Sunday? Yes, I know he will. We’re anticipating him playing.”
Babin had just 5.5 sacks this year after recording 18 last year when he signed with the Eagles after going to his first Pro Bowl with Tennessee after the 2010 season.
The Jaguars have a league-low 13 sacks so they can use a better pass rush.
But Babin hasn’t always been a standout player. He was originally drafted by Houston in 2004 to play the outside linebacker position in a 3-4. Babin was disappointing and he also made stops in Seattle, Kansas City and Philadelphia.
The Titans then signed him for $1 million and he got 12.5 sacks playing for Washburn. But the team changed philosophy after Jeff Fisher left and didn’t try to sign him and Philadelphia gave him a big contract even though it cut him previously.
Washburn then went to Philadelphia and the Eagles signed Babin, his protégé. But the team was 11-16 since the arrival of Washburn and Babin. Coach Andy Reid and Washburn will likely be following him out the door.
And the Jaguars will find out if Babin can help although they signed two other over-30 defensive ends in recent years — Hugh Douglas and Aaron Kampman — and they didn’t make much of an impact. Douglas lasted a year and Kampman two years.