Free-agent scouting report: Jaguars DE Jeremy Mincey
By Arthur Arkush
This is the 50th in a series of scouting reports on key players who are expected to become free agents March 13, unless they are re-signed or franchised before then.
News: The Jaguars have been searching for a pass rusher for years — no player has recorded double-digit sacks in Jacksonville since Bobby McCray notched 10 in 2006. Mincey, Jacksonville's 2011 sack leader (eight sacks), is not the most dynamic player around, but he fits the description of a guy who can consistently get in the backfield. Coming off a career year, Mincey is likely to generate interest around the league, and we have seen in recent years that pass rushers who don't quite fit the elite bill can still cash in. Re-signing Mincey is one of the Jaguars' top priorities — along with PK Josh Scobee and S Dwight Lowery — but they are unlikely to overpay for a guy who has registered just 15 sacks in his first six years in the league.
Notes: Mincey, a Florida Gators product, was selected in the sixth round of the 2006 draft by the Patriots. He was released before the season and signed by the Niners. After not appearing in any games with San Francisco, Mincey was signed off the Niners' practice squad by the Jaguars late in the '06 season. He appeared in just nine games combined in '07 and '08 before spending the entire '09 season on injured reserve with a broken hand. Mincey became a fixture on the Jaguars' defense in '10, starting eight games and finishing second on the team with five sacks. His breakthrough season came in '11, when he started all 16 games, notching career highs in tackles (57), sacks (eight), forced fumbles (four), tackles for loss (seven) and QB pressures (45).
Postitives: He's a tireless worker whose motor is constantly running, and a lot of his production comes strictly because of exemplary effort. He's also very strong — the bull rush is his best pass rush technique. He has good quickness off the ball. At the age of 28, this overachiever is entering the prime of his career.
Negatives: He's not a polished pass rusher and needs more moves to beat blockers. The 6-3, 270-pound Mincey does not have great length and is not a great run defender. Also, he occasionally overpursues. Despite being drafted in 2006, he has a small body of work, hardly playing his first three seasons and missing his fourth season on I.R.
Risk factor: What you see is what you get with Mincey. He won't "wow" scouts or coaches with his size or athleticism, but his relentlessness and desire leads to production. He made the most of his opportunities the past two seasons and will parlay it into a nice payday. It is not out of the question that he could be even more productive on a line that features more pass rushers. However, he is going to get paid for a small sample size, which definitely carries some risk.