The Jacksonville Jaguars beginning items bounced again in an enormous approach on Sunday. And whereas the ultimate rating could not replicate simply how dominant the day went, we now have you coated with an prolonged look. After offering the reside takeaways and lingering questions from this week’s’ recreation, we take a more in-depth evaluate of the matchup after evaluating the televised gameplay.
As a word, this evaluate relies on the non-all-22 movie, whereas being revealed earlier than the PFF grades are launched (in an effort to stay actually uninfluenced and unbiased on what we see). Moreover, this model of evaluate knowingly locations some limitations on evaluating secondary play with out confirming the total protection appears. With that mentioned, let’s get into some takeaways from the Jaguars’ 17 to 17 tie with the New Orleans Saints.
*Any opinions famous are these of Travis and never of your entire BCC employees or management. In fact, anybody can disagree when evaluating movie. Any famous EPA information was retrieved from rbsdm.com.
Sunday was a second consecutive robust recreation from Trevor Lawrence and the beginning Jaguars unit. After going 6/7 for 43 yards towards Pittsburgh Lawrence was 8/10 for 76 yards and a landing towards the Saints. Trevor was sharp on his two drives, with no throws getting away from him. He bought the ball out rapidly and didn’t take any pointless hits. Nonetheless, the primary drive fumble marred what would’ve in any other case been an almost good day. With Ezra Cleveland stepping on Lawrence’s foot, he makes an attempt to proceed handing the ball off to Tank Bigsby, unsuccessfully.
Backup Nick Mullens had one other up-and-down efficiency, with a spotlight reel throw to Hunter Lengthy (to come back later) but in addition an interception surrendered and some incomplete throws that have been simply barely astray with open receivers. Nonetheless, going 14/17 for 112 yards is a high quality backup QB efficiency, if not for the redzone interception. Whereas the turnover was an incredible play by the defender, it’s a play that may flip a “nice” day into simply okay.
Operating again Travis Etienne acquired his first carries on the offense’s second collection, however rapidly grew to become the “scorching hand” on this one, catching an eight-yard reception to then instantly bust off a 15-yard run on second down.
Nonetheless, the takeaway from this play is clearly that, sure Travis Etienne is absolutely, actually exhausting to carry down in area – as he forces 4 to 5 missed tackles on this rush. But in addition, the most important takeaway is the efficiency of the offensive line unit, opening a gap that I may jog via.
An unimaginable diving block by Patrick Mekari opens the lane, with Robert Hainsey sealing inside, and Brenton Unusual and Fred Johnson combo blocking the Edge. As a word, Mekari had one heck of an general recreation at proper guard. Whether or not it was diving blocks, lower blocks, bottom blocking on Bigsby’s display screen, staying lively on performs, and so forth – he did all of it on this one. If you happen to want instructing tape on run blocking, check out Mekari’s third down rep on Travis Etienne’s third-and-three rush the place he drives the Saints’ DT down into the gang, then pancakes him backwards because the man is on his knees.
Moreover, I assumed OL Jonah Monheim had one other high quality day, particularly within the go safety area. OT Fred Johnson additionally had a strong rebound efficiency within the run recreation with a couple of blocks driving defenders right into a pile.
Whereas RB Tank Bigsby appeared to have a quieter day within the run recreation (two opening drive rushes for six yards), he was environment friendly in his two run snaps whereas making his mark within the passing recreation by way of this triple cutback catch and run earlier than being placed on the shelf.
To not go away the rookie again out within the chilly, Bhayshul Tuten had one other strong efficiency on Sunday, because the again scored one other landing. Nonetheless, this one didn’t require the offensive line second push.
Tuten continues to be a power, shedding tacklers in mass within the run and go recreation. At this price, it could be exhausting to maintain him off the sphere, so long as his ball safety points stay in faculty.
3. Receiving Recreation Analysis
The Jaguars’ beginning receiving core and tight finish group had one other efficient day, regardless of Dyami Brown and Travis Hunter each being inactive Sunday. For the second consecutive week the Jacksonville offensive line saved Lawrence clear, giving up zero sacks and 0 pressures on the opening drive.
Brenton Unusual and Parker Washington highlighted this one with Unusual maintaining the offense on schedule early and sometimes. Lawrence hit Unusual, his fourth learn on the play, whereas climbing the pocket on this third down snap.
To not be ignored of the tight finish discourse, TE Hunter Lengthy got here via with probably the catch of the day together with his “Moss” of the Saints’ defender from Nick Mullens.
WR Parker Washington confirmed up on time with two clutch catches on the preliminary landing drive, capping what has been a highlight offseason for the third-year receiver. The previous sixth-round choose was each busy within the second offensive drive and in each the kick and punt return arenas on this one.
My largest word, on the optimistic facet was the minimized variety of drops from the Jacksonville go catchers, with Brian Thomas Jr being the one go catcher to drop a ball within the first half of play.
The Jaguars entrance seven had themselves a a lot busier day than the stats sheet mirrored. Leaving the matchup with simply two sacks, one may consider that the Jacksonville entrance had a troublesome go of it. Nonetheless, on the half the Saints had simply 4 first downs to Jacksonville’s 15. The Jaguars’ protection continued to get New Orleans off the sphere with simply 70 whole yards, averaging 3.5 yards per play on the half. The Saints couldn’t prolong drives, nor keep on the sphere.
Early into the sport DE Travon Walker met on the quarterback with Dawuane Smoot on their first quarter drive, showcasing what a lot of Sunday featured for Jacksonville (stunts, video games, and inside strain from the Jax protection). Whereas Shough averted formally giving up the protection right here, for all intents and functions, it was one, with the refs throwing the flag for intentional grounding. LB Ventrell Miller additionally met with Smoot on the QB on his second quarter sack with two minutes remaining, collapsing the pocket on the quarterback.
DT Austin Johnson (#69) additionally had one snap that includes nice inside strain, delivering an impactful QB hit on Tyler Shough on the Saints’ 28-yard catch given up by Chad Muma (video beneath). It wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows, as the inside go rush will completely be a piece in progress, with a couple of performs on movie the place neither inside lineman bought strain. Nonetheless, it was undoubtedly a optimistic general efficiency up entrance.
As a gaggle, the beginning unit did nicely collectively to restrict New Orleans within the run recreation. The working assumption coming into the sport was that the group could be considerably restricted on the inside, with DT Arik Armstead and Maason Smith each inactive. But, from my vantage, Jacksonville beginning nostril sort out, Davon Hamilton performed fairly nicely within the run recreation, usually being fairly stout up entrance. Nonetheless, Hamilton misplaced his footing on the lengthy, first quarter, third-down rush for New Orleans, with DE Dawuane Smoot additionally being pushed again six yards off the ball on the third and lengthy rush. The frenzy didn’t transfer the sticks however could be one of many longer New Orleans rushes of the day, catching the protection off guard.
Moreover, DT Tyler Lacy notably appeared to fairly persistently wrestle within the run recreation, usually getting displaced in each the opening and the second drives of the sport. Most notably, the Saints had a second quarter 10-yard rush known as again for holding. Nonetheless, on the play Lacy was unable to anchor, getting displaced 5 yards down the sphere.
Jacksonville’s linebacker group had a usually busy day, when it comes to tackles with a couple of alternatives on tape. To begin, on each the primary rush of the sport and the lengthy third down rush by New Orleans, LB Foye Oluokun was washed out by the Saints OL or displaced from the center of the sphere. LB Devin Lloyd had each good and not-so-good performs in back-to-back snaps, after lacking a sort out for loss on first down (the place Chad Muma additionally missed the sort out on the identical again). Lloyd, nonetheless, rebounded nicely making the play on the next down on an identical rush by New Orleans.
On the second collection, LB Ventrell Miller confirmed his nostril for the ball securing a tough sort out for loss on second down, bringing the operating again down. Miller was in a position to carry the runner down after Josh Hines-Allen missed the preliminary sort out. This play made up for Miller’s four-yard catch given up on first down the place he unsuccessfully dove for the go breakup. With Miller lacking the go, the receiver picked up two further yards of YAC (minimal general harm/influence).
LB Chad Muma surrendered an early first down missed sort out on the above-mentioned Devin Lloyd first down rush. He additionally gave up a 28-yard catch to the Saints’ tight finish whereas in fairly good place. He was simply unable to get his palms on the ball, nor get his head round to find the ball.
As I mentioned, an incomplete, however productive day throughout the board for the linebacker core. Whereas the second line of defense unit struggled extra to offer the backers cleaner lanes to determine the risk and shoot, I assumed Jack Kiser nonetheless performed fairly nicely. Nonetheless, an general takeaway from this efficiency was missed tackles from the defensive tackles, linebackers, and secondary continued to offer the Saints with new life of their comeback try.
The Jaguars security room began off robust on Sunday with Security Eric Murray opening the sport with a pleasant fill of the alley on the opening rush to carry down the again with Travon Walker. Andrew Wingard then ramped up the motion with a first down sack on the beginning protection’s first collection.
It appeared to be a fairly robust day general for each Murray and Dewey, with no apparent deficiencies in protection or within the run recreation, and every having robust positives early on. Within the second group, Darnell Savage notably missed two tackles on the day – one, a Chris Olave catch and run for a primary down.
With the Jaguars’ cornerback room being down three of their high 5 cornerbacks, Sunday’s matchup had main second quarter questions coming into the sport surrounding how the restricted depth of the unit would carry out. Corners Tyson Campbell (undisclosed), Travis Hunter (upper-body damage), and Montaric Brown (lower-leg) have been all held out of Sunday. This resulted in Jourdan Lewis and Jarrian Jones changing into the beginning corners outdoors, with Christian Braswell and De’Antre Prince, the Jaguars’ third group of corners, getting vital taking part in time from the 13:08 mark within the second quarter towards New Orleans’ second group.
Lewis and Jones performed extremely nicely, with no catches given up on the day, although usually matched up towards Saints WR Chris Olave. Jones was not focused in protection whereas Lewis was focused simply as soon as, a third-down overthrown incompletion to Olave.
Sadly, after they left the sphere the restricted secondary depth started to indicate, with the Saints starting to have way more success within the passing recreation. Christian Braswell gave up an early first down catch on a crossing route, with DeAntre Prince surrendering a number of missed tackles, highlighted by not him wrapping up on a sideline sort out try that resulted in a Saints’ first down on a subject aim drive.
Nonetheless, the group could have doubtlessly discovered a diamond within the tough with just lately signed, former UFL CB Keni-H Beautiful, making a right away splash play.
Kicker Cam Little went 1 for 1 with a protracted of 53 yards. Moreover, he made each of his further factors. There have been restricted alternatives on this one for Little, with the group turning the ball over on three events inside his kicking vary.
It was a unusually tough day for Professional Bowl punter Logan Cooke, taking part in in a domed subject in New Orleans. Logan’s preliminary punt went for simply 31 yards, out of bounds on the 22-yard line. His second punt equally went for 33 yards and out of bounds on the 16-yard line. Cooke was in a position to proper the ship on his third, 57-yard punt which netted 44 yards, after a 13-yard return. Nonetheless, his remaining punt of the day, once more went for 31 yards and out of bounds on the 18-yard line. A punt being downed inside the 20-yard line is an effective factor. Nonetheless, when punting from mid-field many coaches usually want the ball downed or out of bounds inside the 15 to 10-yard line, or nearer, if attainable, with out the danger of a touchback.
As an preliminary word, I assumed it actually fascinating that the opening kick returners on this one was the operating again duo of Tank Bigby and Bhayshul Tuten. Moreover, the second-string return group additionally featured Tuten, this time paired with Parker Washington. Bigsby returned the opening kick 35 yards with Washington returning the following one 29 yards. Within the punt return recreation, Washington was the starter, breaking two missed tackles to take the opening punt return for 15 yards.
As we famous within the post-game evaluate, Sunday was a notable enchancment from week one versus the Pittsburgh Steelers, with the Jaguars’ first penalty of the day approaching their third offensive drive of the sport, with their backups within the recreation. a Jonah Monheim false begin with 13:36 remaining within the second quarter. The group ended the matchup with 4 whole penalties for 61 yards, although 45 of these yards got here on a really suspect go interference name towards Christian Braswell. The remaining penalties have been a Dorian Singer false begin and Ray Lanes’ impartial zone infraction to surrender a primary down on fourth-and-one.
Total, it was a extremely robust teaching efficiency by the Jaguars’ employees, with many of the recreation points being associated to the gamers on the sphere, not the schemes being dialed up or personnel points. Protection had minimal protection busts or questionable performs with edges in protection. Nonetheless, many in Duval clearly left Sunday questioning the video games’ remaining offensive play – the Seth Henigan interception with all slants known as.
The preliminary learn was WR Chandler Brayboy to the quick facet of the sphere. So, this go wasn’t purely an try to get the ball to the hash the place Cam Little could be most snug. It appeared to easily be an try to choose up further yards to make the 58-yard, game-sealing kick simpler for Cam. I simply don’t get the decision, when training as if the sport on the road, all in-breaking routes into site visitors simply looks like taking part in with fireplace. Even consuming a sack or throwing it away would have, at minimal, resulted in a 65-yard recreation profitable subject aim try for Little, coming off his 70-yard subject aim recreation.
That’s it from me for preseason week two! What have been your takeaways from the sport, Duval? Tell us within the feedback!