Better Know the Jacksonville Jaguars: Ask Big Cat Country
by Jonathan Loesche on Oct 6, 2009 6:52 AM PDT
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PrintHey Field Gulls
I'm John, one of the writers at SBN's Jacksonville Jaguar blog, Big Cat Country. My Jaguars make the coast to coast trip this week to face off against your Seahawks. The Jaguars haven't had much luck on the West Coast, and this is certainly could be a trap game for us. I haven't really followed the Hawks since their loss to the Steelers in Super Bowl XL so pardon any ignorance on my part.
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Has Brian Russell played yet for you?
If so, how much grit and whiffiness is he leaving on the field?
What is up with Jacksonville’s inconsistencies on offense?
Welcome to Field Gulls.
Seattle is cursed. For life.
If he;s seen the field it's just been on special teams
With the exception of the Arizona game, the offense has gotten better every game, so I wouldn’t call that inconsistent.
by Jonathan Loesche on Oct 7, 2009 3:38 AM PDT up reply actions
Special teams...
Seems like the perfect place to cash in on Russell’s patented late hits.
Bahaha
Jacksonville signed Brian Russell.
Next year's notable Ex-Seahawks:
Walter Jones, Patrick Kerney, Seneca Wallace
by Wayward Llama on Oct 7, 2009 3:16 PM PDT up reply actions
He's decent depth
but i rather not see him on the field, especially after seeing some moving pictures of him getting burned.
"HULU: An evil plot to destroy the world. Enjoy"
The Flavour of the Day is Turf. - Courtesy of the Jacksonville Jaguars
"As for me, Life goes on."-TheTealDeal
What should we expect from the DE position?
Offensive tackle has been a nightmare this season for the Seahawks. Coming into the year Walter Jones and Sean Locklear were supposed to be the starters. Months ago Jones was practicing and supposed to be ready for opening day if not soon after. He has apparently regressed though and there is no timetable for his playing. Locklear started out the season at LT and was lost to an injury during week 2, he is out at least a few more weeks. The hawks have had to start Brandon Frye (released from Miami before the season) and Ray Willis (a decent backup). I know Hayward went down for the season. Can Jacksonville exploit our outside offensive line?
To simply michael's question:
Realistically, how good is your pass rush?
Pressure on Seneca Wallace, the backup QB, may very well be one of the main reasons he’s not performed well. He’s been constantly flushed out of the pocket and pursued by multiple defenders.
If the Jaguars fail to pressure Wallace, he could light the Jags up.
The demise of the Broncos in '09 is our future. Pray hard.
Please note that one doesn't need to pressure Wallace.
You only need to make him think he’s being pressured to get him to abandon the pocket. He does this a lot.
Jags have 3 sacks on the year, folks.
The team. 3.3% of passing downs result in a sack. Could anybody be worse? Yes, the Texans, 3 sacks, 2.5% of passing snaps.
Yes, Seneca creates his own pressure. No pocket presence.
I think you're half right and half wrong
He played fairly well in the first half of the Bears game. The Bears only blitzed 5 times.
In the half, the Bears blitzed like crazy and Seneca took a shit.
I do believe you’re right; in some cases he convinces himself of pressure and freaks out. But if the other team consistently cannot pressure him, he’ll likely ‘pressure himself’ a lot less.
The demise of the Broncos in '09 is our future. Pray hard.
We also ran the ball effectively
So that Seneca wouldn’t take the load of responsibility.
We were also winning.
Seattle is cursed. For life.
The Jaguars are finding themselves now defensively
This year they’re running a hybrid 4-3/3-4 and it’s taken the team some time. The biggest thing right now has been the resurgence of John Henderson was a 3-4 DE. He’s showing energy I haven’t seen that out of him since 2005.
by Jonathan Loesche on Oct 6, 2009 4:20 PM PDT up reply actions
I know position coaches can be hard to judge, but any thoughts on Robert Prince?
Your wide receiver coach over the past two years who’s now a Seahawk. Anything good? bad?
It never looked like he had a WR coach during those years
the WRs were that bad. Tho that just may be the WRs.
"HULU: An evil plot to destroy the world. Enjoy"
The Flavour of the Day is Turf. - Courtesy of the Jacksonville Jaguars
"As for me, Life goes on."-TheTealDeal
I believe (and correct me if I'm wrong)
that your passing game has actually been decent. I feel like your WRs are a bunch of no-namers (no more Reggie or Matt Jones, though I guess getting rid of two talented headcases is a good thing), and though Gerrard may not be the most accurate QB, he is probably underrated. Is this simply Gerrard being good?
Or is it the O-line. I know you signed some OT, Tra Thomas or someone. And you also drafted two guys I liked in Britton and Monroe. How are they doing?
What kind of receivers do you have (Fast, big, route-runners, slot receivers who like to cut over the middle)? is Sims-Walker the real deal? I know Mike Thomas is a little guy, and a FG favorite as well. Many expected him to be DeSean Jackson lite. Is he promising? Is Torry Holt looking ok? He’s been decent stats-wise, but is it age/rust, or the new team that is keeping him from 1000 yards?
Rashad Jennings! Another favorite (of mine and Misfit anyways) looked good in mop up duty last week. Any chance Jacksonville gets him a few more carries to lessen the load for MJD?
Reggie and Matt were never really talented
The biggest key to the resurgence of the passing game has been Mike Sims-Walker. MSW was a 3rd round pick in 2007 and has spent the better part of the last two years on IR or the injured list. Now that he is finally healthy, he has been the best WR the Jags have had since Jimmy Smith retired. Walker had had over 260 yards and 3 TDs in the last 3 games.
by Jonathan Loesche on Oct 6, 2009 4:16 PM PDT up reply actions
As for the other questions
Holt is about as expected. He’s mainly a possession receiver now but about once a game he’ll be the player who was one of the ringleaders of the Greatest Show on Turf. Thomas has seen most of his action in the running game and return game actually.
Jennings is getting gradually worked into the rotation, though we didn’t just make MJD one of the highest paid RBs in the league for nothing
by Jonathan Loesche on Oct 6, 2009 4:17 PM PDT up reply actions
Both have been looking good so far
Monroe was schooled by Dwight Freeney on opening day but the followed it up by stonewalling Mario Williams all day.
Britton has been great at RT, though he was injured and miss the 2nd half of the Texans game and the Titans game.
by Jonathan Loesche on Oct 7, 2009 4:56 PM PDT up reply actions
So Tra Thomas isn't starting?
"I wish the Seahawks were back in the AFCW so we didn’t have to face Willis and Gore twice a year."
by Fearless Frog on Oct 7, 2009 9:23 PM PDT up reply actions
No, Monroe started the first three games, but was out against Tennessee with the flu
I would expect Monroe to return this week to the starting line up
by Jonathan Loesche on Oct 8, 2009 4:51 AM PDT up reply actions
How do you feel about Garrard now?
It seems like he had a big dropoff after he got paid but has been more effective this year. Did he get new weapons or did something click?
""I wanted to be a quarterback, but I got hungry."
-LG Rob Sims
Garrard had the drop off because he was running for his life all of 2008
Since the O-line has begun to gel, Garrard is regaining his 2007 form. Weeks 3 and 4 were Garrard at his best.
by Jonathan Loesche on Oct 6, 2009 4:21 PM PDT up reply actions
Depends on your defintion of gentle haha
"HULU: An evil plot to destroy the world. Enjoy"
The Flavour of the Day is Turf. - Courtesy of the Jacksonville Jaguars
"As for me, Life goes on."-TheTealDeal
How much does Jacksonsville run up the middle?
The middle of our defense is very weak at the moment. If you blow Mebane off the line, then you pretty much have single blockable players to deal with and safeties that are out of position to stop big run plays. Can Jacksonville still power run the middle?
Has Mebane been blown off the line this year?
The run D has been great with him in and lousy when he was out.
""I wanted to be a quarterback, but I got hungry."
-LG Rob Sims
The Jags traditionally have been a big power run team
The main reason they aired it out so much vs Tennessee was because at one point the Titans had as many as 9 guys in the box to stop MJD. Besides the Tennessee game, MJD has been a huge part of the Jags offense,
by Jonathan Loesche on Oct 7, 2009 3:34 AM PDT up reply actions
But I must admit John
that our precious team starting to look alike a “throw first” team who has a realy good running threat.
Our 2 LTs (rookie Eugene Monroe, and multiple ProBowler and former Eagle Tra Thomas) is a pass blocker then a run blocker. Maurice is used only at the running game, neither FG Greg Jones or rookie Rashad Jennings saw lot of actions until last sunday, and our receivers are not garbage anymore.
But the star of the team is really MJD, and his 5TDs are speak for itself.
Plus, David Garrard is maybe the best mobile starting QB right now in the entire league!
Life without knowledge is death in disguise
by Zoltan from Budapest on Oct 9, 2009 6:29 PM PDT up reply actions
Typing errors following me
Greg Jones is a FB not FG
And Our 2 LTS are a pass blocker then a run blocker (not is)
Life without knowledge is death in disguise
by Zoltan from Budapest on Oct 9, 2009 6:31 PM PDT up reply actions
How are Jags fans feeling about Torry Holt?
Early numbers for him don’t look so hot. Has he looked slow?
I will smash your face into a jelly.
by Phil Hatzenbuehler on Oct 6, 2009 3:26 PM PDT reply actions
Sorry I didn't address this one specifically yet
So far we’ve been pleased with Holt. He’s doing exactly what he was signed to do, provide a veteran presence in a very young WR corp and be a clutch possession receiver. Number don’t show all of what he’s done for the Jags
by Jonathan Loesche on Oct 8, 2009 5:45 AM PDT up reply actions
He's clutch but flys as fast a
excuse the reference, A 1 winged Seahawk.
"HULU: An evil plot to destroy the world. Enjoy"
The Flavour of the Day is Turf. - Courtesy of the Jacksonville Jaguars
"As for me, Life goes on."-TheTealDeal
Jags are frequently one of the most inconsistent teams
why is that?
This year the trend is continuing. Always play the Colts tough, low scoring. Couldn’t stop or run on Arizona. Beat Houston in a shutout. Beat the poor Titans. Will they show up for us?
Out of curiosity
How have those rookie DE you guys drafted last year looked? I understand the pass rush isn’t great, but are they developing into solid contributors?
Meh
The 2008 offseason was so messed up and that draft was just part of it. Derrick Harvey’s hold out in essence set his career back a year. He looked good against the Titans, though. Despite having no sacks he was constantly in the back field forcing Collins to make bad throws. As for Quentin Groves, the only play I can remember him for was in Mini-Camp he was going up against Tra Thomas and Thomas picked him up and practically threw him down to the ground like it was the WWE.
by Jonathan Loesche on Oct 7, 2009 3:36 AM PDT up reply actions
We have been told to lower our expectations
Sorry to butt in John
Big Cat Country!:: The Official Home of the Unofficial Blog of the Jacksonville Jaguars!
Disappointing would be a better description - but I'm probably their harshest critic
Everyone was asking, when is Harvey going to produce – they no longer ask that question and are happy when he gets in the same area code of the QB. He has had his moments – last week was probably his best game. But we mortgaged the 2008 draft for a dominant DE to register QB hits and sacks – by that critieria he blows.
So far so good
I dare say Josh Scobee is the best kicker in the league. His only misses have been from 55 or more and has been burying kickoffs in the endzone.
The one real weak line is punter Adam Podlesh, though at least he’s getting hang time on his punts now.
by Jonathan Loesche on Oct 7, 2009 4:58 PM PDT up reply actions
Mike Thomas, a rookie
has become a good KR. Last week we had great field position because of him, which helped alot.
"HULU: An evil plot to destroy the world. Enjoy"
The Flavour of the Day is Turf. - Courtesy of the Jacksonville Jaguars
"As for me, Life goes on."-TheTealDeal
Can you spot us 3 TDs?
Child please...
by Airborne Hawk Guy on Oct 7, 2009 9:46 AM PDT reply actions
um
2. Maurice Jones-Drew: The forgotten man in the bedazzlement of Tennessee, look for MJD to once again become a focal point of the offense it what is regarded as one of the loudest crowds in the NFL. Not to mention Seattle has one of the worst defensive interiors in the NFL and expect to see alot of MJD on Sunday.
Brandon Mebane Disagrees with you.
It's Great to be a Florida Gator!
Next year's notable Ex-Seahawks:
Walter Jones, Patrick Kerney, Seneca Wallace
And I think Tats would like to second the motion
""I wanted to be a quarterback, but I got hungry."
-LG Rob Sims
We should be better with Tatupu and Mebane back in
They read the play better. I hope Tatupu is closer to full strength.
Not real confident in Babs. Still wish they would put Lawyer in to play strong safety. Babs is not a starter and has never taken a position from a starter until we decided to dump Russell at the last minute. He doesn’t have starter instincts. Yeah, I know he is making alot of tackles. But the ones he misses stand out more.
by ASeahawkfan on Oct 10, 2009 11:37 AM PDT up reply actions
Don't take for granted ...
… that the Jags can’t put pressure on the QB and have a soft secondary. We don’t have a lot of sacks but the past 2 weeks have forced QBs into quick decisions and bad throws. We have an all-pro corner in Mathis who will take one WR out of the play, and another in Cox who is not playing like a rookie. Our safeties have been weak, but starting Alexander at SS will help. We are vulnerable short and in the middle … your backs and TEs should have a big day receiving.
You're right
in pointing out where we might have an edge in the matchup, it’s easy to make too much of it.
But don’t take for granted that Rashean Mathis will take a WR out of every play.
Well, you didn't get pressure
and your secondary was pretty damn soft. ’Pro bowler" Mathis was burned quite a few times.
yep
"HULU: An evil plot to destroy the world. Enjoy"
The Flavour of the Day is Turf. - Courtesy of the Jacksonville Jaguars
"As for me, Life goes on."-TheTealDeal
To the tune of 3 TDs.
Which, to tell you the truth, surprised the shit out of me because he looked ridiculously good that one season where he made the Pro-Bowl.
"I wish the Seahawks were back in the AFCW so we didn’t have to face Willis and Gore twice a year."
by Fearless Frog on Oct 12, 2009 2:22 PM PDT up reply actions
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