SB Nation - Nate Hughes

Torry Holt is showing this team how a winner acts.

Tkopa — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 03:57:41 -0000

The first Quarter is over, the Jags had the ball for over 10 minutes. We have 3 points to show for it. The Texans are hitting hard and Maurice has been stopped. Thank God for the defense. It is the start of the second quarter and is third and 7 on the Houston 43. Duante Robinson just broke up a pass to Torry on the right side. David tells them it is the same play to the left side. He looks at Torry and Torry nods and smiles. It will be ok. Torry Holt is a winner. Let's see what happens next.

From Jags Texans

David throws the ball before Torry breaks. Duante tries to react.

From Jags Texans

Looks like another Jacksonville First Down.

From Jags Texans

This time it is a play fake to Maurice. The left corner, Reeves, isn't sure of this play. Besides, he never saw this number 16 before.

From Jags Texans

Nate Hughes isn't going to repeat the first game. Time to turn on the Jets!

From Jags Texans

Torry is right there to make sure Nate feels the love. This is how a winning team treats each other. The young guys notice what Torry is doing and he notices what they are doing. I have been reading how Torry shouldn't start, how he drops balls. Here is what life looks like for Torry.

From Jags Texans

Anyone remembering Matt Jones taking that type of hit for the team? If we make the playoffs, even if we don't, we all owe Torry Holt a big standing ovation at game time. This guy is showing how a winner acts.

- Terry O'Brien

Post Game Thoughts: I'll take it

Jonathan Loesche — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 22:44:44 -0000

More photos » by Kathy Willens - AP

about 1 month ago: Jacksonville Jaguars' Maurice Jones-Drew (32) runs for a touchdown during the first quarter of an NFL football game against the New York Jets, Sunday, Nov. 15, 2009, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

Browse more photos »

First off, I would like to thank John and the rest of the guys at Gang Green Nation for coming over and being so classy all week.

The Jaguars have often been called the most consistently inconsistent team in the NFL. Up one week and down the next. This time, they decided to trump that and go schizo in the process of one game. The Jaguars came out in the first half and took it to the Jets second ranked defense. Pounding away with Maurice Jones-Drew and then giving David Garrard time, the Jaguars stupefied defensive genius Rex Ryan.

However, in the second half, Ryan made a few adjustments that tipped the scales in his favor. Having Darrell Revis stick on Mike Sims-Walker was the first adjustment. The other was having his defense sellout to stop Jones-Drew. That combination managed to limit the Jaguars to just 18 yards of offense in the first 26 minutes of the second half. However, the Jaguars managed to rekindle the offense for a final drive that saw this team's best crunch time performance since the 2007 playoff win at Pittsburgh.

Offensively, I'm of two minds right now. I give Dirk Koetter a lot of credit for coming in with a solid gameplan that got the Jaguars up to a 21-10 half time lead. However, his refusal to adjust when the Jets clearly had it figured out is troubling. However, all in all I believe he did a good job.

Maurice Jones-Drew continues to show how important he is to this team. Jones-Drew had 91 yards going into halftime, only to be stopped consistently in the 2nd. Also, Mike Sims-Walker's forced absense showed how much he is a key to the offense. The fact Revis so totally shut him down shows he still has a ways to go before joining the upper tier of wide receivers.

The fumble at the goal line almost cost the Jaguars their season and is yet another bad red zone play in a season full of bad red zone plays. Expect more on that in this week's Comcast article.

Defensively, I genuinely liked what I saw from this team. I'll go so far as to say I think this was the best 60 minutes they've played all year. Until exhaustion creeped in during the 4th quarter, they were playing lights out and forcing mistakes.

The defense held the #1 rushing unit in football 60 yards below their season average. The Jaguars also held the Jets to a season low 3.8 yards per rush. If this isn't an indication the 4-3 is here to stay, I don't know what is.

Watching Mark Sanchez today, I thought about the first time the Jaguars went against Vince Young. Young was flat out horrible that game and convinced me he was never going to be an effective Pro QB. I don't get that feeling from Sanchez. He's learning on the job and makes plenty of mistakes, but he seems like he has the head and arm to be a Pro QB.

Congratulations go out to Rashean Mathis. His interception to start the ball game set the franchise record with 28 career INTs. H/T to Vic for pointing that out.

Also a shout out to Sean Considine. He played easily his best game as a Jagaurs delivering a few big hits to knock balls out and was a sure tackler today.

Whether or not you agree with Maurice Jones-Drew's decision to kneel at the one, I think it showed a great football acumen and how unselfish he is.

Jarrett Dillard's season ending injury is certainly a blow for this team. Perhaps this means Nate Hughes will get a second chance.

This was a game neither team seemingly wanted to win until the very end, with plenty of mistakes on both sides. However, the Jaguars got a big road win against a wild card competitor, and that is all that matters.

-Jonathan Loesche

First Quarter Grades and Awards

Jonathan Loesche — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 01:45:09 -0000

More photos » by Stephen Morton - AP

Mike Sims-Walker has been showing flashes of being the best receiver the Jaguars have had since Jimmy Smith.

Browse more photos »

The first quarter has been filled with some great moments (Week 4) and some not so great moments (Week 2.) In between, we have seen a team that came into the season with tempered expectations amongst a gutted roster. Now, that roster has begun to show signs of life that has the word "Playoffs" being spoke and the idea of going 6-2 heading into a showdown against the New York Jets a possibility. However, I think this team is somewhere in between at the moment.

Passing Game

David Garrard has begun to regain his 2007 form, averaging over 235 yards a game and already has five touchdowns to start the season. The main concern for me though is that he only has a completion percentage of 59.7%. David's resurgence can be thanked in part to the resurgence of the offensive line. In the last two weeks, David has been given all the time in the world and it has shown.

The other key to the resurgence of the passing game has been the fact the Jaguars no longer have a CFL level wide receiving corp.Mike Sims-Walker has been a monster since being forced into the starting line up due to Troy Williamson's season ending injury. Torry Holt has been a nice veteran edition who still has something left in the tank. The one disappointment so far has been dearly departed Nate Hughes. I felt like he was scape goated for the loss to Arizona.

Grade: B+

Rushing Game

Maurice Jones-Drew was made one of the highest paid running backs in the league and he has played like it through four weeks. MJD has 296 rushing yards and five touch downs in the through the first five games on the season. Keep in mind that is including the Titans game where he only had six carries. Overall I'm very pleased with how Jones-Drew has taken to being the starting running back.

Biggest surprise to the run game has been Mike Thomas' edition. Thomas gives the Jaguars a nice change of pace player off the end around that has paid nice dividends so far.

Grade: B+

Rushing Defense

The defense has been in a state of transition going from a 4-3 to a 3-4. However, the rush defense has been adequate for the Jaguars. The Jags currently rank 12th in the NFL against the rush giving up 98.8 yards a game. This can be thanked in part to the emergence of Terrance Knighton as a legitimate 3-4 NT (and to think some people wanted us to draft B.J. Raji) and John Henderson's career revival as a 3-4 DE. However, the low rush numbers can also be thanked by something else.........

Grade: B-

Passing Defense

Or lack there of. The Jaguars are tied for dead last in the NFL allowing 282 yards a game in the air and opposing QBs are averaging a 97.2 QB rating against the Jaguars defense. The first two and a half games were horrific to watch, to say the least. However, it seems the defensive line is now starting to get pressure and rookie Derek Cox is getting his footing and showing why he was worth a 2nd round investment. However, the weak link that still exists is FS Reggie Nelson. Nelson is constantly out of place and is going to cost us more big plays in the future. As I told Terry on Sunday, let's hope some team is dumb enough to swap first round picks and take Reggie Nelson in a trade that'll let us take Eric Berry.

Grade: D+

Special Teams

Josh Scobee's 70% FG accuracy is something of a misnomer considering two of his three misses were from 56 and 62 yards. Discounting those two misses, Scobee is 7/8 and I dare say has become the best kicker in the NFL. Also, Scobee is second in the league averaging 71.1 yards a kick off. In other words, Scobee's AVERAGE kickoff is landing a yard deep in the end zone.

On the flip side, Adam Podlesh is an enigma. Podlesh currently ranks 26th in the league with a 36.1 yard net average. The strange thing is his actual average is 39.7 yards, meaning he's getting a lot of fair catches.Still, he needs to show something more than any other journeyman punter.

The coverage units have been solid so far, certainly aided by Scobee's bombing kick offs. While the haven't been at the top of the league, they are far from the disaster many fans feared when Russ Purnell was hired.

The returning duties have been a game of musical chairs that have seemingly found a winner in Mike Thomas. Thomas has looked excellent so far in his duties and I'm sure a highlight reel punt return for touchdown is coming soon.

Grade: B+

Intangibles

The Jaguars are sixth in the league with a +4 turnover differential and are tied for sixth in the league for fewest penalties with 19. For a team that is transition, these are huge and I don't think I need to explain why

Grade: A

I'm going to save my thoughts on the Jaguars' coaching for a separate article.

MVP: Mike Sims-Walker

Sims-Walker has been the spark plug a sputtering offense has needed foe years. Now that he is finally healthy we see what all of the hype was about and he is well on his way to becoming a true #1 wide receiver in the league.

Best Rookie: Terrance Knighton

A tough call between Knighton and fellow third rounder Derek Cox. However, I went with Knighton for almost singlehandidly helping lead a resurgence on the defensive line.

-Jonathan Loesche

Jacksonville Jaguars Wide Receiver Nate Hughes is released, Troy Williamson out for season.

River City Rage — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 16:30:10 -0000

From Pro Football Talk: A League Source tells PFT that the Jacksonville Jaguars have released Nate Hughes, who dropped two consecutive touchdown passes in yesterdays game against the Cardinals.

Wide Receiver Troy Williamson is out for the season with a shoulder injury.

In theory, this means that Mike Thomas and Jarrett Dillard will get a chance to play against the Texans on Sunday.

Game Preview: Week 2: Arizona Cardinals at Jacksonville Jaguars

Jonathan Loesche — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 17:30:15 -0000

Arizona Cardinals (0-1)

Week #2

Jacksonville Jaguars (0-1)

VS.

Date:	September 20th, 2009	Location:	Jacksonville,FL
Time:	1:00 pm EST	Stadium:	"The Jack"
TV:	FOX	Favorite:	Jaguars -3.5
Radio:	Click Here	Over/Under:	43
Weather:	87 w/moderate chance of thunderstorms	Injury Report:	Click Here
SBN Coverage:	Revenge of the Birds	Coverage Map	Click Here

Week Two and the home opener are upon us. The Jaguars look to get the bitter taste of their loss in Indy out of their mouths and get a win over the defending NFC Champions. For the second week in a row, the Jaguars will have their hands full with a talent corp of wide receivers. Cardinal's wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald may be the best wide out in football, and Anquan Boldin will have something to prove after spending the entire off season mouthing off about his contract.

The Cardinals are coming off a tough loss to division rival San Francisco where the looked nothing like the team that made a surprising run to the Super Bowl a year ago. Kurt Warner completed less than 60% of his passes, threw two interceptions, and was sacked three times in a 20-16 loss. In addition, the team rushed a grand total of 40 yards. Defensively, the team did pick it up registering four sacks and forcing two fumbles.

Thing to Watch for: Jacksonville Jaguars

1. Defensive Line: The loss of Reggie Hayward and the revised expectations of the eight overall pick in the 2008 draft Derrick Harvey mean that the line is once again in bad shape on the outside. John Henderson and Terrance Knighton played well enough on the interior against Indy, and they may be counted on to get pressure against the Cardinals. Also, Henderson played surprisingly well as a DE when the Jaguars switched to a 3-4 against the Colts. Keep an eye out for that again.

2. Passing Game: Garrard started off well against the Colts and then proceeded to sink faster than the Titanic. Preseason standouts Nate Hughes and Troy Williamson combined for 2 receptions for 17 yards. Torry Holt looked the part against the Colts, though he only had 3 receptions. I'll put it bluntly, if Jones-Drew accounts for almost half the team's receptions for a second straight week, things could go downhill quickly.

3.Derek Cox: The rookie out of William and Mary played about as expected last week against Indy. He struggled at times only to flash the talent that made Emperor Gene trade the 2010 2nd round pick to get him. His baptism by fire continues this week going against the Cardinals wide receivers. The good news for him is that Kurt Warner isn't Peyton Manning.

4.Offensive Tackles: Eugene Monroe was handed his rear on a silver platter by Dwight Freeney last Sunday. This is the only week in the first four that he won't go against a premier pass rushing DE and he needs a good game this week. Eben Britton played well enough against Robert Mathis and will look to keep playing well this week.

5. Maurice Jones-Drew: Jones Drew accounted for 26 of the Jaguars 55 total offensive plays against the Colts. Expect him to get another heavy load against the Cardinals on Sunday.

Thing to Watch for: Arizona Cardinals

1. Kurt Warner: Warner is infamous for turning in lacklusteter seasons following taking a team to the Super Bowl. Warner didn't have a great game last week against the 49ers and he may be reverting back to his mediocre form he had prior to last year.

2. Defense: Despite their Week 1 loss, the Cardinals defense looked impressive, only surrendering 206 yards of offense. They will have to continue to play that way if the offense can't find a way to kick it into gear this week. They sacked Shaun Hill four times and forced two fumbles, a far cry from most of their efforts in 2008.

3. Turnovers: Kurt Warner threw two costly interceptions while the Cardinals defense did not force a turnover last week. Not many teams win games while being -2 in the turnover department, and the Cardinals know that. Look for them to take extra care of protecting the ball this week.

4.Running Game: The Cardinals accounted for a grand total of 40 yards rushing on on 17 attempts. To be fair, it was really 44 yards on 15 attempts not counting Warner's sacks. However, that is still an abysmal amount of rushing yards. If the Cards can't afford to be this one dimensional week in and week out.

Player On The Hot Seat

Derrick Harvey, DE, Jacksonville

Harvey has to show why he was a Top 10 pick, and for a defensive end, that means getting to the quarterback. He's been hounded all week by the media and fans, and it will only get worse if he doesn't perform up to expectations.

Prediction

Jaguars 24

Cardinals 20

PS, I currently know Terry, TheTealDeal, and myself will be at the game Sunday. Who else is going and anyone want to meet up prior/during the game?

-Jonathan Loesche

Poll

The ______ will win by _ points on Sunday

Jaguars 10+

44 votes

Jaguars 4-9

100 votes

Jaguars 1-3

52 votes

Cardinals 1-3

28 votes

Cardinals 4-9

83 votes

Cardinals 10+

74 votes

381 votes | Poll has closed

Wide Receiver Musical Chairs

Jonathan Loesche — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 00:04:56 -0000

More photos » by Phil Coale - AP

Nate Hughes has been a pleasant surprise for the Jaguars in training camp. Where does he fit in the Jags wide receiver plans?

Browse more photos »

No roster position has seen more competition this offseason than that of wide receiver. Besides Torry Holt, every wide-out is fighting for a spot and it has seemingly brought out the best (or worst) in each receiver on the Jaguars' roster. Cuts will be coming shortly and the Jaguars will have some interesting decisions to make. Will they only keep five wide-outs as they usually do, or has this corp shown enough to make it worthy of carrying six spots. If so, who will be the sixth wide receiver on the Jags roster? Will Mike Sims-Walker or Mike Thomas even survive cuts to make it into Teal for 2009?

Torry Holt

The ex-Ram gave Jaguar fans hope when he was signed in free agency this off season. He has given no reason to abandon it either. Although he has only played limited time in the preseason, he has shown he still has the ability to make circus catches and Sportscenter highlights.

Holt earns the #1 position by default due to his resume. Although Troy Williamson has begun to show big play potential, he'll need to show more of it to try to unseat Holt.

Project Position: #1

Troy Williamson

Along with Derrick Harvey, Williamson is making the 2008 off season look like a slightly less horrible venture than it was first thought to be. Williamson made the play of the preseason so far and has made himself into a go to threat for Garrard. The former #7 overall pick looks like he's finally comfortable in his own skin and if he can continue down this road, he'll make Shack Harris look like a genius. Emphasis on look.

Williamson has earned himself the second starting position opposite of Holt. If Williamson can play consistently to the level he has played in the preseason, the Jaguars may finally have a receiving pair on par with Jimmy Smith and Keenan McCardell.

Projected Position:#2

Nate Hughes

Hughes has been the pleasant surprise of training camp. He has lifted himself from UDFA and practice squad candidate to being ranked ahead of any of the receivers the Jaguars drafted in 2009. The concussion Hughes sustained in Philly will certainly limit him against Washington, but he has already secured his roster spot for 2009.

Hughes earns himself the slot position for his consistency and ability to go over the middle.

Projected Position: #3

Jarrett Dillard

Remember how hyped everyone was about the Jaguars 2nd day wide receivers in April? Let this be a lesson in tempering expectations. Dillard earns a roster spot for showing potential in the limited action he got during the preseason. He certainly looks like he can carve out a niche career as a sure handed possession receiver, but he'll need some more seasoning first.

Projected Position: #4

Mike Sims-Walker

A combination of sheer potential that deserves one last chance and a rather "meh" reaction to every other receiver on the roster, Walker survives cuts to make it on as the last receiver. Walker was having an excellent camp until sustaining a high ankle sprain in the scrimmage. This latest injury will certainly be the last straw before the Jaguars back breaks with him though. He has to stay healthy or he'll be gone.

Projected Position: #5

Mike Thomas

The speedy and undersized Wildcat has been nursing a hamstring for most of camp and hasn't played at all in the preseason. He's certainly headed for Injured Reserve barring a miracle or an incident that gets him headlines for the wrong reasons.

Tiquan Underwood

Underwood represents a dilemma for the Jaguars. He hasn't upstaged any of the other wide receivers to get a roster spot, but his upside means he will almost certainly not clear waivers. He needs a monster game against the Redskins if he wants to overtake Walker for the final roster spot or force the Jags to keep six wide outs on the roster.

-Jonathan Loesche

The Linc - A tasteless mural

JasonB — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 15:12:10 -0000

More photos » by Michael Perez - AP

Browse more photos »

Didinger's Game I'll Never Forget: Cowboys 1995
Always fun to re-live wins over the Cowboys.

The700Level.com - Philly Sports & Minutiae: Mural of Michael Vick Depicts Him Choking a Puppy Wearing a Cowboys Jersey
It's not easy defending the reputation of Philly sports fans. It's typically a very small group that brings the rest of us down with them. Surely the painter of this horrible graffiti will do the same.

'D' breakdown: Abiamiri, Fokou, Samuel | Philly | 08/28/2009
If you focused in only on Asante Samuel, you'd have thought it was a playoff game, not a preseason contest. Good to see that kind of intensity and effort from one of the team's leaders, especially after the defense looked suspect in the first two games. I almost wonder if Sean McDermott challenged him this week at practice. Samuel had an interception and laid a big hit on Jaguars wide receiver Nate Hughes to force a fumble at the goal line. Pass breakups, support against the run and even a near-block on a field goal. Samuel did it all last night.

Vick's jersey a steady seller | Delawareonline.com | The News Journal
"Sales have been fairly strong and it is still early in the season," a spokesman for Modell's said. "With him playing [tonight] and as the season goes on, people start to get more excited and they look for ways to show their spirit. In terms of a new player coming to town, we definitely saw the demand hit right away."

Goodell won't make Cowboys raise big screen - NFC East - ESPN
A week after a free-agent rookie punter for the Titans bounced a kick off Jerry Jones' gigantic video board at Cowboys Stadium, the NFL has tweaked its rule book. And you shouldn't be surprised that commissioner Roger Goodell ruled in Jones' favor.

Should Vick play next week? | Philadelphia Daily News | 08/28/2009
Like most NFL teams, the Eagles will not play their starters in the preseason finale. Next Thursday's game against the Jets will be almost exclusively backups and those players fighting for the final remaining roster spots. For the Eagles, the interesting question is where Michael Vick fits in.

Game Previews: Preseason Game #3 Jacksonville Jaguars @ Philadelphia Eagles

Jonathan Loesche — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 00:04:12 -0000

Philadelphia Eagles

Preseason

Jacksonville Jaguars

VS.

Date:	August 27th, 2009	Location:	Philadelphia, PA
Time:	7:00 pm EST	Stadium:	Lincoln Stadium
TV:	CBS	Favorite:	Eagles
Radio:	Click Here	Over/Under:	33.5
Weather:	65, clear	Injury Report:	Coming Soon
SBN Coverage:	Bleeding Green Nation	Coverage Map	Local

It is almost here. The Jaguars travel to face the Eagles Thursday night in what is going to be the most hyped preseason game for a long time. Michael Vick makes his return to the NFL and the Jaguars get to be the "lucky" opposing team for this occasion. If nothing else, this will give the Jaguars some national attention as the game will be a main feature on ESPN Thursday and Friday morning.

The third preseason game is the closest teams come to playing as if it were a regular game. Expect the starters to stay well into the second half, with some starters staying into the 4th quarter. This game will serve as an excellent litmus test for the team. The Jags go to a hostile enviornment against one of the elite franchises in the NFL.

What to Watch For: Jacksonville Jaguars

1. Defensive toughness: The unit has had a below average preseason. The unit gave up too many easy plays to an average Buccaneers offense, and now has to go up against one of the top units in football. However, the Eagles are a finesse team that will rattle if punched in the mouth. That is what the Jags defensive front has to do. It has to get to McNabb early to set the tone.

2. MoJo to regain his mojo: Let's face it, MoJo has had a horrible preseason. Granted, he hasn't seen much action, but even when he's been in he hasn't been much of a force. Jones-Drew needs to begin to show signs of life before the regular season. Look for him to get between 15-20 touches Thursday night.

3. Special Teams: Another unit that has been having a bad preseason. The less of Josh Scobee tackling the returner, the better. Also, it would appear that Podlesh is seeing his last days in a teal jersey.

4. Wide Receivers: Who is going to be left when the musical chairs is over? Torry Holt, Troy Williamson, and Nate Hughes are the safest bets for roster spots at this point. That still leaves Dillard, Thomas, Walker, and Underwood competing for two spots. Who is going to step up to claim those roster spots?

5. Ernest Wilford: I'll take my crow medium rare Collin. Wilford makes his return to the Jaguars as a tight end Thursday night. Is he going to be the sure handed possession receiver he was in his previous stint with the Jags or the underachieving player he was as a Dolphin?

What to Watch For: Philadelphia Eagles

1. Michael Vick: What else is there to say? Vick will make his return, and Andy Reid has confirmed he will play with the starters. Regardless of whether or not he does anything to remind us of why he was a human highlight reel, it will be an electric moment when he steps on the field.

2. Jeremy Maclin: Maclin was a favorite of mine in this year's draft. He was eventually taken in the mid first round by the Eagles. Maclin has been struggling in the preseason, though he will surely see some balls come his way. I still think he'll be Westbrook 2.0 for the Eagles and one of the big stars of this draft class.

3. How the team reacts to Vick: This team has been dealing with all of the media circus since the organization signed Vick. I'm sure the team just wants to get it over with and see how things go from there. Will they fall flat or will it be an uplift for them?

4. Offensive Line: Tra Thomas may have been the biggest departure for the Eagles O-line, but he wasn't the only one. The Eagles have struggled with pass protection and running the ball consistently during the preseason. The Jaguars D-line hasn't been reminding anyone of the 85 Bears so far, and this may be their chance to gel as a unit.

Player on the Hot Seat

Maurice Jones-Drew, RB, Jacksonville

MJD needs to make his presence known in this game. He has been nonexistent thus far in the preseason, and that needs to change for the Jaguars to walk out of Philly with a win. In addition, a consistent running game will help take out a surely hostile Philly crowd that is reportedly going to be in playoff form Thursday night.

Prediction

Eagles 21-13

-Jonathan Loesche

Game Preview: Preseason Game 2 Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Jacksonville Jaguars

Jonathan Loesche — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 22:56:11 -0000

More photos » by Phil Coale - AP

Nate Hughes showed he was ready to make the jump from the practice squad to the full roster Monday against the Dolphins. What will he do in the home preseason opener?

Browse more photos »

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-1)

Preseason

Jacksonville Jaguars (0-1)

VS.

Date:	August 22nd, 2009	Location:	Jacksonville, FL
Time:	7:30 pm EST	Stadium:	"The Jack"
TV:	NFLN	Favorite:	Even
Radio:	Click Here	Over/Under:	33.5
Weather:	77, clear	Injury Report:	Coming Soon
SBN Coverage:	Buc 'Em	Coverage Map	Blackout

The Jaguars open their home preseason slate against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. To say the Jaguars need to show improvement is an understatement. The Jaguars first team looked flat out bad against the Dolphins in the preseason opener. It didn't get better from there. Penalties, overthrown balls, fumbles, you name it, the Jaguars did it. Now the Jaguars have one more tune up game before participating in perhaps the most hyped preseason game ever in Philadelphia. The Jaguars take on an average Bucs team in a game that the Jaguars should win if they play any better than they did Monday night.

What to Watch: Jacksonville Jaguars

1. First team offense: Where to start? David Garrard didn't look good; Tony Pashos seemingly wanted to give Eben Britton the starting RT spot; MJD looked average in the handful of plays he was in. In short, the first team offense needs to get going. This isn't the Buccaneers defense of Warren Sapp and John Lynch, and the Jaguars offense should treat it as such. If the first team offense doesn't sustain a drive or two Saturday night, then panic buttons will be hit.

2. Eugene Monroe: The number eight pick was one of the few bright spots against the Dolphins. Despite holding out for two weeks, Monroe looked great in the preseason opener. Unfortunately for him, Tra Thomas also looked good against the Phins. Monroe needs to have another good performance to keep the heat on Thomas and to have a realistic shot at getting the starting left tackle spot.

3.The 3-4: Or should this be under "What to hope to not watch?" The times the Jags lined up in the 3-4 against the Dolphins were ones where I had to hold down my inclination to vomit. Just as Vic and everyone else who's commented on the subject has said, the Jaguars aren't a team built to run the 3-4. It showed Monday night and it will continue to show as long as this horribly wrong experiment is allowed to continue.

4.The wide receivers: This is easily the most wide open position on the team. After Torry Holt, I dare anyone to list the 2 through 5 wide outs with any confidence. Nate Hughes has made a statement that he is more than a practice squad player. Jarrett Dillard made some nice grabs, Troy Williamson looked alright, and the two Mikes, Walker and Thomas, make their preseason debuts Saturday.

5. Special Teams: When the kicker is the leading tackler in any game, you know a team's special teams had a bad day. Fans have been wondering whether the hiring of Russ Purnell was a bad move, and the unit's play against the Dolphins seemingly proved they were right. The coverage unit needs to get better or the Jaguars defense will be put in an even bigger hole this season.

What to Watch: Tampa Bay Buccaneers

1. Quarterbacks: The Buccaneers are carrying a bevy of quarterbacks that gives new meaning to the term "if you have two starting quarterbacks, you have none." Former Jaguar Byron Leftwich is seemingly at the head of pack at the moment, but the Bucs invested their first round pick in Josh Freeman. Expect both to see extensive time against the Jaguars.

2. Derrick Brooks: Or lack there of. The Bucs let the aging All-Pro linebacker go in the off season and the search to replace him will be an on going process. The Buccaneers don't have anyone that screams at you in their current linebacker corps, though it will be a position to watch Saturday night.

3. Kellen Winslow: When's he's not breaking his leg in motorcycle accidents or going on rants about being a soldier Winslow is one of the best all around tight ends in football. However, he is just as well known for his boneheaded off the field moves as he is for his on the field moves. The Bucs traded their 2009 second round pick for the soldier in hopes of improving their offense. The Jaguars will need to cover Winslow extensively in order to effectively shut him down.

4. Raheem Morris: Within the span of a few weeks, Morris went from being a defensive backs coach, to defensive coordinator, to head coach. Some have questioned the move because of Morris' qualifications, and a solid preseason would do alot to bolster his reputation.

5. Running Game: The Buccaneers only managed 95 yards rushing in their preseason opener against the Titans. They will look to re-establish the running game with Carnell Williams against the Jaguars. The Buccaneers certainly have capable backs behind Williams, including Earnest Graham. The Bucs will need a running game to help them through their current troubles with the quarterback position.

Player on the hot seat

Tony Pashos, RT, Jacksonville

Pashos needs a good game Saturday night. He looked bad Monday night and his competition, Eben Britton, looked really good. If Pashos continues to be good for a holding call a game, his days as a Jaguar are numbered.

Prediction

7-3 Jaguars (When the starters leave

17-6 Jaguars

-Jonathan Loesche

Jaguars vs Dolphins: Winners and Losers

silencecs — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 00:06:57 -0000

More photos » by Marta Lavandier - AP

Tony Pashos leads a group of players who continue to underperform. Pashos was penalized, and allowed 2 sacks, as the Jaguars offensive line was a major culprit in the teams awful play.

Browse more photos »

The Jaguars were handily beaten by the Miami Dolphins on Monday night, and the game raised more questions than it answered. I'll examine the players who performed well, and those who faltered in Monday's season opener.

Losers:

Tony Pashos: The veteran gave up two clear sacks and was penalized on at least one occasion during the game. He is abover average in the run game, but was beaten badly time and time again. I'm not sure he would make a great guard either, and I think his salary is too much for an average guard. Maybe he'll prove me wrong, but he sure isn't showing any improvement as a RT, especially in the passing game. Something needs to be done about the RT position, Tony is not an adequate pass blocker. Period.

Uche Nwaneri/ Brad Meester/ Mo Williams: The starting interior trio wasn't able to allow Garrard enough time to pass, and couldn't open up lanes for MJD or Greg Jones. There is less concern here, because once Vinny comes back to RG, Uche will be able to head back to the bench. Uche is a great back-up, but there is a significant drop-off between Vince Manuwai and Uche, however, Manuwai is a premier guard, so that is to be expected.

Greg Estandia: Greg didn't do a lot to help his case in a crowed TE position. He was called for a penalty, and got very little separation even against the 3rd and 4th stringers of the Miami defense.

Greg Jones: The vet didn't show much in the running or passing game. He dropped passes, and looked nothing like the Greg of old. The line wasn't much help, but he looked very pedestrian in his first outing of the season, as did much of the team.

Brian Williams: The crafty veteran looked bad. He was flagged for penalty after penalty, and was beaten badly on more than one occasion. There is no question the acquisition of Derek Cox is looking like a much better gamble after Monday's game. Hopefully Derek will beat out Brian at some point in the season, and Williams can move to the nickel spot, where he would be much better suited (He'd be closer to the line of scrimmage to help in run defense). His salary is too high to play a nickel corner, so this may be the last season we have B-Dub around. He must improve over Monday's game, though.

Special Teams: Russ' unit looked atrocious. The kickoff coverage now uses the bunch formation (which is where everyone bunches behind the kicker and breaks apart as the ball is about to be kicked). This is amateur hour stuff, folks. It is a tactic that is used to try to confuse the return team's blockers, however, it seemed to have the opposite effect. Scobee made all his FG's, but the punting was inconsistent. The kickoff coverage was the main culprit here, and with the new wedge-ban in effect, it should make it easier on kickoff units to stop returns from going the distance.

Winners:

Nate Hughes: The second-year burner at WR continued to make his case for a roster spot, and it is a strong one. Nate has had a great camp, and that carried over into the preseason opener. He showed good speed and route running, and caught the ball with his hands, literally snatching it out of the air on one occasion. At a weak position, he may be a valuable find.

Eugene Monroe: "The Future" was dominant on Monday, shutting down the defensive ends the entire time he was in the game. He looked solid against the run, but most importantly, he looked like he belonged on an NFL field. The best case scenario involves Eugene starting the season at LT and Tra starting it at RT... Eugene needs to be starting, and if he continues to perform like he did on Monday, the coaching staff is going to have hard time keeping him off the field.

Tra Thomas: The newly acquired Tra Thomas looked sharp on Monday, and shows that Gene Smith knows how to scout offensive linemen. Tra needs to be on the field, and his run-blocking looked consistently strong. He's got remarkably good feet for someone his age, and he needs to be playing at RT over Pashos.

Russell Allen: Wow... Talk about answering the call of duty. Russell was called in to play MLB for Justin Durant when he was sidelined with a hip problem. Allen responded with 4 tackles and one pass defended. He did a good job of getting the defense into position and calling the plays. We may be looking at one of our future LB's here...

Montavius Stanley/Atylliah Ellison: Both made their case for solving the DT problem by stopping the run. Ellison seems to be the better of the two on the line, however, the importance of Stanley's blocked extra point can't be overstated. Special teams can get you on the field.

[Edititorial Note: Thanks to Rufio for reminding me of Thomas Williams]

Thomas Williams: Last year's fifth-round pick looked great. He was making absolutely vicious tackles and continued to show why our LB corp is the team's strongest unit. Williams turned out an all around fantastic performance.

On The Fence:

Troy Williamson: When people are raving over a guy who fumbled the ball, and got lucky on one of his catches, you know things are bad at the WR position. Troy looked OK to me. I didn't like seeing that fumble, because it was before the rain even started, so there is no excuse. He needs to step it up consistently before I start congratulating the guy on an above average performance.

Tyron Brackenridge: The CB had one pass defense, and one tackle. Most importantly though, he didn't look overwhelmed. He seems to be a player the Jaguars are hot on, and I didn't see him make any major gaffes, so I would say he's one to watch.

Zach Miller: This QB turned TE can flat out move. The kid was flying around on offense, and special teams, making a shoestring tackle at the 2 yd like on punt coverage. His only problem may be adjusting to having to catch the ball, especially when David really puts the mustard on it. He had one drop against the dolphins that should've been caught. He's not natural looking at the position yet, and his blocking leaves something to be desired, but he's got major upside, and he showed it Monday.

-Collin Streetman

Poll

Biggest Concern Going Into 2009

Offensive Line

179 votes

Defensive Line

68 votes

Secondary

101 votes

Coaching

54 votes

402 votes | Poll has closed

SB Nation - Nate Hughes

Torry Holt is showing this team how a winner acts.

Post Game Thoughts: I'll take it

First Quarter Grades and Awards

Passing Game

Rushing Game

Rushing Defense

Passing Defense

Special Teams

Intangibles

MVP: Mike Sims-Walker

Best Rookie: Terrance Knighton

Jacksonville Jaguars Wide Receiver Nate Hughes is released, Troy Williamson out for season.

Game Preview: Week 2: Arizona Cardinals at Jacksonville Jaguars

Thing to Watch for: Jacksonville Jaguars

Thing to Watch for: Arizona Cardinals

Player On The Hot Seat

Prediction

The __________ will win by _____ points on Sunday

Jaguars 10+

Jaguars 4-9

Jaguars 1-3

Cardinals 1-3

Cardinals 4-9

Cardinals 10+

Wide Receiver Musical Chairs

Torry Holt

Troy Williamson

Nate Hughes

Jarrett Dillard

Mike Sims-Walker

Mike Thomas

Tiquan Underwood

The Linc - A tasteless mural

Game Previews: Preseason Game #3 Jacksonville Jaguars @ Philadelphia Eagles

What to Watch For: Jacksonville Jaguars

What to Watch For: Philadelphia Eagles

Player on the Hot Seat

Prediction

Game Preview: Preseason Game 2 Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Jacksonville Jaguars

What to Watch: Jacksonville Jaguars

What to Watch: Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Player on the hot seat

Prediction

Jaguars vs Dolphins: Winners and Losers

Biggest Concern Going Into 2009

Offensive Line

Defensive Line

Secondary

Coaching

The ______ will win by _ points on Sunday