Dolphins @ Jaguars: What to watch for
by silencecs on Dec 12, 2009 5:27 PM EST
in Jacksonville Jaguars Game Preview
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PrintA huge game approaches, accompanied by a playoff atmosphere not seen since 2007. Nothing matters except winning at any cost. Physicality must be king. The Dolphins are the very definition of a smash-mouth team; they're built by longtime personnel genius, Bill Parcells. They are in the playoff hunt for the second consecutive year under Tony Sparano, and are playing meaningful games in December. Think they'll be fired up? We better be too. That being said, here's some things to watch for during the game.
- Look for Witherspoon to return more kicks. Mike Thomas will have to be featured more in the passing game since Sims-Walker won't be 100%. Thomas is also listed as probable on the injury report, and saw limited time in practice due to a hammy. He'll definitely play, although we'll see if he's as quick as usual.
- R. Allen has been in for "Country" Ingram a number of times this season. It's been astounding watching this first-year undrafted player develop over the course of the season.
- Clint Ingram's days with the team may be numbered. He hasn't played a top-notch game all season, and the team will desperately need him to show us the run-stopping prowess he was known for in the past.
- Montavious Stanley may see his first start of the season as a result of John Henderson being doubtful. He's played great when providing respite for Big John, or "Pot Roast". Now, we'll need to see if Stanley can be this team's next Rob Meier. This could be a huge game for the 28 year old. He should be in his prime, and we's going to need to show it this week. The Dolphins starting Center Jake Grove is doubtful, and his absence could help alleviate the loss of Big John, should he sit out.
- Torry Holt, Mike Thomas, or Nate Hughes must step up and help out Garrard. We'll need to run short passes due to both the pass-rush and the expected inclement weather. The deep ball will be a risky move.
- Dirk Koetter should focus on featuring the TE's this game. That's the textbook way to go in poor weather against a great run defense. The Jaguars have great TE's this year, and hopefully Dirk will feature Zach Miller a little more, as his speed can't be matched by LB's.
- MJD must be featured at all costs. Run screens, run tosses, run up the middle. Don't let the Dolphins dictate your decisions in regards to running.
- Garrard must be better than Henne. Henne can throw the deep ball well, which can sometimes keep teams from stacking the box to heavily against the run. The rain may negate that and allow the Jaguars to incorportate more a a run focused defense.
- If Mathis is back, look for the Jaguars to employ less nickel defense. The number four rushing offense is in town, it is going to rain, and you need all the meat at the line you can find.
- Look for our rookie tackles to show up big. They're facing to aging veterans in Porter and Taylor. When you get old, sometimes you start to lose it in December. Eben and Eugene need to shut 'em down for the Jaguars to succeed.
- The interior line has underwhelmed all season long. However, this game is a good one to get back on track, as the Dolphins will be without their starting NT. Meester and Manuwai should be watched closely to see if they still have the power at this time of the season to run up the gut. Uche has been known to make mental errors and get confused occasionally. Against a 3-4 he'll have to be on his toes and making sure he isn't committing the cardinal sin of blocking air
- In the rain, anything can happen. Now's the time to earn respect.
-Collin Streetman
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I think if the Jaguars
win this they are in. They need 1 more W (Cleveland or/and Indy) and a Ravens loss; and they made the impossible. With 13 rookies; and now 28 new players reach a playoff shot.
Some of the lead writers of the Hungarian site mock me lately with “if the Jaguars will go in to the playoffs; that would be a biig shame”. Well I didn’t say anythingto response (it ewas hard) because I hope the Jaguars could prove to them and everyone (starting a win today-here is already Sunday) that they are a real playoff team.
Hey this is a crazy year in the AFC. Where are the big bad Steelers huh? Omar Epps (Played by Mike Tomlin) said after the loss in kC that they will unleash hell. Well they did to themselves. The Jaguars are not 3 but 2 steps (thanks to the AFC record; which would be 8-4-The best of any wildcard AFC contender) away from the playoffs. If they win tiomorrow without Big John; MSW; and Mathis; 3 key players; then these team proving that they are a very strong team.
I hope MJD; David our TEs; Our LBs; and all the lineman who will play will play 110%. They need to do that for a W. But I trust in my team. I hope the good Jaguars will hit the field and can win in a nailbiter.
I have fears and worrise. I have trust and hope. Wihin 24 hours we will know which impression was right.
Oh and by the way: Go Colts! and GO LIONS!
Life without knowledge is death in disguise
by Zoltan from Budapest on Dec 12, 2009 7:48 PM EST reply actions
David MUST bring his A game if we're going to win
As goes David, so goes this team. MJD, O -line, TE’s -whatever – David is the key. If he plays well, we’ve got a good shot if he doesn’t – the Phins will win.
Go Jags!
All I Have To Say
is first zoltan ur post was very good, until i read on the last line, i dont know how it is in europe but here in america we dont cheer on other teams in our own division. and you wrote go colts, im very worried about u as u are a fellow jags fan, you do know that it’s in the blood of every good jaguars fan to hate the colts especially, right?
If the Colts win
they rest their key players=boost the chances of winning (break there biiiiig winning streak) on Thursday night. Lions same storsy; they beat the ravens tomorrow and the Jags win=Jaguars are 80% in the playoffs. See?
BUSINESS IS BUSINESS MY FRIEND! (and here we don’t cheeer to rivals either.
Life without knowledge is death in disguise
by Zoltan from Budapest on Dec 12, 2009 8:55 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs
The players, Reggie Wayne want to go for it
however Caldwell is leaning towards resting his starters and thats what their fans want too.
"HULU: An evil plot to destroy the world. Enjoy"
The Flavour of the Day is Turf. - Courtesy of the Jacksonville Jaguars
Maurice Jones Drew is The Best RB in the AFC--Please Disagree with me
Caldwell; Polian; Dungy
all said-they expect to rest the core players.
PLUS! Sorgi is on IR. IF Manning go down that’s it for the season-Do you wanna risk that in a “meanigless game?”
Life without knowledge is death in disguise
by Zoltan from Budapest on Dec 13, 2009 9:10 AM EST up reply actions
So,
if we lose this game, and win against Indy, we’d still still have a decent chance of making the playoffs.
"HULU: An evil plot to destroy the world. Enjoy"
The Flavour of the Day is Turf. - Courtesy of the Jacksonville Jaguars
Maurice Jones Drew is The Best RB in the AFC--Please Disagree with me
by TheTealDeal on Dec 13, 2009 10:01 AM EST up reply actions
Yeah but we lose a tiebraker against the Phins...
Life without knowledge is death in disguise
by Zoltan from Budapest on Dec 13, 2009 10:43 AM EST up reply actions
Question
It’s been a while since I’ve been here and I was wondering why you don’t have fanposts and fanshots on your front page anymore.
Nevermind...
I found them. WTF are they doing at the bottom of the page in no-man’s land?
by peytonsurdaddy on Dec 12, 2009 9:40 PM EST up reply actions
And...
Where are your injury reports?
by peytonsurdaddy on Dec 12, 2009 9:41 PM EST up reply actions
We don't need injury reports
we’re so good we just choose to not play certain people every week. haha
We just don't have injury reports...
If hip hop is dead, then it happened the day that Dilla died.
-Akrobatik
Sometimes we have them
other times we’ll make them into fanpost and label them Jaguars might be missing 3 key players on Sunday.
"HULU: An evil plot to destroy the world. Enjoy"
The Flavour of the Day is Turf. - Courtesy of the Jacksonville Jaguars
Maurice Jones Drew is The Best RB in the AFC--Please Disagree with me
Ah...
Most sites have a daily injury report. It’s kind of nice and depressing at the same time. I use it when I’m making my picks for the week and it’s a close point spread.
Good luck today.
AFC SOUTH! REPRESENT!
Not that there’s anything wrong with that…
by peytonsurdaddy on Dec 13, 2009 10:18 AM EST up reply actions
We're down with that
You think the Colts will rest their starters after beating the Broncos? If so, we’d have a chance of beating you?
"HULU: An evil plot to destroy the world. Enjoy"
The Flavour of the Day is Turf. - Courtesy of the Jacksonville Jaguars
Maurice Jones Drew is The Best RB in the AFC--Please Disagree with me
by TheTealDeal on Dec 13, 2009 10:26 AM EST up reply actions
It's some glitch, SBN is working to get it fixed
Associate Editor of Big Cat Country the #1 Jacksonville Jaguar site on the net
Big Cat Country Radio, Every Wednesday Night at 10 PM EST
by Jonathan Loesche on Dec 12, 2009 9:42 PM EST up reply actions
I don't think Mathis should play...
…If he is not 100%. If he is bluffing in being out there he could be found out and singled out by Miami. Rashean hurting is not Rashean healthy. Doubtful means don’t count on seeing him. If he was healthy or close, he would be probable. JDR doesn’t play head games… does he? Well. yes he does.
Big Cat Country!:: The Official Home of the Unofficial Blog of the Jacksonville Jaguars!
Our playoffs
Start tomorrow. Rashean needs to be out there on the field.
If hip hop is dead, then it happened the day that Dilla died.
-Akrobatik
What if we lose him for the
playoffs then? Or if we lose him in this game and then someone else after him. Heal him up and then get him back out there. Teams playing with hurt CB’s that can’t run are teams basically playing with 10 players.
Take one for the team
The road is easier when the playoffs is achieved.
"HULU: An evil plot to destroy the world. Enjoy"
The Flavour of the Day is Turf. - Courtesy of the Jacksonville Jaguars
Maurice Jones Drew is The Best RB in the AFC--Please Disagree with me
My Keys to the game
Henne is not a running QB by any means, but we need to keep him in the pocket. He’s doesn’t roll out as often as a Cutler did last year, but it’s where he’s most comfortable. Despite what many people may think he’s not all that tall and he gets passes knocked down everyone once in a while. I can almost guarantee that Stanley will get his hand on a pass.
He can be easily confused. So throw him some crazy stuff from time to time. He doesn’t pick zones apart yet, at least not quickly so throw them when he’s in a hurry up mode. Giving him zone otherwise would cause him to just hold the ball until someone gets open. If we had a pass rush that would be ok, but we don’t.
The LB’s need to play strong and get off blocks. they will be key to stopping the run because our DL will get push back if relied upon to heavily.
We need to run the ball, and run it a lot. Their DL is full of 3-4DE/DT tweeners, but no run stuffers. Run patiently because they don’t shoot gaps excessively. Wait till something opens up, because more often than not, something will. Freddy T would be dominate in this game.
Keep Bess in check, he is their chain mover. You have to tackle this guy and Ricky.
After we run the ball effectively, PA over the top. Use some hard fakes and even use Thomas for a couple. Their whole team seems to bite on PA.
On offense run excessive plays that make them not want to pass rush anymore. Dink and dunk passes, run the ball, run draw plays. They will get tired of rushing the passer after a while, but not if they smell blood in the water. If they start hitting Garrard, things will go downhill fast.
Take advantage of your opportunities when presented with them because they will be there, and because their team can suffocate you on either side of the ball.
Play hard, smart, and to the whistle on coverage teams, because their returners are “patient”, in the sense that they will make you pursue them. They look for the big plays.
Strip the ball from their receivers/returners, who are young, inexperienced, and not all that big and strong.
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