Autopsy of an Offensive Failure.
In the final four possessions of the Miami game, the Jaguars did not move the ball at all. Sometimes they passed, sometimes they ran, but at no time did they score. It was not a good quarterback performance and may not have been good play calling. Here are some examples of what I saw. The disclaimer is this, I am a guy with a season ticket and a camera. I am not a guy with access to the coaches box and all the information Dirk and Jack have. What I mean to say is this, take what I write with a grain of salt. It may be right, it may not be. Read it and you decide.
It is deep in the third quarter, 2 minutes and 30 seconds left to play, third and five from our own 29 yard line. David has a screen set up to Maurice with Marcedes, Eben and Uche ready to seal the sidelines. Instead David goes to Mike Thomas and the pass is incomplete. We punt. Could David have hit Maurice? I don't think he considered it. He set up to his left the entire time. Is Maurice yelling "C'mon Man!"
The next series featured Maurice up the middle three times. Miami knew it was coming because our jumbo formation was in. Look at the Dolphins fire off the line. There was no chance for Maurice to gain a yard in this situation. This is a major problem for the Jaguars. If we don't move the defensive line, we don't gain any yards. Miami played real physical and I don't know why we thought a six man front was going to be moved backwards.
This is the final series and it is fourth and three. Dirk calls for David to run up the middle in a quarterback draw. The frustrating thing for all of us in the stands was no one was able to stop the Miami defensive line from getting in the backfield. The only thing that might have worked was play action pass to Marcedes or Torry doing his vanishing move to the sidelines. This play had no chance as you can see.
If Maurice couldn't gain three yards up the middle, David wasn't going to either. Uche got eaten by the rush up the middle. I don't like this play calling.
So in the debate whether it was play calling or execution, I think the failure to win this game was both. On those times when David had a good play called, he missed the opportunity. In other times the plays called weren't going to work no matter what. In general though, Miami was more physical than we were. I wish we made the Dolphins look like we looked in this picture.
Despite all of this, we almost won this game. The rebuilding isn't done and may never be completely done, but if we can shore up the offensive line and find a good safety, I think we are getting close. To be honest, I want to go to the playoffs with power. I want to buy a seat to the playoffs. A sixth wild-card position is an accomplishment and one to be proud of. I want the Division title and a home playoff game. That is my wish.
So all of you get to see the game on television this Thursday, HuRahhh! I'll wave to you all from my seats, wave back!.
- Terry O'Brien
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Comments
Excellent work once again, you need to do this all next season
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by Jonathan Loesche on Dec 14, 2009 11:48 PM EST reply actions
Great piece Terry -again!
I must say I reeeeeeealy like your homegame pictures/reports/impressions
I wanna ask you 2 things. How open were our WRS mostly in the game?
How looked MJD? Is he has an injury; or something else is the problem he is not so effective then he was in the 1st half of the season.
I’ll be watching the Colts game on TV (sadly I’M a bit faaaar from Jville) and I hope the Jags put out a heckuva show. If we go 8-8/)-7 do it with style!
Life without knowledge is death in disguise
by Zoltan from Budapest on Dec 14, 2009 11:49 PM EST reply actions
Hi Z - Thank you
I don’t think our receivers were open much, at least not as open as David likes.
MJD is getting buried a lot but the old Maurice isn’t there right now. No disappearing into the line and coming out running and no more breaking tackles. I don’t know the reason. Thanks for asking!
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Your observation are always good
that’s why I asked it!
Life without knowledge is death in disguise
by Zoltan from Budapest on Dec 15, 2009 8:24 AM EST up reply actions
That first picture is staggering
How is it that a screen is set up like that and David never considers it? I’m at a complete loss.
Plus one
Didn’t even notice it until you pointed it out, perfectly set up screen and David is too blind to see it
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by Jonathan Loesche on Dec 15, 2009 1:20 AM EST up reply actions
Must have been planned
You don’t run screens without knowing it’s a screen. Your run the chance of either being sacked or having an illegal man down field. Must have been just a decoy.
You might be right and it was a decoy
but I think it was an option. I think David had a choice and locked in. Can you imagine a pump fake then turn and deliver to Maurice?
Big Cat Country!:: The Official Home of the Unofficial Blog of the Jacksonville Jaguars!
I doubt
He had a choice. You rarely call plays that way. They used the screen as a decoy, even though the decoy happened to be open. If I recall, Mike Thomas dropped the pass anyway. It would have still been a five yard gain at least.
If hip hop is dead, then it happened the day that Dilla died.
-Akrobatik
Safety?
I don’t believe our secondary is a problem. Nelson is fine and we have great depth. Brakenridge, Smith, Considine, Alexander, etc.
How about LBer? These guys are so overrated it’s not even funny. No speed at all.
And how about we finally go after a pass rushing DT? You think Allen gets all those sacks by himself. Look at who he lines up next to. I want someone thick with a ton of behind driving back guards and destroying the pocket.
Yes he is getting old
You can never have too many CB’s. These LB’s are not overrated. Did you see them play against the Dolphins. Daryl Smith even played some DT in pass situations.
It Saddens
Me to say this, because I like Clint, but I think he needs to be replaced. The other two are great though. Smith is the prototypical linebacker; smart, gritty, and versatile. Durant looks to be a pro bowler next season. Great speed, and is getting great like Daryl at play recognition.
If hip hop is dead, then it happened the day that Dilla died.
-Akrobatik
I don't like
Ingram’s play as much as the next guy, but the guy has been battling injuries. I actually think he should be a backup, but not cut. He’s smart and he’s a leader. I think as soon as he’s asked to cover less he will become a monster. His play style could be very beneficial when we start to get a pass rush again.



























