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Comcast Presents: The Jaguars Offensive Line

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This post is brought to you by Comcast and the new NFL Red Zone channel. Catch every touchdown from every game, only on NFL Red Zone.

The good news was that the Jaguars managed to convert when they were in the red zone. Maurice Jones-Drew finally broke his touchdown slump to tie Fred Taylor's single season touchdown record. It is the first time in weeks the Jaguars got points from all of their red zone trips, even if they only had two of them.

In fact, this is the first time the Jaguars got points out of all of their red zone possessions since playing Kansas City on November 8th. It was bittersweet though, as the Jaguars failed to score the game tying touchdown when it was needed, and had to settle for a FG.

Where are the Jaguars problems in the red zone centered? Obviously ball security is a big part of it with the absurd amount of red zone turnovers the team has committed, but I think the deterioration of the offensive line is another major piece.

Star-divide

Once again we'll look at Pro Football Focus' numbers on the offensive line. Eben Britton has been playing like a man possessed in recent weeks. I know Terry blasted him for missing a critical block in the Miami game, but has been playing far better than he was in the beginning of the season. It will be a joy to have him on the right side for the next decade.

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Eugene Monroe on the other hand has been going back to Inconsistent-ville after having a solid middle part of the season It is good to see Monroe has only had one truly bad game since Week 2 (San Francisco), and hopefully the lumps he's taking will serve him well next season. It will be an excellent measuring stick for him this week if Freeney does go for Indy on Thursday.

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Uche Nwaneri is the Jags best offensive lineman according to PFF, but he has also struggled recently. Nwaneri has still been the pillar of the offensive line this season, a shock considering he was probably the name everyone forgot to mention in the preseason. This is jar on the shelf working to its finest.

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Vince Manuwai played well last week, but that is an outlier in a series of consistently poor play. It is sad to see this from Manuwai, who I thought deserved to inherit Fred Taylor's old title of "Player who's been screwed out of the most Pro Bowls by playing for the Jags." He was the only lineman to have a good game against the Dolphins, so maybe he'll use it as a building block like Britton did a few weeks prior against Buffalo.

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While former Mr.Consistent Brad Meester is the 33rd ranked Center, remember there's only 32 teams, according to PFF. I'm just in shock when I look at this graph. There is a reason why Brad Meester has made the second most starts in franchise history, and this isn't it. I expect we'll see a center taken early in April.

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What do these numbers tell me? We have three young players who are growing into good players in Monroe, Britton, and Nwaneri. We also have two older players that are showing us why you can't afford to remember yesterday at the expense of tomorrow in Meester and Manuwai.

Red Zone running plays are designed to go up the middle and blow defensive players off the line of scrimmage, the exact thing the Jaguars can't do at the moment. Until that changes, the Jaguars will continue to struggle to run the ball in the red zone.

 


 

 

0 recs  |  Comment 27 comments |

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LOL rec'd

Christian Ponder in 2011! Bring him home Wayne, he an actually play QB in the NFL

Big Cat Country Radio, Every Wednesday Night at 10 PM EST

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by Jonathan Loesche on Dec 16, 2009 4:52 PM EST up reply actions  

I feel sorry for Brad

Another Jags Icon got old….

Life without knowledge is death in disguise

by Zoltan from Budapest on Dec 16, 2009 4:58 PM EST up reply actions  

+1

It’s the bad part of being a fan of any NFL team: it’s just a matter of time before the “talented youngsters” turn into “has beens”.

by KeithG on Dec 17, 2009 9:32 AM EST up reply actions  

By the way

(a little bit off)

Will the BCC Radio broadcast tonight John?

Life without knowledge is death in disguise

by Zoltan from Budapest on Dec 16, 2009 4:59 PM EST reply actions  

Yes, I'll have the post up around 9.

Christian Ponder in 2011! Bring him home Wayne, he can actually play QB in the NFL

Big Cat Country Radio, Every Wednesday Night at 10 PM EST

Follow me on Twitter

by Jonathan Loesche on Dec 16, 2009 5:00 PM EST up reply actions  

Thank John

Can’t wait.

And I will not sleep before the show. I just showel the first snow of the winter-I’m reaally fresh from the cold.

Life without knowledge is death in disguise

by Zoltan from Budapest on Dec 16, 2009 5:02 PM EST up reply actions  

You dn't know how lucky you are Adam.

Since I must showel (mostly multiple times; because when I finished to shovel from the street; the snow starts falling again; and 1 hour after I done my thing; it looks like I do nothing…) it I just hate the thing. Of course almost everyone else like it.
You should see those kids who celebrate and play like crazy today…

Life without knowledge is death in disguise

by Zoltan from Budapest on Dec 16, 2009 5:15 PM EST up reply actions  

I'm praying

for him. Hoping and prying everyone else is too.

by Ewdtrey on Dec 17, 2009 4:43 AM EST up reply actions  

Jeez

That’s a shocker. Hope he pulls through.

by KeithG on Dec 17, 2009 9:33 AM EST up reply actions  

RIP

Chris Henry. He passed away this morning.

If hip hop is dead, then it happened the day that Dilla died.
-Akrobatik

by Bestjagfan on Dec 17, 2009 10:45 AM EST up reply actions  

Manuwai knee injury.

Usually you don’t recover from those type of injuries in just a year, I am thinking next he should hopefully be back to his old dominate self.

by Aurawolf on Dec 16, 2009 8:35 PM EST reply actions  

Key Word "Old"

Time for Manuwai to be let go.

If hip hop is dead, then it happened the day that Dilla died.
-Akrobatik

by Bestjagfan on Dec 16, 2009 9:29 PM EST up reply actions  

It may just be the knee

personally I just thought he was overrated in the first place. I said it coming to this season, and it seemed no one believed me. I think I have Vic to blame for that. I still think he is adequate and will improve as he gets further from his injury. And I think everyone will improve once Meester is replaced, after some growing pains for sure.

by Ewdtrey on Dec 17, 2009 4:46 AM EST up reply actions  

I was afraid to even say it before

but looking at his numbers from 07 he’s playing better now than he was then. This is good and bad. It means, it might not get much better. But it also means we can win without replacing him; though I wouldn’t hesitate to do so if the opportunity presented itself.

by Ewdtrey on Dec 17, 2009 4:52 AM EST up reply actions  

At least we got rid of this guy

Khalif Barnes
Holy crap it got bad. I feel for Garrard for last year.

by Ewdtrey on Dec 17, 2009 5:01 AM EST up reply actions  

Word

Khalif Barnes blows.

If hip hop is dead, then it happened the day that Dilla died.
-Akrobatik

by Bestjagfan on Dec 17, 2009 10:47 AM EST up reply actions  

Who was it

last Sunday that said that they hope that the Jags pick a QB and 6 linemen in the draft? It was said during on ingame blog. Thats was funny but it kind of makes sense in a way.

by JagSoldier on Dec 17, 2009 6:46 AM EST reply actions  

rec'd by Kuharsky

Life without knowledge is death in disguise

by Zoltan from Budapest on Dec 17, 2009 10:28 AM EST reply actions  

Manuwai

Let’s all remember that he’s coming back from an injury that really takes two years to recover from and be back at 100% – this is first season back after missing almost all of last season. Vinny should be a solid performer next year and return to form.

by Seth77 on Dec 17, 2009 10:43 AM EST reply actions  

Jags Tickets

Hey y’all,

I just bought some tickets to the Jags game tonight at InSeats.com for really cheap. I used the discount code FB10 and got 10% off, check it out if you want to go to the game.

http://www.inseats.com/

by SteveG1 on Dec 17, 2009 12:04 PM EST reply actions  

I didn't blast Eben

I showed pictures of him in action. Same things the coaches will see in film and opponents will see. Vonte Davis put an incredible move on him. He has much to learn.

Sadly, based on what I see, Eugene and Eben are quickly becoming the strengths of the line.

Big Cat Country!:: The Official Home of the Unofficial Blog of the Jacksonville Jaguars!

by Tkopa on Dec 17, 2009 6:20 PM EST reply actions  

I'm not sad about that

This is a young man’s game and we’re in rebuilding. If those picks are successes we’re another step closer to a strong Super Bowl caliber team. Now add in some draft picks to the center of the line and we’re dominant. I’d rather the rookies be playing the best than the veterans with the time running down on their career.

by Adam Stites on Dec 17, 2009 6:24 PM EST up reply actions  

Uche is the

strongest. Actually Britton is probably the second weakest. Meester takes the cake as the weakest though.

by Ewdtrey on Dec 18, 2009 10:52 PM EST up reply actions  

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