Jaguars and Fate: History is Written by the Victorious
by Brian Fullford on Dec 18, 2009 10:36 PM EST
37 comments
Maurice Jones-Drew(notes) #32 of the Jacksonville Jaguars looks on during warm ups against the Indianapolis Colts at Jacksonville Municipal Stadium on December 17, 2009 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)
Chalk this up as just another close win for the Indianapolis Colts over the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Colts continue on their trek to perfection. This one played out completely opposite to their first match-up, a 14-12 Colts victory. This time the offense would take center stage. Even with two chances in the last five minutes, the Jaguars could not take their place in the history books to become the story of the team that ended perfection.
The usual suspects assumed their time in the spotlight as Peyton Manning, Reggie Wayne and Dallas Clark all played a major role in this hard fought game. The only mistake any of the three would make was Clark mishandling a Manning third quarter pass which led to an interception, his first pass of the game not caught by a Colt (the first incomplete pass would come a series later.)
Big plays will be lauded. Chad Simpson's 93 yard kick off return. Wayne's 65 yard touchdown catch that would end up being the game winner. Clark's circus catch in the end zone for the the Colt's first score.
In turn the Jaguars failings will be cited as causes for their loss. Reggie Nelson's tackling which accounted for scores by both Clark and Wayne. Late game penalties which negated big plays. David Garrard's overthrown passes at critical times. The lack of any real pressure on Manning for most of the game.
It did not have to be this way.
If David's pass does not sail over the head of Mike Thomas the talk would be much different. If Josh Scobee makes his 57 yard field goal attempt before the half the Jaguars may not even need David to attempt that throw as their late game drive would need to only have yielded three points instead of seven.
We might have heard analysis of how Dirk Koetter's spectacular play calling allowed Jacksonville to own an 11 minute time of possession advantage while attacking the Colts in a very balanced fashion with 44 pass plays to 32 run plays. Or of how committed Koetter was to the run and how the play selection showed a faith in his quarterback and his line.
The talk about Garrard would be his play making ability on more than one occasion. There was the pass to Mike Thomas for a touchdown on third and goal from the 13 yard line. The scramble and nine yard touchdown pass to Maurice Jones-Drew. A third and seven late fourth quarter throw on the run to Mike Sims-Walker who was triple covered.
The progression of Marcedes Lewis might have been a highlighted. Not only did he lead the team in yards per catch with 13.3 but he also had the longest catch of the night at 25 yards. He was also noted for his exceptional blocking which was a component of Garrard's success. Tonight Lewis stood out not necessarily for his gaudy numbers but for his reliability.
How much praise would the offensive line get? Allowing time for Garrard to go through his progressions. Dominating the Colts defensive front as they opened holes for a running attack that averaged 4.1 yards per carry and 139 yards for the evening.
Maurice Jones-Drew, of course, must get his time. With three of his last four games being disappointments and with questions about whether he was a 16 game back being bantered about, Drew's play did nothing short of stamping out those fires. He was patient while waiting for the lanes to open and fierce when he hit them. He managed 140 total yards, 110 on the ground and 30 through the air, and a touchdown both rushing and receiving.
Though giving up over 30 points, the defense would still get applause. The outstanding linebacker play of undrafted rookie Russell Allen and the veteran Justin Durant, both of whom seemed to have their motor running for a full 60 minutes. Gerald Alexander's knockdown of a Manning to Clark pass on third down with a little more than two minutes left could have been the defensive play of the game.
For Jack Del Rio, it would have made his coach of the year campaign that much stronger. Fielding such a young team against the veteran Manning led Colts, his past failings would have taken a back seat to accomplishment of handing Indianapolis their first loss.
So many woulds and mights.
The critical eyes will still look to focus on the cracks in Jim Caldwell's armor. Already there are conversations and articles stating how the Jaguars exposed the means by which one can take Indianapolis down. But those stares will be harder and more invasive to the team that almost won. Del Rio does not have the safety net of an undefeated team and a Super Bowl run. Instead he will deal with how the playoffs were lost and why his team can't finish games.
Jaguar fans, players and coaches may remember this game. It may eventually become a moment which, through losing, the team grew up. But for now they are just another team that fell short in their attempt to stop perfection. What most will remember is that, in week 15 of the 2009 NFL season, the Colts won.
- B-Dub
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Thanks for this piece Brian
It is another schizophrenic game ( I think if the season ends I will use that title for an article….) with bittersweet taste in our mouth. The Jags would win the way they played today SF and Miami; Yet we didn’T see so far that the D and the O was GREAT at the same time.
I wish we see our Offense and Defense playing great; near 100% 60 minutes long this season. Sadly I think that will not happen.
But the arrow is pointing up; I see very good things in the guys; all we need is more talent.
And hey the dreamgoal before the season (8-8) can be still clinched….
Life without knowledge is death in disguise
by Zoltan from Budapest on Dec 18, 2009 3:32 AM EST reply actions
hey thats what my dad always used to say when we talked about war history is written by the winners
and good game i actually thought the jaguars would pull a colts like comeback but gerrard fucked it up for you guys, get a qb in the draft jaguars i want the jaguars to have great game against the colts
"You only get intercepted when you don't know what your doing, I knew what I was Doing".
Johnny Unitas
---UHHHHHH I GOT MY JACK "THE ASSASSIN" TATUM JERSEY!!!!!!! SO FRESH AN SO CLEAN CLEAN SO FRESH AND SO CLEAN---
by 805 on Dec 18, 2009 7:24 PM EST reply actions
A) We already do have great games
B) Get some class
by harveyismyboy on Dec 19, 2009 5:15 PM EST up reply actions
I'm proud of the guys, but...
I hope I’m not kicking a dead horse, but the inner o-line really needs some infusion of talented youth. I was disappointed by the guard play. After dominating time of possession by 9 minutes in the first half I fully expected the Jags to come out and dominate the Colts, but it didn’t materialize.
MJD: Longest rush of the night went for 14 yards (1st Half)
1st Half: MJD 14 carries for 73 yards (5.2/carry)
2nd Half: MJD 13 carries for 37 yards (2.8/carry)
Rashad Jennings:
1st Half: 5 carries for 23 yards (4.6/carry)
2nd Half: 0 carries
The Jags rushing game in the 2nd half disappeared. I might be wrong, but the last 3 or 4 drives MJD looked tired. Why wasn’t Jennings brought in? We see flashes of potential, but other than the first Titans game we haven’t gotten a good look at him.
Ignore the hype; look at the results.
I love what Gene has done so far
but i still dont get the Fred Taylor cut, MJD is worn out and I feel like having Taylor only would have prolonged MJDs career
Give Gene one more year
and these rookies one more year experience.
Big Cat Country!:: The Official Home of the Unofficial Blog of the Jacksonville Jaguars!
exactly terry
If this team can survive for 2 more years in jax w/o moving, by that time Gene will have drafted some future stars and our rookies this yr will be stars. we will win, wait for it….CONSISTENTLY and become a yr-in-yr-out SB contender.
by harveyismyboy on Dec 19, 2009 5:18 PM EST up reply actions
I must say Manuwai played at some moments like he used to
But still we need to add some talent at C and OG, and for me that would be it for offence.
D is totaly diferent story, still no pass rush, and we need safety badly.
We can start about draft needs, but let’s wait for WC run to end.
Draft:
1) Interior O-Linemen
2) Defensive Line
3) Free safety (or will one of our backups fill in nicely? can someone tell me why A.Smith and G. Alexander dont start? playmakers right there)
by harveyismyboy on Dec 19, 2009 5:20 PM EST up reply actions
Same for me about draft, but...
How comes that A.Smith was cut from StL Rams and G. Alexander traded from Lions, but they fit in Jax , just great.
Can we find more good “rejects” if we can call them (or they didn’t get a real chance there) ?
They won the battle, and thereby lost the war
The Colts will not win the Super Bowl, even if they go 16-0 in the regular season. Especially if they go 16-0 in the regular season.
The Colts got seven of their wins thus far by pure luck, including both against the Jags. By all right, they should be 7-7 and looking up at the Jags.
The Jags have been doing very well this year. Not perfect, but very well considering the youth our team has. And we still have a chance at the playoffs, but we must win out in order to have that chance.
Me babe, steppin' out
Into the night, into the light
we have way overexceeded expectations.
just everyone think about how you felt before the season on how bad we were gonna be.
by harveyismyboy on Dec 19, 2009 5:21 PM EST up reply actions
or how about how we all felt
after we started 0-2 ?
Any way you look at it, this season has exceeded expectations.
News from Jaguars.com
http://jaguars.com/news/article.aspx?id=8588
"HULU: An evil plot to destroy the world. Enjoy"
Driver of the "Cut Reggie Nelson" Bandwagon.
Read that also!!
Hope he benches Nelson for the resto of the Season!!
I’m not calling yeto for his head, but I believe that if JDR benches Nelson this 2 last games will give JDR a good chance of witnessing Nelson’s real commitment to the team.
Bench him and wait to see he’s reaction to this…. and depending on that reaction make him dispensable…… or not!
They won the battle, and thereby lost the war The Colts will not win the Super Bowl, even if they go 16-0 in the regular season. Especially if they go 16-0 in the regular season.
The Colts got seven of their wins thus far by pure luck, including both against the Jags. By all right, they should be 7-7 and looking up at the Jags.
you got to love the sour grapes comments. you have no clue the colts wont win the superbowl and ESPECIALLY if they dont even play the saints. I love how everybody has the saints vs. “that lucky” team or that they cant win because every game isnt a blowout
the fact of the matter is peyton is a great qb NOT A LUCKY ONE. if your D keeps you in games, thats NOT luck, thats a great team. if you want to say the colts should be 7-7 than lets do the same for the jags. the jags SHOULD have lost to houston when they fumbled on the one the first time, the jags SHOULD have lost to the rams if they win the coin flip in OT, the jags SHOULD HAVE LOST to the jets if they dont bluck it up in the end like they did…. if we go by your account the jags SHOULD be 4-12.
and that is why the game is 60 minutes long. the colts SHOULD HAVE killed the jags the first time they played them. THE JAGS would not have been close if 2 colts dont drop gimme interceptions and recover a fumble for which I have no clue how he didnt in this game.
oh and ps if robert mathis, dwight freeney, and jerraud powers plays the entire game garrard isnt completing every pass like its a practice
shoulda woulda coulda. the jags got spanked by tennessee, arizona, sf and seattle. saying the jags have been doing very well, whatever. their impressive wins over houston twice, the jets and kc and st. louis if you call that doing very well than congrats to you
I love when they say jax is a young team. they have key players that are NOT so young too. this team is the same team every year, young or old, a borderline playoff team. until you change your coach it will be the same borderline playoff team that it has been since del rio has been in charge.
if I recall the colts werent supposed to win this year because "their time was up and they didnt have harrison and their offensive line. well they have plugged in a bunch of young guys as well including in the offense so that little thought of done can go by to the wayside
nobody knows if the colts will win it all or even get to the superbowl but to say…WILL NOT WIN it especially….if you have no. 18, I wouldnt be betting against them. and dont underestimate the colts coach, jim caldwell, and how he is coaching this season. that was supposed to be another big loss for the colts, not having dungy. hows that faring now?
Just when you start getting on my nerves,
You have a gem like this. Sorry for underestimating you. You’re like the BCC wild card.
YEEEEHAWWW!
(please tell me someone gets the It’s Always Sunny reference)
In Gene We Trust.
by MoveThoseChains on Dec 19, 2009 2:40 PM EST up reply actions
MTC
I live in Anderson. CCM is very respectable program, one of the best in the nation. congrats you must be very gifted bro.
by harveyismyboy on Dec 19, 2009 5:11 PM EST up reply actions
Thanks a lot, man.
Nice to know I’m not the only Jags fan in Hamilton County.
In Gene We Trust.
by MoveThoseChains on Dec 19, 2009 5:53 PM EST up reply actions
You can't prove anything to us
Your credibility is zero. I bet you woill not respond to this. Its because your a troll with no time or life.
"HULU: An evil plot to destroy the world. Enjoy"
Driver of the "Cut Reggie Nelson" Bandwagon.
I really liked this article though...
Alternative history.
a favorite saying of mine “History is not what actually happened, history is what was written” … which, to me, seems to be what quite a few Colts (and to a lesser extent, Patriots) fans seem to favor…
Sean Jax Beach Bum
History is written, ten years of history and that you can’t change, say what you will but comments as the a fore mentioned is laughable.
Orlando Rays you need to get out and buy some lotto tickets, you’re wasting your time on here after all with your power of whats going to happen when it comes to the SB, think of all the millions you could win.
uhhh.. anyone understand that?.. maybe it’s the lack of humor within certain fans?..
uhhh.. anyone understand that?.. maybe it’s the lack of humor within certain fans?..“Blessed are we who can laugh at ourselves, for we shall never cease to be amused.”
Sean Jax Beach Bum
I guess
the Saints are never going to the super bowl as long as Drew Brees as QB. He had a chance to win the game on the last drive, but he couldn’t get it done.
He holds on to the ball too much. He has no arm unless he gets his feet completely under him. He’s too short and got too many passes knocked down at the line of scrimmage. He throws into coverage too often. He fumbles the ball.
Sorry for the facetious remarks, but doesn’t this all sound similar????
Not trying to bad mouth anyone, but I’m just trying to give everyone another perspective. Remember the Saints were only 8-8 last year, so it can’t all be about the QB right. Imagine if we had Darren Sharper instead of Reggie Nelson on Thursday.
And just because Brees lost to the Cowboys, only putting up 17 points, that doesn’t mean he can’t take his team to the promise land. The same goes for Garrard.
Yes I believe we should start grooming a QB for the future because Garrard is 31. I don’t see tons and tons of people trying to immediately replace Tom Brady, who’s 32 and coming off a major knee injury. Not to mention he’s missing more and more game time all the time it seems. When’s the last time Brady was elite? 2007? Sound familiar?
Lets relax and enjoy the players on this team. Let’s enjoy this better than advertised season.
by Ewdtrey on Dec 20, 2009 3:57 AM EST reply actions 1 recs
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