Clint Session and Daryl Smith Injury: Jaguars could be shorthanded at LB

by Adam Stites on Oct 14, 2011 12:54 PM EDT in Jacksonville Jaguars News

One of the stronger aspects of the Jaguars defense in 2011 and a large factor for the strong turnaround has been the play of the linebackers. While Clint Session has still seen less than 50% of the defensive snaps, his contributions during his times on the field have generally been strong, while Paul Posluszny and Daryl Smith have done a great job in the middle of the defense.

However, the linebacker position could prove to be a weakness against the Steelers as it's possible both Session and Smith could sit out of the week six matchup. Session is nursing an elbow injury that held him out of Thursday and Friday practices, and limited him in practice on Wednesday. He has already been listed as out for Sunday's game.

Smith has seen a light practice load this week too and is listed on the injury report with a head injury. Considering the fact that he's worn sunglasses in each of the practices this week, it's pretty apparent that he was diagnosed with a concussion.

In the event that both Session and Smith are out of the game on Sunday, the only other linebackers on the roster are Russell Allen and Kyle Bosworth. The good news, though, is that Smith has been listed as probable.

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Oy vey

I think Big Ben just pissed himself out of joy at the thought of Allen in coverage multiple plays. Ugh.

Travis D. Holmes

by T.Holmes on Oct 14, 2011 1:01 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

ahaha probably..

by FgallosJAGS on Oct 14, 2011 1:55 PM EDT up reply actions

The way the Steelers play now

We might not see much of Russel Allen anyways

Maybe a ton of heavy nickel with Landry as a rover and Prosinski with Lowery as the safeties (they use this look a lot regardless of Session’s health); they also have Courtney Greene back, and he could play that rover spot as well.

That is assuming Smith plays though,

If Smith can’t go – and given Allen’s struggles in coverage throughout his career – I would be interested to see how much time Bosworth gets. He appears to be a much better cover man than Allen

by smy on Oct 14, 2011 2:07 PM EDT up reply actions

Looks like Smith is playing

I prefer a three safety look on most downs given Pittsburgh’s contemporary offensive proclivities

by smy on Oct 14, 2011 2:10 PM EDT up reply actions

Except on plays with 4+ wideouts, to be clear

by smy on Oct 14, 2011 2:11 PM EDT up reply actions

We're generally in nickel 40-48% of the game:

That’s 40-48% of the game that Allen can impact the game. We’d be a fool not to believe that Pittsburg wouldn’t know to exploit that after watching the Allen TD highlight tape from this season and pre-season lol.

Travis D. Holmes

by T.Holmes on Oct 14, 2011 5:41 PM EDT up reply actions

Actually

The suggestion was that Allen would not be on the field in nickel packages because we would have Smith and Posluszny

What I was suggesting was that a nickel set that utilized safety Dawan Landry as a rover (a position I am sure you are familiar with, having been a coach) would probably be sufficient to match-up with Pittsburgh in most 1st and 2nd down situations

In situations where 4 receivers or more were on the field, I would expect either 3 safeties 2 corners and a nickelback or a more traditional dime package, with only one LB on the field.

Basically, that would relegate Allen to short-yardage and goal line plays, where he would be less of a liability

So, maybe you didn’t read that right

The premise was that Allen is a problem, so keeping him off the field would be in the team’s best interest; because Pittsburgh is more pass-heavy these days, I think we could survive with 2 LBs (again, not including Allen) and 3 safeties (with either Prosinski/Lowery deep and Landry at rover or Landry/Lowery deep and Greene at rover)
on most 1st and 2nd down plays

by smy on Oct 14, 2011 6:05 PM EDT up reply actions

Allen

actually has been a favorite of the coaching staff in the redzone.

by Ewdtrey on Oct 14, 2011 8:14 PM EDT up reply actions

That's why Graham(TE SAiNTS) was wide open for one of his TDs in the Redzone because Allen was covering him...smh

"POUND THE ROCK MOJO!!!"

by SALTWATERJAG on Oct 15, 2011 9:16 AM EDT up reply actions

AMEN

Travis D. Holmes

by T.Holmes on Oct 17, 2011 9:33 AM EDT up reply actions

Allen

may not be a great player, but he’s at least as good as Sessions in coverage.

by Ewdtrey on Oct 14, 2011 5:17 PM EDT up reply actions

That isn't saying much

But as long as the play is in front of him, Session is a decent coverage player

Allen lacks Session’s instincts and doesn’t play nearly as fast as his timed speed would indicate (because he recognizes things more slowly)

So Session is a superior player in short-intermediate coverage, and both are liabilities in space down the field

by smy on Oct 14, 2011 6:08 PM EDT up reply actions

But

Allen is a little more athletic and he’s longer/taller.

by Ewdtrey on Oct 14, 2011 8:15 PM EDT up reply actions

JDR

says Smith will play, and AK74 will go 15-20 plays

If the Jaguars beat the Steelers I will record my self singing "Living La Vida Loca"
while dressed as the cowboy from "Village People"

by tiquanunderwear on Oct 14, 2011 1:47 PM EDT reply actions

thats amazing.

by FgallosJAGS on Oct 14, 2011 1:54 PM EDT up reply actions

So amazing

If the Jaguars beat the Steelers I will record my self singing "Living La Vida Loca"
while dressed as the cowboy from "Village People"

by tiquanunderwear on Oct 14, 2011 1:58 PM EDT up reply actions

JDR also says

Cecil Shorts III will remain returning punts

If the Jaguars beat the Steelers I will record my self singing "Living La Vida Loca"
while dressed as the cowboy from "Village People"

by tiquanunderwear on Oct 14, 2011 2:05 PM EDT reply actions

damn....

looks like someone for got to empy that bucket of shite….

WE ARE JAGUARS.......FEAR OUR ROAR!!!!!!

The object of war is not to die for your country but to make the other bastard die for his.
--George Patton--

by JaxBlaster on Oct 14, 2011 2:11 PM EDT up reply actions

Give him time, he is a rookie

Can’t afford to risk Thomas on PRs consistently. Once in a while is fine, but I think Shorts can grow into it, and he seems to field the ball cleanly when he does field it, which is a huge plus.

He scared the ish out of me on that ugly bounce that he caught out away from his body against Cincy. That was his worst decision, but at least he caught it.

No big plays as of yet, and some big mistakes, but he will learn, and he has good mitts back there. I think that’s why they’re letting him keep his job for now

by smy on Oct 14, 2011 2:14 PM EDT up reply actions

You maybe and i hope your right, its just gut renching watching him back there. makes me wonder if getting rid of Mcgee was the right choice some times.

WE ARE JAGUARS.......FEAR OUR ROAR!!!!!!

The object of war is not to die for your country but to make the other bastard die for his.
--George Patton--

by JaxBlaster on Oct 14, 2011 2:17 PM EDT up reply actions

How much time?

It’s been 5 games, and he’s still a big liability.

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by Alfie Crow on Oct 14, 2011 2:22 PM EDT up reply actions

I wouldn't call him a big liability

He had a particularly bad game against Cincy, other than that he has just been unspectacular.

I think it will take longer than five games for him to develop, considering the jump he is making. A big liability is a guy who muffs a lot of punts and consistently fails to make the right decision fielding them. Shorts had one bad game, and has been unremarkable besides that.

I think he will bounce back. Obviously, I am not the only one who believes that last week’s game is not a reflection of his potential or of his overall play, or else he wouldn’t still have the job.

Furthermore, I think it would be a mistake to put the best WR on the team back to field punts with any consistency.

Shorts is a human being who can be taught to do things. I assume the coaches are working with him, and hopefully he won’t panic in games and forget himself. He is a rookie and he has made mistakes. So has our QB.

by smy on Oct 14, 2011 2:32 PM EDT up reply actions

And if he becomes a liability

That is, he is defined by the risk he presents to his own team when on the field, then he will lose the job.

There is really no point in arguing about this. He either develops or he doesn’t and you have no clearer window on that than I or anyone else. We are just going to have to see.

I was just suggesting that if he is going to get better, it is going to take some time.

by smy on Oct 14, 2011 2:35 PM EDT up reply actions

Alfie is right.. The kid is DEFINITLY a LIABILITY!

He sux… We need a guy back there that isn’t scared and is quick and decisive..

I was never a big fan of using rookies in such an important part of the field pos game anyway…

"POUND THE ROCK MOJO!!!"

by SALTWATERJAG on Oct 15, 2011 9:21 AM EDT up reply actions

I don't think he's a liability at all. If he had not had that game against Cincy we'd likely still say he sucked majorly...he just isn't winning or losing us games.

Just a dude back there essentially fair catching punts (with that average).

Travis D. Holmes

by T.Holmes on Oct 14, 2011 5:43 PM EDT up reply actions

Yea

And that has a lot to do with the punt blocking as well. He rarely has a pocket.

I think people would be restless about the lack of big plays, but I doubt they’d be so upset without his performance last week

I guess we agree on him not being a liability though. He just hasn’t done much

by smy on Oct 14, 2011 6:10 PM EDT up reply actions

What? Not knowing how to play your position and letting a punt bounce to the 2 yard line that should have been caught is definitly a liability.

And could be a very big part of losing a game..

A punt from deep, as you should know, gives the other team great FP… And against Cincy , coupled with a bad punt is why we lost.. Bad punt fielder and bad punter…

"POUND THE ROCK MOJO!!!"

by SALTWATERJAG on Oct 15, 2011 9:24 AM EDT up reply actions

You don't read to well huh?

Smh…“IF NOT FOR THAT GAME AGAINST CINCY” …smh lol

Travis D. Holmes

by T.Holmes on Oct 17, 2011 9:31 AM EDT up reply actions

I said before the season started

that I didn’t like Shorts as our punt returner and I wanted to keep Scotty McGee back there.

by Ewdtrey on Oct 14, 2011 5:20 PM EDT up reply actions

But McGee was a liability

Haha

I just mean that he dropped the ball sometimes. That can’t happen. Shorts has at least been sure-handed

by smy on Oct 14, 2011 6:11 PM EDT up reply actions

Dropped the ball?

I don’t think he dropped it once all of pre-season.

by Ewdtrey on Oct 14, 2011 8:16 PM EDT up reply actions

hard to justify keeping a one trick pony on the roster though

not like he was an NFL calibur DB. People forget, Mike Thomas had his issues punt returning as well.

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by Joe Fisher on Oct 14, 2011 11:05 PM EDT up reply actions

mike thomas was crafty

His fake fair catches were big surprises

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Real fans don’t need a reason.

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by TheTealDeal on Oct 14, 2011 11:16 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

WTF! Are you serious?! Why not deji? Or anybody else for that matter!

I wouldn’t mind Mike Thomas catching punts….You risk no more injury doing that than recieving over the middle..

"POUND THE ROCK MOJO!!!"

by SALTWATERJAG on Oct 15, 2011 9:18 AM EDT up reply actions

True, but returning punts means more opportunities to get injured. They’d rather risk him getting injured doing what he’s more valuable at (receiving) than gaining an extra 2-3 yards on a punt return.

by timmillah on Oct 15, 2011 9:29 AM EDT up reply actions