Good Decisions: Rashean Mathis and Eugene Monroe to start!

After last week's debacle of Reggie Nelson at Cornerback and Tra Thomas getting the go-ahead at the last minute to start in place of Monroe at Left Tackle, the Jaguars return to a much better lineup.  Rashean Mathis, as we've discovered, is the best player on the Jaguars defense.  Losing him for any amount of time creates a chain reaction of awfulness that results in Brian Russell taking the field and embarrassing himself.

Eugene Monroe is looking like the best of the first round left tackles, why he was not on the field against the Titans is a mind blowing and awful decision that disrupted the most important element of the Jaguars offense.  Why a player would practice with the first team offense for two weeks and then be benched is a stunningly stupid decision.  Offensive lines require unity and chemistry, rotating the unit abruptly leads to very, very bad things.

Interesting statistic that I did not know about:

David Garrard is second in the league in rushing yards behind Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rogers.  David has 162 yards on 29 carries for a 5.58 yards per carry average.  I would like to see David's legs brought into the gameplan a little bit, particularly in short yardage situations.

Things that I would like to see:

1. A Jaguars defense that doesn't make me cringe.  I've heard the word "swarming", "hard-hitting", and "tackling" attached to what the Jaguars did in practice this week.  I'm glad to see that basic defensive procedures are introduced in week 9.  In all seriousness, if the Jaguars can put together some sort of pass-rush or pressure, they can win this game.  If not, you should start Matt Cassel in your fantasy football leagues, as he's bound for a big day.

2. Run the ball, then when you want to mix it up, run the ball again.  You know the card that coaches hold (not Del Rio, but the coordinators) with all the plays and the game plan on it?  The Jaguars should be really simple, on one side it should list all the running plays, on the other side, it should say "turn card over".  I don't care if it's 3rd and 72, Maurice Jones-Drew can get the yards.

3.  Rebound.  This is a rebound game for the Jaguars, there's no reason why they should lose this game, it's completely winnable, it would put the team at 4-4, and they can start looking at the final stretch of the season with some serious hope for next season.  Wayne Weaver needs to realize that the closer the Jaguars get to 8-8 the more likely it is that they are out of the top ten draft picks and the less next offseason will cost him. 

What are the Kansas City fans saying?

They didn't mean it, but Arrowhead Pride has a particularly amusing title to their post about the Jaguars pass-rushing woes.  Let's just say that they accidentally imply that the Jaguars lack a particular sort of testicular fortitude.  Also, I'd have to check it, but I'm almost positive that in the last 4 years of this site, that's the first time that I've used the word "testicular".

Who wins and why?

The Jaguars are going to win a nail-biter, 20-17 on the leg of Josh Scobee.  Harvey and Groves will combine for 2 sacks.  Seriously, I think it'll happen.

Consider this your pre-game open thread.

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The Jaguars: This group has the makings of a team that can be great in the red-zone.

 According to Pat Kirwin of NFL.com, here's what it takes to succeed in the most important area of the football field. 

With four weeks of the 2009 season in the books, there is enough information to take a look at red-zone production. Also, a number of coaches have explained what it takes to be an effective red-zone team.

Here are the things most mentioned as components to being a successful red-zone team (in no particular order):

1. A mobile quarterback -- The threat to also run the ball in for a score can break down a red-zone defense.
2. An athletic tight end -- Teams need a player who can open up his alignment and take defenders away from the line of scrimmage to open up the running game.
3. A tall receiver -- With size, there is always the threat of a fade route in the end zone.
4. A power back -- Pushing the pile and moving the chains can keep defenses honest.

The Jaguars have every single one of those. Garrard is no doubt a running threat, and can provide TD's with his legs in crucial situations. Marcedes Lewis is starting to look like what we were promised he'd become last year, a tall, athletic, and oversized WR. HE's actually catching the ball, and seems to be on route to a very productive year. Our offensive line is improving every game, and they can push the pile forward, as we've seen first-hand evidence of during games. Top it off with Mike SIms-Walker, and you've got yourself the makings of a powerhouse in the red-zone.

Proof the MJD is better than Chris Johnson: It's all about the "zone"

MJD is the league's premier back, and there's nobody in the NFL I'd rather have in the backfield (No, not even AP). He's a dual threat to receive or run the ball every time he's on the field, and he plays a major role in closing out drives and guaranteeing success on third downs. MJD has 26 carries in the red-zone for 69 yards, a 2.7 YPC average. However, he's gotten a whopping 7 TD's out of those carries. He's stellar in the red-zone.

Chris Johnson is a speed-demon, but he's not a multi-faceted RB the likes of MJD. He possesses the same home-run ability the MJD has, and Johnson's receiving ability is adequate, although clearly inferior. The major flaw in Johnson's game is his inability to slam into a pile, and still gain 3 yards. He doesn't have the power of MJD, and his red-zone stats for the season clearly indicate this. So far, Chris Johnson has only two rushing attempts inside the red-zone, for an average of -2.0 YPC (You read that right, negative two yards on two carries). The team clearly believes that Lendale White is the only goal-line power-back, as he's gotten 6 carries and netted 16 yards (a respectable red-zone average of 2.7 YPC). 

If MJD can continue to provide the key to the TD, then the Jags will win again on Sunday. 

-Collin Streetm an

Tennessee Titans (0-6)	Week #8	Jacksonville Jaguars (3-3)
	VS.

Part 1: Titans Defense vs Jags Offense

Part 2: Titans Offense vs Jags Defense

Series History

The Jaguars have played the Oilers/Titans more than any other franchise. Sunday's game will be the 31st meeting between the two teams, with the Titans holding a 17-13 advantage. The Jaguars first regular season game and first win (Week 5) came against the Houston Oilers. Fred Taylor broke 10,000 career rushing yards in 2007 against the Titans. A win on Sunday would give the Jaguars their first sweep of the Titans since 2005.

Coaching

This could be a special game because it may be the last time the Jaguars go up against the most hated man in Jacksonville, Jeff Fisher. Between the Titans 0-6 start and Jerseygate, the Titans' head man may well be heading to the unemployment line after this season.

However, he would like nothing better than to add one last feather in his cap against the Jaguars. A win here at least begins to quiet the lynch mob in Nashville and most likely takes the Jaguars season down with him. However, has the team quit on him?

My thoughts concerning Jack Del Rio can be read here.

5 Things To Look For

1. The Vince Young Effect: How will the Titans former franchise quarterback react to once again being handed the reigns of the offense? Young was never a dominant player and was easy to shake. If things go south early for Young, expect another long day for the Titans.

2. Derek Cox:  Rashean Mathis may not play against the Titans because of a finger injury. If that is the case, then Derek Cox will become the #1 corner on Sunday. While he won't be going against Tom Brady, it will be interesting to see how Cox reacts if he is forced to become the man in the secondary.

3. Eugene Monroe and Eben Britton: The rookie tackle tandem have been progressing nicely so far this season. However, both missed the Week 4 game against the Titans. While Jevon Kearse and Kyle Vanden Bosch aren't the feared pass rushers they once were, it will still provide a quality test for Monroe and Britton.

4.Maurice Jones-Drew: Jones-Drew was largely absent in the Titans game, even before the Jaguars pulled away. With a Titans defense that will most likely be worried about giving up the big play through the air, look for Jones-Drew to get quality carries, especially early.

5. Chris Johnson: The only time I wasn't sure the Jags would win in Week 4 was when the Titans started giving it to Chris Johnson consistently. With Vince Young making his first start in over a year, it would be logical that the TItans would lean heavily on their star running back.

Player On The Hot Seat

Vince Young, QB, Tennessee

Did you think I would pick anyone else? The weight of the world will be on Young's shoulders on Sunday, and we've seen how he's reacted in these situations since becoming a pro. He'll have to start fast or this one could be uglier than the game in Jacksonville.

Prediction

Jacksonville Jaguars 31

Tennessee Titans 17

A close game through the first three quarters, Vince Young throws a pick six to Derek Cox to open up the 4th quarter and make it 24-14 Jaguars. The Titans get a field goal on their next drive, only for MJD to drive the steak in their hearts scoring a touchdown with two minutes left.

-Jonathan Loesche

Tennessee Titans (0-6)	Week #8	Jacksonville Jaguars (3-3)
	VS.

In case you haven't heard yet, Tennessee owner Bud Adams commented that he wanted Vince Young to start once again for the 0-6 Titans. The Titans offense has been woeful this year, sans rookie WR Kenny Britt and RB Chris Johnson. QB Kerry Collins was resurgent and looked the best he had since leading the Giants to the Super Bowl in 2000 last season. However, Collins has thrown eight interceptions and only five touchdowns, with a QB Rating of 62 so far this season.

As a unit, the Titans offense ranks in the bottom third of the league in points per game (14/27th), yards per game (310/22nd), and 3rd down conversions (36%/20th). The Titans offense hasn't scored a touchdown in eight quarters and hasn't scored a touchdown with the game on the line in four games.

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Tennessee Titans (0-6)	Week #8	Jacksonville Jaguars (3-3)
	VS.

This week, and perhaps for the rest of the season, the Game preview feature is going to be handled a bit differently. Rather than a brief synopsis of the upcoming game, it is going to be broken down into three separate articles. This article is dealing with the Jaguars offense against the Titans defense, tomorrow's will deal with the Jaguars defense against the Titans offense, and Thursday's will with Special Teams and intangibles.

The Jaguars head out to Nashville Sunday to play the winless Tennessee Titans. Who would have thought I would've made that statement back in August? Between Jerseygate, the debate between Kerry Collins and Vince Young, and everything else, the Titans have come to define the term "What can go wrong, will go wrong." However, are the Titans as bad as their record indicates or is this just a team that has had too many balls bounce the wrong way?

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The Jaguars look go get back to .500 against the winless Rams. Rams QB Marc Bulger returns, but Steven Jackson is the gears that makes the Rams offense go. Keep all talk of the trade rumors involving Quentin Groves and Mike Sims-Walker here

[Note by River City Rage, 10/18/09 11:14 AM EDT ] Michael Wright tells us that Del Rio will start the "healthiest five" on the offensive line.  According to Wright, that means C Brad Meester, LG Vince Manuwai, LT Eugene Monroe, RG Uche Nwaneri and RT Eben Britton will be the starters.  Coincidentally, that's my preferred grouping.

[Note by River City Rage, 10/18/09 12:14 PM EDT ] Jaguars Inactives: T. Underwood, S. Starks, S. Considine, J. Durant, M. Williams, J. Black, G Peterson and A Seward.

The Jaguars return home from Seattle to play the St.Louis Rams this week. This is a game that should be right what the doctor ordered for a team that was, quite frankly, embarrassed in the Pacific Northwest last week. The Rams are not a good team, actually, not even a mediocre team. They have had the #2 pick two years in a row and look like they'll be making another trip to the Top 5 of the draft this year.

Following a week of negativity, a win heading into the bye week is what this young team needs. At 3-3 heading into the bye, I believe we can say this team has met or exceeded all of the expectations we had of them going into the season. The Jaguars need this win on Sunday to keep up the momentum that was building following back to back divisional wins against Houston and Tennessee.

However, with Marc Bulger returning to the starting lineup this week vs the Jaguars, I can't help but make parallels to Matt Hasselbeck's return to the Seahawks last week. While Bulger isn't an elite QB, he is certainly good enough to have a field day if the Jaguars defense doesn't begin to get it's act together in some way or form.

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