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Week 1 sack analysis vs. Panthers

Analyzing each sack given up by the Jaguars all season, starting with Week 1.

By HankJoness
Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Last year, the Jacksonville Jaguars gave up 71 sacks. That is terrible, no matter how you twist it. But one thing that was evident all through the season was that nobody could agree on the context of the sacks.

Some said it was all the result of a terrible pass blocking offensive line. That is partly true. Some said a lot of the sacks stemmed from having a rookie QB who was not ready to face an NFL pass rush, set up protections, etc. That is partly true too.

Blame was tossed and pointed in all directions. Nobody really knew who exactly was at fault and how much they were at fault, they just knew it was bad.

So following each game this season, I am going to go over the sacks given up by the offense and chart them to give a basis of accountability. The goal is to have a quantitative set of data by the end of the year that will finally give us a chance to know who to blame, and how much to blame them.

The sacks will be accounted to either a player, be it an offensive lineman, running back, or the quarterback, or will be credited as a miscellaneous sack, which is a coverage sack, a free blitzer, or something else.

Sack No. 1

Situation: 1st-and-10 on Carolina's 15-yard Line. 10:01 left in second quarter.

The Sack:

Who was at fault: Nobody

I think this one should chalk up to the miscellaneous column but all in all, I simply do not know who exactly is at fault for this. It comes down to either Blake messing up the protection call or poor play design. Once Blake hits his back foot on the three-step drop, he is read to get rid of it, but the wide receivers were still running their routes. They weren't even out of their breaks yet. Somebody messed this one up, but it wasn't one of the offensive linemen.

Sack No. 2

Situation: 1st-and-10 at the Jaguars 11-yard line, 2:40 left in third quarter.

The Sack:

Who was at fault: Sam Young

This one was much more clearer in terms of assigning blame. Young simply got whipped by the defender, showing awful technique and ability to anchor. It doesn't help that none of the wide receivers were open, but this sack goes to Sam Young.

Sack No. 3

Situation: 3rd-and-10 at the Jaguars 11-yard line. 1:51 left in the third quarter.

The Sack:

Who was at fault: Blake Bortles

Parnell gets beat a bit here, but this sack to me is 100% on Blake Bortles. While Parnell does get pushed back and collapse the edge of the pocket, Blake has Rashad Greene wide open on the left hash for a first down. He just doesn't look his way or process the play fast enough. If Blake gets rid of the ball like he is supposed to, Parnell's block is made irrelevant.

Sack No. 4

Situation: 3rd-and-7 on the Jaguars 41-yard line. 11:38 left in the fourth quarter.

The Sack:

Who was at fault: Blake Bortles

Personally, this is one of the most disheartening plays I have seen Blake make over the last two years. Not only does he have Allen Hurns wide open to his right, but he doesn't even look his way. He then steps up in a relatively clean pocket instead of standing firm and reading the defense. This play was just bad all around for Blake.

Sack No. 5

Situation: 3rd-and-10 on the Jaguars 45-yard line, 0:33 left in the fourth quarter

The Sack:

Who was at fault?: Sam Young

Sam Young is not very good at football. Not sure this needs much more explanation.

Below is how the Sack accountability follows for Week 1. This will be updated each week.

Player or situation

Sacks at fault for.

Luke Joeckel

0

Zane Beadles

0

Stefan Wisniewski

0

Brandon Linder

0

Jeremy Parnell

0

Blake Bortles

2

Denard Robinson

0

Sam Young

2

Miscellaneous

(Coverage sack, free blitzer, etc...)

1

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