Stock Up, Stock Down: Preseason Week 2

Following the Jacksonville Jaguars’ 14-10 preseason victory yesterday afternoon over the Vikings, I went back and revisited a majority of the game. Here are three players who saw their stock rise with strong performances and three the team probably wishes they could’ve sold.

Stock up

Ronnie Harrison, Safety

Harrison was expected to play a good amount yesterday, but was suddenly thrust into the starting safety spot just prior to kick off in place of Tashaun Gipson. While the free safety position is not Harrison’s normal spot, the rookie third round pick delivered an impressive performance for just his second career game in the NFL.

Accounting for five solo tackles, and an early forced fumble against the Vikings’ starters, Harrison showed the stage may not be too big for him, and he is ready to contribute this season possibly sooner than the team expected.

Chris Reed, Guard

Starting in place of Andrew Norwell for a second-straight week, Reed did very well going up against Pro Bowl caliber tackles in Linval Joseph and Sheldon Richardson. In my review, Reed gave up very little in pass protection, teaming with Brandon Linder and AJ Cann to allow a clean view for Blake Bortles in the middle. He also held up well in rushing attack.

Where Reed really shined yesterday, however, was in the screen game where the Jaguars did most of their damage passing. Just take a look at two of the plays below, and watch for No. 64.

Tyler Patmon, Cornerback

The Jaguars back up corner took the place for suspended starter Jalen Ramsey, and against competition the likes of Stefon Diggs and Adam Theilan, more than held his own. Patmon was credited with one tackle and a pass break up, and is proving to be a very reliable back up option that can play the outside corner spot, in the event that Ramsey or AJ Bouye are out for any length of time this season.

Stock down

Cam Robinson, Offensive Tackle

It was reported during the course of the week from the teams’ joint practices that Robinson did not have a particularly strong showing against Vikings defensive end Danielle Hunter. Well, Robinson confirmed those reports with his play on Saturday, as the second-year left tackle was absolutely overwhelmed against the rising star on the Vikings’ front line. The Jaguars are relying on Robinson being a staple at left tackle for years to come, but you can’t be that when you look like this against the league’s top talent..

Marqise Lee, Wide Receiver

Lee has by all accounts had a solid training camp, after the Jaguars brought him back in free agency last March, and he did okay in the preseason opener. Yesterday, however, was a different story, as Lee’s performance mirrored a lot of the critiques most fans have had of him in his time here.

Lee caught the opening pass of the game for a short five-yard gain, then proceeded to be called for a penalty and drop what was a well thrown ball from Bortles down the sideline that would’ve resulted in a long gain, on another drive. I also had him on another drop during one of the team’s multiple shortened drives by the first team offense. The team’s technically number one receiver, did not play up to that role yesterday.

Michael Bennett, Defensive Tackle

The Jaguars back ups on the defensive front were for the most part as solid as their colleagues on the starting line, but I noticed Bennett far too often getting blown off his gap by the Vikings linemen, allowing for running backs Mike Boone and Roc Thomas to have some big opportunities for gains in the middle of the field. Bennett is a bubble player, in my opinion, and it was not a performance that’s going to keep him long for the team.