Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Cincinnati Bengals: Week 4 sack analysis

The Jacksonville Jaguars dropped a game they should have won for the second straight week. This time it was less to do with the offense and more to do with a complete defensive implosion — but the offense can do better, especially against a Cincinnati Bengals team that was missing several of its starters.

Oh yeah, and there were three sacks.

Who was responsible for them?

Let’s find out!

Sack #1: 1st & 10 at CIN 19, 5:15 left in 2Q

G. Minshew II sacked at CIN 23 for -4 yards (A. Brown).

Sigh... it’s first down, we’re in the red zone, and backup center Tyler Shatley gets tripped up and sacks Gardner Minshew himself. Instead of a potential touchdown, it puts the offense behind and turns into a 32-yard field goal. Could have used those four points late.

Fault: Tyler Shatley

Sack #2: 3rd & 3 at JAX 32, 7:39 in 3Q

(Shotgun) G. Minshew II sacked at JAX 32 for 0 yards (sack split by C. Lawson and A. Davis-Gaither).

This is a coverage sack, plain and simple. Gardner Minshew could have maybe had Laviska Shenault open over the middle late in the play, but by then he knew he’d spent too much time in the pocket and was trying to get the few yards he needed to extend the drive.

Fault: Team

Sack #3: 3rd & 7 at CIN 25, 15:00 left in 4Q

(Shotgun) G. Minshew II sacked at CIN 32 for -7 yards (J. Evans). JAX-C. Robinson was injured during the play.

I wonder what the protection call here was. It’s a four-wide set and spread across the field — Gardner Minshew needs to see the potential blitz and check Chris Thompson into staying back and protecting against a potential blitzer. He doesn’t need Thompson out in coverage as much as he needs max protect to let his receivers’ routes develop past the first down marker which is seven yards downfield.

Fault: Gardner Minshew

Summary

While three sacks might sting, one of them was a fluke and one was a coverage sack. Coverage sacks happen and the mistakes will get cleaned up or Brandon Linder will get back healthy. It’s not nearly as bad as it looks.

Up next: The Houston Texans!