Jaguars Journal
by Sam Kouvaris
August 29, 2010
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Post Tampa Bay Report
Talk about nobody there! I mean it’s a sea of empty red seats in Tampa for this ‘All Important" third pre-season game. (I guess the Bucs are headed to LA) Nonetheless, they got started on time and Scotty McGee made the most of his first opportunity. With Deji Karim out nursing a thumb injury, McGee is the return guy in this game and the Jaguars started at midfield after his return of the opening kickoff.
David Garrard hit Marcedes Lewis on the first offensive play, getting the team deep into Bucs territory. A couple of misfires lead to a field goal, but the team looks like they’re getting some cohesiveness both on offense and defense. Yes they’ve give up some plays and they haven’t run the ball yet, but this looks like a different team than we’ve seen in the past couple of years.
Maurice Jones Drew didn’t make the trip and won’t play again in the preseason. So the running stats don’t matter. Literally, they don’t matter. Especially since they’re still experimenting on the offensive line. Uche Nwenari jumped in at center in the second quarter and snapped the ball over Garrard’s head on third down. Just can’t have that.
The starting defensive line is solid when they all four play together.
Of course, just when you look at all of the positive things going on, Garrard makes one of the most ill-advised throws on an equally ill-advised play call. Third and one on the one and they go with play action? Come on, jam it in there.
The Bucs only had 19 yards to go, so they dinked it in there, scoring on virtually the same play the Jaguars tried. A little play action and either Russell Allen or Derrick Cox missed their assignment and Tampa Bay lead 10-3.
Again on the positive side, they ran the two-minute drill pretty well and kicked a field goal right before the half, now 10-6.
I thought Jack said exactly the right thing at halftime. "I told the team we needed to respond positively and we did that. But you have to punch it in there. That’s a missed opportunity."
Del Rio was hoping that the defense would stop the Bucs on the second half kickoff but instead; they marched down the field and were able to kick a field goal. The starting linebackers aren’t playing, so it’s hard to judge the whole run stop game.
Here’s where it’s hard to judge how good the team is for real. MJD is not in the game, so on the goal line; the Jaguars have had some trouble punching it in.
As Jack said, the Jaguars would go to their backups in the third quarter. Luke McCown threw a TD pass against the second teamers but regardless; it was a great throw and a very nice catch.
The rest of the game was Josh Scobee and the backups and they deported themselves very well against the Bucs.
This team is getting better, which of course, is the goal in the preseason.
The Falcons game will be a competition for backup spots and perhaps we won’t see the starters at all. But all things are pointing up for the Jaguars.
And they got a win.
Which is nice.
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