Sam’s Commentary

Jacksonville Sports News, Sam Kouvaris - SamSportsline.com

Jaguars Playing Today, Thinking About Tomorrow

In the week that Jaguars Owner Shad Khan announced that Gus Bradley would be back for 2016 as the Head Coach, the organization’s focus was split between playing Houston and what to expect next year. “If they’re cleared, they’ll play,” Bradley said when asked about putting players in the game Sunday. Neither Telvin Smith nor […]

Jacksonville Sports News, Sam Kouvaris - SamSportsline.com

Jaguars Lose To Texans, Work To Do

Having been in Shad Khan’s box during a game, I know what a fan he is. When they showed him in the box at Houston during the first half a couple of guys were chatting him up with Mark Lamping’s wife sitting in front of him smiling and watching the game. CBS never did go […]

Jacksonville Sports News, Sam Kouvaris - SamSportsline.com

Khan: Win Next Year

I don’t think you can call Jaguars Owner Shad Khan’s statement today a vote of confidence for Head Coach Gus Bradley but I don’t think it’s an ultimatum either. The message though is very clear: Win next year. With 12 wins in three years, the expectations are that in year four, Bradley and General Manager […]

Jacksonville Sports News, Sam Kouvaris - SamSportsline.com

Bradley Not Going Anywhere

It’s the only time I’ve ever seen Gus Bradley short with an answer in a press conference situation. When he’s asked about his job security, it’s a question he doesn’t want to hear or address. So when he was asked on Monday if he’d rather know his future in Jacksonville before coaching in the final […]

Jacksonville Sports News, Sam Kouvaris - SamSportsline.com

Brees, Precision Beat Jaguars

I ran into a well-respected media member this week in Jacksonville who greeted me with a smile and a handshake saying, “I’m ready for it to be over.” Everybody gets to that point during the season, and although the Jaguars were technically still in the playoff hunt, my colleague had seen enough. At some points […]

Jacksonville Sports News, Sam Kouvaris - SamSportsline.com

Sunday Update /Jaguars Still Motivated?

Sunday AM Update: Reports this morning say Drew Brees will play for the Saints despite only practicing on a limited basis Friday. Brees has a heel problem with a torn plantar fascia but apparently will start. “It hurts to walk. It has its challenges,” Brees said earlier this week. “But we’ve come up with a […]

Jacksonville Sports News, Sam Kouvaris - SamSportsline.com

Jaguars: Third Down Could Fix Slow Starts

Much like he did earlier in the season when the Jaguars were struggling in the red zone, Head Coach Gus Bradley has spent some extra time in practice on third down this week. On both offense and defense. “I just think again it’ll be an area of emphasis,” Offensive Coordinator Greg Olson said at his […]

Jacksonville Sports News, Sam Kouvaris - SamSportsline.com

Bradley: Back to Basics

In his comments right after the loss to the Falcons on Sunday, Head Coach Gus Bradley said “this stings” and “we’ll look at it but there are a lot of plays we left out there.” After looking at it, Bradley thought the same thing. Lots of opportunities lost. “Right now all that is on my […]

Jacksonville Sports News, Sam Kouvaris - SamSportsline.com

Jaguars: One Mistake

Having not thrown an interception in two games and nearly two quarters, Blake Bortles throw at the end of the first half against the Falcons dashed the Jaguars hopes to get back in the game. It turned out to be the one mistake the Jaguars made in a one possession game that cost them a […]

Jacksonville Sports News, Sam Kouvaris - SamSportsline.com

Falcons A Good Test For The Jaguars

You couldn’t have picked an almost perfect team for the Jaguars to play this week besides the Atlanta Falcons. Coming off their big 51-16 win over their division rival Indianapolis, the Jaguars are favored against an Atlanta team that has struggled, losing 7 of 8 games and six straight. But it doesn’t mean they’re a […]

Jacksonville Sports News, Sam Kouvaris - SamSportsline.com

Grier To Transfer From Florida

Still serving a suspension for using a banned substance, Gators quarterback Will Grier has decided to transfer from the University of Florida for what Head Coach Jim McElwain calls a “fresh start.” Here’s the official comment from McElwain. “Will came to me about exploring his options to transfer. We will support him and help him […]

Jacksonville Sports News, Sam Kouvaris - SamSportsline.com

Julius Thomas Paying Dividends

One thing that’s changed with the Jaguars offense is the production from Julius Thomas at tight end. Thomas’ injury in the preseason slowed what the Jaguars were hoping he could provide to Blake Bortles and the offensive production but in the second half of the season it’s been just what they hoped for. “I think […]

Jacksonville Sports News, Sam Kouvaris - SamSportsline.com

Bradley: “Tremendous Message”

In his nearly three full seasons as the Jaguars Head Coach, Gus Bradley has talked about “how it looks” and “playing together,” “keeping it tight” and “finishing.” Against the Colts on Sunday, it must have looked right to Bradley because the Jaguars did all of those things and more. A 51-16 victory was some validation […]

Jacksonville Sports News, Sam Kouvaris - SamSportsline.com

Jaguars Find Momentum, Rout Colts

Scoring on offense, defense and special teams for the first time since 2011, the Jaguars routed the Indianapolis Colts 51-16 at home for their 5th win of the year on Sunday. The 51 points is a regular season team record behind the 62 scored in the playoffs against Miami in 2000. For 28 minutes, the […]

Jacksonville Sports News, Sam Kouvaris - SamSportsline.com

Jaguars: 2016 Starts Now

“Our goal is to be at our best. We weren’t at our best today.” That’s a comment we’ve heard from Jaguars Head Coach Gus Bradley a half a dozen times this year as his team has bounced around to a 4-8 record. Three-quarters of the season is gone and the Jaguars have been a different […]

Jacksonville Sports News, Sam Kouvaris - SamSportsline.com

Despite Losing, Jaguars Still “Together”

In the week following the loss to Tennessee, Jaguars Head Coach Gus Bradley was searching for answers just like anybody else. Having acknowledged that his team is having trouble getting to the quarterback no matter what they’ve tried with different packages, Bradley says they’re taking things back to the beginning. “I think that you do […]

Jacksonville Sports News, Sam Kouvaris - SamSportsline.com

Long Drive King At Home In Jacksonville

“It’s a combination of things,” Jeremy Easterly said when asked about hitting the golf ball a long way. But the simplest answer: Swing fast. Easterly was clear about the distinction between “swing hard” and “swing fast” and he’s all about the speed of the swing. At 6’3″ and 255 pounds, Easterly looks the part of […]

Jacksonville Sports News, Sam Kouvaris - SamSportsline.com

Bradley On Defense: “We’re Not Getting What We Need”

In their continuing struggle to find some kind of consistency, the Jaguars are hit or miss when it comes to which side of the ball will show up each week. While building a strong run defense, one of the best in the league in yards per carry, the Titans took advantage of the short passing […]

Jacksonville Sports News, Sam Kouvaris - SamSportsline.com

Jaguars Mistakes Doom Them Vs. Titans

Perhaps the most frustrating things for Jaguars fans and maybe even the coaching staff is they don’t know which team will show up on any given Sunday. Young, developing teams need to have a personality and build it. The Jaguars have never done that consistently. For most of this year they could count on the […]

Jacksonville Sports News, Sam Kouvaris - SamSportsline.com

Jaguars/Titans: A Glimpse Ahead

While thankfully talk of the post-season has faded since last week’s loss to the Chargers, the Jaguars five remaining games will give them a glimpse to the future and a chance to put some numbers up that show they’re an improving team. Facing the Titans today, they have a chance to win their 4th game […]