Evaluate the Defense Game #1

[petegz28]

I thought they looked improved from several aspects. Keep in mind this was Jax and not a high-powered offense.

Tackling = Much, MUCH better

Coverage = Tighter. Few plays without a defender right on the WR

Run Defense = Stellar start, let's not get cocky

Pass Defense = Not a ton of pressure today. Missed a huge sack which ended up leading to a TD. Coverage overall was decent. Made a backup look all-world but that happens when a backup comes in mid-game.

Overall it looked like we were more sound fundamentally. Run gaps were getting filled, screens were getting blown up and not a ton of YAC. Hopefully as the season progresses our defense will as well.

Overall grade today: C+

[Dunerdr]

This looks like the same defense we’ve seen but just higher effort. Tackling was better guys ran to the ball, even though they probably should have been where the ball was to start.

It did look like CJ and FC got held a few times and I kind of want to give them the benefit of the doubt in cashew because the franchise has been cursed against back ups.

[DJ's left nut]

C-

The run defense was solid, but I guess I'm kinda curious where the 'looked great' kind of analysis are coming from. There were still several plays where I felt like the DL was getting washed out. I recall one where K-Pass got sealed off big time and another where Hitchens was slow to rotate over and fill the hole. It wasn't a liability so in that regard it's an improvement, but the Jags also had to get away from it quite a bit so it's hard to know how it would've held up on a more consistent basis. A good starting point and a positive sign that everyone seemed to be moving more aggressively toward the football. Now you just need to see continued improvement at the point of attack and with their assignments (side note - ****ing Nnadi is just outstanding vs. the run, man. A truly enjoyable guy to watch handle run assignments and that's rare).

The secondary was interesting. I thought Breeland looked really good, actually. And Fuller was solid as well. Ward...Jesus. I mean what else is there to say? He didn't even look Scandrick bad, he looked sub-Scandrick bad out there. That was as poor a game from a CB as you'll ever see. Thornhill flashed but also had some strange reps as well where he looked a little out of sorts (not surprising I guess). Mathieu was quiet but oftentimes that's a good thing for a safety; I dunno - I'll have to give him more attention next time. I just assumed he'd announce his presence so I wasn't watching for him much.

Wilson's strong pre-season carried over nicely, I thought he was probably the best LBer on the field. He looks like a damn good get. Hitchens seemed improved but as noted, has a miss or two. Didn't get much of a feel for anyone else.

Frank Clark - welp, this is the kind of game I was worried about. I'm pretty sure he's gonna have folks in here trying to polish that general turd of a game but against the backup to the backup LT, he was largely a non-factor. Sure, he was involved in the hit that knocked Foles out but A) he was too late to impact the outcome and B) he was singled up by a tight end.

The 5th highest paid defensive player in football was probably the 5th best player on our defense yesterday (damning with faint praise, to say the least). With one of the easiest assignments hes going to have all season. And when you say "it's a new scheme" well it's a new scheme for everyone else as well and he did nothing to set himself apart from the rest of that defense yesterday.

He absolutely must get better. A LOT better. If you grade him on the curve appropriate to the commitment this team made to him, that's an F grade yesterday.

[Shiver Me Timbers]

C. no plus no minus
Good enough to pass class. Nothing the parents would brag to grandma about

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by Buckweath

The only real concern is the pass coverage.

The passrush wasn't bad yesterday and I'm not at all concerned by the passrush.

The pass rush was VERY bad yesterday.

I mean even if you want to give them an INC due to the number of short passes the Jags were throwing when Minshew first came in, as the game progressed and he started trying to push it more, they STILL weren't getting there.

Ultimately not being able to see the last couple of drives takes away what we can definitively know, but we can say that most of the time a team has to throw late in the game, that's when DEs and OLBs lick their chops because they know they're gonna get some hits in. They get to blast upfield and know they're getting after the QB.

And we managed to do precisely dick in those spots. One sack that was largely a coverage sack.

I thought the pass rush was incredibly disappointing, especially given the obvious opportunities, green QB and losses on their OL. Apart from Ward, it was probably the worst part of the defense yesterday.

[smithandrew051]

Good enough for now. Obviously, improvement is needed.

I would be concerned had Spags not been preaching that this is exactly what we would see. He’s been saying all offseason that it will take until about Week 4 to see what we’ve got.

Maybe we should take his word for it.

Tackling and penalties were much better.

[O.city]

I'm guessing we've got about....3 games left of Charvarius Ward.

[MAHOMO 4 LIFE!]

Tackling was a lot better

[TwistedChief]

Originally Posted by O.city

I'm guessing we've got about....3 games left of Charvarius Ward.

While that seems like the typical shelf life for the Marcus Coopers and Terrance Mitchells of yesteryear, who is going to replace him? Fenton?

[Dunerdr]

How good could they be with Ragland inactive?

[The Franchise]

Originally Posted by TwistedChief

While that seems like the typical shelf life for the Marcus Coopers and Terrance Mitchells of yesteryear, who is going to replace him? Fenton?

Claiborne.

[Buckweath]

The Chiefs had one sack to the Jaguars zero.

As per ESPN, the Jags had 4 QB hits compared to 3 for the Chiefs.

Not sure about the pressures.

The Jaguars have a very good Dline and really not sure they had much more passrush yesterday than the Chiefs. Sure, the Chiefs were playing backup tackles but then the Jaguars were playing at home.

Again, I wouldn't be concerned about the passrush.

It wasn't good but it's one game.

The pass coverage is another story and yes Ward was very poor.

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by O.city

I'm guessing we've got about....3 games left of Charvarius Ward.

I just don't understand how he's regressed this badly.

Is he just that poorly suited for this system? Was Sutton actually holding him up last year?

He's a good athlete with plus length who has no business simply being beaten down the field like that. And it's not rookie jitters to blame either.

He was bad enough that there wasn't even anything to learn from. You just have to burn the tapes and hope he gives you something next week that you can build on.

I was floored by how lousy he was. I guess I shouldn't have been after his pre-season performance but it's just not that uncommon for someone to struggle in the pre-season and find his form when the lights come on. That was unfortunate, to say the least.

[O.city]

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

I just don't understand how he's regressed this badly.

Is he just that poorly suited for this system? Was Sutton actually holding him up last year?

He's a good athlete with plus length who has no business simply being beaten down the field like that. And it's not rookie jitters to blame either.

He was bad enough that there wasn't even anything to learn from. You just have to burn the tapes and hope he gives you something next week that you can build on.

I was floored by how lousy he was. I guess I shouldn't have been after his pre-season performance but it's just not that uncommon for someone to struggle in the pre-season and find his form when the lights come on. That was unfortunate, to say the least.

Just back to a pumpkin I guess. I dunno, this franchise doesn't seem to be able to id and develop a CB to save their ass.

They had one drafted and developing but he went nutty.

[MAHOMO 4 LIFE!]

Defense sucked but what about our OL? LDT was getting destroyed

[O.city]

Originally Posted by MAHOMO 4 LIFE!

Defense sucked but what about our OL? LDT was getting destroyed

They weren't great, but against that front, they were good.

You're gonna give up hits and pressures against that front 4. It's loaded.