Jacksonville Jaguars Fan Forums

Quote:Personally, I'd like to see him struggle, just so we can get a sense for how he responds to adversity. 

This is the thing he NEEDS more than anything. Like you that's what I want to see to.

Quote:D6, how has the Lions new shiny TE looked this pre-season? I ask because Jaguars linebackers have notoriously struggled against pass catching TEs. Hopefully that'll change with Telvin Smith playing nickel LB.

 

In the off-season and early in training camp,  Eric Ebron was dropping far too many passes.   Since then,  Ebron has become more consistent,  as he's reacting more than thinking.    A large part of the inconsistency early on was as a result of Ebron needing to learn 4 different positions:   Flex TE,  Inline TE,  being split out wide,   and playing in the backfield.     Ebron only had one short catch in the first pre-season opener and was well covered down the left sideline by rookie LB Christian Kirksey on an incomplete pass.  

 

The good news though is Ebron made his presence felt in a much bigger way,  with two sizeable gains in the 2nd pre-season game.   Yet,  even with the one over the middle that went for a 23 yard gain,   Ebron bobbled the ball.   If he would have caught it cleanly,  it might have resulted in a TD.    Ebron candidly said that he still needs to develop chemistry with Matthew Stafford.    One positive from the 23 yard gain play is that Ebron kept running his route after Stafford told him in the huddle that S Charles Woodson might bite on the RB ( Reggie Bush ) underneath.   That's exactly what happened.   Stafford's experience vs.  Woodson from his Packers days paid off. 

 

Regarding Telvin Smith,  I was impressed with the way he helped cause an interception in Chicago last week.   At the very least,  he looks like someone that will develop into a quality nickel LB and quality Special Teams player.   For a 5th Round pick,   that by itself would be very good value.  

Quote:in addition to the above - (for us fantasy footballers) is Ebron going to start this season? Or is the plan for him to start by some point this year?

 

Barring the injury factor,  the only thing that's in essence certain regarding which Lions skill position players will start every game,   is Matthew Stafford and Calvin Johnson will be starters.   Otherwise,  it will depend on which formation the Lions are in.    Joe Lombardi ( who is Vince's grandson ),  is the Lions new Offensive Coordinator.   Lombardi was the Saints QB coach for the last 5 years.    The Lions new Offensive system is a combination of the Saints Offense,   Offenses that Jim Caldwell used,  and the previous Lions Offensive system under former Coordinator Scott Linehan.    With the Saints Offense being the greatest part of the Lions new Offense.   Hence,  expect a multitude of formations,  substitutions,  and motion early and often.   

 

Having said all of this,   Lombardi rated Ebron as the 2nd best Offensive player in the draft for the Lions purposes.  Obviously,  Blake Bortles wasn't part of the ratings because of the investment in and presence of Matthew Stafford.    Considering that Ebron has to know 4 different positions and Lombardi pushed for the Lions to draft him,   I expect Ebron to be a significant factor on the Lions Offense in each game he's relatively healthy.   That doesn't mean Ebron will put up fantasy numbers,  as the Lions willhave a multitude of weapons if things go according to plan.   Including two other TE's,  Brandon Pettigrew and Joseph Fauria.     In general,   the Lions collectively should have good to very good Offensive stats this season.   Yet,  from a fantasy standpoint,   the stats might be too divided up amongst the RB's,  WR's,  and TE's.   In addition,  Fauria had 7 TD's as an UDRFA rookie and looks like he's a more well rounded this year.

 

One Lions fantasy sleeper, if he gets enough opportunties as a RB and slot receiver, is RB Theo Riddick.   He has been praised by teammates and coaches for months and then had a run after the catch in Oakland last week in which he made 4 tacklers miss.    It remains to be seen if Riddick has enough ability to be the Lions version of Darren Sproles but the comparison was brought up by one of Riddick's teammates.

Quote:Good luck with that. Its obvious you haven't seen our new improved pass rush. Stafford is going to be curled up in the fetal position after Marks hits him.

 

The Jaguars definitely look better and deeper up front on Defense than last year.    Considering the Lions have one of the best pass blocking Offensive Lines in the NFL,  this should be a good matchup and one that can make both units better when the games count. 

Quote:Real pass rush?


CJ Moseley and to fat too play Fairley?


Lol


Again, its obvious you haven't seen the Jags defensive line play this offseason.

 

In truth,  C.J. Mosley is better suited to be a # 3 DT and is better against the run than as a pass rusher.    DE Jason Jones moves from DE to DT on many expected passing downs and is a player that should challenge the Jaguars interior protection.

 

 

As for Nick Fairley,   there's no telling which player will show up from down to down.   Even at a heavy weight,  Fairley sometimes has his WOW moments that most DT's can't even dream of.  

Quote: 

Sounds like a more talented version of Terrance Knighton. 

 
 

 

Great analogy!   

 

 

My thoughts on Terrance Knighton as it pertains to the Jaguars regime that took over in 2013 is if they thought Knighton had a good enough work ethic,  he would have been a priority to re-sign.    Even with much more salary cap space than most teams,   Dave Caldwell and Gus Bradley determined that Knighton couldn't be counted on.   Regardless of what Knighton does in Denver or anywhere else he plays,   it's hard to blame the Jaguars team brass for moving on.    I think the same thing will probably happen with the Lions,  regarding Nick Fairley unless the best offer he can get is a one year relatively modest contract.   Someone will likely offer noticeably more,  which is fine on this end.    Dependability is something that's a huge component of a successful NFL team.

Quote:The fact that Rashean is your best CB says a lot.  We know him very well.

 

Based on how Rashean Mathis performed in 2012,   I totally understand and respect your point of view.

 

Having said that,  in 2013,  Mathis was a year further away from the season ending injury he suffered in 2011.  Mathis pleasantly surprised me and many others last season.  

 

I posted the following in a thread on the NFL at Large section earlier this month but it's worth putting here with the pre-season game between the Jaguars and Lions less than 24 hours away and one other person expressing similar thoughts that you did. 

 

<a class="bbc_url" href='http://sidelionreport.com/2014/04/14/report-detroit-lions-re-sign-rashean-mathis/' title="External link">http://sidelionrepor...rashean-mathis/</a>

.


<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
 

Mathis proved he had something left in the tank last season as he become the Lions’ most dependable cover corner. His +5.8 overall rating from Pro Football Focus was easily the team’s best and was good enough for 27th-highest among all corners who played at least 25% of team snaps.

 

In my opinion as someone that watched practically every single play of the Lions 2013 season,   PFF's grade on Mathis reflected his performance last season.    If Mathis can repeat his 2013 in 2014  (  so far it looks like he hasn't noticeably aged since last season ),  adding 2 or 3 interceptions,  I would be thrilled with the results.

 

My major question at CB is if 2nd year CB Darius Slay can make substantial strides this season.   Slay is super talented but went through huge growing pains as a rookie.   That's how Mathis became a starter.     Much like with what the Jaguars need from 2nd year CB Dwayne Gratz,   the Lions need Slay to ascend to the top of the team's top of the totem pole.   Until the regular season begins,  we truly don't know how the respective 2nd year CB's are going to perform when it counts. 


</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
 


 

Quote:The coaches aren't happy with Fairleys weight, but he is still better than 90% of the DTs in the league, and 10 extra pounds aren't holding him back from playing well. He is playing for his job back, and he'll bring it. Ziggy Ansah, Fairley, Suh, Jason Jones, Devin Taylor, George Johnson, Webster, Deandre Levy, Tullock, Van Noy... these guys are going to bring it.  And if you think they look great, just wait until the offense takes the field. You're going to spend the post game show driving to the corner drug store, looking for any kind of ointment that can help you with the severe case of butt hurt you're gonna have.

 

It's not just directly the weight that holds Nick Fairley back.   The weight has indirectly led to many injuries for Fairley.   Also,  while he's capable of playing better than even more than 90 % of the time with the excessive weight,   he disappears far too long.   As a passionate Lions fan,   I think the team is in serious trouble if Fairley doesn't get his act together.    From my point of view,   Fairley is the team's biggest question mark entering the pre-season game with the Jaguars.   

Quote:Ummm no.


What makes the 2014 Lions better than years past? I think you should temper your extraordinary high expectations. When they actually do something worth bragging about let me know. The only person who will need ointment will be Jim Caldwell for his crusty [BAD WORD REMOVED] lips. I'm mean seriously re-tread Jim Caldwell?




That's who y'all decided to go after?


Goes to show that the Lions gig is considered bottom of the barrel in this league.

 

Keep in mind that Bill Belichick and Tom Coughlin were fired from their jobs.   Pete Carroll was fired twice as an NFL Head Coach.  

 

 

For what the Lions need,   Jim Caldwell is a great fit.   That doesn't mean it's going to work out.   It does mean that the plan by G.M. Martin Mayhew hiring Caldwell makes a great deal of sense.    Mayhew wanted a HC with NFL HC experience,  that had a track record for enhancing talented QB's, and expected accountability.  

 

Each team is in a different situation.   When the Jaguars hired Gus Bradley,   he's the type of coaching prospect that fit the vision of the front office.   So far,  that decision is paying off for the Jaguars,  with the best very likely ahead.

I figure most Jags fans expect BB to look like a rookie at some point in a game.

 

I mean it's bound to happen at some point. Even the best QB's throw INT's.

 

How he responds to it will be telling and from what I have seen and heard, he will learn from it and move forward.

 

Good coaching goes a long way in helping rookies overcome mistakes and get better everyday.

If bortles can throw 10 passes 6 completions 80 yards with one pick and one td I would consider that a good nights work


Preferably the pick comes first and he bounces back with a td


Add to that we stay healthy and Linder and McClendon hold their own on the interior line against suh

I'm not wasting time, I'm going to panic now. About all kinds of stuff.

The only time I'll panic about Bortles is if he gets injured. 

 

I won't panic over some random poor play. Every QB has a bad game every so often, even Manning/ Luck. 

Quote:The only time I'll panic about Bortles is if he gets injured.


I won't panic over some random poor play. Every QB has a bad game every so often, even Manning/ Luck.

lol. Who was the announcer for the first game? IIRC, Bortles was hit off screen and the announcer said "And Bortles is down". That guy needs to be fired

Quote:lol. Who was the announcer for the first game? IIRC, Bortles was hit off screen and the announcer said "And Bortles is down". That guy needs to be fired

 

That would be broadcast legend, Hall of Fame voter, celebrity friend and grabber of junk Sam Kouvaris.

 

Quote:Barring the injury factor,  the only thing that's in essence certain regarding which Lions skill position players will start every game,   is Matthew Stafford and Calvin Johnson will be starters.   Otherwise,  it will depend on which formation the Lions are in.    Joe Lombardi ( who is Vince's grandson ),  is the Lions new Offensive Coordinator.   Lombardi was the Saints QB coach for the last 5 years.    The Lions new Offensive system is a combination of the Saints Offense,   Offenses that Jim Caldwell used,  and the previous Lions Offensive system under former Coordinator Scott Linehan.    With the Saints Offense being the greatest part of the Lions new Offense.   Hence,  expect a multitude of formations,  substitutions,  and motion early and often.   

 

Having said all of this,   Lombardi rated Ebron as the 2nd best Offensive player in the draft for the Lions purposes.  Obviously,  Blake Bortles wasn't part of the ratings because of the investment in and presence of Matthew Stafford.    Considering that Ebron has to know 4 different positions and Lombardi pushed for the Lions to draft him,   I expect Ebron to be a significant factor on the Lions Offense in each game he's relatively healthy.   That doesn't mean Ebron will put up fantasy numbers,  as the Lions willhave a multitude of weapons if things go according to plan.   Including two other TE's,  Brandon Pettigrew and Joseph Fauria.     In general,   the Lions collectively should have good to very good Offensive stats this season.   Yet,  from a fantasy standpoint,   the stats might be too divided up amongst the RB's,  WR's,  and TE's.   In addition,  Fauria had 7 TD's as an UDRFA rookie and looks like he's a more well rounded this year.

 

One Lions fantasy sleeper, if he gets enough opportunties as a RB and slot receiver, is RB Theo Riddick.   He has been praised by teammates and coaches for months and then had a run after the catch in Oakland last week in which he made 4 tacklers miss.    It remains to be seen if Riddick has enough ability to be the Lions version of Darren Sproles but the comparison was brought up by one of Riddick's teammates.

 

Thanks for the breakdown and tips, D6!

Quote:The only time I'll panic about Bortles is if he gets injured. 

 

I won't panic over some random poor play. Every QB has a bad game every so often, even Manning/ Luck. 

This.  I already feel i've seen enough of his smarts and composure to not worry to much.  We got a good one.  It's a nice feeling on gameday that you expect your QB to be good.  When Gabbert made a good play, it came as a suprise.  I fully anticipate good QB play now and it's a great feeling!  Thanks Caldwell and staff, it's fun to be a Jag again.