08-10-2018, 01:50 AM
Man am I glad the football season has finally begun! Even though it's "just preseason," being able to discuss and debate actual football games as opposed to kicking around subjects during the off season rejuvenates the spirit of football fans everywhere. In any event, enough of my preamble. Here are my thoughts.
1. Call me a traditionalist if you must, but the teal and white combination will always be my favorite uniform. Even though there have been changes to the teal and white uniform (stripes on pants, tubing on jerseys, etc), as a Jaguars fan, I most readily identify with that color combination. It was good to see the team sporting that look.
2. I have always imagined the Jaguars hoisting their first championship banner. Even though we have won divisional championships before, the team didn't put up any such banners-until now. For those of you not at the game, the banners were flags-rather than banners- put on a flagpole in the south end zone in the east corner-the side opposite the bell the veterans ring to start the 4th quarter. There were four in all-starting from the top: A general Jaguars team flag, and one each commemorating each of the team's three divisional titles, with the most recent one at the top. Here's hoping they have three more up at this time next year-one for the divisional title, one for the conference title, and one for the long overdue World Championship!!!
3. For those of us who were concerned about how the offense would look, tonight, the first team offense was impressive. Granted, it was week one of preseason, and undoubtedly there were starters from the Saints defense that likely did not play. Nevertheless, the offense was impressive. Fournette ran the ball well, and even gained yardage when there was a collision in the backfield between he and Bortles. Bortles seemed to exhibit a command of the offense and a confidence we haven't seen in quite some time. He completed 6-9 by my count, and the incompletions were accurate. I think all of them were somehow either deflected at the last second by a defender, or on a sideline pattern, Westbrook didn't come down with it, even though many in the stadium felt Marrone should have challenged the call. Bortles attacked short, intermediate, and deep. The offensive line provided very good running lanes and good protection. Lee, Westbrook, Moncrief and O Shaughnessy contributed receptions. Over the years, there were preseason performances by the first team offense that has sent the Jaguars fan base into a collective hissy fit. This definitely was NOT one of those times. With the usual caveats about preseason football being hopefully being universally understood by this point, Jaguars fans feeling pretty good about the offense coming out of this game is understandable.
4. Conversely, I have to say I was mildly disappointed in the defense. Going up against a Saints team without the services of Drew Brees, the Saints seemed to have surprising success moving the ball down the field and into scoring range. Granted, the same caveats about guys like Campbell not playing and it being in preseason apply to the defense, and I don't know what the hell the refs saw in calling hands to the face against Ramsey. But I was hoping for a little more from the strength of our team.
5. For a game that was the first preseason game of the season, with a bunch of new rules to be implemented-seemingly without much in the way of explanation to the teams and fans from the league-, this was a game mercifully low in penalties.
6. Speaking of the new rules, I wonder if the new rules governing the blocking of kickoff returns somehow played a role in the seemingly poor kickoff coverage tonight. The Saints had several good returns that put them in good field position to start drives. But this is usually one of those things that tend to improve as the preseason progresses. On a more positive ST note...Lambo was his usual seemingly automatic self.
7. Rookie Watch:
More later.
1. Call me a traditionalist if you must, but the teal and white combination will always be my favorite uniform. Even though there have been changes to the teal and white uniform (stripes on pants, tubing on jerseys, etc), as a Jaguars fan, I most readily identify with that color combination. It was good to see the team sporting that look.
2. I have always imagined the Jaguars hoisting their first championship banner. Even though we have won divisional championships before, the team didn't put up any such banners-until now. For those of you not at the game, the banners were flags-rather than banners- put on a flagpole in the south end zone in the east corner-the side opposite the bell the veterans ring to start the 4th quarter. There were four in all-starting from the top: A general Jaguars team flag, and one each commemorating each of the team's three divisional titles, with the most recent one at the top. Here's hoping they have three more up at this time next year-one for the divisional title, one for the conference title, and one for the long overdue World Championship!!!
3. For those of us who were concerned about how the offense would look, tonight, the first team offense was impressive. Granted, it was week one of preseason, and undoubtedly there were starters from the Saints defense that likely did not play. Nevertheless, the offense was impressive. Fournette ran the ball well, and even gained yardage when there was a collision in the backfield between he and Bortles. Bortles seemed to exhibit a command of the offense and a confidence we haven't seen in quite some time. He completed 6-9 by my count, and the incompletions were accurate. I think all of them were somehow either deflected at the last second by a defender, or on a sideline pattern, Westbrook didn't come down with it, even though many in the stadium felt Marrone should have challenged the call. Bortles attacked short, intermediate, and deep. The offensive line provided very good running lanes and good protection. Lee, Westbrook, Moncrief and O Shaughnessy contributed receptions. Over the years, there were preseason performances by the first team offense that has sent the Jaguars fan base into a collective hissy fit. This definitely was NOT one of those times. With the usual caveats about preseason football being hopefully being universally understood by this point, Jaguars fans feeling pretty good about the offense coming out of this game is understandable.
4. Conversely, I have to say I was mildly disappointed in the defense. Going up against a Saints team without the services of Drew Brees, the Saints seemed to have surprising success moving the ball down the field and into scoring range. Granted, the same caveats about guys like Campbell not playing and it being in preseason apply to the defense, and I don't know what the hell the refs saw in calling hands to the face against Ramsey. But I was hoping for a little more from the strength of our team.
5. For a game that was the first preseason game of the season, with a bunch of new rules to be implemented-seemingly without much in the way of explanation to the teams and fans from the league-, this was a game mercifully low in penalties.
6. Speaking of the new rules, I wonder if the new rules governing the blocking of kickoff returns somehow played a role in the seemingly poor kickoff coverage tonight. The Saints had several good returns that put them in good field position to start drives. But this is usually one of those things that tend to improve as the preseason progresses. On a more positive ST note...Lambo was his usual seemingly automatic self.
7. Rookie Watch:
- Taven Bryan-DNP
- D.J. Chark-Had one catch for decent yardage, made noteworthy by his fight for extra yards and refusal to go down. Chark later had a great tackle on a punt. If these two plays are a true indication of a blue collar work ethic, assuming he stays out of trouble and learns the WR position, it's easy to see him becoming a fan favorite here.
- Ronnie Harrison-I saw him in the game, but he did not really stand out.
- Will Richardson-I did not see him in the game at all.
- Tanner Lee-I preface this by acknowledging I may well be unfair here, but when he entered the game, I had zero faith he would do anything positive. In fact, as I think back on this game, all of the bad stuff happened when he entered the game.
- Leon Jacobs-saw him in early, but did not see him do much.
- Logan Cooke-Continues to look light years beyond what I saw the first padded practice of the year.
More later.