Quote:Honestly... I'm not even being pessimistic.. just realistic.
The team simply hasn't shown anything this year to suggest that they are ready to be competitive.
For what it's worth, I'd love nothing more than for something to just click, and for the team to suddenly play at a significantly higher level and make all of this talk seem silly. I just don't count the close wins against 2 bad teams to be that proof, especially when we were only effective for 1 quarter against the Bears.
As much as I WANT to see the Jags succeed, I'm not going to join the hype train of people who think, based on what we've seen so far this season, that we're somehow ready to compete. The talent is there... it's just not happening yet for some reason.
I'm not talking about hype trains. The defense is top 10, no accident. If our games look different than when you watch other teams, it's because: 1) our offensive execution is erratic and 2) this version of cover 3/single high is a more fortified "bend but don't break" defense with a more secure top. Assuming a team is patience and accepts the underneath, the field works against them the closer they get to the end zone. Once the offense clicks, teams will have way less opportunities to score by virtue of TOP.
Quote:I'm not talking about hype trains. The defense is top 10, no accident. If our games look different than when you watch other teams, it's because: 1) our offensive execution is erratic and 2) this version of cover 3/single high is a more fortified "bend but don't break" defense with a more secure top. Assuming a team is patience and accepts the underneath, the field works against them the closer they get to the end zone. Once the offense clicks, teams will have way less opportunities to score by virtue of TOP.
The Defense has certainly exceeded expectations this year and is playing well, but as a whole, the team has not performed up to expectations. The vast majority of that falls on the Offense, no doubt. The run game has been non-existent most of the year, and apparently without that, nothing works.
Defense has had a couple of slips here and there, but absolutely, they're playing better than anticipated.
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The team simply hasn't shown anything this year to suggest that they are ready to be competitive.
Aside from the San Diego game, how have they not been competitive?
They lost to Green Bay by 4 and Baltimore by 2. They had the lead against Baltimore under a minute to go.
Quote:The Raiders have scored 152 points this year through 6 games, with a -11 point differential.
The Jaguars have scored 101 points this year through 5 games, with a -26 point differential (24 of those were at the hands of the Chargers).
Based on those stats alone, I believe this will be a close game, and will probably come down to which ever team has the ball last...and of course turnovers.
The Raiders have a better offense, and it's not very close.
The Jaguars have a better defense, and it's not very close.
I fully expect a close game. I would not be surprised if either team won.
I would be surprised if neither team won.
Quote:The Defense has certainly exceeded expectations this year and is playing well, but as a whole, the team has not performed up to expectations. The vast majority of that falls on the Offense, no doubt. The run game has been non-existent most of the year, and apparently without that, nothing works.
Defense has had a couple of slips here and there, but absolutely, they're playing better than anticipated.
This is my very reason for optimism, we only need the run game to be effective enough to be respected. I think that will open other things up, like throwing deep to arob
Quote:Aside from the San Diego game, how have they not been competitive?
They lost to Green Bay by 4 and Baltimore by 2. They had the lead against Baltimore under a minute to go.
Baltimore has been exposed as a bad team. They barely beat us, they barely beat the Browns, and have quickly dropped their last 3 games.
As mentioned previously/elsewhere, the Packers are seriously struggling this year, which is surprising. They're not the same Packers everyone is used to.
Being in competitive games against bad teams doesn't make you a competitive team. It makes you a bad team. When we play Denver and Minnesota, it'll show.
That's kind of been my point through all of this rambling across multiple threads. Our season so far has been against terrible teams, and it's giving an illusion that the Jags are better than they are. We haven't really played a team yet that qualifies as "good".
Quote:This is my very reason for optimism, we only need the run game to be effective enough to be respected. I think that will open other things up, like throwing deep to arob
Yes.
Olson's offense looks a lot different when they can run just enough to set up play action shots downfield.
(I actually have noticed Olson massaging in a few more intermediate routes while the line/run-game is struggling to bridge the gap in the meantime, which is encouraging.)
It's tough to watch the offense struggle when they were explosive at times last year, but they aren't that far away from making it work.
If they can get a bit less predictable on first down and get the YPA up to over 4 yards they will be fine. (they are at 3.3)
Quote:Baltimore has been exposed as a bad team. They barely beat us, they barely beat the Browns, and have quickly dropped their last 3 games.
As mentioned previously/elsewhere, the Packers are seriously struggling this year, which is surprising. They're not the same Packers everyone is used to.
Being in competitive games against bad teams doesn't make you a competitive team. It makes you a bad team. When we play Denver and Minnesota, it'll show.
That's kind of been my point through all of this rambling across multiple threads. Our season so far has been against terrible teams, and it's giving an illusion that the Jags are better than they are. We haven't really played a team yet that qualifies as "good".
I don't think you will find many people that will say the Jaguars are anything more than a mediocre team. But acting like the Raiders are a superior team is pretty laughable. Their wins have been equally as "bad" as the Jaguars. And they were just thoroughly outplayed at home by the Chiefs.
Quote:I don't think you will find many people that will say the Jaguars are anything more than a mediocre team. But acting like the Raiders are a superior team is pretty laughable. Their wins have been equally as "bad" as the Jaguars. And they were just thoroughly outplayed at home by the Chiefs.
4-2 vs 2-3.
Two of their wins are against teams that beat the Jags.
They've scored 41 points more than us this year already.
We have the better defense, no question, but that's about it.
Ultimately, we'll see what team shows up on Sunday. I'm just saying... I suspect a lot of you are going to be significantly disappointed.
How people can legitimately believe that we're going to win this game is insane to me.
We are not as good as the Raiders right now.
And no... the Raiders aren't an elite team.
They've also played one more game than us...so that needs to be taken into consideration when saying they've outscored us by 41 points.
Quote:4-2 vs 2-3.
Two of their wins are against teams that beat the Jags.
They've scored 41 points more than us this year already.
We have the better defense, no question, but that's about it.
Ultimately, we'll see what team shows up on Sunday. I'm just saying... I suspect a lot of you are going to be significantly disappointed.
How people can legitimately believe that we're going to win this game is insane to me.
We are not as good as the Raiders right now.
And no... the Raiders aren't an elite team.
The point being this: The Raiders are a couple of lucky breaks away from having our record (or worse). They aren't going out and dismantling teams. They're winning on last minute heroics (sound familiar?) and gutsy playcalling on 4th down. It seems to me that you're doing exactly what your arguing against only in the opposite direction. Abandon hope all ye who enter here...
I get not trusting the team to be able to execute but let's not make it seem like Oakland = New England. They are most assuredly beatable by our Jaguars.
Quote:4-2 vs 2-3.
Two of their wins are against teams that beat the Jags.
They've scored 41 points more than us this year already.
We have the better defense, no question, but that's about it.
Ultimately, we'll see what team shows up on Sunday. I'm just saying... I suspect a lot of you are going to be significantly disappointed.
How people can legitimately believe that we're going to win this game is insane to me.
We are not as good as the Raiders right now.
And no... the Raiders aren't an elite team.
Alright, let's take a look. The Raiders strength is clearly their offense. They have two potent receivers and a so-so running game. Our secondary goes at least 3 CBS deep and you could argue house on their 4th best wr would be a win for us too. Not going to mention their te. Our run defense should be able to answer the bell against their rushing attack.
They don't have the corners to match up against our wr corps. They can probably match Julius but I don't think personnel wise they can cover both him and Lewis. They are 30th in run defense.
Like always, turnovers will be key. Assuming no turnovers for both teams, I say we stack up well. Not too insane I hope.
Quote:4-2 vs 2-3.
Two of their wins are against teams that beat the Jags.
They've scored 41 points more than us this year already.
We have the better defense, no question, but that's about it.
Ultimately, we'll see what team shows up on Sunday. I'm just saying... I suspect a lot of you are going to be significantly disappointed.
How people can legitimately believe that we're going to win this game is insane to me.
We are not as good as the Raiders right now.
And no... the Raiders aren't an elite team.
You are trying way too hard here.
Quote:The point being this: The Raiders are a couple of lucky breaks away from having our record (or worse). They aren't going out and dismantling teams. They're winning on last minute heroics (sound familiar?) and gutsy playcalling on 4th down. It seems to me that you're doing exactly what your arguing against only in the opposite direction. Abandon hope all ye who enter here...
I get not trusting the team to be able to execute but let's not make it seem like Oakland = New England. They are most assuredly beatable by our Jaguars.
Stop. Just stop. That argument is getting old VERY quickly.
It works both ways. We are literally 2 plays away from being 0-5 using the same logic.
No one is even coming CLOSE to saying Oakland = New England. They don't HAVE to be in order to realistically say they are better than the Jaguars.
For 3 quarters, the Jags were completely neutered against the Bears. Have you seen how inept that team is?
Either way... Sunday will be here soon, and what happens will happen. Believe me... I'd love for the Jags to come out, finally get it all clicking and dominate the game. That'd be wonderful! To have the team FINALLY play up to their potential!? Hell yeah.
If I were a betting man, however... my money wouldn't be on the Jags. (Which sucks, because as a fan I WANT to expect them to win every game)
Should be close, but as long as the Jaguars "KEEP CHOPPIN WOOD" we should be in for a great game
Wow. Oakland is dead last in NFL in yds given up per game at 444.8 per/g. Also giving up 27.2 points a game. Something has to give here. Got to start getting the offense going against the Raaaaaaaaaaaaiiiiideeeeerrrrzzzzzzzz.
Quote:Stop. Just stop. That argument is getting old VERY quickly.
It works both ways. We are literally 2 plays away from being 0-5 using the same logic.
No one is even coming CLOSE to saying Oakland = New England. They don't HAVE to be in order to realistically say they are better than the Jaguars.
For 3 quarters, the Jags were completely neutered against the Bears. Have you seen how inept that team is?
Either way... Sunday will be here soon, and what happens will happen. Believe me... I'd love for the Jags to come out, finally get it all clicking and dominate the game. That'd be wonderful! To have the team FINALLY play up to their potential!? Hell yeah.
If I were a betting man, however... my money wouldn't be on the Jags. (Which sucks, because as a fan I WANT to expect them to win every game)
The refs prevent me from being a betting man...
Quote:The refs prevent me from being a betting man...
And on that... we can absolutely agree.
Yeah I have a strong feeling that we're going to surprise everyone and blow out the Raiders.