10-10-2020, 10:56 AM
Before we begin, I want to acknowledge Jim Mora's classic rant on outsiders lack of knowledge https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NHipzGL4dwM. As much as I like to think I know....I don't know. That said, since football is a spectator sport, they open themselves to public scrutiny and public opinions, whether informed or not. Within that context, I offer my takes on the season thus far.
After a quarter of the season has passed (maybe more if the pandemic continues to decimate teams like it seems to be doing to the tacks), I figured a look at the team's best and maybe worst performers might be in order. So here we go....at least for a start....
Offensive MVP-Gardner Minshew. While some of the luster has come off of Minshew mania and fewer people seem to view him as a franchise QB than earlier in the season, he's still been pretty good overall. He has a very high completion percentage, and generally when you watch him, you get the sense he's going to move the ball. But two negatives (both seemingly related on some level) stand out to me. First, he has shown a propensity to get balls batted at the LOS. That has led to cistly INTs against Concnnati and Miami (IIRC). The second flaw seems that some of his passes will sail when he's off, almost as if to compensate for getting passes batted at the LOS. Nevertheless, I think he has played well overall and is deserving of this.
Defensive MVP-Myles Jack. I think most Jaguars fans would have predicted Josh Allen would be the recipient of this award based upon how he played over the course of last year. But his production has cratered thus far, I think, because the team got rid of all his help, and teams can focus more blocking attention to him. Myles Jack, however, has upped his game big time. Since moving him to weak, where many Jaguars fans always thought he should be, Jack has flourished, playing at the levels most thought he would reach when he amazingly fell to us in the 2016 draft. His INT against Cincinnati was a thing of beauty and one of the best plays since the infamour Myles Jack wasn't down play int he AFC Championship game.
Offensive Rookie of the quarter-Without question, RB James Robinson. I think many times, media types will make these trendy declarations and many fans will react. One of these decrees is the trope about finding RBs anywhere. I think that is largely overstated, and seems to be most apt to happen in WCO offenses. That said, the latest case in support of this is James Robinson. Marrone lauded his vision to hit the hole. But what he undersold in his advocacy is Robinson's agility to hist the hole and, despite his pedestrian 4.6 speed, he has shown the ability to break some ling runs. On top of that, he has shown adept at receiving and pass protection. Now Shenault had his best game last week, and has been good overall, but Robinson is the clear choice here.
Defensive rookie of the quarter-CJ Henderson. His first game was amazing, earning him national rookie of the week honors against the Colts. He showed a surprising level of physicality against the Titans in week two, tackling a rumbling Derrick Henry on plays that would have gone for six in season's past. However, his last two games have not been overly good. In fact the Miami game was bad. Devon Hamilton has had some decent snaps, but right now, the award goes to henderson.
Offensive Most improved player: This was a difficult choice. In my mind there were three decent candidates for this award: Cam Robinson, Keelan Cole, and Jawaan Taylor. I went with taylor. Last year, most were amazed he fell to us in round two when the pre draft speculation had him as high as a top ten pick. but he struggled a great deal, especially in the first half of the season. But so for this year, he's looked much better than he did at this point last year. He seems to be beaten far fewer times, and makes fewer penalties. Cole's strange career is on an upswing, finding new hope in Gruden's schemes. Robinson has rebounded nicely fromt he knee injury that robbed him of most of his 2018 season, and most of his consistency last year. He's playing at a higher level. But I think Taylor has improved better thant he other two, perhaps because I never saw him playing well ;ast year, whereas I saw Robinson and Coles play well before. Keep up the good work guys!
Defensive Most improved player: Myles Jack-Se above.
Game of the quarter-Opening day win vs. the Colts. We got our first look at gruden's offense, and it didn't disappoint. Guys running wide open against a good defense. A rookie RB was able to show his stuff. A peasky and feisty defensive performance culminated in a most unexpected win.
After a quarter of the season has passed (maybe more if the pandemic continues to decimate teams like it seems to be doing to the tacks), I figured a look at the team's best and maybe worst performers might be in order. So here we go....at least for a start....
Offensive MVP-Gardner Minshew. While some of the luster has come off of Minshew mania and fewer people seem to view him as a franchise QB than earlier in the season, he's still been pretty good overall. He has a very high completion percentage, and generally when you watch him, you get the sense he's going to move the ball. But two negatives (both seemingly related on some level) stand out to me. First, he has shown a propensity to get balls batted at the LOS. That has led to cistly INTs against Concnnati and Miami (IIRC). The second flaw seems that some of his passes will sail when he's off, almost as if to compensate for getting passes batted at the LOS. Nevertheless, I think he has played well overall and is deserving of this.
Defensive MVP-Myles Jack. I think most Jaguars fans would have predicted Josh Allen would be the recipient of this award based upon how he played over the course of last year. But his production has cratered thus far, I think, because the team got rid of all his help, and teams can focus more blocking attention to him. Myles Jack, however, has upped his game big time. Since moving him to weak, where many Jaguars fans always thought he should be, Jack has flourished, playing at the levels most thought he would reach when he amazingly fell to us in the 2016 draft. His INT against Cincinnati was a thing of beauty and one of the best plays since the infamour Myles Jack wasn't down play int he AFC Championship game.
Offensive Rookie of the quarter-Without question, RB James Robinson. I think many times, media types will make these trendy declarations and many fans will react. One of these decrees is the trope about finding RBs anywhere. I think that is largely overstated, and seems to be most apt to happen in WCO offenses. That said, the latest case in support of this is James Robinson. Marrone lauded his vision to hit the hole. But what he undersold in his advocacy is Robinson's agility to hist the hole and, despite his pedestrian 4.6 speed, he has shown the ability to break some ling runs. On top of that, he has shown adept at receiving and pass protection. Now Shenault had his best game last week, and has been good overall, but Robinson is the clear choice here.
Defensive rookie of the quarter-CJ Henderson. His first game was amazing, earning him national rookie of the week honors against the Colts. He showed a surprising level of physicality against the Titans in week two, tackling a rumbling Derrick Henry on plays that would have gone for six in season's past. However, his last two games have not been overly good. In fact the Miami game was bad. Devon Hamilton has had some decent snaps, but right now, the award goes to henderson.
Offensive Most improved player: This was a difficult choice. In my mind there were three decent candidates for this award: Cam Robinson, Keelan Cole, and Jawaan Taylor. I went with taylor. Last year, most were amazed he fell to us in round two when the pre draft speculation had him as high as a top ten pick. but he struggled a great deal, especially in the first half of the season. But so for this year, he's looked much better than he did at this point last year. He seems to be beaten far fewer times, and makes fewer penalties. Cole's strange career is on an upswing, finding new hope in Gruden's schemes. Robinson has rebounded nicely fromt he knee injury that robbed him of most of his 2018 season, and most of his consistency last year. He's playing at a higher level. But I think Taylor has improved better thant he other two, perhaps because I never saw him playing well ;ast year, whereas I saw Robinson and Coles play well before. Keep up the good work guys!
Defensive Most improved player: Myles Jack-Se above.
Game of the quarter-Opening day win vs. the Colts. We got our first look at gruden's offense, and it didn't disappoint. Guys running wide open against a good defense. A rookie RB was able to show his stuff. A peasky and feisty defensive performance culminated in a most unexpected win.