(01-13-2019, 09:29 AM)SeldomRite Wrote:

(01-12-2019, 10:56 PM)NYC4jags Wrote: The determination of whether it works or not is the talent on the field.  You can't run on first down more than half the time if you don't have the dogs out there to get you 5 yards or more pretty consistently in that situation. 

The Rams have run on first down tonight 9 times. Working pretty well for them.
(make that 10 times)
(Make that 11 times)
(13)
(14)
(15)

I'm just gonna stop counting now

The talent is definitely the biggest part. If the defense feels like you can and will pass on first out of whatever alignment and personnel you're in then they can't do like it seems they do against the Jaguars.

That being said the jaguars don't have receivers that strike fear in the defense lined up wide, so they'd need to do more of just going pass instead of lining up for run with a single receiver split out with the defense feeling like they need to defend pass anyway.

The Jags caused defenses to load the box their personnel usage most of the time.  After Grant went down - the Jags rarely lined up in run formations that didn't dictate a stacked box in response.
 In the rare cases they did attempt to spread out some receivers and still run the ball, the issues weren't about a lack of respect for the receivers.

It was two things:

• Teams game-planned week after week to stop the run and let the Jags make errors in the pass game.
  
• The offensive line was in shambles - so defenses knew they could stop the run and pressure the QB.
  

The Jags receiving corps had a bad year of dropped passes, but I don't think opposing staffs didn't respect their ability to get open deep. They just didn't respect that the football would get to them accurately or consistently.

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