(06-29-2024, 01:09 PM)Caldrac Wrote:

(06-29-2024, 09:16 AM)Jag149 Wrote: No worries they don't usually play in shorts.  What I want him to do is learn to pick up the blitz better. That is what kept him off the field much of last year.

That along with ball security on the ground combined with butter finger's in the passing game. Hopefully the game slows down for him a bit this year. He's a high draft pick. They need to get a lot out of him in year two. Same for Strange.

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Originally, I felt the same way, then I noticed a few things. In his first actual year on the field, Etienne the 2021 first-round pick fumbled five times, second most in the NFL among running backs. Now I am not really trying to defend Tank, just looking at it as impartial as I can. So Tank fumbled twice in his first year. I must say they were both interesting.

The first was during the third quarter of the Jaguars’ Week 1 game against the Indianapolis Colts, the pressure got to Trevor Lawrence and the ball was knocked out before that hand went forward. This errant pass went to Tank who picked up the ball. Then he assumed it was an incomplete. Buckner slaps the ball away and TD time. Now was it his fault? Surely it was. However we need to add an assist to the O-line on the pressure, TL for the first fumble/errant pass, and the REST of the team who standing around him also relaxed and let this happen.

The second was on a rainy day in Pittsburgh when he was hit behind the line and held up while another player whacked at the ball quite a few times. (forward progress possibly could have been called) I am sure one of the offensive linemen would have helped him get down but it is hard to do after being run over and on your back.

While the he two passes off his fingers for interceptions need to be corrected. What really kept him off the field in my opinion was picking up the blitz. Not unusual for first year players to struggle with this, but this year that needs to be behind him.

Ps   Balou is only as insightful as the last guy he talked to

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