I'm just glad they didn't take Adams

---

Did you miss the part about Malik Hooker not being a top five talent? Drafting him that early would have been reaching too high. Think about that for a minute. I was referring to the #18 pick.

You said he wasn't available. He was if they wanted him. There were many, many people debating who was better between Hooker and Adams. 

Hooker was definitely viewed by many as the best S in the draft and top 5 wasn't out of the question. Except maybe by AOL's rankings.

I remember in the "Jamal Adams or Malik Hooker" thread, by far most people wanted Adams. I get rankings from NFL.com, not AOL.

---

I'm just glad they didn't take Adams

I'm glad about that too.

---

I admit laughing audibly to that one.

Just seeing that people still use AOL cracks me up anyway...

---

I admit laughing audibly to that one.

Just seeing that people still use AOL cracks me up anyway...

What does that have to do with anything?

---

It's a great test early for the front four. Should be fun to watch.

I expect it to be fun to watch. Tennessee's OL is not a group of world beaters.

Well that is quite myopic.  They just played the reigning defensive player of the year in Mack and held him to a very pedestrian day.  No sacks.  Irvin another seasoned DE also got shut out.   The Jags front four had a good day in Houston but the circumstances were more than favorable for that front four.  Last time the Jags took it to TN and the time before that TN destroyed the Jags.  

I have a sense this game is going be very physical and the best QB will come with a W.  I think TN has to feel good about that considering what Bortles has become.  Founette yards per carry was pedestrian.  26 for 100 is not even 4 a carry.  He got that to protect the Jags from throwing the ball because of the Bortles issues.  

Jax has never covered Walker well and they cannot load the box as they have tried the last few times to TN because TN weapons outside are a lot better.  Their pass D is better and I think their ST is a lot better than Jax especially the kicking game.  I think because it is a rivalry division game it will be tight until halftime but I have a sense the QB and ST will be a big factor in the second half.  Jax was able to play man against Houston and if they try that with Mariota he will have a 100 yards rushing the ball.  Marrone knows better.  Jax will be playing a lot of coverage this week.  TN is not Houston and TN OL is a significant upgrade to the mess Houston put on the field last week.  I'll go out on a limb and say I dont think the Jags front four will sniff Mariota this week.  I still expect a tight game but I think the separtion is going to happen because of the QB's and ST.  This is the biggest difference between both teams.   I also hope to see no injuries.  I am an LSU fan and love Fournette but i dont think he'll be a big factor in this game.  Jax will have to expose Bortles to the pass to win this one.  And if they do then turnovers are a big issue.

---

You know you're dealing with a belief system when you get an emotional response. 

ProFootballFocus ranked our OL as #1 in the league last year. If that qualifies as "not exactly world beaters" then I guess there just aren't any world beaters in the NFL.

---

  Jax will have to expose Bortles to the pass to win this one.  And if they do then turnovers are a big issue.

Despite our resident confused poster's ignorance of the tacks' O-Line  -- let's consider this "Jags must pass to beat Tenn" narrative.

You figure 345 yards and two TDs through the air will be enough? 

 It was more than enough last time.

---

  Jax will have to expose Bortles to the pass to win this one.  And if they do then turnovers are a big issue.

Despite our resident confused poster's ignorance of the tacks' O-Line  -- let's consider this "Jags must pass to beat Tenn" narrative.

You figure 345 yards and two TDs through the air will be enough? 

 It was more than enough last time.

To be fair, that was before we had the running game to support a full air attack. 

---

I'm condescending. That means I talk down to you. 
Check out the Jag's Forum Alternative: Duval Football Fans.

ProFootballFocus ranked our OL as #1 in the league last year. If that qualifies as "not exactly world beaters" then I guess there just aren't any world beaters in the NFL.

Last year everything I read was Oakland has the best OL in the NFL, rivaling only Dallas. Not one article on NFL.com mentioned Tennessee as a top two OL.

---

Last year everything I read was Oakland has the best OL in the NFL, rivaling only Dallas. Not one article on NFL.com mentioned Tennessee as a top two OL.

Perhaps you should expand your horizons beyond NFL.com.

PFF is a very respected website that even NFL teams subscribe to and use for their data.

---

ProFootballFocus ranked our OL as #1 in the league last year. If that qualifies as "not exactly world beaters" then I guess there just aren't any world beaters in the NFL.

Last year everything I read was Oakland has the best OL in the NFL, rivaling only Dallas. Not one article on NFL.com mentioned Tennessee as a top two OL.

The tacks have one of the best offensive lines in the NFL.  It's been discussed in this and other threads frequently.  They were very good last year too. 

https://www.profootballfocus.com/news/pr...017-season

---

Despite our resident confused poster's ignorance of the tacks' O-Line  -- let's consider this "Jags must pass to beat Tenn" narrative.

You figure 345 yards and two TDs through the air will be enough? 

 It was more than enough last time.

I think that's probably enough. Assuming your defense is even 50% of what you guys seem to think it is. If we're getting shredded through the air I think it's game over. The hope is our front seven can get at Bortles though.

I really don't know what to expect. Mariota either shows up or he doesn't. Our defense either shows up or they don't. It's really tough to predict on a week-to-week basis and seems to go way beyond just strength of the opponent.

---

if Cyp was one of their top SS last year, then sign me up to whatever they say.....

I know I know, everyone's not always right, except for this Ten OL.

---

Season Tix, Section 409

2023 and still counting.....SB will finally be ours soon enough.
TLaw aka 'the prince that was promised' supporter.

The tacks have one of the best offensive lines in the NFL.  It's been discussed in this and other threads frequently.  They were very good last year too. 

https://www.profootballfocus.com/news/pr...017-season

And here's where they ranked us #1 for 2016.

https://www.profootballfocus.com/news/pr...his-season

---

I expect it to be fun to watch. Tennessee's OL is not a group of world beaters.

Well that is quite myopic.  They just played the reigning defensive player of the year in Mack and held him to a very pedestrian day.  No sacks.  Irvin another seasoned DE also got shut out.   The Jags front four had a good day in Houston but the circumstances were more than favorable for that front four.  Last time the Jags took it to TN and the time before that TN destroyed the Jags.  

I have a sense this game is going be very physical and the best QB will come with a W.  I think TN has to feel good about that considering what Bortles has become.  Founette yards per carry was pedestrian.  26 for 100 is not even 4 a carry.  He got that to protect the Jags from throwing the ball because of the Bortles issues.  

Jax has never covered Walker well and they cannot load the box as they have tried the last few times to TN because TN weapons outside are a lot better.  Their pass D is better and I think their ST is a lot better than Jax especially the kicking game.  I think because it is a rivalry division game it will be tight until halftime but I have a sense the QB and ST will be a big factor in the second half.  Jax was able to play man against Houston and if they try that with Mariota he will have a 100 yards rushing the ball.  Marrone knows better.  Jax will be playing a lot of coverage this week.  TN is not Houston and TN OL is a significant upgrade to the mess Houston put on the field last week.  I'll go out on a limb and say I dont think the Jags front four will sniff Mariota this week.  I still expect a tight game but I think the separtion is going to happen because of the QB's and ST.  This is the biggest difference between both teams.   I also hope to see no injuries.  I am an LSU fan and love Fournette but i dont think he'll be a big factor in this game.  Jax will have to expose Bortles to the pass to win this one.  And if they do then turnovers are a big issue.

You do realize the defense Jax will field on Sunday has zero resemblance to to the one you played last year, especially on the line.   Please stop trying to spin the tack offense as some sort of unstoppable juggernaut.  They're not. Better than Houston?  Yes.  But not some top tier offense that can't be stopped or even slowed down.  You should probably pump the brakes a bit on that.

---

Never argue with idiots. They drag you down to their level and beat you with experience.

if Cyp was one of their top SS last year, then sign me up to whatever they say.....

I know I know, everyone's not always right, except for this Ten OL.

Obviously their rankings can't be taken as 100% gospel. Point was, to imply our OL isn't anything special is downright silly. But they weren't "top 2 on NFL.com" so I suppose they indeed do suck.

---

Despite our resident confused poster's ignorance of the tacks' O-Line  -- let's consider this "Jags must pass to beat Tenn" narrative.

You figure 345 yards and two TDs through the air will be enough? 

 It was more than enough last time.

I think that's probably enough.  Assuming your defense is even 50% of what you guys seem to think it is.   If we're getting shredded through the air I think it's game over.  The hope is our front seven can get at Bortles though.  

I really don't know what to expect.  Mariota either shows up or he doesn't.  Our defense either shows up or they don't.   It's really tough to predict on a week-to-week basis and seems to go way beyond just strength of the opponent.

This is largely how we feel about Bortles turnover ratio and our O-Line's ability to open holes in the run game. 

It's hard to guess what to expect. 

I'll say this though  -- our current coaching staff seems to have a MUCH better grasp than the past regime on both:
 -  scheming to mitigate Bortles mistakes 
-  and also using the TEs and FB to make a struggling run blocking line get the job done. 

They'll need to prove they can adjust that to a new opponent this week. It's anyone's guess how it turns out 

I can see a number of different outcomes for this game depending on whether either QB gets hot or cold.  Mariota may be a more efficient QB - but our re-vamped secondary is sneaky good if healthy.

---

Despite our resident confused poster's ignorance of the tacks' O-Line  -- let's consider this "Jags must pass to beat Tenn" narrative.

You figure 345 yards and two TDs through the air will be enough? 

It was more than enough last time.

I think that's probably enough. Assuming your defense is even 50% of what you guys seem to think it is. If we're getting shredded through the air I think it's game over. The hope is our front seven can get at Bortles though.  

I really don't know what to expect. Mariota either shows up or he doesn't. Our defense either shows up or they don't. It's really tough to predict on a week-to-week basis and seems to go way beyond just strength of the opponent.

So you trust your run defense more than your pass defense and pass offense? That is ironic after all the offseason hype about WR upgrades.

---

if Cyp was one of their top SS last year, then sign me up to whatever they say.....

I know I know, everyone's not always right, except for this Ten OL.

Obviously their rankings can't be taken as 100% gospel.  Point was, to imply our OL isn't anything special is downright silly.  But they weren't "top 2 on NFL.com" so I suppose they indeed do suck.

I'll go back to my corner, but saying any rankings matter is just one side of the coin.  I'm duval through and through but expected an L last yr with TEN fighting for the playoffs and our struggles.  Players play and last week nor last year matters and I think we showed that Sunday, TEN OL is ok, but we handled them last season.  Let's wait till halftime Sunday  to talk he said she said.

---

Season Tix, Section 409

2023 and still counting.....SB will finally be ours soon enough.
TLaw aka 'the prince that was promised' supporter.

I expect it to be fun to watch. Tennessee's OL is not a group of world beaters.

Well that is quite myopic.  They just played the reigning defensive player of the year in Mack and held him to a very pedestrian day.  No sacks.  Irvin another seasoned DE also got shut out.   The Jags front four had a good day in Houston but the circumstances were more than favorable for that front four.  Last time the Jags took it to TN and the time before that TN destroyed the Jags.  

I have a sense this game is going be very physical and the best QB will come with a W.  I think TN has to feel good about that considering what Bortles has become.  Founette yards per carry was pedestrian.  26 for 100 is not even 4 a carry.  He got that to protect the Jags from throwing the ball because of the Bortles issues.  

Jax has never covered Walker well and they cannot load the box as they have tried the last few times to TN because TN weapons outside are a lot better.  Their pass D is better and I think their ST is a lot better than Jax especially the kicking game.  I think because it is a rivalry division game it will be tight until halftime but I have a sense the QB and ST will be a big factor in the second half.  Jax was able to play man against Houston and if they try that with Mariota he will have a 100 yards rushing the ball.  Marrone knows better.  Jax will be playing a lot of coverage this week.  TN is not Houston and TN OL is a significant upgrade to the mess Houston put on the field last week.  I'll go out on a limb and say I dont think the Jags front four will sniff Mariota this week.  I still expect a tight game but I think the separtion is going to happen because of the QB's and ST.  This is the biggest difference between both teams.   I also hope to see no injuries.  I am an LSU fan and love Fournette but i dont think he'll be a big factor in this game.  Jax will have to expose Bortles to the pass to win this one.  And if they do then turnovers are a big issue.

I think you may overrate the need for Bortles to have to throw as well as his ability to throw. The game plan is to pound the ball period. If your defense can not stop that then that will determine the game.  Bortles is more than  capable of being good from the pocket. He has never had a running game until this year. That will go a long way for helping him be better. But the game will go through 4net. I would all say that if Mariota drops back 41 times he will be sacked at least 3 times. Oakland had 2 true rushers. We have 4. I just don't see mariota as an elite qb. It will take an elite qb to beat this defense

---