Jags VS Saints Reactions

[Non-RedNeck Westsider]

Let's start with the fact that we were a lot more competitive in the first half than either the fans or the Saints were anticipating.  Gabbert looked calm, made some really good throws and was 'reading' the defense really well.  What I don't like to see is the poor execution of play-action - 3 or 4 times he play-faked to a side where there wasn't even an RB - you're not fooling anybody by faking a handoff to air.  IMO, we were in a spread, shotgun set too often.  We are known as a running team and need to play from a pro-set on 60%-70% of the time.  Mix it up here and there, but stick to what we're known for and that will allow us to use play-action more effectively.  The TD pass to Z.Miller was a thing of beauty.  Not only was it a great catch in coverage, but the reason he was able to make it was because our QB threw the ball to a spot, not waiting on the reciever to get open, but throwing it where he was supposed to end up.  Awesome.  Now we need to work on it a lot more at practice, because I saw it happen 3 or 4 other times when a.)  the reciever wasn't expecting the ball, b.) the ball wasn't thrown where it was supposed to be or c.) niether the reciever or the ball was where they were supposed to be.  But, the one highlight he made was awesome.

Here's where we got trapped.  The Saints played a base, vanilla defense the entire first half - knowing that we may score, but knowing that they could score at will.  If anyone was wondering what happened to Blaine in the second half, it was the fact that he was seeing the same fronts, but at the snap of the ball, the linebackers would drop into a zone, a safety would blitz and the linemen would stunt.  It was confusing the shit out of him - part of being a rookie.  The sacks that I noticed came from outside backs (whether they were DEs or LBs) showing outside pressure and then stunting around to the middle - he had no where to go.  And he didn't see the traps in time to change his protection - part of being a rookie. 

The drops have got to stop - on both sides of the ball.  4th & 5 even if you're falling down Hill, that ball was in your hands.  3rd and 8 - c'mon Mojo, you've got to make that catch.  Poz - if another potential Int hits you in the hands and you drop it again, you just need to start doing pushups in the middle of the field - at least 6 (the amount of Ints you've dropped so far this season). 

Deji Karim is tiptoeing.  We need someone else to return kicks, because he seems to be running scared on returns and he's definitely not hitting the hole as a RB.  A play that stands out was a counter play to the left.  He didn't see a hole so he started tiptoeing, just long enough for the end to shed his block and put him down for a loss.  Had he just tried to explode, we would have gotten at least 2 yds - and possibly broken the run if the DE didn't catch a big piece as he went by.  We need to leave Mojo in for at least 25-30 runs and another 5-10 pass plays and stop rotating the backs so often.  It takes a RB a few plays to get a groove and it also wears down the defense when we just pound the ball.  I caught myself screaming at the TV for us to run more - and that never happens.

[Kay]

A few further thoughts:

1) Despite Gabbert's lackluster numbers yesterday, after years upon years of relatively low-scoring, ground and pound football from the Jags, it was pretty exciting to see our offense throwing 42 passes yesterday afternoon. It certainly makes for entertaining football, especially when the rookie gets a little more experience under his belt.

2) Worst case scenario for this season might actually make for the best case scenario for next season. There are far worse things than the Jags taking their lumps this year with a ridiculously tough schedule, getting some miles on Gabbert, ending the season with a losing record, picking high in the draft, and starting next season fresh with a new coach.

Totally agree with the above.  My vote is for Bill Cowher.  Would love Coughlin back but that's not gonna happen.

In the event that the Jags miss the postseason, who do you guys think we should aggressively pursue for head coach in the offseason?

[Keith-N-Jax]

Jags are not going to the post season and the Saints Kicked more field goals in the second half  because thats all they really needed. We had already scored our 1 TD per game. Jags will not win when they fall behind more than 10 points. Since Del Rio has been the coach Jags have never won a game when they have trailed more than 10 points. This season is a lost, I am just going to enjoy watching BG develope, thats all you can hope for this yr and maybe some exciting plays here and there.

[mtraininjax]

This season is a lost, I am just going to enjoy watching BG develope, thats all you can hope for this yr and maybe some exciting plays here and there.

Wow, season already over, bury the head in the sand, watch the Gators, or not since they lost their QB, after FSU lost their QB, wow, notice a pattern here.......

Gabbert was not as sharp as he could have been, but hey, New Orleans is a heckuva good team too, they have a Super Bowl QB who was pretty darn good at throwing and evading our DLs as well. They dominated Time of Possession with 38 minutes compared to our 22 minutes. The four and outs killed us, but if BG completes one of the passes in the Red Zone for a TD with 4 minutes left to go, its a new ball game.

Our D was fantastic, it was the O that was an issue, and Drew needs the ball more than 11 times in a game. That was pathetic in my opinion, but hey, we can beat Cincy at home and Pitt was beaten by Houston, and Pitt only scored 10 points, so don't lose faith just yet! Long way to go and our best DL player has yet to play 1 down.

[Keith-N-Jax]

LOL but if, what if, shoulda if, sounds like someone from Jacksonville, anyway I dont say seasons over as a bad thing. I actually enjoyed the game Sunday, why b/c I know the Jags had no chance in winning. I  just wanted the team to compete well and they did that for about 2qtrs. So the Steelers only scored 10 points, so that means when we play them the game will end in a tie right?  lol.

[iMarvin]

The first half was really good. We had a shot at winning, but I don't know what happened in the second half. We had the opportunities to get more points but it just couldn't happen. Overall, though, I was pleased with how they played.

[duvaldude08]

The first half was really good. We had a shot at winning, but I don't know what happened in the second half. We had the opportunities to get more points but it just couldn't happen. Overall, though, I was pleased with how they played.

New orleans defense start pressuring Gabby in the second half and he started to crack. That coupled with receivers not catching the ball. However I am still concerned that our offense has no balance. New Orleans used their brain...Pass the first half, run the second half. I thought that was what we were going to do, but instead we kept throwing the ball and it was not working. We should have run the ball more the second half. MJD was hungry to get out there. Play calling is just terriable.

[mtraininjax]

However I am still concerned that our offense has no balance.

I disagree, there was balance. Check the tape, on a few of our drives, we run on 1st down, run on 2nd down, so instead of running again on 3rd down, we run a screen which allows the DE/LB for NO to crash down hard and we end up getting 7-8 yards or more.

No we don't have Calvin Johnson or Jimmy Smith on the field at WR, we need one, but we gotta play with the guys we have and build the offense around them. Gabbert missed some throws badly, but heck, so did Brees and Manning(s) in their first years. This kid has the tools and talent to be very very good.

[Wacca Pilatka]

LOL but if, what if, shoulda if, sounds like someone from Jacksonville, anyway I dont say seasons over as a bad thing. I actually enjoyed the game Sunday, why b/c I know the Jags had no chance in winning. I  just wanted the team to compete well and they did that for about 2qtrs. So the Steelers only scored 10 points, so that means when we play them the game will end in a tie right?  lol.

No, it means we beat the Bengals 10-7 this Sunday because we're a 2 1/2 point favorite.

[iMarvin]

The first half was really good. We had a shot at winning, but I don't know what happened in the second half. We had the opportunities to get more points but it just couldn't happen. Overall, though, I was pleased with how they played.

New orleans defense start pressuring Gabby in the second half and he started to crack. That coupled with receivers not catching the ball. However I am still concerned that our offense has no balance. New Orleans used their brain...Pass the first half, run the second half. I thought that was what we were going to do, but instead we kept throwing the ball and it was not working. We should have run the ball more the second half. MJD was hungry to get out there. Play calling is just terriable.

I usually want us to throw more, but we threw too much on Sunday. I think MJD should've got the ball a lot more than he did. We seriously could've won that game. We definitely need to call better plays. Some were just bizzare. But, for some reason, I still feel like we could make the playoffs.

[duvaldude08]

The first half was really good. We had a shot at winning, but I don't know what happened in the second half. We had the opportunities to get more points but it just couldn't happen. Overall, though, I was pleased with how they played.

New orleans defense start pressuring Gabby in the second half and he started to crack. That coupled with receivers not catching the ball. However I am still concerned that our offense has no balance. New Orleans used their brain...Pass the first half, run the second half. I thought that was what we were going to do, but instead we kept throwing the ball and it was not working. We should have run the ball more the second half. MJD was hungry to get out there. Play calling is just terriable.

I usually want us to throw more, but we threw too much on Sunday. I think MJD should've got the ball a lot more than he did. We seriously could've won that game. We definitely need to call better plays. Some were just bizzare. But, for some reason, I still feel like we could make the playoffs.

I dunno... We have to get it together QUICK if we are even going to say the word playoff. Hopefully we work out the kinks on the offense and have a good win this week.

[iMarvin]

The first half was really good. We had a shot at winning, but I don't know what happened in the second half. We had the opportunities to get more points but it just couldn't happen. Overall, though, I was pleased with how they played.

New orleans defense start pressuring Gabby in the second half and he started to crack. That coupled with receivers not catching the ball. However I am still concerned that our offense has no balance. New Orleans used their brain...Pass the first half, run the second half. I thought that was what we were going to do, but instead we kept throwing the ball and it was not working. We should have run the ball more the second half. MJD was hungry to get out there. Play calling is just terriable.

I usually want us to throw more, but we threw too much on Sunday. I think MJD should've got the ball a lot more than he did. We seriously could've won that game. We definitely need to call better plays. Some were just bizzare. But, for some reason, I still feel like we could make the playoffs.

I dunno... We have to get it together QUICK if we are even going to say the word playoff. Hopefully we work out the kinks on the offense and have a good win this week.

Lol. Yeah, most of our problems are easy fixes so we SHOULD win next week. They just have to be more consistent.

[urbaknight]

6 - 10 this season:(

[Non-RedNeck Westsider]

We have to have FULL CONSISTENCY!

[Wacca Pilatka]

We have to have FULL CONSISTENCY!

Also, our greatness must be great.