The score of preseason games does not matter. At all. Period.
The preseason games are purely for evaluation, but if the Jaguars were reduced to playing their third string defense at any point during the regular season they would be in major trouble. Here are a couple observations I had from watching last night’s game.
Offense
- Blaine Gabbert played about as well as I expected a rookie getting his first live NFL action would play. Gabbert completed 9 of his 16 passes for 85 yards in playing the first half, but was victimized by a couple of key drops by his receivers that killed scoring drives in the red zone. He is still raw, but the talent is there and Jaguars fans should get excited about the future with him under center.
His third throw of the night was a perfect strike to Jason Hill in a tight window on a crossing route. He also made some solid throws to the sidelines on some timing routes that were effective in moving the ball early in the game.
- If Maurice Jones-Drew went down the Jaguars rushing attack would be in good hands with Rashad Jennings and Deji Karim. Jennings is a solid number two running back, but Karim is a home run threat every time he touched the ball. It is a crowded backfield, even Richard Murphy looked good carrying the football.
- Rookie Will Rackley held his own in his time at left guard. Rackley is the early favorite to fill the spot vacated by Vince Manuwai.
- Nobody separated themselves from the pack at wide receiver last night. Jason Hill led the team with three catches for 37 yards, but he was the only wide receiver with more than one catch. If the lackluster performance from the receivers continue, Gene Smith will have to consider looking for some outside help before the regular season begins.
- The Jaguars couldn’t get in the end zone, but kicker Josh Scobee looked solid on his field goal attempts.
Defense
- The starting defense looked good. There was a noticeable difference with the new additions on the field last night. The starters knocked the ball loose on the first two plays they were on the field and had one fumble recovery and a three and out in their first two series. In the one touchdown drive the starters did give up, they were victimized by Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez. It is still early, but the back seven of the defense looks much better than last year.
-What happened to the pass rush? The Jaguars defense had no sacks last night and the Patriots quarterbacks had plenty of time to look for open receivers. The Jaguars top pass rusher Aaron Kampman did not play and emerging defensive end Austen Lane only played for one quarter, but none of the young guys that got lots of playing time last night showed an ability to get to the quarterback. The signing of Matt Roth is a wake-up call to all the young pass rushers that they need to step up or they will be gone.
-Rashean Mathis, Derek Cox, Dawan Landry and Courtney Greene are the most important players on the Jaguars defense. We learned in a very painful way last night that the drop off from the starting secondary to their back-ups is significant. The Jaguars do not have any quality depth at safety or cornerback. Blown assignments and poor tacking plagued the Jaguars secondary after the starters came out at the end of the first quarter.
-While most back-ups did not impress, the three linebackers that played after the starters last night were the lone bright spot when the reserves played. Russell Allen, Jacob Cutrera and Kyle Bosworth played well, too bad nobody around them stepped up.
Remember that the guys playing in the second half last night will most likely never be on the field for the Jaguars once the regular season rolls around. Step back from the ledge Jaguars fans, it was only a preseason game.
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