Tag: Jack Conklin

Behind Enemy Lines: Week 12 Q&A with Titans Wire

Jags Wire managing editor Jame Johnson chopped it with Titans Wire managing editor Crissy Froyd about Thursday night’s Week 12 battle.

The Jacksonville Jaguars and Tennessee Titans will be taking the field for yet another battle in which fans of both fan bases have likely had circled due to the history between both teams. To get a little insight on the current status of the team as they’re coming off their bye week, we did our weekly question exchange with Titans Wire editor Crissy Froyd and here are five burning questions she was kind enough to answer:

Jags Wire: Earlier in the week Doug Marrone praised Ryan Tannehill as an improved player. How has he played since becoming the starter in your eyes? 

Crissy Froyd: Tannehill is very decisive and comfortable in the pocket — two things that Mariota never was. He’s been efficient, but needs to stay consistent. 

JW: The Titans are coming off a bye week which could lead to a playoff push from this point. Who are some key players they got back in the process? 

CF: The Titans overcame a lot of injuries, and tight end Delanie Walker is just one of a few players slowly getting back to full capacity. He was one of two players (alongside OL Kevin Pamphile) still listed as doubtful on this weekend’s injury report.

JW: Aside from a change at quarterback, how has this roster grown since Week 3?

CF: We’re seeing a lot of young receivers step up, and Derrick Henry being put to good use. Henry wasn’t used correctly in the beginning of the season, and that showed. The Jags face a much better put together team this time around.

JW: What would you say has been some of the Titans’ weaknesses throughout the season?

CF: Allowing one big play a game, like Dean Pees said. The Titans have a solid team, but there are things they let slip away from them that cost them the game. Tackling has also been inconsistent at times. 

JW: What are your final score predictions for the game?

CF: The Titans come out on top, 21-17.

Jaguars vs. Titans: 3 matchups to watch

The Jags will need to win some key matchups Sunday to overtake the Titans and one of them is the battle between Fournette and Rashaan Evans.

The Jacksonville Jaguars (4-6) and Tennessee Titans (5-5) will clash for their second time in 2019 with their playoff hopes hanging on by a thread. Needless to say, that means neither team can take a loss in Sunday’s matchup, which will come down to a few key matchups. Here are three we’ll be watching in particular:

Edge rushers Yannick Ngakoue and Josh Allen vs. offensive tackles Taylor Lewan and Jack Conklin

While the Jags aren’t quite where they want to be record-wise, fans who like breaking down the film should at least be happy to see this matchup regardless of the outcome. It’s rare to see two tandems of this magnitude duke it out on the edge and I’ve personally been waiting to see this matchup since Josh Allen was selected by the Jags.

In the Jags’ and Titans’ Week 3 meeting, Taylor Lewan was suspended and his absence showed as quarterback Marcus Mariota was sacked nine times. Now he’s back and the playing field is level. With that being the case, it will be interesting to see how Yannick Ngakoue and Allen respond to the tandem as Lewan and Jack Conklin are regarded as one of the NFL’s top bookend duos.

RB Leonard Fournette vs. ILB Rashaan Evans  

Leonard Fournette wants more carries and the Jags want to give him that. That said, if the Jags give him the ball as most suspect he’ll have to deal with the Titans leading tackler in Rashaan Evans. These two are quite familiar with each other after their time in the Southeastern Conference and now the rivalry has followed them to the league due to being selected by the Jags and Titans.

Evans will enter the game with 82 tackles while Fournette will enter the game with 854 rushing yards and one touchdown. As we’ve mentioned in the past, he’s struggled against the Titans. Throughout, four starts against them, he’s garnered 62 carries for 211 yards (good for a 3.4 YPC average) and a touchdown, which is not an impressive stat line. Simply put, that needs to change Sunday if the Jags want to win.

LB Myles Jack vs. RB Derrick Henry

This kind of goes back to what was said in our bold predictions post when I mentioned that Myles Jack is the most criticized player on the Jags’ defense — and rightfully so. He hasn’t played to his contract extension this season and will need to flip the switch quick as he’s played so poorly to the point where many have been wondering if he needs to change positions.

Jack likely understands he’s fallen short of expectations more than anyone and could play with his hair on fire against the Titans. With Derrick Henry expected to lead their offense, he’ll receive ample carries and Jack could make a statement Sunday by holding him in check and acquiring double-digit tackles on the day.