Tag: Travis Etienne

Jaguars vs. Raiders: Key matchups

Jaguars vs. Raiders: Key matchups

The Jacksonville Jaguars head into Week 16 against Las Vegas with some offensive momentum following a productive Sunday in their loss to the New York Jets.

One of the key storylines from the Jaguars’ defeat is their franchise record-setting rookie wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr., who has emerged as one of the best young playmakers in the league. Jacksonville’s first-round selection will be a high-level target for a healthy Trevor Lawrence in 2025 and beyond.

This week against the Raiders, the Jaguars have a chance to add another win to their lowly season total against a team projected to be selected within the first three slots in April’s NFL Draft. 

Jaguars Wire takes a closer look at the key matchups ahead of Sunday’s late afternoon bout with Desmond Ridder and the Raiders.

Jaguars secondary and linebackers vs. Raiders TE Brock Bowers

This weekend will feature two highly regarded rookie skill players, Thomas and Raiders tight end Brock Bowers, who have quickly become franchise cornerstones on their respective teams.

Bowers himself is on his way to a record-breaking rookie season as he is just over 100 yards away from breaking Mike Ditka’s rookie record for receiving yards by a tight end at 1,076.

Against a Jaguars defense that ranks last in yards allowed (396.4), Bowers has a good chance to break the record this weekend. However, there is a way to keep this from happening for at least another week.

If Jacksonville wants to slow down Bowers, match zone and heavy man coverage will be key. One idea is to allow Tyson Campbell to travel with Bowers and limit his productivity or play match coverage on the second level against Foye Oluokun, Devin Lloyd, or rookie nickelback Jarrian Jones, who we highlighted in this week’s All-22 review.

Either way, Bowers is the best player on the field for the Raiders at the moment. Limiting him would clear a path for a potential Jaguars victory in the Nevada desert.

Jaguars RB Tank Bisgby vs. Raiders defense

With Travis Etienne Jr. back in the starting lineup, Tank Bigsby’s rushing production has varied. His highest rushing total in his last five games is 55 yards. Yet, he continues to create yards after contact and make defenders miss in space at a steady clip.

The Raiders’ rushing defense could provide Bisgby with a productive game. According to Next Gen Stats, they have the 10th-highest missed crackle rate in the league at 13.9 percent. Bigsby has the third-highest missed tackle rate in the league at 36 percent.

Those numbers translate on film as well. Bigsby has a strong contract balance and jittery footwork that allows him to create yards in space consistently. A noisy day from the former Auburn Tiger tailback could spell success for Jacksonville.

Jaguars QB Mac Jones vs. Raiders QB (TBD)

Close your eyes football fans. This is not the superstar quarterback matchup you might hope for this weekend. One of the paths to success for either team is which signal-caller can play a cleaner game.

There is a possibility that Aidan O’Connell will return to the starting lineup for the Raiders this weekend. However, Desmond Ridder could be in line to start again if O’Connell can’t go (or if Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce were to make another quarterback change).

Ridder was efficient on quick-tempo passes against his former team on Monday night, the Atlanta Falcons, going 11-of-15 for 114 yards and one touchdown in that respect, according to Next Gen Stats.

Yet, he also demonstrated why he is already on the third team within one league year. Far too often, he put the ball in harm’s way and made inaccurate throws.

O’Connell doesn’t come without risk either but is a more effective vertical passer, potentially allowing Bowers to see more production downfield. However, neither are particularly great options.

Jones is also a quarterback prone to making questionable throws, including two interceptions against the Jets. He enters the weekend with a four-to-seven touchdown-to-interception ratio on the season. 

While he did give Thomas, second-year tight end Brenton Strange and wide receiver Parker Washington chances to make plays, Jones’ knack for turning the ball over at the worst times continues to plague him. 

That said, if Jones were to put up similar numbers to what he did in place of Trevor Lawrence against Houston three weeks ago, there is a sound opportunity for Jacksonville to get its fourth win of the season in Sin City.

Will Travis Etienne play in Week Seven? Injury update on Jacksonville Jaguars RB

Will Travis Etienne play in Week Seven for Jacksonville?

Travis Etienne will not have a chance to duplicate his brother Trevor’s effort on Saturday in Georgia’s upset of Texas.Trevor Etienne scored three touchdowns but Travis will be sidelined with a hamstring injury when the Jaguars meet the Patriots in London.

Travis Etienne injury update

Early Sunday it was revealed Jacksonville Jaguars running back Travis Etienne will not be able to go against the New England Patriots due to a hamstring injury

How long has Travis Etienne been out?

This will be the first game Travis Etienne misses in 2024. He has rushed for 230 yards in what has been a disappointing season for the Jaguars.

Jacksonville Jaguars running back depth chart

Behind Travis Etienne on the Jaguars’ depth chart at RB are Tank Bigsby, D’Ernest Johnson and Jake Funk. Bigsby actually leads the team in rushing with 297 yards on the ground.

Key matchups for Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Chicago Bears

Key matchups for Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Chicago Bears

The Jacksonville Jaguars are across the pond on their two-week trip abroad, preparing to face Chicago and New England in London. This week, they will be the designated away team against rookie quarterback Caleb Williams and the Bears. 

Jacksonville is coming off its first win of the season after an 0-4 start. Star signal-caller Trevor Lawrence turned in one of the best performances of his career in Sunday’s 37-34 win over Indianapolis, signaling a possible start of a steady stretch of games for the franchise quarterback.

However, the Bears will not be an easy matchup following a productive victory over the Carolina Panthers as Williams produced career-high numbers. 

Jaguars Wire takes a closer look at some of the key matchups for Sunday’s matchup against the 3-2 Bears.

Jacksonville’s rushing offense vs. Chicago’s run defense

A constant of the Jaguars’ offense in 2024 has been their run game, which has begun to alternate between their one-two punch of Travis Etienne and Tank Bigsby. The latter exploded last Sunday with a 103-yard game, including a long touchdown run that added another explosive element to Jacksonville’s offense.

While the Bears have played sound defense overall, their Achilles heel to this point has been to defend the run. They currently rank 18th in rushing yards allowed and 15th in rushing allowed, and at times have been pushed around in the trenches, failing to maintain gap discipline and fit the run.

Jacksonville must lean more into the run game this week. Their offensive line has generated movement at the line of scrimmage consistently for two straight weeks, helping them to second in rushing yards per play. 

Bigsby’s role is expanding and the advanced statistics show this. He currently ranks fourth in the NFL in rushing yards over expected with +142 despite playing in just four games, according to Next Gen Stats. He could be an impact player this Sunday and a crucial piece to Jacksonville’s path to success. 

Jaguars’ passing offense vs. Bears’ secondary

One of the promising signs last week was the Jaguars’ notable progression and improvement in the passing game. They used frequent play-action to open up the run game.

The passing game thrived, too, as Lawrence completed 28-of-34 passes for over 370 yards and two touchdowns. Jacksonville’s offensive line thrived and gave Lawrence ample time in yet another consistent performance.

However, the front five will face a Chicago defense featuring five defenders with double-digit pressures. The Bears’ defensive front owns a quick pressure rate that ranks seventh in the NFL, according to Next Gen Stats.

The Bears are a heavy-man defense, which could pose problems for the Jaguars. Last week against Carolina, Chicago limited Andy Dalton to just 136 yards passing with very few outlets to work with.

Jacksonville has struggled against heavy man coverage units this season but with the recent usage of Christian Kirk and Brian Thomas Jr., that could change this week.

Thomas has shown to be an explosive and reliable vertical threat while Kirk has been a separator savant in the slot. The good news for the Jaguars is that versatile tight end Evan Engram returns to the field for the first time since Week 1, giving them another quality piece to counter the Bears’ secondary.

Chicago’s top cornerback, Tyrique Stevenson, is not expected to suit up Sunday in London. His absence could allow Jacksonville to exploit some matchups for another explosive day.

Jacksonville’s defensive line vs. Chicago’s offensive line

Ryan Nielsen’s defense has struggled as of late with some significant letdowns throughout the last few weeks. His unit is now ranked near the bottom of the league in most categories. However, a slew of injuries to key players have led to some inconsistencies with the unit overall.

The Jaguars have a talented defensive line that deploys a constant rotation. They did get pushed around by the Colts last week but face a more favorable matchup against the Bears’ average offensive line.

Jacksonville edge rushers Travon Walker and Josh Hines-Allen will be a handful. Next Gen Stats shows that after not having seven pressures in any game during his career, Walker has now had two consecutive games of over seven pressures, including three sacks in the Jaguars’ first win of the season. Hines-Allen has begun to emerge as well with back-to-back games of six-plus pressures.

Williams has not faired well against pressure and has put the ball in harm’s way often in an attempt to play hero ball. With Walker and Hines-Allen starting to heat up as of late, that could pose a problem for the rookie signal-caller.

While the Jaguars have succeeded lately on the offensive side of the trenches, the defensive side must step up again this weekend. If their pass rushers continue to have productive afternoons, the path to success against the Bears’ offense becomes much smoother. 

All-22 review: How the Jaguars can beat the Colts

All-22 review: How the Jaguars can beat the Colts

The Jacksonville Jaguars enter Week 5 as the only winless team in the NFL following their 24-20 defeat at Houston last Sunday. 

But not all hope is lost in Jacksonville as the Jaguars head into a potentially favorable matchup against Indianapolis.

Jacksonville has not played functional, sound football this year, although we saw the Jaguars’ offensive identity begin to emerge in their loss to the Texans.

This offense can balance the run with a dose of play-action and can take advantage of favorable explosive mismatches. If the Jaguars want to avoid sinking to 0-5 this weekend, their offensive game plan from last week gives them the best chance to win.

Sunday presents a Colts team without star running back Jonathan Taylor, likely without starting quarterback Anthony Richardson and with an underperforming defense that could lend the Jaguars their first win of the season.

Jaguars Wire reviewed the All-22 to present a few ways for Jacksonville to secure a victory against Indianapolis. 

Lean on Trevor Lawrence and the rushing attack

The focus of this film review begins with the $275 million man, quarterback Trevor Lawrence, whose play is under scrutiny after a rough start to the season. It seems he is pressing as a passer, staring down targets and playing flat-footed at times. His footwork has certainly become a concern.

Lawrence has also shown to bail from clean pockets and put even more stress on his offense. Despite offering the pre-snap acumen required to operate as an NFL quarterback, he has been inconsistent with his post-snap awareness this season.

Some have called the former No. 1 draft selection “broken,” and while that might be the case right now, his issues are fixable.

Surprisingly enough, it is Lawrence and Jacksonville’s run game that makes the Jaguars go. If he can get into a stretch within games where he can play in rhythm more consistently, this unit will look much improved.

Using play-action more frequently could help with this as the Colts’ defense has allowed opposing quarterbacks to go 21-for-35 with 298 yards, one touchdown and one interception against such calls this year.

Entering Sunday, the Colts rank dead-last in the NFL in yards-per-game allowed, next-to-last in rushing yards and rushes of 10-plus yards allowed, and 25th in passing yards allowed. 

Indianapolis’ defense has underperformed relative to its expectations which has cost the Colts games to this point. Jaguars running backs Travis Etienne Jr. and Tank Bigsby could be in for plenty of touches and big play opportunities, accordingly. 

Jacksonville enters the weekend ranked No. 2 in football in rushing yards per play and No. 9 in team rushes of 10-plus yards. This is an advantageous matchup for the Jaguars’ run game to explode onto the scene.

Jaguars’ improved trench play vs. Colts’ underperforming defensive front

One of the bright spots from Sunday’s loss to Houston was the steady improvement of Jacksonville’s offensive line and the trenches overall. In general, the Jaguars’ front five displayed better consistency in pass protection while opening up rushing lanes for Etienne and Bigsby. 

Offensive tackles Anton Harrison and Cam Robinson were specifically better, especially in their pass sets moving rushers beyond the arc and giving Lawrence clean pockets. The offensive line also did a better job handling games such as twists and stunts, displaying better communication on this front. 

However, when the offense looked to run a play-action with a set-slide protection, the line did not wash defenders out as cleanly as it needed to, allowing pressure on Lawrence almost immediately.

Still, this was the offensive line’s best performance of the season and the unit must build on it, especially against a subpar Colts defense.

Defensively, coordinator Ryan Nielsen knows how to make offenses one-dimensional. That’s what Jacksonville will have to do against Indianapolis’ rushing attack.

With players like linebacker Devin Lloyd and safety Darnell Savage Jr. expected to return from injury, the Jaguars should be able to limit the Colts’ big play opportunities on the ground.

The Jaguars’ consistent defensive line rotation has generated plenty of pressure from the four-man fronts deployed. Rookie interior lineman Maason Smith flashed at times against Houston, including an impressive swim move in the first quarter that got pressure on C.J. Stroud. He could present an intriguing rotational rush threat on passing downs against the Colts. 

Josh Hines-Allen and Travon Walker were fantastic last Sunday with Walker producing a team-high seven pressures on 33 pass rushes and Hines-Allen recording six pressures on 19 rushes. Hines-Allen cleared concussion protocol on Saturday and is set to play.

Target Christian Kirk and Brian Thomas Jr. 

The Colts’ passing defense remains an underwhelming unit in 2024 and that should leave Kirk and Thomas licking their chops at the opportunity for a productive weekend. Indianapolis has allowed the fifth-most yards in downfield passing attempts at 13.3, per Next Gen Stats.

Kirk saw his targets increase from four and three in Weeks 1 and 2 respectively to 10 and 12 against Buffalo and Houston. Kirk is very good at setting up defenders with hesitation moves and fakes along with great short-area quickness.

Furthermore, Kirk is light on his feet and offers smooth acceleration in and out of breaks. He was open on almost every target last week. Pederson and offensive coordinator Press Taylor must utilize him in motions and grant him free releases to create potential mismatches. 

Thomas is already the most talented playmaker on the roster four games into his career, as he flashed vertical separation and the necessary quickness to cut routes short and work back to the football.

Next Gen Stats shows Thomas is leading all rookies in deep directions and receiving yards this season while his average route depth is the third-deepest among first-year receivers. His 16.2 yards per catch rank No. 14 among all qualifying NFL pass-catchers. 

When Jacksonville attacks Indianapolis through the air Sunday, Trevor Lawrence needs to continue looking Kirk and Thomas’ way.

DeAndre Hopkins headlines 5 AFC South trade targets Cowboys must ask about before NFL deadline

If the Cowboys are going to contend, they’ll need to reinforce several problem areas. Here’s who the AFC South has to potentially offer. | From @KDDrummondNFL

The Dallas Cowboys need help. Sure, they were able to stem the tide with their 20-15 win over the New York Giants on Thursday, but things are far from righted. Dallas has two victories on the season, over two teams that, as currently constituted, don’t seem very capable of winning many games.

They played two teams which look like contenders and were blown out. Through four games, clear deficiencies have appeared. There’s little depth behind All-Pro wideout CeeDee Lamb. The running backs are moving behind a work-in-progress offensive line and aren’t breaking tackles. The defensive line doesn’t appear capable of stopping a top rushing attack. Add it all together and what does it spell? Trade for help.

Picks are a commodity for the Cowboys more so than most teams. That makes it unlikely they want to part with any unless the price is in their favor. But with four comp picks on deck for 2025, perhaps the Cowboys would be willing to part for any of these players who could help.

We first examined the AFC North for help, where entering the weekend, three of the four teams are below .500. The same can be said about the AFC South, with only the Houston Texans looking like legitimate playoff contenders. That means the Jacksonville Jaguars, Indianapolis Colts and Tennessee Titans might be willing to part ways with soon-to-be free agents in exchange for draft compensation.

Here are five players the Cowboys should make calls about, to see if there may be a trade that can be worked out.

WR DeAndre Hopkins, Tennessee Titans

Tennessee Titans wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins (10)

Hopkins is dealing with yet another underdeveloped quarterback and the veteran simply doesn’t have that much time left in his career to waste. Now in his 12th season, he bounced back in 2023 to haul in 75 catches and surpass the 1,000-yard plateau for the seventh time in his career. Getting him to Dallas would solve the issues Dallas has had with Brandin Cooks, although the two aren’t similar in size or role. Pairing Hopkins with Lamb and TE Jake Ferguson would give the Cowboys an imposing arsenal at Dak Prescott’s disposal.

DT Taven Bryan, Indianapolis Colts

Christine Tannous USA TODAY Network via Imagn Images

Bryan has been a part-time starter since coming into the league in 2018 and is set to hit free agency next summer. He’d be a nice rotational pickup who could log some time at either position despite not being the prototypical size for a Mike Zimmer DT (6-foot-4, 291 pounds).

DE Dayo Odeyingbo, Indianapolis Colts

Indianapolis Colts defensive end Dayo Odeyingbo (54)

Sitting behind Kwity Paye in the rotation, Odeyingbo has notched 13.5 sacks across the last two seasons. In Dallas, he may be helpful as a rotational 3-tech as opposed to an edge player, but he certainly offers more in both departments over draft classmate Chauncey Golston.

RB Travis Etienne, Jacksonville Jaguars

[Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]
This one’s more likely a pipe dream, but closed mouths don’t get fed. The Jaguars owner said he expects to win now and the team is winless. They drafted an impressive Tank Bigsby last year and perhaps they’d be interested in recouping a second-round pick for a talented back that will require a second contract before the club gets good again. If things fall down further in Jacksonville, the Cowboys should be prepared to make an offer for the exciting dual-threat runner with two 1,000-yard rushing seasons and who’s under the fifth-year option for 2025.

RB D’Ernest Johnson, Jaguars

 Jeremy Reper-Imagn Images

More than likely the Jaguars are going to hold on to Etienne, so if rebuffed Dallas should focus on the backup’s backup in D’Ernest Johnson. He’s proved his worth as a depth piece over the years with a strong 3.07 yards-after-contact per attempt metric throughout his career, including 4.29 this season, albeit on only seven carries through Week 3.

All-22 review: How the Jaguars can beat the Texans

All-22 review: How the Jaguars can beat the Texans

The Jacksonville Jaguars suffered one of their worst losses in recent memory in their 47-10 defeat at Buffalo on Monday night, falling to 0-3 and in a tough spot heading into another tough matchup in Houston.

The Jaguars are a mess, with injuries continuing to pile up and the coaching staff still looking for the team’s identity three weeks into the season. It has been far from the ideal start for this franchise in a season where, per owner Shad Khan, “winning now is the expectation.”

Sunday presents a Houston opponent with a young, talented roster led by quarterback C.J. Stroud. The Texans will not present an easy task but there is a way the Jaguars can either keep the game close or win outright.

Jaguars Wire reviewed the All-22 to present a couple of ways for Jacksonville to secure a victory in Houston.

Continue making WR Christian Kirk the passing offense’s focal point

Kirk started with a negative competition percentage over expected (CPOE) over the first two weeks of the season before his breakout game in Buffalo. Despite the 37-point loss, the team’s No. 1 receiver was finally utilized as one. 

Kirk finished the night with eight catches on 10 targets for 79 yards, +12.1% CPOE, +3.7 receiving expected points added (EPA) and an average target separation of 3.2 yards, according to Next Gen Stats.

Kirk is a quality route runner. He understands how to manipulate defenders with subtle movements and head fakes while attacking their leverage. His ability to create separation is why his average target separation is usually high.

The third-year Jaguar is specifically a slot receiver but that is not a flaw in his skill set. Kirk can terrorize second-level defenders with his short-area quickness and run-after-catch toolbox. This is why he was effective against Buffalo and should be a go-to target in Jacksonville’s offense going forward.

Kirk’s lack of usage early in the season likely hurt the Jaguars. The offense can be effective with Kirk as its top playmaker and target holder.

However, there is one thing that the Jaguars’ offense must do to stand a chance against the Texans…

Commit to the run and open up play-action

One of the most frustrating things about Jacksoville’s offense is its lack of identity. This is solely on the coaching staff for not putting its players in areas to succeed.

The Jaguars must start committing to the run as they have proven successful when they do.

Based on Next Gen Stats, the Jaguars are No. 7 in the NFL in rushing yards over expected, No. 3 in RYOE per attempt and No. 1 in rushing yards after contact per attempt. Running backs Travis Etienne Jr. and a healthy Tank Bigsby are more than capable of sharing the load and the former can handle 20 or more touches per game if needed.

Jacksonville can run the football, and committing to it would open up the play-action passing game and generate more explosive plays.

Play-action is used to draw the linebackers to the line of scrimmage to mimic the run while leaving chunks of the field with open green grass, especially the high-hole area of the field. Teams can use vertical plane routes, crossers and underneath drags to create explosive plays. Kirk and rookie receiver Brian Thomas Jr. are prime targets for these concepts.

At the same time, they can also be creative. Teams can run slip screens with the running back out of the backfield (a failed attempt by the Jaguars can be seen in the first of four clips above), run vertical passing concepts and so much more. 

Sometimes, offenses will run play-action concepts out of 11 personnel, 12 personnel, 13 personnel and 22 personnel. Jacksonville has the talent required to operate from each of these looks, specifically 13 personnel when Evan Engram is available as one of three tight ends.

Jaguars fans may already see that an offensive identity is possible to achieve. It helps when the team has the second-deepest route depth of any team in the league through three weeks, showing the makings of an explosive vertical offense marinated off play-action.

It begs the question, why are head coach Doug Pederson and offensive coordinator Press Taylor not leaning into it?

Perhaps they will this week as play-action is the way to beat Houston. Opposing quarterbacks are 17-of-30 for 280 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions on play-action throws against the Texans, according to Pro Football Focus.

Minnesota proved the approach successful by stressing Houston defensively in their win last weekend, with quarterback Sam Darnold going 8-of-12 for 109 yards and one touchdown on play-action. Trevor Lawrence could do the same thing.  

The Jaguars have the toolbox to fix their issues in the short term and beat the Texans with a good old-fashioned run-heavy, play-action attack. It is up to the head coach and offensive coordinator to pick the right tools.

Key matchups for Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Buffalo Bills

Key matchups for Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Buffalo Bills

After starting the regular season 0-2, the Jacksonville Jaguars look to get in the win column for the first time this year as they travel to Buffalo for Monday Night Football in Week 3. 

This week the Jaguars are still searching for their identity on offense and are currently facing scrutiny for their inconsistent offensive execution and play-calling. This could prove detrimental in trying to keep up with the Bills, which feature one of the powerhouse offenses in the AFC, led by quarterback Josh Allen.

Week 3 of the regular season is now a must-win for the Jaguars and they must prove they can contend with top teams in the conference like the Bills. Finding their offensive identity and consistency will be key, and if they fail to do so at this crucial point of the season on the national stage, it will become fair to wonder if their issues can be fixed this year.

With that in mind, Jaguars Wire is here to identify three key matchups for Jacksonville’s Week 3 road matchup against Buffalo, which the Jaguars must win to avoid digging themselves into a deeper hole. 

Jaguars WR Christian Kirk vs. Bills’ linebackers and slot cornerback

Through two games, the Jaguars starting slot receiver has just two catches on seven targets for 29 yards. While it is early in the season, Kirk’s lack of significant targets has been concerning, especially amid Jacksonville’s offensive struggles. 

Yet, Monday night presents an opportunity for Jaguars offensive coordinator Press Taylor and head coach Doug Pederson to get Kirk heavily involved in the offensive game plan.

The Bills’ man coverage rate this season is just 20 percent as they remain a zone-heavy, two-high safety team that will leave plenty of green grass. That creates an advantage for Kirk, who has a knack for identifying the soft spots in zone coverage. 

A top target in the middle of the field for quarterback Trevor Lawrence over the last two seasons, Kirk led the Jaguars with 1,108 receiving yards in 2022 and was on track for over 1,000 in 2023 before a Week 13, year-ending injury. He has proven productive and effective with an average target separation of over three yards in the last two seasons.

With linebacker Terrel Bernard and nickel corner Taron Johnson out for Monday night’s bout, Buffalo could be thin at both spots, meaning Jacksonville could open up its passing game with Kirk as the focal point.

Baylon Spector and Cam Lewis are expected to start in place of Bernard and Johnson, respectively.

Jacksonville’s defense vs. Buffalo’s offense

While the Jaguars’ offense has sputtered to this point, Jacksonville’s defense is respectable, and daring in coverage.

According to Next Gen Stats, Jacksonville aligned its outside corners in press coverage on 36 percent of snaps. That is the fourth-highest mark in the league, showing that defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen trusts his corners on an island.

The unit deploys Cover 1 coverage 53% of the time, per Hayden Winks, despite the absence of cornerback Tyson Campbell. Nielsen utilizes broad man coverage on 52.6 percent of opposing dropbacks, the highest rate in the NFL.

Thus far, passers are averaging 6.5 passing yards per play against the Jaguars, ranking No. 21 in the league. Quarterbacks are struggling to score through the air against Jacksonville, though, as Miami’s Tua Tagovailoa and Cleveland’s Deshaun Watson combined to throw for one touchdown in Weeks 1-2.

Jacksonville’s man coverage will be tested against arguably the best NFL signal-caller not named Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, and his offensive coordinator Joe Brady on Monday night.

Next Gen Stats show Allen producing the lowest air yards per attempt of his career at 7.4 this season, despite his career-high 73.8% completion percentage through the first two games. This shows that Brady is allowing Allen to distribute the ball around the offense and trusting receivers to compete after the catch.

Considering how difficult Allen is to defend as both a passer and runner, there’s a possibility Nielsen could veer off his man coverage path and play more zone this week. Perhaps it is unlikely given his tendencies as a play-caller, but this is something to keep in mind ahead of Monday night.

Not only will Allen present a tough task, but so will tight end Dalton Kincaid, running back James Cook and receiver Khalil Shakir. The latter owns the highest catch rate of all wide receivers in the league at 88.7 percent.

If Jacksonville can force Allen into bad decisions against its man-heavy defense and limit his rushing opportunities, the Jaguars’ struggling offense should obtain more opportunities to find a rhythm compared to previous games.

Jacksonville’s offense vs. Buffalo’s defense 

While Kirk could be the focus of the Jaguars’ passing offense against the Bills, the unit must perform better situationally across the board in its attempt to establish an identity of any sort.

It starts up front. Lawrence’s protection must improve Monday night against a strong Bills pass rush featuring Von Miller and Gregory Rousseau.

Lawrence has been sacked on a league-high 11.5 percent of dropbacks this season, according to Next Gen Stats. Perhaps Lawrence is responsible for some of the pressure he has faced, but Pro Football Focus dings Jacksonville’s offensive line for allowing six of the seven sacks he has taken.

Next Gen Stats also notes the Jaguars own the third-worst time to pressure in the NFL in 2024, 2.57 seconds.

While explosive plays have occasionally popped up from the likes of running back Travis Etienne Jr. and rookie wideout Brian Thomas Jr, the Jaguars must do a better job of winning on early downs to make third downs more manageable and become less reliant on chunk gains.

Jacksonville has converted just over 26% of its third-down attempts, the fifth-worst mark in the league ahead of Denver, Atlanta, Cleveland and Carolina. The offense will sail much smoother if it can improve drastically in this area.

The Jaguars will be without versatile tight end Evan Engram again this week after suffering a hamstring injury during pregame warmups last Sunday. His absence is why Kirk will be the X-factor for the Jaguars’ passing offense, paired with the Bills’ top linebacker and nickel cornerback out. 

Pederson cannot afford his team to fall to a 0-3 record. His defense is capable of helping win games, but it is Jacksonville’s offense, Pederson’s bread and butter, costing the Jaguars the most.

That has to change on Monday night.

Bills vs. Jaguars: 3 key matchups to watch in Week 3

Bills vs. Jaguars: 3 key matchups to watch in Week 3

The Buffalo Bills host the Jacksonville Jaguars in their upcoming Week 3 matchup.

Even with it being an important AFC clash, it will still be the games, within the game, that will make all the difference.

Here are three key matchups to watch during Monday’s Bills-Jaguars contest:

OL Dion Dawkins vs. Josh-Hines Allen

(Photo by Henry Browne/Getty Images)

While Hines-Allen only has recorded one sack so far in 2024, he’s still doing pretty well in for a good overall defensive front in Jacksonville. Pro Football Focus grades him as the NFL’s sixth-best edge defender through two weeks. Considering he is watching Bills quarterback Josh Allen’s blindside, Dawkins has to play well.

WR Keon Coleman vs. S Andre Cisco

(Photo by Courtney Culbreath/Getty Images)

Each week it seems like a new player is stepping up in the passing game for the Bills which has complemented the rushing efforts of James Cook very well. This might be a good time to show why Coleman is a deep threat.

PFF is not the end all, be all, but let’s be frank: It’s never good when the football analytics outlet ranks you as the worst player at your position in the entire NFL. That’s what Cisco currently is. Get Coleman on his side of the field and send him deep.

LB Baylon Spector vs. RB Travis Etienne Jr.

(Photo by Eakin Howard/Getty Images)

Spector has the confidence of his team. He is going to make his first start since the postseason in 2023 against the Kansas City Chiefs as Terrel Bernard (pectoral) is expected to miss a few weeks.

Even so, Etienne is a good playmaker. There’s a reason why Buffalo wanted to draft him years ago. Spector is not solely going to be tasked with stopped him, but when he has his shots at the running back Spector has to stop him.

[lawrence-related id=140478,140470,140465]

All-22 review: Jaguars’ concerning red zone sequence vs. Browns

All-22 review: Jaguars’ concerning red zone sequence vs. Browns

The Jacksonville Jaguars have started the season winless following this past weekend’s defeat to Cleveland at home, 18-13. 

This was yet another game where the Jaguars had opportunities to score but failed to produce.

One painful sequence stood out from the game: a goal-to-go situation late in the first half, during which Jacksonville had to take two timeouts and settled for a field goal due to a mix of communication issues and poor execution. 

Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson and quarterback Trevor Lawrence addressed these issues in their respective post-game press conferences. Pederson pointed to situational awareness with the play clock running down.

“It can’t happen. It just can’t happen,” Pederson said.

Lawrence pointed out the team’s red-zone struggles as the Jaguars scored touchdowns on one-of-four trips inside the 20-yard line, noting some key plays from that key first-half drive and that they must do better in these situations.

“It’s just little details. We were in the red zone twice close, inside the 5-yard line and didn’t score,” said Lawrence, who completed just 14 of 30 pass attempts for 214 yards. “You can’t do that in this league. You’ve got to take advantage of those opportunities.”

Jaguars Wire took a closer look at what happened in this specific goal-to-go sequence and how it displays bigger problems for Jacksonville’s offense, a combination of mixed assignments and head-scratching decisions by personnel and coaching alike. 

What led the Jaguars to goal-to-go 


To set the scene, it was the second quarter of the game with the Browns up 10-0 following a field goal on their previous drive. The Jaguars took possession with 9:52 left in the first half.

This drive began with a play-action to draw Cleveland’s linebackers to the line of scrimmage and get Jacksonville tight end Brenton Strange open on a deep backside post. The route concept worked. 

However, wide receiver Gabe Davis was forced to block defensive end Za’Darius Smith and predictably got beat on the edge, forcing Lawrence to bail on Strange and complete a negative check-down play to Christian Kirk.

Jacksonville proceeded to pick up positive yardage on its next four plays: A 10-yard pass to Davis, a three-yard 3rd and 1 rush by running back Travis Etienne Jr., a 20-yard follow-up scamper by Etienne, and a three-yard run by running back D’Ernest Johnson.

Then another negative play occurred. As JP Acosta of SB Nation pointed out, this was a single-back stick concept that nearly turned into a disaster for Lawrence. Cleveland cornerback Martin Emerson almost secured the interception but dropped it while falling to the ground. 

The pass was tipped at the line of scrimmage by linebacker Jordan Hicks. Still, it was on a line toward rookie wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr., who needed to turn his head around quicker given how quickly the throw left Lawrence’s hand. This play was designed to create an easy third-down situation, and it nearly turned into a turnover.

Facing 3rd and 7 at Cleveland’s 35-yard line, Lawrence took off for a 33-yard gain to give Jacksonville first and goal at the two, marking one of the Jaguars’ biggest plays of the game. 

The field goal that should never have happened

The following three-play sequence encapsulates the issues Jacksonville currently faces offensively.

Before a first and goal run, Pederson is forced to call timeout due to the play clock running down, the first discombobulating domino to fall as the Jaguars were within five yards of the goal line. Lawrence took the blame for it.

‘The clock was rolling and it was after a big play. We didn’t have the urgency getting out of the huddle, getting up to the line and seeing the play clock,” Lawrence explained. “I own that one, and we took the first time-out.”

On first and goal, Jacksonville came out with 12 personnel – two tight ends, two wide receivers and one running back – and motioned Thomas right to left before the snap. 

The play-call was a dive between the tackles against an eight-man box. Center Mitch Morse did not climb to the second level to block Browns linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, while left guard Ezra Cleveland only brushed him on his combo block.

Owusu-Koramoah filled the A-gap and recorded a tackle for loss on Etienne.

The next play is an example of a lack of executing assignments by one or multiple players, something that has plagued the team throughout the Pederson era, especially since the Jaguars began a 1-7 slide in Week 13 of last season. 

The Jaguars came out of the empty shotgun with 11 personnel – one running back, one tight end and three wide receivers. Lawrence discussed this specific play when asked about the red-zone issues Sunday afternoon.

“You look back at the drive earlier in the first half [when] we had the two time-outs … I think I missed Brian who was open, and then after that had to scramble,” Lawrence said.

It is good to see the franchise quarterback admit a mistake on a specific play like this. However, it did not help that his offense played from that specific formation in this area of the field, an empty look without additional blocking help.

While the play design and execution were good to start, Lawrence bailed from the pocket as he anticipated but did not necessarily face pressure, resulting in another missed opportunity for the Jaguars. 

Then, before third and goal, the Jaguars burned another timeout to avoid a delay of game penalty, a clear indication of poor communication which Lawrence verified post-game.

“It’s just communication. We’re getting in, getting in late, we’re trying to figure it out,” Lawrence said. “Obviously [tight end] Evan [Engram] went down today before the game, so some things changed, but it doesn’t matter. There’s no excuses. You’ve got to perform and you’ve got to be able to adjust.”

On third and goal after the timeout, the offense once again came out of 11 personnel. The formation is trips left with Thomas motioning left to right pre-snap to create doubles. 

Thomas and Strange run a bench concept to the right, while Davis and Kirk run crossers from the left. The issue here is that the play has Johnson chipping before running a delayed angle route to work from the right side of the field to the left.

As you can see above, there are no open receivers against the Browns’ Cover 1-hole defense, forcing Lawrence to attempt a tight window throw while Davis was not looking, which ended up behind the receiver and fell into the turf.

The initial pressure forced Lawrence to take an extra hitch and navigate the pocket, potentially delaying the pass’ delivery.

If anything, this is not an ideal play selection in this situation against this coverage, especially in a condensed field zone and against a Browns defense that is known for shutting down quality offenses.

After starting the sequence two yards from the goal line, the Jaguars settled for three points, four yards removed from the plane.

What to make of the goal-line sequence

This sequence and overall drive displayed a key element that Jacksonville is missing: An offensive identity. 

It has been difficult to decipher what the Jaguars’ offense is supposed to be or what they want to lean on through two games. Jacksonville’s apparent lack of vision for its offense is costing the club games, and casting a shadow over the strong performance of its defense to start the season.

Inconsistent play-calling and play choices in critical situations have been detrimental, whether it be on goal-to-go, third downs or even early downs. The Jaguars have also abandoned their successful under-center play-action passing game at times.

There are communication issues, missed assignments and a lack of discipline displayed on tape on numerous occasions dating back to last season.

Each factor was apparent in Jacksonville’s biggest missed opportunity against Cleveland, the above drive. 

All-22 review: Jaguars vs. Dolphins

All-22 review: Jaguars vs. Dolphins

The Jacksonville Jaguars are off to a rough start to their 2024 campaign following an embarrassing defeat on the road against the Miami Dolphins, 20-17.

At one point, the Jaguars held leads of 14-0 in the first half and 17-7 in the second, leaving many to wonder what happened after such a great start to the game.

Jaguars Wire broke down the matchup’s All-22 film to digest Sunday’s events with better context, sharing its biggest takeaways below.

Defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen impressed in his first game with the Jaguars

Jacksonville Jaguars defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen talks to the media ahead of the second day of an NFL football training camp practice session Thursday, July 25, 2024 at EverBank Stadium’s Miller Electric Center in Jacksonville, Fla.

One of the key matchups Sunday was Ryan Nielsen’s Jacksonville defense versus arguably the most explosive offense in football. One key concern was capping the big plays Miami has been known to produce throughout the last two seasons. 

Despite Dolphins receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle producing crucial explosive plays late in the contest, Nielsen otherwise called in a great game. Jaguars defenders on all three levels of the field flew around the field but rarely appeared out of place outside of a couple of occasions.

One of the most impressive things from this unit is that it rarely got caught in Miami’s barrage of shifts and motions, staying disciplined and on task while forcing quarterback Tua Tagovailoa off his spot and forcing throws.

Jacksonville’s linebackers were stout in their run fits. According to Next Gen Stats, the run defense held Miami to just 69 yards of offense on 23 touches and negative 44 rushing yards over expected, the lowest since Week 9 of 2021. 

Linebacker Foyesade Oluokun played terrific in coverage and against the run. He made an excellent play in the second quarter on fourth & short by shadowing double slants on the front side and nearly secured the interception.

Other defensive players such as safety Darnell Savage Jr. and defensive lineman Arik Armstead had quality performances.

Before leaving the game with an injury, star cornerback Tyson Campbell played with sound technique in press-man and zone shells. Rookie Jarrian Jones had a couple of one-on-ones with Hill and held his own.

Edge rusher Travon Walker’s season is off to a great start. He piled up two sacks in Week 1 with elite explosiveness, power at the point of contact, an impressive bull rush, and the rare athleticism he has been known for since he was drafted No. 1 overall in 2022.

Jacksonville’s first-half offense displayed a glimpse into the future…

MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA – SEPTEMBER 08: Trevor Lawrence #16 and Brian Thomas Jr. #7 of the Jacksonville Jaguars celebrate after a touchdown during the second quarter against the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium on September 08, 2024 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images)

Sunday offered a peak into what the 2024 Jaguars offense could become under whoever is calling plays in Jacksonville, head coach Doug Pederson or offensive coordinator Press Taylor. There were more under-center, vertical passing concepts that opened up the offense to an extent. The operation seemed steadier and smoother.

Franchise signal-caller Trevor Lawrence had a quality first half, making a terrific throw seemingly every series. He had a couple of middle-of-the-field darts for big completions, including the beautiful bucket drop to rookie wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. to go up 14-0 in the second quarter.

Lawrence did a great job using his eyes to manipulate second and third-level defenders while maintaining his progressions.

The Jaguars have the potential to field a consistently explosive offense. Second-string running back Tank Bigsby broke off a couple of nice runs. Thomas also looks as advertised as a deep threat, showing vertical separation almost consistently with subtle movements to create space and opportunities for Lawrence to make accurate, on-time throws.

Jacksonville could have continued to mash its foot on the gas and attack Miami’s secondary with vertical play-action attacks from under-center and route concepts to put its players in positions to succeed. As the score later showed, it didn’t.

…but the second-half offense offered a not-so-good blast from the past

Sep 8, 2024; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson looks on from the sideline against the Miami Dolphins during the first quarter at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

As soon as the Jaguars’ offense took the field in the second half, there was an easy tell to the momentum swing that began to occur. What went from an explosive and dynamic first 30 minutes to a stale and conservative final 30. 

Pederson or Taylor let their foot off the gas almost entirely, especially after running back Travis Etienne Jr. fumbled in the red zone. 

The offense reversed back to what led to its demise late in the 2023 season. There were very few concepts that allowed Lawrence to attack the middle of the field and several play-action rollouts that only allowed for the short area of the gridiron to be attacked. 

Thomas received no targets in the second half, a head-scratching reality considering his earlier production paired with Jacksonville’s late offensive stalls. The Jaguars offensive line largely held its own throughout the game, allowing Lawrence to navigate the pocket and reset his base when needed.

The lack of aggression from the offense was staggering and it allowed Miami to take the field for just enough plays, including the 80-yard touchdown by Hill, to stage a successful comeback.

There was also too much faith placed in the Jaguars’ rushing offense and defensive performance to secure the victory. This kind of approach has far too often put coaches at a disadvantage against explosive teams such as the Dolphins or Kansas City Chiefs.

Jacksonville will host the Cleveland Browns in the Jaguars‘ home opener this weekend. They have the offense and personnel to be an aggressive, explosive offense. If the Jaguars learn to keep mashing the gas pedal when up 10 or more points, this could be a potent team throughout the season.