The Idzik Bowl: Former Jets GM returns to MetLife as Jaguars exec ~ ~ ~

[kelly]

Ten things to know about the Jacksonville Jaguars, the New York Jets' upcoming opponent  :

1. Normally, no one cares about the opponents' front-office executives, but this is an unusual case. The Jaguars' special assistant to the general manager is John Idzik. Yes, that John Idzik, the Jets' general manager in 2013 and 2014. It was a stormy tenure for Idzik, whose solid work in 2013 was overshadowed by a disastrous 4-12 season that resulted in an organizational house cleaning. Only 11 months ago, a blood-thirsty fan group bought billboard space near MetLife Stadium, demanding Idzik's ouster. As of Tuesday, he was planning to attend Sunday's game. There will be no "Welcome Back, John" billboards near the stadium. The Jaguars declined to make Idzik available for an interview.

2. The Jaguars' offensive-line coach is Doug Marrone. Yes, that Doug Marrone, the early frontrunner for the Jets' head-coaching vacancy last January. Marrone opted out of his Buffalo Bills contract because he was led to believe he'd have the inside track on the Jets' job -- or at least that's what some people think. This game will be special for Marrone, a native New Yorker and a former Jets assistant.

3. Let's talk about the team. The Jaguars are only 2-5, ranked 29th in ESPN's latest NFL Power Rankings, but they have played well against the AFC East. Their wins came against the Bills and Miami Dolphins. They won a wild game over the Bills in London, 34-31, after blowing a huge lead. The Jaguars don't play well when they're ahead. They blew fourth-quarter leads to the Indianapolis Colts (Week 4) and Houston Texans (Week 6).

4. The win over the Bills snapped a four-game losing streak and made it a bearable bye week for Gus Bradley. The Jaguars are 9-30 under Bradley, who's starting to feel the heat. Ownership already has said it won't make any changes during the season, but it would've been ugly if they had lost to the Bills, who scored 28 unanswered points amid some questionable coaching decisions by Bradley. If he's going to turn around the season, it has to start now, especially coming off a bye.

5. After a rough rookie year, quarterback Blake Bortles (third overall pick in 2014) is making nice strides, especially on his deep throws. He has 15 touchdown passes, tied for fifth in the NFL and four more than his rookie total. This is hard to believe, but he's only eight behind the Jaguars' team record, held by David Garrard (2010). On the downside, Bortles is tied for sixth with eight interceptions. Get the picture? Bortles makes a lot of big plays -- some for his team, some for the bad guys. In fact, he has seven pick-6s in 21 career games. Against the Bills, he was terrible for three and a half quarters, but he rallied his team with a late touchdown pass to Allen Hurns.

6. Hurns has been a nice find for the Jaguars. Undrafted out of Miami in 2014, the 6-foot-3 wideout has 31 receptions, a 16.6-yard average and five touchdowns. He moves around the formation, so you could see him in the slot or the outside. He could be a matchup problem for the Jets. Hurns and Allen Robinson are a young, underrated duo at wide receiver. Fantasy owners probably know this, but Hurns has scored a touchdown in five straight games.

7. Tight end Julius Thomas doesn't need an introduction at MetLife. Playing for the Denver Broncos last season, he burned the Jets for two touchdowns. After one of them, he screamed in the end zone, "It's so f---ing easy! It's so easy!" -- and his words made it to live TV because of a nearby mic. It was easy because he had Peyton Manning throwing to him and the Jets' pass defense was awful. It hasn't been easy in Jacksonville. Thomas, who signed a five-year, $46 million contract in free agency, missed the first four games with a broken hand and was limited in the last game with a groin injury. If healthy, his athleticism will cause problems for the Jets.

8. The Jaguars are a below-average rushing team, but they're getting some production out of rookie T.J. Yeldon (406 rushing yards, 16 catches). They use him a lot out of the backfield, which automatically qualifies him as a threat to the Jets. Toby Gerhart is their short-yardage specialist, but he was stuffed on four straight runs from the Bills' 1. Questionable play calling, for sure.

9. Under Bradley, a former Seattle Seahawks assistant, the Jaguars run a 4-3, attacking defense. Overall, they aren't very good (31st in scoring), but they're stout against the run (league-leading 3.52 yards per carry). They caught a bad break in the preseason when No. 1 pick Dante Fowler, Jr. suffered a season-ending knee injury in a pass-rushing drill.

10. If the game comes down to an extra point, don't assume Jason Myers will make it. He already has missed three PATs, which explains why they auditioned free-agent kickers last week.

>   http://espn.go.com/blog/newyork-jets/post/_/id/55705/the-idzik-bowl-former-jets-gm-returns-to-metlife-as-jaguars-exec

[kelly]

more re jags..

~ ~  -- On Sunday, Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles was good early, not very good for much of the day, and then very good when it mattered most.

Bortles rallied the Jaguars from a 31-27 deficit -- after they blew a 27-3 lead -- and threw a 31-yard touchdown pass to Allen Hurns with little more than two minutes to play against the Buffalo Bills. It was his 15th touchdown pass of the season, which is four more than he threw as a rookie in 2014. It also was a play that illustrated Bortles' growth as a quarterback.Instead of running for the first down, Bortles kept his eyes downfield as he scrambled and threw a pass that only Hurns could reach. The fact that it came on the drive immediately after he threw a pick six shows his resiliency and it certainly garnered even more support among his teammates.We're tracking Bortles' progress each week to see if and/or when he’ll break the franchise's single-season record for touchdown passes held by David Garrard (23 TD passes in 2010). Here’s how he stands right now.

Last week: Bortles completed less than 50 percent of his passes (13-for-29) for 182 yards and two touchdowns with one interception against Buffalo. That was his lowest single-game yardage total since the threw for 117 yards against Houston in the 2014 season finale. Bortles threw for 183 in the 2015 season opener.

TD passes through Week 7: 15.

On pace for: 34.

Garrard through Week 7 in 2010: Nine.

This week: The Jaguars are off this week and will face the New York Jets on Nov. 8. The Jets' defense ranks second overall, first against the rush, and fourth against the pass. Two more words that will have a major impact on this game: Darrelle Revis.

>   http://espn.go.com/blog/jacksonville-jaguars/post/_/id/15276/jaguars-qb-blake-bortles-just-8-td-passes-shy-of-tying-single-season-team-record

[rex-n-effect]

Even with Geno at the offense's helm we shouldn't lose this game.

Unfortunately Geno could find a way.

[kelly]

Jaguars' opponent scouting report : The Jets

Coach: Todd Bowles (first year).

Record: 4-3 (second place, AFC East).

Last week: Lost 34-20 at Oakland.

Next week: vs. Buffalo.

OFFENSE

Play caller: Coordinator Chan Gailey.

Analysis: The 63-year old Gailey began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Florida in 1974 and was out of coaching for two years before joining Bowles. … The Jets, who host the Jaguars on Sunday, are seventh in yards (376.7) and rushing (127.6), 16th in passing (249.1), sixth on third down (45.1 percent) and 11th in points (24.6). … But they have a mess at quarterback. Ryan Fitzpatrick, who won the job in training camp when Geno Smith’s jaw was broken in a locker room fight, has a solid 86.5 passer rating with 11 TDs and seven INTs. But he sustained ligament damage in his left (non-throwing) thumb Sunday at Oakland. … Smith took over for Fitzpatrick and he sustained a left (non-throwing) shoulder bruise that also puts his status in doubt. The Jets’ third quarterback is rookie Bryce Petty,. … Fitzpatrick has started games for six teams and has a 33-55-1 record, including 4-3 against the Jaguars. A savvy veteran, he knows how to extend the play and scramble (124 yards) and also throw quickly (sacked only four times in 215 attempts). … RB Chris Ivory ranks 11th in the league with 518 rushing yards. But he has only 58 yards in 32 attempts the last two weeks. … The passing game runs through WRs Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker, who have accounted for 50 percent (80 of 160) of the Jets’ catches. … Acquired from Chicago, Marshall has 50 catches (eighth-most) for 686 yards (seventh-most) and is on track for his eighth 1,000-yard season. … Marshall was slowed against Oakland because of a toe injury on one foot and a bad ankle on the other leg. ... The reserve WRs are Jeremy Kerley and Kenbrell Thompkins. … The Jets’ seven sacks allowed are fewest in the league.

DEFENSE

Play caller: Coordinator Kacy Rodgers.

Analysis: Bowles, formerly Arizona’s defensive coordinator, is heavily involved in the Jets’ 3-4 scheme (although they opened in a 4-3 against Oakland). … The Jets are third in yards (307.1), first against the run (78.1), seventh against the pass (229.0), 10th on third down (opponents convert 36.1 percent) and 12th in points (19.8). … The Jets’ plus-three turnover ratio is tied for eighth, but the takeaway well has dried up. New York had five apiece in its first two games, but only five in its last five games (none in its last two). … The Jets’ defensive line is outstanding. In order of playing time against Oakland, the rotation was DE Muhammad Wilkerson (59 of 63 snaps), DT Sheldon Richardson (57), NT Damon Harrison (44), rookie DE Leonard Williams (43) and DE Stephen Bowen (14). … Wilkerson leads the team with five sacks and is tied with Williams for a team-best 11 QB hits. … ILBs David Harris and Demario Davis don’t leave the field and are 1-2 in tackles with 51 and 43, respectively. Harris also has two sacks. … CB Darrelle Revis is an all-time great in his second tour with the Jets. He has three interceptions to lead the team, but isn’t the shutdown player he used to be. … The other three main CBs are Antonio Cromartie, Marcus Williams and Buster Skrine..

SPECIAL TEAMS

Coordinator: Bobby April.

Analysis: The 62-year old April is one of the league’s special-teams coaching luminaries. Since coming to the NFL in 1991, April has been with Pittsburgh, New Orleans, Buffalo, Philadelphia and Oakland before joining the Jets this year. … K Nick Folk is 19-of-19 on extra points and 13 of 16 on field goals, including 2 of 2 from 50 yards or longer. … P Ryan Quigley is averaging a woeful 34.2 yards net, last in the NFL.

>    http://jacksonville.com/opinion/blog/544821/ryan-ohalloran/2015-11-04/jaguars-opponent-scouting-report-jets

[kelly]

Jaguars' Robinson to take trip to "Revis Island"

Jaguars receiver Allen Robinson is starting to make a reputation for himself in his second season.He can take a big step toward fortifying his place among the NFL’s top young receivers on Sunday.

Robinson will likely be matched up for the majority of his snaps against cornerback Darrelle Revis when the Jaguars (2-5) travel to face the New York Jets (4-3).The 30-year-old Revis has established himself as one of the league’s top cornerbacks over his nine-year career. Opposing receivers are known to be on “Revis Island” when guarded by the six-time Pro Bowl player.

Now, Robinson gets his turn.

“He’s a great player to go up against,” Robinson said. “Games like this are really special. I won’t think too much about it this week. I still have to prepare to make sure I’m ready for Sunday, but it’s a great opportunity.”

The 6-foot-3, 215-pound Robinson has a height advantage over Revis (5-11, 198). However, it’s Robinson’s speed that could give Revis the most difficulty.The 22-year-old Robinson has been a consistent, explosive threat for the Jaguars this season. He’s caught 34 passes for 586 yards and six touchdowns, averaging 17.2 yards a catch.

Robinson leads the NFL in catches of 20 yards or more with 14.

“Going into the season, I wanted to create more explosive plays for my team,” Robinson said. “Last year, I didn’t have too many plays over 20-plus yards. So, this has been cool.”As a rookie, Robinson played in 10 games before breaking his foot and missing the final six. He averaged 11.4 yards a catch (48 for 548) and managed two touchdowns. Robinson only had five catches 20 yards or longer.His development from a possession receiver to a playmaker in first-year offensive coordinator Greg Olson’s scheme has been a huge boost for the team.“I think that where he’s at mentally, I think that’s what’s stood out,” Jaguars coach Gus Bradley said. “I think he’s really playing with a lot of confidence right now and you’re seeing it on the field.”

Revis should be plenty motivated for the matchup.

The Jets lost at Oakland 34-20 on Sunday with Raiders quarterback Derek Carr routinely beating the secondary. Carr, a second-year veteran, completed 23 of 36 passes for 333 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions.Revis managed to contain Oakland’s sensational rookie receiver Amari Cooper, holding him to five catches for 46 yards on nine targets.Carr did most of his damage throwing to receiver Michael Crabtree, who had seven catches for 102 yards and a touchdown. Crabtree was usually covered by Jets cornerback Antonio Cromartie.

“Revis did follow Amari and Cromartie was on Crabtree for a decent amount,” Robinson said. “Watching their game against Oakland, they went a little zone, not too much zone. They mix it in a little bit. They’re a man-based defense.”Revis didn’t break up any passes against Oakland, but does have three interceptions and three fumble recoveries this season. In his career, Revis has picked off 26 passes and been credited with 126 break-ups.The Jets are 1-2 since their bye week, having allowed an average of 28 points a game in those three games. Opposing quarterbacks have thrown for 12 touchdowns and eight interceptions against the Jets this season.

Still, the Jets rank third in total defense, are tops against the run and are seventh against the pass.

“They’re talented across the board,” Bradley said. “Not just Revis, but Cromartie, their defensive line and linebackers, very talented so it will be a great opportunity. You talk about respect, Revis, you hold him in high regard, that’s a fact.”Robinson is heading for a Pro Bowl season. He’s on pace to gain 1,339 yards, which would rank as the third-highest total in franchise history. Robinson also needs five more touchdowns to set the franchise’s single-season record.Robinson will be fresh for the matchup, as he looks to extend his touchdown streak to four consecutive games. The Jaguars are coming off a bye week after defeating Buffalo 34-31 at London’s Wembley Stadium on Oct. 25.

“It was good to take [the stress] off the legs,” Robinson said. “I was able to get the rest I need that you can’t get in the course of a regular week.”

>      http://jacksonville.com/sports/football/jaguars/2015-11-03/story/jaguars-robinson-take-trip-revis-island

[kelly]

Special effects a dud: Jaguars' kicking game lacks in explosiveness so far

Punt returner Rashad Greene is sidelined for two more games and kick returner Corey Grant is out for the season.

Core players LaRoy Reynolds and John Lotulelei are in Chicago and on injured reserve, respectively.

Kicker Jason Myers is a rookie and punter Bryan Anger’s average is down two yards compared to last year.

Those developments left Jaguars special-teams coordinator Mike Mallory searching for answers during the team’s bye week.The Jaguars’ league ranking average in 10 special-teams categories is 22.1, and they don’t rank among the top 13 teams any of the sections.“[The bye] gave us time to step back, take a deep breath and analyze what we’ve done to this point,” Mallory said after practice Monday.As the Jaguars begin preparing for Sunday’s game against the New York Jets, here is a look at the special teams and the reasons for some of the struggles.

IMPACT INJURIES

The Jaguars entered the regular season committed to Greene on punt returns and Grant on kick returns. Greene has been out since a Week 2 thumb injury and Grant sustained a hip flexor injury in Week 6.The return game has been equal parts in flux and unproductive ever since. The Jaguars rank 27th returning punts (6.6) and 18th returning kicks (22.0).

Until Greene gets back, the Jaguars are expected to stick with the reliable Bryan Walters on punts.“I like Rashad’s confidence back there and I like that he can catch the ball and find the creases,” Mallory said. “He has good vision, good acceleration, was productive and it will be nice to have him back in the mix.

Against Buffalo, the Jaguars gave Nick Marshall the first shot, but he was replaced by Walters.Injuries and personnel decisions have played a part in the Jaguars identifying “core” special-teams player, those who play on both coverage and return units.Reynolds (37 special-teams snaps in Weeks 1-2) was waived, Lotulelei (106 snaps) sustained a concussion in Week 4 and Grant (98 snaps) is out.

The core players at this point are Demetrius McCray (123 snaps and three tackles), Bernard Pierce (112), Ryan Davis (112), Dan Skuta (108), Nic Jacobs (94), Thurston Armbrister (90), Clay Harbor (89) and Abry Jones (87).

New to the mix are Jordan Tripp (52 snaps in three games), signed from the practice squad, and Sergio Brown (52 snaps the last three games).“That’s the challenge with special teams — you’re changing personnel all the time,” coach Gus Bradley said. “With an injury, a guy is [moved up the depth chart] on offense and defense and that trickles down to special teams and you’re moving guys around.”

ANGER’S INCONSISTENCY

Anger is a free agent after the season and has nine games to prove he’s worth retaining. His 37.8-yard net average — the distance of the punt minus the return yardage — is 26th in the league.“He’s had some good hits and some hits we want back,” Mallory said. “It’s a matter of getting that consistency to where we feel it can be.”

Hang time, distance and coverage works together and there are several culprits for the Jaguars’ 28th-place ranking covering punts.Eight of the opponents’ 18 punt returns (44.4 percent) have gone for at least 10 yards and they’re averaging 14.4 yards per attempt.Mallory said the ideal hang time is 4.8 seconds for a 48-yard punt, 4.7 for a 47 yards and so on. On Anger’s 15 punts that measured between 40-49 yards and can be applied to that formula, seven have met that hang time criteria.

MYERS’ GROWING PAINS

The Jaguars were bold late in the preseason when they traded veteran Josh Scobee to Pittsburgh for a sixth-round pick, opening up the job for Myers.

Myers is 8-of-11 on field goals (two of his misses were game-winning attempts at Indianapolis), 15-of-18 on extra-points and has 19 touchbacks in 29 kickoff attempts.“I just feel like he has the mental makeup to be a guy who can last in the NFL,” Mallory said. “And he certainly has the leg talent. It’s a matter of getting that experience and growing. You hate to say it, but there will be some growing pains and learning. But the great thing is he’s very competitive and he’s always looking to make himself better.”

The three botched extra points — one apiece against Carolina, Houston and Buffalo — are concerning.

“It’s just a matter of staying true to his technique, swing and follow-through,” Mallory said. “There are times he puts it on his toe and it works right. It’s something he’s worked on and is aware of. Unlike when the extra point was at the 2-yard line [and is now at the 15-yard line], you really need your focus. You can’t just swing. You have to be locked in.”

Mallory is encouraged by Myers’ performance on kickoffs. His touchback percentage (65.5) is 14th in the league, 29 of his 32 attempts (not counting on-side attempts) have reached the end zone and the Jaguars are 14th covering kicks.The Jaguars’ opposing starting position of 20.7 is 14th in the league. The best starting point off a return allowed by the Jaguars is the 32-yard line (twice). Four times an opponent has returned a Myers kickoff out of the end zone and failed to reach the 20.“He kicks a coverable football and we’re getting better with our coverage,” Mallory said. “He has the ability to kick it out of the end zone — that’s the bar we’ve raised.”

The Jaguars made no changes during their bye week, but Mallory knows the special teams can change with one sprained ankle or pulled hamstring.“Part of the special-teams deal is that happens,” he said. “The thing we’ve tried to do is trust he guys we’ve developed and have been in our program, see how the new guys fit in and then play to their strengths.”

>      http://jacksonville.com/sports/football/jaguars/2015-11-03/story/special-effects-dud-jaguars-kicking-game-lacks

[kelly]

Rich Cimini ESPN Staff Writer 

Jaguars coach Gus Bradley, on a conference call with the NY media, said he will design different game plans for Ryan Fitzpatrick and Geno Smith. He said the QBs have "different mindsets." He praised Fitzpatrick for his understanding of the offense and how to attack defenses. He said Smith "plays with no fear. He'll take some chances." Both QBs, he said, are running threats.

>    http://espn.go.com/nfl/team/_/name/nyj/newyork-jets

[CrazyCarl40]

Allen Hurns could really burn us if he's matched up with Cro. He's an up and comer and Cro is on the downslide. That should be a matchup to watch.

[kelly]

Since last year's draft, Blake Bortles has borne all the expectations that come with being a quarterback taken with the No. 3 overall pick by the Jaguars, a franchise that hasn't had a winning season in eight years.

Bortles took over as Jacksonville's starter in Week 4 of his rookie season, and he took his knocks: a 3-10 record as a starter, 11 touchdown passes against 17 interceptions, a Total QBR of 25.22, which ranked dead last in the league among qualified starters.And even though the Jags are off to a 2-5 start this year, Bortles is getting better. And heading into Sunday's game at the Jets (4-3) at MetLife Stadium, star cornerback Darrelle Revis is among those who's noticed.

"He's improving," Revis said. "He seems more poised and more relaxed in the pocket."

It hasn't helped that Bortles hasn't had outstanding receivers or a great offensive line. His top target from a year ago, Cecil Shorts, made just 53 catches (and is now with the Texans). And Bortles was sacked a league-high 55 times as a rookie behind an offensive line ranked dead last in pass protection by Football Outsiders.This year, though, Bortles' Total QBR is a much better 61.4, and he's thrown 15 touchdowns versus just eight interceptions. He's got two receivers—Allen Robinson and Allen Hurd—with more than 30 catches and 500 yards receiving. And Bortles has also taken just 19 sacks, a pace that's much improved since last year.

Bortles also isn't afraid to take off and run: 23 carries for 146 yards.

The biggest thing Revis has noticed in Bortles' arm strength. The stats bear that out, too: Bortles has taken plenty of shots downfield—52 passes of more than 20 yards, per Pro Football Focus. And he's completed 19 of those for 635 yards and four touchdowns.

Bortles can therefore challenge a defense by stretching the field.

"I'll tell you one thing, his arm is—he's probably got one of the strongest arms in the league," Revis said. "He can make all the throws. Their passing attack is very vertical. I think it's because of his arm. He can throw."

>   http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2015/11/jets_darrelle_revis_sees_plenty_of_improvement_in.html#incart_river

[kelly]

Up next for the 4-3 Jets? The 2-5 Jaguars, whom they host on Sunday at MetLife Stadium. Kickoff is at 1 p.m.

Here's what you need to know about the Jags.

• Been a while. The Jaguars have been one of the league's bottom feeders for several years now. They haven't won more than five games since 2010, and they last had a winning season and made the playoffs in 2007.

• Bad drafts. One of the biggest reasons for the Jaguars' lack of success in recent years has been their inability to draft well even though they've regularly been picking at the top of the draft. Some of their recent first-round busts include quarterback Blaine Gabbert (2011), wide receiver Justin Blackmon (2012), and tackle Luke Joeckel (2013). And this year's top pick, defensive end Dante Fowler Jr., tore his ACL in May on the first day of rookie minicamp in May.

• Idzik! Former Jets general manager John Idzik, fired at the end of last season along with then-head coach Rex Ryan, is now an assistant GM with the Jaguars. We can confirm he's done talking.

• In the race. Though 2-5, the Jaguars are just one-half game out of first place in the brutal AFC South. And head coach Gus Bradley might have better job security than any coach in the division: The Colts' Chuck Pagano and the Texans' Bill O'Brien are both under fire, and the Titan's Ken Whisenhunt was fired on Tuesday.

• The Bradley File. Bradley, the Jags' head coach, won just seven games in his first two seasons after leaving the Seahawks, where he had been a successful defensive coordinator.

• Blake Bortles. Just three seasons after taking Gabbert in the first round, the Jaguars hit the reset button by selecting Bortles No. 3 overall. Bortles took his lumps with a league-worst Total QBR of 25.2 last season. This year, he's raised his game with a QBR of 61.4, which ranks 17th. He can also run it a bit—23 carries for 146 yards. But Bortles is only averaging 6.7 yards per passing attempt, has completed just 55.7 percent of his passes, and has been sacked 19 times.

* The receivers. Bortles has a couple of good ones in Allen Robinson and Allen Hurns, who are both in their second seasons. Robinson has 34 catches for 586 yards and six touchdowns, while Hurns has 31 catches for 513 yards and five touchdowns.

• How good is the offense? Football Outsiders ranks the Jags 19th overall in DVOA. Their pass offense ranks 13th, while their rushing offense is 29th. Running back T.J. Yeldon, a rookie second-round pick, averages 4.0 yards per carry.

• How good is the defense? The Jags are 18th overall in DVOA, per Football Outsiders, with the pass defense coming in at 28th and the rush defense at No. 4. The Jets, meanwhile, have not run the ball well in their last two games, both losses. Opponents have converted 46.94 percent of their third-downs against the Jags. Only the Giants (47.75 percent) and Ravens (47.86) have allowed opponents to convert at a better rate.

• Not many takeaways. The Jags have forced just seven turnovers this season, which puts them on a pace that's only slightly better than the league-worst 13 takeaways the Jets got last season. Only the Cowboys and Ravens, who both have four takeaways, have forced fewer turnovers this season than the Jaguars.

>     http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2015/11/10_things_jets_fans_should_know_about_jacksonville.html#incart_river

[Beerfish]

Thanks Idzik.

[kelly]

-- Sometimes the scouting reports are wrong, and that has turned out to be the case with Jacksonville Jaguars rookie running back T.J. Yeldon.

Reports on Yeldon coming out of Alabama were that, despite being 6-foot-1 and 225 pounds, he wasn’t good in pass protection and would be a liability on third downs. After a few days in pads the Jaguars found out that was bad information.

Yeldon has been pretty good in pass protection, and that’s the main reason he has quickly established himself as a three-down back."Coming out the evaluations of him is that he may not be a full-time back and especially in terms of his pass protection that he may not be able to handle the linebackers at this level," offensive coordinator Greg Olson said. "He’s a guy that’s been able to handle the load. We were going into the season thinking that he may not be our third-down back. Again, he proved that he can handle that responsibility and he’s done well."

Most young backs aren’t very good in pass protection, mainly because they haven’t had to do much of it. They certainly didn’t in high school because they were often the focal point of their team’s offense. They may have had to do some in college, but the proliferation of the spread offense has had an impact on that as well. Backs in the spread offense are catching passes more so than staying in to block.

Alabama, though, runs a pro-style offense and Yeldon said pass-blocking was a priority.

'That’s the first thing they told me: You’ve got to be able to pass block to get on the field," Yeldon said. "I took that in hand and I had Eddie [Lacy] and Jalston [Fowler] helping me out so I really just focused on that."Yeldon is the Jaguars’ leading rusher (406 yards) and also has caught 16 passes for 82 yards. But his work in pass protection is what head coach Gus Bradley raves about.

"He’s been very good," Bradley said. "I keep going back to protection. He’s a three-down back in the NFL in his first year. He’s doing a great job of it."

>    http://espn.go.com/blog/jacksonville-jaguars/post/_/id/15338/jaguars-keep-raving-about-t-j-yeldons-pass-blocking-ability

[Ex-Rex]

 The Jets’ seven sacks allowed are fewest in the league. And it could be two less if Geno Smith knew enough to throw the ball away.

[kelly]

Rich Cimini ESPN Staff Writer 

Jets QB Ryan Fitzpatrick, he of the ailing left thumb, is practicing for the second straight day. No surprise there. The big question is, who will be snapping him the ball? It looks like C Nick Mangold, out last week with a neck injury, will miss yet another practice, but he did some snapping to Fitzpatrick in a QB-C drill. It's more than he did yesterday. It looks like S Calvin Pryor (ankle) will miss his second straight game.

>   http://espn.go.com/nfl/team/_/name/nyj/newyork-jets

[kelly]

-- Jacksonville Jaguars receiver Allen Hurns has been looking forward to Sunday’s game against the New York Jets.

He doesn’t have a grudge against the Jets for bypassing him in the draft or because of anything that happened in the pre-draft process. Hurns wants to see firsthand how good cornerback Darrelle Revis is -- and find out how he measures up against one of the best defensive backs to ever play the game."When you’re in college you look at these guys like, yeah, they’re pretty good guys, but for you to compete against them, that’s part of the reason I wanted to come to the NFL," Hurns said. "You’ve got to love the competition, especially as a receiver."

The Jaguars’ chances of winning at MetLife Stadium depend largely on how Hurns, the rest of the receivers and quarterback Blake Bortles manage against Revis and Antonio Cromartie, the Jets’ other starting cornerback. The Jaguars’ running game is still inconsistent and the Jets have the league’s top-ranked rush defense led by defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson, one of the league’s top young players.Two weeks ago the New England Patriots called just five running plays and threw 54 passes in a 30-23 victory against the Jets. The Jaguars aren’t going to abandon the run like that, but Bortles, Hurns and Allen Robinson have to have success to give them a chance to win.

That starts with winning one-on-one battles against Revis.

For Bortles, that means being tight with his throws. Revis doesn’t allow for much margin for error. Something even a foot off could get knocked down or intercepted."The biggest thing is timing and accuracy," said Bortles, whose 55.7 completion percentage ranks 30th among qualified quarterbacks. "It’s definitely important every week and it’s certainly important this week with two experienced guys on both sides. I think it’ll have to be good, quick decision-making and getting an accurate ball there on time."

Bortles has been better against the blitz this season (55.3 percent completions, seven TDs, two INTs, 69.8 QBR) than as a rookie (50.4 percent completions, two TDs, six INTs, 13.8 QBR) and has also improved in his downfield passing. He has already surpassed his completions and attempts and matched his touchdown total on throws traveling 15 or more yards downfield. He threw five interceptions on those passes last season but has only two through seven games.

Revis said he’s noticed a difference in Bortles and said the Jets have to be sure to stay in coverage when a play breaks down.

"He seems more poised and more relaxed in the pocket," Revis said. "I will tell you one thing: his arm, he probably has got one of the strongest arms in the league. He scrambles a lot and he can throw, even scrambling. You can tell he can make all the throws."

According to ESPN Stats & Information, the Jets are the NFL’s best team when it comes to defending wide receivers. The Jets are allowing opponents to complete 53.3 percent of throws to wide receivers, which ranks first in the league, and they have intercepted seven passes (tied for second in the NFL) while allowing only four touchdowns on throws to receivers.Hurns said the Jaguars' receivers have to avoid getting frustrated, especially if they’re being covered by Revis. He also said the Jaguars shouldn’t be afraid to challenge Revis, either.

"I’m very confident in the guys we’ve got in this offense right here," said Hurns, who has 31 catches for 513 yards and five touchdowns. "We’re going to put in the work throughout the week and we’re going to treat it like any other week. We know we’ve got to come and play but that’s part of it. Like I said, we live for moments like this as far as going against guys like that.

"But I hope we don’t shy away from him because I want to see where we are."

>  http://espn.go.com/blog/jacksonville-jaguars/post/_/id/15348/darrelle-revis-a-measuring-stick-for-jaguars-passing-game-qb-blake-bortles

[kelly]

Here's a look at three key matchups that could determine the outcome of Sunday's game between the Jets and Jaguars at MetLife Stadium: 

Jets CB Darrelle Revis vs. Jaguars WRs Allen Robinson, Allen Hurns

It's not clear which of these young receivers Revis will cover. They are both big-bodied second-year pros. Robinson was a second-round draft pick out of Penn State. Hurns went undrafted out of Miami. Both are listed at 6-foot-3. Robinson is 215 pounds, and has 10 pounds on Hurns. Their numbers this season are similar. Robinson has 34 catches for 586 yards and six touchdowns. Hurns has 31 catches for 513 yards and five touchdowns. Robinson has 69 targets this year, compared to Hurns' 51. One (or perhaps both) will get a chance to match up with a generational talent in Revis, who limited another skilled young receiver, Oakland's Amari Cooper, to five catches for 46 yards and no touchdowns last week. 

Jets defensive front vs. Jaguars QB Blake Bortles

The Jets haven't been getting a lot of pressure on quarterbacks recently, but that's because they're getting the ball out. Bortles doesn't mind standing in the pocket and slinging the ball down the field. Could this mean more opportunities for the Jets to pressure him? Bortles ranks eighth in the NFL with a 2.72-second average time in the pocket, according to Pro Football Focus. He's fifth in average time from snap to pass attempt (2.64 seconds). He is a more poised player this season, as a second-year pro. His mobility makes him dangerous, but not really as a scrambler. "[Bortles] buys a lot of time," said Buster Skrine, the Jets' slot cornerback. "He definitely stands back there. He's good with his feet, avoiding blitzes. The thing he's good at is, a lot of quarterbacks take off running, and they take off running to go downfield. He'll take off running to pass. So you've got to just stay in coverage and contain him. He has a strong arm. He can throw any route. I consider him a gunslinger. When he scrambles, he's looking to throw it." 

Jets RB Chris Ivory vs. Jaguars defensive front

The Jaguars have the NFL's best rushing defense, in terms of yards per carry allowed (3.52). The Jets need to reestablish Ivory, their bruising back. Two games ago, he was limited by hamstring tightness in a loss at New England. In last week's loss at Oakland, the Jets had to throw to catch up, so they could never really get Ivory going. Over those two games, Ivory carried 32 times for 58 yards (1.8 per carry) and zero touchdowns. He said part of the issue recently has been some missed assignments by the Jets' offensive line. In the previous two games, wins over Washington and Miami, Ivory had 49 carries for 312 yards (6.4 per carry) and two touchdowns. He's not going to run for 150 yards every game. But the Jets need him to do better than 30 or 40. 

>    http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2015/11/3_key_jets_matchups_vs_jacksonville_jaguars_includ.html#incart_river

[kelly]

After two straight losses, the Jets this week host the Jaguars, who are 2-5 in their third season under coach Gus Bradley, and haven't had a winning record since 2007.Because the Jets and Jaguars play somewhat irregularly — they most recently met in 2009, 2011, and 2012 — we decided to get an expert's take on them.So we turned to the estimable Ryan O'Halloran, who covers the Jaguars for The Florida Times-Union in Jacksonville. This is his fourth season on the Jaguars beat, and his 12th season covering the NFL. 

You can find Ryan's work right here. And if you're into the shorter missives thing, you can follow him on Twitter here. 

Now, on to our questions, and his answers. 

What are some of the specific areas that you and the Jaguars' coaches have seen quarterback Blake Bortles progress from Year 1 to Year 2? 

"There are several reasons why the Jaguars should be encouraged with Bortles' play this year. The big thing is his play-making ability. He's on pace for more than 30 touchdowns and about 16 interceptions, the kind of ratio coaches were hoping to get from No. 5 entering the year. He's not afraid to throw it downfield (which is why his completion percentage is a not-great 58 percent); he has the athleticism to extend the play, to throw or scramble for the first down; and he's grown as a leader. A key for Bortles is eliminating the Pick Six. He has six in his career and three this year."  

Gus Bradley is now 9-30 in two-plus seasons as the Jaguars' head coach. What is your sense for owner Shad Khan's patience with Bradley's rebuilding job? This seems like an XXL important home stretch of 2015 for Bradley. Any way he gets pink-slipped when it's all said and done? 

"A day before the XXXXL win over Buffalo in London, Khan said he would not make any in-season changes. But this remains an important final seven games for Bradley in particular because it would be hard to justify keeping a coach in place who was 4-12, 3-13, and then wins only two or three games in his third year. That said, playing a schedule that includes two games against a Tennessee team in disarray will help Bradley's status. I would be surprised if the season falls apart to the point where a change in the head coach's office is made." 

As Jets fans know, general manager John Idzik was turfed after just two seasons on the job. He's since landed a job (special assistant to the GM) in Jacksonville. What exactly does Idzik do? How much does he have GM David Caldwell's ear? Idzik's job title seems nebulous, so what's your sense for his actual value within the organization, in terms of making a difference? 

"Working within an organization that is transparent and makes all of the key decision makers available for interviews, Idzik stands out ... because he isn't available. He hasn't done any interviews since he was hired here in March. Caldwell describes Idzik's role as part advance scouting, part college scouting, part salary cap projection, part consultant on personnel. I think Idzik played a bigger role in the offseason in the constructing of free-agent contracts than he has in the building of the roster."  

So far, running back T.J. Yeldon looks like a solid draft pick for the Jaguars. Why has he been able to acclimate to the NFL so quickly? Any typical rookie hurdles that he's overcome faster than you and/or the Jaguars' coaches had expected? 

"Before the draft, the Jaguars graded Yeldon closer to Todd Gurley/Melvin Gordon than any other running back available, which is why they took him in the second round. And he's been solid, averaging 4 yards per carry, catching 16 passes, and serving as an excellent pass protector. A key thing for Yeldon's transition is three-fold: 1. He's talented. 2. He played in a pro-style system at Alabama that asked him to run the same plays he is with the Jaguars. 3. Running backs coach Kelly Skipper, new to the staff this year, has a reputation for elevating the play of young backs. I think the offense goes as Yeldon goes."

It's yeoman's duty for any team to cover Brandon Marshall on a consistent basis. How do you envision the Jaguars doing it? Lots of double teams? Anybody in that secondary who can cover him one-on-one? 

"The Jaguars' secondary has been in flux recently. They're the only NFL team without an interception by a defensive back. Two weeks ago, Davon House would have been assigned to Marshall and probably followed him around the field. But after the Jaguars' loss to Houston, House was demoted to a sub-package role and third-year corner Dwayne Gratz got the start against Buffalo ... and struggled mightily, giving up two touchdowns. If I'm the Jaguars, I have second-year corner Aaron Colvin shadow Marshall in regular personnel, and then put House against Marshall in nickel situations (when Colvin moves inside to the slot) if he stays outside. The Jaguars made a mistake in not giving House more help against the Texans' DeAndre Hopkins in Week 6. Hopkins had 10 catches for 148 yards and two touchdowns. They might give help on Marshall if he starts quickly." 

>       http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2015/11/so_what_exactly_does_ex-jets_general_manager_john.html#incart_river

[kelly]

-- It has been nearly two years since the Jacksonville Jaguars last won a game on the road.

Since beating the Cleveland Browns 32-28 at FirstEnergy Stadium on Dec. 1, 2013, the Jaguars have lost 12 consecutive road games, which is the longest active streak in the NFL. The team with the next-closest streak is Washington, which has lost seven road games in a row.

The Jaguars’ next chance to snap their streak is Sunday against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium.

"We have to be able to compete at a high level in any environment," linebacker Paul Posluszny said. "That means going on the road and have success there. To be a successful team, we need to be able to do that."

During the Jaguars’ 12-game road losing streak, they’ve been beaten by an average of 14.8 points per game. That includes a 31-point loss at Washington last season and a 34-point loss at New England in September. Nine of the 12 losses have been by double digits."I’m not thinking about that," safety Johnathan Cyprien said. "I’m thinking about winning games and the next game. I just think about the streak of how many wins we can get. Obviously we haven’t had the best record the past two years, so for me to think about if we’re winning or losing them at home is irrelevant. I just worry about following the process to ultimately achieve victory in our games."

The Jaguars (2-5) are seven-point underdogs to the Jets (4-3), and they’re facing the league’s top-ranked rush defense and a future Hall of Famer in cornerback Darrelle Revis. That means it won’t be an easy task to snap the streak.

Posluszny said the best way to do it is for the Jaguars to block out everything except their job on the field.

"Let’s take advantage of our opportunity and once we get in that environment, ball is ball," Posluszny said. "We can’t worry about the New York Jets crowd or anything like that. Once we get there, everything should be completely focused on football. Nothing else, and just know that we just need to line up and play just like we have done all week long."

>    http://espn.go.com/blog/jacksonville-jaguars/post/_/id/15359/jaguars-trying-to-snap-an-nfl-high-12-game-road-losing-streak

[papz187]

That's funny, first we get Idzik coming back with his crap team (al be it they're improving), then less than a week later Rex returns with his regressing team lol

I forgot Idzik is with Jacksonville, so that means London got to watch the Idzik/Rex grudge match a few weeks ago.....lucky them

Sent from my SM-N915T using Tapatalk

[drdetroit]

What exactly is Idzik doing for the Jaguars besides taking orders to Starbucks?

[drdetroit]

Allen Hurns could really burn us if he's matched up with Cro. He's an up and comer and Cro is on the downslide. That should be a matchup to watch.

I think it will be a competitive game but we will win in solid fashion just like the Schotty-bowl in 2012.

 

Btw, things not lookin too good for Schitty at UGA.  Pretty soon he might find himself expelled from D-1 college fb in addition to the NFL.

[kelly]

Rich Cimini ESPN Staff Writer 

Mostly good news on the Jets' injury front: C Nick Mangold (neck) and WR Eric Decker (knee) practiced fully and are listed as probable. WR Brandon Marshall (toe/ankle) is questionable, although Todd Bowles remains hopeful Marshall will play. G Willie Colon (knee) and CB Buster Skrine (shoulder) are questionable, but look for them to play. As expected, S Calvin Pryor (ankle) is out.

 >   http://espn.go.com/nfl/team/_/name/nyj/newyork-jets

[kelly]

-- Jacksonville Jaguars left Zane Beadles might be questionable on the injury report with a foot injury, but he’s planning on playing on Sunday against the New York Jets.

"If we played today, I’d be confident to go, so by Sunday I feel really good about it," Beadles said.

Beadles suffered a sprained fascia -- the ligament that attaches the heel to the toes -- in his right foot in the Jaguars’ 34-31 victory against Buffalo on Oct. 25. He had been dealing with soreness in the ligament for several weeks, but aggravated it against the Bills during the team’s four goal-line plays early in the second half.

Beadles had the bye week to rest. He didn’t practice on Wednesday and was limited on Thursday. He said his foot felt pretty good Friday morning, which he took to be confirmation that he would be in the lineup against the Jets."Yesterday was the most volume I’ve had up to this point and [it] felt the best this morning that it has all week as far as the mornings go," Beadles said. "The combination of those two things is a pretty telling thing for me [about playing]."

Beadles has played in every game since the Denver Broncos drafted him in the second round in 2010 out of Utah. He made the Pro Bowl in 2012.

The rest of the Jaguars’ Friday injury report:

Safety Josh Evans (groin), receiver Allen Hurns (thigh/ankle), and tight end Julius Thomas (abdomen) are probable.

Safety James Sample (shoulder) is questionable.

Receiver Marqise Lee (hamstring) is doubtful.

>      http://espn.go.com/blog/jacksonville-jaguars/post/_/id/15377/zane-beadles-questionable-julius-thomas-probable-for-jaguars-on-sunday

[Larz]

idzik did a great job as the hatchett man

he was the 2 bobs

 

[TheMagicRat]

Surprisingly, Marqise Lee has done nothing in the NFL thus far.

[kelly]

-- Things change quickly with a couple of losses.

The New York Jets were 4-1 after an Oct. 18 victory over Washington. People were impressed with the way they had stifled their opponents defensively, and were wondering whether the Jets, under new coach Todd Bowles, could mount a challenge to the mighty New England Patriots in the AFC East.But then the Jets lost to the Patriots, and they followed that with an ugly loss to the Oakland Raiders. Now they are 4-3 and looking to get back on the winning track against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday, followed by a short week of work before facing the Buffalo Bills on a Thursday night.

"We have two games in five or six days, so it's important for us to go out here and get this win," linebacker Calvin Pace said Friday. "It's not going to be easy -- a Jacksonville team that got the win against Buffalo, had a bye week, so they got some time to rest some guys up, put some new stuff in."

Pace, a 13-year veteran, was asked if the Jets have a renewed sense of urgency after the two losses."I think we've been urgent since the season started," he said. "A lot of people talk about a sense of urgency -- if you're not urgent in the NFL, you won't have a shot at playing in the playoffs."

Offensive lineman Willie Colon said he did notice a more serious mood in practice this week."I think the focus was definitely here this week. You felt it," Colon said. "I think guys understand the situation we're in, and the urgency's high. ... Jacksonville's next and we've got to give them all our attention."

Bowles said the Jets had a good week of practice, but he said he thought they had practiced well last week, as well -- and then they came up with a stinker against Oakland. This week, the Jets practiced in pads Wednesday for the first time in a few weeks, Bowles said, as they tried to work on their tackling, which was shoddy in the loss to the Raiders.

Bowles said November is a crucial month for teams with playoff aspirations."Everybody's gotten the kinks out of the way in September," Bowles said. "October, you try and focus on what you are. Then, November, you want to see if you got a shot. And you've got to win those games in November."

>     http://espn.go.com/blog/newyork-jets/post/_/id/55832/jets-eager-to-end-skid-start-busy-week-with-victory-over-jaguars

[kelly]

 -- Pro Bowl center Nick Mangold practiced fully on Friday and is listed as probable for the New York Jets' home game against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday.

"I had a good day today," Mangold told reporters after practice.

Mangold missed the Jets' loss in Oakland on Sunday because of a neck injury he suffered the previous week in the loss to New England. It was only the fourth game in his 10 NFL seasons that Mangold had missed.

Receiver Brandon Marshall (ankle, toe) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game.

"He's gotta get a little better," Jets coach Todd Bowles said, "but I'm hopeful that he will."

Mangold, 31, didn't want to reveal much about his neck on Friday, at one point quipping, "It's a neck. It attaches the head to the body." But eventually he revealed that the injury is "ongoing" and said he has no lingering concern.

"There's always concern any time you step on the field, because anything can happen," he said, "so you've got to have a clear mind doing it."

Mangold, who practiced Thursday for the first time since the injury, said he won't wear a brace because he needs to be able to turn his head around and see the defense. "A brace would be a hindrance," he said.

The Jets have lost two straight games. Their starting a quarterback, Ryan Fitzpatrick, will play Sunday despite a torn thumb ligament in his nonthrowing hand. With Mangold's return, the Jets are also hoping right guard Willie Colon (knee) will be able to play and the entire starting offensive line will be intact to protect Fitzpatrick and open holes for running back Chris Ivory.

On Thursday Ivory had said the line had missed some assignments in the Oakland game. Mangold and Colon agreed with Ivory's assessment."I felt like what he said was accurate, and we back his comment," Colon said. "We've just got to step our game up to make sure we get him going a lot faster."

"We've got to clean things up," Mangold said. "And we've got to make sure we're good on our execution, and it takes all 11 guys doing the right thing at the same time."

Besides Mangold, wide receiver Eric Decker (knee) also practiced fully and is probable against Jacksonville. Marshall, Colon and defensive back Buster Skrine (finger, shoulder) were limited in practice and are listed as questionable.

>     http://espn.go.com/newyork/nfl/story/_/id/14069204/nick-mangold-newyork-jets-practices-fully