jays52

The goal of this thread is for us to take a look at what the Jaguars are as a team. I'd love to see people on here take a personell grouping, do a little breakdown, talk about what they do well, what they don't do well, who are the standouts, how they can be countered ect...

I'll start by taking a look at the Jaguars main strength defensively, their D-Line. Here's what I have gleaned through what I have seen of them so far. I will expand on this once the NFL network plays the GOTW later this week and I can really sit down with a pad and pen and break it down.

Sheme: A base 43 defense in the mold of the Baltimore 43 while Del Rio was their coordinator. The emphasis is first on stopping the run by setting a LOS and allowing the backers to roam. They are not a 1-gap or 3-technique team like Indy, Chicago or Tampa. Similar to Philly but with less stunting and zone-drops. The defense is based upon the tackles Henderson and Meier. They are long, powerful linemen very similar in build to Seymour and Warren. Their primary responsibilty in run is to 2-gap and free up the athletic linebackers. In pass, they use their strength and height to their advantage. They can collapse the pocket from inside with their power and their height leads to batted balls. The tackles are flanked by ends Spicer and Hayward. Both are prototypical 43 defensive ends in the 6'5 270-290 range. In run, they are responsible for setting an edge and allowing the Sam or Will to persue outside or play the C and D gaps. In pass, they are your standard 43 ends. They get upfield and are strong enough to press the tackles or ends into the quarterback in contain.

Sub-Packages I don't have enough knowledge yet to accurately break their sub-sets down. More to come later in the week.

Strengths They're big, powerful and play with good technique. They are very stout against the run when they execute 2-gap responsibilities. The tackles can be dominant. The ends set the edge and allow their help to arrive. They are good at forcing runs inside and sealing the A and B gaps. They use their length to extend blockers and enable the defenders to get good reads. Their length also enables them to put their hands up and be disruptive in the passing game. The interior power of the defense can collapse the pocket. When playing well, they are nearly impossible to run directly at.

Weaknesses They're not overly active or explosive. Good blocking technique in the passing game can negate their power moves. They rarely get in the backfield on run plays because of schematic emphasis. Once the run passes them, they are not a threat in persuit. The outside counter-trey or offtackle pulling game can exploit their lack of speed. With Strout out, The Pats can game-plan to focus on and negate Henderson. Because of their size and emphasis on power, a pop pass or screen game can force them into lateral persuit situations and wear them out over time. They take time in getting to the passer, facilitating 3, 5 and 7 step drop and gun oriented passing.


More to come later in the week...

TripleOption

Uhh..what? Where do you get that from? You're claiming they two gap and don't play with a 3 tech? In a 4-3 Miami front?

__________________
"Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity."

--Robert J. Hanlon

PatsFaninAZ

I have a question about the team. Why does everyone pronounce it JAG-WIRES.

The team name is the feline animal, right? So it would be JAG-WAHR. Or, if feeling snooty, JAG-YOO-ARE.

WTF is a Jagwire and why does everyone call them that? Is it just that football people are usually very dumb? Is there any other team in professional sports where there is a media and fan wide conspiracy to sound stupid?

And what is "thine"?

jays52

That's not what I was trying to convey. By 3-technique I assume we're talking about lining up in the b-gap shaded to the guard, correct? That's typically an upfield, penetrating alignment, correct? I mean it is a 4-3, that is where the tackles usually lineup. I was implying they are 2-gapping not shooting or stunting like the UMiami 43.

TripleOption

A 3 tech plays on the outside shoulder of the Guard. You cannot 2 gap from this position.

Where did you discern that the Jags 2 Gap?

__________________
"Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity."

--Robert J. Hanlon

jays52

Right. That was the alignment I was talking about. I saw that by watching how they play gun. Albeit a limited data sample, I saw the tackles deliberately trying to engage two blockers and free up the linebackers. Just because they don't have a nose with a-gap responsibilities doesn't mean they don't 2-gap. Am I wrong in this assumption? What do you think they do, coach?

TripleOption

I can only think of two TRUE 2 gap systems in the NFL, both of them 3-4 Defenses (Pats and jets)...what you saw may have been a designed front to free up LB's, possibly so they can scrape when Vice broke...they were likely coached NOT to go upfield and create seams for Young to exploit.

They've always struck me as a 4-3 team that runs some 46, Haynesworth is impossible to block(when he wants to play) and their Ends are good.

__________________
"Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity."

--Robert J. Hanlon

cstjohn17

Good old gap talk... this is a very solid team and even though they are boring as hell but Jones-Drew provides big play potential as a runner, receiver and returner (disclaimer: I loved the kid out of college, one of the most exciting players I can remember).

Here are the play by play breakdowns of the last two matchups, obviously the personnel is different but it appears the Patriots used a lot of short passes to move the ball. I expect the same with the occasional shot down the field to 81 , as the Dline tires runs will be mixed in later in the 3rd and 4th quarters.

Wilcard 2005
http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/playby...&override=true

Week 16 2006
http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/playby...&override=true

TripleOption

I know the Pats can 2 gap from a 4 man line, but I would doubt they do it with shade alignments...picture a guy on the outside shoulder of the Guard with A and B gap responsibilities, it's impossible.

__________________
"Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity."

--Robert J. Hanlon

TripleOption

BTW, a 1 tech in the 4-3 is supposed to create a double team by the Guard and Tackle.

I just watched the big sack on Rivers, that looked like a 46 front to me.

__________________
"Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity."

--Robert J. Hanlon