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Weird, Disjointed Win Lifts Jags To 5-4
Commentary By Channel 4 Sports Director Sam Kouvaris
Published On: Oct 14 2011 12:01:15 PM EDT Updated On: Nov 16 2009 09:13:03 AM ESTIt?s one of the weirdest, most disjointed games I?ve ever seen the Jaguars play. They looked in control and completely out of it almost at the same time.
The scored on three of their first four possessions, but then didn?t have a first down in the second half until the final drive of the game. Maurice Jones Drew was gouging the Jets in the first half but couldn?t get going in the second.
They scored on their first possession after a Rashean Mathis interception, but then attempted an onside kick to kill the momentum. And that end of game stuff! Plenty of heroics to go around. When the Jets wanted to let the Jaguars score to get the ball back, MJD took a knee at the one to keep the clock running.
Apparently they called that play from the sidelines and Maurice executed it perfectly. But after being in control of the clock, the coaching staff chose to kneel on the ball a couple of times before setting up a game winning field goal by Josh Scobee. Good coaching if it works, and it did. Pretty stupid if it doesn?t, but that?s just speculation.
The Jaguars win 24-22.
That sequence with Quentin Groves interception followed by him falling down short of the goal line, the fumble by David Garrard and MJD and the forced fumble by Rashean on Braylon Edwards was just a bunch of wild emotions.
I?ve said all along the Jaguars need a concerted team effort to get a win, and this one was just that. They got big plays on both sides of the ball; they got solid play from veterans and rookies. They looked like they were into it, emotionally and physically.
I saw Russell Allen in the game replacing Clint Ingram at linebacker. That fired up Ingram and he played like a wild man when he got back on the field.
I still would like the Jaguars to play with more emotion but it was up a notch a bit this week.
Garrard was very effective in the final drive going four of six and had a big throw to Mike Thomas and another one to Marcedes Lewis. Those kinds of drive are the defining moments in a quarterback?s career.
Garrard hasn?t had enough of them, but getting his second comeback win of the year on the final drive sure will give his teammates some confidence.
This week, Del Rio?s message got to his players. He wanted them to think of it as a playoff game. He wanted them focused and ready and they were just that. When he connects with his team, Jack is getting good performances out of them. They?ve won two straight and they?re facing an outmanned Buffalo team at home this Sunday. In fact, three of the next four games are at home, the only road game being in two weeks against San Francisco.
In the CBS post-game show, Bill Cowher told fans in Jacksonville to support the team. ?Fans need to support the Jaguars in Jacksonville. They?re putting together a good team and fans should come out.?
Charley Casserly, who they call their ?CBS NFL Today GM,? named Jack Del Rio as the ?Coach of the Year? so far.
?They were supposed to start 0-4,? the former Redskins GM said. ?They?re a playoff contender so give Del Rio credit.?
High praise for a coach who?s team does have a better-than-expected record but who?s also gotten hammered in three of their four losses.
Who knows? I say just enjoy the ride.
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Copyright 2011 by News4Jax.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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