Jaguars vs Eagles Preseason results… Boooringgg

I should not write this article. All of my sarcastic impulses are running wild. It was too easy to see the bad, but you had to squint and look out of the side of your eye to see the good. Of course, I am only talking about the starters role in this game. Third down efficiency? 0-3 in the first half. 0-9 in the game. After the Eagles pulled their starters, things always look fun, but seriously, that isn’t what we need to focus on. The starters were not ready.

"It wasn’t what we need at all. Couldn’t run it, didn’t convert.Things didn’t go well early for us, sputtered a little offensively, and defensively didn’t make plays that we need to make. Not the kind of start we want, but I like the way we finished the half– Jack Del Rio"

"We didn’t start off the way we wanted to, but there are a lot of positives we can take from this and there’s some negatives that we’ll get a chance to work on a little bit.– Kirk Morrison"

"It’s been awhile. Obviously we still have a long way to go. We’ve got four games to get that rust off so we’re coming out rolling and ready for the opener.– Marcedes Lewis"

Ok, let me get it out. A stupidity has descended upon the Jaguar organization. They need to wake up real soon.  Here are some examples of the dumbness I heard:

• Anthony Smith will beat Reggie Nelson out for a starting spot.
• Don Carey is good enough to replace Rashean Mathis
• Derek Cox is a solid corner back 
• Justin Durant is fighting for a spot with Russell Allen
• Vince Manuwai isn’t good enough for a starting job
• That wide receiver screen will work

OK. First of all if there was any bright spot in the first half it was Reggie Nelson. He played like a man on fire. He wrapped people up and broke up passes. Reggie had 3 tackles in the first half. Anthony Smith had 0. Reggie looked to me to be everywhere doing everything. He and Rashean Mathis had a communication going on.

When Anthony Smith started, Kevin Kolb had no problem finding guys open 15 – 20 yards over the middle. We know Kirk Morrison is not a cover guy. He is a rushing and run stopping guy. Passes over Kirk and before Anthony Smith were simply too easy.

Derek Cox was beaten by Riley Cooper. Riley Cooper is a very good receiver that didn’t belong in the fifth round. The Eagles were very smart to pick him up. Derek Cox was a step behind him. Then DeSean Jackson left Derek Cox examining the grass as he lept over him.  Derek Cox needs to wake up fast.

Justin Durant is a qualiy linebacker and better be a starter from here on out.

Last year Maurice Jones Drew ran for almost 1,400 yards. Today, the Jaguars ran for 2 yards in the first half. Vince Manuwai is a run blocker and needs to get healthy and in the game. Not saying MJD should have had more yards, just the Jaguars are a running team and didn’t show it tonight.

I have seen girl softball pitchers throw with more velocity than David Garrard did tonight. His football was filled with helium and it floated out there.

"We’ve got to do a better job of getting first downs and keeping the offense on the field. They did a good job of stopping us at times, but I thnk a lot of times we were stopping ourselves. We’ve just got to continue to get better at that, and just getting first downs period. – David Garrard"

Dirk Koetter loves this stupid wide receiver screen play that never goes anywhere. I think I saw it 5 times in the first half. After the first quarter, the Jaguars had somewhere around 14 total yards. I’m surprised it was that much. Was it bad play calling or bad execution?.

The Jaguars simply were so outclassed by the Eagle starters. I know Eugene Monroe and Aaron Kampman and Tyson Alualu were not in the game. I don’t think it would matter. You weren’t supposed to run on the Jaguars but the Eagles did. They amassed over 300 yards in the first half. Seriously, what were we seeing out there?

OK, I give up. I always write a review like this after the first preseason game and things are never this bad. I did like the defensive line. Even though it was the same folks as last year, they looked more aggressive. They will be better and the Jaguars will be better. They have to be or it will be an 0-16 season. Same thing I wrote last year at this time.

Jack Del Rio was disappointed at half during the interview. He should have been. This was a real bad start and a wake up call.

Next week Miami comes to town and we will see it in person. Until then, please no Luke McCown should start debate. Let that mindless discussion happen elsewhere. This team needs to regroup and wake up. The 2010 season is here.

– Terry O’Brien