Jaguars vs. Ravens: Who Is Going To Win The Battle In The Trenches
By Larry Brake
Jacksonville is going to face a tough Baltimore Ravens defense in London. The Jacksonville Jaguars offensive line must win the battle in the trenches.
The Jacksonville Jaguars offensive line is going to face a tough Baltimore Ravens front seven. The Jaguars must aggressively run the football. In order to win, Jacksonville has to win the battle in the trenches.
Many fans wondered how good the line would be due to the sudden retirement of Branden Allen. Cam Robinson became the starting left tackle. The right side of the line struggled throughout the preseason.
Remember that the Jaguars ran the ball effectively in week one. Jacksonville rushed for 155 net yards. Most of all, Blake Bortles was not sacked. It appeared that all was well upfront.
Last week, the Tennessee Titans stuffed Jacksonville’s running attack. From 155 yards to 99 yards, caused the Jaguars faithful to question the effectiveness of the offense. This week the o-line must aggressively attack Baltimore from start to finish.
Really, how good is the Jaguars offensive line? Will they be able to handle the Ravens defensive onslaught? Let’s take a closer look.
Jacksonville Could Win The Battle In The Trenches
First, the football analytic site, footballoutsiders.com, ranks Jacksonville’s offensive line in the top ten in the NFL. Currently, the Jaguars are ranked ninth in run blocking and are ranked fourth in pass protection. They have given up two sacks while the NFL average is giving up 5 sacks after two games.
Next, Baltimore has recorded eight sacks compared to the Jaguars recording ten. Brandon Williams, the Ravens run stuffer, will not play. Injuries will hamper the Ravens effort, maybe the Jaguars will be able to take advantage.
Finally, expect the game to a defensive battle. Consequently, turnovers will determine the winner. Protecting Blake Bortles is priority number one. Bortles has the propensity to throw interceptions when rushed.
The Jaguars offensive line must win between the tackles to establish the running attack. If Jacksonville can control the line of scrimmage, they have a golden opportunity to win the game.