Story by
Jacksonville Jaguars review: Running game, defense solid; only one issue of concern
- Story by
- Jacksonville Jaguars review: Running game, defense solid; only one issue of concern
Following every J acksonville Jaguars game, I will analyze the video and crunch the numbers to come up with 10 thoughts:
1. Balanced playing time
The numbers are skewed because the Jaguars were in control of Carolina in the second half of an eventual 26-10 win , but the coaching staff did well by spreading out the snap counts.
Advertisement
On offense, among skill-position players, receiver Brian Thomas Jr. (57 of 66) and tight end Brenton Strange (52) and receivers Dyami Brown (47) and Travis Hunter (42) and running back Travis Etienne (40) topped the chart . But six other players played at least six snaps.
On defense, linebacker Foye Oluokun and cornerbacks Tyson Campbell and Jourdan Lewis played all 64 snaps and safeties Andrew Wingard (63) and Eric Murray (62) were next. But a whopping 13 players played between 12-49 snaps.
2. Penalty issues
The Jaguars won a game in which they committed at least 10 penalties (11 for 93 yards) for the first time since Oct. 20, 2019 (27-17 win at Cincinnati when they had 11 penalties for 130 yards).
Advertisement
Holding was a particular issue for the offense — Mundt, Brown, center Robert Hainsey and right guard Patrick Mekari were all booked.
Kicker Cam Little had one kickoff go out of bounds and one kickoff fall short of the landing zone, allowing Carolina to start two drives at its 40-yard line. The Panthers didn't capitalize (fumble and lost on downs).
MORE FROM O'HALLORAN: How Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence's OK stats turn into a successful 2025 debut
3. Applying pressure
The Jaguars rushed five or more players on seven of Panthers quarterback Bryce Young 's 32 drop-backs (21.9%). I credited the Jaguars with five quarterback pressures and three knockdowns for a combined nine "disruptions" (one sack).
Advertisement
(I guess I'm a tough grader because I saw a metrics site giving the Jaguars as many as 16 pressures.)
Defensive end Josh Hines-Allen had three pressures and one knockdown and defensive end Travon Walker had two pressures. The only sack was by Dawuane Smoot .
Defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile used simulated pressure, dropping a linemen into zone coverage and rushing a back seven player, to good effectiveness.
On nine simulated pressures, Young was 3 of 8 for 17 yards and a 9-yard scramble.
4. Well-blocked play
The Jaguars led 10-3 in the second quarter and started a drive at their 9-yard line when Etienne ran for 71 yards.
Advertisement
Strange had the key first block — a "wham" block — in which he ran from right to left and whammed linebacker D.J. Wonnum . As Wonnum fell to the turf, safety Tre'von Moehrig took the wrong gap, thinking Etienne would bounce his rush outside. Etienne instead cut inside.
Safety Nick Scott missed a tackle attempt of Etienne at the 19. Etienne had an escort in the form of Brown, who shielded linebacker Trevin Wallace at the 50. Only linebacker Christian Rozeboom's ankle tackle saved a touchdown.
The Jaguars made it 17-3 three plays later.
The 71-yard gain was Etienne's career long and tied for the 12th-longest rush in team history.
Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Josh Hines-Allen (No. 41) celebrates linebacker Foye Oluokun's interception against the Carolina Panthers in Week 1. The Jaguars would create 31 regular-season takeaways.
5. Takeaway story
The Jaguars are 33.3% toward matching last year's woeful, NFL-low takeaway total of nine.
Advertisement
Takeaway 1:The Panthers opted to pass on second-and-1. Murray cut in front of receiver Xavier Legette to deflect the pass that was intercepted by Oluokun ; the Jaguars made it 10-3 on the ensuing possession.
Takeaway 2:On third-and-10 from the Jaguars' 39, Young scrambled and fumbled (forced by Oluokun and recovered by Lewis). The Jaguars turned that into a field goal.
Takeaway 3:Lewis intercepted Young with 44 seconds remaining.
6. Offensive line shines
A hat tip to the Jaguars' offensive line of left tackle Walker Little , left guard Ezra Cleveland , Hainsey, Mekari and right tackle Anton Harrison .
Advertisement
The Jaguars' 200 rushing yards were their most since 243 yards in October 2022 and only their second 200-yard rushing game since the start of 2020.
In pass protection, quarterback Trevor Lawrence wasn't sacked and I booked only two disruptions, a pressure by Little and split pressure by Little/Cleveland. The only hit on Lawrence was a coverage knockdown.
7. Personnel usage
Offense:The Jaguars had 66 plays and the breakdown was 44 snaps of "11" (3WR-1TE-1RB), 16 of "12" (2WR-2TE-1RB), four of "13" (1WR-3TE-1RB) and two kneel-downs.
Defense:Nine snaps of base (4DL-3LB-4DB), 28 snaps of nickel (5DB) and 27 snaps of dime (6DB).
Advertisement
8. Lawrence passing chart
Lawrence was 19 of 31 for 178 yards, one touchdown, one interception and a 74.4 rating. His game based on "air" yards of each attempt:
At or behind the line of scrimmage— 7 of 10 for 24 yards (including one spike to stop clock and throwaway apiece).
1-5 yards downfield— 2 of 2, 19 yards.
6-10 yards— 6 of 8, 67 yards. Lawrence's 6-yard touchdown to tight end Hunter Long (the first of his career) had six "air" yards.
11-15 yards— 2 of 5, 28 yards.
16 of more yards— 2 of 5, 40 yards and one interception.
The Jaguars' bubble-screen game was slow to fire – the four completions totaled 10 yards.
Advertisement
9. Solid rush defense
Panthers running back Chuba Hubbard was held to 3.6 yards per carry (16 for 57) and a long of only 9 yards.
The Jaguars' defense had five run "stuffs," gain or 1 or fewer yards, not including goal-line.
Run "stuffs" went to Campbell (1/2) and Smoot (1/2) and one apiece to Oluokun, Murray, cornerback Jarrian Jones and linebacker Dennis Gardeck .
10. Numbers of note
In the third quarter, the time of possession was Carolina 11:09-3:51, but the Jaguars flipped it in the fourth quarter (11:25-3:35). … I booked the Jaguars for four missed tackles, one apiece by Oluokun, Wingard, Lewis and Murray; Murray's missed tackle was on the Panthers' only touchdown (27-yard catch by Hubbard). … Logan Cooke started the season with a whopping 55.5-yard net average on two punts.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Jacksonville Jaguars solid vs Panthers in all but one major category
