How to Beat the Jaguars

[Schneed10]

If the Jags' D is susceptible to any kind of running, it's the kind Al Saunders schemes for and the kind of thing Portis specializes in.

Stroud and Henderson make up the best tackle tandem in the league. They make it darn near impossible to run up the middle. The Jags know this, and teach their linebackers to be aggressive in getting to the sideline, anticipating that RBs are going to choose to run around the middle of the D rather than through them. The linebackers are susceptible to being overly aggressive, and can over-pursue. Misdirection plays (like the line fakes one way and there's a toss out to the back in another direction) or WR reverses can do damage. Just so happens those are Saunders' favorite plays.

That and a serious cutback or two by Portis, and I can see us getting a few big plays.

The Jags D will probably be stout on a lot of plays, but if Saunders plays his cards right he can catch them with their pants down. I just hope Brunell's elbow isn't bothering him so much that he isn't able to keep the safeties honest. Because if those safeties start creeping up you can forget big plays by Portis. Brunell's elbow is important. Sounds like it will be fine, and if so, I like our chances.