Jaguars take on Colts as both teams look for first win this season
At least the problems of the Jacksonville Jaguars the past two weeks haven't been of the off-the-field variety.
And after what happened Thursday night with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, they can't lay claim to the title of the team in Florida with the most problems on the field.
Both of those are of little consolation as the Jaguars head into their home opener Sunday against the Indianapolis Colts, who were a near-unanimous pick to repeat as AFC South champions but instead are trying to avoid an 0-3 start.
The Jaguars were thoroughly outplayed a week ago by the Washington Redskins, who had lost nine games in a row dating back to last season and saw Robert Griffin III suffer a dislocated ankle during the first quarter. Chad Henne wound up getting sacked a franchise-record 10 times behind an offensive line where two lineup changes were made this week, and a defense which was supposed to keep the Jaguars competitive got torched for 41 points and 449 total yards.
From coach Gus Bradley to his assistants down to the players, no one is pushing the panic button yet.
"I do believe in this group. I have faith," Bradley said.
But to come out and play poorly again, this time in front of a fan base which remembers all too well the 0-8 start of 2013, would have disastrous and potential far-reaching consequences.
MATCHUP TO WATCH
Jaguars quarterback Chad Henne against the Colts defense.
Offensive coordinator Jedd Fisch said a couple of the sacks of Henne were the result of a group of wide receivers which includes three rookies not recognizing the coverage. And a running game which ranks last among 32 teams would make any quarterback's job that much more difficult.
Henne should get a boost with the return of Cecil Shorts III, who missed the first two games and a sizeable portion of the preseason with hamstring injuries. It also can't hurt that the Colts have recorded just one sack and have injuries on defense which go beyond losing Robert Mathis for the season.
But with two rookies starting on the offensive line and at least one other at wide receiver, the Jaguars are still trying to find their footing. That could explain in large part why another rookie, first-round draft pick Blake Bortles, didn't even get utilized in mop-up duty during the fourth quarter at Washington.
"We felt very strongly about Chad. I still feel very strongly about Chad," Bradley said. "It's never been, with all due respect, where we sat back with Blake."
Henne's completion percentage (53.5) is the lowest of any quarterback with more than 29 attempts this season. On the positive side, he has only one interception in 71 passes.
TRENDING UP
Jaguars: Defensive ends Adrian Branch and Ryan Davis are among a dozen players tied for the AFC lead in sacks with two. Branch had a total of seven sacks in his first two seasons after the Jaguars drafted him in the second round out of Clemson. Davis had just one sack in the eight games he played for them in 2012 and 2013.
Colts: Trent Richardson rushed for 79 yards Monday night, his highest total since coming over in a trade a year ago from the Cleveland Browns. Richardson gained 60 yards against the Jaguars when the Colts posted a 37-3 victory in Jacksonville last September, but that required 20 carries.
TRENDING DOWN
Jaguars: The defense against the run, which was expected to be a strength following the addition last March of end Red Bryant from the Seattle Seahawks, has instead reverted to 2013 form. The Jaguars have given up 145 yards on the ground to the Eagles and 191 to the Redskins. The only teams which ranked below the Jaguars in run defense through two weeks were Pittsburgh, St. Louis, Green Bay and Oakland.
Washington had almost as many rushing plays (42) as the Jaguars ran overall (48).
Colts: Tight ends have found plenty of success against their secondary. Denver's Julius Thomas caught seven passes for 104 yards, and Philadelphia's Zach Ertz had four receptions for 86 yards. The good news for the Colts is that the Jaguars might be forced to start Marcel Jensen, who had been on their practice squad until Tuesday, now that Marcedes Lewis has been placed on injured reserve with a high ankle sprain.
INJURY REPORT
Jaguars: WR Marqise Lee (hamstring) is out. TE Clay Harbor (calf) is questionable. WR Allen Hurns (ankle), TE Mickey Shuler (knee), CB Alan Ball (abdomen), S Johnathan Cyprien (concussion), T Austin Pasztor (hand), LB Paul Posluszny (knee), RB Storm Johnson (ankle) and WR Cecil Shorts (hamstring) are probable.
Colts: LB Jerrell Freeman (hamstring) and DT Arthur Jones (ankle) are out. DT Ricky Jean Francois (ankle) and G Joe Reitz (ankle) are questionable. CB Greg Toler (ribs), CB Darius Butler (neck), WR T.Y. Hilton (groin) and C Khaled Holmes (ankle) are probable.
DID YOU KNOW?
The Jaguars have a 4-14 record under Bradley. Only two of those losses were by fewer than 10 points -- a 27-20 defeat to Buffalo and a 20-16 defeat to Tennessee on successive weekends last December.
QUOTEBOARD
"If you haven't been beat physically in this league, then you haven't played. But it's the mentality of going out and having a little bit of an edge, finishing plays, getting guys on the ground, things of that sort. That's what we need to do." -- Jaguars guard Zane Beadles on where the offensive line needs to improve in the wake of last week's performance.
"Everybody's going to make a mistake here and there. The point where a team's defense becomes really good is when you can cover for another guy when he makes his mistake. That's the point we want to get to. I guess we've got to start at the basic level." -- Jaguars defensive tackle Roy Miller on what coach Gus Bradley counted as 10 busted assignments by the defense against the Redskins.
"That reiterates that this is a high-performance business. And if you don't perform at your highest level or you don't live up to the standards that we've set, you're not going to be a part of this group. It's unfortunate because Cam's an outstanding guy. But that goes for any of us. If we don't perform to our abilities, then we are not going to be a part of the Jaguars." -- Jaguars middle linebacker Paul Posluszny on the release of Cameron Bradfield, who started at right tackle in their first two games. Sam Young will make his first start since being claimed by them off waivers last October in Bradfield's former spot.
"They're a really tough team that plays incredibly hard -- a solid, disciplined defense. I have a lot of respect for Poz in the middle. The front seven are sharp, athletic guys. So we'll have our hands full." -- Colts quarterback Andrew Luck, who is 3-1 against the Jaguars in his career.
LOOKING AHEAD
The Jaguars are at San Diego on Sept. 28 for their one trip this season to the West Coast.
You can follow Ken Hornack on Twitter @HornackFSFla or email him at khornack32176@gmail.com.
