What a week it's been for the Buffalo Bills. Following a second straight blowout loss, team owner Ralph Wilson Jr. decided enough was enough. Dick Jauron was let go, which to some signals a white flag on the 2009 season. Don't tell that to interim coach Perry Fewell, who brings enthusiasm and a different style to the managerial duties.
Buffalo takes on the Jacksonville Jaguars Sunday, who are suddenly in the mix for an AFC Wildcard spot. How will this Bills team react to all the team drama, especially on the road? Let's take an in-depth look at the matchups Buffalo will be facing.
Offense
Jacksonville has really come on as of late, winning three of their last four games to amp up their record to 5-4 on the season. Much of the success is due to the running game. The Jaguars are averaging 140.1 yards per game on the ground, which is the sixth best mean of the league. Those gaudy totals have helped Jacksonville to be the tenth best yards per game team in the league, averaging 358.9 yards. Scoring has been an issue at times for the Jaguars, who rank behind 21 other NFL clubs in points per game (20.1). Jacksonville can however keep drives alive with their sterling third down conversion percentage. On the season, the Jaguars convert on 44.8 percent of all third down opportunities. They trail only five other teams in that respect.
Quarterback: It's hard to believe that David Garrard has been the full time starter for four seasons now, but he's managed to hang on to the position with key throws at certain times. When he first took over the starting job, Garrard minimized his interceptions. He threw just 12 interceptions to 28 touchdowns in his first two seasons. But over last season and this season that total has started to shift the other way, with Garrard throwing 18 interceptions to just 22 touchdowns. In 2009, Garrard has completed 61 percent of his passes for 2,088 yards, seven touchdowns and five interceptions. Garrard has also lost five fumbles so far this season.
Running Back: The potent running game is thanks to one man with three names. Maurice Jones-Drew has been the all-everything back the Jaguars wanted him to be when they let Fred Taylor go this off-season. On the year, Jones-Drew has rushed for 860 yards and a league best 12 touchdowns. He's averaging 5.1 yards per carry, making him the fifth in rushing yards gained this year. The diminutive runner is also a big time threat in the passing game. He's brought in 32 receptions, the sixth highest total for running backs, and for 220 yards. Jones-Drew is a matchup nightmare, especially for a team that struggles against the run like the Bills do. With Marcus Stroud out, it could be a long day for the Bills defense.
Wide Receivers / Tight End: Garrard has found his favorite target, and that's wideout Mike Sims-Walker. The third year man out of Central Florida has accounted for five of Garrard's seven touchdowns this season. He's also brought in 39 catches for 603 yards. Free agent pickup Torry Holt has provided a boost at the position, with 35 receptions for 485 yards. But since the days of Kyle Brady, the Jaguars have been searching for a capable tight end to help the offense. Marcedes Lewis is an athletic tight end trying to fill that role. On the year he has 19 catches for 278 yards and two touchdowns.
Offensive Line: This group is the reason for such an up and down season for Jacksonville. The Jaguars feature two rookies at the bookend positions. First round pick Eugene Monroe is the starting left tackle while second round selection Eben Britton handles the right tackle spot. The line as a whole has been inconsistent when pass blocking. They've allowed 22 sacks so far this season.
Defense
The Jacksonville defense hasn't exactly held up their end of the bargain so far in 2009. The defense ranks among the bottom half of the league in every team category. They've struggled to stop the aerial attack all season, allowing 238.9 yards per game and a whopping 16 touchdowns this year. Jacksonville ranks 22nd against the run, giving up 118.7 yards per game. Those big numbers can help explain why the Jaguars are among the worst at stopping teams on third down, giving up the first down 44 percent of the time. The team is also 26th in the NFL in points allowed, letting teams score 24.4 points per game.
Defensive Line: Much like the men in the trenches on the other side of the ball, this has been a major area of concern for Jacksonville. They've only racked up eight sacks as a team in nine games played. Quentin Groves and former first rounder Derrick Harvey are the ends that fail to provide much needed pressure on opposing quarterbacks. Harvey is especially disappointing after being the top defensive end selected in 2008. He has 26 tackles and not a single sack this year. Defensive tackle John Henderson has struggled since the team traded Marcus Stroud to Buffalo. He's got 21 tackles and one sack in 2009. He's paired with Terrence Knighton on the inside. With Andy Levitre shifting out to left tackle, he must utilize his mobility against a speed threat like Derrick Harvey.
Linebackers: Jacksonville boasts two of the league's best young linebackers in Daryl Smith and Justin Durant. Smith leads the team in tackles from the left outside spot with 62. He's also contributed 1.5 sacks and three forced fumbles. Durant has also been ultra productive, wrapping up 61 total tackles. But bad news for the Jags as Durant is doubtful thanks to a concussion. That means fourth year man Brian Iwuh will man the middle. The right side backer is Clint Ingram, who has 33 tackles and a sack this season.
Defensive Backs: The Jaguars have one of the league's better cornerbacks in Rashean Mathis, but once again the injury bug hurts their defense. Mathis has been declared out for Sunday's contest. Rookie Derek Cox will be the team's number one cornerback, and he's been very solid in his first year out of William & Mary. Cox has 44 tackles and two interceptions. Filling in for Mathis will be Willie Middleton, who is also a rookie. The Furman product has appeared in only five games this season and has six total tackles. At free safety, Reggie Nelson is one of the youngest and most exciting at his position. He provides big hits and has a nose for the football. The normal starter at strong safety, Gerald Alexander, is questionable on Sunday. If he can't go, former Eagles player Sean Considine will get the start.
Special Teams Brian Witherspoon is one of the fastest return men in the league, and he'll be the primary returner for the Jaguars on Sunday. Witherspoon averages 27.3 yards per kick return. Kicker Josh Scobee hasn't been very reliable this season, missing on six out of 16 chances in 2009. Jacksonville's punter is Adam Podlesh, and has one of the worst averages for starting punters in the NFL (41.3 yards per kick).
History
The Bills have controlled the series between these two teams since Jacksonville was added to the league. Buffalo is 5-3 all time against the Jaguars, with their last win coming just last season. A 20-16 win with James Hardy bringing in the game-winning touchdown on a jump ball in the end zone. The last Jacksonville win came in 2007, where the Jaguars dominated Buffalo for a 36-14 win.
Injuries Jacksonville: OUT: CB Rashean Mathis. DOUBTFUL: LB Justin Durant. QUESTIONABLE: SS Gerald Alexander Buffalo: OUT: OT Demetrius Bell, LB Keith Ellison, TE Derek Fine, DT Marcus Stroud, CB Ashton Youboty.QUESTIONABLE: S Jairus Byrd, WR James Hardy, CB Terrence McGee, DT Kyle Williams
Pivotal Matchups HB Maurice Jones-Drew vs. Buffalo rush defense
WR Lee Evans or Terrell Owens vs. CB Willie Middleton
DE Derrick Harvey vs. LT Andy Levitre
Final Thoughts The Bills are most certainly a team in transition, and that all started on Tuesday with the firing of Dick Jauron. But teams that go through mid-season changes react in one of two ways. They could crumble, which would make maybe even more of an unbearable finish then the start of the season. Or, they could play the way the 49ers did for then interim coach Mike Singletary, and be competitive and play like a whole different team.
The one thing for sure is that we will certainly see how Perry Fewell has an impact on this team as the man in charge rather than just the defensive coordinator. They certainly have their hands full, but there are some potential matchups to exploit that could keep Buffalo in the game. If the Bills can contain Jones-Drew for the most part, and get their passing game going against one of the worst pass defenses in the league, then they certainly have a shot to steal a win on the road.
The Bills will lose against the Jags. It doesn't matter who the coach is next year or who the Bills draft for players because with Wilson as owner, the Bills will always lose. Don't believe me, well then how is 50 years of a history of losing...lol. That is right, 50 years. Now that is a long time. If you belive that at age 92 things are going to change with Wilson then you are as senile as he is!
11/22/2009 10:59AM
well
I hope everyone is a good sport and no more feelings get hurt this season.
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