BREWSTER, BRITTON TO SPLIT REPS
Jaguars guard Uche Nwaneri saw it pretty simply.
The Jaguars on Sunday allowed six sacks to the Cincinnati Bengals, and Nwaneri said breaking down the reasons wasn't about listing countless reasons.
"We just didn't do a good job protecting Blaine," Nwaneri said. "If you look at the film, it's pretty clear. We need to give him a little bit more time back there to get the ball out."
Mularkey said the sacks were partly technique error, and partly communication error, adding that a lot of also was the offensive line not blocking the Bengals one on one.
"Obviously, we have to do better," Jaguars center Brad Meester said. "As an offensive line, we take that on our shoulders, obviously. We have to do a better job protecting."
Mike Brewster replaced Eben Britton at left guard at halftime, with Mularkey saying of the move Monday, "We wanted to try something different."
Brewster and Britton likely will split reps in practice this week to determine who starts, Mularkey said.
ROBINSON TO BE MONITORED
Laurent Robinson could miss Sunday's game against Chicago.
Robinson, a wide receiver who signed with the Jaguars as a free agent in the off-season, sustained a second concussion in as many weeks on Sunday, and left the team's 27-10 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals in the third quarter.
Mularkey said he has been placed in the team's concussion program.
"He had a blow to the head and is back in the concussion program and we'll monitor him this week," Mularkey said Monday. "Obviously that's two weekends in a row, so it's a little more of a concern this time than it was last week."
Robinson, who also sustained a concussion in training camp, passed a concussion test early last week, then missed practice Wednesday and Thursday before working full Friday. He started Sunday, catching one pass for 19 yards. His head hit the ground when he was tackled after the reception and the knee of a Bengals player appeared to hit him in the head, too.
"The chances are probably higher that he will not play" Sunday, Mularkey said.
Mularkey said there is a good chance linebacker Daryl Smith could return following the team's Week 6 bye week. He has been out since early in the preseason with a groin injury.
G UCHE NWANERI SAYS
"It's just one of those days when protection wasn't holding up well. You had guys coming off injury, and that's not an easy thing to do, to recover from those things and find your rhythm as a player. It's disappointing, yes, but it's things we can fix. We'll go back to work and get ready for Chicago."
LB PAUL POSLUSZNY SAYS
"We had a solid week. We did things right all week long. When it came to game day, we did our job; we just didn't have that extra ability to make a big play to change the outcome of the game. That's what we need. They were able to do that. They made plays here and there. They got to the quarterback. We didn't. You see what a difference that makes."
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MULARKEY SAYS**
"I think some of the things you've seen happening in all four games – we have not made some plays. We've missed making some plays. I said to these guys this morning I'd like to see if we make some of those earlier plays that we had on our first drive – how that may change the effect of the entire game and how they make decisions calling plays. I'd just like to see if something positive happens in our favor, which it hasn't really in four games.
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WHAT'S NEXT
The Jaguars will have Tuesday off before returning Wednesday for a full practice to prepare for the Chicago Bears at EverBank Field Sunday.
QUICK HITS
*The Jaguars have two sacks in four games this season. Mularkey said while the Jaguars stayed in their rush lanes better on Sunday than the previous week against Indianapolis the defensive front still didn't win enough one-on-one situations. "We've got to win some one on ones," Mularkey said, and Posluszny agreed, adding, "When we have one-on-one matchups across the board, we have to win. Somebody has to win. Whether it's linebacker on a back, defensive end on a tight end or a tackle, when we pressure, somebody has to win. We need improvement there."
*Mularkey said quarterback Blaine Gabbert has improved this season "in a number of ways," particularly "pocket presence, his balance in the pocket, and standing in there making throws with pressure," Mularkey added, "I like that he ran the ball yesterday. I think he needs to run the ball more. I think he needs to be a threat to defenses because he is athletic and he is fast for his size. We're trying to get the ball down the field. We've got to block better for him. I think that if we protect better his numbers will increase. We really have not protected like we have liked to get some of those throws down the field."
*Mularkey took responsibility for a fake punt executed by the Bengals in the second quarter. On the play, Bengals fullback Cedric Peerman took a direct snap and ran 43 yards on 4th-and-1 from the Bengals 34. "I should have put us into a punt safe," he said. "Fourth and one in our own territory. I should have put us into a better position with our defense out there. Just keep our defense out there and that thing doesn't happen. I'll take responsibility for that."
