JACKSONVILLE – Senior writer John Oehser sets the table by examining key players, matchups and storylines as the Jaguars prepare to play the Indianapolis Colts at EverBank Field Sunday
The buzz
The buzz in Jacksonville this week is simple: the Jaguars are returning to EverBank Field Sunday for the 2014 regular-season home opener …
And they're very much a team needing something good to happen.
They looked good in the first half of the regular-season opener, but since leading NFC East Philadelphia 17-0 at halftime, the Jaguars have been outscored 75-10 and will make their 2014 EverBank debut Sunday 0-2.
The Jaguars struggled mightily in every area this past Sunday, losing 41-10 to the Washington Redskins in a game in which quarterback Chad Henne was sacked 10 times. The Jaguars trailed 21-0 at halftime, ran for just 25 yards and had just 148 total yards for the game.
Players on Monday talked emotionally of getting things right, and of not letting such a result happen again, with defensive tackle Roy Miller saying of a defense that missed 21 tackles, "We all need to grow up. We all need to be more mature in this system."
Bradley said Monday personnel in all area will be evaluated this week, and he eliminated nothing from possibility. Bradley said Monday that Henne remained the starter, but he also said the team hadn't yet had conversations about personnel and that there would be changes on offense, defense and special teams.
The Opponent
The Colts were the overwhelming AFC South favorites entering the season. They're far from out of it, but they're now 0-2 and two games behind Houston in the AFC South.
Much of their early-season difficulty can be attributed to schedule. The Colts lost narrowly at defending AFC Champion Denver in the opener, 31-24, and then lost a 14-point lead to lose at home to Philadelphia, 30-27, in Indianapolis Monday night.
The Colts offensively are still mostly about third-year quarterback Andrew Luck, who has passed for 542 yards and five touchdowns this season. He is helped this season by the return of reliable veteran Reggie Wayne, and the Colts' running tandem of Ahmad Bradshaw and Trent Richardson looked effective early against Philadelphia.
Defensively the Colts were hurt significantly by the loss of linebacker Robert Mathis, who had 19.5 sacks last season. Mathis was suspended for the first four games of the season and is now out with an Achilles injury sustained while working out. Erik Walden has played effectively at times in Mathis' absence.
Three matchups to watch
*Jaguars offensive tackles Luke Joeckel and Austin Pasztor versus Colts linebackers Bjoern Werner and Erik Walden. Somehow, some way the Jaguars' front has to start getting teams blocked, and the issue is far from just the tackles. While outside linebacker Ryan Kerrigan got four of the Redskins' 10 sacks Sunday, it seemed as if most Redskins defenders were around Henne at some point. This is not a strength for the Colts, who without Mathis have one sack in two games. Werner, a first-round selection in the 2013 NFL Draft, has no sacks this season while Walden has one.
*Jaguars middle linebacker Paul Posluszny and safety Josh Evans versus Colts tight ends Coby Fleener and Derrick Allen.This may not be a true one-on-one matchup, but the Jaguars have let too many tight ends – and too many receivers, for that matter – run open this season. Run defense has been an issue, but against Luck, covering the tight end is a must.
*Jaguars pass rush against Colts quarterback Andrew Luck.The Jaguars must rush the passer better against Indianapolis than they did against Washington. The first step is stopping the run, but the second is getting the sort of all-out, all-over-the-field rush they got in the first half against Philadelphia. The Jaguars had Foles rattled that day. They need to get Luck rattled, create turnovers and give the offense short fields. …
Three Jaguars to Watch
*Allen Robinson.The rookie second-round wide receiver missed the entire preseason with a hamstring injury, but after a limited role in the opener, he caught four passes for 75 yards against Washington. A 54-yarder late went largely unnoticed because the score was out of hand, but with Allen Hurns possibly out with an ankle and Cecil Shorts III returning from a hamstring, Robinson will get opportunities Sunday. …
*Toby Gerhart.The Jaguars rushed for 25 yards on 10 carries against Washington, and Gerhart rushed for eight yards on seven carries. It's unfair to put the lack of a running offense solely on him. The offensive line cleared no holes and the Jaguars anticipated being able to run far more effectively this season then they have thus far. Fixing the run game is Priority One offensively. …
*Dekoda Watson/LaRoy Reynolds.The Jaguars missed 21 tackles against Washington, so no defensive player really stood out in a positive way Sunday. One move could be a larger role for Watson, who entered the game Sunday in place of Reynolds and played 20 plays at the Otto linebacker position. The Jaguars need to shore up the run defense, and finding a productive consistency at the Otto could be part of that. …
Keep an eye on …
*This could be a week featuring depth chart changes and/roster moves for the Jaguars. The team sustained a significant injury with tight end Marcedes Lewis out 6-to-8 weeks with a high ankle sprain. He has been placed on the injured reserve-designated to return list and Bradley said Monday there could be changes on offense, defense and special teams. …
*Safety Johnathan Cyprien remains in the NFL's concussion program after missing Sunday's game. …
*Wide receiver Allen Hurns likely will be day-to-day with an ankle injury sustained Sunday. It was unknown as of Monday if he will practice Wednesday. …
*Offensive tackle right Austin Pasztor, who has been out since fracturing his hand against Chicago in Preseason Week 2, is expected to practice Wednesday with a protective "club" on his hand. If he plays, he is expected to start at a spot where Cameron Bradfield started in his place the first two weeks. …
*Wide receiver Cecil Shorts III, who missed the first two regular-season games with a hamstring injury, ran Monday and could practice Wednesday. Shorts said Monday he felt good running and feels he has made progress. …
*Tight end Clay Harbor, who missed the first two regular-season games with a calf injury, could practice Wednesday. …
*Rookie wide receiver Marqise Lee had a sore hamstring Monday but is expected to practice Wednesday. …
*Gerhart sustained a foot injury Sunday, but is expected to practice Wednesday.
