Archives for September 11, 2008

‘"He came back in great shape and he definitely hasn’t missed a beat from last year, which is a good thing. We didn’t expect anything less out of him, and we know he’s going to go out there and play to a Pro Bowl level.”’

‘”I did not watch him every snap that he was out there, but when I watched him, it looked like he moved well,” Jauron said. “So we’ll have to wait and see. We’ve got two more hard days of practice, and then we’ve got to make decisions.”‘

‘”The Buffalo crowd was great, man,” he says. “I was able to feed off them. That’s a wild bunch, more like a college crowd than a pro crowd. It reminds me of being back at Georgia. I love it.”‘

‘”It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to know he’s going to be motivated,” Jaguars defensive end Paul Spicer said. “He feels like he should still be here and he wants to show he can still play this game at a very high level, a Pro Bowl level.”‘

Returners provide a kick start (Florida Times Union)

OL issues not an excuse (Florida Times Union)

Jacksonville Jaguars: A fan-tastic streak (Florida Times Union)

This week in the Honor Rows (Jaguars.com)

Jaguars maintain expectations (Jaguars.com)

AFC South could be in down year (Jaguars.com)

Inside slant (The Sports Xchange)

Strategy and personnel (The Sports Xchange)

Notes, quotes (The Sports Xchange)

‘A dominating win, particularly when combined with the naturally occurring optimism of a season opener and the sudden disappearance of a longtime nemesis, will do that for the spirits.’

‘”We’ll see,” said Stroud, when relayed Henderson’s comments on Wednesday after practice. “I’m not making any predictions. I know I’ll go out there, play well and play hard. We’re all still friends, but it comes down to business on Sunday.”‘

‘Buffalo used plenty of big special teams plays to overcome a dominating offensive display by Jacksonville two seasons ago in defeating the Jaguars 27-24 in Orchard Park. The Bills could use more of that same special teams magic in this important early road test; last week at home, special teams figured into 27 points for Buffalo in beating Seattle. In playing on the road, the Bills will want to establish their running game behind Marshawn Lynch — who sat out last season’s Jaguars game with an injury — and conversely on defense, they can’t let the duo of Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew run free. Each scored on long TD runs against the Bills last year. Buffalo’s defensive ends must also force containment on QB David Garrard, who can keep a lot of plays alive with his feet. Garrard, however, was sacked seven times last Sunday in a loss to Tennessee and Jacksonville is missing three starters along its interior line (Brad Meester, Vince Manuwai and Maurice Williams). The Bills have to take advantage and control both lines.’

‘The Bills unveiled a new defensive wrinkle last Sunday against Seattle called “a sugar rush.” That’s when they insert four defensive ends — Aaron Schobel, Ryan Denney, Chris Kelsay and Copeland Bryan — and let them rush from a stand-up position. For an offensive lineman, the look is awkward and creates confusion on whom to block, particularly when the Bills blitz linebackers at the snap. The whole premise is to get one or maybe two defenders unblocked with a free shot at the quarterback, like Denney had for a sack. “We had four defensive ends standing up and I was able to come through the middle,” he said. “We were able to confuse their protection.”‘