The key play in the Jaguars Sunday night home loss to the Steelers came in the fourth quarter with 2:57 remaining.  Jacksonville was clinging to a 21-20 lead, Pittsburgh was driving, and had a 3rd-and-8 from the Jaguar 31.  For virtually the only time all game, the Jaguars called an all-out blitz.  (Jacksonville had three sacks already on the day, which was a success compared to a total of only six sacks through the first four games).   DT Rob Meier got to Ben Roethlisberger by reaching around a blocker, and had a big chunk of the Steeler QB’s jersey wrapped up in his paw.  Then linebacker Mike Peterson rushed free right into the grill of Big Ben.  But as Peterson arrived, and with his body twisted into a pretzel by Meier’s jersey-grab, Big Ben somehow got a pass off to Hines Ward for an 18-yard gain to the Jacksonville 13.  Now with only 2:07 remaining, an eventual TD pass to Ward was in sight, as was the Steeler victory.

Not that its any big secret to anyone to who follows the Steelers, but I predicted in my pregame post that Big Ben can really burn you when he’s contacted, but not fully wrapped up.  Roethlisberger has an uncanny knack for shrugging off the pressure and finding his receivers under fire.  Who knew that it would be this dramatic, however?  It was actually the second such play on this decisive drive.  The drive started when Big Ben shook off a would-be sacker to get off a wounded duck that wobbled into the hands of Ward for a 16-yard gain.  The drive was also punctuated by an impressive 27-yard scamper by surprising Steeler running back Mewelde Moore, who stepped up big time after injuries elevated him up the depth chart, and finished the night with 99 yards on 17 carries.

That game winning drive, in a nutshell, was everything that is wrong with the Jaguars defense right now.  Dedicating manpower to pressuring the opposing QB, but not finishing the job.  Poor pass coverage when the play breaks down and the QB is scrambling.  Softness against the run.  Most importantly, every opponent the Jaguars have faced this year has been able to put together a fourth quarter scoring drive when the game was on the line.

Injuries to the secondary really affected the Jags in the first half, as CB Drayton Florence and S Reggie Nelson both did not suit up and were sorely missed.  William James filled in at cornerback and got abused by Big Ben in the first half, most notably on a 48-yard TD pass to Nate Washington.  On that big play,  James bit on the fake buttonhook as Roethlisberger pump faked, and Washington was left running all alone through half the field on his way to an easy score.  All in all Roethlisberger had two TDs and a career best first half of 239 passing yards. 

After that 48-yard Washington debacle, Brian Williams was moved from safety to cornerback and James was benched, which seemed to have a very positive effect.  The Jaguars pass D played much better through the second half, as Pittsburgh was limited moving the ball through the air….until that decisive final drive of course.

On offense it was also the same story for the Jags.  Pittsburgh keyed on the running game and took Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew completely out of the action.  (A dismal 19 and 7 yards on the ground respectively).  And with the running game rendered ineffective, David Garrard didn’t have quite enough to achieve an edge with the passing game.  Yes, there were a couple of effective touchdown drives through the air, but the Jaguars needed at least one more…instead there was just a little too much 3-and-out, a few too many failed 3rd downs and a little too much of punter Adam Podlesh.

On the positive side, however, there was the noticeable emergence of receiver Mike Walker.  On a night when newly anointed “go-to-guy” Matt Jones was only able to catch two balls (partly due to drops and partly due to double teams) Walker stepped up and provided a sure-handed deep threat that’s been missing for the Jags. 

Also positive was the first half pick-6 by Rashean Mathis, who may well be the team MVP.  This kept the Jags competitive early on. 

All in all not a very encouraging outing for the Jaguars, who at 2-3 are now distant behind the 5-0 Titans at the top of the AFC South.  More importantly, if the the defense continues to play this soft they will surely get shredded by the Broncos next week, which would leave the Jaguars outside looking in at the playoffs in the mind of any NFL pundit. 

 

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Last post (s) by Mark Reichman

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Tags: Ben Roethlisberger, David Garrad, Drayton Florence, Fred Taylor, Hines Ward, Jacksonville, Jaguars, Matt Jones, Maurice Jones-Drew, Mewelde Moore, Mike Peterson, Mike Walker, Nate Washington, Pittsburgh, Rashean Mathis, Reggie Nelson, Rob Meier, Steelers, WIlliam James