*** Official Week 2 Preseason Game Thread *** (1 Viewer)

[JaxBill]

Please feel free to add any observations or expectations

Week 2 is spread out over 5 nights and kicks off tonight.

THU, AUG 14 TIME (ET) TV
Jacksonville at Chicago 8:00 PM ESPN

FRI, AUG 15 TIME (ET) TV
Philadelphia at New England 7:30 PM NFL
Tennessee at New Orleans 8:00 PM
San Diego at Seattle 10:00 PM NFL
Detroit at Oakland 10:00 PM

SAT, AUG 16 TIME (ET) TV
Green Bay at St. Louis 4:00 PM NFL
NY Giants at Indianapolis 7:00 PM
NY Jets at Cincinnati 7:00 PM
Baltimore at Dallas 7:00 PM NFL
Buffalo at Pittsburgh 7:30 PM
Miami at Tampa Bay 7:30 PM
Atlanta at Houston 8:00 PM
Arizona at Minnesota 8:30 PM

SUN, AUG 17 TIME (ET) TV
Denver at San Francisco 4:00 PM NFL
Kansas City at Carolina 8:00 PM FOX

MON, AUG 18 TIME (ET) TV
Cleveland at Washington 8:00 PM ESPN

 

[JaxBill]

Jaguars at Chicago: 5 Jaguars to watchWed, Aug 13, 2014 @ 6:35 pm | updated Thu, Aug 14, 2014 @ 2:10 pm

When: 8 p.m.

Where: Soldier Field, Chicago.

Not expected to play: WR Cecil Shorts (hamstring), WR Allen Robinson (hamstring), WR Tandon Doss (ankle), TE Clay Harbor (calf), WR Lamaar Thomas (concussion), LB Paul Posluszny (bicep).

FIVE JAGUARS TO WATCH

CHAD HENNE

Everybody loves even the possibility of an open quarterback competition … except for the guy who has been tabbed for months as the Week 1 starter. Henne was 4-of-7 passing for 30 yards last week against Tampa Bay, but expect him to be more active in the passing game during his expected two quarters of work. Just as it’s important for Blake Bortles to get preseason reps, it’s big for Henne to establish a workable tempo.

ALAN BALL

Ball, one of the Jaguars’ projected starting cornerbacks, missed the first seven practices of training camp and then sat out the Tampa Bay game because of an ankle injury. If he starts, he’ll face a good measuring stick in Bears receivers Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffrey. Ball upped his work on Monday and Tuesday, an important development because his presence is important on a still-young secondary.

MIKE BREWSTER

Ever since the Jaguars’ failed pursuit of Alex Mack, they’ve endorsed the idea of Brewster starting at center. Before the Tampa Bay game, the concern about Brewster was his struggles against big defensive tackles in practice. Exiting the Tampa Bay game, the concern about Brewster were his two airmailed shot-gun snaps. The Jaguars gave rookie Brandon Linder center reps earlier this week, which means the clock is ticking on Brewster.

TELVIN SMITH

Is it possible that Smith, the rookie linebacker from Florida State, is challenging veteran Geno Hayes for the starting Will spot? Probably not yet, but Smith has definitely had a solid training camp. Sure, he’s not the ideal size (218 pounds), but he moves well in coverage and showed blitzing instincts on his hit of Josh McCown that forced a pass Winston Guy intercepted and returned for a touchdown.

MARQISE LEE

He did nothing last week in his 16 snaps of work, and depending on who was asked, had one bad play (coach Gus Bradley) or two bad plays (offensive coordinator Jedd Fisch). Lee rebounded with two decent practices earlier this week. With Shorts and Robinson out again Thursday with hamstring injuries and the Jaguars expected to add a bigger passing layer to their game plan, Lee is a player to monitor.

ABOUT THE BEARS

Last year: The Bears started 3-0 under new coach Marc Trestman but had three two-game losing streaks, including a 33-28 Week 17 loss to Green Bay that cost the Bears the NFC North title (they finished 8-7-1).

Additions: Chicago went about rebuilding its 30th-ranked defense, signing projected starters DE Jared Allen (Minnesota), LB Lamarr Houston (Oakland) and S Ryan Mundy (New York Giants) in free agency and using their first four draft picks on CB Kyle Fuller, NT Ego Ferguson, DT Will Sutton and S Brock Vereen.

Departures: Chicago released DE Julius Peppers and also allowed QB Josh McCown, KR Devin Hester, DE Corey Wootton and S Major Wright to walk in free agency.

Outlook: A legitimate playoff contender because of their offense, led by QB Jay Cutler, RB Matt Forte and the dynamic WR duo of Marshall and Jeffrey. The key will be the defense. The group coordinated by former Jaguars assistant Mel Tucker couldn’t rush the passer (31 sacks, tied with the Jaguars for the NFL’s fewest) and couldn’t stop the run (last).

 

[JaxBill]

Jags are juggling their interior linemen trying to find something to work.

 

[JaxBill]

That toss left to Gerhart taking too long to develop.

 

[flapgreen]

Bears D still sucks

 

[JaxBill]

Henne looking good so far but in fairness Chicago hasn't been getting much pressure from a pretty vanilla four man rush.

 

[JaxBill]

Henne 7-11 for 92 yards after that checkdown for the FG

 

[JaxBill]

Will Blackmon with the strip and recovery on resulting kickoff

 

[JaxBill]

Embattled C Mike Brewster gets shoved back into the QB and gets called for the hold.

 

[JaxBill]

52 seconds left in first quarter and bears have run 3 plays

 

[steveski]

52 seconds left in first quarter and bears have run 3 plays

In my opinion, that's ideal. We know what the Bears offense is, what's the point of seeing them now?

I'd rather see a brand new Jaguars offense.

 

[JaxBill]

Bears converted several third downs with some good protection

 

[JaxBill]

So now Gruden says Bryan Anger was worth the 3rd rounder when Russell Wilson was available?

 

[JaxBill]

Hard to tell anything with all of these penalties.

Prosinski still can't tackle though

 

[JaxBill]

John Oehser ‏@JohnOehser 58s

Blake Bortles in at quarterback for the Jaguars.

 

[JaxBill]

Unlike Henne, Bortles has thrown into tight spaces twice instead of checking down.

 

[Mr. Brownstone]

I'm pleased with all three phases in the first half for the Jags, with the exception of pressure on the QB in the second quarter.

 

[Mr. Brownstone]

Dwayne Gratz is a sure tackler.

 

[JaxBill]

Dwayne Gratz is a sure tackler.

This.

 

[Mr. Brownstone]

I really like Hurns.

 

[JaxBill]

I really like Hurns.

Yeah, Ace Sanders could be in trouble when he comes back from suspension.

 

[Banger]

I think Cutler will end up my Qb on all my Remus this year. He's SCREAMING value. Last yea the and McCown add up to QB3. Jeffrey getting better, Marshall, Bennett and Forte. Tremendous talent, great system and a qb with good tools. Sign me up.

 

[Mr. Brownstone]

I really like Hurns.

Yeah, Ace Sanders could be in trouble when he comes back from suspension.

Shorts, Robinson, Lee, Brown, and Hurns. I think that's how it'll shake out.

 

[Mr. Brownstone]

Mort says the Jags don't want Bortles to be ruined by starting early like Blaine Gabbert did. I understand it, but Gabbert didn't bust because he started from day one. It certainly didn't help him, but he busted because it turns out that he just wasn't a good quarterback.

 

[JaxBill]

Mort says the Jags don't want Bortles to be ruined by starting early like Blaine Gabbert did. I understand it, but Gabbert didn't bust because he started from day one. It certainly didn't help him, but he busted because it turns out that he just wasn't a good quarterback.

I think it made his problems much more apparent and accelerated what should be a brief career,

 

[JaxBill]

Telvin Smith makes a nice play, but Clausen threw into a crowd there.

 

[JaxBill]

Gus has to give bortles some time with the 1's next week after that audible/throw.

 

[Mr. Brownstone]

Gus has to give bortles some time with the 1's next week after that audible/throw.

This.

 

[JaxBill]

Either the Jags kick coverage is pretty good or the Bears return game stinks.

 

[JaxBill]

Don't know if this fumble will stick but replay might not show enough to overturn.

 

[JaxBill]

Backup C Luke Bowanko down with leg injury. With all of their interior line problems, Jags don't want to lose him.

 

[Mr. Brownstone]

BB done for the night. I was impressed again.

 

[JaxBill]

That roughing call was horrible. Can't hit the QB in the arm when he has the ball? (sarcasm)

 

[JaxBill]

Why did the Bears go for 2? That would give them a 3 point lead (if they made it) and set up a possible OT game on a Jags FG.

 

[flapgreen]

Either the Jags kick coverage is pretty good or the Bears return game stinks.

the latter

 

[Sudoku_in_the_Bathtub]

TD Justin Hunter

I hope by the end of the game, the NO broadcaster can finally get his name right. He's been calling him Kendall Hunter and/or Kendall Wright all game long.

 

[Mister CIA]

Joe Morgan gets behind the defender for a 52-yarder. Kind of hard to find a spot for him on a dynasty roster at this point, but he looks fully recovered from ACL surgery. I'd temper my enthusiasm for Stills, if I had any.

 

[Clifford]

Mettenberger is tearing it up. Not watching but his stats are amazing. How does he look?

 

[Mister CIA]

Joe Morgan gets behind the defender for a 52-yarder. Kind of hard to find a spot for him on a dynasty roster at this point, but he looks fully recovered from ACL surgery. I'd temper my enthusiasm for Stills, if I had any.

Stat adjustment: Joe Morgan now has 2 catches for 96 yards. Time to start handing out steak knives to players on the bottom of my dynasty rosters.

 

[Mister CIA]

Mettenberger is tearing it up. Not watching but his stats are amazing. How does he look?

I'd say he's looked ok. Good arm as expected, but also had the ball swatted out of his hands by a D-Lineman. A quality stash player.

 

[Clifford]

How is sankey looking?

 

[Clifford]

Zach robbed of a second td looks like.

 

[Mister CIA]

Mettenberg INT totally on WR. WR bobbled pass, fell on his back and the ball bounced straight up off of his chest.

 

[Mister CIA]

How is sankey looking?

Have not noticed Sankey. Lots of multitasking going on tonight.

 

[SameSongNDance]

Harvin..I hope he remains undervalued.

 

[Clifford]

Was called a fumble I thought

 

[JaxBill]

Rivers just took a clean shot to the ribs (from Schofield?) on the follow through

 

[JaxBill]

Mike Reiss ‏@MikeReiss 1m

In what looked like a cordial embrace and discussion after the game, Bill Belichick and Cary Williams meet at midfield.

 

[Juzaba]

Sanke looked good on edge runs. He hits the hole real fast too. Needs to break more tackles too.

 

[Mister CIA]

For those looking for Team Defense bargains a la 2013 Panthers, you could do worse than the Saints. I think they will flirt with top 5 status.