JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS at WASHINGTON REDSKINS

LAST WEEK VS. DETROIT LIONS
BORTLES BREAKS OUT
On Friday vs. Detroit, second-year QB Blake Bortles started and
played the entire first half, as well as the Jaguars’ first third-quarter
series. He went 20-of-29 (69%) for 245 yards and 1 TD, including a
10-of-12 (83%) mark on third downs. Bortles also paced Jacksonville
with 38 rushing yards on four carries (9.5 rush avg.).
• Bortles opened the scoring with a 15-play, 82-yard touchdown
drive in the first quarter, going 6-of-8 for 72 yards, including a
13-yard touchdown pass to WR Allen Hurns. He then marched
the Jaguars 80 yards on six plays in the second quarter to put
Jacksonville on top, 14-0.
• Among all NFL quarterbacks this preseason, Bortles ranks second
in quarterback rating (93.8) and yards per passing attempt
(7.7), and third in passing yards (461), completions (39), and
attempts (60).
QBs Chad Henne (8-of-12, 62 yards) and Stephen Morris (4-of-8,
38 yards) combined to go 12-of-20 (60%) for 100 passing yards in
relief of Bortles.
YELDON DEBUTS
Rookie RB T.J. Yeldon, who had missed the first two weeks of the
preseason due to injury (finger), made his NFL preseason debut
against Detroit on Friday night. The Alabama product carried the
ball eight times for 10 yards, including a 1-yard rushing touchdown
in the second quarter. He also caught a pass for a 12-yard gain.
Also factoring into the Jaguars’ run game were QB Blake Bortles
(four att., 38 yards), RB Bernard Pierce (seven att., 17 yards), and
RB Denard Robinson (three att., 7 yards).
AERIAL ATTACK
Jacksonville recorded 32 receptions between 14 different receivers,
including 10 players with multiple catches, for 345 yards on Saturday
night vs. the Lions. Overall, the Jaguars had 11 receivers with
10+ yards, seven with 20+ yards, five with 30+ yards, and three
with 40+ yards.
Jacksonville has had at least 20 receptions split among more than
10 different receivers in each of its first three preseason games. The
Jaguars have also had at least six players with multiple catches in
each of their last three contests.
• WR Allen Hurns caught Jacksonville’s only receiving TD, a 13-
yard pass from QB Blake Bortles in the first quarter. Hurns had
42 receiving yards on four receptions.
• TE Marcedes Lewis led the Jaguars with 51 receiving yards on
three receptions, including a team-high-tying 24-yard catch
(also TE Nic Jacobs).
• WR Bryan Walters tallied 46 receiving yards and a team-high
five receptions. WR Allen Robinson (103) and Walters (102)
rank sixth and seventh, respectively, in receiving yards among
all AFC wideouts this preseason.
WHERE IT STARTS
Jacksonville’s offense posted 30 first-down conversations, including
19 via the pass. It also went 13-of-17 (76%) in third-down
situations. Overall, the Jaguars registered 392 total net yards on
combined 80 plays, both preseason highs, for a 4.9 average.
Head Coach Gus Bradley on the Jaguars’ offensive line: “Pretty
well. I think as we looked at it, we separated by first group and the
second group. The first group did pretty well. I think we’re seeing
pretty good progress from Luke (Joeckel) the past three weeks. One
of the issues in the past has been the power, the speed to power.
He had a couple of them last night and the week before and you’re
seeing him making really good improvement on that, as well as the
whole offensive line. I thought (Brandon) Linder had a good game up
until his toe. The whole group, I thought, especially the first group,
played pretty well. Another game without giving up a sack. I thought
that was good. In the second group, the guy that really stood out
was (Tyler) Shatley. Shatley played 71 plays in the game and really
did a nice job through the whole game. I’m really pleased with the
offensive line and their production.”
PRESSURE POINTS
The Jaguars’ defense saw 20 players combine to make 37 tackles
(29 solo) vs. Detroit. Of those 20 defenders, nine of them registered
multiple stops, including seven with at least three tackles.
Jacksonville has had more than 20 players contribute tackles in each
of its first three preseason games.
• LB Telvin Smith had a team-high four tackles (three solo).
Undrafted rookie DL Cap Capi tallied his fourth quarterback
hurry, the most by a Jaguars defender this preseason. Next on
the list is LB Dan Skuta, who has two quarterback hurries.
• Jacksonville’s defense protected the lead for 46 minutes, 37
seconds before allowing a rushing touchdown with 1 minute,
41 seconds left in the game. The Jaguars have led for more than
half of the game in each of their three preseason contests.
SPECIAL TEAMS STANDOUTS
Rookies RB Corey Grant and CB Nick Marshall continued to impress
in the return game. Grant, who averaged 38.5 yards per kickoff return
(two KR, 77 yards) at NYG, registered a 25-yard return against the
Lions. Marshall, who returned two kickoffs for 41 yards in Week 2,
added a 27-yard punt return on Friday night.
Head Coach Gus Bradley on sensing that the return game could
be an asset to the Jaguars in 2015: “We’re starting to look at our
options and who we have. Even Rashad (Greene) last night, I think
he had one return that didn’t jump out but it was for nine yards.
We’re getting more and more locked in to the possibility of who
those guys could be, what they possess, and we’re excited about
them. So, again, it’s preseason. We haven’t really schemed either as
a special teams unit, so there are some unknowns out there. But I
think as far as their talent level and what they bring, we’re pretty
excited.”
• TEs Nic Jacobs (two rec., 39 yards) and Clay Harbor (three rec.,
33 yards) each had 30+ receiving yards. RB Denard Robinson
(two rec., 29 yards) and WR Rashad Greene (three rec., 25
yards) each had 20+ receiving yards.
Preseason Week 4 at Washington Redskins 1 EverBank Field Drive, Jacksonville, FL 32202