Jaguars at Eagles GAME THREAD

[Diomedes]

I'm going to predict losses until they prove me wrong.  Let's see how long that works out. 

And if they win, I'll still predict losses.  fargers punched me in the gut three times already this year, I'm not gonna get caught out with high hopes again.

I love Eeyore.

[The BIGSTUD]

Aw, were your feelings hurt, poor guy?

[Diomedes]

They were.  I won't ever love again.

[Don Ho]

The guy behind those two on the depth chart went to/played for my High School...Owens. I think he's returning punts for them right now. Just thought I'd throw that in there.

Jags have two Owens.  Montel, your boy and Chad Owens from Hawaii.  Chad is the punt returner.  Love the guy but I hope we shut his ass down on Sunday.

[Seabiscuit36]

Del Rio says QB Leftwich still hurting, gets Garrard ready   
  Oct. 25, 2006
CBS SportsLine.com wire reports     

 

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio has changed his stance again, saying quarterback Byron Leftwich's sore left ankle was indeed a problem in last week's loss to Houston.

He even decided to have Leftwich and backup David Garrard split repetitions in practice Wednesday.

"There was no question based on what I saw that there was a problem," Del Rio said Wednesday, reversing his opinion from two days earlier. "He's a proud guy, he's a tough guy, but we've got to find a way to communicate so I can do the right thing for our football team.
"Basically, it was a situation where he really tried to go and wanted to go and I believe for the right reasons. But it didn't go well."

Leftwich misfired badly in a 27-7 loss at Houston. He finished 14-of-28 for 125 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions.

Del Rio said after the game that Leftwich's ankle must have been an issue and acknowledged that he considered benching his starter in favor of Garrard.

   
David Garrard is ready to play if called upon. (Getty Images)   
On Monday, Del Rio reversed field after watching video of the game and said the ankle didn't appear to be a problem. But after speaking with reporters, he decided to watch the video again, focusing solely on Leftwich's footwork, throwing motion and followthrough.

Now, Del Rio firmly believes Leftwich's injury caused his poor performance.

Del Rio met with Leftwich on Tuesday, reviewed some plays and discussed the entire situation.

Does Leftwich agree?

"Does it matter, really? It doesn't matter," said Leftwich, who was listed as questionable for Sunday's game at Philadelphia. "I missed a few balls, but I don't think my ankle had anything to do with it. That's just my opinion."

Leftwich disclosed Wednesday that he initially injured his ankle Oct. 1 at Washington. It flared up nearly two weeks later, five days after he took every snap in a 41-0 drubbing of the New York Jets.

Despite missing a practice, Leftwich convinced coaches he could play against the Texans.

"See, the thing is I've been worse off with all the injuries I've had in my life," Leftwich said. "I've been worse off than I was last Sunday. I don't want to put not having a great game on my ankle. I did feel it sometimes during the game, but I've played through worse things than that. I've been in more pain than that and played in football games before, so I will not allow myself that excuse."

Del Rio blamed himself, Leftwich, trainers and his assistant coaches for a communication breakdown that resulted in Leftwich playing and then staying in the game when he probably shouldn't have.

"I want to empower my guys to speak up," Del Rio. "I don't want to hear about it Monday. Don't share those great ideas with your neighbor Sunday night. Bring all the good ideas to me, where I have a chance to make a decision. I need that information."

The latest information on the ankle injury is that it had nothing to do with last year's broken bone, which forced Leftwich to miss five games. The Jaguars (3-3) said there was no break and no ligament damage.

"It's something totally new," Leftwich said. "Everybody's going to say it's something from last year. Believe me, it's not. If it was something from last year, I couldn't play. It has nothing to do with last year. It was something that crept up in the taterskins game, something totally different. I've been able to play with it, play with it, play with it. I woke up that one Friday and that's when it took a turn for the worst. But it was just that one day. Hopefully, it will continue to get better."

[Tomahawk]

I can't believe Leftwich would do that. Reminds me of McNabb trying to mask his broken ankle, only McNabb threw four TDs.

[SOARIN EAGLE]

Eagles will play this game much like they did against Tampa Bay, hopefully with better results.

I don't see a lot of sacks this game unless they come on 3rd down. Jaguars will try running most of the time on 1st and 2nd downs. Eagles will dial up the blitz on 3rd and long.  Eagles played for the run last week and only got two sacks, wouldn't expect more than that this week.

If the Eagles by chance get a lot of 3rd and longs all bets are off on the sacks though. If Leftwich does play on his bum ankle he will be severly limited in his mobility. Leftwich takes a long time before he finally reads the defenses and throws the ball as a norm. This will allow the Eagles make Leftwich wish he stayed back in Jacksonville.

Eagles should be able to get short passes out to Westbrook or LJ. Of course they will also take their shots downfield as well. Don't think we will see much of a run game this week. You never know though. This game will tell if AR was serious about commiting more to the run game this off season or not.  The first week of the season Reid dialed up the run 30 times but hasn't come close to that again until week 7 when the Eagles ran the ball 27 times. IMO the lack of the run game has more to with Westbrooks injury as AR wanting to keep his run reps down.
Westbrooks knee injury seems to be coming along just fine and we saw AR run the ball more.

Eagles 27 Jags 17

[Munson]

The guy behind those two on the depth chart went to/played for my High School...Owens. I think he's returning punts for them right now. Just thought I'd throw that in there.

Jags have two Owens.  Montel, your boy and Chad Owens from Hawaii.  Chad is the punt returner.  Love the guy but I hope we shut his ass down on Sunday.

YEah, Montel is the one from my high school. I wasn't sure if he was the one returning punts or not because I know they had him (Montel) back on kick returns with Jones-Drew, at least on the play I saw he was. Apparently he recovered an onsides kick earlier this yaer or something. But it's cool to see someone from around here get to the NFL, especially to make the team as an UDFA. He graduated the same year as my brother I think, or a year behind him, who was the QB for the team. He went back to visit my high school a couple of weeks ago, I think when JAX was on bye?

THese things are exciting when you live in Delaware.

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

This thread sure has taken a turn towards snoozeville.

[Seabiscuit36]

Cigarette time 

[methdeez]

Something like 52-6.

Eagles strap up loaded for bear.

The Eagles do what with a loaded bear?
I don't know what kind of party you think this is, but....

[Munson]

Something like 52-6.

Eagles strap up loaded for bear.

The Eagles do what with a loaded bear?
I don't know what kind of party you think this is, but....

Overlook Hotel maybe?

[The BIGSTUD]

I hope Leftwich plays. I'd much rather face him(the second best QB the Jags have).

[Don Ho]

I hope Leftwich plays. I'd much rather face him(the second best QB the Jags have).

yeah, cause the birds eat up second string QB's.  baffle them, confuse them, get inside their head, force them to do stupid things, etc.   Damm, remember how many people on this board were pimping Gradkowski?  He would have been a cult hero in Philly, even as a third stringer.

And yes, Jags backup is very good. Garrard(Depadeau)has always done well when he is called upon.

[PhillyPhreak54]

From KYW;

Sunday - Partly cloudy and blustery. Highs in the lower 50s. West winds 20 to 25 mph with gusts up to 40 mph.

If the Eagles actually used Akers this would mean something. Usually the SW winds are what are really bad (remember that ball Akers kicked against SF that hit that wall of wind?) but I'm sure this'll affect the game somehow.

We know they can throw in wind. The ATL NFCCG was windy as hell.