From Jags Newspaper:
Ten takeaways from the Jaguars’ 27-17 loss to the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday:
1. The Jaguars had multiple chances at Pharoh Cooper on the opening kickoff after Keelan Cole over-pursued himself out of position. Jarrod Wilson missed a tackle at the Rams 18 and Cooper was off to the races. Peyton Thompson dove and missed at the Jaguars 25 and Tyler Patmon dove and missed at the 5. It was the longest kick return allowed by the Jaguars since a 104-yard touchdown in 2007.
2. Leonard Fournette answered with a 75-yard touchdown rush. The play was off the right side and center Tyler Shatley, left guard Patrick Omameh and right guard A.J. Cann all had good blocks. To put Fournette’s carries of 90 yards (at Pittsburgh) and 75 into perspective, Hall of Fame tailbacks Marcus Allen, Terrell Davis, Curtis Martin and Jerome Bettis never had a carry longer than 71 yards.
3. The Jaguars’ defense has a whopping two blitzes in the last two games. Through four games, they were rushing five or more at a clip of 27.9 percent. But the season rate is now at 19.0 (47 of 247) after blitzing once in 60 drop-backs at Pittsburgh and once in 26 drop-backs against the Rams. Against Jared Goff, the Jaguars rushed three players on five drop-backs, including one sack. The only pressure was on a third-and-5 in the first quarter. Defensive end Dante Fowler dropped into coverage and strong safety Barry Church and linebacker Telvin Smith rushed. Goff threw in 2.16 seconds, completing a 13-yard pass to Cooper Kupp.
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4. Rams defensive coordinator Wade Phillips was aggressive. He blitzed 14 times in 44 Blake Bortles drop-backs (31.8 percent). Three of the Rams’ sacks came on five-man pressures and two on four-man rushes. Booking blame for the sacks, in order: Shatley, Shatley, Omameh, left tackle Cam Robinson and Shatley/Omameh. A tough go for Shatley, who was filling in for Brandon Linder (illness).
5. The Jaguars didn’t have a tackling problem against Todd Gurley, they had a get in/stay in position problem. We booked the defense for only three missed tackles (a season-low): Fowler (on a sack), Aaron Colvin (on a pass) and Tashaun Gipson (on a rush by Malcolm Brown).
6. Rams coach Sean McVay called a good game and his best play sealed things. Leading 24-17 with 3:38 remaining, the Rams had third-and-4 from the Jaguars’ 26. The Jaguars had Smith and Myles Jack in the ‘A’ gaps showing blitz. That left the edge vulnerable and Gurley ran right for nine yards. Receiver Cooper Kupp sealed in Fowler and the Jaguars’ cornerbacks got caught in traffic. The Rams kicked a field goal four plays later.
7. Only three of Blake Bortles’ 35 pass attempts traveled at least 16 yards in the air – an 18-yard catch by Allen Hurns, a 35-yard incompletion to Marqise Lee and a 20-yard catch by Lee. In six games on passes that traveled at least 16 yards in the air, Bortles is 9-of-21 for 207 yards. Bortles’ incompletion to Lee was a missed chance. Lee had a step on his defender, but Bortles’ throw was so wide, it would have been tough for Lee to catch it and get both feet in bounds.
8. The Jaguars’ run game issues began on their second drive. On first down, right tackle Jermey Parnell was beat by defensive tackle Aaron Donald, but Fournette bounced away for a four-yard gain. On the next play, fullback Tommy Bohanon missed his block and Fournette was held to a one-yard gain. Nine of Fournette’s 21 carries gained two or fewer yards.
9. Bortles’ interception was a poor throw. On third-and-13 from the Rams’ 31, he led tight end Marcedes Lewis too far. The pass deflected off of Lewis and was picked off by Nickell Robey-Coleman, who returned it 31 yards. On the previous two plays, the Jaguars went Fournette no gain and sack.
10. Pass rush pressure chart for Jaguars: Sacks 3 (Calais Campbell 2/Smith 1), hits 3 (Yannick Ngakoue 3) and pressures 2 (Campbell/Fowler).
