The 2008 version of the Jacksonville Jaguars are a total and utter failure; I'm sorry, but there's really no polite way to sum up the season (unless you like excuses, and then, really, you're not chopping enough wood.) But there are bound to be certain individuals, ahem, Jack Del Rio, looking for ways to shift blame in the face of decreasing job stability.And that's exactly what he did Monday night, while, at his press conference, he called out the passing game.
"Offensively, we just have to get our passing game going. It was inept yesterday. It's clearly lagging," Del Rio said.And lest you think this is somehow not directed at quarterback David Garrard, reporters even gave Del Rio the free "well, your receivers aren't very fast or good" out ... and he passed, in favor of calling Hines Ward "not a track star".
[...]"They load up the box and give you opportunities in the passing game. There were opportunities. I don't think the weather was a factor," Del Rio said.
[...]"It's problematic right now," said Del Rio, who spread the blame among three phases. "It's all intertwined. It's what I'm going to continue to tell you. If your receivers come open but the line doesn't allow protection, or your quarterback doesn't find (the receivers), or your receivers haven't created separation, you're going to have a problem."
Now, some people might be wont to blame this whole problematic play on Garrard's offseason partying, but the reality is that he wasn't going to have another three interception season, no matter how much money the Jags threw at him.
Additionally, the offensive line has been in shambles all season long, and if you're a "run-first-to-set-up-the-efficient-pass" style of team, that's going to be problematic.
Via PFT




