After a 2-2 get started, the present AFC no. 3 seed Jacksonville Jaguars will host the winless Houston Texans this week in an AFC South divisional matchup.
These are the players I’ll be paying maximum consideration to on both sides of the ball.
QB Trevor Lawrence
Jacksonville had some unforced mistakes in its season opener in Washington earlier than the offense began buzzing in lopsided wins over the Colts and Chargers. Last week, although, the Jaguars confronted typhoon prerequisites in Philadelphia, and Trevor Lawrence dedicated 5 turnovers in a 29-21 loss to the Birds.
Again — it was once typhoon prerequisites. Lawrence seemed horrific and performed the worst recreation of his profession, nevertheless it doesn’t imply a lot taking into account the sideways rain and howling wind. Dropped fumbles and wobbly passes are what we noticed out of Blaine Gabbert, Blake Bortles, Gardner Minshew, and many others. on sunny days on the Bank.
While I’m prepared to throw this climate recreation out of my reminiscence, that’ll be a tougher job for Lawrence himself. Confidence issues, and it’s necessary that Lawrence has a brief reminiscence and strikes on to Houston with out considering too exhausting about previous errors.
Pay consideration to his rhythm on Sunday. Is Lawrence taking part in easily and multi functional movement and with self belief? Or is he staying onto reads for too lengthy and forcing passes and getting skittish?
You noticed the latter final week, however for an instance of the previous, watch the way in which Lawrence acts as and after he throws this Week 3 landing.
The little shuffle he does? That’s a quarterback who is aware of six issues are coming however is simply ready to make sure that his receiver finishes the play. That’s a quarterback with swagger.
If this model of Lawrence re-emerges on Sunday, the Texans are in hassle.
DE Adam Gotsis
Interior defensive lineman Foley Fatukasi signed a three-year, $30 million deal in Jacksonville final March and has been certainly one of a number of difference-makers within the trenches for the Jaguars. However, Fatukasi’s run protection will probably be neglected towards Houston after he suffered a quad damage final week.
The subsequent guy up is Adam Gotsis. Nose take on will proceed to be manned through DaVon Hamilton, however Gotsis is in line to get started in his first recreation for the Jaguars since final October at left defensive finish.
The former Denver Broncos second-rounder has been a key rotational piece in Jacksonville for a couple of seasons, and it seems like Gotsis is all the time excellent for a large play. Only Josh Allen has extra tackles for loss than Gotsis since he joined the Jaguars in 2020.
After surrounding 134 dashing yards to Miles Sanders final week, Gotsis, Hamilton, and beginning proper defensive finish Roy Robertson-Harris are set to face Dameon Pierce, who rushed for 131 yards himself in Week 4. Jacksonville’s internal will have to win on early downs towards the run so defensive coordinator Mike Caldwell can unharness the hounds on Davis Mills on 3rd downs.
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