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WATFORD, United Kingdom – Let's get to it …
Mr. Padre from St. Mary's, GA
What a win! But John, do you think since we still won, young Liam will stop using analytics over common sense? Leaving six points on the field (three in the FIRST HALF) almost led to a loss. Take the points!
I have received a slew of these emails since the Jaguars' 19-17 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium Sunday. This is as expected considering many fans instinctively dislike coaches being aggressive on fourth-down situations in field-goal range. But while such aggression is increasingly common in the NFL, and while Jaguars Head Coach Liam Coen certainly often leans into such aggression, there's some nuance to this issue as it relates to the Jaguars' victory Sunday. That nuance is that the Jaguars from early in the first quarter on were without long snapper Ross Matiscik in that game. While nose tackle DaVon Hamilton long-snapped admirably in Matiscik's place, snapping eight times – including on a game-winning 57-yard field goal on the game's last play – Matiscik's absence made field-goals, extra points and punts higher-risk plays than otherwise might be the case. Coen on Monday said Matiscik's absence influenced fourth-down decision-making. That doesn't necessarily mean Coen would have kicked field goals on inside-the-10 fourth downs late in the first half and in the fourth quarter. But when bemoaning the decision and slamming the exclamation key in protest, remember the game circumstance. It very much mattered in this case.
Jeremy from Gilbert, AZ
This week, you will tell us again that the NFL is hard. Apparently, it is really hard when half of the opponent's starters are backups. The Jags absolutely earned and deserved to lose. And yet they stole a win. I hope we do not see them play this bad again (specifically Lawrence).
The NFL is hard. It's really hard when you're playing a proud – and really good – team with a strong, physical defense that's playing hard and well. It's also team that you might recall led a Los Angeles Rams team by 10 points late the previous week before losing. While "conventional wisdom" – read: Twitter and television – told us that the Jaguars would beat the Eagles badly simply by showing up, that conventional wisdom forgot that the Eagles' defense is very good and that the Eagles even with their issues likely will be a postseason team this season. Also: The Jaguars' offense played well Sunday but for two stalled red-zone opportunities, the defense played very well and quarterback Trevor Lawrence did not play bad (at all).
Michael from Jax
I am not a football coach, but I stayed at a Holiday Inn last night, so I have a few pointers for Coen. First, stop being so cute with the playcalling. Just score the touchdown from the 1-yard line. Hike the ball to quarterback Trevor Lawrence and have him hand the ball off. If that doesn't work, then have Lawrence do a quarterback sneak. Second, kick the field goal at the end of the second quarter. I realize that the backup long snapper was an issue, but if he was able to get it done on the 57-yarder, he could have made a good enough snap at the 1-yard line. Maybe Liam needs to sleep at a Holiday Inn?
I, like many loyal O-Zone readers, long have known it's always coaching in the NFL. Imagine my relief when I learned this week that even when the Jaguars have one of the NFL's best young coaches – a coach who would be coveted by many NFL teams, who is arguably this team's best coach in two-and-a-half decades, who has coached the Jaguars to an AFC South title and victories in 12 of 13 regular-season games, who is an extraordinary play-caller and who is one of the primary reasons this franchise is in a better situations than it has been in those same two-and-half decades – that it nevertheless still is and always will always coaching in the NFL.
Michael from San Diego, CA
Was that the most clutch kickoff return in franchise history?
Running back Ameer Abdullah's 53-yard kickoff return to the Eagles' 39-yard line – one play after Eagles kicker Jake Elliott's 48-yard field goal – set up a 57-yard field goal by Jaguars kicker Cam Little with no time remaining that gave the Jaguars a victory Sunday. Considering if essentially anything else had happened – outside of Abullah scoring – would have meant the Jaguars losing … yes, I'd say it was the "clutchest" kick return in franchise history. My memory may be flawed. That wouldn't be shocking.
Shawn from Jacksonville
Coach Liam needs to figure out how to get the football into end zone from the 1-yard line.
Coen is a remarkably good red-zone play-caller, as evidenced by the team's success in this area in Weeks 1-4. The Jaguars struggled in this area Sunday. One Sunday struggling against Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter on the goal line doth not a disturbing trend make.
Bill from Ponte Vedra, FL
I hate to criticize anyone about the kickoff return by Abdullah, but he needed to get down as soon as he was within Cam's range. If he had broken the last tackle, we would have lost unless he took it to the house.
Abdullah was aware of the time and the need to be tackled in a timely manner. He was not trying to break the final tackle and was watching the clock as he ran. While running at a high speed, should he have been aware enough to go down 10 eight yards before he did? Maybe, but that would have been remarkable awareness for an already remarkably-aware player.
Nick from Virginia Beach, VA
That was crazy. Where does that ending rank in Jaguars history?
Atlanta Falcons kicker Morten Andersen's missed field goal that gave the Jaguars their first playoff appearance following the 1996 season is up there. So is Jaguars kicker Riley Patterson's 36-yard field goal to cap a 27-point comeback and beat the Los Angeles Chargers in the AFC Wild Card Playoff following the 2022 season. Sunday's ending was up there, too. It was historical stuff.
Steve from St. Johns, FL
John, If a team's attitude and style is a reflection of their coach, Cam Little must be holding the mirror. When even your kicker plays with a chip on his shoulder, the message has made its way through the rest of the organization. His reaction after kicking the-game winning field goal was the essence. Bring it on anytime, anyplace, anyone.
Damned right.
Keith from Ocala, FL
I give Coen a lot of credit for turning the culture and the record around in Jacksonville, BUT he is the reason Jacksonville almost lost to the Eagles this week and the Buffalo Bills in the playoffs! Take the damn points!!!!! So frustrating!!!
Even when you're 4-1 and leading the AFC South with victories in 12 of 13 regular-season games, it's always coaching in the NFL.
JT from Palm Coast, FL
I gave some praise to Mr. Hamilton last week, and so did you. Life waxes poetic and I am very happy to see him getting his flowers. He is a heart-and-soul player. Right on.
One fer Hamilton.
Crash from Glen Saint Mary
Obi Wan! OMG! Why can't Robert Hainsey or Jonah Monheim play center on special teams? Make it make sense.
Because long snapping is not regular snapping, meaning the positions require different skills and body types, and centers therefore rarely – if ever – long snap in professional football these days.
Al from Dowling Park
TAKE THE POINTS! PAY THE MAN! How many emails did you get like this?
Many.
Karl from St. Augustine, FL
Game Ball to Logan Cooke. He did not have his best day punting, but he may have had his best day in his career with the Jags. How does he not only get up to catch each of those four high snaps from D-Ham, but also get all of them down - three of them fast enough and accurately enough that Cam can kick them through the uprights?
Because he may be the Jaguars' best player in terms of hand-eye coordination. And because holding is a skill, one at which Cooke is really good.
Tony from Johns Creek, GA
O, another unbelievable win. However, they can't continue to play poorly on offense and expect to win. The amount of penalties is atrocious! I don't believe it is a coaching issue. The offensive line is not particularly good. They're not quick on their feet and it shows. Holding and illegal procedure penalties will continue unless they find a way to get better. Hats off to the defense, who allowed only three points in the second half.
At the risk of being a bit argumentative, the Jaguars had 408 yards offense Sunday against a physical – and historically very good – Eagles defense. Is the Jaguars' offensive line the best in the NFL? No, but the Jaguars have run well more often than not and have functioned well enough this season for the offense to usually be good. The Jaguars haven't won "pretty" in recent weeks. It's not always pretty in professional football. Four and one is pretty.