“ I was talking to the referee and he said it ’ s a tough thing to call or not call ,” Bouye said in the postgame locker room . “ When a running back is coming at me and you ’ re bigger than me , as a defensive back you try to go low .”
Usually preseason penalty numbers are higher than the regular season as rule changes and emphases are implemented for the fi rst time and teams try to adjust .
“ Man , that will definitely be a topic of discussion ,” linebacker Myles Jack said after the win over the Vikings . “ It ’ s kind of inevitable , it ’ s going to happen . The refs will get that right , its preseason so they ’ re going to be quick to draw the flags and by the regular season they will figure it out .”
As is routine , an NFL officiating crew visited training camp before the preseason opener . This year , veteran NFL referee John Parry and his crew worked with the team for three days , visiting each position group and explaining new rules and how they might be called in game situations .
Offense Quarterback Blake Bortles threw an interception with 12-of-20 passing for 159 yards last week , playing the entire first half .
It seemed that offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett and Bortles did open up the offense a little more than in Preseason Week 1 , trying some throws down the field .
His 14-yard scramble to the 1-yard line on a thirdand-goal situation set up a 1-yard touchdown run from Leonard Fournette . You would rather not see the quarterback taking hits in the preseason like he took at the end of that play , but that is Bortles ’ personality . He ’ s going to do everything in his power to get the team a victory , even in the preseason .
Running back T . J . Yeldon showed his ability out of the backfield in the passing game , logging 73 receiving AP Images yards on five receptions – much of that on screen plays . Running back Brandon Wilds made his case for a roster spot , with 32 rushing yards on eight carries , including a 1-yard touchdown plunge in the fourth quarter .
Left guard Andrew Norwell and right tackle Jermey Parnell did not dress for the game , while center Brandon Linder left the game with a knee injury . Having all fi ve linemen play together in a game would be ideal , but do not expect Marrone to push it if any of them have anything that could carry into the regular season .
Defense We get it – this defensive unit is really , really good – and is trending toward greatness .
They held Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins to 12 yards through the air on 3-of-8 passing last week , and that was without cornerback Jalen Ramsey , safety Tashaun Gipson , defensive end Dante Fowler Jr ., defensive lineman Taven Bryan and defensive tackle Marcell Dareus .
For defensive coordinator Todd Wash , improving the depth on defense has been the focus . With those front-line players on the side last week ’ s game was the perfect opportunity to see some players work .
Last week , rookie safety Ronnie Harrison made the start in Gipson ’ s place , and he paced the Jaguars defense with fi ve tackles and added a forced fumble . Cornerback Tyler Patmon started in the place of Ramsey at left cornerback and posted a tackle and a pass defense . Safety Jarrod Wilson made four tackles with a sack and a forced fumble . Linebacker Donald Payne added four tackles and a tackle for loss and has worked in camp as the backup for starting middle linebacker Myles Jack .
Special teams Wide receiver Rashad Greene Sr . put the Jaguars in position for the game-winning touchdown with a 56-yard punt return to the 4-yard line with 2:20 remaining in the fourth quarter . AP IMAGES