Saints vs Jaguars Game Day Newsletter 5Oct13Saints_Digital | Page 16
RIGHT THE SHIP
Jaguars have found something on offense, defense
looking for consistency as the New Orleans Saints march
into TIAA Bank Field
By: J.P. Shadrick
game for a chance to tie with a touchdown and
extra point, and there is a feeling that this offense
always gives the team an opportunity after rallies
from two defi cits in Denver and nearly another
last week.
“Knowing the guys in that huddle, that as long as
there is time on the clock, we are going to keep
fi ghting,” Minshew said. “We are going to give all
we got, because we know the guy next to us is,
and you’re not going to let him down.
“As long as there is any chance, that is what we
are going to do.”
Defense
The Carolina Panthers ran for 285 yards as a
team last week, the second-worst output against
a Jaguars defense in franchise history. Panthers
running back Christian McCaffrey is an out-of-
this-world talent, yes, but ensuring that does not
become a trend is key.
“We’ve just got to go back to the drawing board,
watch the fi lm and see what we can do better,”
defensive end Yannick Ngakoue said after last
week’s game.
“If we could’ve just got a couple more (run) fi ts
and a couple more three-and-outs, we could’ve
put our offense in a better position. As a defense,
we’re going to work to get that better.”
After battling a hamstring injury throughout the
fi rst few weeks of the season, Ngakoue fi nally
broke out last week with his fi rst two sacks of
the season. Rookie pass rusher Josh Allen added
another. For “Sacksonville” to really get rolling,
the Jaguars need to play with a lead more often
to get the opponent in true passing situations.
That means more three-and-outs on defense to
support an offense that continues to fi nd ways to
move the ball and score.
“Our offense is playing really good football and
our defense is playing really good football, and
there are just a couple little minor details that we
messed up on,” Ngakoue said.
Overall, though, the Jaguars’ head coach knows
his team must cash in opportunities on both sides
of the ball.
“I thought the guys were resilient, they kept
going even though we gave up big runs or we
didn’t score, we were able to get back and had a
chance to get back in the game and had a chance
to win the game,” Head Coach Doug Marrone said
after last week’s loss. “But their attitude, the way
they’re going about their business, the team –
that stuff is good.
“We’ve got to coach better, we’ve got to play
better – on the performance end of it – and put
our guys in a better position.