Jacksonville Scouting Report

[Sez.EJ]

Originally Posted by Riffer X

I was a big fan of Don Carey and pissed when Jacksuck snagged him in kind of an unwritten rule violation. He is now starting at FS (granted in a horrific secondary) but this adds a little to this game, as I'm sure Mangie is not too happy about Jax pulling the maneuver they did to snag him.

Mangini has only himself to be mad at for allowing this to happen in the first place. Jacksonville was smart enough to capitalize on Mangini's mistake.. You can't blame Jax..gotta blame Mangini... It's water under the bridge now though. It should be a good game. .. How well does our run D hold up will be the key to this game.

[Jax Dawg]

I'm glad the blackout was lifted and I'll be able to see it at home on the DVR. I had a friend offer me great ticks but I can't go due to something going on. The weather will be nice - mid 70's and sunny.

The Jags are the one of the luckiest teams right now after their hail mary win last week and a last second win a few weeks ago on a 59 yrd FG. If the Browns can jump out to an early lead and make them a pass first team then they have a great chance to beat them. If the Jags suffer another 2nd half collapse like last year (highly probable) then I think their coach gets the axe.

[DawgFan]

This should be interesting. Here is my take:

In McCoy's first 4 games he faced:
Pittsburgh: 26th in passing yards allowed, but top 10 in sacks, INT's and TD's against
New Orleans: 1st in passing yards allowed, 16th in sacks, 1st in TD's against
New England: 30th in passing yards allowed, 20th in sacks, 9th in INT's, 20th in TD's against
NY Jets: 13th in passing yards allowed, 12 in sacks, 12 in TD's against

The Jags are: 29th in passing yards allowed, 25th in sacks, 17th in INT's, 30th in TD's against

In other words, they are BY FAR the worst passing defense that Colt has faced to date. Add into that equation the fact that they are ALSO the worst rush defense the Browns and Hillis have faced....21st (NE was the next at 18th and we all saw what Hillis did there)...

The fact is, the Browns were 2-2 against those 4 teams, and if not for a late fumble would have been 3-1...

I see a game that, unless there is some kind of letdown, which a Mangini run team (much like Belicheat) isn't likely to have...should see the Browns open up a big can of whoop-ass.

Prediction:

Browns 34
Jags 13

[BernietheKid]

Terry Pluto's pregame scribbles before the Browns face the Jaguars

Published: Sunday, November 21, 2010, 7:30 AM

Terry Pluto, The Plain Dealer


Tony Dejak / Associated Press
Josh Cribbs hasn't had as many big plays this season as in 2009, but the Browns will unquestionably miss their talented multi-purpose player today against the Jaguars.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Pregame scribbles as the Browns prepare to take on the Jaguars.

1. This has not been a Pro Bowl season for Joshua Cribbs, but there is no question that he will be missed today. Dislocated toes have sidelined Cribbs for only the third game in five years. This season he ranks only 25th in kick returns (20.9 average), 17th in punt returns (8.6 yards). Last season, he was No. 3 in kickoff returns (27.5) and No. 4 in punt returns (11.9).

2. Cribbs had four touchdown returns last season -- three kickoffs and a punt. He has none this season. The main reason for the decline is teams simply don't kick to him. Usually, they boot the ball short and near the sideline. It helps the Browns get better field position, but it takes away the chance for Cribbs to make huge plays.

3. As a receiver, Cribbs has only five catches in five games. His 17 for the season is three behind his total of 20 in 2009, his best as a receiver. It seemed that Cribbs and Colt McCoy were starting to click a bit when Cribbs caught a 37-yarder early in the Jets game, but then he was injured. He also had a 14-yard run in that game. In the wildcat, Cribbs has 69 yards in 16 carries -- a 4.3 average.

4. Coach Eric Mangini is correct when insisting that even if it seems Cribbs isn't doing much, he draws a lot of defensive attention. With Mile Bell (seven yards in 13 carries) doing so little as a backup to Peyton Hillis, the Browns used Cribbs and the wildcat to give Hillis a break.

5. On the season, Hillis has played 77 percent of the snaps. But more revealing, he was on the field for 94 percent of the snaps in the overtime loss to the Jets. The Browns must find a backup tailback.

6. Which brings us to Jerome Harrison, who broke through with 109 yards in 11 carries for the Eagles against Washington last week, including a 50-yard TD. There must have been some problem with him at first, because Harrison didn't play the first two games in Philadelphia. In the third game, he had six yards in two carries. It's not clear if he didn't know the system or needed to get into better shape, but last week was his first significant game. It will be interesting to see if the production continues. Certainly playing on the same team as sizzling quarterback Michael Vick (who has the NFL highest QB rating) has to put Harrison in position to succeed.

7. Which brings us to 2011, when Montario Hardesty is supposed to be recovered from his knee surgery. Do the Browns count on him being healthy, or do they draft or sign another runner? It seems they must bring in another back who can spell Hillis.

8. Profootballfocus.com rates Hillis as an excellent blocker, reporting that he has faced 17 blitzes and only missed one block. The Web site also raves about him as a receiver and considers him one of the best all-around backs in the NFL. Hillis is having an amazing season. While his 726 yards ranks 12th in the NFL, he is sixth with a 4.8-yard average, third with eight rushing TDs. He's first in converting in third-and-1 situations, perfect in eight chances. He is sixth in running for first downs.

Terry Pluto's pregame scribbles before the Browns face the Jaguars | cleveland.com

[BernietheKid]

Browns-Jaguars: Game Scout
Jacksonville Stadium		By The Sports Xchange Posted Nov 20, 2010 | More The facts you need before Sunday's matchup in Florida.
KICKOFF: Sunday, 1:00 p.m. ET GAMEDATE: 11/21/10 SURFACE: Natural Grass TV: CBS, Bill Macatee, Rich Gannon GAME THREAD: Click for OBR Football GAME UPDATES ON TWITTER: @TheOBR PREDICTION: Browns 20-17 KEYS TO THE GAME: The Jaguars aren't an explosive offensive team and their defense hasn't shown a killer instinct to put teams away. That plays into the plan of the Browns -- stick around long enough to win games late. Rookie QB Colt McCoy has a 99.8 passer rating in the fourth quarter but won't take many risks, even against a lackluster pass rush, because of his limited supporting cast. The Browns need takeaways -- Jacksonville is minus-6 in that category -- but Jaguars QB David Garrard has been nearly flawless with a 153.4 rating and no turnovers in the past two games. There could be more room to run for Maurice Jones-Drew, who has back-to-back 100-yard games, with ILB Scott Fujita out. FAST FACTS: Browns RB Peyton Hillis is fourth in the AFC with 109.1 yards from scrimmage per game. ... The home team is 1-5 in the past six meetings in this series. SERIES HISTORY: 13th regular-season meeting. Jaguars lead series, 8-4. The series was decidedly in Jacksonville's favor in the early years, but since then, it has tilted toward the Browns. The Browns have won three of the last four games, including their last three visits to Jacksonville. MATCHUPS TO WATCH: Browns LB Matt Roth vs. Jaguars QB David Garrard. The Browns defense got to Mark Sanchez last week but found him surprisingly elusive. Garrard is another strong quarterback capable of extending plays with his legs. The Browns have to make sure when they get their hands on Garrard they do not let him escape. Browns LB David Bowens vs. Jaguars TE Marcedes Lewis. With Scott Fujita out because of a knee injury, Bowens will be locked onto Lewis at times. That is a difficult matchup for the 12th-year veteran. Lewis has seven touchdown catches. INJURY IMPACT: The Browns will miss Josh Cribbs on offense and as a returner due to an injury to his right foot. The Wildcat offense does not work when he is out of the lineup. David Bowens will replace Scott Fujita (knee) at outside linebacker. Mike Adams will miss the game, putting additional pressure on the Browns secondary and special teams coverage, where he and Cribbs have served as gunners in recent years. INSIDE THE CAMPS Browns Cornerback Eric Wright is out to turn his season around while it is still salvageable, starting Sunday when the Browns play the Jaguars in Jacksonville. "Obviously, I haven't had the year I thought I'd have," Wright said. "I have a responsibility to this team to be a certain type of player. I've let my team down time and time again. "Obviously, I have to play better. Until one of these guys look me in the face and say, "I don't believe in you anymore," I'm good. That hasn't happened yet. I'm going to keep pushing and keep working." Wright was torched three times by Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco in Baltimore in a 24-17 loss in the third game of the season. He gave up two touchdowns in Pittsburgh and had coverage on Santonio Holmes last week when Holmes beat him for the winning touchdown in an overtime loss to the Jets. Wright said he gave up two touchdowns all of 2009 while playing man to man coverage most of the time without much help from the safeties, who were able to leave Wright on an island because he covered receivers well on his own. Last year, quarterbacks picked on Brandon McDonald so much McDonald was benched three times and then cut at the end of the 2010 training camp. Now opponents are going after Wright more than they go after right cornerback Sheldon Brown. Coach Eric Mangini does not have many options, especially now with Brown nursing a neck injury. He could start Haden at left corner against the Jaguars, but he is more comfortable using Haden in nickel situations. Haden is the left cornerback and Wright plays over the slot receiver in the sub defenses. "When you play that position and make mistakes, they're a lot more visible than any other position," Mangini said. "He had an outstanding year last year. There have been times this year I've seen that level of play and that's what I expect." That also means there have been times when Wright has not played as well as Mangini expects. Those mistakes are magnified when a team plays close games as the Browns do. Their losses this season have been by 3, 2, 7, 10, 18 and 6 points. Wright said he has had more good games than bad this season, but the bad ones stand out. Surprisingly he said teams are not targeting him. "I don't feel like there's necessarily a streak," he said. "We had the Baltimore game which obviously opened up the floodgates for us having this type discussion. It was the worst game I've played in my career. It was more so me not doing what I was supposed to do mentally than physically. "I feel like throughout the nine games I've had more (good) games than bad games, but when you have certain big plays playing cornerback it's going to be looked at a different way." Wright is in the final year of his rookie contract. Jaguars The Jaguars' two new starting defensive ends, Jeremy Mincey and Austen Lane, will stay in the starting lineup against the Cleveland Browns on Sunday, but they will be under the microscope. Coach Jack Del Rio said, "Our defensive ends did not play very well. They're going to have to play much better going forward." Del Rio, though, isn't going to bench them, mainly because he doesn't have many alternatives. Lane is playing for Derrick Harvey, who's been benched, and Mincey is playing for Aaron Kampman, who is out with a torn ACL. Del Rio said they will learn on the job the way Courtney Greene and Don Carey have done at safety. "We're going to let those guys play and let the group play and demand that we get certain things done and coach them up and teach them and let them play," Del Rio said of Mincey and Lane. Mincey is playing with a broken bone in his right hand. "I didn't play a terrible game," he said. "I was pretty effective." He called his mistakes "correctable stuff." He also has a new cast after shattering the one he played in last week as he apparently clobbered some of the Texans with it. "I had a few clobbers. It's a pretty nice weapon," he said. Mincey suggested he got away with a few head slaps that would have made Deacon Jones proud. "I might have gotten away with it. I'm not going to talk about it," he said. Lane said he has got to improve and said he might have been thinking too much. Scout.com: Browns-Jaguars: Game Scout

[Enigmatic Evil]

Here's my bottom line: I think the Jags are a good team, but they're not as good as their W-L record indicates. They've won some big games when they've neede to but they've also lost some stinkers. This is a game we should win and I think Colt will have his best outing yet, and we will run wild on this Jacksonville D

Browns win, 27-10

[Vegasdogg]

Originally Posted by OconRecon

Ok, here's the plan:

Vickers blocks for Hillis, then,
Vickers blocks for Hillis, then,
Vickers blocks for Hillis, then,
Vickers blocks for Hillis, then,
Vickers blocks for Hillis, then,
Vickers blocks for Hillis, then,
Vickers blocks for Hillis, then,
Vickers blocks for Hillis, then,
Vickers blocks for Hillis.

That's it. Let them try and stop it.

I like it.