RSS
Home
The Texans will beat the Jaguars if...
Print
Email
RSS
Subscribe
As I prepare to head out the door to Reliant Stadium, let me leave you with two keys to Texans success today.
One you already know. His name is Maurice Jones-Drew and he must be stopped - or at least slowed considerably in order for the Texans to win their second consecutive AFC South matchup.
The second key hasn't been discussed as much but I heard Gary Kubiak allude to it a few times this week.
The Jags are doing some different things defensively that could give the Texans some trouble, as in running more 3-4 fronts than in the past.
"One of their strengths defensively is doing a lot of things with odd fronts and even fronts and that's something we've struggled with early in the season so (that and stopping Jones-Drew) are two big dilemmas for us going into the game," said Kubiak earlier in the week.
And we all know that the 3-4 is kryptonite to these Texans.
But as Gene Frenette of jacksonville,com writes, the reason the Jags have been unable to pressure opposing quarterbacks may not just be because Reggie Hayward is on IR or because highly touted 2008 first rounder Derrick Harvey hasn't been as good as advertised.
Said Frenette, "[m]aybe we'll see coordinator Mel Tucker playing a more aggressive chess game, sending cornerbacks and linebackers from different angles. The Jaguars' defense needs the confidence that comes from repeatedly disrupting or putting a quarterback down."
With the Jets recent success against the Texans, you can bet Jags head coach Jack Del Rio wore out that tape this week while game planning against the Texans. The question is, can they Jags flip the switch and begin to run it effectively enough to keep Matt Schaub from picking them apart downfield.
The Jags may simply be in the midst of a learning curve as they figure out their new 3-4 defense. Let's hope it takes them a few more weeks to figure it out.
We'll find out in a few hours.
Related: A Jags appetizer for Texans fans
Related Articles:
Comments
