Unrealistic expectations... as usual

[The30YardSlant]

What frustrated me was that we weren't just utterly outplayed. That hot start had me thinking this team was as good -- if not better than -- as advertised.

But the penalties, the poor throws, etc...that's what makes this loss frustrating.

Frankly, I can handle their offense doing what it did to our defense. Leftwich played tremendously and their receivers stepped up today better than anyone expected. If their offense is going to play like that, then they're going to be hard to stop.

But it's the many, many mistakes we made that frustrates me. It's exciting, on one hand, to think that despite all those errors it came down to the final possession. It's entirely frustrating on the other hand when realizing that we're likely to continue seeing some of these mistakes in the future. The Bledsoe we saw today appears several times -- usually against good defenses -- each year.

It's not like we have a creampuff schedule. I'm extremely worried we're going to see more of today's Bledsoe than we even saw last year.

Romo, at the very least, couldnt have played any worse than Bledsoe did today, and definitly wouldnt have taken those stupid sacks.

Romo also doesnt force it like Drew because he doesnt have to. He can scramble out and make plays with his feet. Romo was making all the safe throws in the preseason.

The man needs to start next week, plain and simple

 

[Chuck 54]

I expected a win ... not TOO unrealistic, no? :bang2:

hope for a win, not unrealistic, expecting a win on the road against a team that was 12-4 last season? Why would you expect that? What is it that makes you think Jax has a bad team that can be beaten in their own house on opening day?

I was very impressed with how Leftwich took that cheap helmit shot from Roy and didn't even miss a play.

 

[Chuck 54]

And yet our O-line was not the problem today. What bothers me is that we had a chance to win against a good team on the road and blew it with our own mistakes. We made it easy on Jax, something you can ill afford to do on the road. If they had been blown out, it would've felt better than this. Bledsoe made the Jags secondary look better than they are.

They may have only gotten 2 sacks on us, but on both passes in the first half where Bledsoe missed Owens, the rush was there and he had to sidestep it or move around and delay the delivery, throwing off the timing...no real excuse for an NFL QB, but even Leftwich didn't get his accuracy down until their line started giving him perfect protection.

 

[Chuck 54]

We had Jacksonville dead to rightsd. Up 10-0, our defense was dominating, our offense was moving at will, and even Suisham was kicking butt. Then Bledsoe decided to start sucking. Missed a wide open TO on a seem route that would have made it 17-0. That gave Jacksonville life, and they ran with it.

Drew Bledsoe, plain and simply, is to blame for this loss. Not the penalties or the kicking or the defense, it's on Drew Bledsoe. He couldnt hit the broadside of a barn today.

I agree with your accessment of Bledsoe, but I don't see how anyone can let our defense off the hook...they only played for 1 quarter and then sucked the rest of the way...Henry, TNew, and Roy, not to mention no pass rush, did not play up to their abilities or my expectations.

 

[Novacek84]

People are going to sit here and blame Bledsoe alone for this one and they're wrong. Yes, he was bad and if he plays that way this year we are going nowhere. But the problems are much deeper for this team and I saw no improvement from what I saw at the end of last season. I totally agree with wayne motley's post. Here's the problems I see repeating from last year: The offense fall asleep for long stretches after looking great the first 2 drives. They constantly did this last year and repeated it yesterday. They looked awful from late first quarter until late fourth. By then, the window dressing TD to Owens was too little too late as usual. The defense falls asleep and can't stop a mediocre offense. This defense has a long way to go. Jacksonville has no offense. If you think I'm wrong, just take a look at last year's wild card game they played at New England. They lost 28-3 to a good defense and did nothing. NE is a good defense. What we have now are a bunch of guys believing their own hype. No pass rush again, as usual. Leftwich had all day to pick us apart. Inconsistent kicking game. Finally, penalties. Same garbage as last year, getting penalties when they absolutely kill us. These five yard false starts always seem to come on a second and short and cause us not to convert on 3rd down. I know this is only one game and the sky is not falling but my point is, I see the same team as last year. Same stupid mistakes and same players making them. No consistency on offense and an inability to make the opposing offense go three and out more than a couple times a game defensively. I'm very disappointed in this performance. It just makes me wonder what all the hype is about.

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

Homers look at our team, with Flo back, though he wasn't for the last month of preseason, and T.O. added, though he wasn't for most of preseason, and everyone thinks we're incredible, SB bound, superior to almost any opponent.

When Jax was the favored team early last week, no one can believe it...Leftwich is a joke, Fred Taylor is always hurt, blah blah blah. Home teams win more often than road teams.

1. DelRio is an impressive coach and has a team that went 12-4 and is much improved in the past year. Fred Taylor is a beast who can power inside like few backs in the league, moving piles forward, and still has the speed and moves to embarrass Roy Williams and others several times, not to mention being a nice receiver. DelRio played it conservative when it was raining like crazy, put up with boos for his QB who was playing it safe most of the time, and then when the weather cleared and the ball wasn't slick, Leftwich took over the game and embarrassed our defense.

Parcells used up his T.O. designed plays and decoys in the rain while Bledsoe missed with a slick ball...then when the weather cleared, Jax had seen what we had to offer.

2. Where was that super duper defense...don't whine to me about Bledsoe or Parcells or Flo or Glenn...yes, they made mistakes, and yes, I think our staff was outcoached today...our offense was never intended to carry us, though we hoped they'd perform better, but we spent most of our time trying to connect with T.O., despite the fact that we all knew he and Bledsoe had very very little time together all preseason...what I want to know is why our defense was totally manhandled for 3 quarters...we only looked like a great defense or a little more than a quarter...we were run on, passed on, and we made stupid penalties by key players like Roy, who should know better, to keep drives alive.

3. I don't want to hear about Suisham...Jax's kicker missed one badly as well...it would NOT have been a different game if we'd been up by 3...Jax's offense had already started abusing us on every drive...our defense had no answers for their power or their passing game.

4. and most important, it's no time to panic or whine...those of you who expected us to be 12-4 or better were just loony to begin with. This team has proven nothing to no one in several years. It will take time for the offensive coaches to realize what works best for T.O. It will take time for Bledsoe and T.O. to get on the same page. It will take time for Flo to get into game shape, and it may be next year before he's the player he was before the injury... that's a simple fact for a lineman...he's still better than Tucker or Pettitti...It will take time for this OL, playing with 5 new starters from last year to get it all together.

Clearly, our defensive players spent too much time reading their own press clippings and media prognosticators...now it's time for everyone to dig deeply and get ready to play. Jax was ready for 60 minutes of football...clearly our defense thought they'd won the game after the first quarter.

This team is still not a great team, but they are better...they are a good team...they can be a playoff team, but it's not guaranteed.

I think this team will still finish in the 10-6 or 9-7 range and be in the playoff hunt. This game was not lost by a simple kick or Bledsoe's struggles in the rain in the first half when the lead could have been bigger. This game was lost because Jax stepped it up...their corners kept fighting and started covering...and their DL played like men...and their coaches blitzed at the right times...and their offensive coaches called the perfect plays, screens, draws etc. at the perfect time against our defense...they were physical and tough. Our players wilted in the pressure, imo.

When we finish the tough string of road games to start the season, we will be a much better team than we are now, and hopefully we'll be at least .500 at that point and ready to make a serious move.

Going into yesterday thinking we could come away with a win was NOT unrealistic.

After playing the way we did in that first series - a win was very much a possibility.

Losing that game was all on us(Yes Drew mostly, not the D) Jags didnt beat us. We beat ourselves.

Next up, Commanders. Our record next 1-1.

 

[cowboyed]

yomick, how can you state that 100%? Yes we help beat ourselves with significant penalties and mistakes. But you know the other team has something to do with that as well. When Bledsoe throws a poor pass some Jaguars defender has to intercept it. When Bledsoe gets sacked, some Jaguar pass rusher has to get to the quarterback. When the Jags get a turnover their offense has to move down the field and score.

Let's give them some credit. They were getting trounced in the first quarter and fought back one way or the other to get back into the game and beat us. I always love the rationale of we beat ourselves. Don't get me wrong there is some truth to that but the other team is substantially involved in the outcome.

 

[Phoenix-Talon]

I Know you guys don't want any sympathy right now ...that was a tough one. If it Means anything at all, I thought that there were opportuinities for you to win that game. Anyway, wanted to respond to Mr Cowboy's post below ...

I thought we were well on our way to playing a game like we did last year against Philly at home. Where we took it to them from the get go, and never let up.

Question: Eagles in Philly game ...or Cowboys in Dallas game?

Wait ...I understand the need to look to better times/games than yesterday, but if you're describing the 2005 Eagles vs Cowboys game in Philly, then what you're saying didn't go down the way you say. The combination of the Cowboys defense applying pressure, Roy Williams and Donovan McNabb were very instrumental in Dallas win in Philly (sometimes you win; sometimes you loose). But throughout that game, as crippled and injury riddled we were, we still were out in front of the Cowboys until the notorious pick (an Eagle perspective), McNabb's ifnal Injury in 2005, and ultimate touchdown that gave you guys the victory.

Unrealistic expectations is to go into Philly thinking you can pull off a cake walk. The Eagles will be ready to contend (hopefully a healthy 1st team Eagles ... this time).

BTW, I really liked the way your offensive team was moving the ball. What was Up with Bill throwing that challenge flag out late?

 

[joseephuss]

I agree with your accessment of Bledsoe, but I don't see how anyone can let our defense off the hook...they only played for 1 quarter and then sucked the rest of the way...Henry, TNew, and Roy, not to mention no pass rush, did not play up to their abilities or my expectations.

They played well the whole first half. They gave up only 10 points. The TD came from a short field because of a dumb turnover. They got a critical stop before that when Ellis applied pressure and Roy intercepted the poorly thrown Leftwich pass.

 

[dbair1967]

I dont see whats unrealistic about hoping a defense that is absolutely loaded can be more than mediocre or just average...probably 20-25 DC's this league (at least) could get way more out of this group than what we saw from Zimmer yesterday

David

 

[dbair1967]

They played well the whole first half. They gave up only 10 points. The TD came from a short field because of a dumb turnover. They got a critical stop before that when Ellis applied pressure and Roy intercepted the poorly thrown Leftwich pass.

Leftwich had all day to throw after the first couple of posessions, save the one rush by Ellis that led to RW's pick...wasnt hardly touched

they didnt play well...they played average, at best

David

 

[lspain1]

I was at the game yesterday. There were quite a few Cowboy fans there, and everyone I talked to and myself felt that Bledsoe was misfiring all day. Bledsoe was under pressure some, but the INTs were not of the close variety. It was as poor performance from Bledsoe in a Cowboy uniform I can remember. We were all frustrated that they didn't go down the field with a pass until we were behind by two touchdowns.

The defense did not step up in the 2nd half but Bledsoe simply gave them a mountain they could not climb. It is also fair to say they didn't dominate physically and it looked like we were outcoached in the red zone. The game was not as close as the score indicated.

 

[cowboyed]

The problem with this game isn't losing. It's losing when if we just complete one of two passes to a wide open TO, we're sitting at 17-0 and the Jags are playing catch up.

Instead, we misfire. We're up 10-0 and punting back to the Jags.
They benefit from a field goal and then another TD, off a bonehead interception, and viola, 10-10 and game essentially over.

That's the frustrating part.

I could stand losing 20-0 if we played crappy because then I'd know we stunk.

But we play good enough to win and don't.

This game should have been over before half time. But we let another one get away.

It was partially us falling apart and the Jaguars helping us along. They are an aggressive opportunistic team once they get slobber knocked. By the way you cracked me up with the viola...it is voila but I will give you a solid B for coming up with some French panache.

 

[Ashwynn]

What were you guys really expecting. When you identify your weakest link as the Oline and go get 2 has beens, wanna bes and a FA to bulk up your line, You spend 10 mill on a receiver that no one else wanted and you could have low balled for 1 mill, but no you wanted to show respect (and make a splash and out bid against yourself) what are you really expecting.

To ignore your weakness does not make you a better team. I have been trying to tell 2 boards this with little success. Yeah, we have ding dong el dorado. So what. Our Oline is weak as hell and my grandmother could sack Bledsoe. You guys got what you wanted. Maybe, you should be more careful with what you want in the future.

 

[cowboyed]

hope for a win, not unrealistic, expecting a win on the road against a team that was 12-4 last season? Why would you expect that? What is it that makes you think Jax has a bad team that can be beaten in their own house on opening day?

I was very impressed with how Leftwich took that cheap helmit shot from Roy and didn't even miss a play.

If you watched it on tv it probably looked like he shook it off, got up and went about his business. At the stadium the way he slowly go up it looked like Roy pancaked Byron's genitals up into his chest. I was surprised how he recuperated after that spear. The timing and impact of the hit was not a foul, just the fact that Roy speared him keeping his head down.

 

[Doomsday101]

One game is not going to lower my expectation for this team. Dallas made too many mistakes Jags took advantage of it. This team has the whole season in front of them and they need to learn from the mistakes and move on.

 

[cowboyed]

I was at the game yesterday. There were quite a few Cowboy fans there, and everyone I talked to and myself felt that Bledsoe was misfiring all day. Bledsoe was under pressure some, but the INTs were not of the close variety. It was as poor performance from Bledsoe in a Cowboy uniform I can remember. We were all frustrated that they didn't go down the field with a pass until we were behind by two touchdowns.

The defense did not step up in the 2nd half but Bledsoe simply gave them a mountain they could not climb. It is also fair to say they didn't dominate physically and it looked like we were outcoached in the red zone. The game was not as close as the score indicated.

As you may remember I indicated I was going to the game as well. Bledsoe absolutely had no zip on his passes. His interceptions bordered on amateurish. It seemed the energy went out of our team early, after failing to secure a second touchdown in the first quarter. After that we started misfiring on both sides of the ball. I believe it had to do with them stuffing our run more often than not.

Credit the Jags for nutting up and coming at us when the opportunity arose. They are also a big physical team that wore us down. Their receivers exposed our secondary. Opponents have to contend with Owens a talented, big fast physical receiver. But the Jaguars have 3 tall physical receivers, none superfast with the exception of 6'8" Matt Jones. And this game started to develop into a coming out party for Jones.

I actually was surprised our Oline held up reasonably well although we continue not having a serious ability not to run block, despite the deep threat weapons that should keep the Jaguars defense honest. Julius Jones in my opinion had one of his most impressive games of his career in terms of will power and physically running. Most of those yards he earned were despite the lackluster efforts of the Oline.

Now the fading effectiveness of our defense really shocked me. I expected the defense to struggle in the last quarter, but from the middle of the second quarter onward? Come on!!!

We had this game in hand and the Jaguars snatched it back, plain and simple.

 

[dboyz]

I blame our offense more than the defense (although the defense has room to improve). The difference in the game was turnovers. You can't give a team like Jacksonville a couple of short fields.

 

[Doomsday101]

I blame our offense more than the defense (although the defense has room to improve). The difference in the game was turnovers. You can't give a team like Jacksonville a couple of short fields.

Defense could have done better in pass coverage and some of the personal fouls helped keep drives alive for the Jags. Both sides of the ball had there share of blame in this loss.

 

[DipChit]

What were you guys really expecting. When you identify your weakest link as the Oline and go get 2 has beens, wanna bes and a FA to bulk up your line .......

Our Oline is weak as hell and my grandmother could sack Bledsoe. You guys got what you wanted. Maybe, you should be more careful with what you want in the future.

You got it. Oh sure maybe an Elway or a Favre in their prime could get the ball to receivers like we have on a consistent basis even with our type of line.. by scrambling or shifting around and making something happen.. but a Bledsoe wont be able to game in and game out.

Same with RB's. For every time theres a decent hole, theres 4 times where there isnt. And last I checked we dont have a Barry Sanders or Tomlinson back there.

Add that up and sure there will be games against weaker D's where you get some things done. But there will be games where it's ugly as hell.. especially on the road against a good D.

And maybe David's point ties into as well. Maybe the staff is fooled into thinking the o-line is better than it is because in practice Bill tells the D to go after the QB hard as heck.. and since our D never can seem to get to a QB no matter who they're up against, they think even our line must be good.