Jaguars @ Saints
Final Score: Saints 23, Jaguars 21
Writer: Benjamin Haller (@benjaminhaller1 on Twitter)
An electric first quarter from Jameis Winston and the New Orleans Saints set the tone for a dominant display from the Saints, who overcame rookie Trevor Lawrence and the Jaguars to win this one easily. A couple of late touchdowns from third-string quarterback CJ Beathard polished some respectability on the scoreline for the Jags but when the first and second-string units were on the field, Sean Payton‘s New Orleans were at least a couple of levels above Urban Meyer‘s rebuilding Jacksonville side.
“Famous Jameis” certainly made his shots count today in the battle for the starting quarterback job with Taysom Hill.
Winston on the night:
9-10
123 yds
2 TDs📺; ESPN pic.twitter.com/z2mKVRx26T
— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) August 24, 2021
Jacksonville Jaguars
Quarterback
Trevor Lawrence: 14/23, 113 yards, sack | 1 carry, 9 yards
Gardner Minshew: 13/21, 149 yards, INT | 1 carry, 4 yards
CJ Beathard: 9/14, 121 yards, 2 TD
The toughness of the challenge in front of No.1 overall pick Trevor Lawrence was there for all to see last night. The sensation from Clemson looked assured if not rushed during his outing, which lasted until just short of half time. The offensive line is a big issue in Jacksonville, and it was missing a couple of starters yesterday, but Lawrence struggled to effectively find his receivers with the pressure put upon him. Lawrence was 0-for-5 on third-downs before a final drive where he finally managed to secure a couple of first downs as he tried to manufacture a score.
His main targets were impressive second-round receiver Laviska Shenault Jr. and veteran Marvin Jones Jr. That should be the case as we approach Week 1. On his best throw of the day, Lawrence made a big-time throw under pressure to find Shenault near the sideline.
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He also felt the punch of an NFL defense at full go. He was sacked once due to holding onto the ball a little too long and he also took a monster hit from multiple sides as he ran for the first-down to put his team in with a chance to score. Urban Meyer will not want to see this happen again before the season starts.
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Gardner Minshew threw a pick in a disappointing display from the expected backup. Whether CJ Beathard makes this team or not, he certainly brought the game today with two touchdown passes in the final quarter to save the Jags blushes. The first to Jeff Cotton was a lovely back-foot strike into the back corner of the endzone.
Jeff Cotton goes up and gets it!
📺: #JAXvsNO on ESPN pic.twitter.com/BjHEZC8Cs5
— Jacksonville Jaguars (@Jaguars) August 24, 2021
Running Back
James Robinson: 5 carries, 13 yards
Carlos Hyde: 3 carries, 7 yards | 1 target, 1 reception, -3 yards
Dare Ogunbowale: 5 carries, 7 yards | 3 targets, 2 receptions, 7 yards
Devine Ozigbo: 2 carries, 4 yards | 6 targets, 2 receptions, 42 yards
Travis Etienne Jr.: 1 carry, 1 yard | 1 target, 1 reception, 3 yards
Nathan Cottrell: 2 carries, 0 yards | 5 targets, 3 receptions, 36 yards
This was an ugly outing for the running back room as all three quarterbacks found themselves having to throw on third-and-long often. The offensive line didn’t help of course, but it seemed like every time the ball carrier looked for an opening, the defense met them at the line of scrimmage. Totaling just 32 yards on 18 carries is worrying. Only Devin Ozigbo got free the once, taking a screen 30 yards.
Big gain for the @Jaguars! Devine Ozigbo turns the screen into a 30-yard pickup. 🙌
📺: #JAXvsNO on ESPN
📱: https://t.co/vn5yMVzP48 pic.twitter.com/9IAuzlVyLc— NFL (@NFL) August 24, 2021
Somewhat worrying for fantasy purposes was the news that Travis Etienne Jr. was held out early after sustaining a mid-foot sprain that could sideline him for up to two months. That is a blow for this offense. Etienne and Lawrence know each other well from their Clemson days, so for the signal-caller not to have his security blanket for Week 1 is far from ideal.
Wide Receiver/Tight End
Laviska Shenault Jr.: 7 targets, 5 receptions, 36 yards
Marvin Jones Jr.: 5 targets, 4 receptions, 41 yards
Tavon Austin: 5 targets, 4 receptions, 37 yards
Jeff Cotton: 5 targets, 4 receptions, 50 yards, TD
Josh Hammond: 1 target, 1 reception, 33 yards
Luke Farrell: 2 targets, 2 receptions, 25 yards
Collin Johnson: 1 target, 1 reception, 24 yards, TD
Tevin Jones:1 target, 1 reception, 13 yards
Ben Ellefson: 1 target, 1 reception, 13 yards
Laquon Treadwell: 3 targets, 2 receptions, 12 yards
Tyler Davis: 3 targets, 2 receptions, 12 yards
Phillip Dorsett: 2 targets
Jalen Camp: 2 targets
We’ve already seen the nice throw that Lawrence made to find Laviska Shenault Jr. on the sideline. The handy receiver also saw two other targets on third down which he caught but couldn’t make the yardage. Still, it looks like there is some chemistry brewing between the two.
Veteran Marvin Jones Jr. looks to be the guy Lawrence will look at downfield, and he finally hooked up with him for the Jaguars’ first first-down in the second quarter.
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Second-year receiver Collin Johnson was seriously underused as a rookie and despite only drawing one target in this game, at least he made good use of it. Johnson ran a perfect inside-out route to beat his man and nab a high ball from Beathard for the Jaguars’ second score late in the fourth quarter.
Fight until the final whistle.
📺: #JAXvsNO on ESPN pic.twitter.com/VcgGGJFWD8
— Jacksonville Jaguars (@Jaguars) August 24, 2021
New Orleans Saints
Quarterback
Jameis Winston: 9/10, 123 yards, 2 TD
Taysom Hill: 11/28, 138 yards, TD
Trevor Siemian: 4/8, 57 yards | 1 carry, -1 yards
Well, this is the Jameis Winston we know but without the silly mistakes. And that bodes well for the New Orleans Saints. Winston actually showed uncharacteristic restraint a couple of times in this outing. His only incompletion was actually encouraging as he stopped himself throwing a deep ball into coverage and instead threw the ball away. We wouldn’t have seen that two years ago.
The good was absolutely sensational. His first touchdown was a perfect deep ball out in front of depth receiver Marquez Callaway, who made a phenomenal play.
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A sensational throw and an even better catch from the up-and-coming Callaway, who just did his ADP no harm at all. With Michael Thomas and Tre’Quan Smith out and away from the team, there is a real opportunity for the 2020 undrafted receiver out of Tennessee.
Taysom Hill was less impressive, to say the least. He had a bad intentional grounding call on first down in his second series and looked slow in the pocket when identifying his reads. Payton did not allow Hill to run the ball at all, a wise move in the preseason but it showed the dual-threat Hill’s limitations for sure. He did throw for a touchdown, however. Lil’Jordan Humphrey making the grab on a contested ball for a 19-yard score late in the third quarter.
Go up and get it @LJ_Humphrey23! The @Saints are cruising. 😤
📺: #JAXvsNO on ESPN
📱: https://t.co/vn5yMVzP48 pic.twitter.com/jlaZPWH1u9— NFL (@NFL) August 24, 2021
This was all about Jameis, however, who is now the clear favorite to open the season as the QB1 in New Orleans.
Running Back
Tony Jones Jr.: 5 carries, 24 yards | 3 targets, 1 reception, 4 yards
Latavius Murray: 4 carries, 6 yards | 2 targets, 2 receptions, 4 yards
Devonta Freeman: 7 carries, 18 yards | 2 targets, 2 receptions, 14 yards
Dwayne Washington: 4 carries, 16 yards | 2 targets, 2 receptions, 39 yards
In a small surprise, Sean Payton heralded second-year running back Tony Jones Jr. out of Notre Dame as his backup to Alvin Kamara at this stage in the preseason. He led the backfield today and looked to be a tough straight-up-the-middle runner who moved well between the pads. He didn’t see the opportunities he got last week against the Ravens but after playing no part after the starters departed, that is more of a good sign for him at the minute.
Latavius Murray has been the most effective in spelling Kamara over the past two years but that role could diminish if Jones Jr. (who would be significantly cheaper in terms of the cap) continues to impress. That also doesn’t bode well for former Falcons lead back Devonta Freeman, who looks to be looking in from the outside as it stands.
Wide Receiver/Tight End
Marquez Callaway: 5 targets, 5 receptions, 104 yards, 2 TD
Lil’Jordan Humphrey: 5 targets, 4 receptions, 74 yards, TD
Ty Montgomery: 4 targets, 3 receptions, 53 yards
Sutton Smith: 1 target, 1 reception, 12 yards
Juwan Johnson: 3 targets, 1 reception, 9 yards
Deonte Harris: 1 target, 1 reception, 3 yards
Nick Vannett: 1 target, 1 reception, 2 yards
Ethan Wolf: 1 target, 1 reception, 2 yards
Kevin White: 3 targets
Kawaan Baker: 1 target
Easop Winston Jr.: 1 target
Have a day, Marquez Callaway! After grappling with two Jaguars defenders for his first touchdown, he put himself firmly on the map in the NFL with a remarkable one-handed catch from another Jameis bomb to haul in his second score of the first quarter to put the Saints 14-0 up.
They've done it again! @jaboowins to @CallawayMarquez for 6 ‼️
📺: #JAXvsNO on ESPN
📱: https://t.co/vn5yMVzP48 pic.twitter.com/jhd0VO6d6O— NFL (@NFL) August 24, 2021
Lil’Jordan Humphrey is another guy who the Saints have developed over the past few years and he showed excellent ability to make plays in important situations again today. Mainly catching balls off Hill, as we saw with the touchdown, he has safe hands and the ability to make guys miss.
Big play from @LJ_Humphrey23! 🙌
📺: #JAXvsNO on ESPN
📱: https://t.co/vn5yMVzP48 pic.twitter.com/ybwPpvHGte— NFL (@NFL) August 24, 2021
The receiver room in New Orleans is much changed but is also still a lottery at this stage. Both Callaway and Humphrey just earned themselves a front-row seat at the opportunity table thanks to today’s performances.
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Great read thank you!