Yes, on the surface there look to be some problems with the Jaguars. With Jimmy Smith gone, they really don't have any receivers who are too scary. Matt Jones is big and fast, but he's not going to "out-quick" a lot of cornerbacks. Byron Leftwich, who takes forever to get rid of the ball, could be vulnerable to a Cowboy pass rush that registered 37 sacks last year and will be improved. All-Pro defensive tackle Marcus Stroud will not play, leading tackler Mike Peterson is banged up, and cornerback Brian Williams was arrested for DUI last week. On top of that, tight end Mercedes Lewis, who the Jags were counting on to provide an outlet for Leftwich, may not see action. There's a flip side, though. Dallas coach Bill Parcells was worried enough about his offensive line that he used backup QB Tony Romo exclusively in one pre-season game because of Romo's ability to evade a pass rush. Problem is, Romo has never thrown an NFL pass. That leaves Dallas with Drew Bledsoe, who has cement shoes in the pocket, and could be fair game for a Jacksonville pass rush that had 47 sacks in 2005. For a struggling offensive line, the Jags are particularly worrisome, as there are five different players who had more than five sacks last year. Bob Meier, who fills in for Stroud, led all AFC defensive tackles in sacks last season. Maurice Drew, the rookie from UCLA, gives Jacksonville someone who can contribute in multiple ways. The Jaguars are always a much better team when RB Fred Taylor is healthy, and here he is. Whether Terrell Owens has an impact is iffy; he hasn't really practiced all that much and the hamstring injury is not a bluff.
THE PLAY: JACKSONVILLE |
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