Everyone wants to fix the run D, but I have to ask…does it even really matter?
With 9:24 left in the first quarter, the Jags had the ball with second-and-4 at the Indianapolis 25, ready to run the 11th play of their opening drive. They lined up in an extreme power formation, with an extra tackle to the right and two tight ends to the left. Strong-side linebacker Philip Wheeler(notes) (50) filled the right-side “C” gap as weak-side linebacker Session (55) had done on the other side two plays before on a 7-yard run. Pre-snap, cornerback Jacob Lacey(notes) motioned across the formation to match the movement of Jags receiver Nate Hughes(notes). At the snap, Session banged inside and was washed away by slide protection, and safety Melvin Bullitt(notes) (33) was the next line of defense. Given the handoff from quarterback David Garrard(notes), halfback Maurice Jones-Drew(notes) took a step to the right before cutting back and heading into the fray. He bounced off Bullitt just before middle linebacker Brackett (58) was able to bring him down after a 3-yard gain. On the next play, Garrard was sacked, and the Jags had to kick a field goal.
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