Top 5 Defensive Plays from Jaguars vs. Browns

by Chris Pokorny on Nov 22, 2011 12:15 PM EST

CLEVELAND, OH - NOVEMBER 20: Defensive lineman Jabaal Sheard #97 of the Cleveland Browns sacks quarterback Blaine Gabbert #11 of the Jacksonville Jaguars at Cleveland Browns Stadium on November 20, 2011 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Matt Sullivan/Getty Images)

Out goes the Game Ball of the Week sponsorship, and in comes the "Top 5 Defensive Plays of the Week" series. It might be tough to come up with big defensive plays every week, and sometimes it is easy to forget about a worthy play. Here is a list of five defensive plays that stood out to me from the Jaguars vs. Browns game, in the order in which they took place during the game.

1. D'Qwell Jackson Stuffs Karim: In the third quarter, Jackson ran up and stuffed backup running back Deji Karim for a loss of 1 yard on a 2nd-and-10. It eventually led to a punt. Why the Jaguars kept giving the ball to Karim is beyond me.

2. Jabaal Sheard's Sack+Fumble: In the fourth quarter with the Jaguars facing a 3rd-and-8 from 9 yards away from the end zone, Sheard came up with a huge sack to prevent Blaine Gabbert from throwing a game-tying touchdown. As Sheard was sacking Gabbert, the rookie quarterback inexplicably threw the ball...backwards. Luckily for Gabbert, the ball went out of bounds, but it went out for a loss of 15 yards. Jacksonville still got a field goal, but it made things interesting.

3. Phil Taylor and Chris Gocong Stop MJD: The Jaguars let the game clock go down to 13 seconds without taking a timeout in the fourth quarter. Having a timeout left, from the two yard line, they might have somewhat surprised the Browns by giving the ball to Maurice Jones-Drew. Jones-Drew had run for a touchdown easily earlier in the game, but Taylor and Gocong combined to stop him just shy of the end zone.

4. Joe Haden Does Whatever it Takes: On the very next play, the Jaguars went to the corner of the end zone for receiver Jason Hill. Hill seemed to have a step on Haden, but the second-year cornerback perfectly timed the arrival of the ball with when he grabbed Hill's wrist to prevent him from catching the ball.

5. Some Coverage is Better Than No Coverage: Let's be honest -- Mike Thomas made a move and was open over the middle on the final play of the game. The fact that D'Qwell Jackson was in the vicinity though forced Gabbert into thinking he needed to zip the ball in there, and as a result, Gabbert's pass sailed behind Thomas and incomplete. This wasn't so much a great individual defensive play as it was an important play in the game -- it was the final play, and the defense didn't allow a score.

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Phil Taylor and Gocong’s tackle changed the last two plays. They could not take the chance with 8 seconds he would be stopped if they ran it, but really where it affected the play call was the last play because with 3 seconds either way that was the last play and a handoff to MJD would have been my choice. But I think the Taylor and Gocong’s tackle earlier in the series made them overthink it and they chose to pass. WRONG decision. It should have been MJD

by champion64 on Nov 22, 2011 1:15 PM EST reply actions

Hill was definitely going to get his hands on that last ball if it were thrown perfectly. But I think DQJ still would have had a chance to get his hands on him and break it up before/as Hill went to the ground with the ball. Also have to credit Taylor for pressuring Gabbert on that final play.

"Statistics are like bikinis. What they reveal is suggestive, but what they conceal is vital." - Aaron Levenstein

by rufio on Nov 22, 2011 4:16 PM EST reply actions

Oh yeah, this also would have been a perfect time for the “”http://smartfootball.com/defense/buddy-ryans-polish-goalline-tactic" >Polish Goal line Defense" via Buddy Ryan. Definitely worth checking out the link.

"Statistics are like bikinis. What they reveal is suggestive, but what they conceal is vital." - Aaron Levenstein

by rufio on Nov 22, 2011 4:18 PM EST reply actions

Actual link

"Statistics are like bikinis. What they reveal is suggestive, but what they conceal is vital." - Aaron Levenstein

by rufio on Nov 22, 2011 4:27 PM EST up reply actions

I remember when you mentioned that a few weeks ago. While it was the right conditions for it, I am fine with the way they played it.

Even Doug Dieken admits Joe Thomas is the real #73

by Doc's Kid on Nov 22, 2011 5:00 PM EST up reply actions

That is so awesome. The only problem i have with running it in that situation is that there is a good chance you’re giving them 1 last free play.

by HenryDawg on Nov 22, 2011 8:02 PM EST up reply actions

That’s why you run it with 13 seconds left and not 6. They are going to have two plays anyway, and this more or less guarantees that you only let them have one foot for the first one. Hopefully, the clock drains down enough that they are only left with a few seconds.

It’s definitely cheating, but it’s still funny to imagine it coming from a Ryan.

"Statistics are like bikinis. What they reveal is suggestive, but what they conceal is vital." - Aaron Levenstein

by rufio on Nov 22, 2011 8:19 PM EST up reply actions