Giants vs. Jaguars: Complete Report Card Grades for Jacksonville

Wow! Your eyes are not deceiving you, folks, the Jacksonville Jaguars did just come back from 21-0 to beat the New York Giants, 25-24, in dramatic fashion.

Head coach Gus Bradley and the Jaguars fanbase owe a huge “thank you” to a defense that kept the Giants to 329 total yards and scored two touchdowns.

The defense was led by a group of young, core players who are really starting to inspire some hope for this team in linebackers JT Thomas (12 tackles and a touchdown) and Telvin Smith (10 tackles) and defensive tackle Sen’Derrick Marks (two sacks).

Offensively, the Jaguars were slow but steady. Led by Marqise Lee and Blake Bortles, the offense executed a mistake-free game plan that came through when called upon.

Overall, this was a great win for a developing team badly in need of some confidence. This should carry the Jaguars through what should be a fun final four games.

Let’s take a look at how each unit performed and how they can improve.

Quarterback

John Raoux/Associated Press

Well, it wasn’t a spectacular day by Bortles, but it was kind of what you’d expect at this point in his career. Bortles finished the day interception-free and delivered his first signature win for the Jaguars.

It’s hard to argue with those results.

Statistically, Bortles finished the day 21-of-35 for 194 yards and a touchdown. Moreover, Bortles looked very confident in the no-huddle offense and when rolling out. The fact that Bortles can make plays effectively on his feet (five carries, 68 yards) makes him exponentially more dangerous to opponents.

I’m excited to see how Bortles will build off this performance moving forward.

Grade: B

Running Back

John Raoux/Associated Press

Starting tailback Denard Robinson has somewhat regressed over the last two weeks and really missed a great opportunity in this one.

Robinson finished the day with 44 yards on 11 rushes. I think the issue here is that his touches have been somewhat limited over the past two weeks, but make no mistake, Robinson is still a dynamic talent.

I’ll be interested to see how the team utilizes Robinson moving forward; it will say a lot about how they feel about him as their future back.

Grade: C

Wide Receiver

Michael Conroy/Associated Press

It was a fairly quiet day from the receivers group, with the exception of Marqise Lee. Together, they combined for 21 receptions and 194 yards to go along with one touchdown.

As I previously mentioned, Marqise Lee was the big player of this group today, finishing with 75 yards on six receptions and a touchdown. Lee was as consistent as I’ve seen him all season, he looked sharp in his routes and showed good hands in traffic.

The big hope here is that this is what we can expect from Lee moving forward. If Lee can continue his development as a speedy slot receiver, the Jaguars could have a formidable group with him, Allen Robinson and Allen Hurns all developing well.

Grade: B

Tight End

Michael Conroy/Associated Press

Again, there was nothing to be really excited about with this group. As is the case every week, the tight ends were serviceable but displayed the kinds of inconsistency that makes you wonder if this unit needs an upgrade in the near future.

Statistically, Marcedes Lewis and Clay Harbor combined for a mere three receptions for 25 yards. Both players are capable receivers but are likely best served as role players in an offense. The Jaguars desperately need an all-around tight end that can be relied upon to block consistently and provide Bortles a security blanket.

Grade: C

Offensive Line

Phelan M. Ebenhack/Associated Press

This was the offensive line's worst game of the season, period. In no way am I encouraged or inspired by this unit, and I certainly don’t think they have all the pieces to develop into a solid unit in the future.

Of the biggest disappointments is second-year left tackle Luke Joeckel. Joeckel continues to be one the biggest liabilities on this team and is consistently beat by mediocre defenders. He looks uncomfortable in every facet of his game, and I wonder if he has what it takes to even start in this league.

Overall, the offensive line allowed pressure and penetration far too often for the offense to have been successful. Until this unit is solidified, they will continue to be weak link in this offense.

Grade: F

Defensive Line

Phelan M. Ebenhack/Associated Press

Wow! What a dominant effort by the defensive line, who played perhaps the biggest role in this victory.

The defensive line combined for four sacks, four QB hits and a forced fumble.

Week after week, this unit shows up and generates excellent pressure consistently on opposing quarterbacks. This is without question the most dominant unit on this team and one of the best in the league.

Grade: A+

Linebackers

Phelan M. Ebenhack/Associated Press

Man, what a really encouraging effort by the defense. Linebackers Telvin Smith (10 tackles) and JT Thomas (12 tackles) continue to impress and are making a bold statement about the future of this franchise.

Second-year defender JT Thomas was all over the field today, recovering a fumble for a touchdown and making a crucial third-down stop in the fourth quarter. Rookie Telvin Smith flies around with the speed of a 220-pounder but hits with the power of a 250-pound backer.

Overall, this unit was a huge reason for the defense’s success this week. For the first time all season, they were disciplined in maintaining their assignment and tackled really well.

If this is what we can expect in the future, things are going to be just fine.

Grade: B-

Secondary

Phelan M. Ebenhack/Associated Press

While the passing totals for the Giants aren't too discouraging (213 yards), the ease in which Odell Beckham Jr. was able to amass his 90 yards on seven receptions is.

It seemed that every time Eli Manning targeted Beckham, he was either wide open or able to completely blow past his defender after the catch.

One of the biggest goofs in this game was cornerback Dwayne Gratz. Gratz has all the talent in the world, but his technique is questionable. Every time Gratz’s receiver is targeted, he waits until the catch is made to close. So instead of causing a pass breakup or forcing an interception, he essentially allows the catch to go for a few extra yards.

I find this to be one of the weakest, most inconsistent units on the team. I’m not certain that any player on this roster is truly starting caliber.

Grade: D

Special Teams

John Raoux/Associated Press

Despite a few errors from the special teams units themselves, it was a really consistent and positive day for group.

Punter Bryan Anger has been very good recently and continued that pace today, pinning two punts inside the 20-yard line and averaging over 52 yards over his seven punts.

Kicker Josh Scobee is perhaps the hero of the game as he nailed a game-winning 43-yard field goal. In the end, Scobee finished 2-of-2 on field-goal attempts.

Grade: B+

Coaching

John Raoux/Associated Press

Gus Bradley has a believer in me. I believe that Bradley brings an energy and swagger to this team that it’s been missing for years.

That being said, it wasn’t a perfect effort by Bradley, who still seems to be learning the complexities of game management. Yet, for what it is, Bradley should be happy with his team's performance and growth.

I think with Bradley at the helm, this team has a real shot to grow into something special. He still has a lot to learn, but resiliency he’s helped this team develop is really encouraging.

Grade: C

Cumulative Grade

Phelan M. Ebenhack/Associated Press

Quarterback	B
Running Back	C
Wide Receiver	B
Tight End	C
Offensive Line	F
Defensive Line	A+
Linebackers	B-
Secondary	D
Special Teams	B+
Coaching	C

Overall, a solid effort by the Jaguars. The hope is that this serves a confidence booster for the team and they begin to stack more good games together. At the very least, this is evidence that the team is developing and experiencing progress.

Overall Grade: C+