Jacksonville vs. Washington: Postgame Grades, Notes and Quotes for Jacksonville
The Jacksonville Jaguars went into Landover, Md., with the goal of getting a victory over the Washington Redskins without the majority of their starters. After a fourth-quarter 47-yard field goal from Jason Myers to go ahead, the Jaguars pulled out a 17-16 victory.
The game remained close all night, with neither team taking the reins, which is often the case when backups get the call in the fourth preseason game.
It certainly wasn't a pretty one, but a win and some positive performances will give the Jaguars a boost going into the regular season.
Quarterback Stephen Morris guided the offense decently throughout the night and certainly put up a performance that guarantees a spot either on the practice squad or another team's roster.
Both the offense and defense made inexperienced mistakes, but that was to be expected. For the most part, however, the younger players did well to grab a victory—and a few may find a roster spot because of it.
Position Grades for Jacksonville
1 of 6
| Position | Grade |
| QB | B+ |
| RB | B+ |
| WR | C+ |
| TE | C |
| OL | B- |
| DL | B- |
| LB | C+ |
| DB | C- |
| Special Teams | B |
| Coaching | B |
As the grades show, it was a generally above-average night for team. At worst, it was mediocre. The depth of the Jaguars shined on Thursday night, which demonstrated why the battle for roster spots was so intense this year.
Morris did a fine job at QB, and with help from running backs Bernard Pierce and Corey Grant, the offense was able to make some explosive plays. The biggest hindrance to the offense was, once again, the pass-catchers.
For the TEs, it was just a quiet night, but drops and mistimed routes continue to appear at all levels of the WR group.
It could've been a much worse night, but it definitely wasn't the best performance from any of the receivers.
The lines on both sides did a pretty solid job. Morris had plenty of time to throw and there were some solid holes for the RBs. On defense, the Jaguars' pass rush did a fine job, although there were some big runs from Washington's RB stable.
The linebackers had a mixed night, with Thurston Armbrister and John Lotulelei both excelling, but the rest struggled. The defensive backs were easily the worst group of the night and were constantly getting beat by Washington WR Rashad Ross (10 catches for 103 yards and a touchdown).
Finally, the special teams and coaching were both solid, and their lack of mistakes probably got the Jaguars the win. Sure, Myers missed his opening attempt from 56 yards out, but his go-ahead make from 47 yards out made up for it.
Corey Grant Excels in Final Chance for Roster Spot
2 of 6
Grant has had an impressive preseason so far, and he capped it off with a stellar performance on Thursday night. Rushing five times for 74 yards and a touchdown, Grant should be in good standing for a final roster spot.
Grant had runs of 14, 20 and 40 yards, with the 40-yard sprint going for a touchdown.
Every time Grant touched the ball, he looked dangerous, and that's what the Jaguars were hoping to get out of a speedy back like him.
The 5'11", 205-pound undrafted free agent has been highly regarded as one of the top undrafted talents on the Jaguars' roster, and he showed why on Thursday. His burst was known, but this was the first time it showed up in the game.
It's not certain whether Grant has a spot or not, but it seems like it'll be hard to choose someone else over him. The Jaguars have five other RBs, and with a maximum of four spots likely to be available, any decision will be a tough one to make.
The Return of the Pass Rush
3 of 6
Nordly "Cap" Capi leads the Jaguars in sacks this preseason with a total of three after registering one on Thursday night. Rashaad Reynolds and Chris Smith also posted sacks, as the Jaguars were able to bring down Redskins QB Colt McCoy and hit him consistently.
Capi, Smith, Reynolds and the rest of the defensive line did a great job in the pass game. McCoy was in constant fear or movement, and the consistent pressure was a pleasant sight.
There were holes at times for Washington's RBs, but a total of 114 rushing yards is not a bad overall performance. By hitting McCoy seven times throughout the night, the Jaguars forced the Redskins to run more, and Jacksonville was ready for it more often than not.
Smith's sack should solidify his place on the 53-man roster, and it's hard to say Capi doesn't deserve one as well. It will be tough with a few players over him on the depth chart, but his preseason performance should at least get him on the practice squad.
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
James Sample Takes the Field
4 of 6
Free safety James Sample finally got to see the field, and it's fair to say he impressed on his debut. Sample looked comfortable at FS, as he was able to hold his own in coverage and was consistent throughout the night.
His unfortunate arm injury had him on the sidelines for the first three weeks of the preseason, but he took his one chance with enthusiasm, racking up three solo tackles, seven combined tackles and a pass defense.
This was an important game for Sample to come out and do well in. He got the short end of the stick by only getting one preseason game to warm up, but a solid performance should mean faith from the Jaguars' staff in the coming weeks.
Sergio Brown is still the likely starting FS in Week 1, but Sample is back and ready to play.
It may take a few weeks for him to fully get comfortable on the field, but the 2015 fourth-round pick is a young, encouraging option going into the 2015 season.
Gus Bradley Praises Grant on Performance
5 of 6
Head coach Gus Bradley laid on the praise for Grant after the 17-16 victory, and deservedly so. It was the game the Jaguars had hoped to see out of Grant this preseason, and he delivered.
According to the Florida Times-Union's Hays Carlyon, Bradley had this to say about Grant's touchdown and overall performance:
"You saw his speed right there—legit fast. You know what? [He runs a] 4.29[-second] [40-yard dash], and I think he used all of it on that touchdown run.
...
His speed really showed up. It was something we saw on his tape. We've seen flashes of speed in practice, but to get that opportunity in a game was great for him.
"
Praise like that seems to imply that Grant has a future with the Jaguars, and as Bradley mentions, his speed is a strong factor and offers the Jaguars a different type of RB. He may not have the quick feet of Denard Robinson, but if Grant gets to the second level, he has a good chance to go for six points.
It'll be interesting to see where Grant ends up on the RB depth chart and what his role in the Jaguars offense will hold. Final cuts have to be made first, but the future looks bright for Grant.
Dave Caldwell Comments on Roster Spots
6 of 6
Jaguars general manager Dave Caldwell spoke with the Florida Times-Union's Ryan O'Halloran during the third quarter and had this to say about the current situation involving the 53-man roster: "Nothing is set in stone right away except for maybe those guys who sat out. Other than that, we'll look at what these guys did [Thursday] on the tape and see who made a case for staying on the 53."
Obviously, the Jaguars won't make any hasty decisions and double-checking the tape is a given, but Caldwell didn't give up too much here. His and the rest of the staff's interpretation of the game and the preseason as a whole likely won't come out until after the cuts.
That isn't what players like Grant wanted to hear, but not making any assumptions or calls before the proper research is put in is the right decision.
The roster isn't set, and Caldwell's comments may be a small sign of some drastic decisions to come.
It'll be hard to cut a lot of players, and it seems like the Jaguars haven't been in this situation in a long time. There is a higher level of talent from top to bottom than ever before, and that'll make the final cuts all the more difficult.
All stats were provided by ESPN.com unless otherwise stated.
Evan Reier is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report covering the Jacksonville Jaguars. Follow Evan on Twitter @evanreier.
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
.png?w=480)
