Jaguars: 8 Ways to Beat the Steelers on the Road

Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Jack Del Rio made a simple statement after the game Sunday at Everbank Field.

He hates losing.

Wow! Not a big shocker there for a man who is fighting to remain relevant in coaching circles in the NFL with a 1-4 team heading to Pittsburgh this weekend.

Del Rio and the team better tighten the chinstraps a bit and hope they can get back to winning football, before the bottom falls out on the season.

If it hasn't already done so.

The Jaguars tried to improve its special teams play this week when they released Matt Turk and signed Nick Harris, who was cut by the Detroit Lions in the preseason. Harris also punted in Cincinnati and knows about directional punting and the special teams type of play the Jaguars are looking for.

The matchup against the rival Steelers is just another tough task for Jacksonville, who has dropped four games in a row after winning the season opener at home 16-14 over the Tennessee Titans.

If the Jaguars, who need some momentum after losing to the Bengals 30-20, are to turn around the season, it has to be this week or things may continue to spiral with Baltimore on the slate next week and Houston on the radar.

Here is what Jacksonville must do to win this weekend.

8. Get to the Quarterback

Ben Roethlisberger has proven to be one tough SOB this season.

The Jaguars' pass rush has been better that last year with Matt Roth and Jeremy Mincey leading the way.

If the Jaguars can make Big Ben hurry and commit turnovers, then the offense can have a chance to make more plays.

7. Don't Play from Behind

When they have opportunities, the Jaguars need to score and score touchdowns, not field goals.

If the team gets into the red zone and has less than five yards to reach pay dirt, they had better get six points.

6. Better Special Teams

Hopefully signing Nick Harris will help with field position, but there are other things the Jaguars need to concentrate on besides punting.

Rookie Cecil Shorts must field the ball better and make better decisions on when to fair catch a ball or let it go into the end zone.

This week could be the start of gaining better field position by thinking first with the head–instead of the body.

5. Contain the Steelers' Passing Game and Receivers

If the Jaguars have any chance of winning, they must contain the Steelers' passing game.

The linebackers will be asked to move into pass coverage. The secondary will have to play stellar ball with Dwight Lowery and Dawan Landry being asked to step up to cover the speed of Hines Ward and Mike Wallace.

Then you they have to contain tight end Heath Miller over the middle.

4. Know the Snap Count

Do not let what happened last week happen again.

Rookie Blaine Gabbert needs to know when the ball is to be snapped in shot-gun situations. Also, there needs to be more communication between the line and the backfield when time is running down.

Mistakes like these, are the things that have killed this team so far this season.

3. Use the Play Action Pass More

It seems like Gabbert looks more comfortable with play action, than any other passing situation.

If it works, then continue to use it.

When a rookie does something well, reinforce it and make it a major component of the offense.

2. Use MJD Like You Have Been Doing

This is not the Steelers of old, only an older Steelers team.

One week, they get blown out by Baltimore, the next, they blow out Seattle.

The Jaguars' running game can keep the defensive line and linebackers honest and in play action situations, they can use MJD in the passing game as well.

1. Don't Look Ahead

The Ravens come to town on Monday Night Football next week. The team could look ahead and be blown out more than they should be.

Don't let the game get out of hand.

The Steelers are a 12-point favorite, which seems a bit high for a team with a defense like this, but the road is a dangerous place for a team still searching for an identity.