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Jacksonville (1-1, 0-1 away) at New York Jets (1-1, 1-0 home)

Why To Watch
This game features two possible playoff teams with identical records heading into this critical matchup. Jaguars defensive coordinator Mike Smith will have to come up with another great game plan with the injury to SS Donovin Darius, so look for the Jaguars to get back to the basics against the run. Jets QB Chad Pennington will need to improve his rhythm and timing early in the game against a defense that won't stop coming.

The Jets will look to build some momentum on an offense that has been struggle thus far under new coordinator Mike Heimerdinger. They know the Jags will have a tough time matching up against WRs Laveranues Coles and Justin McCareins. Jets defensive coordinator Donnie Henderson must design a plan this week to stop Fred Taylor and Jimmy Smith. Look for John Abraham and Shaun Ellis to have a big game in passing situations.

Jaguars QB Byron Leftwich may not play this week due to injury and could be replaced by David Garrard. Either way, it will be a tough early season road game for the Jags.


When the Jaguars have the ball
Rushing: Taylor has averaged 18 carries for 76 yards over the first two weeks of the regular season. He has been a slow starter the last two seasons and ended the 2004 season with a knee injury. Taylor scored on just two of his 260 carries last season and struggles without a powerful fullback or a physical offensive line to run behind. Look for Taylor to get more touches this week and take the pressure off of Leftwich (or Garrard). Also, look for backup RB Greg Jones to get more involved in the offense. Jones is a powerful, 250-pound FB/RB with good enough speed and versatility to be a factor in both regular and sub situations. The Jaguars are a right-handed running team behind Chris Naeole and Maurice Williams. Look for Kyle Brady, a run blocking tight end, to be a big part of trying to slow down the Jets' fast, aggressive front seven.

The Jets use multiple attacking schemes that get a lot of production out of the front four when they are hitting gaps and getting up the field. LDT Dewayne Robertson had a Pro-Bowl caliber season in 2004. He is short, quick, explosive and must be accounted for in the offensive line blocking patterns based on his disruptive style. Both Abraham and Ellis are explosive and active one-gap defensive ends. The linebacking corps is fast and explosive when playing sideline-to-sideline and is led by MLB Jonathan Vilma. Also, look for Donnie Henderson to incorporate an extra safety in the box if the Jaguars spread the field in their two-back offense.

Passing: Jaguars offensive coordinator Carl Smith must improve his play selection in critical situations and find the best ways to get the ball in his playmaker's hands. Smith was hired largely because of his flexibility within the offense and his background of developing young quarterbacks. Leftwich showed last week that he one of the toughest quarterbacks in the NFL. He finished 16-for-29 for 198 yards, was sacked six times and suffered a leg injury late in the fourth quarter. But if Leftwich plays this week, he must make better decisions in the passing game and improve his ball security within in the pocket.

Look for first-round pick Matt Jones and Jimmy Smith to be used in creative ways depending on the situation and matchup. Also, both Matt Jones and Reggie Williams pose matchup concerns in the red zone based on their height advantage. The offensive line has struggled and needs to improve its consistency on the edges vs. RDE Abraham and LDE Ellis. With the injury to Leftwich, look for Henderson to be aggressive and attack from all angles.

With the addition of LC Ty Law, the Jets have a legitimate number one corner. Law has been a great addition and hasn't been burned for a big play in two games. Also, RC David Barrett responded well last week against the Dolphins after giving up some big plays in Week 1. Look for the Jaguars to spread the field and isolate Taylor and Jones on early downs to create mismatches in the Jets base defense.

When the Jets have the ball
Rushing: At the request of Pennington last week, new offensive coordinator Mike Heimerdinger coached on the sidelines rather than in the coach's box to improve the overall communication. RB Curtis Martin has averaged 25 carries and 65 yards per game so far this season. He is still a Pro Bowl player and has performed at a very high level over his career, but with the departure of RB Lamont Jordon and the lack of arm strength of Pennington, the Jets are seeing a lot of multiple eight-man fronts. Also, the Jets offensive line has not played with a lot of consistency and will have their hands full this week against the Jaguars.

The Jaguars are as strong and good as any team in the NFL up the middle with defensive tackles Marcus Stroud and John Henderson in front of active MLB Mike Peterson. Both Stroud and Henderson weigh more than 300 pounds and have better size, agility and power than almost any offensive lineman in the NFL. The Jets interior of OC Kevin Mawae, LG Pete Kendall and Brandon Moore must to an effective job of keeping their pad level and maintaining leverage when sealing off and creating inside rush lanes.

However, with the loss of Darius to injury, the Jaguars must overcome not having a key team leader and a strong, forceful player in the middle of their defense against the run. SLB Akin Ayodele and WLB Daryl Smith will be counted on heavily to play their responsibilities well within the Jaguars defensive scheme to slow down Martin, if he recovers from a strained knee in time to play.

Passing: Pennington did a good job last week of not making critical mistakes and turning the ball over. He went 7-for-7 for 74 yards on a late fourth-quarter scoring drive that helped seal the win at home vs. the Dolphins. Coles leads the team in receptions with 11 for 134 yards. He is an explosive playmaker who doesn't have the best hands, however, he's a tough, physical receiver who has the strength to separate from press coverage and get open.

Look for Heimerdinger to continue to run the ball to set up the pass. He'll use TE Chris Baker and FB Jerald Sowell in the passing game depending on matchup and situational down and distance. Baker is a big, athletic tight end that has shown improved consistency catching the ball. Sowell is a dependable, versatile player that is effective as a lead blocker and has good value in the passing game. Another guy who has yet to get involved the Jets offense is backup TE Doug Jolley. Jolley is a solid pass catching threat that has been in Heimerdinger's dog house since training camp.

Mike Smith will continue to utilize a variety of schemes to keep Pennington off balance in passing situations. The Jaguars will mix in both three- and four-man fronts and continue to push the inside pockets and get into throwing lanes. The one thing the Jaguars can't afford to do is allow Pennington to get into rhythm, which usually comes from a strong running game opening up the play-action pass. The Jaguars have some weaknesses in the secondary and look for the Jets to attack RC Kenny Wright. Also, the Jaguars will need their outside edge rushers -- Paul Spicer, Reggie Hayward and Bobby McCray -- to win their one-on-one battles outside on the edge.

[dasneycomrov]

jacksonville defense steps it up, blow out