Colts at Jaguars: Jacksonville to enjoy a change of luck

Romilly Evans
08 November 2012

Blaine Gabbert

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Don't give up on the Jaguars yet, cautions Romilly Evans, they might be about to find what's lost on Thursday night

"The Jags’ collective inexperience belies some genuine potential which could be on the verge of finally filling its frame."

Back Jacksonville Jaguars (+3 points) on the Match Point Spread @ 2.1211/10 or better

The Jacksonville Jaguars haven't won a game since facing the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium in Week Three. That day, Blaine Gabbert, the Jag's second-year quarter-back, put another trademark display of mediocrity behind him to connect with Cecil Shorts III for an 80-yard touchdown as time expired. "I told the guys we were going to make it," said Gabbert after the game. "Never a doubt."

Doubts have surfaced subsequently, however, with the Jags stalling to five successive losses. Their star running back, Maurice Jones-Drew, has also checked out for an indefinite period (after sustaining a foot injury in Week Seven) and Jacksonville's offense has looked blunted without its cutting edge.

Conversely, the Colts have bounced back from that 11th-hour disappointment, rallying to 5-3 on the season. Most thought that their rookie QB, Andrew Luck, was going to enjoy a transitional season of false dawns and reality checks. But the No. 1 draft pick has lived up to the collegiate hype, offering his fledgling side a legitimate shot at the post-season.

More impressively, Luck has defied his tender years to triumph in some tight encounters. Sure, he's made mistakes along the way, but he's been getting it right in the final analysis. In fact, Luck has now led the Colts to three on the bounce, each time prevailing by less than a touchdown. During last Sunday's 23-20 victory over the Miami Dolphins, Luck even bettered the league mark for rookie passing yards, throwing for a jaw-dropping 433 yards.

At a time when Robert Griffin III looked a lock for breakout honours, other first-year quarter-backs have suddenly put themselves in the mix, while RG3 has faltered at the helm of the Washington Redskins. Both Ryan Tannehill and Russell Wilson have played with a veteran's composure, but Luck's credentials currently appear the most dazzling.

This match-up against the Jags, though, does present Luck with some new ground to cover. He must back up a milestone performance in a game he is expected to win. Further, he must do so away from home - and to date Luck has struggled on his forays into hostile territory.

Despite the absence of MJD, the Jags are not as bad as their woeful press contends. Rashad Jennings has stepped up manfully into Jones-Drew's boots, averaging a useful 3.1 yards per carry. Potentially, that's clock-crunching consistency over the gain line. If his porous offensive line can plug the gaps and follow Eugene Monroe's shining example, both Jennings and Gabbert (whose receiving crew has been bolstered by the return to full fitness of Laurent Robinson) could have some attractive options.

It's easy to make a case for any team with ifs and buts, yet the Jaguars have more scope for improvement than most. Granted, you should only expect improvement when you're at nadir level - and the Jags posted a franchise-low 117 total yards last week. But there are mitigating factors in their supposed crimes against football.

In short, they are a young, unfurnished side (particularly on defense) under the tutelage of Mike Mularkey, another young buck in NFL terms. However, this collective inexperience belies some genuine potential which could be on the verge of finally filling its frame. Now that the Jags are adequately processing Mularkey's gameplan, they could still record some meaningful performances in a meaningless campaign.

The Colts have already demonstrated that it's a fine line between also-rans and front-runners. If such a transformation is to occur for Jacksonville, it's going to come at EverBank Field, an intimidating venue which could break their opponents' stride. So with a handy field-goal head-start on the handicap, the Jags' luck could be about to turn. As for the Colts' comeback QB, it might have just run out.