Mike Mularkey backs Jacksonville Jaguars try odds-defying win vs New York Jets – NFL Preview
The Jacksonville Jaguars will host the New York Jets this Sunday (Dec. 09) being desperate for third win of the season, which is going to be a difficult task for them, although not impossible.
A week earlier the Jags comprehensively beaten the Tennessee Titans but otherwise their home record has remained miserable this season. The team with only two wins stays at bottom of American Football Conference (AFC) South with no chance whatsoever for
the playoffs.
Moreover, they are severely hit on the offensive line. Their main offence leader quarterback Blaine Gabbert is out for the entire remaining season with an arm injury, although he had not made much difference on the line when he was present in the squad and
playing. It is second year in the row that Blaine has failed the team as an offence leader.
Chad Henne has done rather well as a makeshift offence starter but he has certain limitations of his own. On the other hand, running backs Maurice Jones-Drew and Rashad Jennings are out with respective injury scares. It will be seen how the team manages
without them on the offensive line.
Although the Jets are quite ahead their hosts in their overall situation, performance of their quarterback Mark Sanchez is an issue as well. The offence leader has performed below par this season, which has started taking its toll on the team’s overall output.
Their coach Rex Ryan is nevertheless okay with Sanchez as the offence leader. He said:
"When I looked at everything, the biggest thing I kept coming back to is: Who gives us the best opportunity to win? When I kept coming back to that, I believed the correct answer was Mark Sanchez."
The QB himself admitted he has disappointed the team. According to him:
"I'm just disappointed because I let a lot of people down. You let a lot of teammates down when you play like that. That never feels good. It's just not the way I prepare, not with the skill set I've been blessed to have."
Although Jags coach Mike Mularkey sees Sanchez’s failing as an opportunity for his team to exploit the situation to their gains, he insisted they will not change their game plan. Also, in reality the coach does not have many options left in front of him
because of a higher number of injuries and also unpredictability of the players at certain positions.
He admits the situation is not an ideal one for the Jags, no matter they have the home-field advantage, but he has backed the side to play at least a competitive game and attempt a win over the Jets. Overall, the odds seem to be in favour of the Jets, with
all their woes and concerns.
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