Exclusive: James Johnson of the The Jaguars Wire

First, a close loss to Green Bay last week. Do you think they take a bit of a moral victory from the loss?

I think maybe from the fans perspective but not for the players and coaches. They are competitors and want to win. The guys are fighting for jobs now including maybe Doug Marrone, who could be on the hot seat now with a 1-8 record.

I think the fans are looking for a top two pick in this draft – they want one of those two top quarterbacks. They recognize the team needs a franchise quarterback. They just want to see the team be competitive and not get blown out.

I spoke with Al Woods who said he still thinks the Jaguars are giving 100% on the field – you seeing that as well?

I think Marrone is getting 100% out of this team despite the 1-8 record.  You can tell the team is fighting week in and week out. Especially since the bye week, and even the week before that in the Chargers game, they are playing close games. The Texans game was close. The Green Bay game – they weren’t intimidated going to Lambeau Field and that aura – it wasn’t really decided until midway through the fourth quarter.  So I don’t get the send Marrone has lost his players or coaches.

Offensively, they are struggling to out up points. A lot of quarterback issues of course, but what else has been behind it?

I really think they are just one quarterback away from being a very good offense. They have a variety of weapons – James Robinson at running back was a gem – he is playing like a rookie of the year candidate.

Shenault lines up everywhere – in the slot and outside – he’s a do it all guy.  Keelan Cole is a guy Steelers fans know – he’s come up with some big catches versus the Steelers. And DJ Chark is one of the top deep threats in the NFL when healthy. So they have the weapons.

Tell me about the quarterback we’re likely going to see Sunday?

Jake Luton is another sixth round rookie. He has prototypical size – 6’6″, 220 pounds. He’s a long, lanky guy. He came out from Oregon State and that’s an offense that translates well to the NFL.

Minshew and Glennon – when they found out Minshew had the thumb injury Marrone decided to go with Luton who he felt had more upside than the veteran Glennon. Luton just started two weeks ago – he was their third guy and didn’t get many reps before then. He played a respectable first game but last week not as much, but he did play in 25 mile an hour winds in Lambeau so it’s somewhat understandable.

What has the offense done best to this point?

It’s about what kind of coach Doug Marrone is. He wants them to be a ground and pound team and they’ve been very good with that. They let Fournette go because they liked Robinson, and Ozigbo too – though he was hurt last week.

And they’ve had some success with guys that can stretch the field – Chark and Shenault can make some plays. I look at Shenault a little like Claypool – they have similar skillsets.

What’s the winning formula in stopping this Jaguars offense?

Make them play from behind. Strike first and make Luton play from behind. The defense hasn’t offered much help, though it’s been better lately. But when they are behind they stray from the run. Robinson hasn’t gotten enough 20-plus carry games – he needs more carries for them to win. If you build a lead the defense finds it hard to stop the bleeding, and if you put it on Luton to win the game and build a good lead the game is probably over.

The defense has really struggled and let up a lot of points, as you’ve said. What are the issues there?

Upfront, the pass rush has not been very consistent. Todd Wash is getting heat as their defensive coordinator but he can develop defensive linemen when given time. Rookies DaVon Hamilton and Doug Costin have started to pick up  their play some. But they just aren’t winning enough one-on-one battles in the pass rush.

The secondary is also very young. They are starting a rookie safety in Daniel Thomas and a rookie corner in CJ Henderson. That hasn’t helped either. And they spent a lot of money on linebacker Joe Schobert – another guy Steelers fans should know well – and he hasn’t been that guy. He’s missed a lot of tackles and been out of position a lot. He hasn’t lived up to that big contract – a lot of money for little results.

So if you beat this defense, you do so by…

I think you pick on this young secondary. Catch guys in one on one situations with those wide receivers you have. Receivers have been winning those battles.

For example, the last two weeks Will Fuller beat CJ Henderson deep down the sideline; Henderson had decent coverage but Fuller with his experience was able to make a better adjustment on the ball. That’s an issue with youth. Devonte Adams  did the same thing in Green Bay, but Henderson was able to strip the ball at least.

I think Ben will probably do the same thing with this secondary  – maybe a lot with Claypool, who I loved coming out of college and who I thought was the best receiver at the Senior Bowl.

So if Pittsburgh wins it’s because..?

They start off fast. I know it’s a rivalry and the games are often close, but Pittsburgh does much better in Jacksonville than Heinz Field for some reason. If they go up by 10 or so early, I think they run away with the game.

And if Jacksonville pulls the upset, it’s because…?

They’ll need to keep Ben off the field – get Robinson going. Get him 20-plus carries and keep Ben on the sidelines.

They’ll also need some big plays on defense. They’ve made a few over the past few games – some fumbles and picks. They’ll need a pick from Henderson or maybe Sidney Jones who they got from the Eagles and who has started playing well. I think it comes down to needing key turnovers – especially down the stretch.

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