A Good Start to Preseason

It was nice.

Walking out of the stadium last night, looking up at the scoreboard and seeing the Jaguars finishing off the Steelers 23-21.

I know it is just a preseason game. I know it does't actually count for the regular season. I know it was not first team versus first team the whole game. But do you want to know something? A win is considered a win no matter what.

In four quarters last night, the Jaguars showed us something that we have not seen in a while during a preseason game....depth. It was the reserves that gave up a fourth quarter lead and it was the reserves that scored a late fourth quarter touchdown to secure the win.

The names you saw late in the game were a surprise to me and some of the fans but, no matter what, it indicates that a winning culture is seeping into the fabric of our organization, and it is about time (MB).

11-15 for 118 yards and one rushing touchdown.

Three passes were absolute drops by WR Allen Hurns (on third down), RB Bernard Pierce (across the middle) and TE Clay Harbor (would have been a touchdown). The fourth incomplete pass was on third down for Hurns again but Bortles sailed just a bit and you could see in his reaction he wish he had that throw back.

QB Blake Bortles command of the offense was good. The first series went by quickly but the other drives he lead were on point. It was fun to see the Jaguars drive the ball for extended periods of time instead of the three-and-outs we almost became accustomed to and Bortles was the reason behind it making some clutch throws to extend drives.

On the second drive of the game, Bortles led the team down the filed on a 13 play drive that ended in a 36 yard field goal by K Josh Scobee.

The third drive of the game went for 12 plays and ended with a 4 yard run for a touchdown by Bortles himself.

Points scored on consecutive drives by the first team. Happy? Yes, yes I am!

This is a great sign. After losing first round draft pick Dante Fowler Jr in his first practice, you had to believe getting through a game without anything major was on the coaching staff's mind.

The only reported injuries after the game were TE Julius Thomas (stable fracture in right hand) and SS Johnathan Cyprien (fractured finger). Both are expected to be available by the start of the regular season against the Carolina Panthers.

I AM SO GLAD THAT FOOTBALL IS BACK AND CAN'T WAIT FOR THE NEXT GAME. YEAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!

It was great to be back in section 146 watching football. It has been a long time coming and with all of the off season moves, I know myself and all Jaguar fans were ready to see what is on the field.

I completely understand that it was only the first preseason game. I know that the starters did not play the whole game. I am ok with that. I love competition and seeing guys that were on the field during the whole game last year playing into the 4th quarter this game shows the depth is getting better.

Three more games to prepare for 2015.