Big Cat Country
Cam Little’s kick may still be in the air somewhere.
The Jacksonville Jaguars are officially back in action after their first preseason game of the year, a 31-25 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The score was likely the least of anyone’s worries yesterday as most fans, and people across the league, were more so focused on what rookie WR/CB Travis Hunter would do in his first NFL action.
While Hunter played well, he certainly wasn’t the only one. And as always there is room for improvement on both sides of the ball. For a first preseason game, Saturday’s bout was about what was to be expected from the Jags.
WINNERS
Cam Little
This one is to be expected, but second-year kicker Cam Little set the NFL ablaze Saturday with his record-setting 70-yard field goal make. It is the longest known field goal make in football, according to Yahoo Sports, and would have been the longest made kick in NFL history had it been in the regular season.
We all knew Little was good. But only Little knew he was THAT good when he called his own number to attempt the kick.
Travis Hunter
Yeah, OK, Hunter got his head dribbled one time (he missed an open tackle). It happens. But for rookie unicorn player Hunter, it was a fine debut.
On offense, he caught 2 passes for 9 yards — with his longest going for 6 — while running with the starters (unsurprisingly). On defense, he ran with the second string. It might not have been the most eye-popping of overall stat lines, but it is the beginning of one of the league’s most interesting experiments.
Pass catchers
Every preseason, Jags fans go nuts over who could be the team’s last wide receiver. We all have this fervor for that last dude on the depth chart. Saturday didn’t help any of that.
Second-year pass catcher Josh Cephus looked good with 3 catches for 25 yards. Trenton Irwin looked really solid with his 4 catches for 48 yards and a score. Austin Trammell even flashed on special teams with some solid kick returning. None of these guys are Brian Thomas Jr. or Hunter, of course, but the Jags may have some solid depth and a wealth of backup pass catchers if and when the time comes for them.
LOSERS
Defense…
So what was that opening drive all about? The Jags’ starting defense did not look impressive at all against Mason Rudolph as the Steelers’ backup quarterback marched his team down the field for an opening drive score. The opening drive is the most scripted drive of the game, of course, but the Jags did little in the way of stopping Rudolph from doing what he pleased.
That Steelers offense was nowhere near full strength either, as the likes of Aaron Rodgers and DK Metcalf sat on the sidelines. One preseason drive isn’t necessarily something to sound the alarm about, especially given it is with a new coaching staff, but it isn’t...
