Urban Meyer in the NFL | A fiasco down the line

It seemed like a good idea at first. A natural association between an organization in search of identity and a head coach who had won two championships in the NCAA just outside town seeking a coach.

Miguel bujold
Press

Urban Meyer’s name had been around for quite some time when there was an opening for a head coach position in the NFL. However, the Jacksonville Jaguars were the perfect organization for him, especially since they had the first pick in the draft, which would allow them to get their hands on their quarterback for the next 15 years, Trevor Lawrence.

Error. There was some sand in the gear from the start, and things aren’t improving at all in Jacksonville.

Ahead of Sunday’s Jaguars game, rumors, which were confirmed by several American media outlets, were of an intense spat between Meyer and wide receiver Marvin Jones Jr., a nine-season veteran who has always enjoyed a good reputation in the NFL. Meyer has also been accused of calling some of his assistant coaches “losers”. Not fancy.

After the Jaguars’ 20-0 loss to the Titans in Tennessee, Meyer denied the information and went on to argue that the organization would fire the person (s) who served as reporters. Despite the many controversies that disrupted Meyer’s first three months in the NFL, Jaguars owner Shad Khan is said to have no plans to fire him. Error, that too.

Warning message: the Jaguars won nothing with Meyer. If only because of the rotten climate in which the club finds itself.

Professional players don’t want to be treated like junior players, but that’s exactly what Meyer is doing. Too stubborn and full of himself to be successful in a professional league? Obviously. As they say in hockey, Meyer’s tactics are “junior stuff”. He should also take his legs around his neck and save himself in the NCAA as soon as possible, where he can reign in the midst of players barely out of adolescence.

Lamar Jackson: less serious than expected

Things are getting tough for the Baltimore Ravens, who suffered a second straight loss to a division rival on Sunday in Cleveland. But luckily for them, the ankle injury Lamar Jackson suffered in their 25-24 loss to the Browns is not as serious as it first thought. Head coach John Harbaugh has not ruled out the possibility that Jackson will be in his post next Sunday when the Green Bay Packers will be in Baltimore.

Aaron Rodgers’ presence also seems uncertain for this part. Suffering from a broken toe for about a month, Rodgers said he believed he made the injury worse in the Packers’ 45-30 win over the Chicago Bears on Sunday night. Rodgers opted out of surgery during spring break for the Packers, who did not play a game from Nov. 29 to Dec. 11. Hopefully for him and the Packers that move doesn’t cost them a chance to reach the Super Bowl for the first time in 11 years.

Missing pieces at the Bills

The Buffalo Bills erased a 21-point delay and came very close to surprising the Buccaneers on Sunday in Tampa Bay, but ultimately lost 33-27 in overtime. It was the fourth loss in six games for the Bills, who will likely need to secure a top second place to advance to the playoffs for the third straight year.

We certainly can’t blame Josh Allen for the backhand against the Bucs. He had 308 passing yards and 109 with his legs, he who played part of the game despite a foot injury. For the second game in a row, the absence of a leading Bills running back was felt. On the other side of the ball, the Bills do not exert enough pressure on the passer. Mario Addison, 34, at the end of his career, leads the team with 4 sacks.

The next big quarterback rivalry

Even without his ace Keenan Allen (COVID-19), Justin Herbert mocked the New York Giants defense on Sunday. Herbert threw three touchdown passes, including a 59-yard jewel, in the Los Angeles Chargers’ easy 37-21 win. In Kansas City, Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs were already leading 35-3 after the first half and crushed the Las Vegas Raiders, 48-9. Raiders who had the brilliant idea of ​​going to jump on the Chiefs logo before the start of the match …

Mahomes vs. Herbert, she’s the next big quarterback rivalry in the NFL here. These two exceptional talents are of course part of the same division and should continue to do so for at least the next 10 years. The Chargers surprised the Chiefs in Kansas City in September and will find themselves in first place in the West American if they beat them again Thursday night in Los Angeles. Both teams would then be 9-5, but the Chargers would have the tiebreaker by virtue of their two wins.

The K.-O., or just like

Have the Dallas Cowboys been knocked out? to the Washington team with their 27-20 victory on Sunday? The fight may not be officially over, but the referee’s count is eight or nine… And what should worry other NFC teams is that the Cowboys won mainly thanks to their defense against their division rivals.

DeMarcus Lawrence, Randy Gregory and Neville Gallimore are all back, making rookie Micah Parsons, who got two more sacks against Washington, even more dangerous. On the side of Ron Rivera’s training, Taylor Heinicke injured a knee and did not finish the game. Heinicke isn’t a bad player, but his presence in the roster probably won’t stop the organization from shopping for a future quarterback this offseason.

The Niners and the Vikings?

We told you about the frenzied fight in the American Conference on Saturday, but the one for the best second places in the National Conference also promises a lot. The Los Angeles Rams should normally get one of three spots and the San Francisco 49ers are well positioned for a qualification, too. Hopes for the Minnesota Vikings, New Orleans Saints, Atlanta Falcons and Team Washington also remain realistic for now. Of the lot and with the exception of the Rams, the Vikings and 49ers are probably the best teams, at least on paper. The NFL is always particularly exciting starting in December, but this year it’s going to be crazy.