Proceed with caution
When the Patriots run
This won't be an easy task for the Patriots, whether rookie Laurence Maroney is on the field or not. Jacksonville twin tower defensive tackles Marcus Stroud (6 feet 6 inches, 312 pounds) and John Henderson (6-7, 328 pounds) are dominant forces. Stroud may be the best run defender on the planet. He never has eye-popping tackle numbers but that's because he commands double teams. He explodes at the snap and the next time he gets bullrushed will be the first time. As for Henderson? The man's a menace. His awesome physical attributes allow him to engulf blockers, clogging lanes, and keeping them from getting to the next level. Said next level is where linebackers Daryl Smith, Clint Ingram, and Nick Greisen take over. Smith is the middleman and he's cut from the Mike Vrabel school of linebacking. Smith has excellent recognition skills and seems to know where the ball is going and seemingly is in on every tackle. Ingram, a speedy and strong rookie, and Greisen, tough and quick, are Smith's wingmen. If a healthy Maroney can get back on the field, the Patriots have a fighting chance today. Maroney runs with power and balance and can wear defenses down. If Corey Dillon is forced to carry the load (with a blow here and there from Kevin Faulk and Heath Evans) it could get ugly.
When the Patriots pass
Tom Brady has to put his last trip to Florida behind him and build on last week's good feelings. Chad Jackson was back in uniform last week and maybe he'll even be a part of the offense today. Jackson needs a breakout game to establish himself in this offense. Reche Caldwell's ability to get open and catch the ball consistently has made him a Brady favorite. Jabar Gaffney had a case of the yips vs. his former team last week but was lauded by Bill Belichick for his work ethic recently. Gaffney came to Foxborough with a reputation as an excellent route runner with good hands and speed. He's starting to show those qualities again. With Benjamin Watson out, David Thomas could again be used as the primary receiving tight end. Thomas runs good routes and has good hands. Look for Brady to continue to dump screens and sweeps to Faulk and Dillon to stretch the defense and keep Stroud and Henderson from ripping his lungs out. Veteran safety Donovin Darius is injured, but cornerbacks Rashean Mathis (his quickness allows him to gamble a lot) and Brian Williams (he has the strength to knock receivers off their routes) are above average.
When the Jaguars run
It's no secret why the Jaguars like to run the ball: They're good at it. Only the Falcons do it better and that's only because Michael Vick is a tailback masquerading as a quarterback. Fred Taylor is Jacksonville's top rusher but is out with hamstring woes. Luckily for Jacksonville, rookie Maurice Jones-Drew (135 carries, 764 yards ) appears ready for prime time. The vertically challenged Jones-Drew (he's just 5-7, 212 pounds) has deceptive speed and power. He hits openings with authority and, because he has such a low center of gravity, he's really tough to bring down. He's nursing a jammed knee and the Jaguar faithful are praying Jones-Drew doesn't follow in Taylor's injury-prone footsteps. Look for career backup LaBrandon Toefield to spell Jones-Drew. The fourth-year veteran is an inside banger and an above-average receiver, but lacks speed and is no threat to break a long one. The right side is the preferred side in Jacksonville because that's where tackle Maurice Williams (6-5, 315 pounds) is a tireless and efficient blocker and guard Chris Naeole (6-3, 330 pounds) is big, strong, and relentless. The big uglies up front won't be facing any pushovers today. The Patriots' interior linemen, even without Vince Wilfork, should win most battles, freeing Mike Vrabel and Tedy Bruschi to make plays.
When the Jaguars pass
David Garrard proved last season that he was one of the top backups in the NFL when he stepped in for Byron Leftwich and helped lead Jacksonville to the playoffs. He was thrust back into the starter's role again when Leftwich was shelved with ankle woes. Garrard (6-2, 240 pounds) has all the physical tools. He has a very strong arm, a nice touch, and can run. The fifth-year veteran lacks decision-making skills, however. He gets confused easily and often locks on to his primary target. That's not good against a Belichick-designed defense. Garrard has some big targets to throw at. Leading receiver Reggie Williams (6-4, 223 pounds) is a demon over the middle and in the red zone. Consistency is his bugaboo. He'll make a highlight reel catch one down and then drop a 5-yard out on the next. Ernest Wilford (6-4, 223 pounds) excels in the short game but lacks high-end speed. Second-year man Matt Jones (6-6, 238 pounds) is a physical freak. The former college quarterback is a nightmare matchup because of his blend of size and speed. It's important for the Patriots to bring the heat, because if Garrard gets the time, these receivers could punish New England's smallish secondary.
