Gus Logue of Big Cat Country joins BRB for five questions
After three years of doing this, you get to know some of these guys pretty well. Gus Logue of Big Cat Country has been there all along the way for this interdivisional rivalry. This is about as down as I have seen the Jaguars and it is about as down as I have seen Gus. Usually, this is when someone pulls the rug out from under you. We dove down to very pits of the underworld to see what has gone wrong for the Jaguars so far this season.
Battle Red Blog: Trevor Lawrence was briefly the highest paid player in the NFL, it’s obviously been a struggle for him as he has lost his last eight starts. Is this a Lawrence issue? Is it coaching/scheme? Have they not surrounded him with the right guys? What needs to happen to get this turned around?
Gus Logue: It is a coaching issue. Lawrence is the first to say that he needs to play better, but the same applies for just about everyone else on the roster. There’s a clear lack of trust between players and coaches — mostly on the offensive side of the ball. It’s hard to imagine Doug Pederson (and Press Taylor) turning around this ship. At this point, Jaguars fans are already looking ahead to who the next head coach could be. Lawrence is not the problem in this writer’s opinion.
BRB: The Bills scored touchdowns on the first five drives. Are they simply that good or did something break down? What does the defense need to do to turn this thing around?
GL: A little bit of both. Josh Allen is the MVP frontrunner so it was a tough matchup for Jacksonville’s defense, but there was too much predictable playcalling from the Jaguars to make life easier for the Bills. The game plan from Ryan Nielsen was disappointing — he stuck with what he knows (press man coverage) rather than mixing up coverages and blitzes against an elite quarterback. Foye Oluokun (foot) will miss a few weeks which doesn’t make anything easier. The Jaguars really need him and Tyson Campbell (hamstring) to return to full health, otherwise, Jacksonville won’t have the horses to produce a league-average defense. They’re the only team without a forced turnover this season.
BRB: The Jags came into the season with expectations. If they should start 0-4 will Doug Pederson’s seat start to get warm? What is the local media saying about this start? Are they pointing their fingers in any other directions?
GL: Not just the local media, but everyone in Jacksonville is asking themselves if there’s ever been a worse loss in franchise history than the Monday Night Football massacre. The vibes are that bad in Duval County right now. Fans’ fingers are being pointed at Shad Khan to take action and fire someone, if not everyone. This season feels similar to 2021 when it was a matter of when, not if, Urban Meyer got the boot. Again — it’s hard to imagine Pederson turning this ship around.
BRB: I seemingly ask this every year, but we always get new readers. How do you see the AFC South shaking out this season? Also, who among the three divisional opponents ro Jags fans enjoy beating the most?
GL: I see the Texans as true Super Bowl contenders and expect them to repeat as divisional champs with ease. Before the season, I thought the Jaguars and Colts could be frisky, but my confidence in that take has been tapped dry. This is officially DeMeco Ryans and C.J. Stroud’s division for the foreseeable future. As for who Jaguars fans enjoy beating the most, it’s easily the team that plays in Nashville.
BRB: Fanduel has the Texans favored by 6.5 with an over/under set at 45.5. How do you see the game going? Are there any prop bets you feel comfortable recommending?
GL: It’d be quite a feat for Jacksonville to lose as badly as they did a week ago, yet I wouldn’t be surprised if it happens again. I expect a bloodbath in Houston. With the offense looking stuck in mud, and Oluokun and Campbell out on defense, the Jaguars don’t have the talent, coaching, confidence, you name it to keep it close against the Texans, let alone win. While the NFL is a week-to-week league where upsets can happen any given Sunday, the Jaguars have given zero reasons to expect a bounceback performance. As far as props, I know Dalton Schultz has had a quiet season, but he could have a solid game with Oluokun out. I’m fully expecting Nico Collins to turn a 15-yard dig into a 50-yard touchdown as well.
We want to thank Gus for the taking the time for answering our questions and doing so in good spirits in spite of the Jags tough start. As Texans fans, we know all too well the agony of defeat and the crushing blow of expectations gone asunder. We wish Gus and the Jags the best of luck for the remainder of the season and hope their fans can experience some joy. As always, we hope that joy comes after Sunday.