Jaguars Vs. Saints: 4 Observations on Jacksonville's Preseason Loss

The Jacksonville Jaguars are 0-2 so far in the first preseason of the Urban Meyer era, the result of a 23-21 loss to the New Orleans Saints that wasn't close until the Jaguars' third-string offense exploded for 18 points in the third quarter. 

Whether Monday night is an accurate representation of what the Jaguars can be expected to look like in 2021 remains to be seen. There are still three weeks to go until the Jaguars kick off the season against the Houston Texans on the road, but Meyer's team has a lot to work on thus far. 

What did Monday's loss to the Saints show us and just how much could it prove to matter in the regular-season? We break it down below.

DJ Chark's absence continues to become impactful

If there is one preseason overreaction that may be rooted in some truth, it is that it may be time to think that DJ Chark is the Jaguars' most important skill player this year. Through two preseason games, the Jaguars have had zero threat of a vertical passing game due to a hand injury that has kept Chark sidelined for most of training camp and the entire preseason. 

Marvin Jones and Laviska Shenault are good receivers, but neither is taking the top off of the defense consistently. Phillip Dorsett was supposed to fill that role alongside Chark, and he even got the start on Monday in Chark's absence, but he caught zero passes on two targets in 23 snaps on passing plays. All of a sudden, Chark's 4.3 speed has become the most important missing element of the Jaguars' defense, magnified by the struggles of the rest of the unit.

"DJ Chark, I am counting on him to get back and give us a little bit of a vertical threat down the field. Philip Dorsett has great speed. We have got to start getting the ball (to him)," Meyer said after Monday's game. "That was the plan; we just didn’t execute the run game. The throw game, there just wasn’t much rhythm in the first half.”

Chark is expected to be back in Week 1, and the Jaguars better hope he is at this point. It is just the preseason and the Jaguars aren't showing off the full playbook, but it is clear the Jaguars' offense needs Chark's speed more than ever, especially with the loss of rookie running back Travis Etienne for the 2021 season.

The run defense is legit, but how far off is the pass defense?

If the Jaguars can hang their hat on anything through two preseason games, it is their run defense. The Jaguars have allowed just 104 yards on 47 carries (2.21 yards per carry) through two preseason games, allowing only three first downs on the ground in each contest as well. The Jaguars held the Saints to just 63 yards on 21 carries, with Dawuane Smoot, Jordan Smith and Jihad Ward all recording tackles for loss. So far, it is clear that is going to be the strength and identity of the defense.

But while Meyer and the Jaguars' staff likely know they can take comfort in the run defense, it does come with a caveat. So far, the Jaguars are still trying to become a more balanced defense on the preseason field, hoping the pass defense can catch up to the improvements of the run defense by Week 1.

“Solid again. I think that we held them to 60 yards for the day, which is pretty solid. Last week, we played well in the run game. Our defense is built to stop the run," Meyer said after the game. "We’ve just got to make sure that we get the corners ready to start to make the plays in man coverage.”

Jacksonville gave up several deep scores to the Saints with Jameis Winston going 9-for-10 for 123 yards (12.3 yards per attempt) and two touchdowns against the Jaguars' starting defense. The Jaguars' defensive backs were right there to make a play on several occasions, but Shaquill Griffin and Tyson Campbell each make mistakes at different points, leading to explosive plays given up. 

Potentially fixing the run defense is a heck of a start for defensive coordinator Joe Cullen and his unit, but the Jaguars have some gelling to do in the secondary to feel the same confidence in the pass defense.

Trevor Lawrence has a performance filled with both ups and downs

Jacksonville's best performance at quarterback came from C.J. Beathard for the second week in a row, though context is needed. Beathard threw two touchdowns and consistently moved the offense up and down the field, but he did this against the Saints' third-team defense. One of his touchdowns came on the definition of a blown coverage by a backup Saints cornerback, after all.