Friday, October 29, 1999JAGUARS SCOUTING REPORT
Stifling defense, struggling offense
OFFENSE
• QUARTERBACK: Two-time Pro Bowl quarterback Mark Brunell returns after missing the last quarter Oct. 17 against the Browns with a strained muscle in the rib area. He has struggled without running back Fred Taylor and against opposing defense's soft zones. He has just three touchdown passes and four interceptions.Backup Jay Fiedler, formerly of Dartmouth and 1996 Bengals training camp, has completed just 15 NFL passes. But 12 came against the Browns when he got a game ball for producing 17 points in the Jags' last three drives.
• RUNNING BACK: Taylor, coming off Rookie of the Year exploits, has been hobbled by a hamstring problem since Week 2, hasn't played in three games and has missed the last two. He's healthy this week as he goes for his first 100-yard game of the year and seventh of his career.
The Jags are a different team with him playing, although straight-ahead runner James Stewart has them third in the NFL in rushing.
• RECEIVERS: Speedster Jimmy Smith came into the season with the most receiving yards in the NFL over the past three seasons, and the Bengals know him all too well. He has 100-yard games against the Bengals in each of the last three seasons. Teams have been doubling Smith this season, and the Jags still have had trouble getting the ball to Keenan McCardell. Each has just one touchdown catch.
They haven't found a solid third receiver since waiving current Bengal Willie Jackson last season. Kyle Brady is an effective receiver, as well as one of the AFC's premier blocking tight ends.
• OFFENSIVE LINE: Brunell came into the season as the most sacked quarterback in the last four years, and Jacksonville has emphasized pass protection. It's paid off because the Jags have allowed just seven sacks this season with more three-step drops and quicker routes. Left tackle Tony Boselli is the best in the game, and right tackle Leon Searcy is pretty good, too.
DEFENSE
• DEFENSIVE LINE: It's the engine driving the NFL's No.1-ranked defense, which has yet to allow a 100-yard rusher. The Bengals never blocked left end Tony Brackens last season, and not many have this year because he leads the AFC with six sacks. The Jags got him help in the first hours of free agency in February by signing tackle Gary Walker from the Titans. Walker already has five sacks this year.
• LINEBACKERS: Weak-side linebacker Kevin Hardy has 41/2 sacks and is all over the yard. In the second-half comeback against the Browns, he recovered a fumble and had a sack. The oddity of the second-best sack attack in the NFL is that strong-side linebacker Bryce Paup, who came into the season with 72 career sacks, has none of the team's 22 total.
• SECONDARY: The Bengals wish cornerback Fernando Bryant had fallen to them in the draft, but the Jags grabbed him in the first round and he's helped hold opposing passers to a 61.9 rating. His emergence has made right corner Aaron Beasley (three interceptions) a better player because he's no longer asked to be the No.1 cover corner. Free safety Carnell Lake has brought his leadership from the Steelers and has been a boost for second-year strong safety Donovin Darius.
• SPECIAL TEAMS: The return teams are marginal, but the kickers are outstanding. Mike Hollis is the most accurate kicker in NFL history and his one miss in 17 tries this season is a 49-yarder. Punter Bryan Barker already has 12 kicks inside the 20. — Geoff Hobson
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