TOMFOILERY
Can Coughlin teach Jaguars how to conquer Brady, Pats?
The Jaguars know the formula and the man behind it, now they just have to figure out some way to execute it in Sunday’s AFC Championship game.
Tom Coughlin coached the Giants to two improbable Super Bowl wins over New England and is now the executive vice president of football operations in Jacksonville. How much does that mean for this game? Maybe nothing, maybe one crucial play, maybe some important advice to coach Doug Marrone in the days leading up to the matchup.
CBS studio analyst Bill Cowher, the former Steelers coach, said where Marrone can lean on Coughlin is by creating a sense of normalcy in a week that could feel abnormal. Also, these Jaguars do share some similarities to those Giants teams, who were able to pressure Tom Brady with their front four, forcing him into quick throws against crowded secondaries.
“Those Giants teams were great defensively, and could run the ball and had playaction to be successful with,” Cowher said. “Which ironically is similar to what you’re seeing down in Jacksonville now.
“I am not saying Blake Bortles is Eli Manning at this point, but he’s certainly done a lot of good things last week in Pittsburgh. It’s a style of play. They put a lot of pressure on you to play at a different pace. They are a very good defensive team that can create some tough matchups, speed at linebacker.”
They are not the only good defensive team in the Patriots’ way to a sixth Super Bowl. Jacksonville finished the season ranked second on defense, one spot behind the Vikings and two ahead of the Eagles — the two teams in the NFC Championship game.
Tony Romo was effusive in his praise for Brady and (espe- cially) Bill Belichick, but the CBS analyst explained there is a way for those dominant defenses to challenge them.
“The Patriots are going to try and take away one of your best defensive players upfront, but these teams have too many talented rushers up front,” the former Cowboys quarterback said of Jacksonville and a potential Super Bowl matchup.
“It’s going to be a challenge. To win this thing, [the Patriots] are going to have to go through two dynamic defenses. That’s a lot of heat on the quarterback, a lot of throws under duress, bangbang throws that have to be right on the shoulder. If anyone can do it, it is Brady, and if anyone can prepare for it, it’s Belichick. … All four of these teams can win the Super Bowl, and you can’t say that every year.”
The Jaguars defense will need a better performance than they put together last Sunday when they were shredded by the Steelers in a 45-42 divisional-round upset in Pittsburgh. Romo said he believes Bortles and the Jaguars offense will not be able to move the ball with the same precision they did against the Steelers.
“What happened in Pittsburgh is unlikely to happen against New England,” Romo said. “They won’t allow the passes over the middle of the field, especially on third down. … The Patriots will take away Bortles’ easy throws and force him to be aggressive and take chances in this football game. He’s going to have to throw it in areas he doesn’t normally.
“If he can do that, they have a chance to win this football game. New England more than anybody has the ability to make quarterbacks do things they don’t want to do.”