Jags still abuzz over Cole’s catch
JACKSONVILLE — During practices, Jaguars wide receiver DJ Chark has seen Keelan Cole make one-handed catches behind his back and acrobatic over-theshoulder grabs on a regular basis since this summer’s training camp.
Against New England, a national television audience and a crowd of 68,527 at TIAA Bank Field last Sunday got a chance to see Cole be spectacular, too.
He didn’t just make a routine catch. He made one of the most remarkable catches in the NFL so far this season. It came in the first quarter when he ran down the sideline before extending his right hand behind his back to snag the nose of the ball in mid-air and hauling it in without using his left hand before tumbling to turf. New England Patriots coaches and players looked stunned on the sideline just after Cole made the incredible 22-yard catch in front of them.
On the opposite side, coach Doug Marrone was like everyone else: “You go, ‘Wow,’ but he has made those catches in training camp,” he said. “He has done that before. I think when you actually go out there and do it — it’s still the same thing. You tip your hat and acknowledge it and go, ‘Wow, that was a hell of a play.’ It was a hell of a play.”
In single coverage, Patriots cornerback Eric Rowe looked up for the ball but before he could react in time, Cole had already made his leaping grab. Three plays later, Cole beat Rowe downfield for a 24-yard touchdown catch.
“I’ve seen him catch balls all kind of ways,” Chark said. “When I saw him make that [one-handed] catch, I wasn’t surprised. He’s definitely made some phenomenal catches before and that’s definitely up there with them. But that’s not the only one that I’ve seen him make.”
Ask how many times he has watched highlights of his incredible catch, Cole said he doesn’t watch television but he’s seen it on social media.
Earlier this week, Cole said he couldn’t explain how he made his one-handed snag, saying it basically comes down to preparation.
“As a receiver, you work to get hand-eye coordination,” said Cole, who was an unknown rookie free agent from Kentucky Wesleyan before the start of last season but earned a roster spot before emerging as one of the team’s top receivers.
Cole ended the game with seven catches for 116 yards.
It came a week after he made three catches for 54 yards in the Jaguars’ 20-15 Week 1 victory against the New York Giants.