Minshew already showing a jump in development
Gardner Minshew ’s first chance to show that he has made a big jump in development came last Sunday when he passed for three touchdowns against Indianapolis.
He was on the field for only 46 plays, but his accuracy was topnotch. He ended the game making 15 consecutive completions, going 19 of 20 passing for 173 yards during the Jaguars’ 27-20 victory.
No NFL starting quarterback had a better completion rate than Minshew’s 95% for opening week. No quarterback in NFL history had thrown for three touchdowns and completed 95% of his passes in Week 1 until Minshew did it against the Colts.
But it’s only the first test. Fifteen more games are ahead, starting Sunday against a Tennessee Titans team that advanced to the AFC Championship Game last season and has beaten the Jaguars six consecutive times at Nissan Stadium in Nashville.
“You can focus only on what’s in front of you,” Minshew said. “I think you learn from the past and use the things that have happened to you but in reality, we have a ton of guys on this 53 [player roster] that’s never played up there. So it’s a new experience and a new team that we’re bringing up.”
Unlike last season when he stepped in for injured Nick Foles, Minshew isn’t catching any teams by surprise. He’s the focal point to stop, and the Jaguars riding on him to develop into their franchise quarterback in Year 2.
Titans coach Mike Vrabel remembers last season when Minshew, in his second career start, threw for two touchdowns to lead the Jaguars to a 20-7 victory in Jacksonville. In the rematch game last season in Nashville, Foles was back as the starter and the Jaguars were routed 42-20.
“We’ll have to do more than we did than the first game down there last year,” Vrabel said. “He was pretty effective against us.We have to continue to look at ways to limit that timing and accuracy.”
Minshew appears to be on the right path. Minshew was reportedly clocked Sunday as having the quickest release time on his throws among all NFL quarterbacks last Sunday at 2.3 seconds. In the past, Minshew has had problems with fumbles. But the Jaguars didn’t commit a turnover in Week 1.
“Obviously, now it’s a matter of the consistency of doing it week in, week out,” coach Doug Marrone said. “We’re still constantly talking about ball security, still talking about footwork, we’re still talking about making good decisions. I think those things are constantly spoken about during the course of the year.”
As remarkable as Minshew’s completion rate was last week, he was not flawless. Offensive coordinator Jay Gruden thought Minshew might have escaped too soon from the pocket a few times when he had open downfield targets.
Minshew also took a sack on a critical third-and-6 play before Josh Lambo’s 46-yard field goal extended the Jaguars’ lead to 27-20 with just under three minutes remaining. The Colts sacked Minshew four times.
“For the most part, we’re always going to find something,” Gruden said. “We’re coaches. We’re not very nice. We’re going to find something to be critical about. That’s just the way it is; we have to. We can’t tell him he was perfect. Otherwise, he’ll get the big head.”
Minshew is unshaken, never shy about expressing his awshucks personality, but always focused on the next task and holding himself accountable.
With 16 rookies on their active roster, expectations are low for the Jaguars.
Minshew doesn’t exactly see it that way, though.
“Every since I got here, I’ve been working to be the best quarterback that I can be for this team,” Minshew said. “I think you learn things along the way and add them to the tool bag. You can only win one game a week, and that’s our focus.”
Minshew targeted 10 different receivers against the Colts. That is likely to be the same plan against the Titans, along with getting the ground game established with undrafted rookie James Robinson, who rushed for 62 yards in his debut.
“If we want to be a successful team here, it should start with the run because everything will open off that,” Gruden said. “We were able to complete some naked bootlegs, do some play actions. In order for those plays to work, you have to stay on track on first and second down.”
The Titans have a more physically imposing defensive front than the Colts. They also blitz their linebackers frequently and show different looks with their coverage. The Titans occasionally rush six defenders.
Gruden said he got about only one hour of sleep Tuesday night after watching nearly all of the Titans’ blitz packages on video from last season.
“On the backend, they have a lot of veteran guys that can disguise looks and move things around on you, very discipline,” Minshew said. “They’re definitely a challenge.”