G Eben Britton is now battling rookie Michael Brewster for the starting LG job. (US Presswire) |
Jaguars coach Mike Mularkey isn't in panic mode despite a 27-10 loss to the Bengals on Sunday that has the team at 1-3 with the 3-1 Chicago Bears coming to town next week.
Instead, he's looking for minor adjustments he can make to improve the team. That might start on the OL, particularly at LG. Eben Britton started there on Sunday against the Bengals, but undrafted rookie Michael Brewster took over at halftime. Mularkey was impressed with how Brewster played and said the position is now open for competition between the two.
“We put Brewster in there, and he got a little firmer," Mularkey told the Florida Times-Union. "Eben was very professional about it. Still very much of a leader on the sideline and in the locker room after the game, so we have to do that at any position to see if we can improve what we’re doing, and we will do that.”
Britton had been dealing with an ankle injury, but he claims that wasn't the reason he played poorly on Sunday. Injuries have been recurring problem for the O-line all season. G Will Rackley (ankle) is done for the season, and Britton and starting T Cameron Bradfield have also dealt with ankle issues. C John Estes (knee) and G/C Jason Spitz (foot) were also lost for the season during preseason.
Mularkey didn't mention other specific depth-chart changes, but he said it's something he will continue to evaluate as the team tries to improve.
"Wherever we have to," he told the Florida Times-Union. "If somebody’s playing better than someone else, we will make the change, yes.”
Injury update: Concussions are beginning to pile up for WR Laurent Robinson. He sustained his second in as many weeks in Sunday's loss to the Bengals. He also sustained one during training camp this season.
“He had a blow to the head and is back in the concussion program, and we’ll monitor him this week,” Mularkey told the team's official website. “Obviously, that’s two weekends in a row, so it’s a little more of a concern this time than it was last week.”
Mularkey didn't rule Robinson out for this weekend, but he didn't sound optimistic that he would play.
Mularkey also said LB Daryl Smith (groin) is on track to play for the first time in 2012. The goal is to have him on the field at Oakland in Week 7.
Mularkey takes blame on fake punt: The Bengals had the Jaguars completely fooled on a fake punt in the second quarter of Sunday's game. Bengals FB Cedric Peerman took the direct snap and ran it 43 yards.
“I should have put us into a punt safe,” Mularkey told the team's official website. “Fourth and one in our own territory (ball was on Bengals 34). I should have put us into a better position with our defense out there. Just keep our defense out there and that thing doesn’t happen. I’ll take responsibility for that.”
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