In Defense of Jacoby Jones

by Tailgate Andy on Jan 18, 2012 10:43 AM CST

I’ve always considered myself to be pretty even keeled. The Jacoby incident is no exception. Before I get into why I’m not despondent over Jacoby’s continued existence, I want to clarify that I don’t think that Jacoby didn't screw up. I just don’t think that what he did was completely without reason.

Let’s start by examining the situation the Texans were in: they were on the road, in a hostile environment, in the playoffs. From what I can tell, most Texans fans were willing to concede that the Ravens should be favored, based on having their first string quarterback, and playing at home. Of all of the other elements that come into play in a football game, those were the only two aspects of the game where Baltimore had a clear cut advantage. If "Bad Flacco" showed up (and it seems that with this Texans defense, it was inevitable that he would), the only thing the Ravens would have on their side would be the home crowd. We had just gotten a three and out, and it looked like "Bad Flacco" was set to make an appearance.

Before getting into what actually happened, let’s quickly go over some basic rules for punt returns.

The first rule of punt returns is catch the ball.
The second rule of punt returns is to hold on to the ball.
If a player on the opposing team is going to make the second rule impossible, call a fair catch.
If you start lined up inside the 20 yard line, never go backwards to make the catch. If it’s going to go over your head, let it. It will go into the end zone, and you’ll start at the 20.

On the punt, Jacoby was settled in at about the 12 yard line. When the ball bounced at around the 16 yard line, there were two Ravens players within 5 yards of him, and no Texans. Based on the above rules, Jacoby was in a decent position. He was far enough back that he could run forward to make the catch. Assuming that there was a minimum level of blocking, he would have his momentum going forward, ready to return the punt.

What happened is that there wasn’t a minimum level of blocking. Two Ravens players got down the field before everyone else, with no Texans nearby to slow them down. This prevented Jacoby from stepping forward to catch the ball.

Once Jacoby wasn’t going to be able to catch the ball at the 16 and return it, he should have gotten away from the ball, and let it bounce into the end zone. Once again, the lack of blocking, combined with the way the ball bounced, prevented this from being a viable option. In an ideal world, if Jacoby doesn't catch the ball at the 16 yard line, it flies over his head, into the endzone for a touchback. Unfortunately, in this particular instance, if Jacoby just gets out of the way, then the ball most likely gets downed inside the 5 yard line, and the Ravens defense pins its ears back trying to get the safety. If Jacoby returns the punt, the crowd never gets into the game. If they down the ball at the 3 yard line, the crowd comes alive, and all of a sudden, we have a rookie quarterback facing one of the best defenses in the NFL, with little to no operating room.

The crux of my argument is this: When Jacoby Jones saw the bounce that the ball took, he had to make a split second decision between getting the ball at the 12 yard line, potentially surprising the Ravens coverage team and getting a decent return, or letting the Ravens down the ball at the 3 yard line. Between these two options, Jacoby Jones made the right decision. The only issue was that he didn’t execute. Lack of consistent execution has been a problem with Jones since he arrived in Houston, and I'm absolutely in favor of Jacoby being judged on that lack of execution. I just don't think it's fair to crucify him for his decision-making on one punt return in the playoffs.

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Comments

Not going to take anything from your writeup.

It was well written and makes sense, he did do the right thing. I mean yes he put us in the hole but we still had 3 quarters to overcome that one mistake. Of course we did not but, like i say it hurt to see it happen, and after i have calmed down do agree with you. I can only wonder how bad this could have been if it was 10 seconds left in 4th qt and they punt to him and he muffs it.and line up to kick game winning FG.

by southpaw70 on Jan 18, 2012 10:59 AM CST reply actions

I can't agree, he did the absolute wrong thing.

by willieboyd on Jan 18, 2012 11:13 AM CST up reply actions

I agree with your disagreement

It was a stupid, bone-headed thing to do

I'm a man!! I'm forty!!

by Hydroshock on Jan 20, 2012 6:17 PM CST via Android app up reply actions

He made a horrible mistake. Kubes said that to the media.

Is he here next year? That depends on how he rebounds. If he works like never before, welcome back. If he takes his spot on this team for granted, good-bye Jacoby.

by willieboyd on Jan 18, 2012 11:12 AM CST reply actions

I agree that he made a horrible mistake, but I think that the mistake was more physical than mental.

If you’re trying to win the game, you don’t want to just settle for a field position battle. If you have a chance to set your team up for success, you do it.

The mistake was that he didn’t hold on to the ball. If he catches that first Ravens player napping, we’re looking at a minimum 15 – 20 yard return, and we’re starting at the 30 yard line with a 3 point lead. Even if he doesn’t catch the Ravens player napping, and he gets tackled immediately, but still holds on to the ball, we have a 10 yard cushion for Yates/Foster.

When we had our goal line stand, and we recovered the ball at the 1 yard line, we ran the ball three times and then punted, because Kubiak didn’t want to take any risks that close to the end zone. If we’re on the 12 yard line, we have enough of a cushion to bootleg/play action pass.

I still think that Jacoby played a huge part in our losing the game, but like I said above, I think it comes down to a lack of execution, rather than a mental mistake.

by Tailgate Andy on Jan 18, 2012 11:42 AM CST up reply actions 1 recs

Minor correction.

After the goal line stand we came out with an overthrown bomb to Dre, then ran on second and third.

Dallas Cowboys, all hat and no cattle since 1996.

"Will it never be noon?" Duke of Orleans to the Dauphin and Constable of France every Sunday before the Texans play.

by Jonathan Fosburgh on Jan 18, 2012 1:18 PM CST up reply actions

Can't agree.

Dante Hall and Quadry Ismail (former PRs) both were on 610 saying it was a horrible decision.

Kubiak said:

There’s no excuse. He shouldn’t even be around the ball once that happens. Just made a mistake, I don’t know what to say. It’s just a mistake.

The risk/reward of that type of move is not in his favor. Stupid move.

by willieboyd on Jan 18, 2012 3:04 PM CST up reply actions 2 recs

Strongly disagree.

Let them down it at the 3. When you are talking about the #2 and #3 defenses squaring off, points come at a premium. This isn’t the first time JJ made a bad decision to field a punt he shouldn’t have this year (the overtheshoulderwtfgrab inside the 10 comes to mind), but this is the first time it really bit us in the keister. This knocked the defense on its heels after having forced a three and out and gave Balt the momentum for the rest of the first quarter. I’ve tolerated JJ’s mediocre WR skills due to him being an above average return man, but this was the final straw.

by NWestTexan on Jan 18, 2012 11:14 AM CST reply actions 4 recs

When points come at a premium, you have to do what you can to get them whenever you get a chance.

The overtheshoulderwtfgrab is an example of a mental mistake. He should absolutely know better than to try and make a catch like that. I don’t think that this play should be in the same category though. The ball was in front of him, it was on its way down, and he should have been able to judge the trajectory well enough to get a good handle on the ball. He just screwed up.

It’s the inconsistency that drives me crazy about Jacoby. If we can cut Jacoby Jones and replace him with Lestar Jean without suffering a hit to our salary cap, I’d be all for it. If we can cut Jacoby and still have cap room to re-sign Mario and extend Foster, then I think he should be cut this off-season, regardless of the cap implications.

by Tailgate Andy on Jan 18, 2012 11:47 AM CST up reply actions

Risk was too high to try and make this grab.

The ball originally bounced just ahead of the 20 and he was sideways at the 13 1/2 looking into the sun when he tried to catch the ball. There was essentially no chance of him pulling this in and being able to do anything but be immediately tackled.

by NWestTexan on Jan 18, 2012 12:15 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs

Field position is one point of potential risk in returning punts, but the risk of giving up points is even greater

for THAT reason alone, the player assigned to return kicks is ALWAYS coached to get the hell away from the ball if it hits the ground……ALWAYS. There are NO circumstances in which justify touching that ball once it has hit the ground. The risk is incredibly high for a turnover and/or immediate TD for the kicking team.

General PR Coaching Standards:

1. Catch the ball and return using the two second rule (if you can safely control receiving the football before being hit)
2. Fair catch the ball if the two second rule looks to be at risk
3. If the ball looks to be UN-catchable and will hit the ground, GET AWAY from it. Nothing good comes from touching the football after it strikes the ground.
4. If the ball is going to land inside the 20 yardline, let it go unless the opponent players are greater than 30 yards away

by MeMongo on Jan 18, 2012 12:13 PM CST reply actions

Your defense of Jones would be sound

if he performed rule 1 consistantly. His continued bobbling of punts always gave doubt that he could execute rule 2.
His questionable decisions that haunt his career and the lack of execution coupled with his apparent inability to move upfield after the catch, when defenders are near, is why he has so much heat from the community.
His team members backed him by saying they’d rather he be agressive but, I’m sure they, like us, would rather he be consistant first and get his head in the game and not up his ass in key situations.

Alcohol is necessary so that a man can have a good opinion of himself, undisturbed by the facts.

by Seaborn1 on Jan 18, 2012 12:51 PM CST reply actions

How did he do the right thing?

The right thing is fair catching the ball at the 16 yard line, not sitting on the 12 with your thumb up your ass waiting for it to bounce. Even still after deciding to make the catch after the bounce, the bounce was coming down from in the air into his open arms. It should have been an easy catch for anyone without stone hands. Its not like the ball bounced in a straight line from the ground right at him, it literally went up in the air and came down on top of him. It should have been ridiculously easy. He gets no pass from me.

The Houston Texans: The Ron Paul of the NFL.

by DaGoaT on Jan 18, 2012 2:42 PM CST reply actions 3 recs

Same here.

Fair catch it or get the hell out of the way.

by willieboyd on Jan 18, 2012 5:27 PM CST up reply actions

THIS

should have fair catched it or gotten out of the way. JJ’s mistake was made when he let the ball hsi the ground and then he compounded the mistake by trying to catch it off the bounce.

so i count two big mistakes here.

by jtdoes on Jan 19, 2012 2:57 PM CST up reply actions

a very well written post

I’m glad you made me at least THINK about whether Jacoby made the right decision.

Lack of consistent execution has been a problem with Jones since he arrived in Houston, and I’m absolutely in favor of Jacoby being judged on that lack of execution. I just don’t think it’s fair to crucify him for his decision-making on one punt return in the playoffs.

Yeah I couldn’t agree with you more. He’s got the attention span of a Chad Ochocinco — just too short. He has GREAT difficulty focusing. Although, according to Kubiak, Jacoby Jones has made HUGE strides. . . I don’t know. I think Kubiak has a heart of gold, actually.

#Texans2011 — Where reality and dreams collide!
~~ Fuzion
"This is a grown dog’s game. Ain’t no puppies out here." ~~ Cushing #56 to Antonio Smith #94

by BattleRedFan on Jan 18, 2012 5:39 PM CST reply actions

That play provided a microcosm summation of his failures, which unfortunately outpace any success he has provided

There’s obviously no upside if that is how he is going to perform over 5 years.

Also, how in the hell does it hit his helmet TWICE in that game? I suppose if they ever produce “Spaceballs 2” he can try out for the role of “Dark Helmet”

by MeMongo on Jan 18, 2012 7:55 PM CST up reply actions

Jacoby Tries Too Hard

He wants to make the big play, so he gambles. Back when the Texans were struggling, gambling was needed to win some games. When you gamble, sometimes you win big, and sometimes you make some mistakes. Might as well gamble if you are going to lose 60% of your games playing it safe.

Winning teams don’t need to do that.

by kozanack on Jan 18, 2012 7:54 PM CST reply actions 1 recs

Flagged

for defending the indefensible.

Bandwagon fan since Oct. 6, 1999.

by Lone Spot on Jan 19, 2012 4:04 PM CST reply actions 3 recs

I don't want to read too much into these comments,

but it appears as though I was wrong…

by Tailgate Andy on Jan 19, 2012 4:17 PM CST up reply actions 4 recs

Opinions cannot be wrong or right

But we can certainly make it seem that way at times.

Bandwagon fan since Oct. 6, 1999.

by Lone Spot on Jan 19, 2012 4:34 PM CST up reply actions 3 recs

Although I don't agree with the conclusion that Jacoby didn't make a faulty decision...

….your right to voice your opinion is well-respected. Can you imagine how dull and lifeless it would be if we all just agreed with each other? That would be like living in the old Soviet Union, or even worse, Dallas.

That being said, I think it IS a headgear issue with Jacoby. If people didn’t temper their impulses with a rational thought process, the whole world would look like a cross between a porn movie and a UFC match. The human brain and central nervous system aren’t just impulse-response mechanisms…. for most people anyway.

Go back to the last play of the Oakland game at home this year. Schaub is alone in the left flat, 5 yards from Oakland’s goal line. A Raider db is charging towards the less-than-nimble Schaub, so his inclination is to pass to the only receiver on that side of the field, none other than #12. Jacoby breaks off his route, heads one way, Schaub plants and commits to his release, THEN Jacoby changes direction. The ball lands in the now vacant spot in the end zone that Jacoby was headed to as Schaub released.

At the end of the day, if we’re picking teams for a pick-up game, Jacoby is one of my first choices. But to have THAT little mental discipline 5 years into a pro career…. If Dre hadn’t been injured, I think Kubes would have cut Jacoby after that game. Just my opinion.

"You mean, besides two chicks at the same time?"

by Ezekiel 25 17 on Jan 23, 2012 8:31 AM CST up reply actions

For the record,

I don’t mind people disagreeing with me. Nothing that’s been said in this thread has been out of line or disrespectful. My comment was intended to be a tongue in cheek analysis of the consensus in this thread, rather than any sort of condemnation for not agreeing with me or complaining about piling on.

To fairly judge Jacoby, I think we need to take into account everything that happened before he screwed up, and ignore everything afterwards (including the mistake itself). In other words, would it have been a mistake if he had secured the ball and then scored a touchdown on the return? If you wouldn’t classify that as a mistake, then I don’t think you can classify the exact same reasoning as faulty, just because the outcome was so bad.

I agree that Jacoby messed up, and that considering how consistently inconsistent he’s been throughout his career, his actions need to be viewed through a different lens. Prior to him proving otherwise, I would have expected the entirety of the situation to force Jacoby to focus, and I’m ok with a focused Jacoby being a little riskier. He’s got the physical talent, he just doesn’t always use it. The reason I would have expected (maybe hoped is a more accurate word) Jacoby to be focused is because I thought that the attitude of the rest of the team would have rubbed off on him. The rest of the team seemed like they were ready to unleash a very controlled aggression. It’s clear from the results, that I was incorrect in my assessment of Jones’ mental status.

It seems like the main point of disagreement is about whether or not Jones had any business trying to prevent the ball from ending up inside the 5 yard line. Most people seem to think that he should have just gotten away from the ball, and that’s not really an opinion I expect to change.

Ultimately, I think it comes down to who you think Jacoby is. If you think he can focus and perform under pressure (Not that there’s really any basis for this assumption/line of thinking), then you’re ok with him trying to make a play for the Texans/prevent a big play by the Ravens. If you think that Jacoby is as Jacoby does, and that no set of external circumstances is going to change who Jacoby Jones is at a fundamental level, then you want to minimize the opportunities he has to screw up.

by Tailgate Andy on Jan 23, 2012 12:14 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs

I think you said it all right there, Andy.

“The reason I would have expected (maybe hoped is a more accurate word) Jacoby to be focused is because I thought that the attitude of the rest of the team would have rubbed off on him. The rest of the team seemed like they were ready to unleash a very controlled aggression.”

There’s a sort of herd mentality at work when a dysfunctional group of players (thank you Mr. Bush) suddenly are led by men they can believe in, and they find ways to succeed rather than to fail. To one degree or another, I think we were all hoping Jacoby would take his game up a notch, the way the entire roster seemed to be doing. ’Nuf said about what happened next.

Good on ya for standing your ground with an unpopular position.

"You mean, besides two chicks at the same time?"

by Ezekiel 25 17 on Jan 23, 2012 9:41 PM CST up reply actions

I think of it this way

HE IS A PRO…and this is a playoff game…

you have to go over these situations so that you can make the correct decisions. Did he study and go over these situations? I DOUBT IT.

Also, the rest of that playoff game he just ran from sideline to sideline. He knew he messed up and he was trying to break a big one, only he lost yards…

If this is AN ISOLATED INCIDENT then most folks would be mad but would give him the benefit of the doubt. He has had fumbling issues in past years, he has not taken the next step, he drops balls, and does not have what it takes BETWEEN THE EARS…

fresh start somewhere else is good for him and the texans….

CYA JJ.

Houston Texans, 2012-2013 NFL CHAMPIONS

by TexanSam on Jan 19, 2012 8:54 PM CST reply actions

piling on

jones made 2 mistakes on that play: one mental and one physical. regarding the mental mistake, clearly once the punt hit the ground he should have avoided it.

i recall he made a similar play earlier in the season (and pulled it off) and remember thinking to myself, ‘the coaching staff is really gonna ream him out over that one.’ i wonder how much blame the coaches deserve for jones not being smart enough or prepared enough in that situation? do you think the coaches told him ‘fair catch it or let it go’ before he took the field fo rhtat play? he always seems so busy counting his teammates before punt returns…

by mikrobass3 on Jan 20, 2012 11:40 AM CST up reply actions

The counting teammates thing i like

That shows he has his head in the game PRE-SNAP. It’s once the ball is in the air where he loses his mind. And for the love of God, he RUNS BACKWARDS!!

I'm a man!! I'm forty!!

by Hydroshock on Jan 20, 2012 6:48 PM CST via Android app up reply actions

ahhh but only if he could teach Kareem how to run backwards without falling ;-)

t’would be a miracle ;-)

#Texans2011 — Where reality and dreams collide!
~~ Fuzion
"This is a grown dog’s game. Ain’t no puppies out here." ~~ Cushing #56 to Antonio Smith #94

by BattleRedFan on Jan 20, 2012 9:45 PM CST up reply actions

Take the flack.

Your opinion is valid. I agree. I liked that he was trying to be aggressive in a hostile environment. I didn’t like the outcome, though.

Capt. Nately: You're a shameful opportunist! What you don't understand is that it's better to die on your feet than to live on your knees.

Old man in whorehouse: You have it backwards. It's better to live on your feet than to die on your knees. I know.

-Catch 22-

by Jordann on Jan 21, 2012 3:13 AM CST reply actions

Oh I get it.

Jacoby’s the tag along little brother who got hit in the head during a driveby attack when he was 2. He has a speech impediment because of it, and makes animal noises and generally acts the fool but we love him because he’s our brother. When he’s disciplined he gets real quiet and starts to stutter and look off into the distance. Ok, snaps fingers, gotcha.

Either that or Gary Kubiak is an ugly dumb Aggie with a bad haircut who is too stubborn to see what damage one guy can do to divide a team.

by MR_KAMIKAZE on Jan 22, 2012 4:22 AM CST reply actions

What in the world are you talking about?

by brightshinies on Jan 22, 2012 3:43 PM CST up reply actions

or should I say distract a team and divide a fanbase. That guy is going to be booed at home.

by MR_KAMIKAZE on Jan 22, 2012 4:28 AM CST reply actions

I think he should have made a fair catch from the very start and never let that ball bounce.

Once the ball did hit the ground and there were 2 Ravens so close to it, he needed to get away from it, the risk is too great to worry about the ball being downed at the 3 or wherever.

If he had made that catch off the bounce, we’d be praising him for saving us the yardage though, but perhaps the coaches will still kill him.

by jkcheng122 on Jan 23, 2012 4:13 PM CST reply actions

The bottom line

how many times over the past few years have you yelled, “Damnit Jacoby!” at the tv? You only get 10 “Damnit Jacobies” and then you’re out. See ya #12.

The Houston Texans: The Ron Paul of the NFL.

by DaGoaT on Jan 26, 2012 6:31 AM CST reply actions