Urban Meyer: fourth and goal play was designed to return to James Robinson

The Jaguars led the Bengals late in the first half, 14-0. Facing fourth and goal, they opted for a touchdown instead of a field goal. Either would have given Jacksonville a three-point lead.

Coach Urban Meyer didn’t have much to say about the game after the game. On Friday he spoke a little more about it.

“It was actually designed so that James [Robinson] outside, ”Meyer told reporters. “We were going to pretend to go inside because there would be a real expectation that it would be real heavy defense on the inside, and then we turned to James, and the end slipped through. There were both thoughts, and you look back now and James is leading the ball strong, our offensive line was playing well too.

Whatever the explanation, the game as it was run – a run from quarterback Trevor Lawrence – didn’t work. Meyer was asked if Robinson could have gotten the necessary footage, had he just gotten the ball inside.

“I can’t disagree with you,” Meyer said.

As a source with knowledge of Jacksonville’s roster told PFT on Friday, it wouldn’t have taken four games for Meyer to realize that Robinson is the team’s best player and that they should have given him the ball. If they were going to go.

It’s always a matter of fair debate as to whether they should have gone. A 17-0 lead would have been a game-changer. And while it normally makes sense to go there against the fourth and the goal of whoever gives the opportunity to get a short pitch, the Jaguars didn’t have enough time to get the ball back or do anything. either with.

While the Jaguars may still have lost even with a 17-0 lead, digging the hole two to three scores could have led to a very different atmosphere in the second half. The Bengals may have pressed a bit more on the opening practice of the third quarter. And with just one mistake, the Jaguars could have delivered the dagger and ended their 18-game losing streak.