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Don’t get the impression that someone like Miami Dolphins wide receiver Mike Wallace doesn’t know what’s going on in Jacksonville. In fact, the speedy pass catcher probably already has an idea of how he would like to try and carve up the Jaguars secondary since cornerback Alan Ball has been ruled out of Sunday’s game against Miami and second-year corner Dwayne Gratz has been listed as questionable to play as well.

Still, these Jaguars are going to face the challenge, send the next man up and use the game plan that was drawn up earlier in the week to cover the Dolphins receivers.

“We’ve had to adjust a little bit,” Head Coach Gus Bradley said, on Jaguars.com.

Maybe a little bit is an understatement. The Dolphins have proven that their offense is getting better – and that is without running back Knowshon Moreno.

“Sometimes certain position groups may get hit throughout the season, and this week it’s the corner spot.”

Ball, who on Wednesday sought a second opinion on a biceps injury sustained against Cleveland Sunday, officially was ruled out Friday. While Ball was considered very doubtful throughout the week, Gratz’s situation was more of a surprise.

He practiced Wednesday, and then experienced tightness in his hip Thursday. He was listed as limited on the Thursday injury report, then did not practice Friday.

“We’ll see how it goes tomorrow, then on game day we’ll work it out and go from there,” Gratz said. “There was no specific thing. It was just tight and we tried to loosen it up and go out there and play. It didn’t work out as well as I planned it, but we’re being smart and doing the right things.”

Gratz was injured earlier in the season when he sustained a concussion in the team’s loss to San Diego.

Right now, Gratz is questionable – and has not been ruled out of the game on Sunday. Should he not be able to go, here is how the Jaguars will proceed with coverage.

The scenarios at corner are then as follows:

* If Gratz plays, he will start at left corner with Demetrius McCray moving to Ball’s right corner spot. Gratz started the first four games of the season at left corner before sustaining a concussion. McCray has started there since, getting roughly twice the reps as Gratz the past three weeks.

*If Gratz doesn’t play, second-year Jeremy Harris will start at right corner with McCray staying at left. It would be Harris’ first NFL start.

*Veteran Will Blackmon will remain the nickel corner, but would move to corner if Harris or McCray are injured. In that scenario, safety Sherrod Martin likely will move to the nickel to replace Blackmon.

Don’t get the impression that someone like Miami Dolphins wide receiver Mike Wallace doesn’t know what’s going on in Jacksonville. In fact, the speedy pass catcher probably already has an idea of how he would like to try and carve up the Jaguars secondary since cornerback Alan Ball has been ruled out of Sunday’s game against Miami and second-year corner Dwayne Gratz has been listed as questionable to play as well.

Still, these Jaguars are going to face the challenge, send the next man up and use the game plan that was drawn up earlier in the week to cover the Dolphins receivers.

“We’ve had to adjust a little bit,” Head Coach Gus Bradley said, on Jaguars.com.

Maybe a little bit is an understatement. The Dolphins have proven that their offense is getting better – and that is without running back Knowshon Moreno.

“Sometimes certain position groups may get hit throughout the season, and this week it’s the corner spot.”

Ball, who on Wednesday sought a second opinion on a biceps injury sustained against Cleveland Sunday, officially was ruled out Friday. While Ball was considered very doubtful throughout the week, Gratz’s situation was more of a surprise.

He practiced Wednesday, and then experienced tightness in his hip Thursday. He was listed as limited on the Thursday injury report, then did not practice Friday.

“We’ll see how it goes tomorrow, then on game day we’ll work it out and go from there,” Gratz said. “There was no specific thing. It was just tight and we tried to loosen it up and go out there and play. It didn’t work out as well as I planned it, but we’re being smart and doing the right things.”

Gratz was injured earlier in the season when he sustained a concussion in the team’s loss to San Diego.

Right now, Gratz is questionable – and has not been ruled out of the game on Sunday. Should he not be able to go, here is how the Jaguars will proceed with coverage.

The scenarios at corner are then as follows:

* If Gratz plays, he will start at left corner with Demetrius McCray moving to Ball’s right corner spot. Gratz started the first four games of the season at left corner before sustaining a concussion. McCray has started there since, getting roughly twice the reps as Gratz the past three weeks.

*If Gratz doesn’t play, second-year Jeremy Harris will start at right corner with McCray staying at left. It would be Harris’ first NFL start.

*Veteran Will Blackmon will remain the nickel corner, but would move to corner if Harris or McCray are injured. In that scenario, safety Sherrod Martin likely will move to the nickel to replace Blackmon.

Don’t get the impression that someone like Miami Dolphins wide receiver Mike Wallace doesn’t know what’s going on in Jacksonville. In fact, the speedy pass catcher probably already has an idea of how he would like to try and carve up the Jaguars secondary since cornerback Alan Ball has been ruled out of Sunday’s game against Miami and second-year corner Dwayne Gratz has been listed as questionable to play as well.

Still, these Jaguars are going to face the challenge, send the next man up and use the game plan that was drawn up earlier in the week to cover the Dolphins receivers.

“We’ve had to adjust a little bit,” Head Coach Gus Bradley said, on Jaguars.com.

Maybe a little bit is an understatement. The Dolphins have proven that their offense is getting better – and that is without running back Knowshon Moreno.

“Sometimes certain position groups may get hit throughout the season, and this week it’s the corner spot.”

Ball, who on Wednesday sought a second opinion on a biceps injury sustained against Cleveland Sunday, officially was ruled out Friday. While Ball was considered very doubtful throughout the week, Gratz’s situation was more of a surprise.

He practiced Wednesday, and then experienced tightness in his hip Thursday. He was listed as limited on the Thursday injury report, then did not practice Friday.

“We’ll see how it goes tomorrow, then on game day we’ll work it out and go from there,” Gratz said. “There was no specific thing. It was just tight and we tried to loosen it up and go out there and play. It didn’t work out as well as I planned it, but we’re being smart and doing the right things.”

Gratz was injured earlier in the season when he sustained a concussion in the team’s loss to San Diego.

Right now, Gratz is questionable – and has not been ruled out of the game on Sunday. Should he not be able to go, here is how the Jaguars will proceed with coverage.

The scenarios at corner are then as follows:

* If Gratz plays, he will start at left corner with Demetrius McCray moving to Ball’s right corner spot. Gratz started the first four games of the season at left corner before sustaining a concussion. McCray has started there since, getting roughly twice the reps as Gratz the past three weeks.

*If Gratz doesn’t play, second-year Jeremy Harris will start at right corner with McCray staying at left. It would be Harris’ first NFL start.

*Veteran Will Blackmon will remain the nickel corner, but would move to corner if Harris or McCray are injured. In that scenario, safety Sherrod Martin likely will move to the nickel to replace Blackmon.

Don’t get the impression that someone like Miami Dolphins wide receiver Mike Wallace doesn’t know what’s going on in Jacksonville. In fact, the speedy pass catcher probably already has an idea of how he would like to try and carve up the Jaguars secondary since cornerback Alan Ball has been ruled out of Sunday’s game against Miami and second-year corner Dwayne Gratz has been listed as questionable to play as well.

Still, these Jaguars are going to face the challenge, send the next man up and use the game plan that was drawn up earlier in the week to cover the Dolphins receivers.

“We’ve had to adjust a little bit,” Head Coach Gus Bradley said, on Jaguars.com.

Maybe a little bit is an understatement. The Dolphins have proven that their offense is getting better – and that is without running back Knowshon Moreno.

“Sometimes certain position groups may get hit throughout the season, and this week it’s the corner spot.”

Ball, who on Wednesday sought a second opinion on a biceps injury sustained against Cleveland Sunday, officially was ruled out Friday. While Ball was considered very doubtful throughout the week, Gratz’s situation was more of a surprise.

He practiced Wednesday, and then experienced tightness in his hip Thursday. He was listed as limited on the Thursday injury report, then did not practice Friday.

“We’ll see how it goes tomorrow, then on game day we’ll work it out and go from there,” Gratz said. “There was no specific thing. It was just tight and we tried to loosen it up and go out there and play. It didn’t work out as well as I planned it, but we’re being smart and doing the right things.”

Gratz was injured earlier in the season when he sustained a concussion in the team’s loss to San Diego.

Right now, Gratz is questionable – and has not been ruled out of the game on Sunday. Should he not be able to go, here is how the Jaguars will proceed with coverage.

The scenarios at corner are then as follows:

* If Gratz plays, he will start at left corner with Demetrius McCray moving to Ball’s right corner spot. Gratz started the first four games of the season at left corner before sustaining a concussion. McCray has started there since, getting roughly twice the reps as Gratz the past three weeks.

*If Gratz doesn’t play, second-year Jeremy Harris will start at right corner with McCray staying at left. It would be Harris’ first NFL start.

*Veteran Will Blackmon will remain the nickel corner, but would move to corner if Harris or McCray are injured. In that scenario, safety Sherrod Martin likely will move to the nickel to replace Blackmon.

Don’t get the impression that someone like Miami Dolphins wide receiver Mike Wallace doesn’t know what’s going on in Jacksonville. In fact, the speedy pass catcher probably already has an idea of how he would like to try and carve up the Jaguars secondary since cornerback Alan Ball has been ruled out of Sunday’s game against Miami and second-year corner Dwayne Gratz has been listed as questionable to play as well.

Still, these Jaguars are going to face the challenge, send the next man up and use the game plan that was drawn up earlier in the week to cover the Dolphins receivers.

“We’ve had to adjust a little bit,” Head Coach Gus Bradley said, on Jaguars.com.

Maybe a little bit is an understatement. The Dolphins have proven that their offense is getting better – and that is without running back Knowshon Moreno.

“Sometimes certain position groups may get hit throughout the season, and this week it’s the corner spot.”

Ball, who on Wednesday sought a second opinion on a biceps injury sustained against Cleveland Sunday, officially was ruled out Friday. While Ball was considered very doubtful throughout the week, Gratz’s situation was more of a surprise.

He practiced Wednesday, and then experienced tightness in his hip Thursday. He was listed as limited on the Thursday injury report, then did not practice Friday.

“We’ll see how it goes tomorrow, then on game day we’ll work it out and go from there,” Gratz said. “There was no specific thing. It was just tight and we tried to loosen it up and go out there and play. It didn’t work out as well as I planned it, but we’re being smart and doing the right things.”

Gratz was injured earlier in the season when he sustained a concussion in the team’s loss to San Diego.

Right now, Gratz is questionable – and has not been ruled out of the game on Sunday. Should he not be able to go, here is how the Jaguars will proceed with coverage.

The scenarios at corner are then as follows:

* If Gratz plays, he will start at left corner with Demetrius McCray moving to Ball’s right corner spot. Gratz started the first four games of the season at left corner before sustaining a concussion. McCray has started there since, getting roughly twice the reps as Gratz the past three weeks.

*If Gratz doesn’t play, second-year Jeremy Harris will start at right corner with McCray staying at left. It would be Harris’ first NFL start.

*Veteran Will Blackmon will remain the nickel corner, but would move to corner if Harris or McCray are injured. In that scenario, safety Sherrod Martin likely will move to the nickel to replace Blackmon.

Don’t get the impression that someone like Miami Dolphins wide receiver Mike Wallace doesn’t know what’s going on in Jacksonville. In fact, the speedy pass catcher probably already has an idea of how he would like to try and carve up the Jaguars secondary since cornerback Alan Ball has been ruled out of Sunday’s game against Miami and second-year corner Dwayne Gratz has been listed as questionable to play as well.

Still, these Jaguars are going to face the challenge, send the next man up and use the game plan that was drawn up earlier in the week to cover the Dolphins receivers.

“We’ve had to adjust a little bit,” Head Coach Gus Bradley said, on Jaguars.com.

Maybe a little bit is an understatement. The Dolphins have proven that their offense is getting better – and that is without running back Knowshon Moreno.

“Sometimes certain position groups may get hit throughout the season, and this week it’s the corner spot.”

Ball, who on Wednesday sought a second opinion on a biceps injury sustained against Cleveland Sunday, officially was ruled out Friday. While Ball was considered very doubtful throughout the week, Gratz’s situation was more of a surprise.

He practiced Wednesday, and then experienced tightness in his hip Thursday. He was listed as limited on the Thursday injury report, then did not practice Friday.

“We’ll see how it goes tomorrow, then on game day we’ll work it out and go from there,” Gratz said. “There was no specific thing. It was just tight and we tried to loosen it up and go out there and play. It didn’t work out as well as I planned it, but we’re being smart and doing the right things.”

Gratz was injured earlier in the season when he sustained a concussion in the team’s loss to San Diego.

Right now, Gratz is questionable – and has not been ruled out of the game on Sunday. Should he not be able to go, here is how the Jaguars will proceed with coverage.

The scenarios at corner are then as follows:

* If Gratz plays, he will start at left corner with Demetrius McCray moving to Ball’s right corner spot. Gratz started the first four games of the season at left corner before sustaining a concussion. McCray has started there since, getting roughly twice the reps as Gratz the past three weeks.

*If Gratz doesn’t play, second-year Jeremy Harris will start at right corner with McCray staying at left. It would be Harris’ first NFL start.

*Veteran Will Blackmon will remain the nickel corner, but would move to corner if Harris or McCray are injured. In that scenario, safety Sherrod Martin likely will move to the nickel to replace Blackmon.

You could tell by the expression on Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Gus Bradley’s face he was not happy with the results on Sunday. Following a 17-9 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, Bradley was not short on words, and his sentences were succinct – losing is not a part of the team’s culture. After the fifth straight loss of this season and the eighth overall since the Jaguars celebrated a victory which was last season.

One, there definitely was improvement.

“As a team, I truly believe we’re getting better,” Bradley said Monday afternoon, a day after the Jaguars’ 17-9 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers at EverBank Field.

Bradley said he saw improvement individually, from a defense that had its best game of the season and from rookie quarterback Blake Bortles.

He also said the team’s spirit and will to improve remains strong – and he said that’s important.

At the same time …

“I also pointed out, to make something clear, that it’s not OK to lose,” Bradley said. “That’s also part of our culture. It is not OK. We set up our culture, we strive to get better, and we strive to be our best all for the very reason so that we can reach the objective of winning.

“It’s that strict. I want to make sure it’s clear to them that it’s not OK. They know it, but I think it’s a message that needs to be stressed.”

After continual double-digit losses, the nine-point loss has to be a step in the right direction. Right now, Jacksonville is one of two teams right now (Oakland) that does not have a victory this season. Fighting for the first pick in the NFL Draft was not what team general manager Dave Caldwell and Bradley had in mind for this season. Instead, there were thoughts by NFL media that this team would compete for a playoff spot. Right now, that is a pipe dream at best.

The Jaguars, after losing their first four games by a combined 152-58, trailed 10-9 early in the fourth quarter Sunday before Steelers cornerback Brice McClain intercepted Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles and scored untouched on a 23-yard return.

The Jaguars held the Steelers offense to 10 points a week after allowing three long pass plays to Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers in a 33-14 loss.

“I feel like we’re getting closer,” Bradley said. “Our team feels like we’re getting closer, but it feels like we’re not there yet.  That was really the message for the team. They’re in good spirits, although you can tell it stings them. They felt like we missed an opportunity and we did, but we’ll learn from it and grow and move forward.”

Bradley during his meeting with the media emphasized the play of several players Sunday, including cornerback Demetrius McCray, running back Storm Johnson, defensive end Chris Clemons, safety Johnathan Cyprien and safety Josh Evans.

You could tell by the expression on Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Gus Bradley’s face he was not happy with the results on Sunday. Following a 17-9 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, Bradley was not short on words, and his sentences were succinct – losing is not a part of the team’s culture. After the fifth straight loss of this season and the eighth overall since the Jaguars celebrated a victory which was last season.

One, there definitely was improvement.

“As a team, I truly believe we’re getting better,” Bradley said Monday afternoon, a day after the Jaguars’ 17-9 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers at EverBank Field.

Bradley said he saw improvement individually, from a defense that had its best game of the season and from rookie quarterback Blake Bortles.

He also said the team’s spirit and will to improve remains strong – and he said that’s important.

At the same time …

“I also pointed out, to make something clear, that it’s not OK to lose,” Bradley said. “That’s also part of our culture. It is not OK. We set up our culture, we strive to get better, and we strive to be our best all for the very reason so that we can reach the objective of winning.

“It’s that strict. I want to make sure it’s clear to them that it’s not OK. They know it, but I think it’s a message that needs to be stressed.”

After continual double-digit losses, the nine-point loss has to be a step in the right direction. Right now, Jacksonville is one of two teams right now (Oakland) that does not have a victory this season. Fighting for the first pick in the NFL Draft was not what team general manager Dave Caldwell and Bradley had in mind for this season. Instead, there were thoughts by NFL media that this team would compete for a playoff spot. Right now, that is a pipe dream at best.

The Jaguars, after losing their first four games by a combined 152-58, trailed 10-9 early in the fourth quarter Sunday before Steelers cornerback Brice McClain intercepted Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles and scored untouched on a 23-yard return.

The Jaguars held the Steelers offense to 10 points a week after allowing three long pass plays to Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers in a 33-14 loss.

“I feel like we’re getting closer,” Bradley said. “Our team feels like we’re getting closer, but it feels like we’re not there yet.  That was really the message for the team. They’re in good spirits, although you can tell it stings them. They felt like we missed an opportunity and we did, but we’ll learn from it and grow and move forward.”

Bradley during his meeting with the media emphasized the play of several players Sunday, including cornerback Demetrius McCray, running back Storm Johnson, defensive end Chris Clemons, safety Johnathan Cyprien and safety Josh Evans.

You could tell by the expression on Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Gus Bradley’s face he was not happy with the results on Sunday. Following a 17-9 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, Bradley was not short on words, and his sentences were succinct – losing is not a part of the team’s culture. After the fifth straight loss of this season and the eighth overall since the Jaguars celebrated a victory which was last season.

One, there definitely was improvement.

“As a team, I truly believe we’re getting better,” Bradley said Monday afternoon, a day after the Jaguars’ 17-9 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers at EverBank Field.

Bradley said he saw improvement individually, from a defense that had its best game of the season and from rookie quarterback Blake Bortles.

He also said the team’s spirit and will to improve remains strong – and he said that’s important.

At the same time …

“I also pointed out, to make something clear, that it’s not OK to lose,” Bradley said. “That’s also part of our culture. It is not OK. We set up our culture, we strive to get better, and we strive to be our best all for the very reason so that we can reach the objective of winning.

“It’s that strict. I want to make sure it’s clear to them that it’s not OK. They know it, but I think it’s a message that needs to be stressed.”

After continual double-digit losses, the nine-point loss has to be a step in the right direction. Right now, Jacksonville is one of two teams right now (Oakland) that does not have a victory this season. Fighting for the first pick in the NFL Draft was not what team general manager Dave Caldwell and Bradley had in mind for this season. Instead, there were thoughts by NFL media that this team would compete for a playoff spot. Right now, that is a pipe dream at best.

The Jaguars, after losing their first four games by a combined 152-58, trailed 10-9 early in the fourth quarter Sunday before Steelers cornerback Brice McClain intercepted Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles and scored untouched on a 23-yard return.

The Jaguars held the Steelers offense to 10 points a week after allowing three long pass plays to Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers in a 33-14 loss.

“I feel like we’re getting closer,” Bradley said. “Our team feels like we’re getting closer, but it feels like we’re not there yet.  That was really the message for the team. They’re in good spirits, although you can tell it stings them. They felt like we missed an opportunity and we did, but we’ll learn from it and grow and move forward.”

Bradley during his meeting with the media emphasized the play of several players Sunday, including cornerback Demetrius McCray, running back Storm Johnson, defensive end Chris Clemons, safety Johnathan Cyprien and safety Josh Evans.

You could tell by the expression on Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Gus Bradley’s face he was not happy with the results on Sunday. Following a 17-9 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, Bradley was not short on words, and his sentences were succinct – losing is not a part of the team’s culture. After the fifth straight loss of this season and the eighth overall since the Jaguars celebrated a victory which was last season.

One, there definitely was improvement.

“As a team, I truly believe we’re getting better,” Bradley said Monday afternoon, a day after the Jaguars’ 17-9 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers at EverBank Field.

Bradley said he saw improvement individually, from a defense that had its best game of the season and from rookie quarterback Blake Bortles.

He also said the team’s spirit and will to improve remains strong – and he said that’s important.

At the same time …

“I also pointed out, to make something clear, that it’s not OK to lose,” Bradley said. “That’s also part of our culture. It is not OK. We set up our culture, we strive to get better, and we strive to be our best all for the very reason so that we can reach the objective of winning.

“It’s that strict. I want to make sure it’s clear to them that it’s not OK. They know it, but I think it’s a message that needs to be stressed.”

After continual double-digit losses, the nine-point loss has to be a step in the right direction. Right now, Jacksonville is one of two teams right now (Oakland) that does not have a victory this season. Fighting for the first pick in the NFL Draft was not what team general manager Dave Caldwell and Bradley had in mind for this season. Instead, there were thoughts by NFL media that this team would compete for a playoff spot. Right now, that is a pipe dream at best.

The Jaguars, after losing their first four games by a combined 152-58, trailed 10-9 early in the fourth quarter Sunday before Steelers cornerback Brice McClain intercepted Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles and scored untouched on a 23-yard return.

The Jaguars held the Steelers offense to 10 points a week after allowing three long pass plays to Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers in a 33-14 loss.

“I feel like we’re getting closer,” Bradley said. “Our team feels like we’re getting closer, but it feels like we’re not there yet.  That was really the message for the team. They’re in good spirits, although you can tell it stings them. They felt like we missed an opportunity and we did, but we’ll learn from it and grow and move forward.”

Bradley during his meeting with the media emphasized the play of several players Sunday, including cornerback Demetrius McCray, running back Storm Johnson, defensive end Chris Clemons, safety Johnathan Cyprien and safety Josh Evans.

Twenty years ago, the neophyte Jacksonville Jaguars got their second win ever against the Pittsburgh Steelers at home. Since then, the connection between the two teams, despite the fact they are no longer in the same division, remains strong.

On Sunday, the Jaguars take aim at the Steelers, a team that fell to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last week, in an effort to claim their first win of the season. This is also the first home start for Blake Bortles, the man who has been compared to Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, many times over. How will he play as the starter for the first time in front of the home crowd? That is just only one of the questions which must be answered for the hometown faithful.

Here are some things we must know about Sunday’s game according to John Oehser and Jaguars.com.

PRESSURE AND CREATIVITY

Think Steelers defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau will call a few blitzes Sunday? The Jaguars do, and history says they’re right. LeBeau, one of the NFL’s more-respected coordinators, is known to call a variety of exotic blitzes when facing rookie quarterbacks, and Jaguars offensive coordinator Jedd Fisch said he figures LeBeau could do the same with Bortles making his second career start.

The Steelers have seven sacks this season; the Jaguars have allowed 20, including 10 against Washington in Week 2. “We have to prepare for both (blitz and coverage).” Fisch said Wednesday. “(Chargers defensive coordinator) John Pagano certainly blitzed us and put us in some tough spots at times – and then other times, played coverage. … We’re probably going to get a mixture, I assume, and we’ll have to be prepared for both.” Bortles said of the Steelers’ veteran defense, “They’re an aggressive defense that goes after it and attacks the ball. We’re going to have to be sharp and exact with what we do.”

THE IMPORTANCE OF THIRD DOWN

Third downs remain a priority. First, no way does Fisch think the Jaguars often match the 64 percent success rate on third down achieved against San Diego. “Sixty-three percent is an awfully high number,” he said. But Fisch is pleased with progress made in that area and wants it to continue.

The Jaguars, after converting six of 32 third downs in the first two and a half games, have converted 12 of 19 since Bortles entered the lineup. “The biggest things about third downs last week were that we had five third-and-ones,” Fisch said. “We converted four of those third-and-ones. That alone was huge for us. That means we were efficient on first and second downs.” Bortles agreed, saying, “I think that conversion rate was good and that’s something that we need to continue to work on and improve.”

GETTING BIG BEN DOWN IS HUGE

The Steelers are 2-2, but whatever struggles they have had aren’t because of quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. The 11-year veteran through four games has a 99.4 passer rating, and he threw for three touchdowns in an upset loss to Tampa Bay last week. The Steelers’ running game is complementing Roethlisberger well, and wide receiver Antonio Brown has developed into one of the NFL’s most-dangerous receivers.

But Roethlisberger’s ability to extend plays and pass downfield after doing so remains the defining characteristic of the Steelers’ offense. “He’s always looking downfield,” Jaguars defensive tackle Roy Miller, who played Roethlisberger and the Steelers as a member of the Buccaneers in 2010, said.

HAVING FAITH

Players have made clear while preparing for Pittsburgh they believe a defense that ranks 32nd in scoring, passing yards and total yards isn’t far from being competitive. Cornerback Alan Ball, asked if the defense could be fixed, smiled and said he didn’t believe it was broken.

And although defensive tackle Roy Miller said the game-changing plays must stop, there were some positives such as a strong run defense in a loss to San Diego Sunday. Head Coach Gus Bradley said he liked that the line was getting pressure, and once again said the front, middle linebacker Paul Posluszny and safeties Josh Evans and Johnathan Cyprien have played well. “Now it’s just challenging everybody to pick it up even more,” Bradley said. “We showed signs of it. We can stop the run, we’ve addressed that and we’ve shown flashes in games where we’ve done that.

Now it’s just the consistency.”

BEING BETTER UP FRONT

The Jaguars’ offensive line has been an area of focus early in the season, but Fisch said the group has taken strides in recent weeks. Bradley said this week that the left side of guard Zane Beadles and tackle Luke Joeckel improved against San Diego, and asked specifically about Beadles Wednesday, Fisch said, “He played better.” After allowing 10 sacks against Washington in Week 2, the line has improved in pass protection while benefitting from Bortles’ pocket presence. Fisch also said the group has improved its run-blocking, and said the team’s 85 yards and a touchdown on 25 carries against San Diego was better than the statistics indicated.

The Jaguars faced five third-and-one situations and two fourth-and-one situations with three more plays inside the Chargers’ five-yard line. “You’re not going to get as many yards when you have ten short-yardage plays,” Fisch said. 

Twenty years ago, the neophyte Jacksonville Jaguars got their second win ever against the Pittsburgh Steelers at home. Since then, the connection between the two teams, despite the fact they are no longer in the same division, remains strong.

On Sunday, the Jaguars take aim at the Steelers, a team that fell to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last week, in an effort to claim their first win of the season. This is also the first home start for Blake Bortles, the man who has been compared to Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, many times over. How will he play as the starter for the first time in front of the home crowd? That is just only one of the questions which must be answered for the hometown faithful.

Here are some things we must know about Sunday’s game according to John Oehser and Jaguars.com.

PRESSURE AND CREATIVITY

Think Steelers defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau will call a few blitzes Sunday? The Jaguars do, and history says they’re right. LeBeau, one of the NFL’s more-respected coordinators, is known to call a variety of exotic blitzes when facing rookie quarterbacks, and Jaguars offensive coordinator Jedd Fisch said he figures LeBeau could do the same with Bortles making his second career start.

The Steelers have seven sacks this season; the Jaguars have allowed 20, including 10 against Washington in Week 2. “We have to prepare for both (blitz and coverage).” Fisch said Wednesday. “(Chargers defensive coordinator) John Pagano certainly blitzed us and put us in some tough spots at times – and then other times, played coverage. … We’re probably going to get a mixture, I assume, and we’ll have to be prepared for both.” Bortles said of the Steelers’ veteran defense, “They’re an aggressive defense that goes after it and attacks the ball. We’re going to have to be sharp and exact with what we do.”

THE IMPORTANCE OF THIRD DOWN

Third downs remain a priority. First, no way does Fisch think the Jaguars often match the 64 percent success rate on third down achieved against San Diego. “Sixty-three percent is an awfully high number,” he said. But Fisch is pleased with progress made in that area and wants it to continue.

The Jaguars, after converting six of 32 third downs in the first two and a half games, have converted 12 of 19 since Bortles entered the lineup. “The biggest things about third downs last week were that we had five third-and-ones,” Fisch said. “We converted four of those third-and-ones. That alone was huge for us. That means we were efficient on first and second downs.” Bortles agreed, saying, “I think that conversion rate was good and that’s something that we need to continue to work on and improve.”

GETTING BIG BEN DOWN IS HUGE

The Steelers are 2-2, but whatever struggles they have had aren’t because of quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. The 11-year veteran through four games has a 99.4 passer rating, and he threw for three touchdowns in an upset loss to Tampa Bay last week. The Steelers’ running game is complementing Roethlisberger well, and wide receiver Antonio Brown has developed into one of the NFL’s most-dangerous receivers.

But Roethlisberger’s ability to extend plays and pass downfield after doing so remains the defining characteristic of the Steelers’ offense. “He’s always looking downfield,” Jaguars defensive tackle Roy Miller, who played Roethlisberger and the Steelers as a member of the Buccaneers in 2010, said.

HAVING FAITH

Players have made clear while preparing for Pittsburgh they believe a defense that ranks 32nd in scoring, passing yards and total yards isn’t far from being competitive. Cornerback Alan Ball, asked if the defense could be fixed, smiled and said he didn’t believe it was broken.

And although defensive tackle Roy Miller said the game-changing plays must stop, there were some positives such as a strong run defense in a loss to San Diego Sunday. Head Coach Gus Bradley said he liked that the line was getting pressure, and once again said the front, middle linebacker Paul Posluszny and safeties Josh Evans and Johnathan Cyprien have played well. “Now it’s just challenging everybody to pick it up even more,” Bradley said. “We showed signs of it. We can stop the run, we’ve addressed that and we’ve shown flashes in games where we’ve done that.

Now it’s just the consistency.”

BEING BETTER UP FRONT

The Jaguars’ offensive line has been an area of focus early in the season, but Fisch said the group has taken strides in recent weeks. Bradley said this week that the left side of guard Zane Beadles and tackle Luke Joeckel improved against San Diego, and asked specifically about Beadles Wednesday, Fisch said, “He played better.” After allowing 10 sacks against Washington in Week 2, the line has improved in pass protection while benefitting from Bortles’ pocket presence. Fisch also said the group has improved its run-blocking, and said the team’s 85 yards and a touchdown on 25 carries against San Diego was better than the statistics indicated.

The Jaguars faced five third-and-one situations and two fourth-and-one situations with three more plays inside the Chargers’ five-yard line. “You’re not going to get as many yards when you have ten short-yardage plays,” Fisch said.