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Jaguars News | Jacksonville Jaguars - jaguars.com

Welker knew the kickoff rule

Join jaguars.com senior editor Vic Ketchman as he tackles the fans' tough questions.

Luke from Jacksonville:
If the Jags win all of their remaining games and finish 11-5, is there any possible chance they don't make the playoffs?

Vic: I guarantee that if the Jaguars finish 11-5, they'll make the playoffs. Denver's and Kansas City's losses on Sunday changed everything. Prior to Sunday, I wasn't sure if 10-6 would get a team in. Now I'm certain 10-6 will do it. When I look at all of the contending teams' remaining schedules and pick their games, I come up with a lot of 9-7's. This could be a year when 9-7 makes the playoffs in the AFC.

Tom from Jacksonville:
Can you explain the ruling on the Scobee kickoff that was ruled out of bounds? It looked like the kick-returner caught the ball and then went out of bounds.

Vic: Give Miami return man Wes Welker credit for knowing the rule. He did the same thing last year in a game. The Jaguars special teams coaches even showed that play to their players, in providing an example of the rule governing out-of-bounds kickoffs. The rule is the same as it is for pass receptions. If a return man catches the kickoff with any part of his body in contact with territory outside the playing field, the kick is ruled to be out of bounds. Welker went to the sideline, saw that the kick was starting to die, then put a foot down out of bounds and caught the ball. I got a ton of e-mail about the play from people who railed at the officials for having blown the call. They didn't blow the call. They knew exactly what the rule is, just as Welker did.

Danton from Altamonte Springs, FL:
I love the column; can't miss a day of it. When the Jags run the table and make the playoffs, would you consider this a Super Bowl team? We run, stop the run and are now controlling the clock and converting third downs. Isn't that the formula?

Vic: If the Jaguars win-out, I would consider them a Super Bowl contender, but at that point I'd only have to wait a few weeks to find out one way or the other, so I probably wouldn't spend much time on it. Yes, the Jaguars are playing football with a playoff-like flair right now. They have prime playoff ingredients: a stout defense, a strong running game and a hot quarterback. It doesn't get any better than that. My advice to you is to just watch and enjoy. Don't waste your time on crowns. They have a tendency to get knocked off.

Nick from Toronto, Canada:
Obviously, after one game, it isn't wise to make knee-jerk reactions about the passing game, but why was it so effective against a good defense like the Dolphins and not against the Texans? Was this game just a fluke, or did the more aggressive play-calling account for the production? Some of the throws to Jones look like they would be available against any team in the league, so we'll have to see if the efficiency in the passing game continues.

Vic: It wasn't about the play-calling. It was about the running game. The Dolphins decided they couldn't stop the Jaguars running game with just seven guys. They decided to load the box against the run and dare the Jaguars to pass, which has been a formula a lot of teams have used against the Jaguars this season. Respect for Fred Taylor, Maurice Jones-Drew and the Jaguars offensive line is as it should be for the number three running game in the league. Respect for the Jaguars passing game continues to lag, as you would expect for a passing game that is 25th in the league. Sunday's performance might change that and that would be a real good thing because it would lessen the crowd at the line of scrimmage and allow Taylor and Jones-Drew more running room. If you perceived the Jaguars' play-calling as having been more aggressive, it's only because that's what the Dolphins dared the Jaguars to be. Buffalo loaded the box against the run, but played three-deep across the back which, in effect, opened the field underneath the coverage. Miami played a lot of press coverage, which dared the Jaguars to make plays downfield, which they did.

Henry from Atlanta, GA:
I just wanted to know your opinion if Florida deserves a shot to play in the BCS championship game? Also, do you think Chris Leak has a chance to make it in the NFL?

Vic: I think Florida was the right choice. I hate the whole system, of course, but given the way it is, I think Florida is the right choice. As far as Chris Leak is concerned, I don't think he's anything more than a late-round NFL prospect.

Dale from Kingsland, GA:
On Sunday, during the last seconds of the game, the Miami stadium seemed very empty. When the Jags made the first down to end the game, I even heard some Jag fans yelling joyously. Was that the "Ask Vic Road Trip" crew?

Vic: It probably was. I really enjoyed meeting them on Saturday night. Everyone with whom I spoke was having a great time and was looking forward to doing it again next season.

Keith from Miami, FL:
How exactly does Pro-Bowl voting work?

Vic: The voting is weighted evenly among three factions: fans, players and coaches.

Jimmy from Jacksonville:
What is Kyle Brady chasing Lynn Swann about?

Vic: It's a little inside joke Brady has created. Brady has caught 331 passes in his career, which leaves him only five behind Swann. Of course, Brady's a little farther behind in yards, yards per catch, touchdowns, postseason stats and Super Bowl MVPs, but he's right on Swann's tail for total pass receptions. At Brady's current pace of two catches this season, provided he gets one more this year, he'll only need two more seasons to catch Swann.

Robert from Lexington, KY:
How many current NFL head coaches played in the NFL?

Vic: I count 10. Those are guys who actually played in the league and it includes New Orleans coach Sean Payton, who was a replacement player in the 1987 strike season. The other nine coaches who are former NFL players are Jack Del Rio, Tony Dungy, Jeff Fisher, Gary Kubiak, Dick Jauron, Bill Cowher, Herm Edwards, Marty Schottenheimer and Art Shell.

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