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Jaguars Pulse
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Jaguars Update - road to season |
The mindset of the offseason and preseason activities was to avoid the hiccups that proved costly in the disheartening 2017 season.
As so the following moves were deemed vital to ensure the success hoped for 2018 :
- A better QB#2 more seasonned
- Make cap room
- Keep the starting defense as it is
- Give proven veteran with high IQ to QB Winston as WRs
With this in mind, here are the movements made.
Cuts :
- TE Derrick Coleman (post draft due the drafting of TE )
- DT Jerel Worthy
- Mason Crosby
- RG Andre Smith
Restructured : MLB Damien Wilson (https://sfl-football.com/player.php?id=7304&skin=lp). Came in as a fifth round pick, a gifted MLB playing as Minter shadow. Proved more than that in the 34 defense and was rewarded as such with the restructure.
Resigned : C Luke Bowanko(https://sfl-football.com/player.php?id=6639&skin=lp) : a core asset in the Jags OL for some seasons. He is the under the radar player who thrives big now in his prime.
Free Agency ; key signings :
- Qb Andre Woodson (https://sfl-football.com/player.php?id=4190&skin=lp) : the veteran backup that the team lacked last year. One year gap probably but he is breathe of relief
- WR Sidney Rice (https://sfl-football.com/player.php?id=3797&skin=lp) and WR Andre Caldwell]https://sfl-football.com/player.php?id=4052&skin=lp) : the seasonned veteran to go alongside Winston and gives him more AWR support for his growing
- TE C.J. Fiedorowicz (https://sfl-football.com/player.php?id=6456&skin=lp) : to give more speed and a bigger target at TE
- CB Keith Reaser (https://sfl-football.com/player.php?id=6508&skin=lp) : the fifth CB with skills to play in the oft played coverage rotation
- ME FA : declined, as it was not deemed acceptable for cap room / talent wise to match the offer for SS Dezmen Southward (https://sfl-football.com/player.php?id=6609&skin=lp)
Trades :
draft day trade : 2018 draft Jags fith for [url=DT Montori Hughes]https://sfl-football.com/player.php?id=5923&skin=lp[/url] to play the starting NT.
Draft :
With no first and no secound round picks, the team had hope that NT Vitae would fall. That didn't happen, and there is no regret because there were no points in trading the 2019 picks for him to get in the first or second ; and the team didn't want to trade any starters.
As so, here is the draft :
3.12 :: SS Marcus Allen (https://sfl-football.com/player.php?year=2018&id=8125&skin=lp). Quite glad is the team to find this gem in the third, because he was the third to fourth SS in their board. Some critics had happy feet about them not matchin Southward, but Allen is better and younger, and can also play in CB packages.
4.12 :: QB Mason Rudolph (https://sfl-football.com/player.php?year=2018&id=8179&skin=lp). Even with Woodson signed, Mason Rudolph was to good to pass up, even if a reach, as the team wants to build a backup. That is also a challenge because they need that AWR to go up.
5.12 :: traded as stated above
6.12 :: TE Jordan Thomas (https://sfl-football.com/player.php?year=2018&id=8116&skin=lp). The new starting TE, his size and speed is what the team wanted. Paired with C.J. Fiedorowicz, they should be dangerous in the red zone and playing in the middle of the field.
Other picks : roster fillers.
Training camp :
QB - Mason Rudolph - Proj. ovr: 78 ->> to make him progress skills and AWR
SS - Marcus Allen - Proj. ovr: 73
RG - Miguel Machado (https://sfl-football.com/player.php?year=2018&id=7847&skin=lp) - Proj. ovr: 80 ->> last possibility now that he is the starting RG in place of Andre Smith |
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Forum Discussion
(by O_Ratajczak on 02/20/2024)
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Replies - 0 :: Views - 13 |
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Jagaurs 2017 Recap |
LESSONS FROM 2016 SEASON
The Jaguars managed to be a .500 team, falling short of a 9 to 10 win, but that also means escaping barely a loosing season.
The lessons learnt from that season is that the team needed a change of plans considering the game plan and the developing of QB Winston, and another on the developing of the team balance.
As so, the team decided to give a shift to defense to help support Winston.
This goal needed also to be accounted with a cap management that would imply to take crucial and hard decision.
MOVEMENT BEFORE DRAFT
Focusing on defense meant to keep key pieces. As so ROLB Marcus Smith (https://sfl-football.com/player.php?id=6583&skin=lp) was extended. HC Del Rio, as a former one, believes that the key to an excellent defense are LBs, more so that until then, the 46 defense was teh base defense.
To manage the Cap, the team didn't resign star FB Knoshown Moreno, and cut HB Matt Forte.
Managing the cap also meant to keep one player between CB Ras-Dowling (https://sfl-football.com/player.php?id=5393&skin=lp) and WR Dez Bryant. In the end, they traded Dez Bryant. To do that, GM Ratajczak just had to twist his no trade of star players in division policy, as the Jaguars sent Dez Bryant to the Titans with a second round pick for a first and HB Stevan Ridley (https://sfl-football.com/player.php?id=5517&skin=lp). Ridley helps the team to give a supporting cast to QB Winston, allowing to get a better balance on offense.
To complement those moves, during pre draft FA period, they sign FB Kendall Brock ([url]https://sfl-football.com/player.php?id=7073&skin=lp), and ME RT J.C. Tretter (https://sfl-football.com/player.php?id=5977&skin=lp), giving their 2017 second round pick to the Chargers. Tretter was an important target to give a better blindside protection to Winston, as RT Ryan Jensen (https://sfl-football.com/player.php?id=5964&skin=lp) was moved to RG where he fits better. They aslo signed QB Ryan Nassib to be backup QB.
THE DRAFT
The strategy was to pick BPA no matter what, even if there were some focused on positions in mind : CB, DT, WR, TE and OLB. CB was quite present in mind as the 2016 second round pick Will Redmond (https://sfl-football.com/player.php?id=7593&skin=lp) appeared not to be the succesor to Ras-Dowling who will hit regression in 2018. AS so, the team had signed before ahnd in FA period, Marcux Maxey to be a mentor to the future 2017 pick.
At 1.14, the Jaguars thus picked CB Justin Hardee (https://sfl-football.com/player.php?year=2017&id=7950&skin=lp) who has the size, the skills and the smarts to be the starting CB opposing Marcus Peters (https://sfl-football.com/player.php?year=2017&id=7230&skin=lp[/url]) within two seasons.
At 1.22 (pick from the Titans), they picked DT Davon Godchaux (https://sfl-football.com/player.php?id=7891&skin=lp). Godchaux lacks ideal STR and WT for the DT positions, but while studying him, the team envisioned to play him at RE. And more looking into it, they started to think to look into a 34 defense. The prospective helped the decision to pick him over OLB Matt Milano.
Seeing the OLB Matt Milano was dropping, GM Ratajczak again broke his inner rule of trading high picks in the division, and send Jaguars future pick to obtain 1.32 from the Colts. And at 1.32, they picked OLB Matt Milano (https://sfl-football.com/player.php?id=8054&skin=lp). Milano lacks ideal WT but his skills compensate A LOT, as he his a missile hard to stop when running at full speed.
On another worthy notes, at 5.14 the picked OG Miguel Machado ([url]https://sfl-football.com/player.php?year=2017&id=7847&skin=lp) who is viewed as the 2018 starter at RG, and K Harrison Butker (https://sfl-football.com/player.php?year=2017&id=7976&skin=lp) who will be the 2018 starter due to regression to starter Matt Crosby.
As a project, the picked at 4.14, RT Ansrew Wylie (https://sfl-football.com/player.php?year=2017&id=7860&skin=lp)
PRESEASON
The team signed roster fillers with potential starting material like OT Rodger Saffold and HB CJ Anderson.
They also set the pace with the moving to a 34 defense as their base defense.
2017 SEASON RECAP
The team finished a 7-9 team. An heartbreaking because they really aimed to an 11-5 record. This was not reached due to an injury to QB Winston, a poor 1-5 record in the division, and some hiccup in game plans.
The team decision to go with a 34 defense was not without hiccup, as growing pains were visible against potent teams like the Titans. Midseason, the team found their rythm and was the force envisioned by the front office, helped by the stellar performance of the the first round rookies who were a starter froma day for Milano and Godchaux, and the nickel CB for Hardee.
The offense was pedestrian. Midseason, even with some potent showing, they were abismal. A change of GP proved judicious, and Winston found a groove, helped by HB Ridley who proved worthy of his trading. The offense gained balanced, helped with the emergence of WR Leonte Carroo (https://sfl-football.com/player.php?year=2017&id=7441&skin=lp) who became the primary and vertical target since the trading of Dez Bryant.
A Qb Winston (https://sfl-football.com/player.php?year=2017&id=7306&skin=lp) 4 weeks absence for injury proved costly, as Nassib proved himself short of leading the team even with good performances. This implied that the team needs to seek a stronger backup options during 2018 offseason.
FINAL NOTES
The draft bets paid off as both Milano and Hardee were cited to SFL awards for defensive rookies of the year. Hardee in a limited playing time managed to force 6 To (4 ints and 2 FF).
The movement within the OL proved excellent, even if Tretter had a PCK/SCK ratio a bit down due to Nassibe playing 4 weeks.
Jensen found a new life at OG, and this was seen with Ridley trouncing defenses. |
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Forum Discussion
(by O_Ratajczak on 02/09/2024)
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Replies - 0 :: Views - 13 |
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The roar - Jaguars podcast transcription |
Today in the new episode of Roar, we receive Jaguars GM and HC, respectively Olivier Ratajczak and Jack Del Rio, to speak about the last SFL draft.
TR : Welcome sirs !
OR & JDR : thanks, and good afternoon.
TR : We know you have a full schedule of interviews booked, so let's go with no further ado.
First and foremost, we can't speak of this draft without speaking of both Brohm and Nelson trades at the trade deadline last season. Would you care to tell about this, now we can say we're in the aftermath, and that not much had been said ?
JDR : I take the first lead ; because firstly it is a subject of playing before a franchise one.
Despite being in the lead or almost in the division, we were not where we were supposed to be positioned in the standings. Brian was totally insecure with ball, and part of our offensive struggles came of it. The defense was playing out of its mind at times and helped a lot of our wins. This was discussed a lot in meetings but Brian was not giving any good hear, much more inclined to speak about his extension than anything. Being somewhat even a pain in the locker room.
OR : Exactly, to the point where we had to do something. So both Jack and I spoke to the owner and explained the case as this : Brian is not filling expectations, nor showing he wants to improve before extension talks (2015 being the last year of his contract). The options are : we let the season end and we see how it goes, he probably can be fine and we talk afterwards of extension (back then we had in mind to extend CB Norman before him) or we trade him. We can trade him at the deadline or wait before the draft. And in our opinion, there wasn't any difference in what we could get. So, we decided to trade him at the deadline and see what we can do with Rick Stanzi and the GP changes Brian was not willing to do.
As for Jordy, after we had the team meeting stating we were moving from Brian, he asked to be traded because he didn't wanted to be part of some kind of rebuilding. He knew things didn't go as planned when we traded for him, so no grudge about him. His familly loving Florida, it was likely a no brainer when Tampa inquired and was in the range we looked for.
TR : Well that explains .. but why not any words about that ?
JDR : Simply because the parties signed a clause to be quiet about it until SB.
TR : All right ! That's why the organization was silent when people started to speak about tanking ...
OR : Indeed ! And to be clear, tanking was not an option. Division was clearly a goal. We looked at it and saw that neither the Colts or the titans were such a bully to the rest of the division. We clearly had our shot even without Brian at QB, and we were a couple of coiln flip to 2 or 3 more wins, which could have let in the post season. So no tanking. When you tank, you tank since week 1, not week 12.
TR: Noted. so we that done, you had two first round pick and 3 seconds. But you weren't done trading because you traded away then ex HB starter Dixon to the Cowboys for CB Micah Hyde, HB Isaiah Pead and Cowboys 3rd. Why that ?
JDR : Dixon was disgruntled, and having won his extension was getting lazy. His pal (Brian Brohm) being out, he felt compelled to voice his displeasure. So we removed him from starting role, and traded him to the Cowboys, the organization that nearly had him in the 2014 FA. Dallas really wanted him but lacked the DP to deal us, because we didn't clearly, in 2014, had the intention to match Dallas bid. You don't keep player when they don't want.
TR : Then you traded Jaguars 4th to the Vikings for HB LaMichael James.
OR : Yes. LaMicheal was someone we had a long time in mind to add to our HB rotation.
TR : OK. Then, explain us please the remainder of the trades because that was part of your draft strategy ; and better having them alongside your story.
OR : Well thanks for that.
At that point we were without starting Qb and without starting running back. We had 1.07, 1.19, 2.03, 2.07 and 2.13 (if I reckon well). We had first a clear strategy : let come things as they are, dont' rush ourselves, we are in no hurry no matte what was the draft pool. When all other had done their moves and we were close to draft day the clear things were :
- first : A Qb we had ranked would always be in position for us. Those were Winston, Mariota and Mannion
- two : we need a mentor Qb ; which we got trading 1.19 and our lower second for Leftwich from the Pats
- third : we can work a move to get another pick in the first round, which we did in the end trading CB Norman, 2.03 and our 2015 first for 1.08, and a couple of late rounds.
TR : So, you were clearly picking a QB and a CB like you really did ?
JDR : quite but not exact. We were looking to draft Winston and Gurley until the Jets threw a curve ball. We hadn't expecting that, but when you look at what GM Mullendore likes to do, we should have expected. We thought of picking a CB in the second, the pool was deep. But when the Jets took Gurley, we stayed true to our board, because Melvin Gordon had not a top 10 rank for us. We let our board talked and Marcus Peters was picked. We were not looking for Norman replacement when we traded him, we were looking for the 1-2 offensive punch of the future.
TR : That was quite sweating bullets ????
OR : Yes, but not not as much as you may think. We clearly jumped to trade for 1.08 because we were sure of how the picks were going to be : the Eagles were not gonna pick a QB or a CB at 1.1, and the rest before us, except for Byron Jones, were going to fight for WR ; and because QB or CB were not their top priority, and those excellent WRs were surely ranked high in their board. We were confident. And with the depth at CB, we just decided that our first in 2015 should better be a first in 2014.
TR : And then draft day you traded your 3rds for a 2015 second to Tampa. Why that ?
OR : Because with the draft open untimed, we thought we could haved time to rework our board for the third ; which we couldn't. The surprises picks like Mannion and Mariota in the first quite challenged our board. But unfortunatly we weren't able to redo before picking ; so instead of picking bad, we just prefered to trade out.
[To be continued] |
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Forum Discussion
(by O_Ratajczak on 03/31/2023)
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Replies - 0 :: Views - 18 |
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Jaguars recap |
Once again another season that fell short of the playoffs due to another mid-season underperformance. Unlike the 2011 season, the defense was average and the individual performances must not hide the truth : irregularity was the main factor.
On offense, Brohm and Bryant were yet again fantastic, but if closely checked, they can’t perform. Brohm still lacks a bit of trusting to his second or third target even if Blackmon has quite a showing for a rookie.
The run game was a tad under in 2012, and that may also be a reason of some unbalance and defeats. The playcalling is to be changed to avoid being one dimensional, even if Bryant can shoulder the load.
Somewhat at crossroads with a lot of expiring contracts, the Jaguars decided to firstly restructure OLB Cushing : he is a quiet and productive part of the defense, and should remain as such, moreover that the team is preparing to live without MLB Jordan Beck in the future. Indeed, Beck’s contract terminates at the end of the 2013 season and the Jaguars are not ready to resign him (for now ?) ; and even trade talks have been held for him (to no avail). Regression remains to be seen end of 2013, but that should be enough not to sign him to a multimillion contract. As so, the Jaguars drafted MLB Kevin Minter in the last draft to be heir. And with (still now) Beck in the roster, some 3-4 packages can be considered.
On the DL, the team judged the play under average, notably the DE. And with regression looming for DT XXX they decided not to resign him. Enter then Jerell Powe and Jerel Worthy to complement. Powe would be a huge asset in 3-4 packages.
To bolster the DE, the team only decided to resign RE Sidbury who played before at LE. Going back to his natural position may be a better fit. At LE, the Jaguars choosed to trade for Chargers Vameron Jordan for whom they exchanged 2013 2nd round pick and CB Antrel Rolle. Rolle was a franchise figure, but with one year remaining on contract and with Josh Norman ready to step ahead, it was not that underthought. There will surely be a drop of AWR but also an infuse of speed. The Jaguars love to play man, so ghosting WR is primordial. That was also a cost to ensure a better DL play because the lack of pressure was also a cause of the drop in pass D.
Last point on defense, is that the safeties got richer with the drafting of SS Swearinger. That should be quite a camp battle, but depth is deeper. This said, according the circumstances, trading one of the two SS is not out of the equation.
On offense, not much will change except that a newcomer at RT is probably en marche. Rookie RT Jensen is a nice 3rd rounder, lacking a bit in sTR and PBK, but that would be taken care with progression. The next round of FA will tell if the rookie plays right now or not. TE Kellen Winslow II will not be brought back, and it will fall to second year Adrien Robinsonto hold the fort. Not a primary use in pass offense, but Winslow was always reliable when his number was called.
All in all, the aim is to dethrone the Colts as division champ. No small task as Titans and Texans also got better. It should be an interesting season to see if finally Jacksonville can take the leap forward and higher. |
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Forum Discussion
(by O_Ratajczak on 08/18/2022)
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Replies - 0 :: Views - 11 |
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Jacksonville Jaguars Owner Shahid Kahn Fires GM Brad Barber |
GM Brad Barber has been informed he is no longer a member of the Jacksonville Jaguars organization after the last game of the regular season. The Jaguars had such high hopes coming into the season and just thought if QB Brian Brohm could just stay healthy then we could easily compete for a title but that was not the case, QB Brohm was healthy but failed to hold up his end of the bargain. So far throwing only 18 TD passes to 17 INT won't win you anything, switching up the playbook didn't really help him at all and it became clear that we were headed towards another losing season, 1 that we couldn't afford to do after acquiring stud corners, adding a future HOF RT, drafting the #1 OVR WR Dez Bryant who will most likely be OROY but it just wasn't meant to be.
Fortunately another team even after moving onto his 3rd team likes what GM Brad Barber has done in both Detroit (building that team from the ground up) and here in Jackonville (Lots of young talent added- QB Brian Brohm, WR Dez Bryant, WR Golden Tate, RB Anthony Dixon, C Eric Olsen, RT Eben Britton, RE Lawrence Sidbury, ROLB Sean Weatherspoon, ILB Nate Triplett and FS Nate Allen). There is no word yet on who GM Brad Barber has signed with but whoever it is lets hope he doesn't make the same mistakes as Detroit and Jacksonville.
2010 Jacksonville Jaguars Offense
Total Points- 32nd (17.7)
Total Offense- 27th (307.5)
Passing yards- 23rd (222.4)
Rushing yards- 31st (85.1)
Passing TD's- 31st (18 )
Rushing TD's- 18th (10 )
2010 Jacksonville Jaguars Defense
Points Allowed- 5th (21.1)
Total Defense- 13th (335.1)
Pass Defense- 3rd (205.1)
Rush Defense- 30th (130 )
Pass TD Allowed- 6th (23)
Rush TD Allowed- 9th (8 )
Interceptions- 22nd (14)
Sacks- 17th (25)
Fumbles- 22nd (10 )
Total takeaways- 24th (19)
Rookie Evaluations
WR Dez Bryant - 1.1- 69 REC, 1231 Yards, 17.84 AVG, 83 LONG, 9 TD, 13.04 YPC, 4 drops, 312 YAC, 4.52 YAC AVG
Bryant will most likely win offensive rookie of the year, he has been the 1 constant on this roster and has become the go to WR for us all season long and has come up big.
WR Golden Tate- 4.11- 16 REC, 322 yards, 20.13 AVG, 66 LONG, 2 TD, 1 DROP, 113 YAC, 7.06 YAC AVG., 65 RET, 1,517 Yards, 23.34 AVG, 8 PR, 25 Yards, 3.13 AVG
Tate has been solid on special teams and could be a sneaky WR for the next GM with elite SPD on the outside or as a slot WR. Many GM's want the tall stud WR's but he could make a difference if the next GM has the same vision.
RB Anthony Dixon- 2.31- 192 Carries, 705 Yards, 3.67 YPC AVG, 50 LONG, 4 TD, 5 FUM, 10 REC, 140 Yards, 14 AVG, 0 TD, 0 Drops
Dixon can be an elite power back in the SFL, he needs to work on that CAR and BTK and then the skies the limit.
OC Eric Olsen- 4.9
Olsen will start the last game of the season to get some progression but hasn't starred in a single game so far this season, the future is Olsen and i regret and admit i forgot to put him in the lineup more frequently this season.
ROLB Sean Weatherspoon- 2.12- 29 Tackles, 5 TFL, 1 Sack, 2 DFL, 7 CTHA
Unfortunately Weatherspoon got injured and for a lengthy period of time but he did manage a nice comeback game in his first game back recorded a sack so he has a bunch of potential to be a top tier LB for the next Jags GM.
ILB Nate Triplett- 2.13- 17 Tackles, 2 TFL, 2 CTHA
Beck has been a monster all season long so Triplett hasn't seen the field much. It does appear that the future is bright now and for the future at the position.
FS Nate Allen- 1.17- 27 Tackles, 1 FF, 2 DEF, 4 CTHA
Another player that had his season derailed by injury which has sidelined him for much of the year, he's a stud and going to be a big impact player if he can stay healthy. |
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Forum Discussion
(by B_Barber on 12/11/2021)
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Replies - 0 :: Views - 13 |
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At A Glance
| AFC South |
| RNK |
TEAM |
W-L-T |
PCT |
DIV |
| #1 |
 z-Titans |
13-3-0 |
0.813 |
6-0 |
| #23 |
 Jaguars |
7-9-0 |
0.438 |
3-3 |
| #27 |
 Colts |
4-12-0 |
0.250 |
2-4 |
| #31 |
 Texans |
4-12-0 |
0.250 |
1-5 |
| JAGUARS SCHEDULE |
| Preseason |
| WK |
DATE |
OPPONENT |
SCOUT/RESULT |
| P1 |
Sat |
vs  Saints #10 |
|
| P2 |
Thu |
at  Bengals #11 |
|
| P3 |
Thu |
at  Cowboys #7 |
|
| P4 |
Sat |
vs  Raiders #28 |
|
| Regular Season |
| 1 |
Sun |
at  Panthers #26 |
|
| 2 |
Sun |
vs  Bills #21 |
|
| 3 |
Sun |
at Colts #27 |
|
| 4 |
Sun |
at Texans #31 |
|
| 5 |
Sun |
vs  Chargers #3 |
|
| 6 |
Sun |
vs  Dolphins #19 |
|
| 8 |
Sun |
vs Titans #1 |
|
| 9 |
Sun |
at  Ravens #2 |
|
| 10 |
Sun |
vs Colts #27 |
|
| 11 |
Sun |
at Titans #1 |
|
| 12 |
Sun |
at  Jets #9 |
|
| 13 |
Sun |
vs  Buccaneers #4 |
|
| 14 |
Sun |
vs Texans #31 |
|
| 15 |
Sun |
at  Patriots #20 |
|
| 16 |
Sun |
vs Saints #10 |
|
| 17 |
Sun |
at  Falcons #17 |
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