Jaguars CB Jarrian Jones looks to learn from 'roughest' game

Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback Jarrian Jones has played in 40 regular season games and the Week 7 loss to the Houston Texans belongs at the bottom of the list.“That was the roughest game I’ve played in my career so I’m glad I got that out of the way,” Jones told me after practice on Oct. 28.When Jones says “roughest,” he doesn’t mean physically. He means it was a personal struggle, a game not up to his standard.Jones was called for two penalties (illegal use of hands on second-and-10 and pass interference on third-and-5) and allowed completions of five, 10 and 50 yards.“I’m not really mad about the game passing-wise,” he said. “The deep ball was tough because I was there. I just have to make the play on the ball. Tough play, but I think I should make it. On the (second penalty), you can’t reward people for throwing a bad ball. I don’t understand what they want me to do.”Quarterback C.J. Stroud’s underthrow hit Jones in the back.What has eaten at Jones, though, over the last two weeks were missed tackles on a 34-yard catch by Jaylin Noel and Jawhar Jordan’s 25-yard touchdown run.“I was mad about the two (missed) tackles because I pride myself on being a tackler and regardless of what happened, I have to get them down,” Jones said. “That has to be a calling card for me.”It is critical for Jones to rebound starting against the Indianapolis Colts on Nov. 1. If Buster Brown returns and stays on the field and Jones re-discovers his rhythm, that could allow the Jaguars to slightly trim Travis Hunter’s snaps to allow him to play more offensively.About the Jaguars1. No bye week for Buster: Out against Cincinnati and Houston and limited to six snaps against Philadelphia because of a hamstring injury, Brown appears ready to face the Colts.Brown said he “most likely,” would have left town for the bye, but …MORE FROM RYAN O'HALLORAN: Too many NFL penalties? 3 ways league can fix officiating frustrations“I didn’t really have a bye week,” he said on Oct. 29 after his second consecutive full practice. “I was here rehabbing the whole time. I felt it was a successful bye week for me.”2. Long snapper staying ready: Practice squad long snapper Jacob Bobenmoyer, who dashed from Denver to London on Oct. 12-13 when Ross Matiscik (left shoulder) was injured against Philadelphia, remains with the Jaguars. He flew with the team from London to Jacksonville on Oct. 18, flew back to Colorado on Oct. 20 and returned to Jacksonville on Oct. 25.Bobenmoyer said his long snaps against Houston were “pretty solid, especially not doing it through OTAs or training camp with a team. It felt like riding a bike. I wanted to fill Ross’ shoes as best as I could and make sure not much changed.”3. Etc.: The last time Indianapolis won in Jacksonville (44-17 on Sept. 21, 2014), Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles made his NFL debut in relief of Chad Henne. … A guess on receiver Brian Thomas, Jr.: He is active for the game but plays a limited role (10-12 snaps barring an injury to another receiver). I don’t buy the theory the Jaguars will showcase him; the goal is to win the game and that means throwing to the players you can trust.Extra points1. Saluting David Moulton: A posthumous hat tip to David Moulton, a Jacksonville resident who was a long-time sports radio host and broadcast booth spotter for Gary Danielson (CBS) and Troy Aikman (FOX and then ESPN). Moulton died on Oct. 24 at age 60 after a six-year battle with renal cell cancer.Here is my Moulton story: Back in the mid-1990s, Moulton was a sports reporter for Ch. 4 in Fargo, N.D., when I was in high school in West Fargo. I met him at events I was covering as a cub reporter and would call into a radio show he started hosting. Decades later, when I made the first of many appearances on the “Miller and Moulton Show,” he asked me about my North Dakota background, and I told the story of meeting him. He was amused.2. Odd statement by FSU president: Florida State president Richard McCullough dropped a 441-word statement into our email on Oct. 27 and the timing and tone of it were equally peculiar.McCullough didn’t mention coach Mike Norvell by name, but this was clearly a plea for patience regarding the football program.Why was there a need for a statement that didn’t include Norvell’s dismissal or vote of confidence? Not sure.Most interesting, or most alarming, was McCullough stating the search for a new athletic director hasn’t started yet because FSU is “defining the role, responsibilities and expectations for our next athletics director.”Sounds like FSU wants to reinvent the wheel.Weekend selectionsColts (plus 9 1/2) at Jaguars: The Jaguars’ only game in Jacksonville during a seven-game span means it is a must win. Jaguars 31-20.Baltimore (plus 3) at Buffalo: Bills quarterback Josh Allen has never lost after a bye week. Bills 35-31.Kansas City (minus 1 1/2) at Denver: Huge AFC West game. The Broncos take a half-game lead over the Chiefs. Broncos 10-7.Florida (plus 11 1/2) vs. Georgia (Atlanta): A ticked off group of Bulldogs is a dangerous group of Bulldogs. Georgia 27-14.Clemson (plus 6) at Florida State: The oddsmakers were impressed by FSU’s moral victory at Miami. They shouldn’t be. Clemson 28-24.Records: Straight — 2-3 last week (27-18 season). Spread — 3-2 last week (18-27 season. At this rate, I’ll be making money by Christmas!).Contact O’Halloran at rohalloran@gannett.com or on X at @ryanohalloran. Listen to Ryan on 1010AM on Tuesdays (6:35 p.m. on “Into The Night"), Thursdays (1:15 on "XL Primetime") and Fridays ("First Coast Football Friday" 4-7 p.m.).This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Jaguars CB Jarrian Jones looks to learn from 'roughest' game