Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Calvin Ridley finished a 31-24 win against the New Orleans Saints with just one reception for five yards.
On Wednesday, Ridley told reporters in the locker room that his personal stats don’t matter as long as the team is winning games. According to Jaguars offensive coordinator Press Taylor, the veteran receiver is helping the team get those wins even if the stats don’t show it.
“I think people pay respect to great players,” Taylor said. “Calvin is a great player, he’s got certain looks where teams are going to be more willing to play a shell or more willing to cloud to his one way or another, more willing to bracket to his side.
“We have a lot of really good players, a lot of really good skill players that based on whatever matchups you’re presenting to us, we feel like we have answers within concepts or within just a scheme to get to somebody else. I think Trevor [Lawrence] does a great job of going through progressions and finding the open man.”
Translation: double-team Ridley at your own risk, because the Jaguars have plenty of other ways to make you pay.
With the Saints working hard to take Ridley away, Christian Kirk caught all six passes thrown his direction for 90 yards, including a 44-yard touchdown that proved to be the game-winner. Jamal Agnew also had a season-high six targets and hauled in four for 36 yards.
“We want to do the right thing and just go where we’re supposed to go with the football based on whatever they’re allowing us,” Taylor said. “[Ridley] impacts the game the second he steps on the field, whether we’re getting him the ball or not.”
The end result of Ridley’s quiet performance was a three-touchdown night for the Jaguars offense and another win. But does that mean the team is OK with continuing to allow Ridley to play the role of decoy, pulling away coverage to make room for other receivers?
“We certainly need to figure out ways to get him the ball,” Taylor said. “Calvin is a great player and deserves touches and changes the game when he gets touches.”
Through seven games, Ridley has 27 receptions for 368 yards and two touchdowns.
