Blake Bortles is ranked as the worst starting quarterback in the NFL for a reason, and he lived down to that distinction in this contest.
Box-score observers may question that, as Bortles was 12-of-20 for 159 yards and an interception, which isn't a bad stat line. However, half of Bortles' yards came against Minnesota's backups. Bortles should've thrown two interceptions, as a first potential pick of his was bobbled by two different Vikings, then dropped. Bortles' actual interception sailed right to Harrison Smith, as Bortles didn't see him somehow even though Harrison was standing right in front of him. Bortles followed that up by sailing a pass out of bounds toward Marqise Lee, then threw way behind Keelan Cole for what should've been a routine 8-yard completion.
To add on to all of this, Bortles never once checked out of a play when the Jaguars had eight and nine men in the box. Bortles doesn't take his career seriously, opting instead to party all the time, so he likely doesn't even know when and how to check out of plays, which has to be very disconcerting for the Jaguars. Jacksonville was extremely fortunate last year to avoid Andrew Luck and Deshaun Watson, but that won't be the case in 2018. If Bortles doesn't improve, the Jaguars will find it very difficult to reach the playoffs, despite how great their defense is.
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But yeah he isn’t good.
He would be a prime candidate
What were they thinking?
With that said, it was a sloppy, undisciplined 1st half. Their defense hasn't missed a beat even with Jalen sitting at home. Their problem was celebrating after the play. Robinson their LT did not look good - he gave up lots of pressure. Bortles is just what LakeGeorge said. Their specials are truly special and not in the Giants way. Lambo has a ridiculous leg, and I think it TJ Yeldon that almost returned a kick for a TD.
Which is exactly why you don't just draft a QB at #2 overall just because you're picking #2 overall. Nothing is guaranteed in the draft.
Yes, Bortles had struggled, but that doesn't mean it will continue, he has talent and Coughlin likes him.
Further, every freaking year everyone says not to freak out or draw sweeping conclusions about meaningless pre-season football games, yet here they are doing it in WEEK TWO, FFS.
There could damn well be a very good reason for not audibling in a preseason game... specifically, he's told not to, or because they are trying to just execute certain plays, or don't want to put audibles on tape this early.
FFS.
Yes, Bortles had struggled, but that doesn't mean it will continue, he has talent and Coughlin likes him.
Further, every freaking year everyone says not to freak out or draw sweeping conclusions about meaningless pre-season football games, yet here they are doing it in WEEK TWO, FFS.
There could damn well be a very good reason for not audibling in a preseason game... specifically, he's told not to, or because they are trying to just execute certain plays, or don't want to put audibles on tape this early.
FFS.
I agree with the premise that Walter Football might be full of shit and to take what they say with a grain of salt. But re: the partying, he had a reputation for the first four years of partying here in Jax. With the milk-toast extension that he received, it seems that he has turned the corner on his partying ways. Of course, it was only this past off-season that his truck was broken into with items stolen as he was partying inside a house party. Not going to look it up to "prove it", you can look up Jacksonville Sheriff's Office logs if you are that interested. With the "break-in" (it wasn't, Blake just didn't lock his truck), JSO had a new spokesperson to get their message out that if you love it then lock it up.
Blake has talent. It is just a question of which one shows up. He has had games where he has made passes that make you say "Wow". And then he follows it up with tossing balls to the opponent.
I don’t know anything about the off the field stories, but I am a fan of JAX and wonder if Bortles can be just good enough to make that team dangerous.
On the other hand, I can also see him benched by midsession.
:-)
You take the RIGHT QB, regardless of where and how.
Why is that premise so hard for some to understand?
I don’t know anything about the off the field stories, but I am a fan of JAX and wonder if Bortles can be just good enough to make that team dangerous.
On the other hand, I can also see him benched by midsession.
:-)
The whole "Bortles turned it around" narrative is kind of a myth. Really wasn't that much better in the 2nd half of the season than the 1st. And the playoff game against the Bills was one of the most pathetic games I've ever seen a QB have in January. Guy completed 12 passes for 87 yards.
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Bortles turned it around very nicely by the end of last season. Yes, the defense and LF are the goods on that team, but Bortles shows some savy with his roll out throws, escapability and runs to keep drives alive. His targets are not that strong either but he had some nice wins down the stretch and playoff games.
I don’t know anything about the off the field stories, but I am a fan of JAX and wonder if Bortles can be just good enough to make that team dangerous.
On the other hand, I can also see him benched by midsession.
:-)
The whole "Bortles turned it around" narrative is kind of a myth. Really wasn't that much better in the 2nd half of the season than the 1st. And the playoff game against the Bills was one of the most pathetic games I've ever seen a QB have in January. Guy completed 12 passes for 87 yards.
With Bortles, it has always been two steps forward, one step back. Last year in TC, he lost the starting gig. He eventually secured the starting gig not so much because he was head and shoulders above the rest, but rather Henne was the only one there to compete for the job. He absolutely was terrible later in the season, but there was a stretch through the mid-season that he was playing some very good ball. This year, he is year 2 in the offense and all the local reporting during OTAs and mini-camp was that his "lows" weren't nearly as bad as last year. Of course, it implies that he was still prone to bad plays, but they weren't as frequent. Then he goes ahead and stinks up the game on Saturday.
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That Walter Football is completely full of shit. Not taking his career seriously and partying all the time? I haven't heard that and if you levy allegations like that you should be well prepared to back them up.
Yes, Bortles had struggled, but that doesn't mean it will continue, he has talent and Coughlin likes him.
Further, every freaking year everyone says not to freak out or draw sweeping conclusions about meaningless pre-season football games, yet here they are doing it in WEEK TWO, FFS.
There could damn well be a very good reason for not audibling in a preseason game... specifically, he's told not to, or because they are trying to just execute certain plays, or don't want to put audibles on tape this early.
FFS.
I agree with the premise that Walter Football might be full of shit and to take what they say with a grain of salt. But re: the partying, he had a reputation for the first four years of partying here in Jax. With the milk-toast extension that he received, it seems that he has turned the corner on his partying ways. Of course, it was only this past off-season that his truck was broken into with items stolen as he was partying inside a house party. Not going to look it up to "prove it", you can look up Jacksonville Sheriff's Office logs if you are that interested. With the "break-in" (it wasn't, Blake just didn't lock his truck), JSO had a new spokesperson to get their message out that if you love it then lock it up.
Blake has talent. It is just a question of which one shows up. He has had games where he has made passes that make you say "Wow". And then he follows it up with tossing balls to the opponent.
That happened in May. There is no football in May. He attended a party...in May, which is no reason to say he doesn't take his career seriously or that he puts partying over his career. Again...attending a party IN MAY. Yes I heard the story and I know you already said it was the off-season and you mentioned he had a reputation...but Walter Football is publishing that...a pretty strong statement about Blake's character, then they should back it up. An off-season party in May doesn't do it. And I can see how you can "get a reputation" if people spread unfounded rumors about you online.
Quote:
Bortles turned it around very nicely by the end of last season. Yes, the defense and LF are the goods on that team, but Bortles shows some savy with his roll out throws, escapability and runs to keep drives alive. His targets are not that strong either but he had some nice wins down the stretch and playoff games.
I don’t know anything about the off the field stories, but I am a fan of JAX and wonder if Bortles can be just good enough to make that team dangerous.
On the other hand, I can also see him benched by midsession.
:-)
The whole "Bortles turned it around" narrative is kind of a myth. Really wasn't that much better in the 2nd half of the season than the 1st. And the playoff game against the Bills was one of the most pathetic games I've ever seen a QB have in January. Guy completed 12 passes for 87 yards.
Impossible to separate his clunkers altogether. He did have his highest QB rating in Dec and they got on a little streak with him/team in second half before losing last two. He also ran for a bunch of yards vs Buff and Pitt in winning both games. "Playing nicely" for Bortles comes in different ways...
Yeah, not many. But many of them don't won't their own QB either...