Quote:Agree.
But 77s comparison to Josh Freeman? Really?
Freeman was a dunce who couldn't learn the NFL game. Bortles is anything but.
He's got the gunslinger mentality of Favre for sure. Luck throws his share of picks he shouldn't, too... so I see a bit of that as well.
Freeman was a big, mobile QB who took chances and threw a wobbly ball more often than you'd like, sound familiar? I said it was Blake's floor -- meaning, the absolute worst he could turn out to be. I'd be a much more bitter Jags fan if i honestly felt that Bortles wasn't going to be much better than Freeman down the line, of course he will! I never heard of Freeman conducting his own offseason camp.
But speaking in the here and now, not making any assumptions about what Bortles will eventually become -- Freeman's rookie year was actually better than Bortles' and I think they have comparable physical tools.
Not sure if anyone posted this - it's from March 27th.....
Quote:VRENTAS: Have you and Blake Bortles gotten started yet on building your relationship?
<p style="color:rgb(51,51,51);font-size:15px;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;">THOMAS: I got to meet him this past weekend. We went out and ran a couple routes. It’s exciting, that first time you get to work out with your new quarterback. We’ve got a couple thousand more reps to go, but I’m really looking forward to that chemistry and growing with that entire offense. Bringing in all the experiences I’ve had and sharing them, and taking [offensive coordinator Greg Olson’s] coaching out there to the field, and doing what I can to help us be a successful offense.
<p style="color:rgb(51,51,51);font-size:15px;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;">VRENTAS: Where did you and Bortles meet up?
<p style="color:rgb(51,51,51);font-size:15px;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;">BORTLES: Down here in southern California. When I signed, I called him and I told him I was very excited about working with him and looking forward to meeting him, and he actually told me he was down in southern California. We went out there with some other guys and threw the pigskin around for the first time.
<p style="color:rgb(51,51,51);font-size:15px;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;">VRENTAS: First impressions of the way he throws?
<p style="color:rgb(51,51,51);font-size:15px;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;">THOMAS: He can throw it. He’s got a strong arm, that’s for sure. The rest of it is him learning the way I run, and me trying to do my best to be available for him.
<p style="color:rgb(51,51,51);font-size:15px;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;">VRENTAS: Are you out to prove you can have the same production without Peyton Manning throwing you the ball?
<p style="color:rgb(51,51,51);font-size:15px;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;">THOMAS: I think I’ve got to be a little bit cautious on trying to prove so much. I think I’ve just got to go out there and work my hardest, and do everything I can to win every route, and see what happens. I don’t want to set a goal of “I gotta have these numbers.” I’m just going to work my hardest every day, do everything I can to become a better player, and do everything I can to help out my team and this offense.
<p style="color:rgb(51,51,51);font-size:15px;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;">VRENTAS: The Jaguars also have a 10-year veteran tight end, Marcedes Lewis, who has started for the team since 2006. How do you think the two of you will work together at the same position?
<p style="color:rgb(51,51,51);font-size:15px;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;">THOMAS: I don’t think we’ll have any problem playing together. I was actually talking to him this weekend. I ran into him; we both live in L.A. He’s a really good guy. I’ve met him a couple times before. We both have the same marketing company, so we know the same people, and people that I respect speak very highly of him. I think we complement each other very well. There are going to be things that he can teach me, and I can learn from him.
SI.com MMQB
Julius can maybe teach Marcedes how to catch
Quote:Freeman was a big, mobile QB who took chances and threw a wobbly ball more often than you'd like, sound familiar? I said it was Blake's floor -- meaning, the absolute worst he could turn out to be. I'd be a much more bitter Jags fan if i honestly felt that Bortles wasn't going to be much better than Freeman down the line, of course he will! I never heard of Freeman conducting his own offseason camp.
But speaking in the here and now, not making any assumptions about what Bortles will eventually become -- Freeman's rookie year was actually better than Bortles' and I think they have comparable physical tools.
If you look closer at his rookie season, you'll find they only beat one team with a winning record, and that was a Saints team looking ahead to the playoffs. That fueled false hope in Freeman, and caused many to overlook his faults. It was an anomaly season.
Quote:Fair enough.
I see him turning out more like a poor man's Favre - during the "intercepty" years.
Fun to watch - wins some games - costs them some games too.
This is what I think he'll be. I know that Roethlisberger is an easy comparison due to body type, but the more I watch Bortles, the more Favre I see in him. He's got the mentality and the mobility and that part of him that probably just terrifies his OC. Thing is, he's not as refined as Favre was coming out of the NCAA ranks.
Thomas seems like he's really ready to put in that work. Good read!
Quote:This is what I think he'll be. I know that Roethlisberger is an easy comparison due to body type, but the more I watch Bortles, the more Favre I see in him. He's got the mentality and the mobility and that part of him that probably just terrifies his OC. Thing is, he's not as refined as Favre was coming out of the NCAA ranks.
You don't think Roethlisberger's a lot like Favre? I don't think it's that different. Roeth is basically a Favre with awkward throwing mechanics, less consistent accuracy, and a bigger body. That's why I think it's an even better comparison for Bortles
Quote:You don't think Roethlisberger's a lot like Favre? I don't think it's that different. Roeth is basically a Favre with awkward throwing mechanics, less consistent accuracy, and a bigger body. That's why I think it's an even better comparison for Bortles
Not really, no. I've always seen Ben as a rock in the pocket that is almost impossible to bring down. I don't think he improvises outside of the pocket on the level that Favre did, which I think Blake does.
Quote:You don't think Roethlisberger's a lot like Favre? I don't think it's that different. Roeth is basically a Favre with awkward throwing mechanics, less consistent accuracy, and a bigger body. That's why I think it's an even better comparison for Bortles
Ben will definitely extend plays and move - but Blake's version is a bit more like a scampering Favre than a lumbering Ben. Just my gut reaction to watching him in his rookie year.
Certainly there is common ground among the three of them and we're picking at subtleties, but I see a
little more Favre than Ben in Bortles.
It'll be fun to see how this all plays out as Blake (hopefully) shores up his technique and begins to establish an identity in a better offense. We may all have different comparisons for him by December.
Quote:Ben will definitely extend plays and move - but Blake's version is a bit more like a scampering Favre than a lumbering Ben. Just my gut reaction to watching him in his rookie year.
Certainly there is common ground among the three of them and we're picking at subtleties, but I see a little more Favre than Ben in Bortles.
It'll be fun to see how this all plays out as Blake (hopefully) shores up his technique and begins to establish an identity in a better offense. We may all have different comparisons for him by December.
if big ben ever drops a spin move like blake, ill eat a football.
I think you guys are thinking of 36 year old Ben Roethlisberger after multiple surgeries and not 23 year old Ben Roethlisberger. He used to do all that stuff Bortles is doing back in the day.
Ben JUST turned 33....not 36.
Quote:I think you guys are thinking of 36 year old Ben Roethlisberger after multiple surgeries and not 23 year old Ben Roethlisberger. He used to do all that stuff Bortles is doing back in the day.
Quote:Freeman was a big, mobile QB who took chances and threw a wobbly ball more often than you'd like, sound familiar? I said it was Blake's floor -- meaning, the absolute worst he could turn out to be. I'd be a much more bitter Jags fan if i honestly felt that Bortles wasn't going to be much better than Freeman down the line, of course he will! I never heard of Freeman conducting his own offseason camp.
But speaking in the here and now, not making any assumptions about what Bortles will eventually become -- Freeman's rookie year was actually better than Bortles' and I think they have comparable physical tools.
Freeman threw for about 3,500 yards 25 TDs and 6 INTs in his 2nd season. I would actually be very pleasantly surprised if Bortles matches or exceeds that this year.
Blake threw for nearly 3,000 yards in his rookie season and even didn't start the first 2 games.Also had a pourous line and rookie receivers.Reaching 4k yards and 20+ tds is very doable
Quote:Freeman threw for about 3,500 yards 25 TDs and 6 INTs in his 2nd season. I would actually be very pleasantly surprised if Bortles matches or exceeds that this year.
Ironically I believe his OC was Olson that year as well
Quote:Blake threw for nearly 3,000 yards in his rookie season and even didn't start the first 2 games.Also had a pourous line and rookie receivers.Reaching 4k yards and 20+ tds is very doable
Exactly. It's not a reach to think he could crack 4k and push for a franchise record for passing touchdowns in year 2. He'll have a better line in front of him, more experience at the skill positions, and additional weapons to work with. If he gets Blackmon back, and Justin is able to get back to anything close to what he was prior to the suspension, the numbers could be crazy good in year 2.
Quote:Exactly. It's not a reach to think he could crack 4k and push for a franchise record for passing touchdowns in year 2. He'll have a better line in front of him, more experience at the skill positions, and additional weapons to work with. If he gets Blackmon back, and Justin is able to get back to anything close to what he was prior to the suspension, the numbers could be crazy good in year 2.
My thoughts as well. Plus the natural progression of a QB
Quote:Ironically I believe his OC was Olson that year as well
More by design than irony...