09-03-2014, 07:58 AM
09-03-2014, 08:15 AM
It's really a win-win either way. If Bortles get experience and plays early, great. I would just temper expectations.
If Henne plays well and has us at or better than .500, no worries.
If Henne plays well and has us at or better than .500, no worries.
09-03-2014, 08:35 AM
Quote:That could mean Week 10. We have a late bye this season.
I said BEFORE the bye week. I'm not anticipating a long wait for him to assume the starting role.
09-03-2014, 08:37 AM
Quote:I said BEFORE the bye week. I'm not anticipating a long wait for him to assume the starting role.I think an 0-4 start to the season would do it.
09-03-2014, 08:40 AM
Quote:I think an 0-4 start to the season would do it.I don't think the record or how Henne plays will dictate when Bortles takes over.
09-03-2014, 08:43 AM
Quote:I don't think the record or how Henne plays will dictate when Bortles takes over.You're pretty good with coachspeak lol
I think Bortles has already shown he's ready to take over.
I think the coaches are more than willing to let Henne play his way out of the starting gig. The longer he keeps the team around .500 the longer the coach staff can keep Bortles on the bench. Once Henne has us in a hole (my GUESS is 0-4) Gus will give the ol "I felt we needed a spark" speech.
And it'll Bortles' job from then on.
09-03-2014, 08:45 AM
Quote:You're pretty good with coachspeak lol
I think Bortles has already shown he's ready to take over.
I think the coaches are more than willing to let Henne play his way out of the starting gig. The longer he keeps the team around .500 the longer the coach staff can keep Bortles on the bench. Once Henne has us in a hole (my GUESS is 0-4) Gus will give the ol "I felt we needed a spark" speech.
And it'll Bortles' job from then on.
It's not coach speak. I don't think they're going to rush Bortles along because Henne is playing poorly, or we're losing. I think they'll put him in as soon as they feel confident he's ready to go, and the line is able to protect him. Henne is only renting the job until Bortles is ready to go.
09-03-2014, 08:54 AM
Quote:You're pretty good with coachspeak lol
I think Bortles has already shown he's ready to take over.
I think the coaches are more than willing to let Henne play his way out of the starting gig. The longer he keeps the team around .500 the longer the coach staff can keep Bortles on the bench. Once Henne has us in a hole (my GUESS is 0-4) Gus will give the ol "I felt we needed a spark" speech.
And it'll Bortles' job from then on.
Blake obviously looks better than Henne.
However I think the state of the OL is also going to factor when they throw Bortles out there. Right now its a mess.
I don't think 0-4 will force them into playing Bortles if the OL is just as much a mess at that point.
Conversely, lets say they start off at 3-0 (unlikely I know) but the OL really is gelling....I could see them insert Bortles into the lineup at that point.
I keep thinking back to that comment Caldwell made after the draft - that was interpreted as a shot to the prior regime - something like "you won't see us throwing him in there week 3 like they did with Gabbert"....every time I replay that in my mind, I get the sense that Blake's promotion will be more later than we think/ want.
09-03-2014, 08:55 AM
Quote:I don't think we make the playoffs regardless who is under center. Sure Bortles has looked great and I am excited about him, but he's still a rookie surrounded by rookie receivers and some questionable O-lineman in front of him.
^^This.
09-03-2014, 09:01 AM
Quote:It's not coach speak. I don't think they're going to rush Bortles along because Henne is playing poorly, or we're losing. I think they'll put him in as soon as they feel confident he's ready to go, and the line is able to protect him. Henne is only renting the job until Bortles is ready to go.Bortles won't be rushed along he is already ready. I've said it before and I'll say it again. Bortles can make up for poor Oline play better than Henne can. Pass protection hasn't been as bad as run blocking with this Oline either. I think they jumped the gun naming Henne the starter and so they are sticking to it but won't be able to for long.
That is just one guy's opinion though. I think after 4 games the Oline will be what it is going to be. All starters should be healthy and playing by then. If Henne is playing poorly despite the Oline being "whole" and the WRs being healthy, it'll be time for the kid to come in.
Quote:Blake obviously looks better than Henne.If we start 3-0, there is no way Gus is pulling Chad for Blake.
However I think the state of the OL is also going to factor when they throw Bortles out there. Right now its a mess.
I don't think 0-4 will force them into playing Bortles if the OL is just as much a mess at that point.
Conversely, lets say they start off at 3-0 (unlikely I know) but the OL really is gelling....I could see them insert Bortles into the lineup at that point.
I keep thinking back to that comment Caldwell made after the draft - that was interpreted as a shot to the prior regime - something like "you won't see us throwing him in there week 3 like they did with Gabbert"....every time I replay that in my mind, I get the sense that Blake's promotion will be more later than we think/ want.
lol
09-03-2014, 09:01 AM
Bortles...
![[Image: 3oddhm.jpg]](http://i.qkme.me/3oddhm.jpg)
![[Image: 3oddhm.jpg]](http://i.qkme.me/3oddhm.jpg)
09-03-2014, 09:01 AM
Quote:I don't think we make the playoffs regardless who is under center. Sure Bortles has looked great and I am excited about him, but he's still a rookie surrounded by rookie receivers and some questionable O-lineman in front of him.
I don't think this is a playoff team (even with Bortles starting all 16 this year) but I'm not as concerned about the WR's as you are. I think it will be the defense and OL that prevents it. The defense upgraded in the offseason yes...but it still has got a long way to go. The OL issues are also obvious.
09-03-2014, 09:03 AM
Quote:
If we start 3-0, there is no way Gus is pulling Chad for Blake.
lol
Maybe not "likely", but if the OL really solidified by then (not that I'm expecting that) combined with the staff continuing to like what they see in Bortles in practice - I wouldn't rule it out.
Point being - I don't see record dictating anything here.
09-03-2014, 09:07 AM
Quote:Maybe not "likely", but if the OL really solidified by then (not that I'm expecting that) combined with the staff continuing to like what they see in Bortles in practice - I wouldn't rule it out.Everyone wants to pretend these guys are so much different from all the other coaches from every where lol
Point being - I don't see record dictating anything here.
They aren't. When we're losing a lot, they'll have to make a change to look like they are trying to win.
Last season they had Gabs, and he got hurt, and then they had Chad, who improved the team, somehow. But had Gabs not been hurt, he would have been pulled.
I guess we could all hope for some minor injury to Chad that puts him out long enough for Bortles to just steal the job too a la Kap/Smith
09-03-2014, 09:11 AM
Quote:Everyone wants to pretend these guys are so much different from all the other coaches from every where lol
They aren't. When we're losing a lot, they'll have to make a change to look like they are trying to win.
Last season they had Gabs, and he got hurt, and then they had Chad, who improved the team, somehow. But had Gabs not been hurt, he would have been pulled.
I guess we could all hope for some minor injury to Chad that puts him out long enough for Bortles to just steal the job too a la Kap/Smith
I think they would have stuck with Gabbert a few more games (had the injury not occured). I think they wanted to give him every possible chance to show something before they pulled the plug.
09-03-2014, 09:15 AM
Quote:Bortles won't be rushed along he is already ready. I've said it before and I'll say it again. Bortles can make up for poor Oline play better than Henne can. Pass protection hasn't been as bad as run blocking with this Oline either. I think they jumped the gun naming Henne the starter and so they are sticking to it but won't be able to for long.The coaching staff obviously doesn't have a clue what they're doing. They should consult the message board, right?
That is just one guy's opinion though. I think after 4 games the Oline will be what it is going to be. All starters should be healthy and playing by then. If Henne is playing poorly despite the Oline being "whole" and the WRs being healthy, it'll be time for the kid to come in.
If we start 3-0, there is no way Gus is pulling Chad for Blake.
lol
09-03-2014, 09:17 AM
Quote:Everyone wants to pretend these guys are so much different from all the other coaches from every where lolThere is zero pressure on this coaching staff to win this year. The focus this year is to get better. Everything that has been reported about this team indicates they're looking to 2015 to make their move as far as the wins and losses are concerned. From the owner on down they're all saying the same things, and most people seem to understand the approach and they're willing to be patient. Then there are those that either don't get it, or simply refuse to believe it.
They aren't. When we're losing a lot, they'll have to make a change to look like they are trying to win.
Last season they had Gabs, and he got hurt, and then they had Chad, who improved the team, somehow. But had Gabs not been hurt, he would have been pulled.
I guess we could all hope for some minor injury to Chad that puts him out long enough for Bortles to just steal the job too a la Kap/Smith
As far as Gabbert is concerned, we'll never know. He got hurt. Henne took over and the offense was more productive.
As far as rooting for an injury to occur to one of the players on the team you supposedly support? Nice.
09-03-2014, 09:19 AM
Quote:
I guess we could all hope for some minor injury to Chad that puts him out long enough for Bortles to just steal the job too a la Kap/Smith
Nah, I can't root for that.
If it happens that way, then so be it. Its bad form to wish for injury, especially to your own players.
09-03-2014, 09:26 AM
Quote:
I guess we could all hope for some minor injury to Chad that puts him out long enough for Bortles to just steal the job too a la Kap/Smith
How about something more like Henne's helmet comes off, they need to take him out for a play and Bortles takes over runs no huddle for a TD in a game where the offense is struggling to move...then the Bortles era starts?
That way the only thing hurt is Henne's feelings :thumbsup:
09-03-2014, 09:27 AM
It's not going to be anything dramatic. When they decide it's time to plug Bortles in, they'll probably do it with little fanfare like they did last week with his preseason start. It won't require an injury or a poor performance by Henne. It's just going to happen when it happens.