Quote:I think we do. While center and right guard are still question marks moving forward, I see the rest of the offense as being more than capable of leading a playoff charge in 2015, if they all pan out. Joeckel was viewed as a Joe Thomas-type prospect, Zane Beadles has been to a probowl, and hopefully Pasztor continues to improve and surprise, making for a solid foundation on the O-Line.
We've got potentially 4 really solid WRs. Lee and Sanders as our big play guy and both Robinson and Shorts acting as our security blanket and reliable guys. Both Lee and Robinson have potential to develop into 1000 yard receivers. A wide receiver corps like that is usually viewed as top tier in the league.
With Denard putting on more weight and apparently fixing his fumbling problem, I can see him being a speed back for us in a really versatile running back by committee with Gerhart and Johnson. I think Gerhart is going to surprise a lot of people and be a really good back, I can see him putting up 1200 yards or so this season given enough touches.
And of course if Bortles is the franchise QB we all hope him to be.
I mean, again assuming all pan out, that sounds like an offense that's every bit as good as any in the league right no at all level, we just have to fix the two question marks on the O-Line.
Even Peyton Manning in his 2nd year only went to one playoff game in 1999
"Playoffs? Don't talk about playoffs. Are you kidding me. Playoffs? I'm just hoping we can win a game, another game"
Fitting even though no one has tried to compare Bortles to Manning (some say he's close to Big Ben)..
If you look at Ben Roethlisberger's career he didnt start his first year in the NFL at the start of the preseason he was the 3rd string QB, but Batch got injured in preseason bumping him to #2 QB, but when Maddox was yanked for poor performance *injury was later said like they did with Gabbert* in the 3rd qtr Ben showed an okay performance and got the job.
He went 13-0 as a rookie in the regular season that year and won his first playoff game.
The following year he went to the Superbowl and oddly enough defeated the Seattle Seahawks.
If in your scenario you are claming that Bortles is the next Big Ben and the same can happen you have to also look at the team talent surrounding Big Ben at that time compared to the Jaguars.
The steelers had Troy Polamalu Saftey, at that point in his 3rd year he spent his 2nd year during Bens first year a lot like John Cyprien Jaguars SS
They had Hines Ward whom had gone to the Pro Bowl every year from 2001 to 2004 the year before that superbowl appearance while no one will compare Hines Ward to Cecil Shorts III (as cecil had an interview today on NFL Radio, he is a very respected NFL WR trying to prove he's elite status this year). They also had Antwaan Randle El in his 3rd year at that time he too was drafted in the 2nd round whom had the ability to return, a lot like Marquis both were a steal that late in the draft.
They had a rookie of the year TE Heath Miller, while the Jaguars have a proven TE with M. Lewis, at HB they had both Willie Parker (drafted in 2004 which could compare to Storm Johnson maybe), and the Bus Jerome Buttis (to compare to Toby)? The Jaguars have a good core of HB with Toby, Todman, and Storm Johnson so I dont think HB is too far off.
Probably the big difference between that team and the Jaguars is they already had a proven ProBowl Center Jeff Hartings, while the team is uncertain whom will even start at that season will it be Mike Brewster or the draft pick or another FA / trade?
The OLine was much better on the Stelelers than on the Jaguars.