I think he is on the team but they will find better competition and he will need to show he's improved in the off season to get the job next year.
I'm in the camp that thinks Bortles still has a shot to improve on last season and could end up as a pretty good QB. That is looking more like a long shot every game this season.
I'm not even saying I think he has played "ok" this season but I do think that his major issues are mechanics/ball placement. I can't remember ever seeing a QB that threw such a low percentage of spirals. If he can get his ball placement down I think may of his "bad decisions" end up as completions because they were only picked off because he couldn't hit the target.
Competition of some sort better be brought in. Bortles didn't play well enough to be handed any job next year.
No matter what happens, I sure hope we can break the cycle of misery. We are setting up for a Garrad cycle.
Quote:No matter what happens, I sure hope we can break the cycle of misery. We are setting up for a Garrad cycle.
I never thought I'd say this but: I wish we had a qb as competent as Garrard.
Think it'll be sort of like a Joeckel-Beachum kind of deal. BB is Joeckel and we'll try and find a "Beachum" to compete with him.
He'll get another chance next year because there's really nobody coming out of this draft class nor through free agency that can legitimately take the position from him out right. I am sure it'll be an open competition during training camp and preseason though. I'd like to see HBO bring Hard Knocks here next year just to get a glimpse into the new coaching staff and maybe it'll keep Bortles on a leash and more focused on preparation with a camera crew following him around more often. But I'd expect an open competition between him, Allen, a free agent signing like Foles or McCown and then we'll probably see the next staff or general manager draft a guy in either RD2 or RD3 like DeShaun Watson if he falls out of the first round or Pat Mahomes if he's there in the third or maybe fourth round.
Quote:This is pretty much where I'm at with Bortles. They're not cutting him, and they aren't going to bench him without bringing in some legitimate competition to push him. Henne and Allen aren't legitimate competition. They're seat warmers. I would expect to the the team look into someone like McCarron and have an open competition for the starting gig during the off season. I think Bortles needs that pressure.
I think a McCarron or even Romo would be a good idea.
I think he gets another year, but I also think we'll bring in some competition to push him (maybe Nick Foles or Mike Glennon.)
(nick foles and mike glennon are both very bad)
Unless the team reaches on someone in the draft it's likely he'll be starting for the Jaguars next year under a better head coach. Decent QBs just don't become free agents, and the Jaguars would be wasting draft picks if they trade for another team's backup.
If there isn't an obvious guy in the draft, and I don't think there is, spending picks trying to find the next Wilson or Prescott would make much more sense, because if another team's backup is a franchise QB them they won't trade them away.
Quote:Or will he be replaced? What you all think.
Bortles should go into training camp next year with some genuine competition for the job. I would say he has to win his job. He has all offseason to work on his fundamentals and get ready. But he has to come to training camp ready to win or lose his job.
Quote:I think a McCarron or even Romo would be a good idea.
No, not Romo. Too old and too injury prone.
no no no. You cant have a starter with a qb rating of 38. For any games. So the answer is no.
He get's to compete with a Allen, a 2017 draftee, and an outsider for the job.
He doesn't like it....don't let the door hit ya'
Should he? No..
Will he? Probably
Romo is 36 years old and is coming off another injury and he seems to be falling apart physically. Jerry Jones may also have too high of an asking price for him as well. I'd be okay with maybe forking over a 4th RD pick for him in a few months. Nothing higher than that though. As far as McCarron. I don't see the Bengals giving him up for cheap either. He'll certainly command no less than a 3rd RD pick which I think is too risky and too much for him. This team is better off taking it's chances during free agency where more than likely they'll find a guy like Foles, Fitzpatrick or McCown who have recent starting time and could push Bortles. Regardless though, 2017 could end up being a mulligan for the next front office and coaching staff. With 2018 having much better QB prospects to look at like Sam Darnold from USC, Lamar Jackson from Louisville, Josh Rosen from UCLA and Jake Browning from Washington whom I like the most right now out of that class. Luke Falk from Washington St. is also worth a look. I think he's staying another year so keep an eye on him when you can.
So what are our options if we want to push Bortles...
Free agency?
There's no upgrades available in free agency outside of Kirk Cousins, but let's face it, he's not leaving Washington and if he does he's joining a team to be their undisputed starting quarterback.
Trade?
I suppose Romo could be available, but again he would only join a team to be their undisputed starting quarterback and I doubt he would want to come and play here. And to be honest, with his recent injury record he isn't an ideal acquisition.
People love to hype Jimmy Garoppolo but again if we are trading for a quarterback they would want to start not sit on a bench. Also, how many Belichick era Tom Brady backup QBs have managed to become franchise quarterbacks? I can't name one.
Draft?
There is talent in this year's draft. Some mock drafts have Brad Kaaya and Deshaun Watson falling from the first round to day two of the draft. Maybe there's value to drafting one of them, but to be perfectly honest the 2017 draft doesn't feature a can't miss quarterback prospect and appears to be a fairly weak class.
So what should we do?
Well I think Bortles gets at least another year as our starting quarterback under a new coach. We have seen in recent years quarterbacks revived by new coaching staffs. Adam Gase got Jay Cutler on the right track and has now got Ryan Tannehill playing better, Jim Bob Cooter has done wonders with Matthew Stafford. So I think we need to make damn sure we make a really good hire at the head coach (preferably an offensively minded one) and offensive coordinator position.
Don't get me wrong, Bortles is not doing well this year but he still has time remaining before this team gives up on him. The problem he has is he's been stuck with Bradley for three seasons. Give the lad another year under a new head coach and maybe he turns it around. After all, Alex Smith was drafted first overall by the 49ers and didn't set the world alight in his first five seasons with them, they then hire Jim Harbaugh and he gets the best out of him and Smith hasn't looked back since. The right hire can make all the difference, and considering our options in free agency, the trade market and draft, we might as well give Bortles a chance under a new coaching staff.
I'd have him in camp and let him compete with Allen and a draft pick (or FA signing).
A new staff may be a bit more influential in getting his footwork and mechanics sorted. I anticipate he'll still be beat out for the starting job, but he could end up being the best option with sharply improved technique.
Quote:So what are our options if we want to push Bortles...
Free agency?
There's no upgrades available in free agency outside of Kirk Cousins, but let's face it, he's not leaving Washington and if he does he's joining a team to be their undisputed starting quarterback.
Trade?
I suppose Romo could be available, but again he would only join a team to be their undisputed starting quarterback and I doubt he would want to come and play here. And to be honest, with his recent injury record he isn't an ideal acquisition.
People love to hype Jimmy Garoppolo but again if we are trading for a quarterback they would want to start not sit on a bench. Also, how many Belichick era Tom Brady backup QBs have managed to become franchise quarterbacks? I can't name one.
Draft?
There is talent in this year's draft. Some mock drafts have Brad Kaaya and Deshaun Watson falling from the first round to day two of the draft. Maybe there's value to drafting one of them, but to be perfectly honest the 2017 draft doesn't feature a can't miss quarterback prospect and appears to be a fairly weak class.
So what should we do?
Well I think Bortles gets at least another year as our starting quarterback under a new coach. We have seen in recent years quarterbacks revived by new coaching staffs. Adam Gase got Jay Cutler on the right track and has now got Ryan Tannehill playing better, Jim Bob Cooter has done wonders with Matthew Stafford. So I think we need to make damn sure we make a really good hire at the head coach (preferably an offensively minded one) and offensive coordinator position.
Don't get me wrong, Bortles is not doing well this year but he still has time remaining before this team gives up on him. The problem he has is he's been stuck with Bradley for three seasons. Give the lad another year under a new head coach and maybe he turns it around. After all, Alex Smith was drafted first overall by the 49ers and didn't set the world alight in his first five seasons with them, they then hire Jim Harbaugh and he gets the best out of him and Smith hasn't looked back since. The right hire can make all the difference, and considering our options in free agency, the trade market and draft, we might as well give Bortles a chance under a new coaching staff.
No Fitz, Cousins, Romo, Smith, Kap. Tyrod, Garoppolo, insert anyone will real experience not chad. Any of them would be better than Bortles this year. Whatever is wrong. He does not see it. And can't fix what don't believe is broken.
Quote:No Fitz, Cousins, Romo, Smith, Kap. Tyrod, Garoppolo, insert anyone will real experience not chad. Any of them would be better than Bortles this year. Whatever is wrong. He does not see it. And can't fix what don't believe is broken.
Fitzpatrick has been worse than Bortles this season. This will likely be his last starting gig in the NFL.
Cousins is going nowhere.
Romo suffered two bad injuries last year, then a bad injury this preseason. He can't stay healthy behind an elite O-Line in Dallas, what hope would he have here? He's too injury prone to rely on.
Smith is not a free agent, he has two more seasons under contract.
Kaepernick is not the player he was a few seasons ago. He's already competing around 55pct of his passes, if he's not the answer to the 49ers QB position long term, he shouldn't be considered for ours.
Tyrod is a run first quarterback. Buffalo fans are complaining about him and questioning his long term viability as their quarterback. As above, if he's not their solution, he shouldn't be ours.
The only QB you mentioned worth signing is Cousins, the rest are either injury prone, game managers, or flawed passes no better than Bortles.