Quote:And the angry masses would have been even angrier because the team lost.
The team finished almost exactly where the majority here expected it to finish record-wise. If you go back and look at preseason predictions, 5-7 wins was pretty much the majority view. Guess what? That's what happened. So, we should be angry because the team didn't exceed expectations? Sorry, but I'm not joining that merry band of misery. The team was more competitive this year. That was the expectation. Now, for next year, if they're not competing to win the division, or at least to make the playoffs, there's a problem.
5 wins assuming that Luck and a host of others would be playing, not losing to the scrubs we lost to in absurd fashion week after week.
Quote:5 wins assuming that Luck and a host of others would be playing, not losing to the scrubs we lost to in absurd fashion week after week.
That's irrelevant. Injuries happen to every team. Somehow it's an excuse to point out that the defense was ravaged by injuries to key players on this team, but it's perfectly acceptable to say that expectations changed for the # of wins because other teams had injuries to key players. Interesting how that works.
The expectations were 5-7 wins. In many ways, the team did exceed expectations, particularly on the offense with the QB setting franchise records, and having 2 receivers go over 1k. At the same time, the defense took a step back due to injuries to guys like Marks, and any hope for an improved pass rush was lost on the first day of training camp with Fowler.
Other teams lost to the same "scrubs" that you're upset we lost to. Those teams fans must be very angry too, huh?
My point is pretty simple here. You can be a glass half full, or a glass half empty kind of person. Those on the empty side tend to be miserable folks. If that's what you aspire to be, more power to you. I see a team that's on the rise with a ton of cap space and plenty of opportunities to continue their ascent. Next year is a big one for this team. If the expectations aren't reached, we'll be in a spot where we'll have to start over again. Who wants that?
Quote:That's irrelevant. Injuries happen to every team. Somehow it's an excuse to point out that the defense was ravaged by injuries to key players on this team, but it's perfectly acceptable to say that expectations changed for the # of wins because other teams had injuries to key players. Interesting how that works.
The expectations were 5-7 wins. In many ways, the team did exceed expectations, particularly on the offense with the QB setting franchise records, and having 2 receivers go over 1k. At the same time, the defense took a step back due to injuries to guys like Marks, and any hope for an improved pass rush was lost on the first day of training camp with Fowler.
Other teams lost to the same "scrubs" that you're upset we lost to. Those teams fans must be very angry too, huh?
My point is pretty simple here. You can be a glass half full, or a glass half empty kind of person. Those on the empty side tend to be miserable folks. If that's what you aspire to be, more power to you. I see a team that's on the rise with a ton of cap space and plenty of opportunities to continue their ascent. Next year is a big one for this team. If the expectations aren't reached, we'll be in a spot where we'll have to start over again. Who wants that?
We had the best QB in the division. Usually when that happens, you win the division.
Expectations can change during the season when you actually see how other teams are playing. Titans, Chargers, Falcons... All playing terrible football beat us when we had a chance to win the division.
No one wants to start over and the offense definitely improved but there looks to be so much left on the table from this season. So many "what ifs".
I'm excited to watch the offense in their 2nd year with Olsen and Blakes 3rd. I'm excited for Fowler and Marks to come back and for Dave to throw money any everyone under the sun. That doesn't take away from the fact that this season was disappointing. We had a chance to take the division in an extremely weak year ( Redskins).
Quote:That's irrelevant. Injuries happen to every team. Somehow it's an excuse to point out that the defense was ravaged by injuries to key players on this team, but it's perfectly acceptable to say that expectations changed for the # of wins because other teams had injuries to key players. Interesting how that works.
The expectations were 5-7 wins. In many ways, the team did exceed expectations, particularly on the offense with the QB setting franchise records, and having 2 receivers go over 1k. At the same time, the defense took a step back due to injuries to guys like Marks, and any hope for an improved pass rush was lost on the first day of training camp with Fowler.
Other teams lost to the same "scrubs" that you're upset we lost to. Those teams fans must be very angry too, huh?
My point is pretty simple here. You can be a glass half full, or a glass half empty kind of person. Those on the empty side tend to be miserable folks. If that's what you aspire to be, more power to you. I see a team that's on the rise with a ton of cap space and plenty of opportunities to continue their ascent. Next year is a big one for this team. If the expectations aren't reached, we'll be in a spot where we'll have to start over again. Who wants that?
I'm not very angry, I'm frustrated by the fact that we are continuing on the same course, and, no matter how you view the glass, this year was an aberration in terms of the depth of injuries and quality of our opponents. Next year will be a difficult year when we have to play a much harder schedule with the same ol' Gus.
Yes, when you get the clots without Luck you should win. Period. When you get the tinhorns while they're locked in QB Purgatory you should win. Period. When you get destroyed by the tacks just a few weeks after handling them it should be an indicator that your team is regressing. San Diego was awful except against us. The Saints and Falcons and Bucs looked awful except when they played us. The signs are there in bright neon letters that this team needs a change, and waiting another year is just a waste of the talent we have.
I stopped being angry when I heard Gus was coming back for another year.. I just shrugged my shoulders and figuered #becausejaguars.. What else can you do?
Do I think Gus is the answer? Nope.. I think this is his final year in Jax. He'd have to really tighten this team up to save his job and I don't think he can do it. He shoulda taken the reigns from Babich when this defense looked as awful as it did. If he DID take the reigns, I didn't know about it and maybe he did a crap job. If he didn't, you could also think that the reason being is that he was going to use Babich as a scape goat and save his own job for another season. Or he was just too incompetent enough to realize that Babich was in over his own head..
Either way, he better tighten the hell on up and quick. Maybe he can pull it off and get a damn defense to accompany the offense, if not, he needs to grab a hobo stick and hit 95.
After the final 2 games, I'm more concerned than angry
Quote:We had the best QB in the division. Usually when that happens, you win the division.
Expectations can change during the season when you actually see how other teams are playing. Titans, Chargers, Falcons... All playing terrible football beat us when we had a chance to win the division.
No one wants to start over and the offense definitely improved but there looks to be so much left on the table from this season. So many "what ifs".
I'm excited to watch the offense in their 2nd year with Olsen and Blakes 3rd. I'm excited for Fowler and Marks to come back and for Dave to throw money any everyone under the sun. That doesn't take away from the fact that this season was disappointing. We had a chance to take the division in an extremely weak year ( Redskins).
Being disappointed is one thing. The OP was angry. I think most Jag fans were disappointed with the way the season ended, but that doesn't diminish the fact that the the team is still young and ascending.
Expectations can change during the season, but they also must be tempered by the reality that despite the offense improving, there were areas there where the team still had issues. We had the best QB in the division, but that's like celebrating because someone won the tallest dwarf contest. At the end of the day, the overall offense still had issues because we couldn't run the ball effectively, so we had no choice but to rely on Bortles more than we should have.
On defense, we lost arguably our best player for the season with Marks, and we lost what was expected to be our improved pass rush with Fowler. That's kind of critical in where the team really stumbled this year. We couldn't get the defense off the field on third downs, and it didn't matter if it was 3rd and 1 or 3rd and a mile. We didn't mount a pass rush that could consistently pressure QBs, and they picked the defense apart. We made mediocre QBs look like all pros because we couldn't get to them quickly enough.
With the expectation that Marks returns ready to go, and Fowler comes back healthy and able to live up to expectation, and we see improvements to the OL and with the holes on the defense, the team will take a big step next year. I am not so much worried about the offense because the OL will be better with Linder back, and I expect to see them ditch Beadles and bring in competition for Joeckel. If we can get the defense back on a good footing, things will turn around quickly. Next year is a critical year for Caldwelll, Gus, and the team in general. If they don't make big strides, we're starting over.
Quote:After the final 2 games, I'm more concerned than angry
I think that's a better viewpoint than being angry.
But, I also think that when you've got a backup playing RT, and DRob as your starting RB, there's room for concern. On defense, the complete lack of any sort of pass rush regardless of how they schemed it was pretty evident most of the season. That has to get better. With Fowler and Marks coming back, and a couple of key adds, that should change.
Quote:I think that's a better viewpoint than being angry.
But, I also think that when you've got a backup playing RT, and DRob as your starting RB, there's room for concern. On defense, the complete lack of any sort of pass rush regardless of how they schemed it was pretty evident most of the season. That has to get better. With Fowler and Marks coming back, and a couple of key adds, that should change.
A guy with his head on the chopping block can't depend on 2 guys, one being a rookie, coming off torn ACL's to get to the QB. They need to spend big on a DE in FA and they need to get it right.. Gus' fate depends on them finding the right guy.
Marks was very ineffective as expected when he came back, and Fowler will likely be even more ineffective, being a rookie AND dealing psychologically with his injury.
To win in the playoffs, DEFENSE matters. Everyone here keeps talking about Bortles INT's the past two years but it's 100% irrelevant when Gus Bradley has the 31st ranked defense and can't stand Brian Hoyer or EJ Manuel. Bradley is the problem. If in YEAR 3, you can't stop EJ Manuel, Brian Hoyer, Jameis Winston, or Marcus Mariota, you're a terrible coach. Jags were stupid to bring back this cheerleader. Andrew Luck is going to eat alive Gus Bradley's defense next year.
Quote:A guy with his head on the chopping block can't depend on 2 guys, one being a rookie, coming off torn ACL's to get to the QB. They need to spend big on a DE in FA and they need to get it right.. Gus' fate depends on them finding the right guy.
Marks was very ineffective as expected when he came back, and Fowler will likely be even more ineffective, being a rookie AND dealing psychologically with his injury.
My point was that it won't be just those two guys. The team will clearly be looking to bolster the depth on that side of the ball to add more pass rush skill.
Houston has at least three pretty good pass rushers: Watt, Mercilus, Clowney
We arguably have 0 right now.
I'm not angry... I'm resigned to the high probability of another up coming season of poor Jaguar football. Regardless of if Gus Bradley were retained or not (and I do think that keeping him at this point is a mistake) it's going to require more than one off season of drafting and f/a aquisition to fix this dumpster fire of a defense we have. We don't know if Fowler would've been any good or not even prior to his injury... but an acl injury is surely going to make his being effective as a first year rookie even more challenging.
Even though the defense has to be the obvious priority for the off season, the offensive line is still a serious concern. Unless something is done about that left side (joeckel in particular) Bortles is going to get hurt.
So there it is; we have too many holes to fill in just this one upcoming off season. If achieving at least a .500 record in 2016 (there it is folks, you read it here first) is the goal inorder for Gus Bradley to keep his job here past 2016... then he should be sending out resumes already because it ain't gonna happen this coming season. Don't expect us to get another plethora of lucky breaks from other teams this coming season either.
Quote:I'm not angry... I'm resigned to the high probability of another up coming season of poor Jaguar football. Regardless of if Gus Bradley were retained or not (and I do think that keeping him at this point is a mistake) it's going to require more than one off season of drafting and f/a aquisition to fix this dumpster fire of a defense we have. We don't know if Fowler would've been any good or not even prior to his injury... but an acl injury is surely going to make his being effective as a first year rookie even more challenging.
Even though the defense has to be the obvious priority for the off season, the offensive line is still a serious concern. Unless something is done about that left side (joeckel in particular) Bortles is going to get hurt.
So there it is; we have too many holes to fill in just this one upcoming off season. If achieving at least a .500 record in 2016 (there it is folks, you read it here first) is the goal inorder for Gus Bradley to keep his job here past 2016... then he should be sending out resumes already because it ain't gonna happen this coming season. Don't expect us to get another plethora of lucky breaks from other teams this coming season either.
This pretty well sums it up for me. I don't want to think like this but nothing leads me to do otherwise. I fully expect us to come limping out of the starting blocks next season and then falling flat on our face. I predict Gus will be gone after we've lost 4 of the first 6 games. My biggest hope is Caldwell hires a coordinator/assistant coach capable of adequately filling in the HC position for the remainder of the schedule. Sorry folks, but my hope and change meter is below empty.