Let me give advance notice that there will be some QB talk in this thread, but I will not just talk QBs.  If you are weary of the QB talk and are inclined to roll your eyes at the thought, you may wish to seek another thread...or at least go down beyond point 2.  Having dispensed with the topic warning, here are some of my thoughts on the midpoint of preseason.


1.  More than any time that I can recall, I have been spectacularly wrong about the QB position here.  I'm talking Wile-e-coyote ACME bomb face explosion disastrously wrong.  I post a thread talking about Ryan Mallet throwing 5 INTs in practice and talk about how fortunate we are that Bortles hasn't done that.  The next day-the first padded practice-boom-he throws five picks!  After the New England preseason game, I urge people to not overreact to Henne and Bortles...then BOOM-Bortles slips back into open competition with Henne seemingly having all of the momentum.  I feel as though somehow I have jinxed Bortles.  Right now, my urge is to talk about his Jaguars career in the past tense.  I'm far from a QB mechanics guy, but I don't think his mechanics exclusively did him in.  I am wondering if his failure here is psychological in nature.  He does not look like the same guy we saw the first two years.  The 2015 Bortles easily hits Allen Robinson.  Last year and camp this year, he looks like he is pressing instead of just playing.  His misses on Robinson vs the Bucs last week mirror many of the misses last year.  I'm not sure if he recovers in time to reclaim the starting job, and with his $19 million salary next year, I'm not sure how the Jaguars can keep that salary on the bench.  Perhaps a fresh start is in order for him.

2.    Bortles training camp fall creates quite the conundrum.  What does the team do to address the QB position, short and long term?  Barring a career year from Henne, if we keep the current three QBs on the roster, it seems we will waste a year of a roster that most observers think is talented.  I think we possibly get a similar result if we sign one of the free agent QBs currently on the market, because minimally, it will take 3 weeks or so for them to get comfortable with the offense, with no guarantee they will perform any better than the incumbents we have on the roster.  Some have urged we try to trade for a QB.  As tempting as that would be, I think patience and restraint would be in the best long term interests of this team.  I cringe typing this.  I am weary of urging patience in the midst of nine straight losing seasons and counting.  Like all of you, I want to win now.  But despite that, I urge patience because there will be a buyer's market for QBs next year-or at least as close to one as you can find in the NFL.  If the current speculative evaluations hold, there will be several QBs carrying first round grades next year:  Darnold, Rosen, Allen, Mayfield, the kid from Washington State, and maybe Jackson.  There seem to be some other decent prospects too.  On top of that, there are several situations where teams will have to fish or cut bait at the position where they have quality depth and impending free agents.  Let's start in Kansas City, where the Chiefs traded next year's first round pick to Buffalo for Mahomes, and they currently have Alex Smith under contract.  Smith is n his thirties, so it doesn't make much sense to trade for him, especially when they are going to want Mahomes to play.  Detroit has managed to get to the point where Matthew Stafford is playing in a contract year.  Will they franchise him?  Probably.  But he will be thirty by next year.    Buffalo presents another opportunity.  Tyrod Taylor is the current starter, but they drafted Nathan Peterman this year and I've heard they've been pleased with him.  However, given all of the picks they have accumulated (two picks in each of the first three rounds), you have to think they are positioning themselves to be able to take one of the QBs in next year's draft.  Taylor or Peterman or possibly both may be available next offseason. In Cincinnati, you've got starter Andy Dalton, who will be 30 this October and backup A.J. McCarron, who is slated to be a free agent in 2018.  Dalton has not won a playoff game through his entire tenure there, and is coming off his first losing season with the Bengals.  Given the state of their O-Line, turning it around may not be in the cards for them this year.  Perhaps Marvin Lewis leaves in that scenario, and perhaps a new coach brings in his own QB.  On the other hand, the Jaguars reportedly offered a 2nd round pick to Cincinnati for McCarron and was turned down.  There is no way the Bengals pay for both of those QBs beyond this year if there is, indeed, interest in McCarron.  One or the other will be let go or dealt.  Finally, Cousins is still in Washington without a long term deal.  If the Skins' season goes south, might they let him go and go for a rookie?   I think if we wait it out, we will have more options at QB and will be less likely to overpay via trade.  The only problem is getting through this season.  Ugh!

3.  Lost in the QB talk-and the talk of his misdemeanor charges-is Dante Fowler.  Last year, the padded practices against the Bucs effectively took the air out of his balloon.  This year against the same team, he actually got pressure on their QB and forced a fumble.  It wasn't on a stunt, either.  He beat his man around the edge and hit the QB.  FWIW, Lageman and Boselli have said Fowler has had a good camp.  Does that mean he becomes the most unblockable pass rushing force the league has seen since LT in his prime?  No, but progress from him would be welcome.

4.  Why in the wide world of sports can we not find a kicker?  That is the one blemish in an otherwise nice improvement in special teams play.

5.  It will be nice to see Ramsey play tomorrow night, but I don't want to see too much of him. Save him for opening day and Hopkins.

6.  Rookie Watch

• Leonard Fournette-doing fine thus far  
  
• Cam Robinson-had his moments thus far.  Will wait and see
  
• Dawaune Smoot-I think most would characterize him as a disappointment
  
• Dede Westbrook-WOW!  It is evident why TC and Co. took a chance on him in the 4th round.
  
• Blair Brown-decent thus far
  
• Marquez Williams-has played well after starting camp on PUP.  Nice block on the Grant run v. New England.  I'm betting he is the starting FB opening day
  
• Jalen Myrick-looking like a practice squad guy.
  
• Keelan Cole-Wow!  Can't see how he doesn't make the team.
  

---