(10-08-2018, 11:12 AM)Inziladun Wrote:

(10-08-2018, 10:23 AM)Caldrac Wrote: It was one game. It doesn't define nor make or break our season. Still plenty of football left. R-E-L-A-X. 

No sense in getting caught up in the "what if's" and "could have been's". Mahomes is successful in Kansas City because he's successful in Kansas City. It doesn't mean it would translate to success anywhere else in the NFL. Same thing goes for Cousins. They broke the bank for that guy and even though he's looked good here and there in a few games. Guess what? You're what your record says you are.

None of what I'm saying is based on one game. And Cousins with this team is 4-1 or 5-0. Vikings have lost on the backs of their defense not the other way around. I'd give the front office a pass on Mahomes, although I don't think his innate talent or ability stems from him being in Kansas City, the guy can throw the ball, which is more than our QB can do half the time. My only problem with Cousins is his reputation for choking. Ironically Bortles has done the opposite outside the Buffalo game, but other than that, Cousins is superior in every other way. I'm all for Bortles, I desperately want him to be the guy. His personality fits this team like a glove and he's a home grown Florida Boy. Not much to dislike in the man. But he's too inconsistent. I wonder if everyone will continue to defend him 3 years from now if we wasted away a superbowl window and we're onto a new QB.

Anyway, all this and I'm not even saying Cousins is the answer for our future. In fact, I don't believe that at all. I just think he was the answer for the next couple of years. But oh well, no use crying over spilled milk. This team does need a change in philosophy moving forward though and that is what i'm curious to see more than anything.

While I don't agree with the gross generalization that "defense doesn't matter anymore"   -    I do think think that the rule changes and league intentions are favoring offensive production and that puts defenses a little bit behind the eight ball compared to 10-15 years ago. 
 Elite defenses can still take over games, but there are a handful of offensive minds out there who are finding ways to overcome those defenses at times. 

None of this dissuades me from wanting to keep the Jags young defensive core intact moving forward in the slightest. But it does make me long for an offense better equipped to keep up with those teams. 

That said - this offense actually isn't very far off from that when healthy - and when they don't commit multiple turnovers. They are actually "very nearly there" when those requirements are met. We just didn't meet them vs the chefs and things got ugly. 

It'll be an uphill battle for this offense as long as injuries persist, bad QB play emerges or play-calling takes a questionable turn.  But they still have enough in the tank to score points to win against the majority of this year's opponents. 

Don't let one game define the season outlook for the Jags.  We don't play the chefs every week. Blake won't self destruct every week. Hackett won't make dumb decisions every week either.

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