(10-30-2018, 02:51 PM)Caldrac Wrote: Out of these options? Marrone, Hackett and Wash. I think Coughlin and Caldwell will still be here in 2019. But the only thing this staff can use as an excuse is two things right now.

1. A [BLEEP] ton of injuries occurred this year on offense. But that still doesn't excuse the inconsistency on defense. And injuries are apart of the game. Coaches have to make adjustments and figure that [BLEEP] out when personnel starts getting thin. And yes, most fans DO expect coaches to somehow make magic out of lunch meat.

2. Bortles was NOT Marrone's nor Hackett's choice at QB. Caldwell may have insisted that was the deal when interviewing candidates last year. I am not sure. But it's a fair argument if Marrone and Hackett want to use it.

And Caldwell / Coughlin chose not to go after a QB at a higher degree or level. They didn't pursue Keenum nor Cousins, which, in all honesty it appears to have been the right idea. Cousins was too expensive. Keenum hasn't really shined through that much in Denver. And then in the draft they waited until the 6th RD to take Tanner Lee which we all know how that ended. Outside of trading for Kessler they didn't do enough to push Bortles.

Bortles played well last year at times with a dominating defense that was stealing the football left and right. He did well in three play-off games. And he rightfully earned that extension. I don't fault Caldwell, Coughlin or anybody really in that front office for believing that Bortles had finally turned the corner and with him heading into his 5th year they felt confident.

Hell, we ALL felt confident when they hammered the Patriots at home. And then the [BLEEP] wheels came off in a fiery blaze of glory on offense in Kansas City.

And it's pathetic that they had to threaten his job last week in order for him to play mistake free football in London. So, we'll see what direction they go in next year. We still have half a season of football left to get through. If Blake can at least play like he did in London and they can get something out of Fournette, Hyde and Yeldon they should be able to win at least five or six more games this year.

1. I agree. I've never seen a Jaguars team have so many key injuries. Especially on the offensive side of the football, where we were already weak. That effected the offense a ton, but what ticked me off was that we weren't prepared. Marrone said before the season started that we were 3 deep on the O-Line. That was a direct quote. I laughed when I read that he said something so ridiculous. Other than Shatley, we had no depth what so ever on the O-Line and that has killed us. Despite this we should still be able to move the ball semi-consistently and instead, we are constantly 3 and out. Hackett has no imagination, has the most predictable, vanilla, conservative offenses I have seen from a Jaguars OC and makes no adjustments at all to make up for the injuries. The defense is on the field way too much and i think a lot of the defensive problems is simply due to exhaustion. 


2. I totally agree as well. We knew Bortles is an inconsistent QB and instead of drafting a young QB to push him, we basically did nothing. Yes, we upgraded the backup QB situation with Kessler, but he's never going to seriously win a starting job, long term, in the NFL. I was against extending Bortles, because even though we were winning last year, there were still major inconsistencies that I saw and I didn't want to be stuck long term with a guy who could regress. I was hoping he turned the corner, but I was doubtful. Yes, I was riding high after the Pats game. I thought after years and years of cheering for the Jags, we finally had a Superbowl contender. We all know what happened since then. Personally, if all we can get out of Bortles is what he did in London, we're in trouble. I see maybe 3 more wins left in the season.

---