Quote:So if you anticipate losing, dont make a change. Got it. Losing is acceptable now.

 

Literacy is a real problem around here, isn't it? As is stunningly simplistic and black-and-white thinking.

 

Whether you agree with the decision to start Henne over Bortles or not, last night's performance changes nothing. The coaching staff knew as well as anyone here (probably better) what Henne is, and what his issues are. They chose to start him knowing that, so having a demonstration of it shouldn't change the plan. When you choose to start Henne, you choose to have Henne performances like we saw last night. They've clearly decided that's worth doing, so the result of last night doesn't change a thing. Again, whether you agree with their initial call or not.

 

As for the 'starting Henne indicates that losing is acceptable' mantra, that's typical fan short-termism. The coaching staff isn't concerned about winning every last game possible right now; they're concerned with building a winning team for the long term. Again, whether you personally choose to agree with this or not (and frankly your opinion, my opinion, and the opinions of many many other fans are utterly irrelevant in the big picture) they seem to have the belief that sitting and developing Bortles for some or all of this season is either going to get him to the peak of his skills quicker or make that peak higher, either of which is more important to the team long-term than  getting a few more wins this season - which even the most optimistic of fans don't expect to be part of our Superbowl window. The counterpoint to your position, then, is that rushing Bortles into the starting lineup will lead to more losses long term, and is a sign that losing is acceptable.

 

Again, though, it doesn't matter. The only case in which Gus should make the move earlier than anticipated would be if they'd genuinely expected something different out of Henne this season. And even then, one game is not a good basis to change your season plan on. If there was a real expectation that Henne would be a much better player than he ever has been and he continues to contribute to losing winnable games (and he was far from the only culprit last night, unless one of his assignments was to stop Sproles on 4th and 1) and Bortles is developing faster than expected, then you can think about moving earlier than anticipated. But if we believe what the coaching staff has said - and there's been absolutely no reason not to based on their track record - then the third of those requirements is far and away the most important one.

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