Quote:I disagree. This roster was almost completely gutted! Most teams who are doing a 'true rebuild' (whatever that is...) don't have to do the degree of 'ectomies' that has taken place here.. and still is. It's an unhappily unique situation for us. We are investing in youth (rookies) with high potential to build this team... with a few proven veterans on defense. But there is only so many draftees and f/a's that Dave can get per season. Regrettably, our needs exceed our draft and f/a acquisition numbers. Consequently, we are forced to 'fill holes' with less than stellar talent or out right unproven wanna-be's. We'll need at least one more draft to fill those positions (like on our o-line, for instance...) with quality players; but even then, those will be rookies. Hopefully, we will be able to get some pretty decent f/a's to help 'bring along' the rookies. But that's the plan; to build with youth and use f/a to shore up until the rookies mature, it takes time. We all wish we could have a good team right now but... it's a work in progress. Not many NFL teams have ever had to do this to the degree that the Jags are. It is what it is; come along or bail, it's up to you.

Yep...I had stated earlier that this was needed. I termed it a "true" rebuild because of the complete gutting of the team, essentially. No, I'm not taking any credit for the term, it's just how I see the rebuild. This franchise, as painful as it is right now, needed this to be done. You guys have much more time and passion invested in this team than I do (moved here 3 years ago from Dallas) and I get the frustration. Fact is, you guys have always been great fans, but the personnel acquisitions under Gene Smith's GM tenure, and even Harris, decimated a chance at having a long-term, consistently good team. You guys ended up extremely mediocre because of it. I honestly think that 2015 is going to shock many around the country, but the key is for the offense to gel, to make a few more offensive acquisitions, AND for Bortles to start a minimum of 8 games THIS season. Also hoping they get a modern day TE next season as well. Seems like many other teams have explosive, middle to deep threat TE's vs a TE that is really only known for his offensive line play. But, I know they're hard to find too. As for Bortles, I hate it when commentators use the words "it's inevitable", we all know that. What they should be saying is "it would be best for the franchise to start him the 2nd half of the season in order to make a playoff run in 2015".

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