Quote:Serious question. I heard we want Blake chants right from the beginning. He came in. Showed flashes of promise, but some bad rookie mistakes.

I don't understand the rational of fans who put blame on Henne. He is pedestrian we all get that. But blaming him when this Defense is horrendous.

First 6 possessions and Colts score.

My question is..why? This is our experienced group. Added some missing pieces, and they are absolutely the worst I've seen...especially with a decent line up...on paper anyway.

Why are they getting smacked around so bad?


Opening day. 20 th anniversary, and they looked like a deer in the headlights. Coaching? Don't care, no heart? So far I can see why Seattle thought Bryant and Clemmons were expendable.

Frustrating. Again.


I'm truly at a loss.

The 'blame Chad' game isn't as simple as it seems.

 

#1.Chad might not have been getting the 'heat' he took if there wasn't a first round draft pick quarterback sitting on the sidelines who had shown flashes of excellence during the preseason. 

 

#2. the lack of production from our offense (record setting failures to convert third downs and stay on the field...) has a direct impact on the ability of the defense to play with energy. If the defense stays on the field for an extended amount of time (as ours have) they get tired...'gassed'. Exhaustion leads to mental errors and blown coverage. Result; we get 'blown out' by double digit scores.

 

#3. Football, like almost any other physical activity, has a 'mental' aspect to it. It's very hard to keep yourself 'up' and enthusiastic about being on the field if you believe from experience that your offense isn't going to help you at all. You're tempted to 'give up' and not put out your best effort. Why kill yourself if you think you don't have a chance to win anyway? With Chad behind center, that 'chance' seemed very small indeed, and the players know it...

 

#4. We're hoping that the change took place at the start of the third quarter in the Indy game. Bortles has the ability that Chad didn't to keep plays alive instead of just getting sacked. He has the athleticism to do this. He brings energy and enthusiasm... (hope) to a team that was just 'dredging' through the motions while Chad was the quarterback. It's not that Chad is/was a bad quarterback either... but he never was starter quality. The 'energy' Bortles brings is a direct result of his ability to make plays instead of just fold and get sacked the way Henne did. Our defense sees this and it gives them a mental 'boost' because now they see someone who has the ability to extend plays on offense.

 

#5. bottom line: We were just getting beat too, too, easily on offense, which killed the defense. The rest of the season starts this Sunday...

---