Quote:The last time I was allowed to post we had just lost the Eagles game. Well, since then, we've won zero games...


 

Hate to say it folks, but I think what we are seeing is the culmination of a head coach that is in over his head. 


 

We are not getting any better and the 4-4 record to end last season seems to be merely the result of happenstance of playing equally bad teams or worse. 


 

We were at the bottom of the league in offense and defense last year, and we are right there again this season, in the total rankings. In the big picture, nothing is improving. 


 

As I look back, things that I remember posting about being concerning with Bradley's initial hire have pretty much come to roost - first and foremost - the Coordinator hires. Both Fisch and Babich were seen as poor hires by me (and a few others) when they happened and neither has done anything to prove those initial fears wrong. 


 

Guess what though - bad assistant coaching hires falls on the head coach. That is part of his responsibility. 


 

The 2 Coordinators are likely not the only bad hires on this staff, however. It seems to be filled with subpar hires all around it. With only a few standout decent to good hires. I'f say at this point after 21 games, the only assistants that I'd point to that seem to have been good hires would be the WR coach, the DL coach, and maybe the QB coach. The rest all don't seem to be doing a good job in getting their prospective player groups improving over time. I understand that not every player is going to be a "pro bowler" but solid position coaches do at least get their group to show some improvement over time regardless of talent ceiling. 


 

I think the poor assistant coach hires can be partially linked to the fact that Bradley had zero head coaching experience coming into this job. There obviously a LOT of other aspects of Bradley's coaching (where he seems to be failing) that can also be attributed to his lack of HC experience as well. - such as poor clock management. 


 

Through 21 Games, Bradley is now 4-17. The only other successful head coach over the last 25 years that I can remember starting out this bad was Jimmy Johnson of Dallas who started out at 4-22. But at least with his team, they indeed were showing improvement in their 2nd year. Also, while their offense was still struggling in the 2nd year, at least their defense was showing clear signs of ascension. They only gave up around 300 points for that entire season after giving up close to 400 the previous year. 


 

The Jags offense and defense overall continues to be bad. Bottom of the league bad. Last week seemed to be more the result of playing safe defense as opposed to actual improvement. When they needed a stop in the 4th Q on Pitts last drive - they couldn't do it. Didn't Pitt keep the ball for what seemed like the final 7 and a half minutes of the game to run out the clock???


 

 

I'm very close to the point where I advise the owner to pretty much pull the plug on the head coach at seasons end. 


 

 

The most important thing that this staff MUST not mess up is the QB- Bortles, and IMO, it appears they are doing just that. 


 

Look at Bortles play in preseason, and then the 3 games this season. He's clearly regressing. His YPA went from consistently in the 9's or above in all preseason games as well as the 2nd half of the Indy game, to 7.8 two weeks ago to Gabbert-like 5.3 last week. You can't tell me that Bortles this past Sunday is resembling ANYTHING like the gunslinger that we saw in his first 5 appearances. 


 

IMO, why this is happening is because the coaching staff is overreacting to the INT's he's throwing and shortening the pass play routes which isn't doing anything but hurting him. 


 

That pick 6 against the Steelers last week was on Fisch just as much as it was on Blake. What do you expect to happen when every pass play you call is a shorter route???? Eventually the defense is going to jump one of them and you get what happened. 


 

They threw one stinking deep pass attempt last week and it was picked off, so then Fisch totally abandoned it. Thats not how you help a young QB. They should be trying about one deep pass every quarter, just to keep the defense honest. Otherwise, all you are doing is helping makie the defenses life easier and hurting the development of your own QB. I remember Andy Reid would take a deep shot downfield with McNabb just about every 8-10 attempts (on average) - to keep the defense from bunching up and playing the game in a 10-15 yard box. 


 

 

If things don't improve drastically, and soon, I am hoping Khan is investigating the availability of a proven winner like Jim Harbaugh at seasons end. Harbaugh has head coaching experience, has been susccessful and seems to get the most out of his QB's. (Alex Smith) and even Kap. 

 

Aside from the Redskins game, we've faced some pretty stiff competition.  And in the Redskins game we were still being hampered by Chad Henne.  And we were also being hampered by having a very young team.  


I agree that Fisch and Babich could both be parts of the problem.  I think that Gus Bradley is a guy who is willing to give too many opportunities at times.  I think we should have made some moves at the end of last season.  His lack of experience (and the Jags not being an attractive spot to land for coaches) can't be held against him too much.  I don't think there's many coaches who would want to come here pre-Bortles.  Availability matters, and so does the amount of talent on the team.


Jimmy Johnson didn't take over what was essentially an expansion team.  If you look at the lack of talent on the team, it explains the lack of wins very well.  The team should be showing improvement, but I don't think we can say if any improvement is being made at this point.  It's a very young team, with few draft picks on the Defensive side of the ball.

Bortles isn't regressing.  His stats don't look quite as good, but that's in part due to facing tougher defenses, not having a running game (which keeps the Defense honest), and playcalling, as well as the players we have.  


Why would a proven winner come here, when we don't give coaches time to bring the talent in, and blame them for the problems?  We don't want to become the Oakland Raiders.  I think Bradley goes on the hot seat at the start of next season.  


 

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