Interesting: So the consensus of a few (and that's an improvement from the past) are that because Bradley put in Bortles (when the fans were screaming for Bortles...I was at the Clots game) and Bortles is doing EXACTLY what Bradley said he was gonna do (play like a raw rookie) Bradley needs to go. That makes sense...in nowhere I know of. 

 

We have more rookies starting on offense than most teams have on their 53 (that is wild speculation on my part, but I am comfortable that it is close to accurate). And it is interesting that the majority of rooks are where our biggest problem is: passing...we have a rookie QB throwing to rookie WR's. And we see brilliant moments interspersed with bonehead plays (sometimes Bortles, sometimes (and less obvious) the wide receiver). 

 

And we throw Caldwell under the bus because we didn't spend heavily in free agency this year. Consider: the area where Caldwell did spend was on Defense. Now that the D has come together, was it money well spent? I think so. Would having a big-ticket WR have improved Henne's play to the point where he was a world-beater? Nah. Would it improve Bortles? Sure, but enough to make us a playoff team? Nah. Shad, Caldwell and Bradley have a three-year plan. It is year two. 

 

Next year, we have a sophmore QB who will most likely have gotten most of the stupidity out of his game. It happens, and I really do think the kid has great potential. He has moments of brilliance, and those will continue to overshadow his mistakes. Our wide receivers will all have another year of experience and will show who they really are...which should be pretty good...if not top quarter of the league or better. Especially if we get JB back and his head is screwed on tightly. The D will not get any worse, and we are seeing the youngsters on D step up and make me believe that they will get better. And with a high draft position (and Caldwell's drafts have been good to excellent) AND money to spend on free agency? We should have a pretty darn good team. 

 

See...you make a plan and you live with the plan. And it turns out...and at midcourse, it IS turning out. This team isn't the same team which was playing in the first quarter of the season. Remember when we had 10 first downs to our opponent's 100 first downs? Remember when the D got worn out because every time the O got on the field there was a three and out? Now we get drives and our defense gets stops. Sure, the O screws up (ok, currently Bortles and the WR's screw up) and give the ball away, but that can be fixed, and will be fixed with experience. 

 

It all really hinges on Bortles. Is he the real deal? He looks like the real deal most of the time. He also looks like a boneheaded rookie on occasion. Which he is. Well, not boneheaded per se, but certainly a rookie. If he goes as I and most of us expect, and with the growth we can expect, next year will be a great year, and the next one after that? Sky's the limit. And all of the kids that make us crazy today will STILL be on their rookie contracts. Live the plan. It is a good one. Even if we don't get a few meaningless wins this year (and at this point, basically, they are all meaningless...we aren't gonna get to the playoffs this year). Oh, and for all of y'all who whine that since you have tickets you deserve a winning team this year? No, you don't. You deserve a good game-day experience, and the one you are getting is pretty darn good. Cleveland was fun, and Miami was fun a lot of the time. And the stadium is terrific. You are getting a great experience. It will be greater with W's, but it is still great! Compared to, say, the first home game this year...

 

Jim

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