Quote:I've started to notice a pattern.   Opposing defenses just blitz, blitz, blitz.   And we can't do anything about it.    We have a rookie QB who is responsible for audibling at the LOS, a rookie C who is supposed to make the line calls, and rookie WRs who are supposed to break off their routes and make an adjustment when they are wide wide open because of a heavy blitz.  

 

Call it a lack of experience, or bad coaching, but I saw it time after time yesterday.  For example, on one play I think all 3 linebackers blitzed, and the corner was way off Marqise Lee, but instead of changing to a slant, as all experienced WRs would do, in which case no one would have been within 10 yards of him, be ran straight down the field where the CB was waiting to pick him up very easily.   So Blake got sacked.   He had nowhere to go with the ball.  

 

Call it inexperience, or bad coaching, or whatever, but our offensive line and running backs cannot pick up a blitz, our WRs cannot make sight adjustments, and our QB is left with nowhere to go with the ball.   Game after game.   Our opponents leave a single high safety, and they send 7 guys on a blitz.   And we cannot do anything about it. 

 

The coaches and the players better figure this out or we'll not win another game for the rest of this decade. 

 

The pitchfork and torch crowd will label the above as excuse making.  In reality, when you're trotting out as many rookies or 2nd year players as this team is, and you're putting these rookies in critical positions where experience really does matter, you're going to see exactly what you've pointed out above.  Your points are spot on. 

 

It doesn't negate the fact that there have been issues with play calling, but the failure of this team to get over the hump has much to do with this roster being even younger than it was last year at key positions.  We're looking at a rookie QB who has started what?  8 games? 

 

People wanted to get the rookie in there as quickly as possible, and even said that they would be fine with him struggling.  That the experience is what was most important.  Yet, suddenly they seem to be singing a different tune, either declaring Bortles a bust, or saying he should be benched. 

 

Most here recognized that when you're starting 6 or 7 guys on offense, there were going to be growing pains.  Especially when the bulk of your receiving corps was comprised of rookies.  That is one a position where experience counts, and in most instances, rookies hit a wall in their development.  We've gotten surprisingly good production from this group, but in the instance you referenced, Lee's lack of experience was exposed, and it cost us.  Those types of things will get better with time. 

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