After watching today's game at Everbank, these are my thoughts on the season:

 

1. The offense will be unable to score enough points to win most games due to no deep threat to open up the field. I have no expectations that Lee will be anything more than an occasional tease who will miss at least half of each season due to injuries. Robinson and Hurns are number 2 and 3 receivers and nothing more than that.

2. Julius Thomas needs to return soon and stay healthy. He will give Bortles a much needed safety valve and red zone threat. I don't believe this team can generate enough offense to win more than 3 or 4 games without a healthy Thomas.

3. All the positive talk about our defense today on this board is irrational. Carolina has a terrible offense. With the Jaguars lack of pass rush and below average secondary, good quarterbacks will have field days against them. Unfortunately, our best lineman (Marks) cannot be expected to return to last year's form until next season. Fowler's injury was a killer for this defense because neither Branch (when healthy) nor Chris Smith can provide a consistent pass rush.

4. Joeckel is so-so at best, but if he misses significant time, Marrone may need to move Parnell to left tackle or we may lose our q.b. very soon. I don't trust Sam Young at all to protect Bortles' blind side.

5. Gus Bradley may be in danger of not lasting the season. The odds are very likely that they will be winless after 4 games. If Tampa beats them in week 5, Shad Khan may have to do something to appease the fan base. Bradley is a great guy, but his game-day coaching is poor. That time-out he called in the 4th quarter is an example of poor decision making which this team cannot overcome with their overall lack of talent.

6. Despite all the pessimism above, I do believe in Bortles despite his performance today. As long as they have their q.b. of the future, they need to find a more reliable left tackle and number 1 receiver. Caldwell has acquired enough talent at other positions for this team to be competitive once these key positions are improved.

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