Quote:At the beginning of this year, I decided to take a step back and look at the whole picture. Not just look at the W/L column and look for actual progress or regression. I've seen both this year but the positives have outweighed the negatives. I think most people here would agree that we need a QB desperately but that goes without saying.
So about last night's game. Chad Henne showed exactly why he should be nowhere near a starting position on an NFL roster. A couple of good throws, bailed out by two GREAT catches (Shorts in the enzone, and Marcedes' 40+ yarder was probably the best catch of anybody on our team this year), then totally fell flat on his face at the end. Couldn't muster a 1st down in the second half to save his life or the game. The only thing consistent about his throws are how inaccurate they are. I saw at least 7 throws in the second half that if they were more accurate would have been at least 8 yard gains. He simply doesn't have the accuracy to operate in the offense that Jedd is running. He's been bailed out by lackluster opponents making major mistakes (DJ Swearinger), and a defense that has had the lucky balls going their way the past few weeks. Last night's win felt good. I love sweeping the Texans. But the game left me with, once again, a bad taste in my mouth in regards to our embarrassing QB situation.
Since our bye week we're 4-1. That's a great thing. We have the longest winning streak in the AFC right now. But I look at it and I see one of the easiest ending schedules in the NFL. We barely were able to beat the Titans. We got handled by the cardinals. Then we put up 13 points on a team that has had the worst fall of any team in the league this year. Then we beat the Browns who are the freaking browns. Then we beat the same team still on the same downward spiral that we beat a week and a half earlier. I'm not saying that the winning streak and record after the bye doesn't mean anything. I'm simply saying that it should be taken into context that the teams we're beating are teams that are not good. And while we're beating them, we're barely beating them. Not only that, but they're still putting up some good numbers on our defense. If I've learned anything from the NFL it's that the numbers can be severely skewed for defenses that get the lucky breaks one year but don't get them the next. Green Bay and Chicago are perfect examples of this. Our defense isn't as good as we think it is right now and has a long way to go. My hope is that the young secondary can continue to get better. But seriously, we STILL have serious issues against other teams' Tight Ends. That never ceases to make me mad.
I love this team. I've loved them since the first game in 95 when I was 10 years old so don't get this twisted. I simply want to look at this objectively. We still desperately need a QB. We still need a DE who can get home. Branch can only get there if he's stunted inside and Babin is simply not good enough to get consistent pressure. Marks is a keeper but he's the only one that I would be angry if he wasn't here next year. MJD is done in Duval after this year and it makes me almost as sad as when Freddy left. He had his first 100 yard game last night thanks to probably the best block of Will Rackley's season. But he simply isn't that good anymore. Most of the time he's hit within 2 yards because he can't consistently cutback to the hole and just decides to pound his way forward. I like what I see from Todman so far, but I think it's pretty clear a RB is going to be brought in probably from the draft along with Oline, Dline, and QB.
So enjoy the wins we've gotten and any others we get along the way. We haven't had reason to be excited in a while. As they say, the arrow is pointing way up. I think we have our coach for the future, and pending the offseason I think we have the GM of the future as well. Just don't think the team is better than it is because we beat bad teams.
Please Caldwell get us a good QB. I'm begging you. With a good QB we'd be in every game we've had this year. With a good QB and development of our current rookies, we seriously can look at the playoffs as a serious goal next year. Just please get us the QB.
I love the Jags. Have a good day. Thanks for reading if you made it this far. If not, it's ok. I understand it was long winded.
TLDR: Just my opinions, take them for what you will.
I agree with you on most of this. The main point to take away from this hot streak isn't that we are suddenly no longer a bad team. We have the weakest roster in the league. The main takeaway from this hot streak is that we have a head coach and a coaching staff that can keep an 0-8 team playing hard. The way we've won lately isn't on talent; we've been winning on effort and eliminating mistakes. The reason we've been winning is the coaching.
