Quote:Jags' rapid-strike ability on display in season opener


Exactly 11 seconds into the game yesterday, the Jags took the earliest game lead in team history when quarterback Blake Bortles hit wide receiver Allen Hurns with a 40 yard strike down the middle of the field which Hurns would take full advantage of, adding some speedy footwork over the next 40 yards to convert the perfectly-timed pass & catch into 6 quick points.


"Coach Bradley has been emphasizing execution all offseason, and we feel this is what we can do when everything comes together" said Bortles after the game.


"I joked with Blake before the game that if he could meet me half way, I'd make sure I did my part" added Hurns. "It stung a bit when it got called back, but at least we made them ease off the line a bit and respect our deep game."


Hurns, of course, was referring to the unfortunate holding penalty on Jaguars left guard Luke Joeckel, who in his 4th year has been asked to re-adjust to a new position. Lining up on the right side of that Packer 3-4 defensive line, defensive end Mike Daniels quickly overwhelmed Joeckel and was subsequently held. However, the manner in which the hold happened raised fan angst over penalties and overall line performance which had been issues since last season.


Coach Bradley was quick to shower Joeckel with support.


"Luke did absolutely the right thing" said Bradley, speaking of his handling of Daniels. "#76 is not tall, but he's a big man...around 300 lbs or so...and a lot of passion. Holding him any way possible was just a credit to Luke's resolve. I mean, you saw what he did to Luke...imagine what he could have done to Blake if he wasn't held."


Yet many fans were not sharing Bradley's take on the encounter.


"It's embarrassing" commented a fan on the team's message board following the play. "Joeckel gets steamrolled in 1-on-1 contact as usual, and 3 seconds after the snap he's on his stomach, both arms wrapped around Daniels' ankles in a pose that imitates the classic battered wife with black eyes screaming 'Don't leave me!' while she tries to stop her drunken, abusive husband from exitng the front lawn. Then later, over on the sideline, 'The Joke' is getting the 'there, there' treatment from Gus, who slips him a double-stuffed oreo from his jacket pocket while he lets him sit out the rest of the series to get his confidence back. I mean, if he's gonna earn a scooby snack for that performance, at least let it be something with protein so he can add some muscle."


Aside from the immediate fireworks surrounding the early Bortles-Hurns connection, the hometown Jaguars ended up falling to the visiting Packers, 37-12. Bradley, while not happy with the outcome, continued to stress the positives.


"We appeared to move the ball well, and were in striking distance throughout the game" added Bradley in his postgame presser. "We just need to be better at finishing what we start. Going forward, we'll continue to emphasize focus...and determination... and resolve. And passion too."


The Jag's lone touchdown came on a 5 yard scramble from Bortles. Myer's, the Jaguars kicker, converted both mid-range field goal attempts and missed an extra point attempt.


Green Bay, for it's part, added 4 passing touchdowns and 3 field goals.


On an ironic note, the final score was exactly equal to Coach Bradley's lifetime head coaching record, 12-37. Bradley offered the following when he was made aware of this during postgame interviews:


"It's never as bad as it looks. That's a neat fact though...I can roll with it."