My initial thought about all the 'fire Gus' talk is that it's a 'knee jerk' reaction to what was essentially grossly inflated expectations from the fans due to the team over hyping the new talent acquired since last season. While there is a fair amount of truth to this, it isn't the whole picture. The Jags were in a losing slump (mostly due to poor drafting by our former GM) prior to his (Gus Bradley) coming here. We then completly gutted the roster and started over, essentially from scratch. It takes time to acquire talent so for the past few years Gus has had a 'free pass' due to the team being in 'rebuild mode'. However, it is generally agreed that the team now has the talent to be competitive; perhaps not ready for the play-offs just yet, but nevertheless good enough to turn in at least an 8-8 season this year. We are once again starting the season 0-2. While the loss to Green Bay was disappointing, at least it was to a probable super bowl contender. And though we lost that game, at least we were 'in it' until the end of the game.

 

...not so against San Diego; we looked bad from the very start, really bad. Our offense couldn't move the ball. Bortles was a turn over machine. Our defense allowed the bolts to march right down the field on thier first possesion and score... and they never even looked back after that. We only put points on the board in 'garbage time' after Philip Rivers took a seat and the outcome was certain.

 

The bottom line is that the Jags looked overwhelmed and utterly unprepared to come to San Diego and play at a high level of competency... and that is a coaching failure. So while some are crowing for Gus's head on a platter... or at least for him to be fired as HC at J'ville immediately, this is simply an unrealistic option. We have no one with a proven record who is a better option than Gus at the moment. Marrone? He had a losing record for the short time he was a HC. He would only be suitable here as a temporary coach until the end of the season.

 

I think the better option is to let the season continue to play out with Gus as HC. If we reach at least 8-8 then all is well and Gus is vindicated as a HC. It is much better to have continuity at HC than to have to continually start over from scratch. If we fail to reach 8-8 by seasons end (or sooner if it becomes impossible to do so) then Gus has exhausted all excuses for failure and should be fired. But we still have 14 games in front of us and we only need to win eight of them for it to all be good.

 

Frankly, I didn't see us winning in San Diego anyway; Phillip Rivers is an elite quarterback and we have a lot of rookies and new people on our defense. It shouldn't come as all that much of a shock (assuming you weren't overly buying into the team hype) that we lost. Of course, that doesn't explain our offense imploding the way it did Sunday. Lack of discipline (aka-penalties) and turn overs are killing us. Among other words, we nearly beat ourselves as much as the other team beats us. Again, that is a coaching problem.

 

And the play calls! Ollie... please, stop with the screens or go work somewhere else. With seconds left at the end of a close game and at half time you chose to run a screen play!? No wonder other teams smile at the thought of playing the Jags!

 

I think our best shot at our first win will probably come in London. For now, we need to just settle down and re-group and cease and desist with the moronic calls for terminating Gus Bradley right now. It ain't gonna happen folks, so cool your jets for a little longer until we have clear evidence for how this season is going to go.

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