Once again, most of you on here are simply not getting it or where I am trying to come from. Did I say his mechanics were flawless? Negative. Did I say he's been perfect? Negative. The running game, like it or not, IS a vital reason as to why he's struggling and throwing interceptions. And if I have to literally explain to you why that is you're simply too lazy to understand how this is a team sport and it takes team effort. But for you simple minded fans I'll go on ahead and explain it.

 

When you're capable of running the football. You dictate the defense. The defense does not dictate you. When you're getting blown up in the backfield by just a base four. The opposing defense and coordinator doesn't have to respect ANY play action fake or misdirection you're trying to impose because they know they can still get after you with just their base four. That's why those two picks that Bortles threw were against the Ravens linebackers. Not their secondary. They were able to drop back and focus on the passing game because we can barely muster 2.0 YPC with Yeldon and Ivory.

 

And I understand the "Well we didn't have the run game last year either". You're right. We didn't. And that's why we were always playing from behind and why Blake looked like an all-star last year in the 4th quarter. He lead the entire leauge in virtually every major passing catergory last year in the 4th quarter of play. And we were down because we couldn't control the line of scrimmage and impose our will with the ground game. And our defense wasn't capable of fending off the opposing passing offense.

 

This year in our two home lossess. You're now seeing the direct impact of lack of preperation by this coaching staff. Now that our defense can actually line-up and get off the field on third downs so far this year. We're not able to meet them in the middle by effectively chewing up the play clock and giving them a chance to rest. We're not able to return the favor by keeping our opponents modest and guessing. They have no guess work because they know all we can do is leave it up to Bortles to go out and win it. And right now he can't do that. He hasn't been given the proper tools yet to balance this offense out. And that's all I have been trying to say.

 

Again, he hasn't been all that bad. He's still very young. He's still rough around the edges. And he's not a bust by any means. I truly feel that if we hired the right staff for the job. Bortles becomes a 2:1 TD/INT ratio type QB with a strong running game supporting him. It's the current formula right now for succesful teams in this leauge. Great defense, sound running game and splash play passing attacks with limited mistakes. That's how Seattle has played it with Wilson. That's how Denver has played it with Manning. That's how Carolina has played it with Newton. And if you look at what Arians is doing in Arizona between Johnson & Johnson at runningback there. And if you look at what Belichick is doing with Blount right now in Brady's absence. That's the key.

 

I honestly don't know if Bortles is "The Man" here just yet. But I will give that kid the benefit of the doubt. He's not afraid to take the hits. He's not afraid to air it out. He just needs another year. Maybe 2016 is a "come back to earth" moment for him. He's going to have some good games this year though folks. He's got that ability. We've seen it. And it'll happen at some point. But I think in order for him to take that next step. He's going to need a legitimate headcoach and staff that plays to his strengths, that can fix his mechanics and fundamentals and a staff that can come in here and change this culture. Because for the past fifty-one games under Bradley it's simply not worked regardless of what we've had on this roster.

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