Quote:I don't think anyone would disagree that Bortles has some 'upside'... the problem is his downside; he has himself said that he isn't a 'natural passer'. He is always going to have to struggle to be a decent ball thrower. Perhaps this is a skill that can be learned; but why in the heck is someone at the professional level having to 'learn' what is probably the most fundamental skill for a quarterback?

 

answer: given his 'pros and cons' he was over-drafted.

 

Now saying he was over-drafted isn't the same thing as saying he is a total bust. I think that with lots of work on his part and good coaching he can do a good job. The issue is that he was drafted as our 'franchise quarterback'... not as a developmental acquisition. The 'franchise quarterback' tag implies a certain confidence that he has the 'right stuff' to do the job. Blake has proven and even said that he isn't a natural passer. Sure he has on occasion made some great passes; but as the old saying goes, even a broke clock is right at least twice a day.

 

Nevertheless, it appears at present that we're going to continue to go with Bortles. I hope he is successful, but it is painfully obvious now that it's going to be an uphill battle for him all the way to be a consistently good quarterback. We need a consistently good QB if we're ever going to be play-off worthy. If we can learn anything from the patriots program, this has to be it.

Having made the statement that imho Bortles was over-drafted, I have to also say that given that our GM also selected Gus as a coach has seriously shaken my confidence in Dave as our GM. I'm glad we have TC here now to oversee things to (hopefully) present another barrier to prevent such bad selections. We'll see how it works out.

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