I have to wonder, however, if it were Gabbert putting these numbers up vs number 2/3 defenses would we still be saying to start him?  

 

 

If it were his rookie year and we didn't  already know he stunk  -- people would want him to start. 

 

Last year vs. the Jets in preseason Gabbert was 13 of 16 for 165 yards and a TD.  Many of us began to think maybe, just maybe, he was starting to get it.  People wanted him to start.  Versus KC in week one - his QB rating went from 130 to 30.  I don't think Bortles will suffer a similar fate at all - but  preseaon games against the twos is definitely not regular season. 

 

Despite Gabbert's numbers in that game, Bortles has looked strikingly better than even Gabberts best performances in terms of appearing comfortable, confident and his willingness to throw downfield.

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Bingo. My sentiments exactly. If you look back at an unsuccessful QB and say, "well, he just needed more time to develop!" you really just didn't have a very good player to begin with.

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read this it should help

 
<a class="bbc_url" href='http://espn.go.com/blog/jacksonville-jaguars/post/_/id/7295/jacksonville-jaguars-stubbornness-has-helped-blake-bortles'>http://espn.go.com/blog/jacksonville-jaguars/post/_/id/7295/jacksonville-jaguars-stubbornness-has-helped-blake-bortles</a>

"Bortles has torn it up"

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Your beliefs become your thoughts,
Your thoughts become your words,
Your words become your actions,
Your actions become your habits,
Your habits become your values,
Your values become your destiny.

The right time is when Blake knows the playbook well enough to run the offense at the tempo Bradley/Fisch want to operate with --  and when the interior O-line issues are resolved or at least patched up.  The kid has looked good against back-ups that aren't game planning.  Things will be different in a few weeks.  Maybe they'll deem him 'ready' in September - maybe they won't.  I just trust this coaching staff much, much more than you or myself when it comes to making that call.  It's what they've been consumed with since May. I think they've got their collective finger on the pulse of the situation. If they had been making bad decisions left and right, I'd doubt them -- but they haven't. 

I think you have to take the o-line out of the equation.  What happens if the problems persist or, like last year, become worse as the season progresses, while BB continues to develop rapidly?  If he's clearly better than Henne and ready to go, do you still let him sit?

 

Like I said, you start the guy who gives you the best chance of winning the game. If it was my decision today it would Henne without question, based on his experience.  Blake has looked very good so far, but 2 partial preseason games against backups doesn't prove a whole lot.  If he gets significant time this week with the 1st and plays like a polished veteran............. :whistling:

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When you get into the endzone, act like you've been there before.

Detroits dline is going to absolutely destroy the interior oline.... keep our savior on the bench til the oline is fixed. Let henne be the crash dummy

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Really, it's a self fulfilling prophecy. People who are for sitting him will cite Gabbert's failure as due to his early game action. Anti - sitters will say he's a bad player. Honestly, it doesn't really matter. If Bortles turns into an All-Pro, no one will care for how long he did or didn't start. Likewise if he turns into Gabbert.

 

I will say that his vast and rapid improvement has me thinking that he could start sooner rather than later, but I also would rather have one season of no Bortles + 15 seasons of All-Pro, than Bortles-who-hasn't-fully-reached-his-potential for that span of time.

So if he doesn't play this year it guarantees that he will be an all pro for 15 seasons?

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Detroits dline is going to absolutely destroy the interior oline.... keep our savior on the bench til the oline is fixed. Let henne be the crash dummy

At least until Suh sits.  We're definitely going to find out how good the interior is or isn't.

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When you get into the endzone, act like you've been there before.

people keep saying that this year we weren't going to the playoffs this year anyways, so let henne play. i say the exact opposite. if this year is already a bust, why wouldn't we let the rookie use this year to learn, by i don't know actually playing. if they decide to sit him this year, he will learn almost nothing during practice or from sitting on the bench. he will get very few reps, and will be relegated to learning in the QB classroom. so, use this season for him to improve in ingame situations. then next year or the one after that he'll be more than ready to lead us to the playoffs. don't be scared just because gabbert was a bust, they are 2 different people. from what i've seen, he's better than henne, even if he is playing against 2 and 3's. if he outplays him again next week and they still decide to sit him, it will be very stupid in my opinion.

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You are looking at this from a fans stand point which is totally fine. You see a glimpse of hope that could change this team around. Change us from being in the league of lions and browns teams to colts and patriots dynasties. We all see that and we all ready for that.


I think the coaches see this as well. But I believe they see something else. They understand they are not in a win now mode like the Jets or Bills. They know they have a patient owner who sees the light at the end of the tunnel. The fans can scream and cry and even stop coming to the games. But they realize once they build a consistent winner that all will stop.


If they let the kid sit for a few weeks to make sure he is ready versus playing before he is ready then that may be the difference for Blake. If they think he is ready by week one them that is fine too.


As a fan you can feel however you want to. I just think there are some of is here that see this will play out just fine in the end. This year was not going to be a Super Bowl year anyway so why not allow consistency and growth to happen? It will all pay off in the end.

If he keeps playing the way he's playing I think everyone will be fine with him sitting the first few weeks.  I'm just arguing the whole "sit him all year and let him learn" approach.  As cool as Shad is as an owner, I'm pretty sure he's not good with seeing tarps in the upper deck on his $800M investment.  The fans do matter in that regard and so does the media from a recognition perspective.  Henne has been in the league for 7 years and he is what he is.  So we can be 6-10 in the same boat we're in now or 6-10 with an energized fan base showing up to see what could be in the future

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If it were his rookie year and we didn't  already know he stunk  -- people would want him to start. 

 

Last year vs. the Jets in preseason Gabbert was 13 of 16 for 165 yards and a TD.  Many of us began to think maybe, just maybe, he was starting to get it.  People wanted him to start.  Versus KC in week one - his QB rating went from 130 to 30.  I don't think Bortles will suffer a similar fate at all - but  preseaon games against the twos is definitely not regular season. 

 

Despite Gabbert's numbers in that game, Bortles has looked strikingly better than even Gabberts best performances in terms of appearing comfortable, confident and his willingness to throw downfield.

 

Gabbert's rookie year, the QB play was worse than Henne's current play.  Much worse.

 

Garrard had put up the worst performance in Jaguar history (at the time) the prior year and was playing so bad in preseason (injury or not) he was cut before the opener.  McCown turned around and put up a performance that may have topped (or should that be bottomed?) that one once the season started.

 

With the combination of Henne's improved play by the end of last season, and Bortles' calm, steady progression... I don't sense the same desperate need to put in the new guy.  If it were Gabbert and not Bortles as you suggest, I don't think I'd have the same feeling.  We're returning a starter from the previous season, and like him or not... as bad as Henne has played he hasn't been nearly as bad as Garrard and McCown were Gabbert's rookie season.

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"You do your own thing in your own time. You should be proud."

If he keeps playing the way he's playing I think everyone will be fine with him sitting the first few weeks.  I'm just arguing the whole "sit him all year and let him learn" approach.  As cool as Shad is as an owner, I'm pretty sure he's not good with seeing tarps in the upper deck on his $800M investment.  The fans do matter in that regard and so does the media from a recognition perspective.  Henne has been in the league for 7 years and he is what he is.  So we can be 6-10 in the same boat we're in now or 6-10 with an energized fan base showing up to see what could be in the future

 

Umm... so you know, there are only 4 tarps left (of what was 16.)  He's already selling more tickets.  The cabanas are already sold out for the season.  He doesn't need to make a roster move to sell tickets.  With the changes they've already made, the fanbase is already energized.  People recognize Bortles isn't a Manziel sideshow.  They believe in the direction of this team, Bortles starting now or later.

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"You do your own thing in your own time. You should be proud."

I think you have to take the o-line out of the equation.  What happens if the problems persist or, like last year, become worse as the season progresses, ...

I think the staff is definitely considering the O-line as part of the equation.  And last year the O-line improved after the bye. Partly due to learning the new system, and partly due to Bradfield and Pasztor stepping up beyond their prior levels of play.  It wasn't stellar, but it was good in a few games - some of them vs. quality d-lines. 

If you are referring to injuries, then, yes, the problem persisted, but the o-line improved as the season went on as a whole. I just think the question marks at C and RG are contributing factors to Bortles insertion to the line-up. 

Also important is Henne's deeper knowledge of the playbook. I'd like to see Bortles starting before season's end, but I don't think it needs to be week one. 

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If he keeps playing the way he's playing I think everyone will be fine with him sitting the first few weeks.  I'm just arguing the whole "sit him all year and let him learn" approach.  As cool as Shad is as an owner, I'm pretty sure he's not good with seeing tarps in the upper deck on his $800M investment.  The fans do matter in that regard and so does the media from a recognition perspective.  Henne has been in the league for 7 years and he is what he is.  So we can be 6-10 in the same boat we're in now or 6-10 with an energized fan base showing up to see what could be in the future

 

I really hope that fan pressure or the need to please the national media have nothing to do with the decision to start Bortles,

 

The reality, as you say might be different.

 

We'll just have to trust that Gus and the team know what they are doing and that they have the courage to resist the "must win now" brigade.

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Gabbert's rookie year, the QB play was worse than Henne's current play.  Much worse.

 

Garrard had put up the worst performance in Jaguar history (at the time) the prior year and was playing so bad in preseason (injury or not) he was cut before the opener.  McCown turned around and put up a performance that may have topped (or should that be bottomed?) that one once the season started.

 

With the combination of Henne's improved play by the end of last season, and Bortles' calm, steady progression... I don't sense the same desperate need to put in the new guy.  If it were Gabbert and not Bortles as you suggest, I don't think I'd have the same feeling.  We're returning a starter from the previous season, and like him or not... as bad as Henne has played he hasn't been nearly as bad as Garrard and McCown were Gabbert's rookie season.

We're saying the same thing.  I didn't articulate it as clearly as I could have and was trying to emphasize the "preseason success as illusion" angle - but we're in agreement here. 

Yes, Henne presents a much better option than the alternative to Gabbert at that time.  We all wonder how much and how long the staff will feel that way. I think they will be patient, but start the rook after the first string of consecutive bad games from Chad, should that happen.

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Jaguars are doing right thing by sitting Bortles, starting Henne

This has nothing to do with Bortles sitting on the bench, watching Henne and learning the craft of being an NFL quarterback. Seriously, what's Bortles going to learn from Henne? How to throw more interceptions than touchdowns during his career? How to complete less than 60 percent of his passes during his career? How to have an 18-32 career record as an NFL starting quarterback?

No, this is about public relations, maximizing Bortles' chances of winning over a beleaguered fan base and doubling the amount of buzz the team creates this season. You see, there is no down side to starting the year with Henne in the lineup.

On opening day, fans are going to be pumped up no matter what. And so you trot out Henne for, say, the first four games — at Philadelphia, at Washington, at home against the Colts and at San Diego — and let him be the one who gets pummeled, starts the season 0-4 or 1-3 and incurs the wrath of fans.

That's when you announce that Bortles is going to become the starter for a home game against the Steelers. The fan base becomes re-energized with veteran star Big Ben Roethlisberger coming to town to face Big Blake Bortles — the young quarterback whom is often compared to Roethlisberger.

When Bortles is inserted into the starting lineup, it will create a whole new buzz among the Jags fan base. Not only that, but Bortles gets the benefit of becoming the starter during a stretch of games when the Jags play three home games in four weeks against more beatable opponents (Steelers, Browns, Dolphins). The one road game during that stretch is against another mediocre team — the Tennessee Titans.

 

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/ja...412.column

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Jaguars are doing right thing by sitting Bortles, starting Henne

This has nothing to do with Bortles sitting on the bench, watching Henne and learning the craft of being an NFL quarterback. Seriously, what's Bortles going to learn from Henne? How to throw more interceptions than touchdowns during his career? How to complete less than 60 percent of his passes during his career? How to have an 18-32 career record as an NFL starting quarterback?

No, this is about public relations, maximizing Bortles' chances of winning over a beleaguered fan base and doubling the amount of buzz the team creates this season. You see, there is no down side to starting the year with Henne in the lineup.

On opening day, fans are going to be pumped up no matter what. And so you trot out Henne for, say, the first four games — at Philadelphia, at Washington, at home against the Colts and at San Diego — and let him be the one who gets pummeled, starts the season 0-4 or 1-3 and incurs the wrath of fans.

That's when you announce that Bortles is going to become the starter for a home game against the Steelers. The fan base becomes re-energized with veteran star Big Ben Roethlisberger coming to town to face Big Blake Bortles — the young quarterback whom is often compared to Roethlisberger.

When Bortles is inserted into the starting lineup, it will create a whole new buzz among the Jags fan base. Not only that, but Bortles gets the benefit of becoming the starter during a stretch of games when the Jags play three home games in four weeks against more beatable opponents (Steelers, Browns, Dolphins). The one road game during that stretch is against another mediocre team — the Tennessee Titans.

 

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/ja...412.column

 

Interesting theory.

 

But I wouldn't like to be the one who had to tell Gus Bradley that team selection would be made by the commercial department !

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Jaguars are doing right thing by sitting Bortles, starting Henne

This has nothing to do with Bortles sitting on the bench, watching Henne and learning the craft of being an NFL quarterback. Seriously, what's Bortles going to learn from Henne? How to throw more interceptions than touchdowns during his career? How to complete less than 60 percent of his passes during his career? How to have an 18-32 career record as an NFL starting quarterback?

No, this is about public relations, maximizing Bortles' chances of winning over a beleaguered fan base and doubling the amount of buzz the team creates this season. You see, there is no down side to starting the year with Henne in the lineup.

On opening day, fans are going to be pumped up no matter what. And so you trot out Henne for, say, the first four games — at Philadelphia, at Washington, at home against the Colts and at San Diego — and let him be the one who gets pummeled, starts the season 0-4 or 1-3 and incurs the wrath of fans.

That's when you announce that Bortles is going to become the starter for a home game against the Steelers. The fan base becomes re-energized with veteran star Big Ben Roethlisberger coming to town to face Big Blake Bortles — the young quarterback whom is often compared to Roethlisberger.

When Bortles is inserted into the starting lineup, it will create a whole new buzz among the Jags fan base. Not only that, but Bortles gets the benefit of becoming the starter during a stretch of games when the Jags play three home games in four weeks against more beatable opponents (Steelers, Browns, Dolphins). The one road game during that stretch is against another mediocre team — the Tennessee Titans.

 

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/ja...412.column

 

Wow, I never realized, Gus Bradley isn't the one who decides who starts for this team.  It's Genya Adesso, Director of Marketing.  

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I think the staff is definitely considering the O-line as part of the equation.  And last year the O-line improved after the bye. Partly due to learning the new system, and partly due to Bradfield and Pasztor stepping up beyond their prior levels of play.  It wasn't stellar, but it was good in a few games - some of them vs. quality d-lines. 

If you are referring to injuries, then, yes, the problem persisted, but the o-line improved as the season went on as a whole. I just think the question marks at C and RG are contributing factors to Bortles insertion to the line-up. 

Also important is Henne's deeper knowledge of the playbook. I'd like to see Bortles starting before season's end, but I don't think it needs to be week one. 

I'm sure the o-line is a consideration; I just don't think it rises to the bold-print prerequisite level you suggested.  

The question marks at C & RG will be answered this week in Detroit (and I don't think the answer will be good news, but I hope I'm wrong).

 

I don't think Bortles needs to start week 1 either, but the idea of sitting the #3 pick all year is ridiculous in this situation.  He's taking over the job from Chad Henne, not Brett Favre.

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When you get into the endzone, act like you've been there before.

I think it's smart to sit him for the first part of the season. Teams play really vanilla defense during the preseason, and I think the team wants Blake to see some real NFL defenses and how they disguise coverages, send blitzes, etc. before they just throw him out there. Also, if the offensive line doesn't find some continuity, it will be difficult to play him.

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Dave and Gus get paid a lot of money to evaluate talent, and get that talent ready to peform. They were the ones who drafted Bortles with the third pick--a choice that left many of us scratching our heads. They were right and many of us were wrong.

This.

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