... short field yardage given to the offense in those games that resulted in scoring:

7, 34 ,28 ,32 , 2 , 47 ,37 ,31, 45, 25, 45

I'm going to keep on giving the defense the lion's share of the credit.

You’re absolutely right. The defense was the main reason we won a lot of those games.

I don’t think that’s really in dispute.

But it’s these digs at Bortles that irritate me.

If the piece on NFL.com had wanted to give credit to the defense it could have done that. But it chose to single out Bortles for a cheap laugh.

Not something I’m going to lose sleep over, but I think it’s just lazy writing.

Agreed. 

One thing I know about Bortles....he does not care at all about what his perception is outside of the locker room

Absolutely. Love that about him. 

NFL dodged a bullet last season...

Shut up.

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In fairness though the jaguars won every game comfortably when they allowed 10 or less. The average margin i those games was more than 20 points and the Jags won every game. In other words it’s possible the whole team played well in those games, not just the defense.

I see your point, but the defense gave the offense short fields so many times in those games. 

Here is a listing of some of the short field yardage given to the offense in those games that resulted in scoring:

7, 34 ,28 ,32 , 2 , 47 ,37 ,31, 45, 25, 45

I'm going to keep on giving the defense the lion's share of the credit.

On the opposite side though; we had eight touchdown drives in the postseason (plus a fumble return for a TD). The shortest was 18 yards (after Jack's INT against Pittsburgh), the next shortest was 61 yards, five drives were 75 yards or longer. That doesn't happen if your QB isn't playing at a high level.

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NFL dodged a bullet last season. Imagine the disappointment selling a blake bortles/nick foles super bowl.
Bortles played well enough to beat the pats. Just didnt go your way in the end
Bortles had a huge part in the squeelers game. Your defense looked like the tacks from a few years back in that one. Coulda swore i saw michael griffen and renaldo hill back there. (Started strong though, maybe the coaching let the squeelers back in it?).
Think Bortles continues to improve. He will always get the shots from the media however. Even last night on nfl network someone picked the jags to be the team who hasnt won a super bowl to win, and whats her name was like "who's your quarterback"
Its lazy. Bortles has been that guy, it will take a few good seasons to be talked about differently

The thing about the Steelers game was that the Jaguars controlled the whole game, the Steelers were never in position to take a lead on the game, but they played like a desperate team and had a few lucky breaks. Getting a couple of just heave it to the endzone on fourth down TDs doesn't usually happen, but it did for the Steelers. Also Telvin Smith with the boneheaded taunting penalty on his defensive score was directly responsible for the Steelers being in position to get that desperation TD before the half. Without that the Jaguars carry a 21 point lead into halftime.

No the Jaguars thoroughly dominated the Steelers in everything but score the final score was much closer than the actual play on the field was, and the last TD was complete garbage time.

As for what the NFL wanted in the Superbowl, from the way the Patriots game was officiated I have no doubt the thumb was on the scale. Only one special teams penalty on New England the whole game and a lot of game changing penalties on the Jaguars.

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I see your point, but the defense gave the offense short fields so many times in those games. 

Here is a listing of some of the short field yardage given to the offense in those games that resulted in scoring:

7, 34 ,28 ,32 , 2 , 47 ,37 ,31, 45, 25, 45

I'm going to keep on giving the defense the lion's share of the credit.

On the opposite side though; we had eight touchdown drives in the postseason (plus a fumble return for a TD). The shortest was 18 yards (after Jack's INT against Pittsburgh), the next shortest was 61 yards, five drives were 75 yards or longer. That doesn't happen if your QB isn't playing at a high level.

He played at a high level in most of the game in pittsburgh and most of the game in NE.  For sure.
Again...  I'm not writing off the good things he did, I'm merely trying to put them into perspective compared to what the defense did to "get the team to the conference championship." 

The reports on Blake from OTAs are really, really encouraging. I'm very excited about what he might do now that he's got a firm grasp on the offense (and a quick chemistry it would seem with a receiving TE.)

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On the opposite side though; we had eight touchdown drives in the postseason (plus a fumble return for a TD). The shortest was 18 yards (after Jack's INT against Pittsburgh), the next shortest was 61 yards, five drives were 75 yards or longer. That doesn't happen if your QB isn't playing at a high level.

He played at a high level in most of the game in pittsburgh and most of the game in NE.  For sure.
Again...  I'm not writing off the good things he did, I'm merely trying to put them into perspective compared to what the defense did to "get the team to the conference championship." 

The reports on Blake from OTAs are really, really encouraging. I'm very excited about what he might do now that he's got a firm grasp on the offense (and a quick chemistry it would seem with a receiving TE.)

Can we just skip preseason and practice and start the season to avoid injuries?!

The Jags fan in me is just waiting for something to happen. Then again, I’m a Caps fan and they just won the Cup! So let’s do this!

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NFL dodged a bullet last season. Imagine the disappointment selling a blake bortles/nick foles super bowl.
Bortles played well enough to beat the pats. Just didnt go your way in the end
Bortles had a huge part in the squeelers game. Your defense looked like the tacks from a few years back in that one. Coulda swore i saw michael griffen and renaldo hill back there. (Started strong though, maybe the coaching let the squeelers back in it?).
Think Bortles continues to improve. He will always get the shots from the media however. Even last night on nfl network someone picked the jags to be the team who hasnt won a super bowl to win, and whats her name was like "who's your quarterback"
Its lazy. Bortles has been that guy, it will take a few good seasons to be talked about differently

The thing about the Steelers game was that the Jaguars controlled the whole game, the Steelers were never in position to take a lead on the game, but they played like a desperate team and had a few lucky breaks. Getting a couple of just heave it to the endzone on fourth down TDs doesn't usually happen, but it did for the Steelers. Also Telvin Smith with the boneheaded taunting penalty on his defensive score was directly responsible for the Steelers being in position to get that desperation TD before the half. Without that the Jaguars carry a 21 point lead into halftime.

No the Jaguars thoroughly dominated the Steelers in everything but score the final score was much closer than the actual play on the field was, and the last TD was complete garbage time.

As for what the NFL wanted in the Superbowl, from the way the Patriots game was officiated I have no doubt the thumb was on the scale. Only one special teams penalty on New England the whole game and a lot of game changing penalties on the Jaguars.

Very true. Everytime the squeelers pulled close, bortles answered to keep puttting the game out of reach. That squeelers game was fun to watch. 
And when the network showing a playoff game doesnt show the viewers replays on critical downs/penalties, or lack of penalties, cant help but wonder whats happening.. stupid pats

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Maybe the issue with Bortles is not that he's terrible, he isnt, but he wont be able to take the Jags to the next level? But Im just a Brit so what do I know !!!

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Maybe the issue with Bortles is not that he's terrible, he isnt, but he wont be able to take the Jags to the next level? But Im just a Brit so what do I know !!!

Welcome to the board! 

There are many that feel that way about Bortles. I've often wondered if that were the case myself. 
However, some of the plays he made last season coupled with the reports from this off-season's work thus far have me thinking perhaps he truly is taking another step forward. That could really ignite this offense. Fingers crossed. 

(I'll probably merge this thread with another Bortles thread momentarily as is normal practice here)

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Maybe the issue with Bortles is not that he's terrible, he isnt, but he wont be able to take the Jags to the next level? But Im just a Brit so what do I know !!!

Interesting, hope so, I'm going to see them in London and it is really exciting. Tickets sold out in 11 minutes.

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Maybe the issue with Bortles is not that he's terrible, he isnt, but he wont be able to take the Jags to the next level? But Im just a Brit so what do I know !!!

Interesting, hope so, I'm going to see them in London and it is really exciting. Tickets sold out in 11 minutes.

I expect there will be a few more Titans fans over there this season

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Maybe the issue with Bortles is not that he's terrible, he isnt, but he wont be able to take the Jags to the next level? But Im just a Brit so what do I know !!!

Why do u think he will not be able too take us to the next level? /I'm just curious because 2/3 of years at our helm he has been relatively productive so the terrible 2016 actually seems to be the outlier if you actually look at it. There have been far less talented QB's that took far less talented all the way.

Also, what is the next level? we were two wins away from being champs and all signs point to us actually being better than last year. if we are not pretty much top tier than I'm not completely sure what that is.

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Maybe the issue with Bortles is not that he's terrible, he isnt, but he wont be able to take the Jags to the next level? But Im just a Brit so what do I know !!!

Why do u think he will not be able too take us to the next level? /I'm just curious because 2/3 of years at our helm he has been relatively productive so the terrible 2016 actually seems to be the outlier if you actually look at it. There have been far less talented QB's that took far less talented all the way.

Also, what is the next level? we were two wins away from being champs and all signs point to us actually being better than last year. if we are not pretty much top tier than I'm not completely sure what that is.

I like to know the answer that question too because if Trent Dilfer, Brad Johnson, Joe Flacco and Eli Manning can become Super Bowl champions why can't Blake do the same thing as them when he is just as talented as them. In addition, if other people on the team would have done their job including coaches in the AFC Championship Game this will be a reality instead of hypothetical.

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Why do u think he will not be able too take us to the next level? /I'm just curious because 2/3 of years at our helm he has been relatively productive so the terrible 2016 actually seems to be the outlier if you actually look at it. There have been far less talented QB's that took far less talented all the way.

Also, what is the next level? we were two wins away from being champs and all signs point to us actually being better than last year. if we are not pretty much top tier than I'm not completely sure what that is.

I like to know the answer that question too because if Trent Dilfer, Brad Johnson, Joe Flacco and Eli Manning can become Super Bowl champions why can't Blake do the same thing as them when he is just as talented as them. In addition, if other people on the team would have done their job including coaches in the AFC Championship Game this will be a reality instead of hypothetical.

Blake Bortles is only now in a position to begin showing and prove that can do these things:

• understand his own offense well enough to command it confidently / capitalize on mismatches and opportunities
  
• read opposing defenses well enough make the right adjustments at the L.O.S. 
  

The players you are comparing him to were able to show more of those two things in their successful campaigns than Blake has shown to date. Entering his second year in Hackett's system however, he may be able to finally get these things accomplished. I think he'll make good progress in this area.

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I like to know the answer that question too because if Trent Dilfer, Brad Johnson, Joe Flacco and Eli Manning can become Super Bowl champions why can't Blake do the same thing as them when he is just as talented as them. In addition, if other people on the team would have done their job including coaches in the AFC Championship Game this will be a reality instead of hypothetical.

Blake Bortles is only now in a position to begin showing and prove that can do these things:

• understand his own offense well enough to command it confidently / capitalize on mismatches and opportunities
  
• read opposing defenses well enough make the right adjustments at the L.O.S. 
  

The players you are comparing him to were able to show more of those two things in their successful campaigns than Blake has shown to date. Entering his second year in Hackett's system however, he may be able to finally get these things accomplished. I think he'll make good progress in this area.

I have no doubt that him having to learn 3 different Offenses, with 3 different OCs in 4 years helped hinder him in that area in previous seasons.

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Blake Bortles is only now in a position to begin showing and prove that can do these things:

• understand his own offense well enough to command it confidently / capitalize on mismatches and opportunities
  
• read opposing defenses well enough make the right adjustments at the L.O.S. 
  

The players you are comparing him to were able to show more of those two things in their successful campaigns than Blake has shown to date. Entering his second year in Hackett's system however, he may be able to finally get these things accomplished. I think he'll make good progress in this area.

I have no doubt that him having to learn 3 different Offenses, with 3 different OCs in 4 years helped hinder him in that area in previous seasons.

Agreed.

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Why do u think he will not be able too take us to the next level? /I'm just curious because 2/3 of years at our helm he has been relatively productive so the terrible 2016 actually seems to be the outlier if you actually look at it. There have been far less talented QB's that took far less talented all the way.

Also, what is the next level? we were two wins away from being champs and all signs point to us actually being better than last year. if we are not pretty much top tier than I'm not completely sure what that is.

I like to know the answer that question too because if Trent Dilfer, Brad Johnson, Joe Flacco and Eli Manning can become Super Bowl champions why can't Blake do the same thing as them when he is just as talented as them. In addition, if other people on the team would have done their job including coaches in the AFC Championship Game this will be a reality instead of hypothetical.

I think Blake will improve but 3 of the QBs you listed were anomalies. In general, elite QBs win Super Bowls.

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