Jaguars in real trouble with Blake Bortles
July is not the time to overreact over your favorite NFL team. Wait, at least, until September, when the games count and the losses are very real.
Yet for the Jacksonville Jaguar and their faithful, a feeling of utter dread and panic might be the right emotions. On Saturday night, fourth-year quarterback Blake Bortles stepped under the lights and onto the practice field for some 11-on-11 work. When the smoke cleared, Bortles had thrown five interceptions.
In the spring, three rookie quarterbacks were taken with first-round selections. Mitchell Trubisky, Patrick Mahomes and Deshaun Watson all went off the board, and if any of them throw five picks in a practice, it would be alarming. For a veteran quarterback, who is familiar with both the playbook and his receivers to do it is downright horrifying.
Bortles has not been a good quarterback throughout the first three years of his career. As a rookie, the Central Florida product tossed 17 interceptions, tying him for third-most in the league. In 2015, Bortles took the crown for himself, edging out a decrepit Peyton Manning with 18 picks. Last season, Bortles finished tied for fourth with 16, somehow making progress despite continually horrid play.
What an awful night for Jaguars QB Blake Bortles. Five INTs under the lights and first practice in full pads
— Mark Long (@APMarkLong) July 30, 2017
The concern about throwing five interceptions in what amounts to a glorified scrimmage should be considerable because of the history laid out above, and because of the money spent around him. Owner Shad Khan can’t be accused of running a cheap organization. Jacksonville has spent lavishly in free agency, acquiring A.J. Bouye, Calais Campbell, Prince Amukamara, Chris Ivory, Malik Jackson, Kelvin Beachum, Tashaun Gipson, Barry Church and others over the past two offseason with high-priced deals.
The problem has been poor coaching, lackluster drafting and Bortles. The first issue has been addressed, with Gus Bradley out and Doug Marrone in. The second remains a concern, and the third is a downright mess. Bortles’ fifth-year option was picked up by Jacksonville this spring, for reasons many will never quite understand. If Bortles is terrible again, why would you want him in 2018? If he magically becomes serviceable, the Jaguars could have applied the franchise tag and worked out a long-term contract.
If Jacksonville can’t improve to around a .500 team this season with its roster, Bortles has to be jettisoned. There’s no room for excuses with a team that could field a half-dozen Pro Bowl players, including a handful on offense. The line in front of Bortles is bad, and that must be accounted for, but the film shows a player who makes poor decisions and has sloppy mechanics.
This far into his career, that can’t be accepted if the Jaguars ever plan on becoming a threat in the AFC South.
