The Jacksonville Jaguars

[KenFSU]

P.S. I think the Jags picked up a lot of new fans in Orlando tonight.

[I-10east]

Bottom line, Dave Caldwell obviously thinks that Blake Bortles is gonna be the franchise QB in Jax. It's safe to say that most of us were shocked with this pick, as most were expecting Mack or Watkins. Is it a MAJOR reach to get Bortles at #3 when Minnesota could have got him at #10? IMO no.

To me a 3# to #10 pick 'contrast' is very trivial; Especially considering that the Jags wouldn't have gotten him with a delay, and today's NFL isn't like the old days when top pick talents receive mega bucks before snapping a ball. If Blake is the man (and that's not a gimme) like Caldwell insist, people will instantly forget when he was picked.   

[blizz01]

P.S. I think the Jags picked up a lot of new fans in Orlando tonight.

^^^Agreed.  Perhaps they'll quit bitching about having to watch the Jags on TV.....

OVIEDO — The Jacksonville Jaguars gained at least 500 new fans judging by the scene at the Miller Ale House located in Oviedo, hometown to its most famous resident — Blake Bortles.

Bortles made UCF football history as the school's highest draft pick when the Jags picked him No. 3. He also was the first quarterback to be selected in the 2014 NFL Draft.

Jacksonville's decision may have some Oviedo High school and UCF sports fans painting the town teal.
"I'm a Jags fan now," Oviedo football coach Wes Allen said. "I wasn't one before."

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/college/knights/os-ucf-oviedo-blake-bortles-0509-20140508,0,2948866.story

Blake Bortles finally gives Orlando a reason to root for Jaguars

Orlando just became a Jaguars town

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/college/knights/os-blake-bortles-nfl-draft-mike-bianchi-0509-20140508,0,1604253.column

Allen and his team hosted a NFL draft party and fund-raiser at the restaurant, packing the venue. The capacity for the restaurant was 533 people, but it's possible it exceeded that number because the parking lot was completely full at least 45 minutes before the event kicked off at 6 p.m. and there was a multiple hour wait list for tables.

[BridgeTroll]

I'm OK with the pick though I think it was a bit of a reach also... but it is never a reach if he turns out to be what they think.  Apparently they do not really plan to find that out until next year.

Did I mention I HATE this draft format?  If not... I HATE this draft format... just so ya know.

[FSBA]

Did I mention I HATE this draft format?  If not... I HATE this draft format... just so ya know.

Give it a few years. Soon enough the first round will be one month long and ESPN will be producing a 2 hour special for each draft pick.

[duvaldude08]

Bottom line, Dave Caldwell obviously thinks that Blake Bortles is gonna be the franchise QB in Jax. It's safe to say that most of us were shocked with this pick, as most were expecting Mack or Watkins. Is it a MAJOR reach to get Bortles at #3 when Minnesota could have got him at #10? IMO no.

To me a 3# to #10 pick 'contrast' is very trivial; Especially considering that the Jags wouldn't have gotten him with a delay, and today's NFL isn't like the old days when top pick talents receive mega bucks before snapping a ball. If Blake is the man (and that's not a gimme) like Caldwell insist, people will instantly forget when he was picked.   

I don't call it a reach for two reasons.. He was expected to go in the first round months ago, and we did not have to trade up to get him! Being that we didn't have to give up anything to get him was a major plus in my book. My Major complaint about Gabbert was that we traded to get him. Also, Bortles riding the bench doesn't bother me either. Hell, Brunell was a bench rider before he came to the Jags. The more videos I watched of Bortles last night, the more I started to see what they like. His size of course, he has a lot of poise, and he can scramble and move around pretty well to be such a big guy. Not to mention he seems mature with no major character flaws. Him and Bridgewater were the two safest QB's to pick in round 1 in my opinion. What you see is what you get with them. Manizel on the other hand is a crap shoot. Cleveland better hope he doesn't turn out to be a bust or the factory of sadness will continue. I think that's a black eye that they will catch hell recovering from.

I would have loved Watkins at #3, but there are still SEVERAL receivers, such as Marquese Lee that will be availible in the second round that we can grab. I wanted us to go offense anyways. We spent the last draft and this past free agency on defense. I think the first few picks should be all offense.

[duvaldude08]

P.S. I think the Jags picked up a lot of new fans in Orlando tonight.

It kinda worked out well. The Jags have been chasing their tail trying to figure out how to tap into the Orlando market. The Bucs are Orlandos market, but no team DOMINATES the Orlando Market. I guess we don't have to play any games down there after all 

[CityLife]

Despite the regime changes, the Jags still don't seem to understand the concept of trading down. Would have loved another 2nd rounder with the kind of talent still out there.

Caldwell has a lot riding on the Bortles pick, but we will really get to see what he is made of in the mid rounds. We have two 4th rounders and three 5th rounders. Should be able to get at least 2 contributors and 1 difference maker out of that bunch.

I'd looove to get Marquise Lee with the 2nd round pick. He's potentially a top 10 talent that dropped because of horrible QB play.

[CityLife]

P.S. I think the Jags picked up a lot of new fans in Orlando tonight.

It kinda worked out well. The Jags have been chasing their tail trying to figure out how to tap into the Orlando market. The Bucs are Orlandos market, but no team DOMINATES the Orlando Market. I guess we don't have to play any games down there after all 

We picked up a lot of casual fans from Orlando last night, but UCF doesn't exactly have a large die hard fan base. They can't even sell out their tiny 40,000 seat stadium, despite having 60,000 students and being in the center of a large population base. There are still more UF and FSU fans down there, not to mention lots of the transplants there are Ohio State, Michigan, Penn State, etc fans.

Bortles is a hometown kid and there will be a lot of people rooting for him, but I don't think this will lead to some scenario where Orlando becomes a Jags town. Especially since the two cities are somewhat rivals and each city's residents doesn't really respect the other city.

[I-10east]

I don't call it a reach for two reasons.. He was expected to go in the first round months ago, and we did not have to trade up to get him! Being that we didn't have to give up anything to get him was a major plus in my book. My Major complaint about Gabbert was that we traded to get him. Also, Bortles riding the bench doesn't bother me either. Hell, Brunell was a bench rider before he came to the Jags. The more videos I watched of Bortles last night, the more I started to see what they like. His size of course, he has a lot of poise, and he can scramble and move around pretty well to be such a big guy. Not to mention he seems mature with no major character flaws. Him and Bridgewater were the two safest QB's to pick in round 1 in my opinion. What you see is what you get with them. Manizel on the other hand is a crap shoot. Cleveland better hope he doesn't turn out to be a bust or the factory of sadness will continue. I think that's a black eye that they will catch hell recovering from.

I would have loved Watkins at #3, but there are still SEVERAL receivers, such as Marquese Lee that will be availible in the second round that we can grab. I wanted us to go offense anyways. We spent the last draft and this past free agency on defense. I think the first few picks should be all offense.

Great points. I agree that Bortles sitting on the bench for 2014 would be okay with me, versus being thrown to the wolves like Gabbert was. 

[edjax]

I like the pick. You have to get a QB and you pick the best one on your board.  My guess is Cleveland traded back because Bortles was off the board and they would have taken him at 4.  The fact that the next QB did not go until the 22nd pick to me indicates Bortles was highest rated QB in draft.  In my opinion there is absolutely no way if we had not taken him that he would have slid to 22. Once he was gone other QB needy teams passed on the remaining top tier ones. 

[blizz01]

I suspect that there may have been more backlash had Clowney been there at 3 & we still took 'Bortle Kombat'.

I do respect that they adressed the biggest hole on the roster; I trust that they'll still be hot for a center, too, based on the effort put into getting Mack a few weeks ago.

[civil42806]

I suspect that there may have been more backlash had Clowney been there at 3 & we still took 'Bortle Kombat'.

I do respect that they adressed the biggest hole on the roster; I trust that they'll still be hot for a center, too, based on the effort put into getting Mack a few weeks ago.

come on we have chad ( let me throw an incredibly stupid interception) Henne on the roster

[goldy21]

I suspect that there may have been more backlash had Clowney been there at 3 & we still took 'Bortle Kombat'.

I do respect that they adressed the biggest hole on the roster; I trust that they'll still be hot for a center, too, based on the effort put into getting Mack a few weeks ago.

Mack is a linebacker.

[blizz01]

^Thanks, but I was talking about Alex Mack - a center.  I should have clarified.