The Jacksonville Jaguars

[ProjectMaximus]

That may be pushing it. With a upper half QB, they'd be going to the super bowl. Teams with upper half QBs don't run out the first half clock with 55 seconds and 2 time outs to play with. They try to get at least 30 to 40 yards for a last second FG attempt. They also rarely get delay of game penalties on plays coming out of time outs.

Kneeling with 55 seconds is on the coaches, not Bortles. And he does rarely get delay of game penalties coming out of a timeout. I think this year he easily performed as an upper half QB...all things considered he was 11-15 in the league. He may regress and not pan out, but this year he was very solid, occasionally good-great.

I think my biggest disappointment was, he is a great runner.  They didn't allow him once to take off with the ball yesterday.  That was what kept Pittsburgh's defense on their toes the week before, knowing that they couldn't just sell out.  There were SO many times yesterday where they ran what looked like a read-option and he never pulled it.  Not once.

I agree with the sentiment, but I didnt think he had a lot of great chances to run. On several plays I wanted him to but then on the replay I realized he didnt have much room. The Pats had a spy on him a number of times. Coaches could have had some designed QB runs though.

Don't put that delay of game on him.  That is squarely on every single member of that coaching staff.  Good grief, they pay a guy to walk around and carry Marrone's headset cords, you think they'd be able to afford a guy to watch the play clock!

I think I saw you say this somewhere else too. Just fyi, you cannot call a second timeout during the same dead ball period. So if indeed that delay of game was coming out of a timeout, it's not like any of the coaches could have done anything to prevent it at the last second. Blake has to get the ball snapped faster and not take so much time with his reads and adjustments.

[I-10east]

I guess that were not supposed to talk about how we got screwed over by the refs, amirite?? Jaguars Facebook is LOADED with screenshots of obvious and BLATANT New England fouls...Even pundits at ESPN of all places mentioning that the Jags got screwed over by the Pat siding refs.

I know, someone will say "Michael Jordan gets the superstar treatment, and Boston is a big media market, and the Jags gotta deal with it" or some stupid bullshit like that....I'm pissed off, the NFL seems fixed, and I'm not the only one to think that...JAX had to play NE and the officiating crew.

[thelakelander]

That may be pushing it. With a upper half QB, they'd be going to the super bowl. Teams with upper half QBs don't run out the first half clock with 55 seconds and 2 time outs to play with. They try to get at least 30 to 40 yards for a last second FG attempt. They also rarely get delay of game penalties on plays coming out of time outs.

Kneeling with 55 seconds is on the coaches, not Bortles.

IMO, that was totally a result of not having trust in your QB. You don't kneel when you have a QB you trust on your roster. New England didn't believe the Jags O would successfully drive down the field at the end of the game either. They were content to punt and put the ball back in Bortles hands. They just happened to get the first down with a run on the last 3rd & long. To take the next step, that's an issue that needs to be resolved soon, one way or the other.

[I-10east]

I never though that I would agree with anyone on ESPN concerning a Jags matter... http://www.espn.com/video/clip?id=22179058

[ProjectMaximus]

That may be pushing it. With a upper half QB, they'd be going to the super bowl. Teams with upper half QBs don't run out the first half clock with 55 seconds and 2 time outs to play with. They try to get at least 30 to 40 yards for a last second FG attempt. They also rarely get delay of game penalties on plays coming out of time outs.

Kneeling with 55 seconds is on the coaches, not Bortles.

IMO, that was totally a result of not having trust in your QB. You don't kneel when you have a QB you trust on your roster. New England didn't believe the Jags O would successfully drive down the field at the end of the game either. They were content to punt and put the ball back in Bortles hands. They just happened to get the first down with a run on the last 3rd & long. To take the next step, that's an issue that needs to be resolved soon, one way or the other.

I got your point, but I just don't think a guy should get blamed for not getting a chance. Sure lack of confidence in the QB is a factor, but so is the general conservative nature of the head coach. It's not all on Bortles.

[thelakelander]

You may not like it but teams do play with what they have. They sometimes set up schemes to protect the personnel they have. For the most part, conservative playcalling is a factor in that. Great season by the Jags, but if your offense can't evolve your window will close years before it should. It was a glaring weakness Sunday for a team that had the Pats on the ropes.

[BridgeTroll]

I will be the first to admit, I absolutely loved trolling you guys about how awful the Jaguars used to be.  Operative words there are "used to be".  I can't do it any more, because this team is fun and very good.  Even I enjoyed these 3 playoff games and it has been fun to really see this team take off.  Still not a die hard, and never will be, but i have to acknowledge the greatness of this team. 

To the above, Bortles, while not great, hopefully has done enough to shut people up (myself included) about his talents.  He's no HOF'er, and never will be, but he's good enough to get them to the Super Bowl so long as the defense and running game are there. 

Rofl... MMR quote... "Fuck them, fuck their corporate welfare, fuck everyone who supports because "MAH FOOTBAW!!"

Welcome to the bandwagon... I presume there is plenty of room still... 

[copperfiend]

I never though that I would agree with anyone on ESPN concerning a Jags matter... http://www.espn.com/video/clip?id=22179058

The Myles Jack strip fumble (and early whistle) will be one talked about by Jaguar fans for years.

[TimmyB]

That may be pushing it. With a upper half QB, they'd be going to the super bowl. Teams with upper half QBs don't run out the first half clock with 55 seconds and 2 time outs to play with. They try to get at least 30 to 40 yards for a last second FG attempt. They also rarely get delay of game penalties on plays coming out of time outs.

Kneeling with 55 seconds is on the coaches, not Bortles. And he does rarely get delay of game penalties coming out of a timeout. I think this year he easily performed as an upper half QB...all things considered he was 11-15 in the league. He may regress and not pan out, but this year he was very solid, occasionally good-great.

I think my biggest disappointment was, he is a great runner.  They didn't allow him once to take off with the ball yesterday.  That was what kept Pittsburgh's defense on their toes the week before, knowing that they couldn't just sell out.  There were SO many times yesterday where they ran what looked like a read-option and he never pulled it.  Not once.

I agree with the sentiment, but I didnt think he had a lot of great chances to run. On several plays I wanted him to but then on the replay I realized he didnt have much room. The Pats had a spy on him a number of times. Coaches could have had some designed QB runs though.

Don't put that delay of game on him.  That is squarely on every single member of that coaching staff.  Good grief, they pay a guy to walk around and carry Marrone's headset cords, you think they'd be able to afford a guy to watch the play clock!

I think I saw you say this somewhere else too. Just fyi, you cannot call a second timeout during the same dead ball period. So if indeed that delay of game was coming out of a timeout, it's not like any of the coaches could have done anything to prevent it at the last second. Blake has to get the ball snapped faster and not take so much time with his reads and adjustments.

Then, that is just another example of the ridiculous nfl rules making the game more complex than it needs to be.  I can understand not allowing the same team to call a 2nd consecutive TO, but to prohibit the opposing team from doing so is mind-boggling to say the least.

Given that, then there needs to be urgency on the sidelines letting the QB know that the clock is winding down and he needs to get the snap off.  There is no excuse for a team getting to the line that late coming out of a timeout.  None.

[ProjectMaximus]

Then, that is just another example of the ridiculous nfl rules making the game more complex than it needs to be.  I can understand not allowing the same team to call a 2nd consecutive TO, but to prohibit the opposing team from doing so is mind-boggling to say the least.

Given that, then there needs to be urgency on the sidelines letting the QB know that the clock is winding down and he needs to get the snap off.  There is no excuse for a team getting to the line that late coming out of a timeout.  None.

My bad, I just assumed that was a Jags TO. I couldnt remember what happened really. So if it was a Pats TO then yes the Jags could have and should have called one as well.

[TimmyB]

Then, that is just another example of the ridiculous nfl rules making the game more complex than it needs to be.  I can understand not allowing the same team to call a 2nd consecutive TO, but to prohibit the opposing team from doing so is mind-boggling to say the least.

Given that, then there needs to be urgency on the sidelines letting the QB know that the clock is winding down and he needs to get the snap off.  There is no excuse for a team getting to the line that late coming out of a timeout.  None.

My bad, I just assumed that was a Jags TO. I couldnt remember what happened really. So if it was a Pats TO then yes the Jags could have and should have called one as well.

This rule confused me enough to where I actually went to the nfl rule book and thought it WAS saying that Jax could not take that TO.  I read it incorrectly.  Reading it a 2nd time, it actually says that EACH team may be granted a TO during the same dead ball period (which is what I originally thought was true) but then it goes further and says NEITHER team may be granted a second time out during that same dead ball period.  I missed the "EACH" originally.  So, that means Marrone could have called a timeout and saved the FG attempt. 

Either way, there were enough mistakes on the entire team.  We simply didn't get done what we needed to in order to beat one of the best teams around.  Still proud of their efforts.

[Snaketoz]

I know its been a little somber but on a bright note, any Pats fan that took the Jags plus the points, had a pretty good day.

Too soon?

Are you boasting?

[ProjectMaximus]

I know its been a little somber but on a bright note, any Pats fan that took the Jags plus the points, had a pretty good day.

Too soon?

No S*** Sherlock. I can also speak from experience that any Jags fan that took the Jags straight up had a pretty lousy day. A good chunk of change simply evaporated in the last 10 minutes of the game.

(emojis to lighten the mood in case my post sounded too angry)

[ben says]

So damn conflicted...I was probably the number one Bortles critic alive. But something about him lately...I just can´t get enough of. If he can continue to play as well has he played in the first half of the last game, or like he played against the Steelers...I want that man at the helm. But his inconsistency is alarming. ... . ..

Would I rather have a Cousins at the helm? 6 weeks ago I´d say ´fuck yes´...but the fact I can´t decide right now is scaring even myself 

[Lostwave]

That may be pushing it. With a upper half QB, they'd be going to the super bowl. Teams with upper half QBs don't run out the first half clock with 55 seconds and 2 time outs to play with. They try to get at least 30 to 40 yards for a last second FG attempt. They also rarely get delay of game penalties on plays coming out of time outs.

Technically, he's ranked 12th in stats.
http://www.espn.com/nfl/qbr

Just a little better than upper half.