Jacksonville Jaguars: Blake Bortles Must Mimic Tom Brady If Jags Are To Succeed
The Jacksonville Jaguars are looking to become the next dynasty in the NFL while being led by Blake Bortles. At the beginning of the 2017 season, that statement would have garnered many laughs. However, after Bortles led the Jaguars to the AFC South Division title and the AFC Championship Game, those same doubters have become believers. Well, not all.
Despite throwing for 3687 yards, 21 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions, many are wondering if that was a fluke or the real Blake Bortles? Take a look back and you’ll see that he’s done this before. In 2015, Bortles passed for 4428 yards, 35 touchdowns, and 18 interceptions. In 2016, he put up solid numbers again with 3904 passing yards, 23 touchdowns, and 16 interceptions. Bortles has the arm to be considered a good QB but his decision making keeps him on the opposite side.
[MarkAds]Now, with his three best receivers gone, how will he fare in Tom Brady mode? Will Bortles make Pro Bowlers out of Donte Moncrief and Keelan Cole? The odds are stacked against him with Marqise Lee lost for the season and Allen Hurns and Allen Robinson off to other teams.
The one thing that Blake Bortles has in his favor is Leonard Fournette and the Jacksonville Jaguars stingy defense. But still, the Jags cannot keep throwing all their eggs in one basket on a QB who continues to throw 15 interceptions per year. This is what separates Brady apart from the rest of the QBs in the NFL. For the Jacksonville Jaguars to be a real threat in 2018, Bortles must hit the film room like a madman and learn to read a defense better.
One has to remember, just last season, there were rumors that the Jags had their eye on a trade with the New York Giants to replace Bortles with Eli Manning. What changed was that Bortles and the Jags went on an outstanding run all the way to the Championship Game and almost pulled off the incredible upset of Brady and the Pats.
The Jacksonville Jaguars will enter the 2018-19 NFL season with high hopes, but for the first time in Blake Bortles’ career, he will play with a bulls-eye on his back. Every throw, every touchdown, interception, check down, and audible will be nitpicked, dissected, and placed in his file.
The Jaguars can no longer count on 3-13 seasons from their starting QB. Bortles can no longer be happy with 25 touchdowns and 17 interceptions, The season is riding on his arm and for the first time, he has pressure on him to be great. Can he handle it is another story?
[BXReporter]
Mark has been covering Sports and Entertainment for the past six years. His work has been featured on Bleacher Report, ESPN, Fox Sports, Teen Vogue, and many other websites.
