JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – All of the clichés apply. It feels like Groundhog Day. We keep showing up and although it feels different to us, the same things keep happening. And if the definition of insanity is to keep doing the same thing over and over and expect a different outcome, then that's pretty much where the football team is right now.
With a revamped offensive line and the return of the only veteran in the receiving corps, we all had hope that things were going to be better against the Colts. Instead, the offense was able to muster only a few yards in the first half, not gaining their 1st first down until with just under 8 minutes left in the half. To compound things, the defense didn't fare much better, allowing Andrew Luck to stand back and hit wide open receivers and not tackling good enough to slow down the Colts running game. If it sounds familiar, it's because it is.
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Yes they're young, yes their still learning, but the lack of basic fundamental football when the lights go on and the whistle blows is astonishing. Whether it's picking up blitzing linebackers or covering receivers running across the field its readily apparent that other teams know right where the Jaguars can't play and exploit it instantly. And even when they're in the right position to make a play, as often as not, their basic fundamentals break down and the opponent escapes.
Trailing 30-0 at halftime after perhaps the worst half of football ever played by a team in a Jaguars uniform, fans could only hope something different happened in the second half.
And they got it.
Blake Bortles started the second half at quarterback for the Jaguars.
It means a complete reset for the team. Anything that happened BB, before Bortles doesn't count: anything that happened AB, after Bortles is the start of a new game and a new season.
He received a loud ovation when he went in the game, and even though his first series ended with a punt, one first down and 1-5 passing, he received a loud ovation when he left the field. And the next time he came onto it.
Making an athletic play comes naturally to young players, and Bortles is no exception. He marched the Jaguars down the field on his second possession, scrambling and creating a pass completion and then running the naked bootleg to the Colts 25. Although the series ended with a Josh Scobee FG, it gives the fans hope that good things can happen.
Although they gave up unnecessary big chunks of yardage, the defense did stop the Colts on 4th down inside their own 5. Bortles fumbled in the end zone and took a safety but a penalty on the Colts moved the ball outside the 10 and negated the turnover. Bortles brought a spark to the fans, the defense and even got a break on the call.
As Bradley has said before about Blake Bortles, "The game's not too big for him." He looks and acts the part when he's in the game. He doesn't panic; he's capable of keeping plays going and makes the routine play. After that it's all about ability and experience. Plus the guys who are around him. Bortles threw two interceptions to go along with his two TD's in the game. The TD to Allen Hurns was a good throw and a good effort by Hurns. The two picks were rookie mistakes. One short and one a floater that was returned for a TD.
They showed signs of life with Bortles in the game but who knows, the game was over and the Colts were coasting.
Still, he gave a lot of fans hope, and right now, that's all they can hang onto.