Black and Teal is FanSided’s Jacksonville Jaguars site. Editor Daniel Lago was kind enough to discuss this weekend’s game between the Lions and Jaguars.
Matt: A lot of people took the Jags to come out of the AFC South this season. Obviously, that hasn’t happened. What’s gone wrong in Jacksonville?
Daniel: In retrospect, the season was probably shot in January when the front office decided to keep Gus Bradley as head coach. It might be an oversimplification, but the root of this team’s problems stem from the head coach. For 3+ seasons now, the Jaguars have looked unprepared and overmatched week after week. That was more difficult to see back in 2013 and 2014 when the team was absolutely bereft of talent, but there are some genuinely good players on the squad now and the results are still terrible. There are numerous changes that need to happen this offseason, but the first move needs to be Bradley’s dismissal.You can’t retain the statistically worst head coach in the history of the NFL and expect fans to keep caring.
Matt: Blake Bortles put up impressive numbers in 2015, but not so much this season. Has he regressed this year or is it more of a team issue?
Daniel: Bortles has absolutely regressed and it’s much more than just the mechanical issues the national media has harped on. His throwing motion has been inconsistent, but it honestly wasn’t that different in 2015 when he looked like a rising star. The biggest difference to me this year is his confidence and willingness to test the deep part of the field. He’s making similar mistakes compared to 2015 (late throws to the outside and questionable jump balls into double and triple coverage), but he clearly doesn’t trust himself as much when throwing downfield. Those big plays he made on a fairly consistent basis last year aren’t happening this year. I still have hope for him with a more competent coaching staff next year, but he’s been objectively awful in 2016.
Matt: Dante Fowler Jr. had a lot of hype when he was drafted in the top five last season, how has he looked out there this year? Do you think he can become the future star he was drafted to be?
Daniel: Fowler’s evaluation this season needs to be done with the caveat that he’s basically a rookie after missing all of 2015 with a torn ACL. With that taken into account, I would still say he’s been a disappointment. He quite frankly has no idea what he’s doing as an edge rusher and routinely gets overwhelmed by tackles. He’s good on stunts and occasionally flashes a nice bull rush, but he doesn’t impact the game enough for someone taken with the third overall pick of a draft. His other issues have been absolutely stupid personal foul penalties and jumping offsides. Overall he’s hurt the team more than helped in his first season. Like Bortles, he needs time to develop but he’s not where you’d like him to be right now.
Matt: If you could pick one player from the Lions to put on the Jags, who would it be and why?
Daniel: Matthew Stafford. It might be shortsighted because Bortles may develop into a good quarterback one day, but Stafford is a good QB right now. With Stafford, I think the Jaguars win against Green Bay, Baltimore, Kansas City, and Houston. That puts the Jaguars at 6-3 and a heavy favorite in the AFC South. Bortles has directly cost the team 4 wins with his inability to operate the offense early in games, squandered game-winning drives, and horrendous decisions at key moments. This is a winning team with a good quarterback and perhaps a dominant one with a decent head coach.
Matt: What is your prediction for the game?
Daniel: The Jaguars tend to play a few games close and then get blown out in embarrassing fashion. After losing two close ones to the Chiefs and the Texans, I think the Lions come out on Sunday and absolutely obliterate the Jaguars. Stafford has been outstanding this year and he’ll have no problem against a non-existent pass rush. I think Stafford piles it on in the first half before Bortles stacks up some fantasy garbage time points in the fourth quarter. Lions 31 – Jaguars 23
Follow Daniel Lago on Twitter @dlago89 and check out BlackandTeal.com for their interview with SLR!