How Blake Bortles’ First Three Seasons Compare To These Greats
By Larry Brake
Blake Bortles is bashed unmercifully by most media outlets. How does Bortles’ first three seasons compare to these NFL greats?
Blake Bortles is under tremendous scrutiny and pressure due to his 2016 season performance. The Jacksonville Jaguars are picking up his fifth year option for 2018. In fairness to Bortles, how does he compare to these NFL greats after their third season.
Cameron DaSilva of foxsports.com ranks Bortles thirtieth out of thirty one current NFL quarterbacks. Blaine Gabbert, former Jaguar, is rank thirty first. Most noteworthy is the fact that DaSilva is ranking Chad Henne, Bortles’ backup,at number twenty eight.
The current Jaguar team has better talent surrounding Bortles. As a result, he will have more offensive weapons at his disposal due to better drafting. In addition, the offensive line is vastly improving .
The offensive scheme is changing to make him better. Is it fair to criticize Bortles and his numbers without comparing him to other players’ first three seasons? Several great and legendary quarterbacks had rough starts as well.
How Blake Bortles’ Numbers Compare To These NFL Greats
First, Joe Namath is a hall of fame great. He led the New York Jets to victory in Super Bowl III. Namath threw for 9606 yards with 63 touchdowns and 70 interceptions in his first three seasons (1965-67).
Next, four time Super Bowl winning Pittsburgh Steeler quarterback Terry Bradshaw struggled early too. From 1970 through 1972, Bradshaw threw for 5,556 yards with 31 touchdowns and 58 interceptions. Also, his passing completion rates were 38.1%, 54.4%, and 47.7%.
Third, Joe Montana won four Super Bowls for the San Francisco 49ers. In Montana’s 1979 rookie season, he had 96 yards with one touchdown. He followed the next three years with 7973 yards with 51 touchdowns and 32 interceptions.
Fourth, Tom Brady has led the New England Patriots to five Super Bowl wins in seven games. As a rookie in 2000, Brady threw for six yards. From 2001 through 2003, he passed for 10,227 yards with 69 touchdowns and 38 interceptions.
Bortles has thrown for 11,241 yards with 69 touchdowns and 51 interceptions in his first three seasons. He has thrown for more yards than the other four legends. He has as many touchdown passes as Montana had in his first four seasons. Bortles has way too many interceptions but Broadway Joe had more.
Maybe its time to give Bortles an opportunity for redemption in 2017. The team looks poised for a run to win the AFC South. Hopefully all the work in the offseason will pay dividends.