“Playoff” Blake Bortles Must Remain Focal Point of Jaguars Offense
By David Levin
After a 388-yard passing performance on Sunday which included two touchdowns, “Playoff” Blake Bortles must remain the focal point of the Jacksonville Jaguars offense.
Some of us saw this coming. After a poor performance last week, the Jacksonville Jaguars and quarterback Blake Bortles set out to prove they are the top team in the AFC South. After a 31-12 win over the New York Jets, both the quarterback and the team made another statement on Sunday.
If Bortles is the player he was yesterday and in the game against the New England Patriots, then Jacksonville should be one of the top teams, if not the top team in the AFC and NFL once again.
Bortles connected with 10 different receivers on Sunday, including a 67-yard strike to Donte Moncrief. Moncrief, the free agent signee this offseason, caught five passes for 109 yards, Dede Westbrook put on a clinic on the field, torching the Jets secondary for nine catches and 130 yards.
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The offense was supposed to funnel through the run game once again this season, but injuries to both Leonard Fournette and T.J. Yeldon has changed that gameplan. When asked after the game about the victory, Bortles said he was pleased with how the passing game and his receivers came together.
"“I think anybody involved in the concept, they have a really good understanding of what we’re trying to do and who we’re trying to get open vs. each coverage,” Bortles said. “They did a good job of explaining what to expect throughout the week with personnel and formations. Guys understand the concept as a whole so it’s easy for them to try and get a pick here and a pick there and open it up a little bit.”"
Fournette started the game on Sunday after a two-game absence with a hamstring injury. He did, however, leave the game after feeling his hamstring tighten up and did not return to action. An audible gasp could be heard in the press box with the news of the injury.
The Jaguars managed 126 yards rushing on 34 carries with T.J. Yeldon leading the way with 52 yards on the ground and a touchdown. The former Alabama star also caught a 31-yard touchdown pass. Bortles said even with Fournette in and out of the lineup, the team continued with the same idea on offense the entire game.
"“For the most part we had one plan and it was whether it was Leonard, T.J. or Corey [Grant] we were going to run those guys through it. Nothing really changed when he went out,” He explained."
The win was crucial – if you can say that so early in the season – because Jacksonville now faces a tough Kansas City Chiefs team on the road before another road test at Dallas.
The Jaguars passing game challenged the Jets secondary, unlike last week when the longest pass completion was 19 yards against Tennessee. Bortles said he was “locked in” from the beginning of the game, knowing what he had to do on offense.
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"“I really wanted to push the ball down the field and make up for not doing it last week. I think it was coming along and the big thing this week was just emphasizing only take it if it’s there,” he said. “You do that because that’s exactly what they’re trying to do to kind of bait you into throwing one into some coverage.”"