Jaguars: Minshew Mania isn’t over, it’s just needs adjustments

Jaguars quarterback Gardner Minshew played his worst game of the season against the New Orleans Saints on Sunday.

The Jacksonville Jaguars lost yet another heartbreaking game on Sunday, this time to the New Orleans Saints. While there was plenty of blame to be had as the offense looked impotent and a slow and steady version 2018, fans did their best to place the lion share of the team’s problems at the feet of rookie quarterback Gardner Minshew prompting many to ask if the phenomenon known as “Minshew Mania” has died a painful death.

It’s only one game and the Jaguars have to make adjustments to the offense, not just their developing quarterback.

I knew something like this might happen once Minshew, who has been a Rockstar on and off the field for the Jaguars in the first five weeks of the season, showed his rookie lineage and the fact he played a really good Saints team on Sunday. But as we all know in the NFL, you are only as good as the last game you played.

This is one the Jaguars and Minshew might want to forget. No magic. No consistency. No fourth-quarter comeback. The air in the hype balloon slowly seeped out over the course of three hours on Sunday afternoon from TIAA Bank Field. But it’s not the end of Minshew’s opportunity to lead this football team to success.

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The Cincinnati Bengals and New York Jets are this team’s next two opponents. At 2-4 right now, it’s a strong possibility the Jaguars will be 4-4 heading to London to face the Houston Texans.
After watching the game yesterday and listening to the comments made afterward by head coach Doug Marrone and players, I’m not offering an opinion yet as to what happens when Nick Foles is cleared to play.

I was asked if having Foles on the field yesterday would have made a difference in the game. It’s not a question I can answer.

The Saints are a really good football team. The Jaguars defense did a solid job of stopping them from running up and down the field after a dismal game last week. Based on what we have seen this year so far with John DeFilippo’s offense, you would have figured Jacksonville would have scored more points.

It did not happen and this morning, here is where we are, questioning whether the rookie we put so much faith is will find his mojo next week to help us get off the ground after a terrible outing. It’s a team game. DJ Chark didn’t score. Leonard Fournette did not run for 100 yards. Credit the Saints as much as we are critical of this team.

In the end, Minshew is a rookie and was bound to play like one sooner rather than later. The Jaguars still have a chance to make noise in the AFC South. There are 10 games left in the NFL season. And for now, the quarterback we thought was a cult hero just 24 hours ago, is still the same guy who wears a badass mustache and jorts.

Maybe it’s not his play or his presence on the field we should be worried about. Maybe it’s our expectations and how we assess the loss from Sunday. The Jaguars played a poor game offensively on Sunday. Next week is another opportunity. A win and a solid game by No. 15 changes the narrative.

We just need to remember he is still learning to play in this league. And we as fans must learn to temper the excitement of Minshew’s development with the knowledge he will have more moments like this

There isn’t a reason to give up on the season or the man under center, just yet.