JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- It was not a surprise to see Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles named a Tier 4 quarterback in ESPN’s second annual Quarterback Tiers project
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Tier 4 is reserved for unproven starters or quarterbacks who might not be expected to last in the lineup all season. That’s exactly what Bortles is entering his second season: an unproven starter, though he’s surely going to remain in the lineup all season (barring injury).
Bortles threw 11 touchdowns and 17 interceptions and had the worst Total QBR (21.9) of any starting quarterback in the NFL as a rookie. He didn’t have much help, though. The Jaguars regularly started five rookies on offense, including three receivers and two offensive linemen. Bortles also was sacked 55 times.
Mix in some mechanical issues with his delivery and follow-through and accuracy problems (he ranked 28th in the NFL with a 58.9 completion percentage) and it’s easy to see why one head coach said of Bortles: “He looked lost.”
Bortles apparently didn’t get much help from offensive coordinator Jedd Fisch either, said one personnel director. A difference in philosophy between Fisch and Jaguars head coach Gus Bradley revolving around how much to put on Bortles’ plate resulted in Fisch being fired after the season.
One area in which Bortles was praised, though, was his toughness. He took a pounding but never lost his poise or made excuses.
Bortles did make some terrible throws and decisions in 2014, but no more than what you’d expect out of most rookie quarterbacks. However, he was the lowest-ranked second-year quarterback in the QB Tiers project behind Derek Carr and Teddy Bridgewater.
Bortles certainly has work to do to become a better quarterback, and the Jaguars are excited about the way he attacked his mechanical issues in the offseason. If Bortles doesn’t become a solid quarterback or better, it won’t be because he’s not willing to work.