When the Jacksonville Jaguars drafted Blake Bortles from Central Florida with the third overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft, they thought they were bringing in their franchise quarterback. Bortles was the first of 16 quarterbacks drafted that season and went ahead of Derek Carr, who was a second round pick that season.
While by the Oakland Raiders rewarded Derek Carr with a $125 million contract this offseason, Bortles had to fight for his starting job in training camp this year, with ESPN reporting that Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Doug Marrrone finally named Blake his starting quarterback for the start of the 2017 NFL season this week.
Blake Bortles says it will be different this year
Blake Bortles lost his starting job at the end of last season and was told he had to win it back in the offseason and training camp. Marrone named him the starting quarterback of the Jacksonville Jaguars after Bortles outplayed Chad Henne in training camp but he is going to be on a short leash.
“I’m going to go play as hard as I can," Blake said. "I’m going to do everything I can to help this team win and play as hard as I possibly can so I don’t have to go through that again.”
When it comes to struggling, Doug Marrone said that he is not putting Bortles on a tight leash - at least not any shorter than other players on the Jacksonville Jaguars team.
He said that if he is not meeting the Jags expectations, they will make a decision to bring in someone who can. But, for now, it is Bortles job to lose.
Blake Bortles' NFL struggles
Blake Bortles has had plenty of chances to prove himself in the NFL. He started 13 games as a rookie and every game in his second and third season with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
After finishing his rookie season with a horrible 69.5 QB rating by throwing 17 interceptions and 11 touchdowns, he rebounded in 2015. In that second year, he tossed 35 touchdown passes and 18 interceptions, with an impr3essive 4,428 yards.
However, Bortles regressed in 2016. His touchdown numbers dropped from 35 to 23, his interception number only fell by two, from 18 to 16, and his QB rating was 78.8.
The Jaguars won three games in his rookie campaign, five in his second season, and only three in his third year. His three-year QBR is an NFL low 46.4 during that timeframe.
Blake Bortles can talk all he wants about this year being different but if he can't improve the Jacksonville Jaguars this season, it might be his last chance.
