Fansided

One silver lining for every team that missed the playoffs

By Luke Dahlgren

Nov 30, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns fans in the stands against the Baltimore Ravens at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Ravens won 33-27. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 30, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns fans in the stands against the Baltimore Ravens at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Ravens won 33-27. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 27, 2015; New Orleans, LA, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles (5) celebrates with wide receiver Allen Robinson (15) after a touchdown against the New Orleans Saints during the second half of a game at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. The Saints defeated the Jaguars 38-27. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 27, 2015; New Orleans, LA, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles (5) celebrates with wide receiver Allen Robinson (15) after a touchdown against the New Orleans Saints during the second half of a game at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. The Saints defeated the Jaguars 38-27. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports /

Jacksonville Jaguars (5-11)

Blake Bortles looked great in Year Two, and you have a solid nucleus on offense.

The decision to retain Gus Bradley says everything about how the Jacksonville Jaguars are rebuilding their franchise. They are keeping patient and maintaining a low profile, choosing to let their talent develop rather that expecting instant results.

It’s impossible to tell exactly how effective this patience is for the Jags, but it’s clear that results are materializing on offense quicker than on defense. In one way, this ends up as a mark against Bradley, who specializes on the defensive side of the ball; only linebacker Telvin Smith looks like a cornerstone defensive piece.

However, the young offensive nucleus lead by Blake Bortles has developed appropriately, and in his second year Bortles looked like the answer for the future. This was a drastic change from his rookie campaign, when he looked overwhelmed in an NFL offense and unable to fall back on his physical tools.

Blake Bortles 2015 Season Stats
5-11 W/L
4,428 pass yds, 35 TDs, 18 INTs
58.6% comp, 88.2 QB rate
310 rush yds, 6.0 YPC, 2 TDs

The interceptions and the low completion percentage are not ideal, but paired with the 35 touchdowns and 4,000+ passing yards they reveal Bortles to be a young quarterback with an aggressive approach.

It helps that Bortles has been surrounded with a mixture of young and proven receiving talent. Young wide receivers Allen Robinson and Allen Hurns both experienced stellar sophomore seasons, providing Blake Bortles with consistent deep threats. And tight end Julius Thomas proved that he didn’t need Peyton Manning to be successful. He took advantage of openings in the center of the field vacated because of Hurns and Robinson.

If the Jaguars get Marquise Lee back, Bortles could have a passing attack among the most explosive in the league.

Next: Baltimore Ravens

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