Blake Bortles Wild, Strange 2nd Year

[CampinWithaMissingPerson 2,025]

good article, we made the Times

 

source: http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/01/sports/football/blake-bortless-huge-leap-at-quarterback-bodes-well-for-jaguars.html?ref=sports

 

 

A year ago, Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles had a nondescript rookie campaign. He finished well below average in most passing metrics and had the lowest passer rating in the N.F.L. among qualifying quarterbacks.

But Bortles’s 2015 season has been anything but ordinary.

His raw totals are impressive: He ranks second in passing touchdowns, with 35, and sixth in passing yards, with 4,189. He is just one touchdown pass behind New England’s Tom Brady for the league lead, putting him in a position to lead the N.F.L. with a strong Week 17. If so, Bortles, 23, would join Daunte Culpepper (2001) and Dan Marino (1984, 1985) as the only quarterbacks since 1970 to lead the N.F.L. in that category at age 23 or younger.

 

For now, all of those touchdowns have not translated to wins for the Jaguars. That’s because most of Bortles’s success has come with the team behind on the scoreboard. A record 29 of his touchdown passes have come with the team trailing. No other quarterback in N.F.L. history has thrown more than 24 touchdown passes while his team trailed. Not coincidentally, most of Bortles’s success has come in the second half of games: He has thrown 23 touchdown passes in the third and fourth quarters this season, tied for third most in N.F.L. history and three behind Peyton Manning’s record 26, set in the second half of games in 2013.

 

Curiously, Bortles also ranks second in the N.F.L. in interceptions this season, with 16, and is one behind the injured Manning for the league lead. Since 1970, only three quarterbacks have led the N.F.L. in both touchdown passes and interceptions: Drew Brees in 2012, Lynn Dickey in 1983 and Brian Sipe in 1979. Bortles has a decent chance of joining that list, but even finishing in the top three in both categories is unusual.

 

In the last 10 years, only Brees, the Saints quarterback, has done that, although he did it three times (2008 and 2010, along with his first-place finishes in 2012). But despite the bad connotation, the fact that Bortles has been so aggressive at a young age may be a good sign. Since 1970, only four quarterbacks have had multiple seasons in which they ranked in the top three in both touchdown passes and interceptions: Brees, Brett Favre, Marino and Joe Namath.

As a rookie, Bortles was one of many highly touted prospects who struggled to adapt to the pro game. But as a second-year quarterback, he is putting up numbers — both good and bad — that make him anything but forgettable. Given his enormous leap, the future looks very bright for a young Jaguars team, despite a 5-10 record.

[Sparty 110]

But he don't care about that!

[Vin+ 3,121]

Oh man, if he can limit the stupid mistakes that plagued him this season, next year has a chance to be something.

[ATL_Predator+ 1,196]

Bortles, Bridgewater, Carr, Winston, Mariota

 

The 5 Premier Young QB's for the next decade

[Dutch 874]

Give me Carr or Bortles.

[RazorStar 4,025]

*Brock Osweiler crashes into the discussion, because he is seven feet tall*

 

jk of course, but I'm pretty sure Newton and Wilson are still technically young QBs. Even Ed Hochuli agrees!

[CampinWithaMissingPerson 2,025]

*Brock Osweiler crashes into the discussion, because he is seven feet tall*

 

jk of course, but I'm pretty sure Newton and Wilson are still technically young QBs. Even Ed Hochuli agrees!

 

Yeah but I took it from him that those guys are already at a high level right now. The other bros in the future

[CampinWithaMissingPerson 2,025]

Some dude on reddit made a passing log of all 35 of Bortles passing TDs this year: https://www.reddit.com/r/nfl/comments/3z0w5z/blake_bortles_passing_td_log_weeks_116/