If I had to label Blake Bortles' preseason performance against the Giants on Saturday night, I'd call it a little bit of good, a little bit of bad, but not a lot of ugly.
Realistically, that's about all you can ask for out of your second-year quarterback in his second live-setting game of the season with his second career playbook. Blake Bortles came back down to Earth after an impressive showing in preseason week one against Pittsburgh, and that's fine.
Fans were enamored with Bortles' new fundamentals and grasp on the offense in week one, and last night, Blake displayed more of the same -- just in a less flashy fashion.
Bortles was 8-of-16 through a little over a quarter of play, marching his offense down the field but falling short of the endzone several times. Blake didn't contribute a touchdown on Saturday night, but he impressed me with his decision making while maintaining drives.
With starting tight-end Julius Thomas sidelined, the Jaguars offense shifted to more of an 11-personell playbook instead of their natural two-tight-end look. There were no screen plays worked into Blake's 16 pass attempts. There also wasn't a single TE target.
We're now in the heart of preseason football, and the Jaguars are using this opportunity to play with their sets and schemes. The regular season Jaguars offense should look a little more heavy-set than it did on Saturday night, but overall, Bortles made the most of what he was presented with.
Take a look for yourself. We vined every Blake Bortles pass from Saturday night.
1st pass of the game: Quick RB out to jumpstart Bortles. Empty set, nice snag by D-Rob. 1st down. https://t.co/A4ZDjNitIT
— Big Cat Country (@BigCatCountry) August 23, 2015
Beautiful timing route - pass is RIGHT on the money. Blake plants his foot and delivers a dart https://t.co/bMxp36311P
— Big Cat Country (@BigCatCountry) August 23, 2015
3rd down, great play by reliable rookie WR Rashad Greene. Blake's pass a bit high. https://t.co/NTx0P6suQh
— Big Cat Country (@BigCatCountry) August 23, 2015
Miscommunication. Greene digs in, Bortles looking for the slant. https://t.co/GhTZAQ0Mm8
— Big Cat Country (@BigCatCountry) August 23, 2015
Love the deep shot here. Pass a tad overthrown, good one-on-one coverage by Rodgers-Cromartie. https://t.co/UHHcG6moBt
— Big Cat Country (@BigCatCountry) August 23, 2015
RIGHT on target, Blake steps up and delivers on short crossing route. A-Rob does the rest https://t.co/CS98WGekqR
— Big Cat Country (@BigCatCountry) August 23, 2015
Another angle. Great movement, good ball placement. https://t.co/K32O3BIXYD
— Big Cat Country (@BigCatCountry) August 23, 2015
Bortles hot routes right side WRs. Quick hit to Gerhart, gain of 5. https://t.co/sKteWCbY5S
— Big Cat Country (@BigCatCountry) August 23, 2015
This is a bad pass. If Greene has an opportunity to run through this catch, he could accelerate for a TD. https://t.co/Af8Q0ykBTR
— Big Cat Country (@BigCatCountry) August 23, 2015
Blake hesitates here. D-Rob runs out of room, LB catches up to the route. If thrown sooner, this pass has a... https://t.co/T55DsVr13B
— Big Cat Country (@BigCatCountry) August 23, 2015
Blake overshoots A-Rob. Perhaps could have hit Marcedes underneath for a more manageable 3rd down https://t.co/4ge32seOHn
— Big Cat Country (@BigCatCountry) August 23, 2015
More empty set. Bortles scrambles, can't make anything happen. Yay field goals! https://t.co/rUjqXt6J6I
— Big Cat Country (@BigCatCountry) August 23, 2015
DAMMIT, Hurns. Perfectly passed pass in double coverage. Frustrating. https://t.co/ipzs1hZQO6
— Big Cat Country (@BigCatCountry) August 23, 2015
Nice QB/WR recognition. Quick slant for 8 yards. https://t.co/R6oJCE8Bya
— Big Cat Country (@BigCatCountry) August 23, 2015
Good ball placement, nice snag by Hurns. Blake's footwork holding up. https://t.co/bfLl6cgP2E
— Big Cat Country (@BigCatCountry) August 23, 2015
Gotta catch this one, A-Rob. Low, but good ball. Thrown right at the route break. https://t.co/vFQFFPT8iS
— Big Cat Country (@BigCatCountry) August 23, 2015
Another angle. Nice zip on the ball, have to find a way to haul this in https://t.co/JIG4IXQKKl
— Big Cat Country (@BigCatCountry) August 23, 2015
Blake leaves his last pass of the night short to avoid the inside defender. Still, needs to be caught. https://t.co/v7j6kxnlgt
— Big Cat Country (@BigCatCountry) August 23, 2015