@bbedward said:

You allowed 6 points off of 3 interceptions. Pretty good. I have nothing against the jags, but I hoped we would have put them away early. (Honestly you're probably one of the best fans, for sticking around through all their terribleness - not that the browns have been better)

Thanks, there's been plenty of suck hopefully it'll end soon lol.

@typicalbrowns said:

Bortles is up and down, he had some AWFUL throws today. So did Hoyer.

Problem is Hoyer couldn't hit the big screen at the Jags stadium with a football today

I think Bortles is going to be one of those when he's Good he's good when he's bad it's really bad type players.

I had you guys winning this one pretty easy, but you guys just happened to get the best game we've put together in probably 2 years. Bortles had a rough game, I can't remember the last time our team pulled out a win when we had 3 turnovers to be honest.

I think you guys still have a solid team, it just went out way in the the last couple of mins. Good luck in the North race and see you guys around next time!

Would require you guys falling asleep at the wheel and us playing a near perfect game to see anything other then a blow out Sunday.

@tiamat63 said:

That was more of my thinking. Cleveland fans will never know how good Couch, Garcia, Frye could have been because they played behind terrible Oline and had few offensive weapons.

I do believe Bortles a superior pro talent compared to Manziel. I just hope for Jags fans he isn't ruined before the rest of the team can be improved.

You and me both, But the good QB's seem to make their teams better rather then get dragged down by sub-par talent. I just look at Indy for encouragement with out Manning or Luck they where a horrible team, insert great QB and they're contenders.

@tour2ma said:

Howdy... improvement beats the alternative no matter where you are.

Hoyer goes thru his reads very quickly and if all goes well the ball is gone before any pressure comes his way. Above all else he's a timing guy. If backside pressure is coming he'll stand in and deliver the ball if he has a target. Any throw he can step into is highly likely to be a quality throw.

Brian will shy from frontside pressure and early on made some questionable, back-footed throws, but got away with them. Also while he throws well off designed moves, if flushed and forced into a running, back-foot throw, again things have gotten a little dicey.

That said, rattled is no longer an applicable adjective. It may have been in camp with the "QB competition", but now Manziel is so far in the rearview mirror that he is irrelevant at this point. And I for one hope he stays that way for a couple more years...

As for our division... all long as we are in the stack, I'm fine with it.

Good to know, what I've seen from Hoyer (mostly highlights) I'm impressed. Really glad you guys seem to have found someone. Hopefully Gordon can get his act together then you guys might really have something. Also hoping our own version of Gordon (Blackmon) get's his act together and comes back to us one day.

@tour2ma said:

Agree for the most part except I think that "learning on the bench" is a misnomer since there are film sessions and practice and... I watched Blake's second start at SD and thought he had grown since pre-season. There was some rookie bad there, but a lot more rookie good.

Speaking of pre-season... that sideline throw he made rolling/ running right from his own endzone is still the sickest throw I've seen in a long time. I forget who it was against, but it was just over the outstretched arm of one DB underneath and in front of a second to a toe-dragging WR already at a 60 dg angle or so... just gorgeous...

No offense taken... our Johnny boy's top issue is his immaturity. Blake has no such issues...

I think it was against the Lions, if we're talking about the same pass. It was the Lions game that made me a believer in Bortles. Honestly if not for Bortles I'd be spending sunday's fishing at this point.

@tiamat63 said:

It's more of a joke. At this point I'm all for Manziel sitting on the bench and working on being a true QB.

We had this same debate over in Jacksonville this season. Our place holder Henne to know ones surprise wasn't getting it done so the switch was made. Honestly I'm of the opinion with the new CBA I just don't see how young QB's can develop on the bench. The snaps are so limited and restricted the backup stands almost no chance of even practicing with the one's, so unless you're just not convinced he's capable of grasping the playbook you gotta play the kid.

I think Bortles and Manziel are two different prospects as well and what works for one might not work for the other. Trying to remain objective I do think Bortles was more mature coming out and more likely to grasp the NFL playbook then Manziel but who knows, maybe Bortles ends up shell shocked playing behind such a horrible line with little help.

@tiamat63 said:

I'm actually hoping that as well. Build that trade value, yo.

So trade value is what you guys a shooting for with "Johnny football", just curious.

@tiamat63 said:

I've been surprised by the overall team effort that Quin has gotten out of the Jags. The talent isn't there in the secondary but the discipline is. The front 7 isn't bad and they aren't terrible at stopping the run.

However they lack mature playmakers. Robinson and Lee may one day be good complementary receivers but they're young and need time. From what I know the Jags Oline is a huge weakness as well.

Those are terrible ingredients for a rookie QB and I never understood why they made the switch to Bortles, but it isn't my team. The Browns have had more than their far share of young QB's shell shocked by

those circumstances.

I expect the Jags to battle early and wear down in the second half. I'd say something to the tune of 31-17 33-20 should be the final.

Pretty spot on analysis, we do lack mature playmaker across the board. I know the plan wasn't to start 6 rookies on offense but that's what we have right now. The line is slowly improving, last week was probably their best week as a unit, but it was against a lack luster titans team.

I was all for playing Bortles from the start of the season, this season was a wash anyways and Bortles isn't going to develop on the bench. He's proven capable to handle the game from early on and hopefully this season will help spring him into a strong sophmore season. That's the hope all this suffering and sucking this year will payoff next year.

I'm not expecting them to literally take it easy, it's just a figure of speech.

Hey guys, figured I'd stop back in and say hi as our matchup comes this week.

A little about my Jaguars as the week aproaches. I don't expect for us to be much of a struggle for you guys, I'm hopeful but that's a different story.

The Jags are seeing improvement in some areas, mostly Bortles at QB. He tends to get a little anxious in the 2nd half and is forming a habbit of throwing a few INTs but I'm not to worried he's a gunslinger no doubt about it. Our passing game however is suffering because our young recievers and tight ends just simply drop to many balls. I expect Joe Haden to take away half the field Sunday wouldn't be surprised if he ended up with a pick at the end of the day.

Don't worry about the running game, we don't have one.

On Defense we've improved on the pass rush front and seem to have regressed in the secondary. The secondary has been our biggest weakness so Hoyer might have a really good day. I expect however we will put some pressure on him, not sure how he reacts under pressure? Is Hoyer better under pressure or does it rattle him? Might be your only concern come game time.

Anyways pulling for you guys from a far to take the North or at least get a good run at it. Sucks your division is stacked this year but really enjoyed you guys beating the squeelers the way you did.

Take it easy on us, and if by some chance we catch you sleeping and get our first win, thanks!

Curious question are you guys wanting to even see Manziel play seems like Hoyer is a good fit? Any idea whats their plans with him?

Hey guys, good game. Gordon is legit, you guys have a real play maker in that kid. I think if you guys find a QB you're not that far off. As for us this was the best they've played in the last 2 years. Neither of us are world beaters at this point but I'd be lying if I said I didn't enjoy the victory.

thanks for the fun convo and exchange see you guys around.

@mld-woody said:

Jags guy. I'm from Cleveland (I might take a job there too). I have family in Michigan so I've always been s football fan. Than I was lucky enough to get to Michigan abd I'm in my senior year there noe for engineering

gotcha, man. engineering, whew that's a rough one. I took a couple engineering classes and quickly figured out I didn't want to be an engineer lol. Wouldn't mind the salary however.

Zombo said:

It depends on the QB, some guys, like Andy Dalton for example, get thrown in there and do OK from the start. Flacco was in there from the beginning. Luck, Wilson and Griffin were able to do it last year, while Weeden did not blossom.

I don't know if Gabbert has it upstairs. But I'm glad we have two veteran returning QBs next year so that we are not "forced" to throw a guy in if he's not ready.

Zombo

I'm hoping the Jags can find a Veteran QB to let our Rookie sit for a while. As it is right now I don't think I could suffer another year under Henne and hold onto my sanity.

@gftchris said:

I think it just attests to the lack of a true elite, guaranteed no1 pick like Luck, for example. There's also a camp of browns fans that want to see Hoyer start next season, with a draft pick from this year sitting and learning for a year or two. It's risky, because although Hoyer looked serviceable in his 2 games for us, they're about all the experience he has, plus he's recovering from his ACL injury. But if it works, we're set for the short term and with the right guy learning we're set for the next 10 years.

We rushed Gabbert in year one and it shell shocked the kid. He had the abilities to play the game but I think rushing him out there with no offseason (that was the lockout year), and then changing coaching staffs every year for the next 3 years has ruined the kid. I'm a believe in letting the Rookie sit for a year IF you can, but I understand sometimes you have no option and have to play the kid.

@gftchris said:

I don't think we'll be drafting high enough for bridgewater. We'll end up with 5 or 6 wins, which wil have us in 6th-9th or something like that. Mariota is also probably out of reach. There's some people after Carr, and most QBs in the top of the draft will have their supporters - Hundley, Mettenberger, Murry etc

There doesn't seem to be a consensus guy that everyone wants, which means that 90% of the fanbase will be upset with whoever we draft!

Damn sounds like us over on our board right now. I have no idea which of any of these QB's are worth anything coming up, I just hope we get the right one this time. Gabbert took the wind out of my sails, I can't imagine how frustrated you guys are waiting for a QB.

So who are you guys pulling for in the draft? You thinking you'll be picking high enough for Mariota or possibly Bridgewater? I'm not sold on Mariota myself and if we win 1 or 2 more games I'm not sure we'll be in position for Bridgewater. Personally I'm hoping for someone like Clowney or Barr for the Jags and find a 2nd round QB. Out side of Bridgewater I dont' see much difference in the rest of them.

@gftchris said:

You know what scares me is the degree to which the Jags will suck on Sunday. Weeden could potentially have a 300 yard, 2TD game, and people will start saying how he's growing in the system.

Real possiblity, the secondary was completely reworked in the offseason and we're starting 3 rookies. Our DB Gratz has looked solid but the safeties are hit and miss Cyprien and Evans. However our Free Agent DB's have been real impressive Alan Ball and Will Blackmon, a real weakness is the quick slant, if Josh Evans gets into that 3rd level he's likely to break a couple lose.

@blowe said:

He is already staring down the first receiver in Sunday's game and it's Wednesday. Yes, he is that bad.

Ok here's the real test, you have two options and ONLY two options for the rest of the year. Gabbert or Weeden who do you guys take?

@mike-h said:

Have you watched Weeden? I've seen Henne beat the Browns in the past.

Talent wise I think they should win, but Weeden is a turd.

Honestly no I haven't seen him this year. Heck I've avoided most Jaguar games this year, it's just been to much to suck this bad again. It's been better after the bye week but still............

Weeden been that bad for you guys? I've zoned out most of the NFL this season, just can't take this much suck on a regular basis so forgive me if I'm out of the loop on this one.

@umadogg said:

Jag week.

Memories of Bottle-gate.

Pooh throwing monkees.

I remember that game! Miss the old AFC Central days........