Should Floundering Jaguars be Losing Patience with Gus Bradley?

In the National Football League, quick turnarounds are becoming more rule than exception. Last year, the Kansas City Chiefs went from 2-14 to playoff team. In 2014, perennial doormats in Cleveland and Buffalo are very much in the playoff hunt past the season's midway point.

Then there are the Jacksonville Jaguars, who remain mired in their usual spot in the AFC South cellar.

The Jaguars entered 2014 with increased expectations after playing .500 football over the second half of the 2013 season, but with another campaign circling the drain for the Jags, the grumbling has begun.

Is Gus Bradley really the coach to lead the Jaguars out of the darkness and into the light, or has all his talk of progress with the Jags been just that?

Before we go any further, let me make one thing clear: In no way do I believe that the Jaguars' problems begin and end with their head coach. When Bradley took the helm for the Jaguars a year ago, he inherited one of the most talent-deficient rosters in the NFL.

And there has been progress made in some respects.

The Jaguars' pass rush is certainly beginning to show evidence of Bradley's impact. In 2012, the Jaguars had fewer sacks as a team than Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt had all by himself. That number improved a year ago, but the Jaguars still ranked dead last in the NFL with 31 sacks.

This year, the Jaguars rank third in the NFL with 28 sacks in 10 games.

However, for all the improvement the Jaguars have shown in a category here and a facet of the game there, the fact remains that there's been next to no movement in the only area that counts.

The Jaguars still aren't winning—at all.

Sunday's loss to the Dallas Cowboys in London drops the Jaguars to 1-9 on the season. Only a win over the Browns and the perpetually hapless—and currently winless—Oakland Raiders stand between Jacksonville and the bottom of the AFC.

Yes, the Jags are the youngest team in the NFL. More than half the team's starters on offense (including quarterback Blake Bortles) are rookies. There are going to be bumps in the road.

However, there should also be positive gains, signs that the team is headed in the right direction. The Jacksonville team that pitched and lurched its way to a 24-7 halftime deficit in London against the Cowboys didn't appear headed in any direction.

According to Jaguars.com's John Oehser, Bradley himself lashed out at his team's effort level after the game:

"

It was a challenge in the first half. I just felt like, "We have some special guys, but we’re not playing special." That was the challenge that we gave to our team. It was a deep challenge to them all. There are too many things that pop up.

I just didn’t believe we were playing as special as we could. I didn’t believe we were playing our best.

"

More talk. More platitudes. More coachspeak.

There are those who would posit that flat performances early from teams suggest poor preparation. The responsibility for that lies squarely with the coaching staff, and it isn't the first time in the last two seasons that the Jaguars have been blown out of the water early.

Even more frustrating, the Jaguars haven't fared any better in close games.

After a two-point loss to Tennessee last month, Bradley accepted the blame for poor game management while speaking with reporters:

"

I could have led better yesterday. I don’t think I did a really good job with the team after the game. I think I could have done better with the game management, with the challenge flags. We all challenge ourselves in areas that we can get better, and I challenged the team and I pointed out the things that I can get better at, too.

"

As AG Gancarski of Folio Magazine reported, it was the same sorry song after the Jaguars were blown out in the third quarter by the Miami Dolphins:

"

As the game progressed, Gus Bradley looked less and less like an NFL coach. More Tom Arnold than Tom Landry, Gus’ team once again looked outmatched in the second half. What was a winnable game at intermission was over long before the third quarter ended. ...

During yet another tightly managed presser, I asked Bradley about his “job security” after another “challenging game” for which the coach will “take responsibility.” The one word answer: “No,” he said, staring down, oddly pensive, as the presser wrapped. That said, Bradley might need to call Mike Mularkey’s realtor if the storm continues. As the folks at KYN can tell you, Shad Khan is not averse to pulling the plug if the numbers are going south. I’m not seeing where wins come from for this squad anytime soon.

"

And that's the problem. Every week, there's talk of "progress," "responsibility" and "special guys."

Of course, it's talk that comes after a loss, and it doesn't take long to wonder where all the progress actually is.

The Jaguars rank 28th in total offense and 32nd in scoring offense. The team ranks 27th in total defense and 30th in scoring defense. Most importantly, the Jaguars have one win in 10 games, dropping Bradley to 5-21 since taking the job.

None of that is even a little bit good.

No one is going to question that Bradley is an excellent defensive coach. Calling him one of the best in the business in that regard isn't any kind of huge stretch.

But the team with no margin for error keeps making the same mistakes over and over and again, and at this point it's become fair to question whether Bradley's even a good head coach.

If the Jaguars are ever going to be more than a punchline in the NFL, it's a question they need to answer—now.

Gary Davenport is an NFL Analyst at Bleacher Report and a member of the Fantasy Sports Writers Association and the Pro Football Writers of America. You can follow Gary on Twitter @IDPManor.