Blake Bortles Comments on Fans Questioning Jaguars' Play-Calling

The Jacksonville Jaguars looked listless on offense during their 20-9 season-opening loss to the Carolina Panthers, and that left fans questioning the team’s play-calling and overall direction. Quarterback Blake Bortles did not take kindly to that skepticism.

Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk noted Bortles said, “It’s like a kindergartner saying something to a college kid,” when asked his opinion regarding the fans and their play-calling questions.

David Smith added his own opinion to the situation: 

"

In one sense, Bortles is right: NFL quarterbacks and coaches know far more about the game plan and the playbook than the fans do. Fans who question quarterbacks and coaches about play calling are questioning people who know far more than they do.

But that’s what fans do, and Bortles had better get used to it. The fans’ passion is the reason Bortles gets paid millions of dollars to play football, and when Bortles plays badly as he did on Sunday, the fans are going to have a problem with it. Fans will also have a problem with Bortles comparing them to kindergartners, a statement that he probably wishes he could have back.

"

It’s not as if the fans were questioning an impressive performance. Jacksonville managed a meager 265 total yards of offense and three turnovers against a Carolina team that failed to pull away until late in the game. Even a little more offense may have been enough for the Jaguars to start 1-0 instead of 0-1.

It is understandable that there would be some frustration in place in Jacksonville.

The franchise’s last winning season came in 2007, and it is a whopping 14-51 dating back to the 2010 campaign. The Jaguars failed to establish anything close to a winner in recent years despite a number of high draft picks and look well on their way to another losing season if Sunday was any indication. 

Bortles represents hope for the future as the third overall pick in the 2014 draft, but he struggled during his rookie season with 11 touchdowns and 17 interceptions. ESPN Stats & Info pointed out one troublesome number in particular:     

While the overall theme behind Bortles’ comments that the coaches and players know more than those in the crowd may be correct, he would be better served improving his play on the field before verbally attacking the fans. There is a reason for the frustration.