Jacksonville Jaguars: 5 Keys To Success In 2015

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Dec 18, 2014; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles (5) rushes for a 19-yard gain in the third quarter against the Tennessee Titans at EverBank Field. The Jaguars defeated the Titans 21-13. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

1. Blake Bortles must be an efficient starting quarterback

I know it, you know it, the Jaguars know it, the rest of the league knows it: Jacksonville needs a lot of improvement in their passing attack. To be fair, their entire offense needs a lot of work, but on the ground, they had a fair amount of success in 2014.

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Sure they were 21st in rushing in the league, but they were ninth in terms of yards per carry at 4.5. Through the air, however, they were right at the bottom of the league. 31st in total offense, 31st in passing yards, 31st in overall yards per play, and dead last in yards per pass attempt.

They completed only 58% of their passes for 15 touchdowns and 18 interceptions. Most of that was rookie quarterback Blake Bortles, although Chad Henne also started three games. For the team to have any level of success in 2015, Bortles must be much more efficient.

It would be a little ridiculous to anticipate Pro-Bowl numbers out of Bortles in his second year in the league. He’s only in his second year and plays for a team with little elite offensive talent, but he should still be able to manage an offense. Bortles and his 17 interceptions and 11 touchdowns in 2014 are not a good example of managing an offense.

Right know, what the Jaguars are looking for out of Bortles is efficiency, not excellence. Certainly they see Bortles as their future, and if that is to be the case he must rise to a much higher level than simple ‘efficiency’. However, for the purposes of 2015, efficiency is a good start.

The first thing that needs to happen for Bortles to be more efficient is a limit to the amount of risks he takes. He has often been compared to Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlilsberger, not only in size but also in style of play. These two guys both are gritty, tough guys, who do whatever it takes to make something happen.

Neither of them minds taking some big risks to make a big play, the problem is that Bortles has tended to make mistakes. He needs to calm down and make the safe, smart play, at least for now. He needs to focus on not turning the ball over, on moving the chains, and on consistently putting his offense in a position to score points.

If he continues to take big risks, like the ones that lead to a 17 interception season, he will continue to see his team finish 3-13. Instead, if he simply attempts to manage the game, he should put his team in a position to improve. Yes, for Jacksonville to be an elite team they will need him to be an elite player, but right now the goal for the Jaguars should simply be to not be a bad team. One step at a time.

Bortles showed flashes of brilliance in his rookie year, but his accuracy and consistent must improve before those flashes become permanent. He should work on his efficiency first, and focus on being a star second. If he can make it through a season without turning the ball over more than once a game, his team will thank him for it.

It starts with the quarterback, as noted by former Jacksonville quarterback Mark Brunnell (via J.P. Shadrick of Jaguars.com):

"“It starts with the quarterback. Blake has to improve, and if he improves, which we all believe he will, that means more wins, because this is a quarterback league. If you’ve got a quarterback – not that everything is thrown on him – but if you have a quarterback, that’s where it starts. You have a chance to win some football games.”"

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