Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles is one of the most polarizing players in the NFL.
When he’s at his best, he will make a defense pay. When he’s playing poorly, it’s can be hard to watch.
Bortles will be Jacksonville’s starter at least through 2018. The Jaguars inked him to a new three-year, $54 million deal this offseason that includes $26.5 million guaranteed.cheap nike nfl jersey
The Jaguars now have to figure out whether they have the weapons in place to get the good Bortles in 2018.
They brought in receivers Donte Moncrief and rookie second-round pick D.J. Chark, but they parted with Allen Robinson and Allen Hurns. Tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins joins the squad, but he’ll be tasked with replacing Mercedes Lewis.buy nike nfl jerseys cheap
Jacksonville figures to lean on Leonard Fournette and the ground game as much as possible in 2018, but teams will be looking to shut down the run. Bortles will have to lead the charge at times, so if the Jaguars don’t believe he has the weapons he needs, they may look to bring in more help before the season starts.
The big question for Chiefs fans is whether Patrick Mahomes will be an upgrade over Alex Smith. However, quality play from Mahomes won’t matter much if the Kansas City defense is as bad as it was in 2017.
The Chiefs ranked 25th against the run (118.1 yards per game allowed), 29th against the pass (247.0 yards) and 28th in total defense (365.1 yards) last season. That caused them to reforge their defense over the past few months.
Kansas City traded Marcus Peters and added cornerbacks David Amerson and Kendall Fuller. It parted ways with linebackers Derrick Johnson and Tamba Hali. It added linebacker Anthony Hitchens and drafted defensive linemen Breeland Speaks and Derrick Nnadi. The Chiefs also drafted linebacker Dorian O’Daniel and let safety Ron Parker walk.cheap nfl nike jerseys china
For now, the Chiefs will be sticking by defensive coordinator Bob Sutton.
“I think we’re OK there,” head coach Andy Reid said, per Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star. “I always look at the big picture of things with Bob and our coaches, and I know what he’s done here the last five years. [People are] basing [the reaction] off one game, or two games, nfl nike jersey cheap and I’m basing it off of five years. So I’m comfortable with him in that spot.”
The Chiefs defense is going to be different in 2018, but will it be better? Kansas City needs to find out sooner than later. Otherwise, further changes may have to come, perhaps involving coaching and scheme.
