Jacksonville Jaguars fall to 2-9: What now?
With their most recent loss, the Jacksonville Jaguars secured a non-winning season for the 4th time in as many seasons under Gus Bradley and David Caldwell. So what happens now?
Nothing.
National analysts have praised owner Shad Khan for his patience during what has been a trying four-year rebuild process, but it appears his patience was all for naught – one year after it was “built,” this franchise has entrenched themselves as a doormat yet again.
The most dejecting part of the Jacksonville Jaguars season might not even be the regression of the most important players (most notably quarterback Blake Bortles), but instead the public apathy of Shad Khan and even general manager David Caldwell. By not stepping in and getting rid of a guy who is now statistically the worst head coach in the history of the NFL, they’ve condoned a culture of losing. It’s showing before, during, and after games.
Fans want players who hate losing – players like Jalen Ramsey – not guys who have accepted a losing season. That’s a lot to ask when you keep trotting out a lame duck head coach who’s message has fallen on deaf ears for over a year now.
Michael David Smith over at Pro Football Talk took some time on Monday morning to spell out the reasons for Jacksonville’s systemic dismantling of hope and he nailed at least one thing – the Jaguars have been patient with the wrong guy at head coach.
In the short term, firing Gus Bradley doesn’t do anything – the team is effectively eliminated from playoff contention and the broken scheme he runs can’t be overhauled midseason. But long-term, not firing Bradley may have adverse effects on the next staff who comes in and tries to rewire a roster full of players coddled and encouraged despite not performing up to expectations.
Just remember on Black Monday – when you rejoice about the Jaguars finally firing a head coach who will have put distance between himself and the second worse coach in the history of professional football – this should have happened a long time ago.
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