Blake Bortles’ 11 TDs in 2014

2-6-JAC 37 (Q4, 7:02) (Shotgun) 5-B.Bortles pass short middle to 88-A.Hurns for 63 yards, TOUCHDOWN.

Blake Bortles’ first career game was in relief of Chad Henne; he came in for the second half after the Jaguars dropped down 30-0 against the Colts. At that point, it’s not like there was much Bortles could do to salvage the game, but he did throw two TDs in his first NFL action. His first career TD pass was on a slant to fellow rookie Allen Hurns. This play really shouldn’t have become a TD, but the Colts just put on a pathetic display of tackling. The throw isn’t perfect either; it’s slightly behind Hurns, who has to reach back and gets off-balance catching the ball. It’s not a bad throw, just not a good one. However, this play does show off a Bortles to Hurns connection that looks promising for the Jaguars.

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1-10-IND 10 (Q4, :22) 5-B.Bortles pass short right to 84-C.Shorts for 10 yards, TOUCHDOWN.

There’s barely any time on the clock, and with the game completely out of reach, the Jaguars run a fake spike. The Colts’ defense doesn’t appear to be trying at all. The fake probably contributes to that, but there’s not much reason for them to be going all out. Shorts beats the corner and Bortles throws a pass that’s a bit far ahead and a bit low, but catchable. Leading Shorts into the endzone is better than throwing behind him in this scenario.

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1-2-SD 2 (Q2, 7:29) 5-B.Bortles pass short left to 85-N.Jacobs for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.

Here’s the ever popular goal line levels concept. The Jaguars have four receivers all running at different depths to try to stretch the Chargers’ defense, and it works. Jacobs comes open at the back of the endzone. Bortles makes a good throw over the defenders and Jacobs high points the ball for the TD.

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3-15-TEN 20 (Q4, :43) (Shotgun) 5-B.Bortles pass short middle to 86-C.Harbor for 20 yards, TOUCHDOWN.

Here, the Jaguars are running another popular concept called “Four Verticals” against a single-high safety look from the Titans. TE Clay Harbor finds space in between the zones of the LBs who drop into coverage. I’m once again not a huge fan of Bortles’ throw because it leads Harbor right into a big hit, but Harbor makes a nice catch and does a good job of holding on to the ball while bouncing off the hit and falling forward into the endzone.

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1-5-CLE 31 (Q2, :36) (Shotgun) 5-B.Bortles pass short right to 15-A.Robinson for 31 yards, TOUCHDOWN.

Allen Robinson is running a comeback route on this play. Bortles makes a very good throw, rocketing the ball in at around chest level. Robinson does the rest against another display of bad tackling. The first CB misses at his shoelaces, while the safety gets juked and his dive ends up impeding the chasing LB. This was another play that probably shouldn’t have been a TD, but became one because of poor tackling.

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1-10-MIA 48 (Q4, 2:47) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 5-B.Bortles pass deep left to 15-A.Robinson for 48 yards, TOUCHDOWN.

This play results as a mistake of either the outside or slot corner. I obviously don’t know the defensive play call, but if I had to guess a properly defended play would have the outside CB pass off the slot receiver to the deep safety and then he would come over to cover Robinson. Regardless, the defense messed up and Robinson was wide open. Bortles does a good job stepping up to avoid pressure, and makes throw. It’s just a step behind Robinson’s stride and he has to adjust to make the catch, but it’s hard to criticize Bortles for being just a tad off on a pass that traveled over 40 yards in the air. Good throw to a wide open receiver.

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