National Football League

Jaguars rookie QB Blake Bortles set to make first career start at Chargers

Published Sep. 27, 2014 2:00 p.m. ET

share

facebookxredditlink

foxsports

The second start of Blake Bortles' college career came at Ohio State two years ago in front of more than 104,000 fans.

If a scarlet-and-gray wearing, Hang-On-Sloopy singing throng of that size didn't faze the UCF sophomore, chances are good that making his first start for the Jacksonville Jaguars at San Diego isn't going to rattle Bortles either.

Since taking over for Chad Henne to begin the second half against the Indianapolis Colts, the third pick in the NFL Draft has pumped life into the Jaguars and their fan base with his ability to extend plays. While it hasn't been business as usual this week around the team's facility, Bortles has been all business, as usual. Family back in the Orlando area and well-wishers in general will have to just wait.

"My sole focus is on this team and doing whatever I can to help this team be our best," he said. "A lot of people understand that and know that I don't have time to be doing other things or talking a whole lot."

Although Bortles was picked off twice by the Colts, the Chargers are one of only three teams -- Kansas City and Minnesota being the others -- without an interception this season.

"I'm sure they'll mix some things up and do something we haven't seen," he said. "It's part of preparation and reacting to the wrinkle they throw in."

Wide receiver Cecil Shorts III, who caught the second of Bortles' two touchdown passes in the 44-17 loss, told reporters he has every bit of confidence in the rookie in his first start.

"Blake will be fine," Shorts said. "I don't see him making it bigger than what it is. That's your guys' job, to blow it up. His job is to go out there and just play ball and do what he does."

But can the rest of the Jaguars do what they do better than they have the past three weeks?

MATCHUP TO WATCH

Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers against the Jaguars defense.

As easy as it is to focus on Bortlesmania, Bortles Kombat or whatever term you care to apply, it won't matter what he accomplishes if Rivers continues to pick apart the Jaguars.

Rivers completed his first 14 passes against them last season and finished the game 22 of 26 for 285 yards despite getting relatively negligible contributions from tight end Antonio Gates. Two years earlier, albeit before coach Gus Bradley and the bulk of the current roster arrived in Jacksonville, Rivers threw for 294 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions against them.

Opposing quarterbacks have a passer rating of 110.3 against a defense which made two changes in the starting lineup this week. That's a figure higher than the one currently held by Seattle's Russell Wilson, the league's top-rated passer.

The Jaguars will start Josh Evans at free safety and J.T. Thomas at outside linebacker. What effect that will have on their disturbing trend of allowing tight ends to roam free remains to be seen. The Colts got 11 catches from three tight ends last week, including two of Andrew Luck's four scoring passes, and Rivers hooked up with Gates for three TDs two weeks ago in a 30-21 victory over the Seahawks.

TRENDING UP

Jaguars: Rookie wide receiver Allen Robinson, who missed the entire preseason with a hamstring injury and caught one pass for no yards in the opener, has 11 catches for 154 yards the past two weeks. Almost half of the Jaguars' 56 receptions have been by three rookies at that position -- Robinson (12), Marqise Lee (8) and Allen Hurns (7).

Chargers: Kicker Nick Novak has made 23 field goals in a row, the second-longest streak in team history. He is six shy of matching the team record set by John Carney during the 1992 and 1993 seasons. Novak's current conversion rate of 87.6 percent would be a franchise record except that he is three attempts short of the official minimum of 100.

TRENDING DOWN

Jaguars: In each of their last two games, the defense has been on the field for more than 37 minutes. Both the Washington Redskins and the Colts ran 44 plays in the first halves of their victories, while the Jaguars averaged 51.5 offensive plays a game in those contests. Their first three opponents have converted 46.8 percent of their third-down opportunities (22 of 47).

Chargers: Although the Jaguars are last in the league in rushing yards, their average of 3.5 yards per carry is better than the meager 2.4-yard average by the Chargers. Donald Brown, who came to the Chargers from Indianapolis via free agency, leads them with only 81 yards on 40 carries. With Ryan Mathews out and Danny Woodhead on injured reserve, those numbers aren't about to improve much anytime soon.

INJURY REPORT

Jaguars: WR Marqise Lee (hamstring) and TE Mickey Shuler (illness) are out. CB Alan Ball (abdomen), RB Toby Gerhart (ankle), TE Clay Harbor (calf), WR Allen Hurns (ankle), DT Roy Miller (ankle), FB Will Ta'ufo'ou (ankle), T Austin Pasztor (hand) and LB Paul Posluszny (ankle) are probable.

Chargers: RB Ryan Mathews (knee), LB Manti Te'o (foot) and LB Reggie Walker (ankle) are out. LB Jerry Attaochu (hamstring) and C Rich Ohrnberger (back) are doubtful. TE Ladarius Green (hamstring), TE David Johnson (shoulder) and CB Jason Verrett (hamstring) are questionable. WR Keenan Allen (groin), CB Brandon Flowers (hip), TE Antonio Gates (hamstring), S Marcus Gilchrist (shoulder) and DT Corey Liuget (ankle) are probable. 

DID YOU KNOW?

Left guard Zane Beadles made the 65th start of his career against the Colts. Excluding Henne, all of the other starters on offense for the Jaguars in that game had a total of 63.

QUOTEBOARD

"Our whole mentality with the team is: It's not about looking back, it's about going forward. We learned from it, we will grow from it, and now let's put all our energy into our preparation." -- Jaguars coach Gus Bradley on where the team goes following an 0-3 start. The Jaguars, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Oakland Raiders are the only remaining winless NFL teams.

"Just going out in practice and putting forth the effort, competing my butt off and making the most of this opportunity." -- Jaguars running back Denard Robinson, who had eight carries for 33 yards last week against the Colts. He had a total of only 23 rushing attempts in 18 previous games for his career.

"When you're a professional athlete, you put in a lot of work and you expect to get something out of it. And when you're not getting that, there's a little frustration. We need to take care of that." -- Jaguars cornerback Dwayne Gratz on a defense which has not recorded a takeaway since the first half of the season opener at Philadelphia and ranks last in yards rushing (160) and passing (306) allowed per game.

"The past is history. It's over. Last year, that was a long time ago. We've changed as a football team, they've changed as a football team. We have to go out and do a good job in all three phases." -- Chargers coach Mike McCoy on his team's 24-6 victory over the Jaguars in Jacksonville. The Jaguars have won only two of 11 games on the West Coast in their history, with both wins coming at Oakland (1997, 2005).

LOOKING AHEAD

The Jaguars are home to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Oct. 5, the first of three home games in a four-week span.

You can follow Ken Hornack on Twitter @HornackFSFla or email him at khornack32176@gmail.com.

share

Get more from National Football League Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more

in this topic

National Football League