JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- From the 21 missed tackles he counted on defense to the 10 sacks allowed on offense, there was plenty for Jacksonville Jaguars coach Gus Bradley to dislike about his team's play in a 41-10 drubbing at the hands of the Washington Redskins.
But anyone clamoring for him to replace Chad Henne at quarterback with rookie first-round draft pick Blake Bortles following an 0-2 start had better be prepared to continue to wait.
''If you're asking me right now, yeah, Chad Henne's our starter,'' Bradley said Monday, less than 24 hours after Henne was sacked more than any NFL quarterback in a single game since the New York Giants got to Donovan McNabb 12 times in 2007.
Even with the outcome no longer in doubt and the Redskins continuing to pin their ears back, Henne remained in charge to the very end of an offense that finished with only 148 total yards and eight first downs, two of which came by penalties. The Jaguars rank last among 32 teams in total and rushing offense and are 28th in passing offense, with wide receivers Cecil Shorts III and Ace Sanders -- their top two pass-catchers a year ago -- having missed both games and tight end Marcedes Lewis now expected to be out for at least the next six weeks because of a high ankle sprain.
Bradley said the conversations he has had with his assistant coaches have dealt with schemes rather than personnel. While not ruling out a possible shake-up at other positions and admitting ''it felt like at times we played with a lack of awareness'' on offense, he has yet to waver from the stance the organization has maintained on bringing Bortles along slowly since taking him with the third overall selection out of UCF.
''There's going to be some changes that take place,'' Bradley said. ''If you're asking solely (about) the quarterback, that conversation hasn't come up.''
Except for a 63-yard touchdown pass to Lewis and a 54-yard completion to rookie wide receiver Allen Robinson, the longest play from scrimmage the Jaguars had Sunday was a 12-yard scramble by Henne. By comparison, the Redskins had five plays of 20 yards or more -- all after Kirk Cousins replaced the injured Robert Griffin III in the first quarter -- and three more of 19 yards.
In addition to being sacked four times in the first half and six more in the second, Henne was knocked down on four throws. He was also intercepted in the fourth quarter for the first time this season.
''I will say this: I think Chad performed well,'' Bradley said. ''But it's hard to say that when he had 14 sacks. I'd like to go back and look and see how many were due to pressure, how many were due to (something else), and then evaluate everything as a whole.''
An offensive line that gave up three sacks of Henne a week earlier at Philadelphia, one of which resulted in a fumble that the Eagles returned for a score, could get right tackle Austin Pasztor back this week. Pasztor fractured his right hand a month ago, and Cameron Bradfield -- who had been starting in his place -- was pulled against the Redskins in favor of Sam Young. Rookie center Luke Bowanko also got his first regular-season snaps in the fourth quarter after replacing Jacques McClendon.
But the failure of the line to protect Henne was hardly the fault of only Bradfield and McClendon.
''Chad's a tough guy, and I think he proved that (Sunday),'' said left guard Zane Beadles, the Jaguars' most noteworthy offseason free-agent signing. ''Chad's a guy that knows this offense and knows how to play quarterback in this league. None of us had a good day.''
Added left tackle Luke Joeckel: ''We have total confidence in Chad. We can't blame any one person. I didn't do well. I didn't get my job done. And every guy just needs to look at himself and fix those things.''
Shorts, who made the trip to Washington but remained sidelined because of a hamstring injury, was impressed with the resilience Henne showed in the face of adversity.
''He got hit a lot (Sunday),'' he said. ''He didn't complain one time. He didn't say one negative thing on the sidelines, not one. He played his butt off and did what he could.''
The Jaguars head into their home opener Sunday against the Indianapolis Colts having scored 10 points in their last six quarters, conjuring up memories of when they managed only a safety, a field goal and a touchdown in their first two games a year ago on their way to an 0-8 start. But Shorts was adamant that no such repeat lies ahead.
''We've got some stuff to work on,'' he said. ''But we'll be fine. There's no reason to panic or give me these stats (about) the last two years. I don't care. It's Week 2.''
You can follow Ken Hornack on Twitter @HornackFSFla or email him at khornack32176@gmail.com.
