It's time for the Jaguars to move on from Gus Bradley
Submitting another listless performance against the Oakland Raiders, it became evident Sunday that head coach Gus Bradley is the primary problem with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Bradley's 14-40 cumulative record speaks volumes, and it's time for the Jaguars to move on without him if they are to make any semblance of progress during the 2016 season.
It could be argued that Bradley wasn't at fault during his first two seasons, due to a lack of talent assembled by former Jaguars general manager Gene Smith, who was fired in December 2012. However, that's no longer the case as incumbent general manager David Caldwell was given carte blanche during the offseason and acquired a number of marquee free agents to bolster the roster.
It's an indictment of Bradley that he can't fuse the pieces he's ostensibly molded over the past few years with the players management coveted and reigned in over the past two summers.
Blake Bortles is regressing badly during his third season under Bradley's tutelage, even though he made major strides during his sophomore campaign last year. Through six games, Bortles has thrown nine touchdowns against nine interceptions, and hasn't completed over 65 percent of his passes once this year. Although he's armed with a bevy of legitimate wide receivers in Allen Robinson, Allen Hurns, and Marqise Lee, along with two functional starting running backs in Chris Ivory and T.J. Yeldon, Bortles is failing badly.
Bradley's inability to amend the offense ought to be frightening for Jaguars fans, and it appears that the team's core will be arrested in their development as a result.
Touted as a defensive guru after his excellent work as the Seattle Seahawks' defensive coordinator (2009-2012), the biggest complaint of Bradley is that he's yet to assemble a competent defense, despite management's unbridled desire to assist him in this regard.
The Jaguars used their first four draft picks on defensive players this spring, including fifth overall pick Jalen Ramsey, highly regarded linebacker Myles Jack, and defensive end Yannick Ngakoue, who's quietly been the team's best defensive player this year.
Jacksonville acquired Pro Bowl safety Tashaun Gipson, cornerback Prince Amukamara, and defensive lineman Malik Jackson to bolster what should've been a promising unit, but all three players haven't made a notable impact in Bradley's scheme. Allowing 26.6 points per game, the Jaguars simply need to be better.
At some point, someone needs to be held accountable as the rest of the AFC South quietly surges past the Jaguars, each team working through myriad problems of their own. With the division conceivably within reach, it's time for a drastic shakeup and there's no point delaying the inevitable. Gus Bradley needs to go.