Blake Bortles and Chad Henne Lead Close Quarterback Battles
By Erik Lambert
Aug 14, 2014; Chicago, IL, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Chad Henne (7) and quarterback Blake Bortles (5) take the field before the preseason game against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports
Typically in NFL preseason, quarterback battles are often decided by the halfway point. Blake Bortles and Chad Henne lead a different trend in 2014.
Jacksonville Jaguars tandem shine despite loss in Chicago
Losing a preseason game is not as important as evaluation and the Jacksonville Jaguars came away with plenty of good tape from their quarterback despite losing in Chicago. Chad Henne led the way to three scoring drives including the only touchdown of the night. He finished 12-of-17 for 130 yards. Not to be outdone, rookie Blake Bortles retaliated in kind with some pretty passes down the field and a couple of nice drives as well. He led the team with 160 yards. After two weeks, the Jaguars have hard decisions ahead.
Johnny Manziel and Brian Hoyer splitting reps down the middle
Arguably the closest of the quarterback derbies at the halfway points rests up in Cleveland where veteran Brian Hoyer is working feverishly to hold off the media juggernaut that is Johnny Manziel. Hoyer remains the starter heading into week two against Washington. He has stayed consistent throughout camp and also has earned it off the field. Manziel certainly flashed the physical upside he has in the opener against Detroit, but he’s still rough around the edges and didn’t help his cause by showing up late for practice. He needs a good game against the Redskins to convince the coaches he’s serious about playing right away.
Geno Smith not conceding to Michael Vick
The same don’t-quit mentality is taking hold for the New York Jets as well. More than a few fans were convinced veteran Michael Vick would end up the starter before too long. However, second-year man Geno Smith has done nothing to warrant such thoughts. Reports are he sounds much more comfortable in the offense and has absorbed it very well. He was efficient if unspectacular in the opener against Indianapolis. Vick isn’t going away though. More than likely it will last until at least the third week of preseason, marking yet another tight race for coaches to sweat over.