FOOTBALL

Jags shouldn't panic? Well, how about a QB shakeup?

Ken Willis
ken.willis@news-jrnl.com
Cody Kessler's brief career in Cleveland didn't hint at future greatness, but the Jags are desperate. [AP File]

Look back to the opening weeks of the season, when Ryan Fitzpatrick started at quarterback for Tampa Bay while Jameis Winston served his three-game suspension.

“FitzMagic” was unearthed and the backup QB was setting passing records while the Bucs were winning.

Now, look back to this past Sunday, when Brock Osweiler filled in for injured Miami Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill. Osweiler passed for a career-high 380 yards and led some late scoring drives in the Dolphins’ overtime win over the Bears.

Finally, look at the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Not a pretty picture, even on defense, where the Jags were supposed to be air-tight.

On offense, three issues are in play.

First, losing left tackle Cam Robinson to a knee injury was a huge blow, but then backup Josh Wells went down, and other linemen are dealing with chronic ailments.

Leonard Fournette continues to miss games with that hamstring. The Jags knew of his nagging-injury issues when they drafted him. If missing some early-season games means he’ll be fresher in the playoffs, great, but you look at the current state of things and feel the need to quote Jim Mora: “Playoffs?”

Finally, Blake Bortles looks like Joe Montana one week, Joe Dirt the next. His numbers are also fickle. His 61.2-percent completion rate is a career best so far, but he also leads the NFL with eight interceptions and sits 27th in passer rating.

So, glancing back to the first few paragraphs, and considering there’s no more important position than quarterback, it’s a great time — at least temporarily — to hand over the keys to backup QB Cody Kessler.

You heard me. Cody Kessler.

Tough sell, sure, given how Kessler’s eight career starts brought an 0-8 record. But that was 2016 in Cleveland, during his rookie year, with a team that wasn’t likely to win even if they brought in the ghost of Otto Graham.

Ryan Fitzpatrick, Brock Osweiler … Cody Kessler? Listen, Bortles came extremely close to losing the starting job to Chad Henne last September. Chad Henne. Some would suggest such a drastic move, even for just one week, reeks of panic and desperation.

Those same people should watch replays of the past two games.

Rank & File

The view up top remains the same, but there’s some more shuffling below in our weekly ranking of the state’s seven Division I-FBS football institutions, based on performance-vs.-expectations, current trends, and a pocket-sized fiduciary slide chart.

1. UCF (6-0): To piece together a 19-game win streak, it’s basically impossible to avoid one of those games where you find a way to win in spite of it all. In Memphis last Saturday, “it all” included monsoon conditions in the second half. The Knights are at East Carolina this week.

2. Florida (6-1): Well, now, look at what’s changed — only everything you thought you knew entering October. After a bye week for both, next week’s Florida-Georgia game will have real-world, won-loss, SEC East ramifications. Go figure.

3. USF (6-0): The Bulls trailed Tulsa by 14 points with 7 minutes remaining last Friday night, but like UCF, found a way to win. Unlike UCF, the Bulls jumped two spots in the AP poll, up to 21st. USF is host to UConn this week.

4. FIU (4-2): Panthers are still unbeaten in Conference USA, after a 24-21 win over Middle Tennessee. Hate to name-drop, but that win was sealed when Olin Cushion III intercepted Asher O’Hara in the end zone. FIU plays Rice this week.

5. Miami (5-2): Uh-oh. Just when you thought Malik Rosier was boxing his things, he’s pressed back into action due to freshman QB N’Kosi Perry’s clanker against Virginia. Virginia students rushed the field to celebrate the Cavs’ win, which should be of comfort to UM’s sense of self-worth — some schools still consider beating Miami a monumental feat. History majors, most likely.

6. FAU (3-3): The Owls have a tough one at Marshall this week. FAU likely needs to win at least four of its last six games for Lane Kiffin’s phone to show an incoming call from a Power 5 area code.

7. FSU (3-3): Even a bye week was stressful for the Seminoles, who had to deal with logistical fallout from Hurricane Michael. The ’Noles are home against Wake Forest this week, but then face three straight opponents who are currently unbeaten: Clemson, N.C. State, Notre Dame.

Slim Pickens

Things keep happening on Sundays that just aren’t supposed to happen. But someone has to make sense of it all. Lacking that certain someone, we still forge ahead.

Cleveland Browns (2-3-1) at Tampa Bay Bucs (2-3): The assumption was, Mike Smith would remain as Bucs defensive coordinator until another quality head-coaching opportunity presented itself. But now he’s out of that job, in a move that won’t likely be the last as this ship continues searching for favorable currents. Browns 23, Bucs 21.

Detroit Lions (2-3) at Miami Dolphins (4-2): Dolphins coming off an emotional win, Lions coming off a bye week that followed a quality win. Coin-flip game on paper, perhaps, but never discount the climatic effect on visitors from the north. It’s looking like mid-80s Sunday in Miami. Dolphins 20, Lions 12.

Houston Texans (3-3) at Jacksonville Jaguars (3-3): A few weeks back, this date on the schedule didn’t look particularly stressful. But then the 0-3 Texans won three straight, and the Jags … well … just look away. After two weeks away, let’s give a nod to home cooking — Jags 30, Texans 17.

Reach Ken Willis at ken.willis@news-jrnl.com