Count Pats DBs as Bortles backers
FOXBORO — Few NFL quarterbacks have more detractors than Jacksonville’s Blake Bortles.
Labels like “subpar” and “underwhelming” have been leveled at Bortles since he was drafted by the Jaguars out of Central Florida with the third pick in 2014.
Patriots safeties Devin McCourty and Patrick Chung gained a favorable opinion of Bortles from last season’s AFC title game, a 24-20 Patriots win at Gillette Stadium.
The veteran defensive backs expect another tough challenge when the Jaguars host the Patriots in the rematch on Sunday.
“He’s a good player, he makes the right decisions, he has a good arm and he can run and he can extend plays,” Chung said following team meetings yesterday at Gillette Stadium.
“So yeah, he’s a good player. I don’t know what people are saying about him but to us he’s a legit quarterback. Sometimes (being maligned) can be a good thing, it makes you play harder.”
Bortles enjoyed one of his best outings in the title match despite Jacksonville’s fourth-quarter collapse. The 6-foot-5, 236-pound quarterback completed 23-of-36 passes for 293 yards and a touchdown.
“I think (he was) very poised throughout the game and I thought he did a good job putting the ball on third down on a play down the sideline where only the receiver could catch it,” McCourty said.
“I think we have to be prepared obviously for the game-plan stuff that they know that we do defensively. I think he’s smart enough and a good enough quarterback that he can see something we are doing and audible and get them a different call that they probably gameplanned throughout the week.”
Bortles reminded the Patriots of his ability to elude pressure and take off down field in last weekend’s 20-15 road victory over the New York Giants.
On second-and-10 from the Jacksonville 8 with 3:30 to play in the third quarter, Bortles ran 41 yards down the sideline on an option keeper. Since joining the league, Bortles has topped all quarterbacks by averaging an NFL-best 6.4 yards per carry.
“The next thing we’ve got to worry about is him running with the ball,” said McCourty. “I think they have such a good running game when any back is in, (TJ) Yeldon, (Corey) Grant or obviously (Leonard) Fournette, they are back there they are running and running.
“A little later in that Giants game he keeps it and he is 41 yards down the sideline. So, I think we have to be ready for that and not fall asleep because he is a really good runner and a big guy.”
The Patriots defense did a good job containing Houston quarterback Deshaun Watson in Sunday’s season opener, holding him to 40 yards on eight carries and 17 completions for 176 yards.
“We all talked about last week about containing Deshaun Watson and we have to be prepared like that also for Blake Bortles,” said McCourty.
“If we open up a gap up front he’ll take off and run and hurt us.”