Bortles' former college OC says problem is 'between his ears'

Blake Bortles' fall from franchise cornerstone in 2015 to potentially losing his starting job to Chad Henne has been dramatic, and the Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback's former college coach believes the mental strain is taking its toll.

"I think his issue at this stage is more that six inches between his ears than anything," Charlie Taaffe, Bortles' offensive coordinator at UCF from 2011-13, told the MMQB.com's Chris Burke. "I think it's a mental thing now. ...

"You read all the negativity, you hear all that, after a while - you're only human -it gets to you. ... I don't think it's so much of a physical thing, the mechanics. If anything it's the confidence factor. It's a tough business and, obviously, he hasn't progressed in the last year. There's a lot of reasons. A lot gets pinned on the quarterback, but they look pretty much like the same team I've seen over the time Blake's been there.

"They don't block very well, can't run the ball with any consistency which obviously hurts the quarterback, their pass protection is getting better but it's still a little suspect. A lot of moving parts where they're not a very good football team and quarterback's the focal point of it."

Henne will start over Bortles in the Jaguars' third preseason game on Thursday, and both quarterbacks will have a chance to play with the first team and compete for the job.

Jaguars head coach Doug Marrone admitted Bortles' job is at risk after a terrible performance in Jacksonville's second preseason game, highlighted by an egregious underthrow to Allen Robinson.

i feel bad for bortles sometimes. dude just looks exasperated after every bad throw pic.twitter.com/HeNC5VWsND

- charles mcdonald (@FourVerts) August 18, 2017

While the throw was bad, Taafe said Bortles' reaction to his mistake was more worrisome.

"I was a little concerned just seeing his body language the other night during the game," Taaffe said. "Particularly when he underthrew that deep ball. Just his reaction, you can tell it's really gotten to him. . . .

"His confidence obviously has to be shaken right now, because for the first time, he's been challenged by his coaching staff. He's always been a strong guy mentally and this could be good for him. Obviously, it's out on the table that, 'Hey, my job's being challenged and I've got to step up and get it done."

Despite Taafe's vote of confidence, Bortles may have passed the point of no return in Jacksonville.

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