Jaguars Must Move on From Blake Bortles, Upgrade QB

            By and large, Blake Bortles had a successful postseason. He did not commit a turnover in any of the Jacksonville Jaguars’ three playoff contests. He did just enough in the Wild-Card round versus the Buffalo Bills—using his legs (88 rushing yards) and allowing the defense to lead the way in a 10-3 win—and then guided the Jaguars to an upset victory against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field. He even had stretches of strong play in the near-upset of the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship, totaling 293 passing yards and pushing the Jaguars to a 20-10 lead before their fourth-quarter collapse.

            The Jaguars have a difficult decision to make this offseason with Bortles. The third overall pick in the 2014 Draft is due $19.1 million if he is on the roster by March 14. He was far from great this year, but did complete over 60 percent of his passes for the first time in his NFL career and threw a career-low 13 interceptions. Even so, Bortles was atrocious at some points of the season. The final two weeks of the regular season were particularly horrific, throwing five interceptions in two Jacksonville defeats.

            No matter what the statistics may show or what the coaches say, it’s clear the Jaguars don’t have full confidence in Bortles. They went super conservative at the end of the first half versus the Patriots, choosing to kneel the ball with 52 seconds and two timeouts left in their pocket as they took a 14-10 lead into intermission. It was the first time this season a team had taken a knee in the first half with over 50 seconds while maintaining two or more timeouts, according to ESPN Stats & Information.

The Jaguars need to decide if Blake Bortles is their QB of the future. (Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)

            With the game on the line against the Patriots, the Jaguars revealed their lack of trust in Bortles not to make mistakes. Up 10 in the fourth quarter and then later holding a three-point advantage, Jacksonville took the ball out of his hands, opting to pound the ball with Leonard Fournette, who struggled to get anything going on the ground in the second half after a strong start to the contest. Once the Patriots focused their attention on the Jaguars’ rushing attack, it was game over for Jacksonville’s offense. The Jaguars relied on their defense to close out the game, which it failed to do.

            A more reliable passer could have steered the Jaguars to their first Super Bowl appearance. They have a complete team. They led the league in rushing yards per game behind Fournette, earned their nickname of “Sacksonville” by constantly putting pressure on opposing quarterbacks, and forced 33 turnovers—the second-most in the NFL.

            Yet the Jaguars won’t be representing the AFC in Minneapolis in 10 days, mainly because they played scared on offense in the final quarter against New England. Although Bortles did not commit a turnover, his lack of playmaking skills allowed the Patriots to hone their attention on bottling up Fournette in the backfield and it worked.

            Jacksonville is ready to win now. They cannot allow the quarterback position to hold them back anymore. It will be a challenge to sustain success if they cannot find their long-term quarterback. Bortles is not that player. Jacksonville should do everything in their power to upgrade the position—whether that means trading for 34-year-old Alex Smith or the 37-year-old two-time champion Eli Manning, or if it requires throwing massive money at Kirk Cousins or even Case Keenum (presumably on a short-term contract) in free agency. If it means drafting a quarterback—no matter what round the selection—the Jaguars shouldn't be hesitant to pull the trigger to grab a player they like.

            The Jaguars are now at the level where it’s Super Bowl or bust. Bortles is a bust—not a championship-caliber quarterback.

Lou Williams Belongs in 2018 All-Star Game

                For the second time this season, Los Angeles Clippers guard Lou Williams was awarded the Western Conference Player of the Week. Appearing in four games in the week of Jan. 8 through Jan.14—all wins for the Clippers—Williams averaged 35 points per contest, shooting 45.7 percent from three-point territory and 96.7 percent from the free-throw line in 36.5 minutes per game.

Congratulations @TeamLou23! 👏#NBAVote 🔁 Retweet pic.twitter.com/3nY4Rg4Ere

— LA Clippers (@LAClippers) January 15, 2018

                The most noteworthy performance for Williams came against the defending champion Golden State Warriors. He scored a career-best 50 points in the upset victory.

                Williams began his campaign for a third Player of the Week honors with a bang on Monday night, totaling game-highs in points (31), assists (9) and plus/minus (+16) in a 113-102 win against the Houston Rockets, the franchise that traded him to LA this summer in a blockbuster deal for star guard Chris Paul.

                Williams, a 13-year veteran, is now a star himself and deserves to represent the Western Conference in the 2018 All-Star Game.  He is averaging career-highs in points (23.8), assists (5.0) and three-point percentage (41.6%). He has started 12 games and appeared in 30 games off the bench. Williams is currently the NBA’s leading bench scorer, averaging 21.8 points per game as a reserve.

                Carrying a Clippers team that many figured to miss the postseason—especially in the wake of a season-ending injury to starting guard Patrick Beverley—Los Angeles has a 22-21 record behind Williams, good enough for the Western Conference's No. 7 seed if the playoffs started today.

                Among Western Conference guards, Stephen Curry, James Harden and Russell Westbrook are locks to make the All-Star team. Based off the latest tally for fan voting, Curry and Harden will start the game, which means Westbrook will come off the bench.

                Williams will complete with the likes of Paul, the Portland Trail Blazers’ backcourt of Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum, the Phoenix Suns' Devin Booker, the Minnesota Timberwolves’ Jimmy Butler and the Warriors’ Klay Thompson for reserve spots in the All-Star Game. Williams has recorded a 22.9 player efficiency rating (PER), the third-most among the aforementioned players, trailing only Paul—who might get excluded from the roster because he has only appeared in 25 games this season—and Butler. With the Trail Blazers (22-21) only a game above .500, the team will likely have just one All-Star representative, so either Lillard or McCollum should get the short end of the stick. Booker has been a terrific scorer this season for the woeful Suns, but his lower PER (18.82) and major defensive inefficiencies make him a lesser All-Star candidate than Williams. Butler, who has elevated his level of play for Minnesota in the wake of Jeff Teague’s injury, is expected to make the All-Star roster.

                The catalyst of a surging Clippers squad, Williams should make the All-Star team over Thompson, who is the fourth-most important player on the Warriors behind Kevin Durant, Curry and Draymond Green. Thompson is a much better defensive player than Williams, but has had a far less impact on his team’s success this season.

Klay Thompson is looking to make his fourth straight All-Star Game appearance. (Noah Graham/Getty Images)

                The West had just four guards on the All-Star team last year, but this season it could roster at least six guards (two starters and four reserves). It will be up to the voting of the coaches and players to put Williams in his first career All-Star Game, a recognition he certainly merits.

Dion Lewis is the Most Talented Patriots Running Back of the Tom Brady Era

                Countless running backs have thrived for the New England Patriots since Tom Brady took over the starting quarterback duties in 2001.

                The most prominent fixture in the running back rotation of the Brady-era, Kevin Faulk was utilized primarily as a pass-catching back. Faulk spent his entire 13-year (1999-2011) career with the franchise and was elected to the Patriots Hall of Fame.

                Short-term former workhorses include two-time Super Bowl champion  Antowain Smith (2001-03), 2004 Pro Bowler and Super Bowl champion Corey Dillon (2004-06), Lawrence Maroney (2006-09)—who rushed for over 100 yards in consecutive playoff games following the 2007 perfect regular season—BenJarvus Green-Ellis (2008-2011), Stevan Ridley (2011-14) and two-time Super Bowl champion LeGarrette Blount (2013, 2014-16).

                Now an afterthought in the Patriots current running back corps, James White put together one of the best performances in Super Bowl history just 11 months ago—catching 14 passes for 110 yards and a score, and turning six carries into 29 yards and two touchdowns in the Patriots’ historic comeback win in Super Bowl LI.

                Rex Burkhead has looked tremendous when healthy this season and even Mike Gillislee, a frequent healthy scratch, managed five touchdowns on the year.

                But White, Burkhead and Gillislee didn’t come close to the production of Dion Lewis, the team’s lead back after starting out the year fourth-string in the rotation. Statistics aside, they simply can’t measure up talent wise to Lewis—in fact, no running back from the Brady-era can.

                Lewis—who carried the ball a career-high 26 times for 93 yards and a touchdown with a season-high six receptions for 40 yards and another score in Sunday’s win over the New York Jets—is as dynamic and complete a player as running backs come. He rarely gets brought down by the first would-be tackler. He forced 49 missed tackles and registered 3.17 yards after contact, both team-highs, according to Pro Football Focus. Even more impressive, Lewis ranked first in Pro Football Focus’ “elusive rating,” which combines missed tackles and yards after contact.

                A force in the passing game, Lewis did not drop a single pass (35 targets) all season, one of only 11 players to see more than 30 targets without dropping a pass. In terms of catch rate, he ranked first (91.4%) in the league among qualified players.

                Not only is Lewis an elite ball-carrier and pass-catcher, he also excels as a blocker in pass protection. He did not allow any QB hurries on 35 blocks this season. Lewis and teammate James Develin, a Pro Bowl selection, were two of four players to not allow any pressures among qualified halfbacks and fullbacks.

                The explosiveness of Lewis is matched by few running backs across the league. He has all the makings of a superstar, and proved that by totaling four touchdowns in the past two weeks in which he has been given a full workload in the backfield. 

                Lewis is a free agent in the offseason and could be in line for a big payday elsewhere. So before the Patriots go for their third Lombard Trophy in four seasons, let’s take a chance to recognize how special a player Lewis has been this year—just in case the most talented Patriots running back (since Brady has been under center) departs after the season.

Calais Campbell Should Win NFL Defensive Player of the Year

            After selecting my winner for NFL MVP on Tuesday, here is a look at the top Defensive Player of the Year (DPOY) candidates.

            The 2017 DPOY race was fiercely competitive with several players worthy of recognition. Last year, it essentially came down to the Oakland Raiders’ Khalil Mack versus the Denver Broncos’ Von Miller—with Mack narrowly winning the award for leading the Raiders to an unexpected playoff appearance as Miller’s Broncos failed to reach the postseason. This season, three defensive stalwarts stand above the rest.

(3) Cameron Jordan, Defensive End, New Orleans Saints

After years of the Saints’ defense being anywhere from mediocre to flat-out terrible, this year’s unit has enjoyed a renaissance. Jordan is the stabilizing force of the transformation, as the defense finally delivered on its end of the bargain for a franchise that has seemingly been lost on that side of the ball since its 2009 Super Bowl campaign. The Saints’ stellar defensive play coincided with the team’s willingness to adopt to a run-first offense behind Pro Bowlers Mark Ingram and Alvin Kamara, the rookie sensation—even with all-time great Drew Brees still under center.

Jordan wrecked havoc on opposing offenses, registering career-highs in sacks (13) and passes defended (12). The 2011 first-round pick is one of the top pass rushers in the league and enjoyed his best season as a pro.

Cameron Jordan led the New Orleans Saints to their first NFC South title since 2011. (Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

Unmatched versatility, Jordan is also arguably the best run-defending edge in the league. He recorded 17 tackles for a loss—tied for the third most in the NFL.  

(2) Aaron Donald, Defensive Tackle, Los Angeles Rams

            The most explosive defensive tackle in the NFL, Donald has been a top-tier player for each of his first four seasons in the league. He is guiding the Rams’ defensive attack, which complements the highest-scoring offense in the NFL. He has the respect of his peers, including division-rival and Super Bowl champion quarterback Russell Wilson, who called Donald, “the best defensive player” in football.

            Appearing in 14 games—missing one to injury and another to rest in Week 17—Donald led all interior rushers with 11 sacks. He forced five fumbles, tied for the second most in the league. According to Pro Football Focus, Donald had 91 pressures in 2017.

            With the NFC West champion Rams on the rise and in the playoffs for the first time in 13 years, Donald’s chances to receive the DPOY award are better than ever before. He finished fourth in DPOY voting last season and came in second in 2015. Many voters will put Donald atop their list, and it’s hard to imagine him finishing outside the top-3 in any ballot. However, if I had a vote, it would go to the player who jumpstarted the Jacksonville defensive dominance, transforming the Jaguars from a laughingstock to a legitimate Super Bowl contender...

(1) Calais Campbell, Defensive End, Jacksonville Jaguars

            The unequivocal leader of the best defense in the NFL, Campbell has been worth every penny of the four-year, $60 million deal the Jaguars dished his way in the offseason. Campbell had a career-best 14.5 sacks—second only to former teammate Chandler Jones—after failing to hit the double-digit mark in sacks in the first nine years of his career with the Arizona Cardinals. He forced three fumbles and recovered one for a touchdown for a Jaguars defense that ranked second in turnovers forced (21).

Campbell scored a touchdown against his former team in Week 12. (Norm Hall/Getty Images)

            The Jaguars were second in total defense (both in yards and points allowed), trailing only the Minnesota Vikings. Jacksonville relies on its defense to win games, as their offense is nothing special (some of the team’s stats, such as their sixth-ranked offense, are misleading as the defense scored five touchdowns of its own and created many more scoring opportunities), despite improved play from QB Blake Bortles and a terrific rookie campaign from halfback Leonard Fournette.

            Renowned for his flexibility as a player, Campbell can be used in various defensive packages and provides a vocal leader with proven success in the clubhouse. Campbell helped the AFC South champion Jaguars reach the playoffs for the first time in 10 years, as the franchise has its eyes set on its first Super Bowl appearance in team history.

Tom Brady Likely Edges Out Todd Gurley for MVP

Playing in his 18^th season at the age of 40, Tom Brady is a near-lock to win the 2017 NFL Most Valuable Player award. Already earning the league MVP honors twice before (2007, 2010), Brady led the New England Patriots to a 13-3 record and the No. 1 seed in the AFC as the franchise earned its eighth consecutive bye for the postseason.

            Brady led the NFL in passing yards (4,577), and ranked third in touchdowns (32) and third in passer rating (102.8). According to metrics determined by Football Outsiders, Brady was the best quarterback in terms of total value and total value per play.

Tom Brady was the best player of the 2017 NFL season. (Bob DeChiara/USA TODAY Sports)

            The likely runner-up for MVP, Todd Gurley, spearheaded the 11-5 Los Angeles Rams’ high-octane offense, which ranked first in points per game (29.9)—a year after the team finished dead last in points and yards per contest. A workhouse for the Rams, the running back totaled 1,305 rushing yards with 13 touchdowns, and added 788 receiving yards and six more scores. He registered these breathtaking numbers despite resting in Week 17. Teammate Aaron Donald could be named the Defensive Player of the Year, but no one was more instrumental to the Rams’ first winning season since 2003 than Gurley.

Todd Gurley carried the Rams to a historic offensive turnaround. (Harry How/ Getty Images)

            Gurley amassed eight touchdowns in his final three games played and pushed the Rams to the NFC West title and the third-seed in the NFC playoffs. He generated plenty of MVP buzz after becoming the first running back ever to win two consecutive NFC Player of the Week honors (Week 15, 16). His superhuman statistics down the stretch will give some voters pause in selecting Brady for MVP. But ultimately, the award takes into account the entire year, and no player had a more impressive season résumé than Brady.

            The most reasonable—and likely scenario—sees the league hand the MVP award to Brady and the Offensive Player of the Year to Gurley.