A week into training camp, Jacksonville Jaguars general manager David Caldwell noted a "night and day" difference between Blake Bortles' first and second seasons.
The difference goes beyond Bortles' overhauled throwing mechanics to a more confident demeanor.
That improvement -- both from a physical standpoint as well as a more poised approach in the pocket -- was evident in Friday's preseason opener versus the Steelers. Bortles completed 11 of 15 passes for 118 yards. Two of the incompletions were drops that should have gone for touchdowns.
NFL Media analyst Daniel Jeremiah wasn't alone in his optimism. Former teammate Cecil Shorts, now the No. 2 receiver for the Texans, is bullish on Bortles' future.
"He's tough. Determined to be great," Shorts said Monday, via Jayson Braddock of KFNC in Houston. "I think he'll be a superstar in this league."
At this time last year, Jaguars fans could hardly contain their enthusiasm after Bortles showcased his prototypical size, arm, athleticism and competitive drive in his first two preseason games.
If Bortles can consolidate those August gains and keep his throwing motion tight in regular-season action, Shorts' comments will seem prescient in a few months.
