SEATTLE, Wash. – Gus Bradley absolutely believes in the Jaguars' players.
At the same time, the first-year head coach said he expects more – and better – than how the Jaguars played in a 45-17 loss to the Seattle Seahawks in front of 68,087 at CenturyLink Field in Seattle on Sunday afternoon.
"I believe in our team – I do," Bradley said after the Jaguars fell behind 24-0 at halftime and 38-10 at the end of the third quarter en route to a third consecutive loss to start the season. "I just believe we can do more, though – a lot more. We have to go through that journey together."
The Jaguars were outgained 479-265 and Seattle had 28 first downs to 17 for the Jaguars, but Bradley said he saw at least a few positives late in the game.
Wide receiver Cecil Shorts III caught eight passes for a career-high 143 yards, and the Jaguars scored two second-half touchdowns – a 2-yard run by running back Maurice Jones-Drew and a 3-yard run by backup running back Jordan Todman.
"It's tough," Jones-Drew said. "We have to start faster. We have to start much faster."
Jaguars quarterback Chad Henne, making a second consecutive start for injured starter Blaine Gabbert, completed 18 of 38 passes for 235 yards and no touchdowns. He also was intercepted twice.
"We really have to find out what we're doing well," Bradley said. "I know to you, on the outside, it might look like there's not much. But I know there's a lot we can build on. How we came out in the second half, and played and executed, that gives our guys some hope that we can continue to build off that.
"We have to continue to find out who we are and what we do well. In the second half, we had some things we can build on."
The Jaguars rushed for 51 yards on 24 carries, with Jones-Drew – a three-time Pro Bowl selection – rushing for 43 yards on 19 carries. The line allowed three sacks, and Bradley said the team needs to find out IF it is a better gap-blocking scheme or a better zone-blocking team.
The team moved to a zone-blocking-oriented approach before this season.
"It doesn't matter where we want to go," he said. "It's what best fits this personnel at this stage."
With rookie cornerback Demetrius McCray making his first start, Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson completed 14 of 21 passes for 202 yards and four touchdowns with an interception. Wilson left the game late in the third quarter, and the Seahawks scored two touchdowns after that.
McCray had five tackles and two passes defensed, but wide receiver Sidney Rice caught a 23-yard pass his way that set up an 11-yard touchdown that gave the Seahawks a 24-point halftime lead.
When safety Dwight Lowery left the game with a head injury on the first series, the Jaguars had three rookies in the secondary – safety Josh Evans, safety Johnathan Cyprien and McCray.
"There's some inexperience back there," Bradley said. "They'll grow from what happened today."
Bradley said while there are players who are struggling in spots, responsibility should be shared.
"That's what we need to evaluate," Bradley said. "There are all sides to blame in this. As coaches we can continue to find out better ways to coach our techniques and our principles. I don't know if they have that understanding yet."
INJURY REPORT
Lowery left the game with a head injury on the first series and did not return, and cornerback Will Blackmon left the game in the fourth quarter. He also did not return.
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QUOTABLE**
- Bradley on wide receiver Cecil Shorts III, who had 143 yards receiving – 128 in the second half: "We tried to go to him. We changed some things up in the second half to get him the ball based on some tendencies we had in the first half. We used those tendencies to get him some opps (opportunities)."
- Bradley: "It's a constant competition. We've got to see the guys who are making plays."
- LB Paul Posluszny: "We have to continue with the process – stay the course."
- QB Chad Henne: "The attitude of this team, from when I first got here last year, was, 'Never quit.' That's what I love about these guys. We just have to get that 'W,' and once we start going, they'll come in bunches."
- Shorts: "We just have to go out and compete, give it your all and believe in the process. Like Gus says all the time, 'Trust it and the results will come.' We're a very young team. We're still learning."
NOTABLE
- Shorts' 143 yards set a career high against one of the NFL's best secondaries. "It was fun," Shorts said. "We just have to learn from our mistakes and get ready for Indianapolis next week."
- The Jaguars had two sacks – one by leo defensive end Jason Babin and one by safety Johnathan Cyprien – and Cyprien forced a fumble for the second time in as many games.
- Jones-Drew was evaluated shortly before the game and the decision to play him came 90 minutes before kickoff. He played throughout after being questionable entering the weekend with a strained tendon in his ankle. "It was fine," Jones-Drew said.
WHAT'S NEXT
The Jaguars will play host to the Indianapolis Colts (2-1) at EverBank Field Sunday at 1 p.m.
