Ask Vic:
Bubba from Pocatello, ID
Vic, is Mike Vrabel ready to be a head coach? Three years on the sidelines (only one as a DC) and he’s good to go? Really?
He’s an impressive man, but I would agree the Titans accepted a major risk in firing a veteran coach who had raised the team from the depths of the league to within one win of the AFC title game. Let’s not forget, the Titans beat the Jaguars twice. Now, they’ve hired a defensive-minded coach for a team whose issues are on offense, which is Mike Mularkey’s specialty. How is it going to impact Marcus Mariota’s development? This coaching change is loaded with downside risk.
Robert from Orlando, FL
Are the Jags back next year, or is this a 2007-like mirage?
These Jaguars aren’t a snowman; they won’t melt during the offseason. It’s a young, talented roster on a team loaded with salary cap room. Quarterback is the issue. The Jags can remain a playoff contender without addressing quarterback, but I don’t think they can go to the championship level without an upgrade. Hey, they were afraid to pass the ball with 55 seconds left in the first half. I saw it earlier in the season, too, when they were afraid to throw the ball off their own goal line in overtime against the Jets. They tried to play around the most important club in their bag all season, and that tells me all I need to know about Doug Marrone’s opinion of his quarterback. You can’t play that way in today’s game and expect to win. Playing scared won’t work.
Ryan from Las Vegas, NV
Vic, I haven’t asked a question since you’ve been back but you bet I’ve been reading. It’s so great to have you around again. Look into your crystal ball. The Jaguars had a period with four playoff years in a row and two AFC championship games. Then they went 18 years in between championship games. Which scenario is more likely to repeat itself?
Tom Coughlin won’t make the same mistake. He won’t let the team become a cap casualty again. The Jaguars are at the start of a long run of playoff contention.
Pat from Seneca, SC
“Boston will go back to being the bad football town it always was.” That was provocative; please expand. Is there anything the Patriots could do to change how football is viewed in Boston? Is Boston unique when it comes to how football is viewed?
Boston is a Red Sox town. After that come the Bruins and then the Celtics. It was always that way until Tom Brady came along. When he’s gone, it’ll go back to how it was. It’s in Boston’s DNA.
Tyler from Dunnellon, FL
In 2007, despite a great year, you said you were concerned (the Jaguars) team was actually in the middle of its window closing, not opening. Is the window now opening or closing?
It’s opening, but how wide it opens is the issue. David Garrard was not “The Man,” and the Jaguars didn’t have the time to find “The Man” before they got old. I think this Jaguars team will have the opportunity to address the quarterback position in this offseason. Drew Brees and Kirk Cousins are scheduled for free agency — so is Jimmy Garoppolo but the 49ers would likely put the exclusive franchise tag on him.
Stephen from Jacksonville, FL
What is your opinion of the Jaguars’ offensive line? The number one-ranked run offense disappeared too often this season to be deserving of its title. The inability to run the ball in the second half of the AFC championship game played a significant role in the Jaguars’ loss. Do you think they need to make upgrades to the line for next season?
When you’re a one-trick pony, your opponent can focus on taking away your only trick. The Jaguars need a real passing game, not just one built on drags, delays, swings, screens and checkdowns. That’s scheme stuff and it worked early but not late. Plays win early, players win late. The Jaguars need to upgrade their passing game talent.
Logan from Lino Lakes, MN
Vic, will you be hanging around Mobile this week? Looking forward to hearing who Tony likes for the Packers.
I asked Tony Pauline for the name of somebody he likes for the Packers. This is what he gave me: “Keep an eye on Marcus Davenport, UT-San Antonio. Working at DE here but devastating 3-4 OLB in college.”
Brian from Yakima, WA
With the recent reports of Bell being repeatedly tardy to team functions, even basically not showing up for the final walk-through, is this a player that should get paid? Obviously, the talent is there, but if the reports are accurate, I’m shocked at the display of commitment to a team with a real shot at the Super Bowl at the time.
The franchise tag breeds enmity. The Steelers knew that and were likely prepared to accept a negative reaction by Le’Veon Bell. Hey, it’s nothing personal, just business, right? The Steelers are not a feel-good team. They don’t mind a little angst. They don’t mind allowing their players and their coaches to stew in their own juices. Bell’s behavior has weakened his position. I think Mike Tomlin’s failure to coach the defense out of its late-season skid will have taken a little of the bounce out of his step, too. All of that is good for the Steelers. Peace and tranquility are not virtues for a football team. Winning isn’t a byproduct of job security. Confrontation and angst work best. As Tom Coughlin once told me, “I don’t want a lot of people walking around here with smiles on their faces.”
Chase from Rapid City, SD
Vic, do you believe college football players should stay for all four years at their university before going on to declare for the NFL draft?
I don’t believe anyone should be held hostage and denied advancement, but I don’t like the farce that is the commitment the top players make but never intend to honor. These are our esteemed institutions of higher learning. They are where young people with genuine academic intentions go to become the leaders of our nation’s future. I’d prefer to see players who aren’t sincere about their commitment move directly from high school to the NFL. Maybe Cookie Gilchrist was ahead of his time. I think it’s time for the NFL to fund its own system for developing talent.
Andrew from Mount Dora, FL
Vic, you mentioned the Packers need one or two great players to fix the defense next year. Do you think there are any players available where the Packers pick this year that could fit the need?
Where the Packers are picking, they should be able to find exactly what they need.
Andrew from Minneapolis, MN
If Brady wins with or without Gronk, Deion Branch, Wes Welker, etc., who from the Patriots’ Super Bowl rosters should go into the Hall of Fame? Is everybody riding Brady’s coattails?
Ty Law is the only true Patriots player in the Brady era I see as a Hall of Famer, and it’s going to be a fight for Law to get in. Some might say Richard Seymour; I wouldn’t. By and large, it’s been Brady and a cast of misfit toys.
Dan from Sebastopol, CA
What are your keys to victory for both New England and Philadelphia?
Chatty says you beat the Patriots with man-to-man coverage, but the Jaguars have the best man corners in the league and they got trashed. For the Eagles to win, I think the quarterback must go down and the quarterback must go down hard. This Super Bowl will be decided by the Eagles’ pass rush or the Patriots’ ability to block it.
J.G. from Silver Spring, MD
Peer into the “Ask Vic” crystal ball. Who starts at QB in Week 1 for the Jaguars?
I’ll say Kirk Cousins. I think Drew Brees is too intelligent not to get a deal done with the Saints. He’s the hero of New Orleans. He must never play for another team, and I think he gets that.
Chad from Troy, MI
What is your favorite trick play you’ve ever seen executed?
It’s one I invented for my all-star baseball team. I called it the pop up play. When the pitcher saw the runner at first break for second, he threw a pitch out to the catcher, who then threw a pop up in the infield. The second baseman began yelling “I got it, I got it,” which caused the runner to stop and retreat to first base, where the ball was waiting for him.
Lori from Brookfield, WI
Vic, Leonard Fournette’s spin moves are remarkable. Which players have impressed you with their signature moves?
I’m not a spin move kind of guy. I like one cut and go. I liked Earl Campbell’s charging bull move. Fournette reminds me of Campbell. I think he should charge more and spin less. In my mind, if you’re not running the ball with power, you’re not running the ball. Power forces defenses to commit extra defenders to the line of scrimmage, and when that happens, the running game has won.
Richard from Jacksonville, FL
Vic, what’s your opinion on whistles being blown too early on turnovers? There have been several instances this year of a fumble return being blown dead inappropriately. I understand the safety aspect, but the plays seem so important to games that the refs should let the play go unless 100 percent sure the play is over.
Richard, you’re whining. I think you need to remember the score was 20-10 and the Jaguars had the No. 1 pass defense and its “Sacksonville” pass rush to protect that lead, but they didn’t get it done at crunch time. In my opinion, that unit spent too much energy celebrating itself. It should remember the numbers 772-7; that’s the numbers of yards and touchdowns passing it allowed in the final two games.
Dan from Grand Rapids, MI
Recently, I read an article arguing why Vince Lombardi is still a greater coach than Bill Belichick. The basic crux of the argument was Lombardi won four titles in nine years and didn’t have Tom Brady. Even though Belichick has the greatest QB of all time, he still has to be considered the greatest coach of all time, right? What he has done in the salary cap era is nothing short of remarkable. If you had to pick one, who is your greatest coach of all time?
It would be Lombardi because I think his persona has had a greater and more lasting impact on the game than that of any other coach in the game’s history. Lombardi defines the essence of the game, which is human confrontation. I’m not sure what Belichick defines. I don’t think he wants to define anything other than winning and, frankly, quarterbacks define winning. Nearly all of the great coaches won their titles with one quarterback.
John Oehser Senior writer jaguars.com Follow John on twitter Like The O-Zone on facebook
ORLANDO, FL – Let’s get to it …
What is your best prediction for Blake Bortles? Do we let him walk? Do we pay him his $19.1 million option? Do we extend him – and if so, what kind of potential deal would he get?
John: My thought as of now – four days after the season – is I believe Bortles probably will be the Jaguars’ quarterback next season, but I don’t think it’s a given. The Jaguars will explore options at all positions, and quarterback certainly will be the major decision. And I do think there’s a possibility the Jaguars explore veteran options via trade or unrestricted free agency. How realistic are options such as Alex Smith and/or Kirk Cousins? Time will tell. What would the Kansas City Chiefs want in exchange for Smith? Would the Jaguars be able to woo Cousins – provided he doesn’t re-sign with the Washington Redskins – in a quarterback-thirsty free-agent market? It’s clearly uncertain and there clearly is a possibility Bortles won’t return; if that wasn’t the case, he already would be signed to a long-term deal. I’ve said for a while I believe Bortles will be the quarterback next season and play on his $19.1 million contract. If he plays well next season and shows continued development, then the sides could work out a long-term deal – and if he doesn’t, the team could move on. If the team was still uncertain about his future in that scenario, they could then franchise him for the 2019 season. There are issues and unanswerable questions galore on this topic. I suspect the answers will get a lot more answerable in the next month or so.
So … 29th. Whom are Jags picking?
John: Wide receiver or offensive lineman … that’s my early thought.
Not really a question as much as an observation – this was our ’84 Bears season. Coming from nowhere to reach the conference championship game on the back of a strong defense and a powerful running game. Next year is our 1985.
John: That’s certainly the hope. The Bears in 1984 not only won the NFC Central, they began emerging as an NFC power with a young defense. They beat the two-time defending NFC Champion Washington Redskins on the road in the divisional round – a relatively similar accomplishment to the Jaguars beating the Pittsburgh Steelers on the road in the divisional round earlier this month. The Bears then lost the NFC Championship Game, 23-0, to a powerful 49ers team then in the early stages of a dynastic run. That championship-game loss motivated the Bears throughout 1985 to one of the great seasons in NFL history. We’ll see if the Jaguars follow suit.
Will the Jaguars submit their questionable calls to the NFL office for review? If so, what is the typical response? The league office has stated they missed a call – or maybe that’s the NBA?
John: Teams routinely submit calls to the league office for clarification. The NFL indeed often admits mistakes. The response? Typically something akin to, “Sorry.” If that seems as if it doesn’t particularly ease the pain when critical, season-ending calls are missed … you’re right. It doesn’t.
I just read on my phone that Roger Goodell confirmed that the NFL does sometimes “help” with the outcome of a game so that they can create a bigger revenue – just like the WWW – so does that confirm that the refs worked against us and for the Patriots and quarterback Tom Brady last Sunday? There were just too many Patriots penalties that were not called. Do you believe that this will go unanswered by the NFL or will the owners get together and demand honest officiating?
John: I think there’s something wrong with your phone. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell certainly never admitted anything close to that publicly. To do so would call into question the integrity of the entire league.
So now Mike Florio has the ability to look into a player’s mind and heart and discern intent? I see a very different intent and a very different take on whether the hit on Gronk was intended to harm; sure it was illegal according to the rule, but the rule ignores that in many cases when you hit someone above the chest their head is going to go forward and probably hit the helmet of the other player. … Laws of physics: action equals reaction.
John: I don’t pay all that much attention to Florio, though I’m sure he spends hours perusing the hidden meaning behind everything I say or write – sort of like trying to figure out if Paul is really dead. But anyone who saw Jaguars safety Barry Church’s hit on Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski last Sunday as a hit with intent to injure was watching a different game than I saw.
What’s the difference between an “All Pro” and a “Pro Bowler” – and I don’t mean the kind that gets paid for bowling.
John: A Pro Bowl selection is a player selected to the Pro Bowl, which could mean he is selected in the original process in December and also could mean he is named to the game if a player originally selected to the game is unable to play. An All-Pro player typically designates a player named first- or second-team Associated Press All-Pro. Both are prestigious honors, but All-Pro – by virtue of their being far few players named – is considered the more prestigious.
I think we agree that guard could be our late first-round pick. I think a charging rhino that opens holes for our “run-first” offense could be the big difference, along with maybe a receiving tight end. Or are we at more of Best-Available-Player level now?
John: We sort of agree in the sense that I believe a guard is possible at the end of the first round, but I consider that a small possibility. I would guess tight end, wide receiver or right tackle would be the selection there with interior lineman more of a possibility late.
Just curious why you didn’t list cornerback as one of the Jags’ needs with Aaron Colvin leaving. Obviously, the Top 2 are world class but we do play a ton of nickel. Do you think a player currently on the roster will step up? Thanks O-Zone.
John: That was an oversight. Nickel corner clearly will be a need if Colvin leaves.
If it’s me, I either sign Drew Brees to biggest three-year contract of all time or I aggressively trade up to get whatever quarterback I think is the best.
John: I won’t be surprised if the Jaguars seriously explore quarterback this offseason, but I doubt the Jaguars do either of these things. I’ll be shocked if Brees isn’t playing for the New Orleans Saints next season because both sides want that to happen – and I’ll be shocked if the Jaguars trade up for a rookie quarterback because I can’t see them being able to get high enough to get a player they would want to start immediately – if such a player actually exists in this year’s draft.
Is there much of a chance free agents like Paul Posluszny, Aaron Colvin, Marqise Lee, and/or Allen Robinson would sign a team-friendly contract to remain part of this ascending team? Do you think there is a very good chance the team pays Blake Bortles the fifth year and sign him long term next year if he continues improving?
John: I would be stunned if Colvin, Lee or Robinson sign cap-friendly deals. They’re young, ascending players who have every right to make as much money as they possibly can as they enter the primes of their careers. I do believe Posluszny could sign such a deal. He wants to finish his career in Jacksonville, and my sense is he wants to play at least another season or two.
Firstly, I’m a Bortles backer. I’ve got to admit though that I’m extremely intrigued about the possibility of Kirk Cousins in teal. I can’t help but be nervous about the idea of booting a guy who clearly has the support of his team, from a team like this. Tight knit, loud, expressive and loyal. How do you think the other 52 would look at the team bringing in another starter after this run?
John: How good is the new guy? How tough is the new guy? This is not a snide answer. Rather, it is to make the point that the Jaguars’ locker room absolutely supported Bortles this past season and I believe most players would love to have him back. They respect him and like playing with him. At the same time, if the Jaguars brought in a player who truly could help the team win more than Bortles and displayed similar toughness, leadership, etc., they would play for that player, too. Players want to win. They adapt. And if it happens, the Jaguars’ players would adjust to a different quarterback.
O-Zone carried me through. Thanks, John.