Category: Uncategorized

O-Zone: Never easy

 

John Oehser Senior writer jaguars.com

JACKSONVILLE – Let’s get to it …

Philip from Belleville, NJ:
We always say this team can beat anyone in the NFL. I think we learned on Sunday the opposite is also true. This team can also lose to any team in the league as well. See the Jets, Cardinals and 49ers.

John: Of course the Jaguars are capable of losing to any team in the NFL – and we didn’t really learn this Sunday. We’ve known this all season because it has been obvious to anyone watching this team that that’s true. The Jaguars are capable of playing well enough defensively and offensively to beat any team in the NFL. That’s because if this team gets a lead and starts making plays offensively, it can extend that lead and be in a position to close the game in the second half. When this team is closing the game knowing opponents must throw, it’s very dangerous because this pass rush can close the door and its secondary can force turnovers at a higher rate than many NFL teams. That’s the Jaguars’ best formula for victory – and it’s a better formula for victory than most NFL teams possess this season. But yes … if the Jaguars don’t play well, they’re very capable of losing to any team. If they commit more turnovers than they force and if they get penalized 12 times for nearly 100 yards, they absolutely can lose to anyone. Guess what? The same is true of pretty much any NFL team.

Fred from Naples, FL:
Caught on camera stealing the Christmas gifts out of the trash cans #shadricksighting

John: #DTWD

Armand from Jacksonville:
John, in the future do you see officials being full-time employees and four working with the team during training camp and preseason but not working their host team’s game?

John: Perhaps, and it does seem we’re headed somewhere in this direction. That’s because the slightest officiating error causes people to yell from the mountaintops about the need for full-time officials. I’m not big on this concept because I’m not a big believer that you’re going to see a dramatic, noticeable difference in the quality of officiating simply by making officials full time. I guess I’m just not sure how they’re going to improve with year-round practice and training. Are they going to know rules better? Are they going to be in better shape to be in better position to make calls? Perhaps. But the NFL moves at high speed and it is a game of extreme contact and violence. Some calls are going to get missed – and my guess is there would be missed calls with full-time officials, too.

Bill from Melbourne, FL:
Since the NFL has been trying to shed its image as the “No Fun League,” do think we’ll ever see the Jaguar logo wearing his Santa hat at midfield anytime soon?

John: I don’t know, but that would be cool. Fans liked it. So did a lot people. And why not?

Tony from Perryville, AR:
John, how long is Calais Campbell’s contract for? Since I’ve been a fan (1997), I can’t think of an offseason signing that has had such an impact on this organization. It’s obvious of how much he has helped this defense in terms of his play on the field. But after watching the Sound FX piece, and seeing him work the team on the sideline, it is clear his effect on the whole team. His attitude, his fire, is infectious. It seems to make the others around him play to a whole new level. While this team was destined to be better this year, I don’t believe they would be “this” good without him. I hope he’s a Jaguar for as long as possible. #DTWD

John: Campbell’s contract runs through 2020 – and I imagine there’s a very good chance Campbell retires with the Jaguars. Campbell’s effect on this organization indeed has been remarkable. I started believing early on he could be the rarest of players in the sense that he could have a lasting impact on two franchises and possibly be remembered as an all-time great player with both the Cardinals and the Jaguars. Players rarely perform at a high level long enough to have a chance to make such an impact on two franchises. Players that do perform at such a level for so long also rarely have the impact in the community and in the locker room in two places as Campbell. I don’t want to say that Campbell is the best combination of on-field performance and off-field impact I’ve ever seen or covered. That would be diminishing a few all-time greats in both areas I’ve covered in a couple of different cities, but I will say I can’t imagine a player being a better combination that Campbell. He’s that good – and no, the Jaguars wouldn’t be “this” good without him. No way.

Steven from Memphis, TN:
As the Jags enter the playoffs, what are the team’s weaknesses or areas of concern? I will suggest a few and see if you agree and can add some more. One is tight end and the other is lack of playoff experience.

John: I can’t call tight end overall a weakness, because Marcedes Lewis is a key to this team’s run-blocking ability and the Jaguars’ run offense hardly is a weakness. Now, would it nice to have a big-time receiving threat? Sure. Remember, though: every NFL team has weaknesses, even Super Bowl-winning teams. Obviously a lack of playoff experience is another weakness. You ideally would love to have a quarterback with a bunch of playoff victories and a roster around him that had been there a lot, too. The Jaguars don’t. At the same time, a lot of teams without much playoff experience have won Super Bowls, so I wouldn’t fret this too much.

Tom from St. John’s, FL:
I am confused about one aspect of the “catch” controversy. By rule, when any part of the ball crossing the plane of the goal line, it is at that moment a touchdown – and example after example can be cited. By the same token, a pass is not complete if it crosses the sideline plane until it is controlled. Seems to me the rule is in place but was totally ignored in the most recent incident. By the way, I loved the “index card” validation.

John: Your theory has merit, but an NFL player must control the catch to the ground – and perhaps a little beyond – regardless of whether the plane has been broken. I agree that there is some overlap and gray area philosophically in the rules in this instance, but that’s the way it is.

Josh from Fernandina Beach, FL:
O-Man, do you think we’ll see another summons from Leonard Fournette this year? He looks hungry having missed a game or two this year. GO JAGS!!

John: I don’t know if we’ll see another summons, but Leonard Fournette’s a pretty creative and dynamic guy. I imagine we’ll see something worth watching sooner rather than later.

Charlie from Horseville:
So are you still politically correct?

John: Is it politically correct to say I still hate you?

Steve from Section 409:
Dear O, Master of the NFL Arts: Back in July I recall Barry Church saying the Jags had more talent than the Cowboys. Some of his former teammates were incredulous and just laughed at him. With the Cowboys fighting for their playoff lives, who’s laughing now?

John: A lot of people did doubt Church when he spoke of the Jaguars’ talent level – and yes, people laughed at him. I sort of laughed, too. You know what’s funnier? A lot of Jaguars fans are still laughing.

Jaginator from (formerly of Section 124):
The Steelers beat the Texans, as expected. This means that the Jags won’t be able to move up or down in the playoff seeding; they’ll be locked into the No. 3 seed. I hope/pray/dream that the Jags don’t go to Nashville with the idea of resting starters. They may not be able to improve their own seeding, but beating the Titans would almost guarantee that they’re eliminated from the playoffs. I don’t want to be in the position of seeing the Titans come back to EverBank Field in the wild card round, knowing that they’ve already beaten us twice in the regular season.

John: I don’t have a clear idea as of Tuesday morning how the Jaguars will approach Sunday. My guess is they’ll enter the game playing to win, which will probably mean playing all healthy players in their normal roles. My guess also is that anyone in a relatively injured capacity won’t play. I wouldn’t spend this week stressing too much about the first-round playoff opponent. Remember: the Jaguars must play someone in the first round. That opponent will be a playoff team and therefore will be a capable opponent. If the Jaguars play well, they will have a good chance to win. If they don’t, they won’t. It’s the playoffs. It’s not supposed to be easy and rarely is.
 
 

 

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O-Zone: Not over yet

John Oehser Senior writer jaguars.com

JACKSONVILLE – It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas – because it is Christmas.

So, celebrate, OK? At least a little.

The Jaguars on Sunday lost to the San Francisco 49ers, 44-33, but also clinched their first AFC South title. They didn’t really celebrate at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, because it’s tough for players and coaches to pull on AFC South T-Shirts and hats after losing a game they clearly wanted to win.

But it’s a day later now, and this forum isn’t about players and coaches. It’s mostly about loyal, long-time readers and fans who have waited 18 years for a division title.

It didn’t happen in ideal fashion, but it did happen. So, the Jaguars are assured a home playoff game. And they’re assured of no worse than the No. 3 seed in the AFC. They earned that by winning 10 of the first 14 regular-season games.

It’s only the third division title in franchise history, which means this will at some point be rightly remembered as one of the best seasons in this team’s history.

Let that resonate on Christmas. Enjoy it. And have an egg nog, OK? For me?

Let’s get to it …

Daniel from Jersey City, NJ:
O-man, making history wasn’t as fun as I’d hoped, imagined or expected. Sigh.

John: All true, but as I said above, the sting and weirdness of Sunday will fade soon enough and the memory of what this season has been to this point will take its place. The 2017 Jaguars deserved the AFC South title and there’s still much about this team that should give people hope for the postseason. It’s not a perfect team, but no NFL team is perfect. And the Jaguars are no more flawed than they were this time last week. It’s a team with a good enough defense to beat any team in the NFL. It’s a team that must play with a lot more discipline than it did in the second half Sunday. It’s a team with a quarterback who in the last month is improving and who has shown this season he is capable of huge games for a team that can beat good teams. He also has shown he can still throw interceptions at inopportune times – just as the Jaguars’ rookie receivers have shown this season and showed again Sunday they are still young players capable of huge plays and big mistakes. Where does that leave the Jaguars? Pretty much where it looked like they would be before Sunday. With a home playoff game, probably on Wild Card Weekend. And with a chance to win that game and get to the divisional round. After that, who knows?

JP from Jacksonville:
Merry Christmas to you and your family! The Manning family is known for their football skills. The Kennedys are known for their political ambition. The Kardashians are known for … well, I’m not really sure. My question to you is, “What are the Oehsers known for?

John: Fear. And the cool clothes we wear.

Thad from Albuquerque:
This defense is not elite! This defense is horrible and we are going to be one and done in the playoffs.

John: Chill, Thad. Good teams have bad days. Good defenses – even great ones – have bad days. I watched the 2000 Baltimore Ravens allow Jaguars wide receiver Jimmy Smith nearly 300 yards receiving in a game – and that defense was one of the best two or three defenses of all time. The Jaguars’ defense is good. It can win in the postseason. That’s not to say they can’t lose in the postseason, but the Jaguars absolutely can win in the playoffs.

Josh from Harrisburg, PA:
Happy festivus to you and yours. I hope the feats of strength last well into the New Year.

John: Indeed.

Shane from Atlanta, GA:
At least we can rest our starters next week??

John: Very possibly – and the Jaguars also have another week to get wide receivers Marqise Lee and Allen Hurns back. That could matter very much.

Chris from Jacksonville:
And we’re brutally batted back down to earth by a team we should have easily beaten … this looked like the Bradley Jaguars.

John: Yes, Alex … I’ll take Short-Sighted Overreactions for 400 please …

No D from Loserville:
Bad Blake is back! Best Defense in the league? I think not! Leonard Fournette not worth the No. 4 overall pick. Back to laughingstock of league and now all the naysayers will be out in full force. And for good reason!

John: Thank you, Alex … Short-Sighted Overreactions for 500 …

Bryan from Portland, OR:
John, I’ve never seen a more unprofessional and emotional officiating crew. They seemed to let the game get away from them. Is it just me being biased, or was this crew out there intervening in ways they shouldn’t have?
John: That was my first reaction, but it’s honestly hard to tell until I re-watch the game. It’s sometimes hard when writing multiple stories to tell from the press box whether a specific penalty should or shouldn’t have been called. I plan to watch the game Monday. I hope I have a better feel then.

Shane from Atlanta, GA:
This loss could be the best thing that’s happened to us.

John: I’m usually not a believer this theory – that teams need “wakeup calls.” I usually just sort of believe that sometimes good teams lose games, and then those good teams play better after that – as good teams have a tendency to do. But you know what? I sort of believe the wake-up call thing could work with this team. I don’t necessarily think the Jaguars were flat Sunday; I think they just took a while to adjust to what the 49ers were doing offensively early and then they did a good job of getting back in the game. But it did seem the emotion of the moment got to the Jaguars at some key points in the second half, particularly with the defensive penalties that were incredibly costly. If the team can learn from that and play with control in that situation in the postseason … then, yeah … Sunday eventually could be a good thing.

Brian from Gainesville, FL:
Big O, I’m not asking this question sarcastically. I’m honestly asking because I want to know. Why do players get into stupid little skirmishes or head butt opponents in game situations that matter, where the game is actually at stake? What causes them to do this?

John: Emotions – and I’m not being sarcastic, either.

Dakota from Fleming Island:
Our guys have to stay composed and play their game. Too many unnecessary penalties, especially on defense. Back-to-back unsportsmanlikes that appeared to be properly called. That’s not our style and we can’t do that in the playoffs and expect to do well. (Talking about Myles Jack’s and Yannick Ngakoue‘s penalties). Is there something I missed that started this issue?

John: Not really. The Jaguars got too caught up in the emotion of the moment Sunday. Head Coach Doug Marrone correctly said it’s an issue that has happened before. It got fixed before and needs to get fixed again because you can’t give away yards and first downs in the playoffs and expect to win.

Marc from Oceanway:
If the Steelers win Monday, how do you think Marrone will approach the Titans game?

John: In a bus.

Frankie from the Mean Streets of Ponte Vedra Beach, FL:
Blake Bortles is a mid-tier quarterback who struggles in the harsh face of stardom. You know it. I know it. Jaguars know it. The question is do we continue with the ostrich in the sand approach or do we address the most important position on the field next year?

John: Yeah, I can’t get on board with this – and I sure can’t say that a statement like that is true based on one game. I actually feel OK about Bortles after this one. A couple of his interceptions were miscommunications, and the one that wasn’t was a great one-handed interception by cornerback K’Waun Williams. Bortles responded to his first interception – a pick-six in the first quarter – by playing very well at the end of the second quarter and beginning of the third. He also responded pretty well to the second interception, driving the Jaguars to the 49ers 42. That drive ended in a punt that pinned the 49ers at their 14, after which the Jaguars’ defense committed multiple penalties that allowed the 49ers to drive for a touchdown. Bortles wasn’t perfect Sunday, but when listing grievous errors I don’t know that I’d pin his at the top of the list.

Jeffrey from Gainesville, FL:
We are sorry to see that you lost, but if you play like that again you got no chance of winning in the playoffs. You need to play like a team to be a team. No excuses.

John: True. If the Jaguars play as they did Sunday, they probably won’t win in the playoffs. If they play as they did in 10 of their other games, they probably have a pretty good chance of winning in the playoffs. We’ll see what happens. But this season’s not over yet. Not by a long shot.
 
 

 

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O-Zone: Stay tuned

John Oehser Senior writer jaguars.com

JACKSONVILLE – Let’s get to it …

Fred from Naples, FL:
As a longtime Jags fan from Day 1: To all those concerned about losing players and coaches next year: “Enjoy the moment … this is so much fun. You never know when it’s going to happen again!” Remember 1999?

John: I’ve thought a bit about this in recent weeks – and it seems to me the whole notion of fans stressing over the future while a successful season is still going on is a relatively recent phenomenon. I don’t recall worrying about coaching changes, player departures and the draft when I was a passionate fan of the Washington Redskins growing up; I perhaps had a vague notion that a coordinator or assistant might leave, but it didn’t occur to me that it might be such a seismic change that I needed to spend months fretting about it. Perhaps it was just a different, simpler era before people realized it’s always coaching in the NFL – and before unrestricted free agency changed the offseason landscape. Or perhaps the change has come with the rise of 24-7 NFL News, Twitter and the blogosphere – not to mention forums such as this; maybe people are just much more in tune with assistant coaches, contract machinations and other issues that once qualified as NFL minutiae. However we got here, your point is correct: Enjoy this season. The Jaguars are in the playoffs. They’re playing for postseason seeding and a division title. The entire day Sunday – first, Titans-Rams and later 49ers-Jaguars – will be about late-December football that matters. This is why players play. It’s why coaches coach. It’s why fans fan. This is the good stuff.

John from Jacksonville:
Get the EverBank Field sound system ready. It’s time for some Batman music with the words “Trash Man.” What a combination … Sacksonville, Trash Man, Moodachay, and a whole lot more.

John: #DTWD

Travis from Winter Garden, FL:
O, I know this is probably an unpopular thought, but do you think that having Leonard Fournette in the game makes this offense predictable? In the three games in which he has been out, it is almost like it frees up the offense to do whatever it wants. I’m not trying to take away from the player that he is; I’m just curious your thoughts on if he is being used correctly when he is healthy?

John: Fournette is being used fine. I do think defensive coordinators are a bit less apt to stack the box when he is out of the game, which does contribute to the Jaguars being a little more balanced – and to being able to run effectively – when he’s not playing.

Mark from High Springs, FL:
Bortles, Playoffs, KRIMMA!!!!!

John: #krimma and yeah … #Bortles and #playoffs, too.

Aaron from White Hall, AR:
I wouldn’t be in a rush to get rid of Marqise Lee or Allen Hurns just because our young three are playing good. I think this season has showed injuries at the position happen so you can never have enough good players if you can afford it.

John: Injuries happen at all positions most seasons. One of the least-mentioned key points about this Jaguars season is that the defense has had just one player miss a start because of injury: weak-side linebacker Telvin Smith’s two-game absence because of a concussion. It’s far more common to have to play through various injuries at all positions, so yes: keep either Lee or Hurns – or both – if you can. I doubt you can, but it would be ideal if possible.

Pradeep from Bangalore, India:
Hi John, this Christmas seems to be a cheerful and happy time in Jacksonville. Thanks Jaguars organization, players and staff for giving Jaguars fans and city of Jacksonville so many wonderful moments this season. Merry Christmas.

John: True that. #DTWD

Jason from Da ‘Hass:
Do you think that Jaydon Mickens can have a similar or better career as a slot receiver as or than, say, Julian Edelman in New England? They seem to have perfected the use of smaller, quick players out of the slot. Watching him navigate traffic for that touchdown on Sunday was very impressive!

John: Mickens has had an impressive month that should earn him a lot of playing time and opportunity. He is surprisingly quick in and out of breaks, and that trait gives him a chance to succeed in the league. Remember, though: he has caught two career touchdown passes and Edelman is one of the more underappreciated big-time NFL players of the last three or four years. Let’s let Mickens go through the maturation phase of playing a few games then figuring out how to play against defenses more familiar with his style before we place him too high in the ranks great slot receivers.

Derrick from Jacksonville:
Not bragging but I called 12-4 after the demolishing of the Texans in the first meeting. It’s looking doable. Now my Super Bowl prediction. Rams versus Jags. With that said, with all the hype that my Jags are now getting, I hope they can stay grounded and continue to play the way they are now. Just win Baby, the great Al Davis once said.

John: Well, at least you’re not bragging.

Bradley from Carson City, NV:
Driving over the hill in a couple of days to spend Christmas Eve in Santa Clara. Pretty excited. Earlier this week you answered a great question as to how you defend against the Jags offense. Interested to learn what your strategy would be against the Jags defense?

John: Hope your team can run effectively. Hope your team doesn’t fall behind. If your team falls behind and can’t run, hope your team has a mobile quarterback who can get away from the pass rush – and hope the Jaguars’ secondary has some breakdowns.

Will from Birmingham, AL:
I am not saying he is going on to win four Super Bowls, or have a Hall of Fame career, but do you see similarities between the start of the careers between Blake Bortles and Terry Bradshaw? Both high picks, highly scrutinized early in their careers, but improved as their teams got better. If I recall, didn’t Bradshaw also get benched several times, kind of like Bortles got benched?

John: There are similarities in the high points of their stories, though honestly it’s tricky to compare quarterbacks across eras. There is more perfection expected from the position at an earlier age these days – and far less patience shown. But yes – a lot of people wrote Bradshaw off for a long while early in his career and many did the same to Bortles. The latter has a long way to go before approaching the career of the former, but the last month has been a good sign.

Mike from Atlanta, GA:
John I hope you, your family and all of Jaguar Land have an awesome Christmas, a Happy New Year and very happy holidays. Let’s wish my friend Heilyn happy holidays, she’s visiting from Costa Rica. Feliz Navidad chica! We’re the jolliest sons of guns this side of the nuthouse, John!

John: #DWTD

Steven from Memphis, TN:
Do you see in the remaining games or next year that Leonard Fournette will also be a receiving threat? He has 29 so far but do you think that number should and will increase ?

John: Fournette is averaging a little less than three receptions and 20 yards receiving a game. Yeah, I could see those numbers getting up to three or four receptions for 40ish yards a game at some point. Why not?

Saud from Jacksonville:
This season has seen a lot of weird officiating. Will the NFL review the rules and officiating in the offseason? Some have been play-related calls like the Steelers’ touchdown being overturned. Others have been arbitrary ejections/suspensions. There seems to be inconsistency in both areas. Ejections and suspensions don’t really do jack if the same problem player is back on the field causing problems in the next game they’re in. Will the NFL address these issues in the offseason?

John: I doubt you’ll see special meetings or committees formed to address this. That’s because the league office is constantly reviewing officiating – and because the NFL’s Competition Committee meets annually to consider such issues and make recommendations to ownership. All of these things will happen this offseason just as they happen every offseason. How well the issues will be addressed obviously can be debated, but all such issues will be addressed.

Daniel from Jersey City, NJ:
O-man, I might be crazy, and 1999 was a long time ago, but this team feels more special and has overcome more adversity to put us in contention. Do you think this Jaguars team could be better than our previous best team?

John: It has a chance. It will be judged – like all teams – by how it fares in the playoffs. I believe this team is capable of reaching the AFC Championship Game. I believe it is capable of winning against any team anywhere. It has a chance to be special. Now, it must go out and show that’s the case.
 
 

 

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O-Zone: Unbelievable

John Oehser Senior writer jaguars.com

JACKSONVILLE – Let’s get to it …

James from Destin, FL:
John, with the way this team has come together and possibly not losing many players in the offseason, what about the coaches? I really would like all of them back to pick up where they leave off. It just seems the chemistry is too good to lose anyone. You know, it’s all about the coaching.

John: It indeed is always about coaching in the NFL – and with success does come late-season Coaching Angst. This coaching staff has done a good job. I give Head Coach Doug Marrone a ton of credit for establishing a culture and a framework that has allowed this team to succeed. I also think Nathaniel Hackett and Todd Wash as offensive and defensive coordinators obviously have done a nice job. Because the defense has gotten a lot of attention throughout the season, I do think you’ll see Wash get some notice when people start talking about head coaches in the coming weeks. I don’t know that you’ll see Hackett’s name in those circles quite yet, though I think both have a chance to be head coaches in the future – and the longer quarterback Blake Bortles plays at a high level, the “hotter” Hackett likely is to become. Here’s the thing about Coaching Angst. Head coaches and players have a lot of influence on their success. The head coach often establishes the parameters and framework in which they work and players … well, we know what they do. That’s not to say coordinators don’t matter, but losing coordinators eventually is part of the deal when an NFL team is successful. You want to be successful enough to lose them and then hire well enough that you don’t miss them much. There’s no other way to approach it.

Gary from St. Augustine, FL:
Zone, did you see Jaguars fans are shipping trash cans to Jadeveon Clowney at the Texans’ complex because he called Blake Bortles trash? This fan base is cool. I like it.

John: Yes. I did see that Jaguars fans were doing that. And yeah, I laughed. A lot.

Nathan from St. Augustine, FL:
Hey, John: Looking at the remaining schedule, would you agree the best chance the Jags have of moving into the No. 2 seed is this Sunday’s game between the Patriots and the Bills? The Bills are still in the playoff hunt and the Patriots did lose to the Dolphins two weeks ago.

John: The Dolphins game a couple of weeks back doesn’t have that much bearing on Patriots-Bills Sunday, but that thing about the Bills being in the playoff hunt? That matters. A lot. I don’t expect the Patriots to lose to the Bills Sunday, but teams that need to win to get into the postseason are dangerous. Sometimes very dangerous.

Rob from Orange Park, FL:
People said that when you played the Jaguars you stacked the box and make Blake beat you. Have you noticed our opponents backing away from this at all?

John: Not yet. It usually takes more than two or three weeks of an offense or doing something well before you see a trend of teams doing something different to defend it. I expect to see teams alter the way they defend the Jaguars in the next week or two – and you’ll absolutely see it if Bortles continues to beat single coverage as he has in recent weeks.

Robert from Fernandina Beach, FL:
What is the difference between A.J. Bouye‘s interception catch against Seattle and Pittsburgh’s nullified touchdown catch against the Patriots? The former was ruled a catch after replay and the latter was not. Thank you.

John: The ball did not move when it contacted the ground on Bouye’s interception; the ball moved on the Pittsburgh would-be touchdown. The bottom line in the NFL these days is if the ball is going to touch the ground anywhere near the time of the catch, it better not jiggle as if you’ve lost possession – and it better not jiggle until you’re holding the ball in the locker room after the game.

HD from Jacksonville:
Is there anything not to like about Coach Marrone? While he certainly had his detractors when selected for the job, he has quietly racked up an impressive record. It certainly seems like he is cordial with the press, always trying to engage the fans and let them know how much he thinks they matter. In spite of his bottomless desire to win now, he seems to be giving players the right amount of time to not only heal but be full power when they come back in. What is there not to like? The story is certainly a lot shorter, but he is almost like a fan/media friendly Bill Belichick so far. That would be so much bigger than winning the football lottery. Is there anything the common fan doesn’t see?

John: You’ve summed up Marrone pretty well. I’m honestly not surprised he has done well. I wrote at the time of his hiring in January that I saw no reason he wouldn’t succeed. Remember: he left the head-coaching position in Buffalo by his own choice, meaning he was a relative NFL rarity – an available head-coaching candidate with head-coaching experience who never had been fired from a head-coaching position. From what I can tell, what you see with Marrone is pretty much what you get. He is sincere about the fans mattering and he has made a real effort to engage in a positive way with the press. He’s not always warm or fuzzy with players, media or a lot of people, but I don’t know warm or fuzzy is a job prerequisite. And the job he has done this season … well, it’s hard to imagine it being done better.

David from Maplewood, NJ:
Glad to see some Pro Bowl love for the Jags. I think they may have missed a few (Telvin Smith, probably), but that is not my question. Have they always elected players to the Pro Bowl with regular-season games yet to be played? That seems odd. It’s unlikely, sure, but what if Smith has two sacks and a pick this weekend – or Fournette runs for 220 and three touchdowns?

John: Yeah, the NFL pretty much always made the Pro Bowl announcement with two weeks remaining in the season. It’s possible it has varied at times by a week in one direction of the other. It’s another flaw in an inherently flawed system.

Kyle from Green Cove Springs, FL:
I have a simple solution to solve part of the Pro Bowl snubs. What if we do like the draft and classify pass rushers as “edge rushers?” That way you can actually get the best outside linebackers and the best pass rushers.

John: The time absolutely has come for this idea. “Traditional” outside linebackers have been overlooked for the Pro Bowl because of low sacks numbers far too long. I don’t know if the league will make this change or not. But considering its simplicity, it’s silly not to do it.

Jon from St. Augustine, FL:
Overall thoughts on this past year’s draft for the Jags? We know about Leonard Fournette, Cam Robinson and even Dede Westbrook. But I’ve seen more of Duwaune Smoot in recent weeks and Blair Brown even impressed while Telvin Smith was out. Stacking good drafts is what will keep us around for a long time.

John: I think overall this draft has a chance to be remembered as a phenomenal, foundation-building draft for the Jaguars. That’s especially true if you include undrafted rookie wide receiver Keelan Cole. One reason it may not get much notice? It came right after the Jaguars’ 2016 draft, which included Jalen Ramsey, Myles Jack and Yannick Ngakoue – and which incidentally might go down as pretty good, too.

Robert from Palm Coast, FL:
John, do you get that feeling in the building maybe – just maybe – this year is special. From the bologna, to undrafted wideouts, to bringing home Christmas Past (Keenan McCardell and Tom Coughlin), to a dominating defense, to an emerging quarterback, to an electric city and fan base, all of the pieces are adding up to January Football!! The playoffs are coming. But does greatness await?

John: It has been a special season to date. That won’t change. It’s difficult to win in the playoffs. Really good teams sometimes win in the postseason. Great teams sometimes lose in the postseason. Greatness indeed could await. We shall see soon enough.

Lance from Lebanon, TN:
Remember when everybody was bashing the helmets? How do you like them now? I, for one, am really digging them!

John: Helmets of teams that are 10-4 with a playoff berth assured and with an AFC South title a victory away are cool. People like them.

Romeo from San Diego but 904-born:
With all the injuries to our top Wide Receivers, where do you see the Blake and the offense going?

John: To Santa Clara.

Lol from Jacksonville:
I’m gonna mail Shadrick a crappy present that says it’s from you.

John: He won’t believe it’s from me. He knows I’m too cheap to buy a gift.
 
 

 

Pages: Page 1, Page 2

O-Zone: Class

John Oehser Senior writer jaguars.com

JACKSONVILLE – Let’s get to it …

Dane from Jacksonville:
Now that Bortles is firing on all cylinders, how much emphasis will the front office put on maintaining Nate Hackett as the offensive coordinator? It could be special to keep Bortles in the same system and build on what he has started.

John: This is a good point and a pertinent topic, though I don’t know how much the Jaguars actually can emphasize this. Nathaniel Hackett is the Jaguars’ offensive coordinator and I expect that to remain the case next season; Bortles has grown this season and appears to be growing more comfortable with Hackett’s offense and what Hackett asks him to do by the week. Hackett also must be given credit for coordinating an offense that’s sixth in the NFL – with a rookie running back, three inexperienced wide receivers and a quarterback who until recently was considered by many a lost cause. The only way I see Hackett not being the coordinator in the near future is if he gets a head-coaching opportunity. This could be in his future, though not likely this coming offseason. If that opportunity did arise for Hackett, though, the Jaguars couldn’t do much about it – nor should they try to do anything about it. You can’t block a coordinator from becoming a head coach, nor would a team wish to do so. When a guy earns that opportunity, he deserves to take it.

Alton from Orlando by Way of Jacksonville:
Hey O, DTWD means Duval till We Die … I think

John: No. That’s silly.

Jared from Banning, CA:
We faced Jimmy G already once this season and he had quite a bit of success against us. Of course that was Preseason Week 1. How much of our starting D was out that game and should we take any of that into account for this weekend?

John: A lot of the Jaguars’ starting defense was out in Preseason Week 1. But even if the entire defense had played, it wouldn’t have anything to do with Sunday’s game. For one, Garoppolo was playing for the Patriots at the time. For another … it was Preseason Week 1 and we’re in Regular Season Week 16 now. The difference in the situations is all the difference in the NFL world.

Robert from Fernandina Beach, FL:
If the Titans lose their game against the Rams before start of the Jags game, which would give the Jags the division title, do you sit many of your starters Sunday and the final game (two weeks rest) to heal for the playoffs?

John: I wouldn’t sit starters or front-line players Sunday for the simple reason that the No. 1 and/or No. 2 seed will still be very much in play as of Sunday. And remember: if the Jaguars win in San Francisco Sunday, the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds will still be in play in the final week of the regular season. That’s because if the Jaguars win Sunday, they will have passed or will still have a chance to pass the Patriots (No. 1 seed) and Steelers (No. 2 seed). For those reasons, I don’t know much rest any Jaguars player will be getting during the regular season. It’s fine to assume the Steelers and Patriots won’t lose again in the regular season. And it’s true those teams appear to have favorable schedules. But a favorable schedule guarantees nothing in the NFL, and you don’t want to miss out on a chance at a higher seed because you assumed incorrectly.

John from Cocoa, FL:
Hey, Big O: Just wanted to say how great it is to be a Jaguar fan now. I have been a fan since their inauguration in 1994, and have been true to the teal through bad times – even when I had to move to Indianapolis for a few years for work. A Jaguars fan in rival Colt territory. I even sat in the Club section with my Jags jersey cheering for my team. Now, I am seeing the Jaguars like in 1998 when they went to the AFC Championship. Now Bortles is starting to look like Brunell. Our Front Four proved they can get to any quarterback. The entire team is playing AWESOME! IT’S GREAT TO BE A JAG FAN NOW! I’M LOVIN’ IT!!

John: You had to move to Indianapolis for work? That sounds awful.

Chris from Mandarin:
The Jaguars have averaged 146.6 yards per game when Leonard Fournette plays this season (which is really, really good), but also average 158 yards on the ground when he does not. There was a fake punt by Corey Grant in one game that he played and one that he missed, so they really cancel each other out.What would have been another impactful option at the No. 4 draft slot for the Jaguars this season? It seems that since the blocking is better, it really doesn’t matter who is running around out of the backfield.

John: The Jaguars are 10-4 with a chance to clinch the AFC South Sunday. Quarterback Blake Bortles is playing at a high level. Must we really play “Who Was Available Two Slots Later in the Draft?” The Jaguars’ running game as a whole this season would not be nearly as effective without Fournette, nor would the offense as a whole be as effective. He has helped this team establish its identity. Will it be judged in future years as a perfect pick? I have no idea. Was it a damned impactful pick? Was it the right pick at the right time? Yes and yes.

Damian from Appleton, WI:
We have been seeing more Dawuane Smoot lately. Is this because Smoot is playing well or Dante Fowler Jr. falling off?

John: It’s because Smoot is playing well – and Smoot’s snaps have little to do with Fowler’s because Smoot is more of a strong-side end while Fowler is more of a weak-side end. While Smoot’s snaps have increased a bit, Fowler’s percentages in recent games are pretty consistent with what they have been all seasons. Strong-side end Calais Campbell’s have been down a tick in the last two weeks, which makes sense because he is a more veteran player and you’d like to get him rest when possible. The main reason Smoot is playing more is because he’s a good player with a bright future. Look for his playing time to increase as time goes on.

Chris from Land of the Playoffs:
Oh: We in it, O-man. Have you ever covered a team that has had this many phases of the team play so well at various parts of a season and sometimes all at once?

John: Yes. I have covered five teams that have played in AFC Championship Games (two Jaguars teams, three Colts teams), two Colts teams that played in Super Bowls and one Colts that won a Super Bowl. I have seen teams play this well at various parts of a season and sometimes all at once. The 1999 Jaguars team I covered played at a high level in all phases for much of the regular season, and the 2006 Colts team that won the Super Bowl played at a high level for four postseason games. Here’s the thing about this Jaguars team that gives it a chance to be special: its defense has played at an extraordinarily high level all seasons and seems capable of maintaining that. The offense in the last three weeks is increasingly showing signs of improving enough to give that defense leads. And if this defense gets leads there’s no team in the NFL it can’t shut down.

Steve from Atlanta, GA:
Does the rise of Jaydon Mickens, Keelan Cole and Dede Westbrook make both Allen Hurns and Marqise Lee expendable this offseason? Adding another rookie in the early rounds of the draft makes the wide receiver group young, ascending and affordable for the next three-to-four years.

John: This remains a great unknown – and I absolutely believe it remains an unknown. Westbrook, Mickens and Cole have played well and are undoubtedly part of the future. I’d say it’s pretty obvious that at least one of Hurns, Lee and Allen Robinson won’t return next season – and possibly two. I believe Robinson will be back. What will make sense financially between Lee and Hurns? I don’t have a feel for that yet. I’m not sure the Jaguars do, either. Remember, too: the young trio of Mickens, Cole and Westbrook have looked good, but they have looked good for a few games – with Mickens looking good at receiver for one game. The potential is exciting, but it’s still just potential.

Marc from Oceanway:
The Trashman cometh…

John: I thought Blake Bortles’ comment about Jadeveon Clowney Wednesday would be the coolest thing I heard about him this week …

Todd from Oklahoma City, OK:
I just wanted to recognize Blake and his mom Suzy. I was recently deployed to the Middle East where I became very sick and diagnosed with cancer and was sent home early. Suzy heard of my situation and she and Blake sent me lots of Jag Swag and some encouraging words. They are a very thoughtful and caring family. The organization is lucky to have them on and off the field.

John: … and then I heard this.
 
 

 

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O-Zone: Good times

John Oehser Senior writer jaguars.com

JACKSONVILLE – Let’s get to it …

John from Jacksonville:

What a perfect formula with the playoffs around the corner. All phases of the team are strengths that complement each other. I often wonder if fans realize how special this team and season has become. Nothing is guaranteed with how far we make it in the playoffs, but it has been and will be fun to watch. I think Head Coach Doug Marrone’s game-by-game, no-nonsense philosophy really has these guys focused … and I’m not talking a bunch of bologna.

John: You touch on a good point – not just that this team can be special, but how its’ coming together. Coaches love to talk about how teams don’t stay the same during a season – that they must either get better or worse. They also like to say the best teams improve during a season. Realistically, it’s often difficult to see if a team is really improving – but that’s not the case with the Jaguars this season. They have improved defensively, which makes sense for a unit with a lot of veterans who just began playing together this season; it stood to reason that side would improve with time. But few predicted the improvement of this offense, particularly quarterback Blake Bortles and the receivers. This looks like a different offense over the last month. It also during that time has felt more and more like a team growing together, with the offense having confidence in the defense – and vice versa. The Jaguars do appear to have the right formula right now. The pieces are in place. And yeah – the coming weeks could be really intriguing. No bologna.

Strnbiker from Dothan, AL:

“By John McClain, Houston Chronicle … Published 5:59 pm, Sunday, December 17, 2017 … OVERALL GRADE: The 38-point loss was an abomination, the worst of Bill O’Brien’s four-year career. It was an embarrassment to the coaches, players, owner Bob McNair and general manager Rick Smith. Grade: F-double minus.” Your thoughts?

John: I think John thinks the Texans didn’t play well Sunday.

Wilfredo from Corpus Christi, TX:

It took me a while to allow myself to feel this way. After all the losses and all the disfunction this team and fans experienced for so long. All the times I watched games with that uneasy feeling I was wasting my time watching yet another inevitable loss. Now, I can finally allow myself to get out of that mode. I’m so proud of this team. I have always been a loyal fan, but now I’m not just loyal to our team, I’m proud of knowing this team can handle its business. That’s a great feeling.

John: Indeed it is. #DTWD

Alan from Jacksonville:

Garoppolo-led 49ers…should we be worried? Or does our diamond have too many facets?

John: The Jaguars absolutely must take the Jimmy Garoppolo-led 49ers seriously. This is a team that’s 3-0 with Garoppolo starting at quarterback and 4-1 after a 0-9 start. The 49ers are playing at home. They also seem to be ascending. The coaching staff is in its first year, which means it likely will remain intact, which in turn means players wanting to return – i.e., most of them – will have that much more incentive to not only play hard, but continue buying into the culture and approach of the staff. The Jaguars should still win because they’re better than the 49ers – and because teams playing for postseason position generally should beat teams that aren’t. But is this a week to worry? Absolutely.

Dylan from Denver, CO:

Although I certainly want Jacksonville to win next week, I hope we aren’t resting starters against the Titans. I think Jacksonville needs to beat Tennessee in order to feel like they won the division. Hopefully, Tennessee will still have a shot at the playoffs and need a win against Jacksonville to secure their spot. Can Jacksonville say they won the AFC South if the Titans beat them twice in one year?

John: You get in the postseason however you get in and you win division titles however you win them. And you’re ecstatic when either happens because both are difficult and don’t happen every season – or every decade. As far as the whole resting-the-starters-at-the-end-of-the-season thing, there are a lot of moving parts for the Jaguars on this front. Remember: if the Jaguars do clinch the AFC South with a victory Sunday, and the Steelers and Patriots both win this this weekend, the Jaguars will go into the final week of the season still having a chance to move into the No. 1 or No. 2 seed. Pittsburgh would need to lose to Cleveland and/or New England would need to lose to the Jets in that scenario – but while either of those seems like a long shot, anything can happen and you wouldn’t want to miss out on a better seed because you rested players only to have a seed ahead of you get upset. That’s a long-winded way of saying the rest issue isn’t as clear as one might think. As for your final question about whether or not the Jaguars can say they’re division champions if they lose to the Titans twice, you’re damn right they can. You know why? Because thems the rules.

Bob from Sumter, SC:

During the preseason when Bortles was abysmal, Dave Caldwell in an interview said he thought Bortles had the talent to take the team to the Super Bowl. I thought “This guy is an idiot.” He’s not. Bortles does have that talent. I was wrong and I could not be happier for those two guys for staying classy and having great success right now. This is really fun. Very happy they proved a lot of us wrong. With all the young talent this can be really special this year and beyond.

John: Jaguars General Manager David Caldwell indeed deserves a lot of credit because you weren’t alone in thinking he was way, way off in his opinion of Bortles. I thought so, and most people with an opinion on the matter certainly didn’t share Caldwell’s. Yes, Caldwell certainly had a vested interest in defending Bortles the past few seasons; Bortles was, after all, his most high-profile draft selection. But there also was ample opportunity this past offseason for the Jaguars to pursue a different direction at the position. Caldwell easily could have pushed for a change at the time. He did not – and it turns out he is not an idiot.

Jeremy from Wise, VA:

With Marqise Lee injured, do you think the Jags will bring Jaelen Strong onto the active roster? If not, what other options could they look at?

John: Marrone has been pretty up front about wanting to promote from the practice squad to address injuries rather than signing outside players, so in-house probably would be the first option. That probably would be Strong since he already has been active this season. Other options to consider: Allen Hurns and Larry Pinkard. Hurns has been out five weeks with an ankle injury and my sense he’s getting close to returning; Pinkard missed last week with a concussion, but he got reps against Seattle, so he probably would be an option ahead of Strong.

Nick from Las Vegas, NV:

Are the pools heated at EverBank Field?

John: Yes.

John from Jacksonville:

I remember there was some grumbling towards the end of training camp about how hard Marrone was pushing the guys. Do you think the players are thankful for that now?

John: Marrone actually was asked late last week if any players had pulled him aside and thanked him for the difficult training camp. He laughed and replied essentially that they had not because they were players and players didn’t do such things. Training camp was difficult. Human beings generally don’t like difficult things. Players are human beings, so they didn’t like training camp. Are they thankful now? Perhaps, though that doesn’t mean they’ll like training camp all that much next August, either.

Marius from Karlsruhe, Germany:

Hey John, I’m a Jaguars fan since almost 10 years now. I never made it to a Jags game, neither in the States (too far away) nor in London (too expensive). Heck, I don’t even have a Jags Jersey since it’s pretty tough and expensive to get one here in Germany. I watch all the games through Game Pass, and while I do, I’m pretty enthusiastic and loud – which makes my girlfriend think I’m crazy. A regular fan’s way of saying “Thank You” to the players is by being loud in the stadium. Since I am and might not ever be able to make it to a game, I write this letter to say, “Thank you.” Thank you for 10 years of Jaguars Football. Thank you for making my Sundays so fun even if I have to stay up late to watch some games. This year they finally made it to the playoffs; that makes me even more excited. In good times and in bad, DTWD. Go Jags.

John: Now, really: how cool is that?
 
 

 

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O-Zone: Maybe… just maybe / Ask Vic: It’s time to relax, accept

John Oehser Senior writer jaguars.com

JACKSONVILLE – Let’s get to it …

Mike from Atlanta, GA:
Blake Bortles is a good quarterback on a good offense on a playoff team. I wonder how likely it is that the Jaguars could get someone better in the offseason.

John: There indeed were two mammoth Jaguars stories Sunday, and I’m honestly not sure which one was bigger. The Jaguars clinched their first postseason appearance since 2007 with a 45-7 victory over the Houston Texans, and that’s phenomenally significant for a franchise starved for success. But Bortles’ continued improvement may be as big in the short- and long-term. He completed 21 of 29 passes for 326 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions Sunday, a performance that was in no way an outlier. He is the NFL’s highest-rated quarterback in December and in three games during the month he has thrown for 903 yards, seven touchdowns and no interceptions. The Jaguars’ defense has been elite all season. There’s no reason to believe it won’t continue to play at a Super Bowl level. If Bortles, the offensive line and receivers continue to play as they have in December, I don’t know that there’s an AFC team I’d favor over the Jaguars – and that’s true no matter the site of the game. As for the question of Bortles’ future, I’ve said throughout the last month that’s something that will be best discussed after the season. It’s simply too tricky to try to make a long-term judgement on a question so important amid the ups and downs of the regular season. But Bortles has been up more often than not this season and he has been way up for the last six weeks or so. Can the Jaguars do better in the offseason? It’s starting to look doubtful. Very doubtful.

Mac from Jacksonville:
I love this team.

John: You’re not alone.

Mark from Oceanway:
This is indirectly a Jaguars question. I really wanted Pittsburgh to win so we might get a Round 1 bye. John, how was that NOT a catch?!?!?

John: You’re talking of course about the end of the Patriots-Steelers game in Pittsburgh Sunday. I know how it wasn’t a catch, but just because I know doesn’t mean it feels right. On the play in question, Steelers tight end Jesse James appeared to possess the ball and score on a would-be 10-yard touchdown pass that would have given Pittsburgh a late lead. It in all probability would have given the Steelers a victory and moved the Jaguars into the No. 2 seed in the AFC with two games remaining. Instead, the Patriots (11-3) won and now have the No. 1 seed over the 11-3 Steelers. The Jaguars now need to win out and have the Steelers and/or Patriots lose to improve their playoff seeding. That could still happen, but is seems a long shot. The answer to your question? How was it not a catch? Because the NFL rules said it wasn’t a catch, but this was another case where the rule just seems faulty. James needed to control the catch through hitting the ground. He did not. But he had possession and broke the plane of the goal line. Everything about the play screamed “catch” and “touchdown.” When that happens and the rule says differently it’s time to reexamine the rule.

Brian from Round Rock, TX:
I love this team. How about Mickens? How about Blake? Playoffs? Playoffs? Yes, Playoffs! I love this team. I think it’’s special. I think it will be Super. Go Jags!

John: #DTWD

James from Orange Park, FL:
You were right. There is no rule preventing the Jags from lining up and being the better team.

John: There’s no rule about that in the postseason, either. I say that to make the point that many people are going to worry about and write a lot about playoff seeding and home-field advantage in the coming weeks. I suppose I’ll write and talk about those topics, too. But I started saying after the Seattle game last Sunday that if the Jaguars’ offensive line plays as it did in that game – and if Bortles plays as he has over the last few weeks – that this team can beat any team in the NFL. That includes the Steelers and Patriots – and yes, I believe that to be the case even if the Jaguars have to play those teams on the road. This defense is the best in the NFL. Not only that, it creates points and havoc on a level that should bother any offense, even ones quarterbacked by Tom Brady and Ben Roethlisberger. The question all season has been whether the offense can function at a high enough level to score enough points to give that defense a lead to protect. Is there any doubt watching Bortles and this offense the last three weeks that it can do that? I’m not saying the Jaguars will be favored to beat the Patriots or the Steelers. I’m not even saying they will get to play those teams. But this offense doesn’t need to score 30, 30 or 45 points as it has done the last three weeks to win in the postseason. It needs to score in the 20s and get the defense leads. It absolutely is playing well enough to do that. So, can Jacksonville line up and be the better team against any team in the postseason? Absolutely.

Daniel from Jersey City, NJ:
Can we start discussing playoffs now!?

John: Yes.

Tim from Oklahoma City, OK:
Gosh. Mickens, Westbrook, and Cole. Wow. Talk about stepping up when they need to step up. I can’t even imagine how good this team would be with Hurns, Robinson, and Lee.

John: I like many others thought the Jaguars’ wide receivers were close to a liability a month ago. I also thought the only thing saving them from being a liability was Marqise Lee. Jaydon Mickens, Dede Westbrook and Keelan Cole couldn’t have proven myself and many others more wrong.

Jeremy from Dodge City, KS:
Seriously, though: Clowney should shut up about BB5…

John: When I saw Tweets late Sunday afternoon that Texans defensive end Jadeveon Clowney had referred to Bortles as “trash,” I figured it was a mistake. I then checked and saw a lot of verified, reliable media Tweeted it, so I figured it wasn’t a mistake. I then figured it was a just a sad comment by a player frustrated with losing by 38 points after losing to the same team and quarterback by 22 points early in the season. I figured the last part was probably right and I stopped thinking about it.

Jeff from Jacksonville:
Clowney said our quarterback is trash. Sounds like sour grapes from a former two-time division winner getting swept out by the Jags.

John: Bortles is good. Until he plays not good then comments such as the one Clowney made are just sort of silly.

Jeremy from Newport, RI:
If the play of Bortles lately is a preview of how he will play moving forward then go ahead and ink him to a long-term deal right now. There are not even 32 quality starting NFL quarterbacks in the world. If Coughlin and Caldwell believe in Blake then let’s get a contract done ASAP.

John: What a difference two months make.

Ricky from San Francisco and Duval:
When Bortles came out of college, a lot of prognosticators said he’d take some time to get things right. That he wasn’t a finished project. Could that be what we are seeing?

John: Yes. This also is his first season in offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett’s system. He has shown a greater command of that offense by the week. His receivers are now making plays around him. He’s a developing player and it’s starting to not be surprising when he plays well. Hmmmm….

Jeremy from Newport, RI:
The Jags have been a lot of fun to watch this year! Tell them thank you! I look forward to watching them over the next month and a half! Go Jags!!

John: I’ll pass it along.

Stephen from Jacksonville:
Is Jaydon Mickens the best Jaguars punt returner since Reggie Barlow?

John: No. He is the best punt returner in franchise history, including Reggie Barlow. No disrespect to Barlow, but Mickens is becoming a threat to break a long return every play. Barlow was very consistent and was a good returner for a long time. But he didn’t pose the every-return threat that Mickens has become.

Dylan from Section 215 and Duval:
Fans gonna fan, but everywhere I go in Duval sporting Jags gear people are hyped. The city is electric! Winning is nice. #DTWD

John: Winning is cool. Fans like it. You know what’s really cool? And you know what they really like? The playoffs. Yeah, #DTWD

Cool from Jagstown:
Blake Bortles might actually be a star after all. True or False?

John: Bortles is playing as well as any quarterback in the NFL right now. Witness his seven touchdowns, no interceptions and 903 yards in three December games. Witness the Jaguars’ 3-0 record during the same span. Witness his NFL-best 128.6 passer rating during that span. Witness me saying, “Yeah, let’s give Bortles his due. The kid may actually be becoming a star.”

Ask Vic:

John from Apple River, IL
Why do you think McCarthy didn’t run the ball more with a rusty QB coming back from injury?

Considering the Packers trailed nearly the whole game, I don’t have a problem with the run-pass balance, which got way out of whack in the fourth quarter when the Packers were up against the clock. Frankly, I don’t think the Packers thought they could run as effectively as they did against the league’s No. 3 rush defense, so that probably also contributed to the imbalance.

Brad from Hurley, WI
Vic, I stepped outside after the game ended and the howl of the wolves was deafening. I’ve never been in the fire everyone crowd, but after the defensive performance in this game, I have to believe the writing is on the wall for Dom Capers. What is your take?

It’s my experience coaches are fired for the failure of their teams or units, resulting in an immediate it’s-fixed feeling among fans, but soon after it becomes evident the players are and were the problem.

Steve from Scranton, PA
The original intent of instant replay was to reverse egregious errors, but it instead has taken the spontaneity out of the game. Previously officiated by human beings simply trying their best, the NFL is now being overseen and legislated by an off-site administrator via HDTV. When calls on the field by officials in proper position that appear correct to the naked eye are continually reversed, the integrity of the sport is further eroded. Do you think subtracting TV cameras and limiting the scope of plays that could be challenged could actually have a beneficial effect on the game?

Replay review is here to stay. The video generation loves it, has to have it, and the league loves the controversy it creates. Today’s “Ask Vic” numbers are through the roof and “the play” is one of the big reasons. I can’t help but think back to the 1963 Army-Navy game, my all-time favorite Army-Navy game. I was a kid in love with college football, and this was the year the bowl invitations were a mess because the Kennedy assassination forced postponement of the big rivalry games. It was a huge controversy, but little did we know the greatest controversy maker in football history was being born the day of the 1963 Army-Navy game. That’s the day and the game when instant replay was first used by TV. I am blessed to have witnessed the football history I have.

Tyler from Boston, MA
Vic, it’s time for you and the rest of Steeler nation to accept this fact: You are and always have been the Patriots’ lap dog. We own you so badly you might as well be building a pyramid for us. It’s no coincidence that all eight of your Super Bowl seasons just happened to be years when you didn’t face New England in the playoffs. We own you, and come playoff time, you will once again bow down to your Patriots overlords as we match your number of Super Bowl rings (and you only have six because Jackie Smith can’t catch and the refs hated the Seahawks). But it’s ok, you can rock back and forth in your chair saying “Ben throws the best deep ball I’ve ever seen,” if that helps you sleep at night. Have a nice day, Vic.

OK.

Dale from Phoenix, AZ
Not even a Steelers fan but after watching that game-winning TD get overturned, (the NFL) lost a life-long fan. I will not watch another game. But I would like to see if you can defend McCarthy only giving Aaron Jones three carries and throwing it 45 times with a QB coming back from seven weeks off with a broken collarbone. Stupid is as stupid does.

Allow me to help ease your pain. As for “the play,” there’s a lot of season left to play. It wasn’t the Super Bowl. Imagine if it was! As for the Packers game, we witnessed a valiant effort. Let that be your lasting memory of that game and this season. I don’t think this team has what it takes to have made a run, even with a healthy Aaron Rodgers. The Panthers went after Josh Hawkins and a guy named Whitehead. I didn’t even know he was on the team. Soon it’ll be the offseason and help will be on the way.

Lori from Brookfield, WI
Vic, Thomas Davis delivered a helmet-to-helmet hit on Davante Adams, resulting in a concussion for Adams. Davis has six previous fines for illegal hits. What action should the league take against him this time?

Pit of misery?

Aaron from White Hall, AR
Vic, you and I go way back, all the way back to the 2005 draft when I was a 14-year-old kid and I discovered your column, and I’ve read you ever since. After the Jaguars clinched a spot on Sunday, I thought of you so I Googled your name, not realizing you had started this column. I’m so glad to have you back and I’m sorry I’m late to the party. So how do you feel about the Jaguars?

I think they can go all the way.

John from Cottage Grove, WI
I hate when the Packers lose, and I feel like this may be the end of an era. It’s hard to deal with.

It’s time to be new.

Tim from Lancaster, PA
When will the NFL realize reaching the ball out towards the end zone after securing it demonstrates possession of a catch? To have home field turn on a play like that is ridiculous.

The rules are the rules.

Roger from Auburn, CA
If you were GM for the Packers, would you shut down Aaron Rodgers, since the Packers are out of the playoffs?

I think that’s Mike McCarthy’s call but, yes, I would play Brett Hundley in the final two games. I want to see him in a full-throttle offense for the purpose of evaluating his progress and potential. I think it’ll help the Packers make decisions at that position in next year’s draft. It could also showcase Hundley for trade purposes.

Mike from Waukesha, WI
Vic, glad you’re back. You’ve really helped my perspective with sports and football and I’ve tried to pass that along to my sons. As for the Packers, would it be better to use their picks in the draft to stay where they are or do they need to move up, possibly several times in the upcoming draft, to have a shot at more elite players? I know you’ll say value, value, value, but maybe Ted needs to take a risk to avoid squandering the end of Rodgers’ career.

I think they’ll be high enough to get done what they need to get done.

Craig from Weare, NH
Vic, I just watched both the Packers and the Steelers games. So what’s a catch?

Geronimo Allison catches the ball and then fumbles it as he’s going to the ground. Jesse James catches the ball and then bobbles it as he’s going to the ground after he reaches it across the goal line. One is a catch, the other isn’t. Falls down a well, eyes go cross. Gets kicked by a mule, they go back. I don’t know.

Grant from West Allis, WI
Vic, did it all die that day in Seattle in January of 2015? It feels like that’s when this era died. It still hurts and I don’t see it coming back.

Nothing physically changed on that day. It was something more difficult to define that died in those final four minutes of the most painful defeat I’ve ever covered. I believe a big chunk of winsome died on that day. Since then, the questions and comments I’ve received from fans have been more mean-spirited and self-loathing. Packers fans are quicker to quit on the season following a loss. I get it: They don’t want to get hurt again. It’s a natural reaction. On the plane ride back to Green Bay and after I finished writing my stories, I thought to myself what am I going to tell these poor fans? I couldn’t imagine their suffering. The 2014 Packers would’ve won it all; I have no doubt. I feel the same about that team as I do about the 1976 Steelers, which might be the best team I’ve ever covered; they scored five shutouts and allowed just 28 points in the final nine games, but lost in the AFC title game when Franco Harris and Rocky Bleier were lost to injury in the previous playoff game. Hurt happens in football. You sign up for it when you become a fan, but nobody deserves what happened to Packers fans in Seattle in the 2014 AFC title game. It’s the kind of loss that can change a person. In some ways, it’s changed me.

David from Ashland, WI
Vic, what do you think about the NFL’s product this season? It seems to me it’s not as exciting as years past, and I lay the blame (in part) on the defensive rules points of emphasis over the past couple of years. If I remember correctly, you predicted it would back defensive backs off the line of scrimmage and result in lots of dink and dunk. The result is neither great defense nor exciting offense.

I hate dink and dunk, but if you’re a fan of the Packers, Jaguars and Steelers, you have witnessed some of the most exciting football in your lifetime. I think it’s proof the game is too big to fail.

Pat from Altoona, WI
Vic, would you come out of retirement for the chance to cover the Patriots if they approached you?

And cover Bill Belichick and his boring press conferences? I’d rather cover a toilet seat.

Thomas from Williamsburg, VA
The inverse draft order sure hasn’t hurt the Patriots.

They have Tom Brady.

Braden from Waukesha, WI
Vic, when I come to your website I notice one thing: There are no ads, no videos that start playing right away, no pop ups that take over my screen. It’s simply your readers and you. Thank you.

This site is my gift to the people who gave me so much for so long. Finally, it’s not about the money.

Mike from Niagara Falls, Canada
Vic, I’m torn. On one hand I want my Packers to be the bigger men, don’t waste time or energy on revenge, and just win the game against Minnesota. But on the other hand, nothing would satisfy me more than to see Anthony Barr carted off the field at Lambeau with a career-ending injury. Am I sick? Am I a bad person for wishing bodily harm on someone, even if it’s out of revenge? Or is this truly a game for madmen?

Anthony Barr did nothing wrong. You’re just unable to deal with your disappointment, and that’s because you’ve lost perspective.

Craig from New Zealand
Could you please explain the origins of the Terrible Towel?

The Towel is the invention of Myron Cope. He was a friend and I miss him. Myron was the Steelers’ radio color man and he also authored an immensely popular nightly radio show. His station was the Steelers’ flagship and prior to the 1975 playoffs the station manager instructed Myron to create a gimmick the station could promote. Myron said, “I’m not a gimmick guy.” I think he said the station manager laughed. Well, Myron decided he would encourage fans to bring a towel to the game; that would be his gimmick. The station manager asked, “Why a towel?” “Because it’s the fabric of Pittsburgh,” Cope said, thinking the towel gimmick would be regarded as so ridiculous the station manager would tell Myron to leave the office, freeing Myron from the whole thing. Instead, the station manager said, “I love it.” On the day of the first playoff game, after promoting the Towel all week on his radio show, Myron was on pins and needles. He’d ask guys coming into the press box, “Did you see any fans carrying towels out there?” I remember saying. “Sorry, Myron, I didn’t.” He figured his idea was a dud and he’d be a laughing stock, but when sight of the first black helmets emerged from the tunnel, Three Rivers Stadium was awash with waving towels. The Towel was born. Myron then took the Towel to more honorable heights. He married it to his favorite charity, the Allegheny Valley School for Exceptional Children, where Myron’s son was a resident. All these years later, the Towel has never been more popular and the Allegheny Valley School has never been more thankful. What a tremendous legacy.

Nathan from New York, NY
Was Aaron Rodgers’ arm strength weakened by the plates and screws in his shoulder?

I wouldn’t speculate on something that sophisticated. Here’s an interesting video by Mike Ryan.

 
 

 

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O-Zone: Ice cream man

John Oehser Senior writer jaguars.com

JACKSONVILLE – Let’s get to it …

Jon from Apple Valley, CO:
Hey O, I am hopeful for Blake Bortles. I have always been a supporter even when he wasn’t doing well. I just hope he doesn’t go back to trying to force throws because of how big the next games are. That is one area I’m not sure he’s improved yet, forcing throws when the pressure is on.

John: I obviously can’t say for certain this won’t occur; no one can. But if it does happen, Bortles won’t be the only quarterback to make such a mistake. Bortles has improved dramatically in recent months, and it’s not insignificant that he has had two of his best career games the last two weeks. It’s also not insignificant that one of those games came in the biggest game of his career to date. Still, it’s also fair to remember in the coming weeks that even the greatest of quarterbacks makes the occasional error. They throw into coverage. They force throws. They throw interceptions. I saw Peyton Manning throw 49 touchdowns in a season, win four Most Valuable Player Awards, win a Super Bowl and lead some of the most remarkable comebacks in NFL history. I also saw him throw interceptions that were returned for touchdowns, force a pass or two – and I once saw him throw six interceptions in a game. Bottom line: Let’s not grade Bortles so harshly and precisely that we lose all perspective. Bortles can play well and be worthy of being the quarterback moving forward without being perfect. If you’re looking for a quarterback to be perfect – in pressure situations or otherwise – you’re to have a long, unhappy frustrating wait.

Clay from Jacksonville:
I’m a long-time fan. I have a copy of my ticket to the first game hanging on my office wall. I’m beginning to feel like I’m the only one who thinks this whole “respect” thing is way overblown. Are we the Jacksonville Jaguars or the Jacksonville Rodney Dangerfields? I see analysts showing the Jaguars love every time I watch NFL shows. We’re getting respect. Analysts almost drool over our defense. I say we try to get over this respect thing and just go out there and focus on winning.

John: Fair point.

Glen from Orange Park, FL:
Last March-July I thought we were going to be at least a .500 team. Then August came. The practice against the Bucs was especially disheartening as they seemed to really look down their noses at us as perennial losers and they were the ascending darlings of Hard Knocks. After 13 games … well let’s just say the Jags lead the league with 47 sacks (among many other categories) and the Bucs are dead last with 17!

John: I can’t say I had a great feeling about this team in late August, either. The offensive line was struggling and there was the whole Bortles-earning-his-position storyline. But I never got a pessimistic feeling from the practices against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and in fact there was a moment late in one those practices when I wondered if maybe we weren’t seeing something positive. This was during the Tuesday session, when multiple fights broke out near the end. Watching the scene from the end of the field, I wondered if perhaps we weren’t seeing signs that the Jaguars were tired of being pushed around. I can’t rightly say I knew then this was going to be a different Jaguars team, but this version of the Jaguars certainly doesn’t lack confidence and it doesn’t mind pushing back. Not in the least.

Rob from Jacksonville:
I read an article that said Jermey Parnell was playing at a Pro Bowl level and Patrick Omameh was one of the toughest left guards in the league! Have they been playing THAT well this year?

John: Parnell has played very well when healthy – and because the Jaguars lead the league in rushing, it stands to reason some member of the offensive line must be doing OK. I doubt he will make the Pro Bowl, but is he playing well enough to deserve consideration? Sure. Omameh has played well this season when healthy, too. How tough is he? Hell, he plays offensive line in the NFL. I don’t know many guys who do that without being tough.

Jeremy from Newport, RI:
X-Factors … I believe as we move into the playoffs that if we see some plays above the Xs and Os from Myles Jack and Dante Fowler Jr. that they could really solidify how good this team is right now. Jack has been solid but he hasn’t really had a stand-out game where he had a big impact. The same seems true of Fowler. He flashed earlier in the season but has been relatively quiet lately. I think these guys are X-Factors and could really push the Jags toward a Super Bowl. Thoughts?

John: I think flash plays happen when they happen – and if you try to force them you wind up making a lot of mistakes not playing within yourself. I also think you’re underestimating Jack’s impact on this defense. He has a fumble return for a touchdown this season, is in his first season calling an NFL defense and he has been much more than solid. Fowler also has a fumble return for a touchdown, very nearly had another and has 6.5 sacks. Are they capable of more flash plays? Certainly. But the first thing you want on defense is 11 guys doing their jobs. If this defense does that, the turnovers/sacks/touchdowns will follow.

Keithen from Jacksonville:
So why didn’t Michael Bennett get suspended after trying to take out Brandon Linder‘s knee? Also, what happens when a player is ejected during the last two minutes of a game … does it carry over to next game at all? Finally, what must happen around the league in the last three weeks for the Jags to be the number one seed in the AFC? As always #DTWD

John: Bennett wasn’t suspended because the league determined Bennett wasn’t trying to take out Linder’s knee (offered without comment). No, an ejection doesn’t carry over to the next game – unless the league determines that something happened egregious enough to suspend the player the following week. For the Jaguars to be the No. 1 seed a few things need to happen: the Jaguars must win the rest of their games, the Steelers must beat the Patriots Sunday and the Steelers must lose their final two games.

Danielfrom Jersey City, NJ:
O-man – this is certainly already a historic season/turnaround for the Jaguars. If we can win this out, how would it stack up from an NFL-wide turnaround?

John: The Jaguars, if they win their remaining three games, would be in a multi-team tie for the third biggest turnaround in NFL history. The 1999 Colts went 13-3 after going 3-13 in 1998 and the 2008 Dolphins went 11-5 after going 1-15 in 2007. Three teams have had nine-game turnarounds: the 2004 Pittsburgh Steelers (6-10 in 2003 and 15-1 in 2004), the 1999 St. Louis Rams (3-13 in 1998 and 12-4 in 1999) and the 1963 Oakland Raiders (1-13 in 1962 and 10-4 in 1963. The Jaguars went 3-13 last season and can finish 12-4 this season.

Dave from St. Louis, MO:
Isn’t the beauty of losing players to free agency the compensation guidelines? We’ve been waiting a long time to reach the point where we can sign fewer free agents and let our rookies sign elsewhere, so you can start getting compensatory selections. Obviously, you don’t want to lose All-Pro level players, but potentially secondary level players who might get big contracts like Colvin and Lee surely would help that cause? I believe the compensatory picks will be for the next offseason (not this upcoming one) as this upcoming one will be based on last year’s free agent plus/minus situation, is that correct?

John: You’re correct that the 2018 compensatory selections are based on 2017 free agency. But while receiving compensatory selections indeed is a benefit of losing players in free agency, I wouldn’t call it a “beauty.” Losing veterans as free agents usually isn’t something that is good for a team. And while a fourth- or fifth-round selection would be nice, it wouldn’t make up for losing players such as Aaron Colvin or Marqise Lee.

William from Wilson, NC:
John, I’ve been a Jags fan for a long, long time. Did I make some bets with friends the Jags would lose certain easy games? Yes, because until this year that was the trend; I knew my team and the combination of them not knowing the team and me wanting easy money was just too enticing. I kind of feel bad as a fan, but then I remember the delicious ice cream that the 10 bucks bought me and it subsides. I know it is all speculation and experience matters, and this team doesn’t have that experience, but what do you realistically think the chances are that this team could make it to the big game? #DTWD #Sacksonville
John: Why? Do you want more ice cream?

 

 
 

 

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