Category: Uncategorized

Ask Vic: McCarthy took the training wheels off

Let’s take a whirl around the league:

  • The bye weeks are over. The feast of late-season football is upon us.
  • Sean McDermott made a terrible mistake. He needs to apologize to his team.
  • The Steelers and Patriots are headed on a collision course for the regular season game of the year.
  • If the Steelers beat the Patriots, the Jaguars will have a strong chance of winning the No. 1 playoff spot in the AFC.
  • Jim Caldwell has given the Lions a heart.
  • Josh Norman is not the player he was in Carolina.
  • Andy Reid needs to stop looking at his play-call sheet and start looking into his players’ eyes.

Giuseppe from Parma, Italy
Vic, why would any home team, on a cold and windy day, playing against an opponent known to have a superior pass defense and an inferior run defense, pass the ball on nine of the first 11 plays?

Yesterday was the day Mike McCarthy was going to take the training wheels off Brett Hundley. That fact was announced in the first drive, which was moving down the field beautifully until Hundley threw an interception in the end zone. That was the game plan. For the Packers to make any kind of move on a playoff berth, it had to happen eventually, because the Packers are not built to win with the running game. I don’t care what the Ravens’ ranking is against the run, I didn’t see the Packers running on them, and I’ll be shocked if the Packers are able to run the ball against the Steelers, Panthers or Vikings. Hundley had to become “The Man.” In my mind, that was McCarthy’s thinking, and I can appreciate it.

Ben from Hilo, HI
Is this moment too big for Brett Hundley?

The moment? No. The pass rush? Yes. As I predicted in Thursday’s column, yesterday’s game was going to tell us whether or not Hundley is able to deal with a fierce pass rush. Unfortunately, the answer appears to be no. The Steelers will see that on tape and throw all three rivers at Hundley this coming Sunday.

Brett from Boonsboro, MD
Well, do we stick with Hundley or see what Callahan can do?

This isn’t tryout time. If you believe in the 10-win theory, the Packers have one more loss to give before they lose their margin for error. You play the people you believe give you the best chance to win. Joe Callahan taking down the Steelers at Heinz Field in his first-ever start? I don’t see that happening. Hundley got a good dose of AFC North football on Sunday. He should be better for the experience.

Matt from Iowa
Vic, do you have any QB trees down there in South Carolina?

There’s one quarterback left on the quarterback tree, but he appears to be forbidden fruit.

Bob from Wauwatosa, WI
Look out, NFC, here come the Vikings. They looked like a serious contender against the Rams. Vic, are they for real?

Where have you been? The Vikings have been for real since 2015. I predicted it. A couple of years ago, I talked about the Vikings drafting well and about to move into a new stadium that would generate a lot of revenue, and the combination would make them the Packers’ No. 1 competition in the NFC North.

Allen from Zephyrhills, FL
Going on social media, I’ve discovered many Packers fan aren’t so winsome after they lose some.

It’s time for us to check ourselves and seek perspective. In November of 2013, the Packers played five games without Aaron Rodgers and didn’t win any of them. Do we remember that? This isn’t something new. Without Rodgers, the Packers aren’t the Packers. What were our expectations? Keep winning as though nothing happened? Really?

​John from Madison, WI
Vic, it´s obvious Brett Hundley has not the play level needed to put this team in position to win, so why doesn’t Coach McCarthy give Callahan a chance to show himself?

The Bills gave rookie Nathan Peterman a chance to show himself yesterday. How’d that work for them?

Richard from Truckee, CA
How would you fix college football?

It would begin with leveling the playing field and that begins with greater oversight on recruiting. It all begins there because recruiting is the source of all evil in college football. Clean up recruiting and you will have fixed college football. Ask the FBI how to do it. They know. Maybe they’ll even assist you. I can tell you this, relying on the integrity of the coaches and university presidents isn’t working. College football also suffers from lack of standardization. The power five conferences are their own leagues — and so is Notre Dame — instead of all of them belonging to one ruling body that provides for scheduling. It’s ridiculous that Wisconsin could go through an entire regular season without having to play Ohio State, Penn State or Michigan State. The power five conferences need to establish one ruling body. That’s essentially what Pete Rozelle convinced the NFL to do when he became commissioner, and look at the result. Clean up recruiting and standardize the product; that’s how you level the playing field and make college football interesting for fans of all schools, instead of for just the powerful.

Brandon from St. Paul, MN
I remember you mentioning Coach Knoll’s incredible insight regarding the impacts of the 1978 rule change allowing players to block with their hands. How long did it take for the rest of the league to react? Were there many teams that stubbornly refused to adjust?

It’s Noll, please. It took a year. Don Coryell moved from St. Louis to San Diego in ’78 and immediately began laying the foundation to “Air Coryell.” A year later, the Chargers became the first AFC West champion to run more passing plays than running plays. That was also the year Bill Walsh became the head coach of the 49ers and drafted Joe Montana. With Coryell joined with Dan Fouts and Walsh with Montana, football made a sweeping move from run the ball to throw the ball. It will always boggle my mind that Paul Brown’s last great football decision was to pick Tiger Johnson over Walsh as head coach. Brown should’ve seen where the game was headed. It was headed in the direction he was taking it. Walsh and Ken Anderson would’ve won some of the Super Bowls Walsh and Montana did.

Travis from Fort Walton Beach, FL
Didn’t the league release a memo detailing a focus on respect for waiver processes? If “Deflategate” and the Elliott appeals have discouraged or intimidated the league from enforcing its rules, won’t that send a clear message to 31 teams, telling them it’s open season to contact players prior to being a free agent?

I think what the league is saying is teams have been doing it through agents for a long time, and to allow that to happen but go after the Patriots for doing it would’ve created another controversy that would’ve reflected badly on the commissioner. Look, you and a lot of other Packers fans are suffering from the painful effects of betrayal. You cheered for somebody who deceived you, and now it hurts and you want revenge. I don’t think you’re going to get it, so my advice is to learn from this betrayal: Stick with your own players; free agents are other teams’ players.

Nick from State College, PA
How do you like the skycam view? I think it gives a greater appreciation to the size and speed of linemen and of how scary it is to stand tall in the pocket.

It helped me identify the coverages, but made it more difficult to identify the fronts. Overall, I disliked the experiment greatly because I had difficulty finding the ball. I felt as I do when I watch hockey. After all the pre-snap strategy stuff is achieved, I want to see the ball. I want to know where it is and where it’s going. Skycam blunted my enjoyment of the game.

Dave from Savage, MN
Can you believe how cavalier the national media is about how Bennett made his way out of town? He lied about his injury, made up a story criticizing the team doctor for trying to get him to play against his will, then signs with another team and willfully plays the next week. The media chuckles about Marty “being Marty.” They talk about how he has a right to lie so he can play for the one team he wants to play for. And they have no problem with his lies hurting his employer and a doctor that did nothing to harm him. Where is the integrity? Where are the guts? Why won’t they challenge these guys?

I railed in this column about “Deflategate.” I was outraged, incensed the Patriots were arrogant enough to defile the ball, the centerpiece of the game. I didn’t think the punishment was great enough, especially for a franchise that had already been found guilty in “Spygate.” I campaigned against the Patriots, using my experiences with sidelines communication failures as evidence of more wrongdoing. What was the reaction of my readers? A large and growing faction of them laughed me off as an old fuddy duddy. A lot of them even believed quarterbacks should be allowed to adjust the ball pressure to their liking. Don’t blame the media. Blame the fans for accepting cheating as being part of the game. We’ve lost our virtue.

Adam from Wausau, WI
Did you always plan to continue this column after you retired?

It was part of being new. I knew I’d want to continue writing, but I’d have to do it in a different way. I like this way.

George from Beechview, PA
Are the 49ers trying to use Garoppolo for trade bait? Why would they not show what he has? The Patriots let him go, in the middle of season, for a reason? Clue me in.

Maybe he’s just a guy and the Patriots have skinned another overanxious suitor, just as they did when they traded Deon Branch to the Seahawks for a first-round pick.

Jimmy from Madison, WI
I’m a firm believer the NFL has made ticket prices too high for the families. Do you remember your first game? Without your first game, how can you draw interest to the young boys with dreams? The NFL is not giving the young boys the fire to play. The young kids of America need to experience game day. The future looks sad for the NFL, if they don’t draw more player interest. Your thoughts? My first was Packers/Redskins.

My first game was Giants/Steelers. Charlie Conerly and Bobby Layne were the quarterbacks. My dad bought tickets for $3 each from a guy in the street who promised they weren’t behind the home plate backstop screen. Of course, they were directly behind it, and I remember how disappointed my father was to find out he had been deceived. I said, “It’s all right, dad. At least we’re not behind a pole.” What I remember most is how the colors jumped out at me: the Giants’ scarlet and the Steelers’ gold. I didn’t care who won the game. I was just thankful my eyes were being treated to such a spectacle. Yeah, I agree with everything you say. Tickets cost too much and too many kids are being denied their first game.

Mike from Fort Wayne, IN
So I guess Bennett gets the last laugh all the way to the bank and to the Patriots. Vic, who decides and what is the process for the Packers trying to reclaim some of their money back?

There’s a process that involves the NFL Executive Committee, but I get the strong sense this is going nowhere.

Dave from St. Peters, MO
I agree wholeheartedly with you on touchdown celebrations. At least it entertains my 5-year-old and 7-year-old.

It’s just a matter of time before someone acts out a skit that’s considered offensive or politically motivated, and the you know what hits the fan. It’s almost as though we want it to happen, because we’re an angry people who aren’t satisfied unless we have a target to express our anger.

Mark from Bellevue, WI
Vic, if your father and his contemporaries were able to time travel 50 years forward to today’s NFL and sports scene, what would he say to you about what he sees?

My father doesn’t have to rise from the dead to provide perspective on how it was 50 years ago. I can do it! The year is 1967 and I’m 16 years old and watching the “Ice Bowl.” I am in love with football and can’t get enough of it. I watch the NFL at one o’clock and four o’clock, and position myself close enough to our black-and-white TV to turn the channel — what’s a remote? — to the AFL games during commercial breaks. My father claims overexposure will kill the game, but I want more. What are my thoughts about today’s game? It’s wonderful. Give me more, especially more playoff games. You see, nothing has really changed; we still can’t get enough football. We love it. We crave it. It defines us. 

Chad from Troy, MI
If the Broncos go dark for the next decade, not making it back to the playoffs once during that time, was it really worth the gamble with the salary cap? How many dark years is one Super Bowl win worth?

Killing your cap to win the Super Bowl shouldn’t turn you dark for 10 years. You should be able to regain cap health and soften the effects of having killed your cap — as long as you commit fully to recovery — within four years. I think the question is: Is it worth four years of darkness to win it all? I’ll say yes, it is, but can you guarantee you’ll win it all? I am absolutely sure it is not worth four years of darkness to not win it all.

 

 

 

 
 
 

 

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O-Zone: Enjoy the moment

John Oehser Senior writer jaguars.com

JACKSONVILLE – Let’s get to it …

Andy from Roswell, GA:
John, I’m worried about the game this week, which is worrisome. Do you get the sense that this team is “satisfied” with its play and that two seemingly big, emotional wins will cause a letdown this week? It kind of reminds me of the Jets game. Talk me down, man.

John: Sunday’s game against the Browns absolutely is worrisome – mostly because every NFL game is worrisome. But for the Jaguars, there are more specific worries Sunday. They’re entering the game with a beat-up offensive line and receiving corps. It’s fair to wonder how the Jaguars get to 20 or more points, particularly with the Browns’ defense being much better than the team’s 0-9 record. But while many fans have written this week worried about the Jaguars being “satisfied” or overconfident, I don’t see that being an issue. What I do see being an issue is the Browns will play hard because they haven’t quit on the season. The weather will be cold and possibly messy – and that can be an equalizing issue. I believe the Jaguars will win; if they don’t, I don’t think it will be because of a letdown. It will be because road games in the NFL are difficult whatever the circumstance and whoever the opponent – especially road games against teams that still believe they can win.

Keith from Caeser, MI:
I know this won’t get published because it doesn’t fit the company line, but here goes anyway. Since he has been the quarterback of the Jaguars, when has Blake Bortles won a close game or a game in which the Jaguars were behind? I can’t remember even one. Sunday, we won in spite of Bortles. Until he wins a few close games or a few come-from-behind games, he is not a franchise quarterback.

John: Your question is legitimate; your premise is laughable. So, I instead of answering … I laughed. #companyline #Iknowyouwontanswerthis

Jim from Pahrump, NV:
I hate to beat a dead horse, but the Jaguars are 2-15 in their last 17 games against the NFC. It is time to exorcise those demons.

John: I love beating dead horses (metaphorically speaking, of course); few people like to run a joke into the ground quite like me. But there’s nothing here to exorcise any more than there was anything to exorcise regarding the Jaguars winning at EverBank Field earlier this season. The Jaguars struggled against teams from any conference and any division in recent seasons – and they struggled no matter where they played. They’re better now, and the results of that improvement have shown at EverBank the past two weeks. If they continue to play well, those results also will show against NFC teams.

Bill from Hammock, FL:
O, I need your advice on our last game at Tennessee. It is scheduled for a 1 p.m. start time. I’m planning on being there and will be attending the Jimmy Buffett concert that night. Is there any way this game would be forced to a night time, national start in your opinion? If so, would you like to buy a pair of tickets to see Buffett?

John: Sure, it could get flexed. It’s way too early to know if that will happen, but it’s certainly possible. As for buying the tickets, I’ll be flying home on the team plane shortly after the game. Otherwise I’d put my fins over here to the left, and then I’d probably … you know … put them over here to the right.

Adam from Jville:
Although they have added Sammy Watkins, looking back on the Rams game, how impressive was that defensive performance against what is now considered the most explosive offense in the league?

John: Watkins played against the Jaguars. As for your question … very.

Robert from Moorpark:
On paper, the Jaguars should be able to beat the Browns. But a four-game win streak? Recent history tells us no way the Jags are capable. Surely, this is a fluke.

John: Recent history also told you the Jaguars weren’t capable of leading the NFL in sacks, rushing offense, points allowed and passing defense. The times they are a changin’, my friend.

Dustin from Orlando, FL:
I’d like to give one for Shad Khan. It took some time but he has put a heck of a staff together and trusted the football guys to take care of the football. Please pass along my regards the next time you guys are having lunch and getting massages together. Thanks.

John: Hey, one fer Shad!

Steve from Nashville, TN:
I noticed Coach Wash stayed with pretty much a four-man rush on Sunday, which produced zero sacks. What was the strategy here?

John: The strategy was one that Jaguars defensive coordinator Todd Wash has taken throughout much of the season – and one that I expect him to continue taking. That’s to get pressure with four down linemen while having seven defenders in coverage. The reason to take that approach against a quarterback such as Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers is he’s outstanding at getting the ball out quickly, so you want to have your full allotment in the back seven to defend against the pass. Your question implies that the strategy didn’t work Sunday, which I’m not sure is correct. No, the Jaguars didn’t get any sacks, but they pressured Rivers effectively and held the Chargers to 17 points. They also held them scoreless over their final six drivers, and the Chargers were ineffective offensively during that time. Pressure doesn’t always mean sacks. Sometimes, it means disruption. If the Jaguars can disrupt with four down linemen, they almost always will take a no-sack game if it means getting enough pressure to bother the quarterback and allow them to still have seven defenders in coverage.

George from Macon, GA:
Are there any injuries for the game this weekend?

John: Yes.

Alan from Jacksonville:
So basically, we are 44 points better than the Titans, right?

John: No.

Jason from Colorado Springs, CO:
Thank you Pittsburgh! This puts us in the driver’s seat and sets up a Week 17 matchup that I can’t wait for! What chew say, Great O?

John: I say the Jaguars are I first place and in great position for the playoffs and possibly the division. I say the odds are good that the season finale in Tennessee will decide the division. I also say there are seven games remaining, and very little surprises me in the NFL.

Gregg from Cleveland, OH:
How is it with a makeshift offensive line, an inexperienced wide receiver corps, an injured Leonard Fournette at best, expected bad weather, a game where you just threw the ball 51 times because you couldn’t run, our proven ability to stop the run, does your fan base think this game is a gimme? Your injury report reads like an All-Pro ballot for your team. This game could be 6-3 and in a game like that it is anyone’s game.

John: Gregg! Whattup!!?? I agree with you that the game is no gimme, but I haven’t sensed the Jaguars’ fan base thinking this one will be easy. If anything, quite the opposite is true. One other quibble with your comments: the really worrisome part of the injury report isn’t All-Pro caliber with the exception of Fournette. But as I said, I’m quibbing – and let’s not do that! I do think the weather and the Jaguars’ injuries will keep this one tight, though. And I think the Browns have a chance. I quib you not.

Jason from Da’Hass:
John, I thought the purpose of replay was to get the correct call. I also thought that refs could use two angles to get a broader picture in order to make a sound ruling. Well you did say “essence…”

John: The original purpose of replay was to correct the clear and obvious mistakes, and that meant clear and irrefutable evidence. Officials were not supposed to draw conclusions or make judgments based on assumptions.

Kyle from Green Cove Springs, FL:
I’m looking too far into the future here. But I can’t help but remember what happened in the 2007 and 2008 seasons. In 2007 we flew under the radar with a Top 5 defense and great running game and made a solid postseason run. We were tooth and nail with the (at the time) undefeated Patriots. After losing a very hard-fought divisional playoff game, many analysts were picking the Jags to make a Super Bowl run in ‘08. Unfortunately, in 08 we fell flat and I believe finished 5-11. I think we somewhat took advantage of a cake schedule in ’07 and maybe were too hyped up for the following season. So this is what gets me worried: We are having a heck of a year, but our schedule hasn’t exactly been very challenging. I realize this is the NFL and all teams are good and I also realize that we do have one of the more talented teams in the league. I just hope we don’t fall flat again like the ‘08 season.

John: You know what will really suck? When the Jaguars screw up the 2029 draft by trading up for a quarterback. The Jaguars are winning. Enjoy the moment, Kyle.
 

 

 
 
 

 

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O-Zone: Team player

John Oehser Senior writer jaguars.com

JACKSONVILLE – Let’s get to it …

Logan from Wichita, KS:
Why did Tashaun Gipson have to poke a wounded animal? The Browns’ record says they are bad, but their scores and personnel dispute that record A LOT! I hope Gipson didn’t light a fire in the Browns that will rage on us come Sunday. There is nothing worse than losing a game you should win because you started a fire you couldn’t put out. And seriously: if we lose, we are back to being a huge joke in the NFL and a lot of hope will be gone.

John: I’ll offer a few thoughts on this “story” – and yeah, the “quotation marks” show what I think of the story’s ultimate importance. While players’ comments – especially comments critical of opponents – make for entertaining midweek reading, they tend to lose steam once the game begins. That’s not to say the Browns can’t win Sunday; they absolutely can. But if the Browns indeed beat the Jaguars Sunday, it will be because the Browns played without the mistakes that have cost them a lot of games this season, or because the Jaguars made enough mistakes to allow the Browns to win a game the Jaguars should win. Or maybe the Browns will just put it together and outplay the Jaguars. Any of those things are possible, because it’s the NFL – and because the Browns appear to still be playing with hope despite their record. But nothing that happens Sunday will be because of Gipson’s comments on his former team. As for your thoughts on the dire implications of a loss … nah. If the Jaguars happen to lose Sunday, they will be 6-4 and still very much in the AFC South and the playoff chase. This is the NFL. Good teams lose to teams with horrendous records all the time. It’s why teams rarely go 0-16 or 16-0. This isn’t college football.

Dylan from Duval:
It’s nice to wear Jags gear around town with above-normal pride. People are excited. One for Duval. #DTWD

John: #DTWD

HD from Jacksonville:
With our wide receiver corps depleted, any idea why there hasn’t been more emphasis on tight ends? James O’Shaughnessy has been mainly absent from a reception perceptive after a couple of flashes early on – and with Marcedes Lewis … well, it is hit or miss. It seems like when he is on he can catch everything thrown his way – and some other times, not so much. But in any case, it doesn’t seem like there has been much focus on tight ends in the passing game. Any thoughts?

John: The receiving ability of the tight ends – while good at times – is not an overriding strength of this offense. Their role this season reflects that.

Tim from Jaxx:
Winning sure makes your job easier, doesn’t it zone?

John: Not particularly, but it makes the readers (most readers, anyway) a lot happier. I do like that.

Jeff from Jacksonville:
Right now, it looks like there are only five good teams in the AFC (Steelers, Patriots, Chiefs, Titans, Jaguars). Everyone else is either having a quarterback crisis, devastated by injury, not that good to begin with or inexplicably loses games despite good talent (Chargers). In order for the Jags to miss the playoffs, two of these teams would have to turn it around quickly; do you see any of them doing that?

John: The Jaguars have a two-game lead on the final wild-card spot. With seven games remaining, that does give them a significant chance for their first postseason appearance in a decade. Still, history shows that at least one team that people currently see as “not good” will play well down the stretch. I believe the Raiders – and perhaps the Ravens – are capable of doing that.

Steve from Nashville, TN:
Those three home games in a row in December look to be important.

John: I’ll Google this.

Robert from Fernandina Beach, FL:
Near the end of the Bengals game, the Jaguars could have taken a knee; instead, they ran three more plays. Right tackle Jermey Parnell limped off after the third play, and then [quarterback Blake] Bortles was seen having some heated words with [Head Coach Doug] Marrone as he walked off the field. As I was watching, I thought it unwise to run plays when you didn’t have to, considering someone could get hurt. Now Parnell’s hurt. Thoughts?

John: My thoughts are that this is a tricky spot. Should the Jaguars have knelt in that situation? In retrospect, perhaps. But the adrenaline was flowing, and it’s understandable that Bortles and the offense wanted to score again in that situation. Bottom line: players get hurt in the NFL. I’m for resting players when situations call for it, but you can’t not run one or two plays out of fear of a player getting injured.

Ed from Ponte Vedra Beach, FL:
Can some of your readers stop and smell the flowers? Geez, what a unhappy, ungrateful bunch.

John: So true. Aren’t they great?

Alan from Jacksonville:
The Browns can run the ball and they can stop the run. On paper, they have a talented roster, which sounds like another team I know from a year ago. If we played the Browns 10 times, how many times do you think they could beat us? I am a little concerned about our team looking ahead.

John: The Jaguars won’t look ahead, but that doesn’t mean the Browns aren’t a concern. I’d say the Browns could win this game one or two times out of 10 because it’s the NFL; teams are rarely as bad as their record and a weak record doesn’t make them incapable of being competitive.

Geoff from Jax:
My prediction for the rest of the season, this Holba kid will make us forget about Tinker.

John: #Tink #Neverforget

Mark from Archer, FL:
Rookie wide receivers can make an impact. Look at JuJu Smith-Schuster of the Steelers. In my opinion we do not need Dede Westbrook to come out and play like an elite No. 1 receiver. We just need him to come out and play like a No. 2 or 3 receiver. I know the argument is that he was good in the preseason against No. 2 and 3s. But those are still NFL players.
John: Actually, a lot of the players Westbrook excelled against in the preseason aren’t NFL players. Such is the difference between playing in the second half of NFL preseason games and the first. That doesn’t mean Westbrook can’t have an impact, but that’s why he’s still a very unknown NFL entity.

Clyde from Jacksonville:
I have a feeling Dede could be like our past receiver Justin Blackmon. During the preseason, he reminded me of Blackmon: anytime he got the ball he seemed to make a play. What do you think, O Wise One??

John: I think Blackmon’s hands and his body control gave him an elite skill set, and he was remarkably productive at times in his brief career. I can’t say I see that in Westbrook until I see him work against starting NFL defensive players, but if what he did in the preseason translate to the regular season – yeah, he has playmaking ability and speed to make plays.

Andrew from Sampson, FL:
All-knowing O man: what is the actual touching-a downed-player rule. Does it mean the downed player with the ball is touching a player on opposing team or that the downed player with the ball is actually purposely touched by a player of opposing team?

John: All that’s required is a touch. Purpose or intent has nothing to do with it.

Kevin from Sault St. Marie, Ontario, Canada:
Can you speak to the performance of the interior defensive line over the last few weeks, including what the addition of Marcell Dareus has meant to the unit? You hear a lot of the pass rush and Calais Campbell, but not as much of how Malik Jackson and Abry Jones are doing, and how Sheldon Day is progressing? Thanks, eh.

John: The interior defensive line for the most part has been good. From this view, it appeared to struggle against the run early in the season – and those struggles were addressed with the trade for Dareus over the bye week. The run defense has improved from 32nd in the NFL to 25th since his arrival, and the team has allowed 58 rushing yards per game in the two games. Jones appears to have played well for the most part, and he seems to have played better in recent weeks. Jackson appears to be making more of an impact in recent weeks after being on the injury report with a groin issue for most of the first half of the season.

Steve from Nashville, TN:
The weather in Cleveland for Sunday will be windy and cold. Will this have an impact to the Jaguars media team not sequestered in the press box?

John: I work from the press box on game days. Most of the rest of the Jaguars media team does not. What impact will that have on them? I don’t care about that. Does anyone?

 

 
 
 

 

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Ask Vic: Here are my top 10 coaches

11/16/2017

Here are my Week 11 power rankings:
1. Eagles – Rested and ready for big finish.
2. Patriots – Still crazy, after all these years.
3. Rams – Getting better every week.
4. Saints – Nobody expected this.
5. Panthers – Newton is on fire.
6. Steelers – Winning but offense struggling.
7. Seahawks – Can they win without Sherman?
8. Chiefs – No. 30 on defense.
9. Vikings – All of a sudden, they don’t need a QB.
10. Falcons – Back in the hunt.
11. Cowboys – Elliott? How about Sean Lee?
12. Lions – Poised for a strong finish.
13. Jaguars – Everything going their way.
14. Titans – Buckle up in the Burgh.
15. Bills – Beginning to fade.
16. Raiders – It’s all on Carr.
17. Packers – Facing another must-win game.
18. Redskins – That’s all, folks.
19. Jets – Can they finish low enough to draft a QB?
20. Chargers – Collapse in Jax ended playoff hopes.
21. Ravens – Too far behind.
22. Cardinals – Too talented to be this bad.
23. Dolphins – Mr. Yuk.
24. Broncos – Stinko!
25. Bears – After further review, they withdraw their challenge.
26. Texans – Future looks bright.
27. Bengals – Should change uniforms to black and white stripes.
28. Colts – Come close but can’t close.
29. Bucs – It’s now or next year.
30. 49ers – The bad beat the very bad.
31. Giants – Very bad.
32. Browns – The worst.

Davy from Chetek, WI
Jerry Jones?

Leaguethink?

John from Green Bay, WI
Vic, what are your thoughts on the Martellus Bennett drama that has unfolded?

I think he might be guilty of manipulating the system.

Ben from El Paso, TX
What do you think we will learn about Hundley’s growth against Baltimore’s defense this week?

I think we’ll see how he holds up against a strong pass rush.

Jerry from Kansas City, MO
What do the Packers need to do to build on last Sunday’s win and get a win against Baltimore?

The Packers need to run the ball to achieve balance and protect Brett Hundley from what can be a devastating pass rush.

Steve from Wauwatosa, WI
Given the concussion and major injury issues we’ve seen with this sport, I find myself conflicted when watching football games with my kids. What do I tell them when I watch the games but won’t let them play? I feel like a hypocrite.

I guess you tell them you fear for their safety, but I think your fears are unfounded. High school football is not the physical game it was when I was young, and nobody is teaching and practicing spearing anymore. From what I can see, high school football is largely a seven-on-seven passing drill. It’s closer to flag football than it is to the ground-and-pound game of the past, which included such ridiculous exercises as neck bridges in calisthenics and gauntlet drills to set a combative tone. That’s the culture that’s been changed. Yes, injuries can and will occur, but the sensitivity for head injuries is greater than ever. Will you allow your children to drive the family car? Explain that decision to them, too.

Monty from Lauren, IA
Vic, what is your opinion on locker room distractions? Are there teams that avoid media attention and locker room distractions, and others who are not too concerned with them? I feel like a Colin Kaepernick type player would bring unwanted attention to an organization. What are your thoughts on this?

All coaches are vigilant in avoiding distractions, and Kaepernick would be an almost certain distraction to any team he joined. He would bring national media attention to that team’s locker room, and players would find themselves answering questions about Kaepernick’s anthem movement instead of questions about the next game. Be that as it may, such are the sacrifices we must endure in defense of our right to free speech.

Stephen from Jacksonville, FL
If the Steelers beat the Titans, the Jaguars’ chances of winning the division will improve. If the Titans beat the Steelers, the Jaguars’ chances for a top-two playoff seed will improve, provided they win the AFC South. The Jaguars currently control their own destiny in regards to winning their division. Who should Jaguars fans root for on Thursday night?

Jaguars fans should root for the Steelers, because that’s the result that would most help the Jaguars win the AFC South. That has to be the No. 1 goal, and the greatest obstacle to the Jaguars’ pursuit of that goal is its home loss to the Titans. The Jaguars might need help.

Ray from Port Elgin, NB
Vic, given Martellus Bennett’s comments at his locker after his first game back with the Patriots, basically admitting to influencing other teams not to claim him off waivers because he was planning on having season-ending surgery and then retiring, is this something the league could or should look into? He also stated Tom Brady contacted him before he was claimed to convince him to suit up for the Patriots. That kind of sounds like collusion to me and directly against the NFL’s policy on waiver transactions. What say you?

The league said it won’t investigate the matter, which doesn’t surprise me, given the criticism the commissioner got for “Deflategate.” What I can tell you is this: It’s a violation for a team to contact a player during the waiver process. Contacting a player during the process is to effectively make him a free agent, which Bennett was not because he was released after the trade deadline. I guess we’ll never know, huh?

Brad from Parker, CO
Vic, if Wisconsin is able to win out its last couple of games, including the Big 10 championship game, do they deserve a spot in the tournament, considering there may be teams above them in the rankings with one and two losses?

If they win out, they not only will deserve a spot in the playoffs, they’ll get one. Clemson and Miami will likely play in the ACC title game, and the loser would drop beneath an undefeated Wisconsin.

Lori from Brookfield, WI
Would you please give a power ranking of the top 10 coaches in the NFL today?

1) Bill Belichick, 2) Mike McCarthy, 3) Mike Tomlin, 4) Sean Payton, 5) Pete Carroll, 6) Jason Garrett, 7) Doug Pederson, 8) Mike Zimmer 9) Jim Caldwell, 10) John Harbaugh.

Mike from Niagara Falls, Canada
Vic, your age is showing with this celebration issue. I’m the kind of guy who thinks players should celebrate however they please. I’m all for handing the ball to the ref and getting back in the huddle, but I’m also all for Michael Flatley dance numbers in the end zone. It’s a game, at the end of the day, and it exists for our entertainment. Don’t want them showboating? Don’t let them score.

What are your thoughts on issues such as sportsmanship, dignity, selflessness and respect for your opponent and the game? Unfortunately, your age is showing, too.

Adam from Wausau, WI
How does writing this column change now that you’re not an insider on the company payroll?

I’ve said it before: I don’t have to be as concerned about bulletin board material. Now, can we please stop with these insults to my integrity? I was on the payroll for the six years I wrote this column in-house, and I never lied to my readers. If you don’t trust me, why would you read me?

Zach from LaJunta, CO
How much of a jump is it from college to the NFL? If you were to build an all-star college team and put it against the Browns (the last winless team), would the college players stand a chance?

The Browns would blow them out. Go back and check out the results from the last several College All-Star games played in Chicago? They were uncompetitive, which resulted in the game being abandoned. The college all-stars weren’t even competitive against a team of pro reserves and rookies.

Travis from Houston, TX
What are your thoughts on the Saints?

I think their performance this season is every bit as much of a surprise as the Jaguars’ and the Rams’. Sean Payton has done a masterful job of putting that team back together, especially on the defensive side of the ball. No. 2 on offense and No. 8 on defense. I’m impressed.

Chad from Troy, MI
Are we witnessing Denver getting run over by the salary cap train? Is this what a team built on free agency looks like?

Yes and yes. The Broncos are tight against the cap. They’ve lost several of the players from their Super Bowl team, but their cap burden has been passed on, either directly or indirectly. Hey, they won the Super Bowl and that justifies the gamble, but what if they hadn’t won the Super Bowl? How many teams take that risk and don’t win it all? I covered one that did and it played a big part in that franchise going dark for 17 years.

 
 
 

 

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O-Zone: The Great One

John Oehser Senior writer jaguars.com

JACKSONVILLE – Let’s get to it …

Travis from High Springs, FL:

If the Jaguars beat the Titans in the last game and both teams finish with the same record, how do they determine which team wins the division?

John: The first divisional tiebreaker would be head-to-head record, and that would be a 1-1 tie in your scenario. The second tiebreaker would be division record. If neither team loses again within the division until the finale, the Jaguars would finish with a 5-1 record in your scenario compared to 4-2 for Tennessee. If the teams finish with the same division record, the tiebreaker would be head-to-head record against common opponents. Both teams are 5-1 right now against teams on the other team’s schedule; obviously, a lot can change on all fronts in the final seven games.

Chad from Nashville, TN:

Looking at the remaining schedule by opposing team record, it makes sense to say the five of seven games are very winnable and the other two seem like the Jags are at least evenly matched. That is the optimistic view. Our offensive players seem to be falling apart from a health standpoint. We are getting more and more lingering injuries to the offense at all position groups. Are we healthy enough to beat the teams on the immediate horizon?

John: Falling apart? The Jaguars play in the NFL and the NFL is professional football. It’s a violent game in which players get hurt – and that makes the sport one of attrition. The Jaguars’ defense has been remarkably healthy this season, and the entire team has lost just three players of significance for the entire season: wide receiver Allen Robinson and long snappers Carson Tinker and Matt Overton. Elsewhere, the offense is now dealing with an ankle injury for Allen Hurns, a lingering knee issue for Marqise Lee and a few short-term injuries on the offensive line. That’s not falling apart in the NFL; that’s actually a pretty healthy team in November. I don’t know which games on the horizon the Jaguars will win, but I don’t see injuries derailing what this team has going right now.

Riley from Calgary, Canada:

Since the Bills traded away Marcell Dareus, they have lost against the Jets and the Saints, while giving up just under 200 yards of rushing. Is this just a mere coincidence or was Marcell having a bigger impact on that defense than what many failed to acknowledge?

John: I don’t know the full impact of Dareus’ departure on the Bills, though statistics indicate the Bills are missing something in the last two weeks.

Talha from Raleigh, NC:

We are a game behind the AFC leader and tied for the lead in the AFC South. When was the last time heading into last part of the season we were even this close?

John: December 2010.

Nathan Since ’01 from Provo, Utah:

John, “You better get excited!” Not for my thought that “Hard Knocks” would eventually have to feature my Jaguars. So I ask you, why not now? I feel it would be great; it would spread and strengthen the brand and expand the fan base. How much of a distraction could it be? Total anarchy. Thanks. #THEIRONBANK

John: If the league mandates that the Jaguars appear on Hard Knocks next offseason – or any offseason – then I suppose Executive Vice President Football Operations Tom Coughlin and Head Coach Doug Marrone would have to put up with it. Such is the nature of a mandate. I can’t imagine Coughlin or Marrone would be thrilled with the situation, though. As for the question of how much of a distraction it would be … plenty, though I imagine any distraction at all would be enough for the powers-that-be to not like the idea.

Jim from Pahrump, NV:

One demon remains in order for the Jags to make the playoffs: Beat NFC teams more than once every two years.

John: I don’t know if I can go there. The Jaguars have struggled against NFC teams in recent seasons because they’ve struggled against all teams in recent seasons. They lost to the Los Angeles Rams earlier this season because the Rams are good. They still play the San Francisco 49ers, Arizona Cardinals and Seattle Seahawks of the NFC West this season. Maybe if they lose all those games the “NFC thing” will really be a thing. But not yet.

Frankie from the Mean Streets of Ponte Vedra, FL:

Would Dede be back by now if the Jags had sat him down the last game of the preseason?

John: I have no idea because I don’t know if Dede Westbrook would have needed the core-muscle surgery had he sat out the final preseason game. The issue for Westbrook now is showing he has picked up the offense, and showing he can play well enough to be a productive member of this receiving corps. That wasn’t a given during the preseason, as evidenced by him working with the backups and reserves as opposed to the first team. Because of the absence of Hurns and Robinson, he almost certainly will get ample opportunity in the coming weeks. We’ll see if he makes a significant contribution. The Jaguars certainly could use one.

Romeo from 619 now but 904 born and raised:

Please tell the Jags that the Browns can’t and won’t be a trap game.

John: OK.

Ian from Leeds, UK:

Looking at net points, we’re fourth in the NFL and first in the AFC. Granted, it’s not a real measure of success, but it’s nice to be able to find frivolous stats that make us look good after such a long time or … well … not being able to find anything like that …

John: Net points actually are a decent indicator of how a team is playing. The Jaguars have been at or near the top in the category much of the season, which is pretty reflective of how they have played.

Roger from White House:

The Jaguars are better without Leonard Fournette spinning before he gets to the line and backing into offensive linemen.

John: And they’re even better when he has room to run.

Sean from Harrisburg, PA:

Hey O, it appears with Hurns out for a while and Robinson already out, our wide receiver depth is getting pretty slim. How concerned should we be moving forward with the passing game considering Jaydon Mickens, Jaelen Strong and Dede Westbrook haven’t really played at all yet?

John: Very. That doesn’t mean the Jaguars’ passing offense is a lost cause for the rest of the season. Bortles has done a nice job at times in the last few weeks working the ball to Marqise Lee and Keelan Cole, and Westbrook certainly showed explosiveness and playmaking ability in preseason that makes his potential intriguing. Because of those elements, it’s not unreasonable to hope the Jaguars can make plays in the passing game in the coming weeks. But should the area be a concern? Absolutely.

Jon from Brentwood, CA:

I heard that the officials said they “pieced together” the opinion that Tashaun Gipson was touched down in overturning the on-field touchdown decision. If the officials are now playing Dr. Frankenstein in assessing plays that can, surely, only lead to more “monstrous” (and not in a large way) calls being made. I thought there had to be “clear evidence” to overturn a decision. Please can you try to explain?

John: I also heard the pieced-together theory. What I have not heard is an official explanation of how officials determined on replay that Gipson was down. If they indeed “pieced together” evidence, then you are correct. That is against the spirit of the rule, which indeed is that there must be clear evidence. The whole essence of replay is that a call shouldn’t be missed that a guy watching a game in a sports bar could easily make. Once you get beyond that, you’re beyond the spirit of replay – and overturning the Gipson touchdown based on assumption darned sure would have been beyond the spirit.

Tom from Charleston, SC:

You brought a real laugh with your comment that you have been “as critical of Blake Bortles as anyone over the past few seasons.” If anything, you have been one of his most vocal supporters …

John: A great man once said there is often a difference between what is read and written. Wait, that wasn’t a great man. It was me. Great speaker or not, it’s striking how often the saying is true.

Neil from Gloucester, UK:

Dear Mr. Oehser: I keep seeing that the Jaguars are currently 6-3, which is an extremely good record. Excuse my lack of knowledge of all things NFL, but the questions that you receive seem to intonate that most fans are generally very unhappy. I’m not sure I understand? Isn’t all about the wins/ loss column? Thank you.

John: That same man who once uttered, “There is often a difference between what is read and what is written” also once rolled over during a nap and mumbled, “Fans gonna fan.” Maybe he’s great after all.
 
 
 

 

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O-Zone: Making a list

John Oehser Senior writer jaguars.com

JACKSONVILLE – Let’s get to it …

Josh from Pensacola, FL:
The defense is definitely good enough to float us. I think at one point Sunday the Jaguars’ defense had given the offense six straight punts that resulted in zero Jags points. That hurts. Get at least a touchdown and this game was over. But we still found a way to win. One of the most impressive Jags victories ever, given the circumstances.

John: Your last sentence may ring as true as anything in any email I’ve received since Sunday. No, the offense didn’t do enough for a lot of the second half Sunday. And yes … there were too many penalties and Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles can’t throw two late interceptions and it sure would have been nice if the Jaguars’ receivers/tight ends had caught some catchable long passes. Still, to focus only on those things is to miss what this team – and this defense – is doing. And what it did Sunday. The Jaguars are 6-3 and they’re winning games the way dominant defenses win. They not only beat a team Sunday that entered the game playing well, they beat a quarterback in Philip Rivers that had been a long-time nemesis. They came from behind to do it, and also made mammoth defensive plays in the fourth quarter and overtime to do it. Don’t stress too, too much about what this game wasn’t. Sunday was a tough, hard-nosed mature victory – and it’s one that almost certainly will loom large as the season continues.

Tim from Fernandina Beach, FL:
John: Help me understand this taunting thing. If Marqise Lee had a penalty against him for targeting and jumped up mad and angry that’s OK. The refs pick up the flag and now it’s taunting. Where is the line between emotion, anger and taunting?

John: It’s a fine line, and there is an element of judgement on the part of the official. But in this case, it was hard to argue with the ruling.

Sam from Jacksonville:
I wish it wasn’t true, but Blake is easily one of the five worst starting quarterbacks in the league. The two interceptions were inexcusable and reminders of why he must go in the offseason. Let’s also not forget the pick-six that was dropped in the first half. Stop giving this team so much credit. They are deeply flawed and still extremely weak at the most important position in sports. Someone had to lose that ugly game. I’m certain that if you respond to this it’ll be in some condescending unfunny way. That’s OK. Then I’ll know I’m onto something.

John: A, don’t tell me what to do. Secondly, while the Jaguars certainly have flaws, that’s true of pretty much every NFL team. The nature of the NFL is it’s not a league about perfection; you fight to make the postseason, hope to be healthy when you get there, then hope you get favorable enough matchups to have a chance to move forward. As for giving this team “credit,” I will give it some for this: I’m not sure any NFL team this season has a defense as good as this one – and if such a defense it exists, then it’s a pretty darned good one. One final thought: You’ll note that I chose not to be condescending in this email; but if I had, it damned sure would have been funny.

Joseph from Dexter:
Not many quarterbacks are going to throw 51 passes into that pass rush and not start to break down at the end. Bortles’ performance, for the most part, was actually pretty darn good. Sorry for the unpopular opinion, but I think he’s been getting much better week over week. He’s been patient and accurate, he’s setting his feet after evading the rush (again, except those last few throws) and putting the ball on target.

John: All true.

Jim from Middleburg, FL:
Mr. O – oh, what a relief it is. I think it is becoming almost insanely fashionable to deny this offensive line the credit they deserve. Not just the starters, either. The reserves should not be called backups. They hence forth and forever should be honored as the…ready? The “Tyler Shatley 69th Assault Brigade.”

John: I can’t begin to get my head around the nickname, but hey: go for it. As for the line, while I can’t get too effusive in the praise for the group Sunday, there is room for at least some credit. The Jaguars for the most part struggled to run against the Chargers, and Bortles spent a good chunk of the game under duress. At the same time, you’re talking about a beat-up offensive line playing against two of the NFL’s best pass rushers – Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram; the rest of the Chargers’ line ain’t bad, either. A great game by the offensive line? Probably not. Good enough to win in difficult circumstances? Yes – and that’s what mattered the most Sunday.

Ron from Orlando, FL:
No, John: Bortles’ first three quarters Sunday were not “pretty good.” The 11 or so completions for 70 yards at the half reflect the screen, screen, slant and every other short pass that relied on the receiver to break a tackle in order to gain just a few yards. The inability and overall inaccuracy of the mid-range and deep balls has been consistently bad for his entire career. Even the slants had Allen Hurns doing gymnastics to catch them. This team has a chance, but it’s winning right now in spite of Bortles, not because of Bortles!

John: I’ve been as critical of Bortles as anyone over the past few seasons, but to say he wasn’t good at times Sunday is to give the impression you weren’t watching the game. He not only completed 28 of 51 passes against significant pressure, he had at least three long passes that would/could/should have been completions. He also had the best drive of his career in the third quarter and his mobility created multiple opportunities that wouldn’t have been there otherwise. The Jaguars’ defense certainly is the key to this team – and Bortles’ two fourth-quarter interceptions can’t be ignored – but it’s also not accurate to say he contributed nothing to Sunday’s victory. #Exclamationpoint

Nate from York, PA:
While I know many people will be jumping on Bortles for almost costing the game, he did a remarkable job of keeping us in the game, extending plays and putting the offense on his shoulders against an unrelenting pass rush. His heart and toughness cannot be overlooked Sunday. So I’ll be the one to say it: one fer Blake Bortles!

John: Yeah, but try telling that to Ron.

Alan from Ellington, CT:
This is the second time this year the Jags have had over a minute left on the clock with three timeouts and just let the clock run down. Why not take some shots to at least try for a field goal?

John: I’ve gotten a lot of emails criticizing offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett and head Coach Doug Marrone for the approach at the end of the first half. Most were along the lines of, “Why not take a few shots?” The reason was pretty simple. The Chargers have a fierce pass rush and the Jaguars had a beat-up offensive line that was struggling to protect the quarterback. There’s bold and aggressive, and then there’s erring on the side of caution. The Jaguars on Sunday decided to do the latter.

Ruben from Jacksonville:
Is there anything they can do to spotlight how it feels as though we have to play against the refs, too? The no-call for pass interference against the Rams – which was pretty glaringly obvious – led to the Rams blowing the game open. On Sunday, they called Lee for taunting. OK, but to not call it on the Tre Boston interception – then to call it on A.J. Bouye for doing the same exact thing. It feels like we don’t get the same treatment by the refs at home in particular as the teams we’re playing.

John: I feel your pain, Ruben – and yours is far from the only email I’ve received about the officiating Sunday. And I agree that Boston could have – and probably should – have been called for taunting after his second interception. As for Bouye, he wasn’t called for taunting; the taunting penalty on the overtime interception was against Jaguars cornerback Aaron Colvin. I’ll say this, though: officiating is an area where I will rarely get fully on board with fans. I don’t spend much time analyzing it, discussing it or talking about it because I’m not particularly passionate about it. I typically take the approach that officiating over the course of a season balances out, and I’m quite certain that fans of the Los Angeles Chargers spent a fair share amount of time Sunday night and Monday bemoaning a bunch of calls that didn’t go their way. I suppose this attitude toward officiating is an area in which I fall short in the eyes of many readers. As I tell my wife when she invariably notes one of my shortcomings: “Add it to the list, dear. Add it to the list.”
 
 
 


 

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Ask Vic: Thoughts on Packers, Jaguars, Steelers

Chenc from Gent, Belgium
Vic, glad to have found your blog. I have read “Ask Vic” since I was in school in 2011. You once said that what impressed you the most about Rodgers was how easy he makes the game look. After three games, what impresses you the most about Hundley?He was able to lead his team, on the road, to a must-win victory against its rival. That tells me the game isn’t too big for him.

Mike from Somerset, WI
Vic, the Packers defense was good enough against Trubisky. Did the Packers show enough to win the next three out of four against Flacco, Roethlisberger, Winston and the Browns? I believe they need to be 8-5 after Week 14, assuming Rodgers returns, to get a wild card.

Yes, I think the Packers can win three of the next four, and I think your formula for making December meaningful is spot on. This week’s game against the Ravens is another must win.

Eric from St. Paul, MN
These touchdown celebrations are getting absurd.

They sure are. Leap frog and sack races? It’s childish to the point of being nauseating. I’m being asked if the anthem protest has cost the NFL viewers. I suppose it has, but I also had two people tell me they’ve quit watching the NFL because they can’t stand the player celebrations. What disgusts me the most is they do them so they can get on the TV highlights. I miss Joe Greene so much.

Max from Milwaukee, WI
Do you think the Patriots are bad for the game?

I assume you’re referring to the Martellus Bennett drama, which has a nefarious quality to it that further darkens fans’ opinion of Bill Belichick. Al Davis and the Raiders possessed the same dark qualities, and the game flourished. Black hat football is good for the game because it’s for people who like sports with an edge. The lesson to be learned from the Bennett fiasco is: Expensive free agency is a trap for fools.

Lori from Brookfield, WI
Vic, Green Bay held Chicago to 55 rushing yards. They must have read the concern you shared about the Bears’ running game in your last column. Besides this accomplishment, what were the main keys to the Packers’ victory?

If you’re a one-trick pony and running the ball is your trick, Dom Capers will take it away. That was key No. 1. Key No. 2 was executing Mike McCarthy’s game plan. The Packers played on Sunday as though they were being moved about a chess board by their coach.

Paula from Minneapolis, MN
Vic, can you recall a more unexpected result from a challenge than the Bears actually turning the ball over? Sorry, coach, but not only is that not a touchdown, it’s also not your ball anymore.

The moment I saw the replay, I knew the Bears were at risk. John Fox got bad advice from his coaches’ booth. Be that as it may, I don’t think the call should’ve been reversed because I don’t think the replay proved conclusively the runner hadn’t stepped out of bounds. The Packers got lucky.

Mark from Bettendorf, IA
Vic, I still sense some hesitation in Hundley’s decision-making as he goes through his reads, leading to some late throws. Do you see this, and can this improve as he continues to get more comfortable?

If he doesn’t achieve FULL CONSISTENCY in his fourth start, he needs to be cut.

Alab from Albuquerque, NM
Did the Packers play well or did the Bears play poorly?

The Bears are not the standard by which a team should judge itself, but for a team on a three-game losing streak and clinging to playoff hope, this is a feel-good win. It creates a new identity the Packers will need to maintain to have any chance of making it into the playoffs. The Packers can’t play as they have in the past. They must be new. Yesterday, they were.

Josh from Tucson, AZ
Well, the Jags have now shown they can have offensive explosions, defensive shutdowns, road warrior persona, and are now on a streak. The win over the Chargers might be the most impressive, simply because they shot themselves in both feet at the end, yet, still managed to focus enough to pull out the win. The only complaint is quitting completely on the run and putting it in the hands of the quarterback, but if we want to get to where we want to go, Bortles will eventually have to have a few clutch drives.

All of that is true, but you forgot about luck. The Jaguars had a lot of it in the magical season of 1996, and they were lucky to win yesterday. The roughing-the-passer penalty on Joey Bosa is the worst call I’ve seen in the NFL this year. Also, the Jaguars are fortunate Chargers coach Anthony Lynn decided to curl up in a ball when the Chargers got the ball back. Immediately, I knew the Jaguars would tie the game, or win it outright. You can’t play that way anymore. Coach Lynn learned that lesson yesterday. He will never make the same mistake again.

Bret from Millani, HI
Vic, you’ve answered several of my questions over the last five or six years and I’ve always valued your opinion, even if we don’t agree on everything (I’m an “Ask Vic” Hall of Famer). In your honest opinion, is there still hope for the Green Bay Packers’ season?

Yes.

Dan from Sebastopol, CA
Vic, who are your top four BCS teams this week?

Alabama, Clemson, Oklahoma and Miami.

Patrick from Milwaukee, WI
Is Jim Brown better than Barry Sanders?

Yes.

Greg from Danbury, CT
The idea for the draft came to Bert Bell when his financially troubled Philadelphia Eagles couldn’t compete for or attract quality college players. The first draft class was inaugurated in 1936. The Eagles’ first winning season came in 1943 when they finished third in the NFL East at 5-4-1. They lost the league championship in 1947 and won it in ’48 and ’49. The draft and the sword share but one quality: By them shall you live and die.

You are what you draft.

Jeffrey from St. Clair Shores, MI
You still have a great sense of humor. Your bird answer was classic. What is your take on the Steelers this year?

For three quarters yesterday, Ben Roethlisberger looked old. Then, with the game on the line late in the fourth quarter, he took his offense down the field as though he was 10 years younger. I think he’s lost mobility and his ability to extend plays, and I think he’s struggling to be a get-it-out-quick quarterback. For a lot of years, Roethlisberger carried the Steelers as they were rebuilding their defense, now the defense is carrying him.

Jamie from Cross Plains, WI
Who do you think will win McAdoo v. wolves?

The more wolves there are, the louder the howl. There are a lot of wolves in New York.

​Dustin from Orlando, FL
Are the Jaguars a product of the inverse draft order? They spent a lot of years slumming with top draft picks.

As I look at the current standings, there are only three teams in the league that aren’t a product of the inverse draft order: Patriots, Packers and Steelers. They’ve managed to stay at or near the top of the league despite drafting low each season. I think in every other case, you can point to a period of losing that resulted in recovery, or a period of winning that has caused losing. The Jaguars and Rams are prime examples of the former.

​Luther from Coronado, CA
What cliché most rankles you in postgame interviews?

Anything dismissive rankles me. Reporters represent media outlets that have dedicated a lot of money and resources to covering the team. They deserve to have their questions answered respectfully and intelligently. Reporters also represent fans, who’ve poured their hearts into the fate of the team. Those fans deserve honest answers to questions only the players and coaches can answer. I allow for the emotions of the game, but if a player or coach is continually hostile to the media, I think it’s only fair for the media to treat him as dismissively.

 
 
 


 

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O-Zone: Oh, wise one

John Oehser Senior writer jaguars.com

JACKSONVILLE – Let’s get to it …

Ralph from New York, NY:
What’s up, John: Jaguars fan from Long Island here. How many wins do you think the Jaguars will finish with? If Blake Bortles keeps his level of play up, does this team have what it takes to get to the AFC Championship or is that getting too far ahead of ourselves?!

John: Talking AFC Championship Game? In early November? Of course that’s too far ahead of ourselves – but hey: it’s also what we do. While I initially thought this might be a seven-to-eight-victory team, I now believe the Jaguars can finish this season with 10-to-11 victories – and I believe they do have the defense and running game to beat any team they face. That doesn’t mean they will win every game, but it does mean they’re capable of winning any game. That includes any game in the postseason – and that’s particularly true if Bortles plays as he has the last two games. So, can they get to the AFC Championship Game? Yes, I believe this team is capable of that. There is a long time between now and January; attrition, improvement/digression for all teams will happen during that time. But right now, yes: This looks like a team capable of making – and winning in – the postseason.

Strnbker from Dothan, AL:
Ranked 10th instead of drafting in the Top 10. Quite the change, huh – O-Zone-a-nator?

John: Yep.

George from Jacksonville:
I just wanted to say I appreciate the amount of content you guys are pumping out. Each week I go to the opponents’ sites and you guys are outpacing them! Good time to be a Jag fan! Please pass on, even to your good buddy Boselli.

John: I honestly don’t know what you mean by “You guys,” but I appreciate your thoughts. I do a great job. Just ask me.

John from OFallon, MO:
In Super Bowl XXXVII, the Tampa Bay Bucs knew all of the Raiders’ offense because Jon Gruden had coached them the prior year. Has the Jags 2017 defense changed enough since Gus’ departure to ensure the Chargers’ offense is not a step ahead?

John: Former Jaguars Head Coach Gus Bradley indeed is now the defensive coordinator of the Chargers. That’s an interesting pregame storyline, but I honestly wouldn’t stress much about this. While Jaguars defensive coordinator Todd Wash has done a very good job with the scheme, it’s no big secret what the Jaguars do defensively each week: they cover opposing receivers very well, then pressure quarterbacks with a four-man rush. Also remember: Jaguars offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett installed his offense this past offseason after Bradley left, so while Bradley certainly is familiar with some members of the Jaguars’ offense, his knowledge of the Jaguars’ playbook and offense isn’t intimate. Jaguars Head Coach Doug Marrone said it best Wednesday when he said it’s a pretty common situation for coaches to coach against their former teams. Sometimes, the former team wins. Sometimes the new team wins. Once in a great while there’s a tie. Whatever, I doubt it will be a major factor Sunday.

Gabe from Washington, DC:
With a situation like Leonard Fournette‘s this past Sunday, does the player still get paid? And does the team get to activate someone else in his place?

John: Yes. Yes.

MrPadre from Kingsland, GA:
We went into last offseason with two goals in mind: Improve the defense and improve the running game. Mission accomplished! Is it too much to ask to have the same success this next offseason in improving the running defense and the passing game? #letsdothis

John: First, the team has improved in the passing game in recent weeks – and it improved against the run this past week against Cincinnati. Also, the Jaguars have eight games remaining this season. I doubt they’ll wait until the offseason to work on improving these areas.

Barry from Jacksonville Beach, FL:
Watching the game Sunday, some of my favorite plays were when Blake threw the ball away. In the past, Blake would have tried to force something when being pressured and we know what follows. Not taking the sack, not risking the interception, allowed the drive to continue. This to me shows the most amount of growth out of Blake. How do you see it, Johnny O?

John: I think as Bortles gets more comfortable in offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett’s system – and with how Hackett wants him to play – Bortles’ decision-making is getting better and better.

Stephen from Jacksonville:
On a pie chart that represents the total amount of swag and confidence level of the Jacksonville Jaguars, what percentage of the chart would be solely occupied by Jalen Ramsey?

John: Thirty-six-point-seven.

Nathan from St. Augustine, FL:
Sup, John. I know many people are excited about Dede Westbrook coming back and hopefully giving the passing game a lift. But I think the player to maybe watch the second half of the season is Keelan Cole. Not because he is a better player than Westbrook, but he has had all season to practice with the team and you could see from the Bengals game his ability.

John: I think there’s a good chance Keelan Cole will have a bigger impact than Dede Westbrook in the second half of the season for precisely the reason you cite – and because he clearly was ahead of Westbrook throughout the preseason and training camp.

Tom from Loughborough, England:
John, do you think that Keelan Cole is the next Allen Hurns?

John: I think Cole is the next Hurns in the sense that he’s an undrafted free agent with potential to make a big impact on the offense and to stick around in the NFL for a long time. But Cole has a chance to make a different impact because he has big-time deep speed.

Marcus from Jacksonville:
If the Jags clinch the division before facing Tennessee, will they sit some guys to rest for the playoffs, or will they put it all on the table in order to beat their bitter rival who embarrassed them at home earlier in the season?

John: We’re not there yet, Marcus.

Travis from North Dakota:
You stated our defensive players enjoy playing with each other and are having a lot of success. I know we won’t be able to keep everyone, but Aaron Colvin is a big part of this defense. Do you think he takes maybe a little less money than he would elsewhere to stay with this defensive unit – or do you see him chasing the money and going elsewhere?

John: I don’t know where Colvin will play next season. I hope for his sake that some team makes him an otherworldly offer and that he signs with the team making him the best offer. I hope for my sake that offer is from the Jaguars because I like Colvin very much. I doubt Colvin will take less money to play in Jacksonville, though – and I wouldn’t expect him to do that. These are these guys’ livelihoods and financial futures. Those things transcend a lot of other issues.

Erik from Fruit Cove, FL:
Los Angeles now has two NFL teams, and both are playing in Jacksonville this year. One fer Weaver, Khan and the fans.

John: #DTWD

Sean from Philadelphia, PA:
Hey, John. What is your take on the play of Myles Jack this season? Living in Philly, I don’t get to see the games unless I go to a sports bar to watch, and I haven’t heard much about his play with all of the other stars on this defense playing so well.

John: He’s playing at a high level. His speed – along with that of Telvin Smith – has made it extremely difficult to complete passes in the flat against the Jaguars, and it also has made it extremely hard to run wide against the Jaguars. He also is improving by the week calling the Jaguars’ defense.

Robert from Reno, NV:
Did you see it? It was awesome. A formal apology written by Daniel Levitt on ESPN. They’re finally looking at the Jaguars differently. I think they finally realize we mean business. GO JAGS!

John: I didn’t see it.

Gabe from Jacksonville:
How much of Blake Bortles’ improvement can be attributed to the fact that he PRACTICES against the No. 1-ranked pass defense in the NFL?
John: It doesn’t hurt, though the amount of time Bortles and the first-team offense spends working with the Jaguars’ first-team defense during the regular season is comparatively minimal. First-team-versus-first-team work is a training-camp thing. The major reasons for Bortles’ improvement are several-fold. The Jaguars are running better and he therefore is being exposed to less pressure and fewer sacks. He also is growing and becoming more confident in Hackett’s offense. The Jaguars’ defense also is playing better and therefore Bortles and the offense are playing with leads and not having to throw constantly against defenses that know they must pass. All of those factors contribute to a quarterback with more opportunity for success, and Bortles appears to be taking advantage of that opportunity.

Cliff from Jersey City, NJ:
Yo, O. Seasons past have felt very long. This season seems to be flying by. What’s that saying again?

John: Don’t take any wooden nickels.
 
 
 


 

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Packers need to stop the run

Here are my Week 10 power rankings:
1. Eagles – Ran out of fireworks.
2. Patriots – Still the class of the AFC.
3. Steelers – Tomlin is in control.
4. Rams – Offense to match their defense.
5. Saints – Will be tested in Buffalo.
6. Cowboys – Beginning to look powerful.
7. Panthers – They just keep winning.
8. Seahawks – How’s life? They can’t kick.
9. Chiefs – Time to do something.
10. Vikings – Headed for a fall.
11. Lions – Best team in the NFC North?
12. Bills – Can prove themselves against Saints.
13. Jaguars – Arrow pointing straight up.
14. Falcons – Season on the line vs. Cowboys.
15. Titans – Showing some grit.
16. Redskins – At a crossroads.
17. Raiders – Don’t quit on them just yet.
18. Jets – Better than expected.
19. Chargers – Facing must win in Jacksonville.
20. Dolphins – Not a good 4-4.
21. Texans – Turn out the lights.
22. Packers – Playoff run could be over.
23. Bears – Setting a trap for their rival.
24. Ravens – Needed rest.
25. Cardinals – Worst 4-4 team in the league.
26. Broncos – Blow it up.
27. Bengals – More embarrassing behavior.
28. Colts – Future is cloudy.
29. Bucs – Could be in free fall.
30. Giants – A very sad season.
31. Browns – Now what?
32. 49ers – Once upon a time, they were the best.

Lori from Brookfield, WI
Vic, what do you think of Mitchell Trubisky’s improvement at QB? What are the biggest challenges he provides for Green Bay?

He’s not the challenge. The Packers’ challenge is to stop the Bears’ running game. It’s No. 4 in the league, which is an understatement as to its effectiveness when you consider the Bears are No. 31 in passing. Opponents are focused on stopping the run, yet, the Bears are still able to put up big rushing numbers. That tells me the Bears are able to impose their will.

Sam from Jacksonville, FL
Can you give me one good reason why the Jaguars lost the 1999 AFC Championship?

They stopped running the ball. Fred was gashing the Titans. Why did they stop?

Nathan from New York, NY
Vic, I can only speak for myself, but I don’t think Packers fans necessarily disagree with you about drafting a quarterback in the early rounds before Aaron Rodgers retires. We just feel it’s not something that has to be done when Rodgers is still 34.

If you pass on the right guy when you don’t need him, can you guarantee he’ll be available when the need is immediate? The Jaguars passed on Aaron Rodgers because they didn’t think they needed a quarterback. What followed were a lot of dry years at the position when the available quarterbacks were highlighted by Tim Tebow and Jimmy Clausen. I think it’s time to begin thinking about the future. Of all the decisions Ted Thompson made as general manager of the Packers, his decision to draft a quarterback before he needed one is, by far, his best, and he was harshly criticized by fans for it. Haven’t the fans learned their lesson?

Patrick from Ashland, WI
Glad to find your site, finally! If you listened to Mike McCarthy’s press conference after the Lions game, he said something like, “Take a look at the lopsided statistics.” What did he mean by that?

I wasn’t at the press conference — I think I had fallen asleep on the couch — but the lopsided stats tell me the Packers were overmatched. I’ve read a lot of comments by fans that the Packers had a lot of first-round picks on defense in Monday night’s game, but what we forget is for the past several years, every time the Packers made a pick, the Lions had preceded that pick by selecting a higher-rated player. It’s the genius of the inverse-order draft. Success comes at a cost.

Ryan from Neenah, WI
If, as you say, the Packers are simply overmatched on defense, what is the best way for the coaching staff to put the players in a position to be more successful? My opinion is our defensive backfield struggles with zone concepts. I wonder if they would fair better in more man to man coverage? I realize a pass rush would help; maybe Biegel can provide a spark?

The two touchdown passes were against man coverage. The honey hole (what’s with the turkey hole stuff, Gruden?) throws were against zone. The long screen pass was against an all-out blitz. I don’t think concepts were the problem. I think it’s time to play it straight, challenge the defense to win its one-on-ones, and find out who can’t. Then you’ll know how to fix the problem.

Joseph from Dillon, MT
Glad to read your material again; thank you. If you were coach, how would you prepare for the Bears?

I’d run the ball. The running game fixes everything. If you can’t run the ball, then you know what needs to be fixed.

Bill from Sheboygan, WI
Who’s to blame for the Packers’ fall?

Bert Bell.

Matt from Christchurch, New Zealand
How does winsome cope with defeat?

With dignity and aplomb. Whining and crying worsen the effects of losing. I’m reminded of an interview I did with Joe Greene a long time ago. He was struggling with the frustration football often forces on us. Joe said he decided happiness wasn’t a constant. When you have it, enjoy it. When you don’t have, be patient and wait for it to return. I think Packers fans need to be patient.

Johan from Pembroke, ON
If Vic is head coach, what does he do to try and improve the Packers’ current chances of having the December friend visit Lambeau Field this season?

There is no Vic the head coach. There’s only Vic the retired reporter, and he is confident Mike McCarthy will find a way to make December meaningful. Vic the reporter has never covered a coach who is better than McCarthy at preparing a team to play.

Dustin from Seymour, WI
Can one man really tilt the field that much?

Tom Brady has for 16 years.

Richard from Clearwater, MN
I have to say, I appreciate the ’90s the most, as my love with the Packers started in ’93, when the balance between great running backs and passers still had some equilibrium. What decade of football would you say has brought you the greatest joy?

The games meant the most to me in the ’70s because they were more than a game then. Is that joy? I’m not sure.

Bob from Wauwatosa, WI
Hi Vic, what is your take on Martellus Bennett being released by the Packers on Wednesday?

He had become a distraction.

Tim from Jacksonville, FL
Vic, when are you going to release a book? You could probably write about the migratory patterns of birds and I’d still buy it.

I spend a lot of time every day observing birds in the marsh behind my house. They especially interest me during the cocktail hour. There are little white ones, big white ones and gigantic gray ones that have a beard.

 

 
 
 
 


 

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