Category: Uncategorized

O-Zone: Name game

John Oehser Senior writer jaguars.com

JACKSONVILLE – Let’s get to it …

Logan from Wichita, KS:

We have always done horribly against Philip Rivers. We have dropped six in a row to the Chargers and it hasn’t been close (202-86). The real kicker isn’t just the score differential, it’s that every time we have lost to them in the past three years it has felt like the end of the season in that we come into the game with hope – or fleeting hope – and we get DESTROYED. How do we avoid being devastated this Sunday? This year is gonna be different right? Right?? RIGHT????

John: Congratulations, Logan: You locked in on the defining pregame theme leading to Chargers-Jaguars Sunday at EverBank Field. The Chargers as much as any team in recent seasons have been the Jaguars’ nemesis, and Rivers has been the villain as often as not. And there absolutely are Rivers-oriented demons needing to be exorcised at the ‘Bank Sunday. But while that is a compelling pregame storyline, I don’t get the feeling Jaguars players will enter this game with any sort of Chargers Monkey on their back. Why? A few reasons. One is that this isn’t a team that dwells on past struggles; the core is made up young veterans and new-arriving free agents with little institutional memory of the Jaguars’ recent struggles. Since Doug Marrone’s hiring last December as interim head coach, remember, the Jaguars are 6-4 with six one-sided victories and three other games they easily could have won. There’s no reason for this group to believe any team – even one led by the villainous Rivers – has “their number.” But there’s a final reason this year has a chance to be different against the Chargers and Rivers – and it may be the best reason. The Jaguars’ defense is one of the NFL’s best, and is very good against the pass. The Jaguars rush the passer well. None of that means Rivers can’t beat the Jaguars; he’s capable of beating even the best defenses. But has Rivers ever faced a Jaguars defense as formidable as the one he will face Sunday? Absolutely not.

Dustin from Duval:

Tom Coughlin has made a statement in support of Jalen Ramsey‘s play against the Bengals. It seems that not only is he attempting to provide support to the player, but also letting the team know that this is going to be a tough, physical, smash-you-in-the-mouth football team. More than the talent level, that is the part of this team that reminds me most of the “old” Jaguars and I LOVE it! It seems like Coach Marrone and Coughlin have that in common. Do you think that is why Tom decided to keep Marrone on as the head coach?

John: There were many reasons Coughlin was for retaining Marrone as head coach. Commonality in mindset was certainly chief among them.

Mark from Archer, FL:

John, if the Jaguars keep playing the way they have, is it possible they win out the rest of the season? I look at the schedule and no team to me stands out being a team that we cannot beat. I still maintain we are better than the Titans. I know they beat the Jags, but that was to me more because of all the penalties keeping the offense from doing anything and making the defense stay on the field. But back to my point: I think the Jags have a chance to win out but would love to hear your opinion on it.

John: The Jaguars can beat any team on the schedule if they play well, but being able to win in the NFL and winning are different things. “Winning out” would mean winning 10 consecutive games. You don’t predict 10-game winning streaks in the NFL.

TC from Kingsland, GA:

On the Leonard Fournette benching: maybe this kind of discipline has something to do with how this team is performing.

John: Shhh.

Brian from Gainesville, FL:

Big O, of course Coach can and should discipline his players as he sees fit given his more intimate knowledge of these men and the goings on of the team. I wonder, though, if perhaps there isn’t a better option than benching a player for a home game. Perhaps bench them at the next away game even. I’m thinking about the working-class people who can afford to go to maybe one game a year (or maybe even just one every few years) – and how they missed the opportunity to watch a star of their favorite team play because Coach decided on this brand of discipline with his intimate knowledge of the situation. Am I off-base here?

John: Your point is not entirely off base. Still, a head coach must focus more on the good of the team than the fans in the stands. Remember, it’s not as if Marrone didn’t take this decision seriously. You don’t sit your best offensive player without giving it serious consideration. Such a decision in theory could have cost the Jaguars a game in a league in which every game matters on a level unapproached in any other major professional sport. It’s safe to say Marrone thought it through.

Nate from Fogartyville:

The Jags are the NFL’s top-rated rushing team. Blake Bortles is playing well. It’s kinda like the two have something to do with each other. Why haven’t you ever told us that’s how it works, John? Feels like the old days.

John: My bad.

Jarret from Crosby, ND:

Why is everyone so assured the Jaguars are going to win the division? Guarantees from Tony Boselli and Pete Prisco. You claiming they “ought to win” it. They’re tied for first place at 5-3 with a team that already beat them at home. Let’s pump the brakes on these winning-the-division promises, Zone.

John: We have different definitions of promises. I’m not standing on rooftops promising fans it will happen, but I believe a team with a Top 10 offense and Top 5 defense that plays defense at the level the Jaguars have played it has a very good chance to win the division. And at this point, I also do think they should win the division. You make a fair point, though. The Jaguars to win the division must win two more games the rest of the season than the Titans – or they may need to beat them in Tennessee. The task that faces the Jaguars is very doable, but it’s certainly not easy.

Josh from Pensacola, FL:

I don’t really care about or understand power rankings, but I associate them with college football rankings where quality of wins is the key. The Jaguars are the only 5-3 team that has dismantled a Top 3 team. Not to mention they did it on the road. (Steelers). The Jaguars should be the highest-ranked 5-3 team. No debate. There is no logic behind these rankings.

John: OK.

Miguel from Sectoon 144 and Duuuuuvaaaaaaall!!!!:

You know Zoney-One, Blake is more known as a chill, cool, calm kinda guy, but I’m seeing more of a competitive fighter side to him lately: from him finishing runs by leaning into tacklers to him yappin’ back at would be tacklers. Did I miss seeing this before or is this a new way he’s leading the team?

John: Bortles always had that competitive, fighting quality; it’s hard to show it when you’re team is struggling. When you yap at would-be tacklers in tight, competitive games or when your team is ahead, you’re firey and competitive. When you do it trailing by 17 points in the fourth quarter, you just come off looking silly.

David from the Island:

Ok, O: Looking at 2016 draft … Jalen Ramsey, Myles Jack and Yannick Ngakoue!. Wow! I mean, really, just WOW! That’s how foundations are built. Is there a team in the NFL that wouldn’t trade for that draft class?

John: Not likely.

Brian from New Hampshire:

I know you don’t want put this team at the level of the 90s teams. I’ll agree on the offense currently; once Dede Westbrook is active that could change, though. But I will put this defense on par – or even slightly better – than those 90s teams. If they can stay healthy, they are showing all-time great potential.

John: A couple of thoughts on your thoughts. First, I wouldn’t get your heart set on Westbrook dramatically changing your perception of this offense this season. He certainly could help, but it’s probably unrealistic to think a player with zero NFL regular-season snaps who never has taken a first-team repetition is going to alter what’s going on offensively too, too much. Second, the reason I don’t put this Jaguars team with the teams of the 1990s isn’t based on potential; rather, it’s that those 1990s teams proved themselves over four playoff seasons. They won postseason games following three different seasons. They twice won division titles. They twice came within a game of the Super Bowl. They produced. This Jaguars team – particularly defense – certainly has special potential, but it has a lot of producing remaining to do.

Josh from Green Bay, WI:

I’m still not sure how I convinced my wife to use Jax for our son’s middle name, but I’ve got a feeling there will be all kinds of great things ahead for both the him and the team he is named after.

John: Wow. You’re optimistic and full of wide-eyed wonder. I tried that once. It didn’t take.
 


 

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Ask Vic: The answers are obvious

 Greg from Danbury, CT
So, what did your eyes tell you?

The Packers were overmatched. The Lions were the more talented team.
 Andrew from Minneapolis, MN

What is your most troubling observation of the Packers’ struggle?

The Packers were overmatched. The Lions were the more talented team. Mike from Beloit, WI
Enough of the gum chewing.

I don’t like the body language, either. I don’t like the bobbing and swaying. It makes him appear nervous and unsettled. Watching Brett Hundley confer with Aaron Rodgers on the sideline provided a stunning contrast. Hundley doesn’t engender confidence and calm. I hope this will change with playing time and experience.

Nic from Milwaukee, WI
Vic, we’re used to winning. It really, really hurts to lose. Football isn’t the same without Rodgers.

This is an opportunity to achieve perspective. It’s not time, yet, for resignation, but it will be if the Packers don’t win in Chicago.

John from Sidney, MT
Lions go without a punt for the first time in 46 years, Vic. It’s to the point that third and long is just a flat gimme. What, in your opinion, is the reason the Packers defense is so sickeningly pathetic? Straight up, please; no ice.

When you can’t win the one-on-ones, you have to win with scheme, and scheme wins aren’t lasting. The heavy dependence on scheme last night suggests to me an admission the Packers can’t win the one-on-ones.

Russ from Chicago, IL
Vic, there is no doubt the wolves are howling for the end of Dom Capers’ run in Green Bay. Are the wolves onto something here?

Ultimately, the wolves always win, but their howls are seldom logical. If the wolves put on the tape, they’d see a defense that emptied its playbook. Nobody can say the Packers defense was conservative last night. It used an all-out blitz and got burned for a long screen pass.  When the Packers went with a vanilla cover two look, Matt Stafford beat it with what Jon Gruden referred to as “turkey hole” throws — I call it the honey hole. Those passes were successful because the safety didn’t get to the sideline quickly enough; it was a lack of execution. The touchdown passes were against man coverage. The only scheme that worked with any consistency was the box overload against the run, but it got beat for a touchdown run to the outside. The Lions’ game plan was to attack the Packers on the edges, and when you play a 3-4 defense, that means the offense is going after your linebackers. Hey, in a 3-4, the linebackers are supposed to be the stars of the show. I understand and appreciate Packers fans’ frustration and their cries for change, so I won’t try to quiet those cries, but I think we all know the problem on defense last night ran much deeper than the scheme or the man who created that strategy. The Packers were overmatched.

Jake from Corvallis, OR
Hey Vic, I imagine most of the blame will be placed on Capers and the defense. While it wasn’t the best performance by that unit, they kept the Lions to 17 points through three quarters. That should be a winnable game for our offense. So my question is, what does it say about our offense that Mike McCarthy and his coaches felt it necessary after two weeks of preparation and getting healthy to run so many trap and trick plays instead of lining up and relying on his players to beat the man across from them?

When you dink and dunk, it’s usually because you don’t think you can plow and pop.

Dave from North Potomac, MD
Vic, did Brett keep his eyes downfield or not?

I sensed no fear of the rush. I liked his eyes at the line of scrimmage and what I saw of them in the pocket. Did you think his receivers created separation? Gruden didn’t.

Jason from Wilmington, NC
Hey Vic, glad to have you back! I have been reading your work for a few years now and thoroughly enjoy it. My question is during your tenures with the NFL teams that you covered, did any of them give you complete freedom to write and respond as you pleased? I am curious as to whether we have been getting a watered down version of the real thing. Looking forward to many more columns.

I know you mean well, but what you’re implying insults me. Your question implies mistrust and doubt as to my credibility. If that’s true, you should never read anything I write again.

Wes from Green Bay, WI
Sunday we saw Jameis Winston go on the field and instigate a fight. Should he have been removed? Why are some removed, others not? The enforcement of rules needs to be constant.

The more the players are permitted to celebrate, the more they misbehave. Now they’re crawling along the ground as if they were snakes. I liked football more when it was an exercise in self-discipline.

Isaac from Nashville, TN
Vic, what’s your opinion on the decline of offensive line play? Do you think it’s serious enough to compromise the old wisdom of get the big guys first in the draft?

I was thinking about this on Sunday. Offensive line play is horrible. I’ve never seen it as weak as it is right now. The worst part is these guys are permitted to use their hands to block. I can’t help but wonder what Jerry Kramer thinks: Try blocking Alex Karras with your elbows, boys. I’ve long advocated getting the big guys early, but why bother if they’re going to play like this on the offensive side of the ball? Passing the football has become a two-second event. It’s to the point I wouldn’t draft a quarterback unless he was mobile enough to get outside the pocket and make a play. In fact, I think mobility is becoming the No. 1 ingredient in successful quarterback play, and it’s because the pass pocket is collapsing. I don’t know what’s happened to make pass-blocking so seemingly impossible – run-blocking became a lost art when zone-blocking became all the rage – but I don’t see one tackle in the league who reminds me in the least of Anthony Munoz.

Tim from Lancaster, PA
I think the Jags should consider making those their permanent jerseys. They sure do look nice swarming to the ball, don’t they?

Even ugly is beautiful when it wins.

Nathan from New York, NY
Vic, do you think the Ketchman prevent defense would’ve stopped Tyreek Hill’s touchdown at the end of the first half?

I think we’ll see a team use the “Ketchman 0-0-11” within the next few years.

Adam from Jacksonville, FL
Great defense, good running game and a QB who can do just enough in the passing game. Is this team the super-charged version of 2007? Is our December friend finally ready to visit after being away for so long?

Yes. Here’s the bottom line: The days of being an underdog are over. The Jaguars are now a legitimate Super Bowl contender. They aren’t going to sneak up on anyone anymore. The hunter has become the hunted. How’s it feel?

Gabor from Budapest, Hungary
It’s good to read your opinion again; thank you for the blog! What were your plans in case you do not get the job with the Packers?

It was not a competition.

Morgan from Fort Collins, CO
It’s the end of the third quarter and this is unbearable to watch. How can this team be so outmatched? Is there a solution for this year or is it wait and see? I know, I know, help is not on the way.

Don’t beat yourself up. “Listen” to your eyes.

 


 

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O-Zone: Realistic goals

John Oehser Senior writer jaguars.com

JACKSONVILLE – Let’s get to it …

Robert from Reno, NV:

WOW! Game-day changes on the offensive line, multiple running backs in play, receiver options no one expected (and others waiting), a quarterback that can now stifle some criticism … We don’t need to say anything about the defense that we didn’t already know, and now the special teams has stepped up. What do you think of the 2017 Jaguars now Mr. O?

John: I wrote on jaguars.com Sunday night that the victory over the Bengals bodes very well for the Jaguars entering the second half of the season. After taking a few hours to reconsider that opinion, I still very much believe it. Why? Many reasons. The Jaguars on Sunday won by 16 or more points for the fifth time this season; that’s not something bad or even fluky teams do. They held the Bengals to eight first downs and 148 total yards – on 37 plays. The Bengals had just 16 yards in the second half, and Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton on multiple second-half series simply threw deep on third down hoping for a big play or an interference penalty. While the Bengals were struggling offensively entering the game, that’s defensive domination on a significant level – even an elite level. The Jaguars also have won two consecutive games without running back Leonard Fournette – and they have run for more than 140 yards in both of those games. That shows that contrary to popular belief this is not a one-man offense. I thought before the season the Jaguars could push for seven or eight victories, but I honestly didn’t believe that overly strongly. I certainly didn’t consider them a playoff team. I now see them as a team that absolutely has a playoff-caliber defense – and a defense capable of winning if it makes the postseason. It’s also a running game that clearly can function at a high level. That leaves quarterback Blake Bortles, who is clearly improving in recent weeks; he’s not “winning games by himself,” but he’s playing more than well enough for this team to be winning. So, what do I think of the Jaguars now? I think they have a very real chance to win the AFC South. If they do that, who knows?

Wil from Corpus Christi, TX:

It is good to know that we finally have a kicker – 56 yards! That’s what I’m talking about. I can finally relax when I see the kicking unit out there instead of expecting a missed kick.

John: You seem happy. What’s that like?

Nalen from Faith, SD:

Is Blake Bortles turning the corner? Gotta admit he is changing my mind about us needing to find someone new. If the Jags make the postseason, do you think we will pursue a quarterback next offseason?

John: Of the many notable storylines developing around the Jaguars in recent weeks, this is among the most intriguing. I wrote this past week that Bortles had shown signs of improvement in the last five games before the bye; he obviously continued in that vein Sunday. He made good decisions. He for the most part ran at the right times, and he did a good job checking down and throwing to the right receivers when his first reads were covered. The Jaguars converted 12 of 18 on third downs and they finished with 26 first downs and 407 total yards. Bortles also completed 24 of 38 passes for 259 yards with no interceptions. He did get away with a couple of bad passes early, and that helped his cause greatly. But you know what? His three best career games have come in the last six weeks. If that trend continues in the second half of the season, then yeah … I think there’s a chance he’s the Jaguars’ quarterback next season.

Jeremy from Dodge City, KS:

Big one fer Blake! If he keeps playing like this then the Jags won’t … ugh, actually they probably still will draft a quarterback in the first round, but keep playing like this!! One fer Blake!!

John: Absolutely one fer Bortles, and the funny thing about NFL seasons is all games count. The Jaguars and Bortles are eight games into this season. Eight games remain. If you simply look at the last six games, Bortles overall is playing pretty well. Not great, but certainly not bad. Dating to the last 10 games of last season, he has played well under Head Coach Doug Marrone more often than he has played poorly. There’s no way to know for sure what the Jaguars will do at quarterback next offseason, but we absolutely don’t know for sure.

Dan from Ponte Vera Beach, FL:

Jalen Ramsey did an amazing job Sunday. He did exactly what we needed our No. 1 corner to do. He took A.J. Green out of the game.

John: Well, yeah – but Ramsey shouldn’t have been ejected. Penalized? Yes. Ejected? No.

Jeff from Orange, CA:

Yes, Bortles had a very efficient game and is making progress, but let’s not ignore that gimme touchdown he missed as well.

John: If we’re talking about the would-be touchdown to tight end Marcedes Lewis in the first half, yes … Lewis was wide open on the play. But are we also ignoring the pressure Bortles evaded at the start of the play and the hit he took in the face as he let the ball go, or nah?

Zac from Orange Park, FL:

This team is dangerous. This is a different group than years past and this is a different Blake Bortles. It’s fun to watch after years of disappointment.

John: Yes. This is a different Jaguars team than past seasons. The first seven games of the season gave us a lot of signs of that being true. Sunday drove the point home.

Mike from Jacksonville:

Great win by the Jags, although I disagree with the decision to bench your star running back over a photo op! Fine him and move on. But, we are seeing the Jags mold into a team that can outperform other teams in all aspects of the game. One fer Bortles! Great game.

John: I was intrigued and amused by the number of people critical of Marrone’s decision to hold running back Leonard Fournette out of Sunday’s game. I also was amused that people based that criticism on national reports that the suspension was because Fournette missed a team photo when there are also reports that Fournette missed more than just that event. Perhaps these reports are true, and perhaps they’re not. We may never know for sure. Either way, does a head coach not have the right to discipline players as he sees fit? Is it not reasonable that a head coach – who, by the way, might just spend a little more time around players than, say, anyone else – just understand a bit more about what’s necessary to run the organization than a fan reading Twitter? I know I’m reaching here, but I wonder if that might be the case.

Daniel from Jersey City, NJ:

O-man, Fournette, the next Blackmon?

John: C’mon, Daniel. Be better than that.

Cade from Orlando, FL:

I just feel like we should take a moment to appreciate how great Barry Church has been. Just sayin. #OneFerChurch

John: It does seem Church is overlooked at times as a major reason for the Jaguars’ defensive improvement this season. That’s understandable considering the attention paid to Calais Campbell, Yannick Ngaouke, Telvin Smith, Jalen Rasmey, A.J. Bouye and so on. But Church absolutely has been a major addition. Campbell is a defensive leader on and off the field, and has been recognized as such. Church doesn’t get as much recognition, but his contribution and importance are very similar.

DW from Venice, CA:

Fine win. Winning is cool, I like it. Just want to say one fer TEAL. This team was once formidable, and it wore teal while doing it. The more recent black-and-white Jags are associated with two decades of incompetence. The black/gold helmets are still questionable, and should at least be black-back/gold-front if the Jaguars are supposedly “emerging from the darkness.” Forgive me, it was hard to find something to complain about today… and complaining’s been my Sunday ritual for quite a while.

John: I stopped reading at formidable. Was there more?

JT from Rosamond, CA:

Jalen Ramsey’s ejection was bogus, but these Jags might be something special John. Very impressive victory.

John: Yes, yes. Yes.

Mike from Atlanta, GA:

This is a pretty good team. They did this without three of their best players, Allen Robinson, Leonard Fournette, and Jalen Ramsey. I don’t think 10-6 with the division title doesn’t seem all that improbable.

John: The fact that the Jaguars can perform at a high level without Robinson, Fournette or Ramsey is impressive. It also bodes well for the final eight games, because December and January in the NFL are about attrition and playing without injured players. As for 10-6 and the division title … of course they’re possible. The Jaguars are 5-3 through eight games and tied for first place. Why shouldn’t those things be the objectives now?

 

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O-Zone: Whee

 

John Oehser Senior writer jaguars.com

JACKSONVILLE – Let’s get to it …

Justin from South Florida:
Perhaps I’m seeing this differently from other fans, but I see Blake Bortles in the third step of a four-step maturation process. The first, he was wild with the football and inconsistent. The second, he overcorrected on the chances he took, and seemed overall very conservative with the football while learning to make better decisions. He’s in the third stage – where making better decisions is routine, and he’s more comfortable challenging defense. The fourth stage – if we get there – is a guy who is making decisions and consistently beating defenses. Overall, I’m pretty confident he gets there. Agree or no?

John: I’m not sure I agree exactly with your stages, and I’m not sure Bortles is as far along in the maturation process as you seem to believe. But there could be some truth to your theory that Bortles is still growing as a quarterback – despite many people having already written him off. Bortles is working with his third offensive coordinator – Nathaniel Hackett – in four seasons, and he now is about a season into working with Hackett. It’s more accurate to say he’s seven games into working with Hackett, with Hackett running a lot of former coordinator Greg Olson’s system in the last nine games last season. However you calculate the time, Bortles is still developing in Hackett’s system. And he has shown some signs of growth in that system. He has played well in at least three games this season, and has played undeniably well twice in the last five games. He also reportedly is improving his ability to get the Jaguars in and out of the right plays at the line of scrimmage. I do see Bortles making strides this season. It’s not smooth, dramatic process each week, but it nonetheless has been progress. Can he continue that progress in the second half of the season? Can he make enough progress to be the Jaguars’ quarterback next season? Both of those questions remain unanswered, but it’s a storyline that could get interesting in the coming weeks.

Nathan from Fort Belvoir, Virginia:
Generally speaking, do players communicate with their agents throughout the season?

John: Yes.

Big on Blake from Philly:
Couple questions. 1) I notice Dede Westbrook hasn’t been activated yet; when does that typically happen if he’s going to suit up this weekend? 2) With Andrew Luck and Deshaun Watson hitting injured reserve the same day, it makes the Jags’ divisional challenges that much easier. Will Blake rise to the task of leading this team to the postseason? I believe he has the team running well enough in all other areas to showcase his talents and nose for winning.

John: Couple answers. 1) Activating Westbrook could happen as late as Saturday, which is often the day that teams make in-season roster moves involving practice-squad players and other players practicing with the team. And that’s why there is no urgency to make a move sooner in this case: Westbrook was practicing this week with the team anyway. 2) While the absence of Luck and Watson does weaken the Colts and Texans, respectively, the Jaguars still have a significant challenge in Tennessee. Will Bortles rise to the task? Well, I said I had a “couple answers.” I don’t have that one.

Scott from Palatka, FL:
He went down to dinner in his Sunday best.

John: Don’t forget: he also rubbed the pot roast all over his chest.

John from Ponte Vedra, FL:
The Silver Platter has just been delivered to the Jaguars.

John: I got some version of this email quite a bit Thursday and Friday in the wake of the news that Watson had sustained a torn anterior cruciate ligament – and was therefore out for the rest of the season. But while Watson’s injury undoubtedly hurts the Texans, it seems to me that many Jaguars fans are living on a bit of bravado on this one. The Tennessee Titans – not the Texans – are the team tied with the Jaguars atop the AFC South. The Titans and not the Texans are the team that beat the Jaguars by 21 points in Week 2. The Titans match up very well against the Jaguars and the Week 2 result has a very real chance of making the regular-season finale – Jaguars at Tennessee – really important. The Jaguars in no way have clear sailing to the AFC South title. They’re in the hunt and they have a chance, but it’s a tough road. The Titans were the biggest obstacle before Watson’s injury and they remain that way.

Howard from Homestead, FL:
I would not wish injury on anyone. That being said, Watson’s injury makes me feel like this has become a “now-or-never” season for winning our division. Am I off?

John: Yes, you are off. What if the Jaguars finish second in the AFC South this season? Does that mean they will never win the division? Does it mean they can’t win it next season? This is a young team with a good percentage of core players under contract through at least 2018. Yes, they should be focusing on wining the AFC South this season, but they should focus on that next season, too. And the season after that. And …

Dave from Los Angeles, CA:
The only thing left standing between the Jags and a division title is Marcus Mariota. Here we go.

John: Oh, is that all?

Pete from Jacksonville:
If getting out with an early lead to take advantage of the defensive pass rush is so critical to the success of this team, why defer after winning the coin toss?

John: The reason teams defer is they believe they can hold the other team scoreless on the opening series, then get the ball to start the second half. Possession to start the second half is the key part of the equation here. It means a team can gain a huge advantage if they manage the game well around halftime. Say, a team gets the ball late in the second quarter and scores a touchdown with less than 30 seconds in the half – therefore leaving the other team little time to score. That team that deferred would then get the ball to start the second half and therefore theoretically be able score 14 points and hold possession for a long time while the other team’s offense has little or no time of possession around the half.

Sharon formerly from Jacksonville:
What’s with the weird noises that play when I’m on this site? It’s VERY distracting. PLEASE make it stop!

John: Shadrick feels this way all the time – whether he’s on the site or not.

Brian from Jacksonville:
This defense often has been nearly impossible to move the ball on in seven games. Looking forward, is there an offense that we should be worried about facing in January? Not even the mighty Tom Brady puts my faith in this defense to the limit.

John: Nine games remain in the season, and the Jaguars have a lot of winning to do before they worry about January. But if this defense stops the run and gets teams into passing situations there aren’t any offenses against which it can’t play well.

Nathan since ‘01:
John, I cannot find ANYTHING on Allen Robinson on THIS website. Horrible! It even asked, “Did you mean, ‘Alan Robinson?’ ” Who the heck is Alan Robinson? And what is that awful noise? Being a Jags fan has been hard enough. Now I can’t even enjoy following them on their own web page? #TheIronBank

John: Put down the bottle and use the search box at the top of the home … wait. Hold on. Oh my … what is that noise???!!!!

Done from Ponte Vedra Beach, FL:
Everyone likes Andy Dalton he is a very good quarterback and he has done it a long time. He has a lot of good years left. This week he just needs to get down. Do not try to run from these guys or try to force a ball in coverage. Just go down or face the fact there is no place to hide. Just cover up like it’s a bear attack. Stay away from the bat cave and your mother calling you to dinner. Be safe out there!

John: WHAT IS THAT NOISE!!?!!?!?!

Jerry from Jacksonville:
Now Derek Carr is under fire … it’s a tough league isn’t it, Zone? Maybe by the end of the year, Blake will have been the right pick … at least for a few weeks. Or, of course until Jimmy G wins a couple games.

John: Pretty much.

Kyan from Le Mars, IA:
Bleacher Report had a top 100 players midyear and the results were awesome!! Jags had a ton of players in it and two in the top 10 with Campbell and Ramsey!! #DTWD This wasn’t really a question but who cares the roster has improved so much!!

John: The Jaguars’ roster absolutely has improved. And if you didn’t believe it by watching the games – indeed, if watching and enjoying the team and the way it’s playing wasn’t enough – why … now, Bleacher Report has said it! Wheeeeeee!!!!!

 

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O-Zone: #DTWD

JACKSONVILLE – Let’s get to it …

Clayton from Gambier, OH:
John, apart from lining up on the edge or in the slot, do you anticipate the Jaguars’ offensive coaches putting Dede Westbrook in special situations such as reverses or backfield carries?

John: There is much excitement among fans and observers around rookie wide receiver Dede Westbrook returning to the Jaguars – or more accurately, debuting for the Jaguars. That debut could come Sunday against Cincinnati with Westbrook – a fourth-round selection in the 2017 NFL Draft – having been on injured reserve all season after undergoing core muscle surgery in September. Why the excitement? Speed, athleticism, etc. And he dazzled at times in the preseason. But I don’t know that it’s realistic to think Westbrook is going to transform the passing offense immediately upon his return – or even that he will have major impact. Remember: this was a guy who was running with the second- and third-team throughout training camp and preseason, so he has yet to work with the first team. He also never has played an NFL game, and the transition from college to the NFL can be tricky for rookie receivers – even ones that won the Biletnikoff Award in their final collegiate seasons, as was the case with Westbrook. If Westbrook can give the Jaguars a few receptions a game outside and loosen up the defense a bit, that would be a significant contribution; I wouldn’t count on more. As for your question, I suppose you could see Westbrook running the occasional reverse – but I would be surprised to see many situations when he lines up in the backfield. Westbrook, remember, never has played in NFL game. Let’s not overload him just yet.

John from Medical Lake, WA:
Even the diehard Texans-hater in me has to feel for Deshaun Watson. Tough break for a good, talented kid.

John: True that. Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson reportedly sustained a torn anterior cruciate and a torn medial collateral ligament in practice Thursday. And while his loss undoubtedly will hurt the Texans, no way does anyone want to see that.

Rob from Jacksonville:
What causes a player to fail a physical? They’re healthy enough to be playing on their original team and they’re naturally physically gifted athletes. And they … I don’t get it.

John: Different teams sometimes look for different things in physicals. A knee issue that might not be a major concern for one team and its physicians, for example, may be seen differently enough by another team and its physicians to fail a physical.

Jess from Castle Rock, CO:
Jaguars Head Coach Doug Marrone: “That’s what we look for in players – to play well. If they show us good things, we put it on ourselves to make sure they get those opportunities again to keep playing.” He was talking about TJ Yeldon with this comment, but it applies to all players. Do you believe he’ll stand by his comment with Bortles since Blake played well in that game also? Will he game plan to allow Bortles opportunities to make plays down the field?

John: If the coaches determine that’s what’s needed that week, yes.

Armando from Vacaville, CA:
Is Jalen Ramsey more like Deion Sanders, Champ Bailey or Merton Hanks?

John: I’d say Bailey if only because it’s tough to compare anyone to Sanders – and because Hanks was a safety while Ramsey is a corner. The best comparison to Ramsey may actually be Arizona cornerback Patrick Peterson, a player who is a phenomenal combination of speed, athleticism and size. Here’s the thing about uniquely elite players; they often defy comparisons because players of their level don’t come around often. Ramsey seems like such a player.

Chris in London, England:
In a recent O-Zone you stated, “Win the next two games and the team shows the fans they are a good team, lose them both and they show it’s more of the same old Jags.” This made me chuckle a little as I have the next two games as one win one loss.

John: That would be somewhere in between.

Derrick from Jacksonville:
The defense is the strength of Jags. While all phases of the team must play to expectations, I think the defense and offensive line must take full ownership in order for the Jags to win on Sunday. The defense has to set the tone and the offensive line must control the line of scrimmage to allow the Jags to run the football. Along with no turnovers, I think that will be the key to a Jags win. Your thoughts?

John: I think full ownership is better than partial ownership. Unless something breaks and you have to fix it. Then full ownership sucks.

Richard from Orange Park, FL:
One of my friends and I were debating about Dante Fowler Jr. I stated he could never be a four-down lineman because he lacks any moves but his bull rush/speed rush. I have seen him add a stutter step to this and a spin once, but these are variations of the same move. My friend came back with, “Why does he have five sacks?” My reply was the coaches are playing him in downs where speed is essential – second- and third-down passing situations – and with the back end covering the combination of his amazing speed and their coverage are leading to sacks, not that he has created an arsenal of moves. What is your take on this? Who is right me or Skip?

John: While it’s true that he doesn’t have an “arsenal of moves,” that’s not why Fowler isn’t an every-down player. He’s not an every-down player because he hasn’t outperformed Yannick Ngakoue at the Jaguars’ rush-end position and he’s sure not going to play strong-side end over Calais Campbell. Fowler actually could be a very good every-down player because he’s good against the run. Right now, the Jaguars are very deep and Fowler is a key part of the rotation. If the Jaguars weren’t as deep and he had to play more, the feeling here is Fowler could handle it – and even thrive.

Mark from Archer, FL:
John, with the Jaguars’ receivers not playing great at times, what do you think the chances are of the Jags starting to line up some of our running backs in the slot? T.J. Yeldon has good speed and hands and Corey Grant has good speed and hands. Heck, all of our backs can catch the ball. Why not start putting one of them in the slot to see if they can help the passing offense some?

John: I could see the Jaguars doing this on occasion, though not as a staple to the offense. The Jaguars typically want their running backs running, and unless a running back has great speed – or route-running ability – he often is used best while being covered by a linebacker out of the backfield rather than lining up on the line of scrimmage.

Josh from Fernandina Beach, FL:
John, I know you’ve done your homework. How do you believe the Bengals’ offensive line will match up with our defensive front this weekend in the ‘Bank? Should be a good one. Thanks, O-Man.

John: The Bengals’ offensive line has struggled this season, and is considered an area Cincinnati must improve to make the postseason. Quarterback Andy Dalton has been under pressure consistently and the Bengals are averaging 3.2 yards per carry. The Jaguars this season have matched up well against struggling offensive lines. The key Sunday: the Jaguars must stop the run early and get the Bengals into passing situations. If they do that, they should be able to turn their matchup advantage on the line into pressure, sacks and turnovers.

Josh from Fernandina Beach, FL:
I live in Nassau County and am completely OK with DTWD. The team is in, you know, Duval …

John: This is in response to an email this week from Jess from Castle Rock, CO bemoaning #DTWD – or, Duval ‘Til We Die – as a Jaguars rallying cry. I essentially replied that I don’t bemoan #DTWD and I think it’s cool. Others feel this way as well. I’ll let them take it from here …

Adam from Lynbrook, NY:
I have lived in Orlando, Jacksonville, Tallahassee, Ronkonkoma, Chandler, Glibert, Babylon, Astoria and Lynbrook. In all of that time I have never stopped being Duval till I die. #DTWD

John: I see.

Winston from California:
If you are not from Duval or live outside of Duval you can be one with Duval if you believe it to be true. It is not solely a geographic location as my wife can attest from my drunken howls far from the river city.

John: Preach, brother. Preach.

Josiah from Fargo, ND:
Hey, John! I’m from North Dakota and I’m #DTWD! Can you let Jess know?

John: Yep.

Brandon from Duval:
Dear Jess: Duval is not a place, but simply a state of mind. Anyone can be “Duval” no matter their current location. Go out and about in Castle Rock and shout DUUUUUVALLLLLL!! at the top of your lungs and you’ll understand. Sure, you’ll get funny looks but they just don’t know you livin’ the Duval life. Feel it, embrace it, live it and spread a little bit of Duval wherever you are!

John: #DTWD

 

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Ask Vic: Packers, Lions in NFC North showdown

Here are my Week 9 power rankings:
1. Eagles – Deserving of a rest.
2. Patriots – Defense on the rise.
3. Steelers – Offense not scoring enough points.
4. Seahawks – These Seahawks are about offense.
5. Rams – All the indicators look good.
6. Saints – Five in a row.
7. *Chiefs – Back on track.
8. Vikings – Eyes on Lions-Packers this week.
9. Bills – Starting to get that winning feeling.
10. Cowboys – Big one in KC this week.
11. Panthers – Didn’t look great in win at Tampa.
12. Falcons – Super Bowl hangover?
13. Lions – Lots of yards but no touchdowns.
14. Jaguars – Remaining schedule favorable.
15. Chargers – Not who I thought they might be.
16. Redskins – Mueller should bring charges.
17. Dolphins – Yuk!
18. Texans – Better find their identity soon.
19. Titans – Not much to say here.
20. Packers – Showdown time in the NFC North.
21. Bears – Defense appears to be fixed.
22. Ravens – Need to make a move soon.
23. Raiders – Move might be weighing on them.
24. Broncos – At least they won a Super Bowl.
25. Bengals – Must-win game in Jax.
26. Jets – They know what the issues are.
27. Bucs – Could be in free fall.
28. Cardinals – Could get ugly in San Francisco.
29. Giants – Play for the top pick or their honor?
30. Colts – They play hard.
31. Browns – Poor London had to see this.
32. 49ers – They get their first win this week.
*Winners of the “Most Ridiculous Play of the Week Award.”

Lori from Brookfield, WI
Vic, if you were the Packers’ GM, would you have traded a draft pick for Jimmy Garoppolo?

No. No. 1, it would be a middle-of-the-season act of desperation, and they’re seldom successful. No. 2, the Patriots are astute evaluators of talent, and if they thought Garoppolo was a big-time quarterback, they wouldn’t be trading him. There will be plenty of college quarterbacks from which to choose when the Packers decide it’s time to find Aaron Rodgers’ successor. The immediate challenge is to find out if Brett Hundley can lead the Packers to the postseason and, in the process, become that quarterback of the future. Picks, not players.

Steve from Spooner, WI
What do you think of the Patriots’ trade? Are they really gambling on Brady to stay healthy for the next eight weeks? Will they now use their first-round pick to take a QB in the draft? What a bold, brash and risky move to capture as much value as possible for a player that becomes a cap issue at the end of the season.

The Patriots are firm believers in value, just as I am. They get full value for their players, and I am in awe of their personnel management skills. This trade is about one thing, in my opinion: Getting value that can be used in the future out of a player they believe they can replace in the present. I think the Patriots are telling us they think Jimmy Garoppolo is just a guy.

Mike from North Hudson, WI
Vic What’s your pet peeve with today’s NFL?

The officials talk too much. “By rule, the penalty results in a first down.” Really? I needed to be told that? I like the way baseball does replay. The umpire gets his ruling and then gestures out or safe. These officiating explanations in the NFL sound namby-pamby.

Holger from Ecuador
Does Martell Bennett’s decision to retire mean Aaron Rodgers will not be the same after his injury? After all, he did sign a three-year deal and now he wants to retire. Big change of mind in a matter of a few months.

​I think it means he needed some attention; that’s the only purpose this kind of theatrics serves.

Brian from Yakima, WA
What’s your take on Cam Newton’s recent interaction with the media?

He needs to change his attitude toward the media. It’s become a distraction and it’s hurting his game.

Mike from Somerset, WI
Vic, what does Brett Hundley have to do to beat the Lions?

He needs to be error free and throw for 200 yards. I think that’s a fair expectation. If he achieves that level of performance, the burden falls on every other aspect of the Packers. The finger then points to the defense, the running game and special teams. I thought those aspects of the Packers’ performance against the Saints were good enough to win. I don’t expect Hundley to be “The Man,” but he needs to be a contributor.

Mike from McFarland, WI
One pleads guilty, two others indicted and it’s just getting started. Wish you weren’t covering sports?

And every day you get a new tweet controversy. Covering sports is boring compared to covering politics.

Chris from Bozeman, MT
Vic, as a Packers fan, I love your stuff. Read you long enough to know your comment on the Packers needing to go QB in round one was an example of you having fun and enjoying retirement. No. 12 still has it; they just need a little more grit as a team and get back to winning one-on-ones.

No, I was being serious. When your quarterback is in his mid-30s, you should begin thinking of finding and grooming a replacement. That philosophy worked pretty well for the Packers the last time they did it, right? Look at what the Chiefs did this year. In Rodgers’ case, the injury can’t be dismissed. Thirteen screws in a bone attached to your quarterback’s throwing arm is a daunting fact. If Hundley fails to prove he’s the man for the future, I think it would only make sense to consider drafting a quarterback. If you wait until Rodgers retires, you’re going to go away for a while, and sometimes those teams don’t come back for a long time.

John from Jefferson, WI
Vic, would it be considered victim blaming to insinuate Rodgers was asking for a hit via all the belts?

You can call it whatever you want, but the football field is a nasty place populated by nasty men, and all those belts and free plays aren’t a formula for making friends.

Tim from Lancaster, PA
What teams should we stick the proverbial fork in? Who should we be watching out for in November and December?

It’s too early for forks. November is when the real contenders begin to emerge. I gotta tell you, I like what I saw in the Lions on Sunday night. They’re no longer a will-o’-the-wisp. I saw some toughness and resolve.

Patrick from Fort Collins, CO
Hey, Vic, good to have you back online. The Internet just wasn’t the same without you. What is your take on the Packers defense after multiple years with high draft picks invested? The approach seems right, but the results don’t seem to match the amount invested.

We’ll know by season’s end where this rebuild stands and what the grade should be. I see some good things happening in the secondary.

Ben from Alameda, CA
Jeremy Lane failed his physical. In a sport that glorifies playing through pain and injury, what does failing a physical mean? How subjective are the findings?

They check everything. My favorite failed physical story is from a Bills tight end named Paul Seymour. It was 1978 and Seymour was traded to the Steelers for a very good wide receiver named Frank Lewis. Seymour failed the Steelers’ physical when he was judged to have fallen arches. The Steelers returned Seymour to the Bills – never played another down – but the Bills didn’t return Lewis to the Steelers. Chuck Knox, a Pittsburgh native, said the trade wasn’t contingent on passing a physical. Chuck Noll was furious, claiming it had long been a gentleman’s agreement players had to pass their physical. The next time the Steelers played the Bills, we hammered Knox pretty hard on the Seymour subject in the conference call before the game.
​
I got a lot of positive feedback on Mike Ryan’s explanation of Aaron Rodgers’ injury, so I’ve decided to make Mike’s work a regular feature of this column. Here’s a recent video he did on Zach Miller’s frightening injury. https://www.facebook.com/SNFonNBC/videos/1733718663347752/

 

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Ask Vic: I’m not a fan of ‘The belt’

Denny from Midvale, UT
My thoughts on the Packers quarterback situation are if they are playing good enough to make the playoffs with Hundley at QB, and Rodgers is healthy enough to come off IR and play, why not stay with Hundley? To bring Aaron in at that point could upset the turnip cart and ask too much, too soon of him. What are your thoughts on that?Hey, Brett Hundley threw for 87 yards! It’s ridiculous for you to even consider that long-range scenario, but it’s proof fans love controversy. It’s the bye week, you’re bored and you want a quarterback controversy.Mike from North Hudson, WI
Vic, there seems to be a lot of back and forth in the media between Aaron Rodgers and Anthony Barr in regards to the hit Barr put on Rodgers. Do you have an opinion? Are you willing to share it?

Every time Rodgers did “The belt,” I cringed.

Marc from Hartford, VT
Hey, Vic, we needed the bye week to get healed and get our game plan for the most important game of the year cemented.

I agree. This is the big one. I can’t imagine the Packers winning the NFC North without beating the Lions on Monday.

​Josh from Tucson, AZ
Hey, Vic, great to see you back! Looks like the Jags are digging into the past with an old Jack Del Rio proclamation: “We will stop the run.” What do you think of the trade for Dareus? My opinion is it’s a bold one with the idea the team has a shot, even with subpar quarterback play from time to time. Regardless, it’s fun to be excited about the Jaguars this time of year; the December friend is at the driveway, wondering if he should ring the doorbell or not. Here’s to hoping he doesn’t keep walking down the street.

It’s a no-risk deal. Marcell Dareus won’t decide the Jaguars’ fate this season, Blake Bortles will, but Dareus might help the Jaguars make December meaningful, and that’s most important for a franchise that’s been irrelevant since, well, since I left. There’s going to be a December in Jacksonville this year, and it’s going to re-light the pro football fire that burned in Jacksonville during the franchise’s whirlwind early years. Who knows? Maybe there’ll be another middle-of-the-night pep rally.

Ben from London, UK
Vic, if Rodgers recovers fully, is next season finally the time for the Packers to switch to a win-now strategy and take some risks with the cap?

I think next year will be a time for the Packers to begin thinking about drafting a quarterback in the first round.

Hank from Muskego, WI
Why do you do power rankings now? I thought you did not like them?

They can be made entertaining, which I try to do by getting a little wild with them and inserting cryptic comments. The problem with that approach is it can create bulletin board material if you’re writing for a team website. I don’t have to worry about that now. What I don’t like about power rankings is people who take them seriously. I think they should be for entertainment only. I think it’s about time for a real juicy asterisk.

Brian from Jacksonville, FL
Does Leonard Fournette remind you any past running backs? Can he be better than Fred Taylor?

Fournette reminds me a little of Natrone Means. Better than Fred? In my heart, nobody could ever be better than Fred.

Mike from Somerset, WI
Vic, I miss your questions during the coaches’ media sessions. How did you formulate your questions?

I didn’t formulate them, I just asked them. If you’re covering a team on a daily basis, you know what to ask and how to ask it, and the how is more important than the what.

Ben from El Paso, TX
Do the wolves howl louder or softer during the bye week?

They chew on a bone.

Wendell from Porta Allegre, Brazil
I’ve read an article about a possible change from a 3-4 to a 4-3 on the Packers defense. In base defense, it would be Nick Perry and Dean Lowry as ends, Mike Daniels and Kenny Clark as interior linemen, Clay Matthews as Sam, Blake Martinez as Mike, Josh Jones as Will. I like it. What do you think?

I fear it’s too light in the pants and would struggle in the running game.

Jeffro from Kenosha, WI
How do veterans like Bennett and Evans keep focused, under the circumstances? You would have to think they signed with hopes of playing for a championship.

It’s professional football, it’s about the money, and that means it’s about the tape.

Nathan from New York, NY
The Seahawks, a team once known for their defense, wins a wild shootout over the Texans, also a team once known for their defense. Has defense all of the sudden disappeared in the NFL?

It hasn’t happened suddenly; the league has long lobbied against defense. When the Seahawks and Broncos won Super Bowls with a defense-first approach, I said they were the last vestiges of a bygone era; they were flukes in a league gone wild with offense. The NFL won’t allow defense to dominate, as it did in the ’70s. Even low-scoring games, such as Sunday night’s Steelers-Lions game, produce huge yardage totals and big plays. The Steelers won the game with four fantastic goal-line stands, but the tight red zone is the only place where the field is level. At all other places on the field, it tilts to favor offense. It’s a trend the NFL is vigilant to continue.

Josh from Atlanta, GA
Sometime in the fourth quarter of the Seattle-Houston game, the announcer said, “Players, not plays.” Also, as a Packers fan from the south, I find it humorous Packers fans always complain about play-calling, but UW Badgers are the perfect example of a players/execution, not plays team. Just line up and beat your man.

When you play Wisconsin’s schedule, you can win with plays, not players, too.

​Danny from Kewanee, IL
Would you believe I still have my “thing?”

Always hold onto your “thing.”

 

 

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BlowZone: Trick or Treat

Disgusted from Jacksonville:
Breaks a Jaguars computer by jizzing all over the screen watching porn, and then blames it on Oehser. #ShadrickSighting
 
John: He can’t even control himself.

O-zone reader from Jacksonville:
Dressed in drag while jacking off in public. #OzoneSightings
 
John: Yep.

Sour grapes from Space:
I didn’t wanna marry Kimi anyway. She was a Bitch.

John: I didn’t wanna marry my wife, but she tricked me(with sex). And divorce is expensive.

Whitney from Jacksonville:
You know you raped me, John. You’re going to prison for a long time.

John: Shut the fuck up Bitch. No one’s gonna believe you.

Little girl from Jacksonville:
hey fuckhead
 
Shadrick: Hey.

JPO from Jacksonville:
So did u fuck er?
 
John: Indeed, lol.

Observant from Jacksonville:
Playing a solo in a band called J.P. and the Circle Jerks. #ShadrickSighting
 
Warren: HE WAS MASTURBATING!

SadLady from Los Angeles:
He told me he was gay. We were dancing(the song was One night in Bangkok). And then….he raped me.
 
John: LOL. SHOOTS ONE OFF.

MikeHunt from Jacksonville:
How many hoes ya gotta support?
 
John: I lost count. Pimpin’ aint easy.

JackHoff:
Remember that time u tried to have gay sex with yourself? lolrofllmao
 
John: Fuck Off!

HJT from Modville:
Motherfucker.
 
John: Father Fucker.

GetSerious from JagTown:
O-man, this is no time for dickin’ around
 
John: Shhoots one off.

Axl from Guns n Roses:
You’re nothin but a fuckin’ pussy.
 
John: So sayeth the Rocket Queen himself.

Spyman from Jagville:
Says he’ll clean your yard when you’re gone, but has an affair with your wife instead. #ShadrickSighting
 
John: I’M GONNA KILL THAT BASTARD!

Clown from ClownTown:
Oehser, u have a dopey grin kinda like Al Bundy’s that says, I could rape you and get away with it.
 
John: Thanks.

Bonar fide from Jacksonville:
Yankee doodle went to town, a-ridin’ on a boner.
 
John: Shoots one off.

Observant from Jacksonville:
Oesher, u put the ‘ass’ in asinine.
 
John: Don’t make me kick your ass!

CharlieGotye from the Land of Perverts:
O, you’re just somebody that I used to blow.
 
John: You enjoyed that, didn’t ya?

WerewolfHunter from Jacksonville:
Why r u howling at the moon?
 
John: I have no idea.

Boo from Jacksonville:
What’s your favorite Halloween memory?
 
John: That time Shadrick got wasted, dressed up as a princess, and went Trick-or Treating.
 

 

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O-Zone: Pretty good hands

John Oehser Senior writer jaguars.com

JACKSONVILLE – Let’s get to it …

Josh from Dayton, OH:
John, does the acquisition of Marcell Dareus indicate to you that management expects to be in the playoffs this season rather than next? In other words, does it indicate to you that the Jags are betting on doing better this season than we might have expected when the season began? Or do you think this move fits right in with expectations of winning only seven or eight?

John: Trading a 2018 sixth-round selection to the Buffalo Bills for defensive tackle Marcell Dareus – which the Jaguars did on Friday – absolutely indicates that Jaguars management expects to be in the playoffs following this season – and the move actually fits in perfectly with their preseason expectations. That’s because the expectations of management, coaches and players from the start has been to make the postseason this season. Those expectations may not have jived with those of most fans. They may not have jived with those of most members of the media. Shoot, they didn’t jive with my own expectations that the team could push for seven or eight victories – but perhaps realistically not much more. But the expectations of management, coaches and players aren’t supposed to jive with the expectations of observers. The expectations of management, coaches and players are supposed to be high. In this case, they were. And in this case, they also might prove to have been correct.

Bo from Dresden, NC:
Do you see the team making any more moves before the deadline? Personnel-wise?

John: I doubt it, but that was my answer before the Jaguars traded for Dareus, too.

Scott from New York, NY:
Has there been any sort of statements around the terms of the trade and if we have to give up a fifth- or a sixth-round pick? Also, do we still owe Miami the seventh-round draft pick from last offseason’s trade?

John: The Jaguars traded a 2018 sixth-round selection for Dareus; the team issued an official press release to that effect. The Jaguars will not send a draft selection to Miami for left tackle Branden Albert. The selection in that trade was a conditional seventh-round selection in the ’18 draft, and the condition was that Albert needed to play three games for the Jaguars. He did not do that.

Shawn from the Mean Streets of Arlington:
I send emails like this sometimes.

John: No, you don’t.

Blues Man from Georgetown:
I’ve noticed that the field seems to be higher in the middle, and it looks to slope slightly downward toward the sidelines. Is this an illusion or are football fields designed this way for drainage? Go Jags!

John: It’s no illusion. Many outdoor football fields are designed to slope downward toward the sidelines. And yes – it’s for drainage.

Dylan from Tulsa, OK:
So, are we still thinking about drafting a quarterback? Blake Bortles has shown improvement so I don’t know anymore.

John: This question seems destined to remain a question the rest of the season. It also seems destined to inspire debate the rest of the season. That’s because Bortles has played well at times this season – better than in past seasons – and he has struggled at other times. While he has been doing this, the Jaguars have been playing well enough around him to be 4-3 – and they could quite easily be a game or two better than that. The consensus among most observers still seems to be that the Jaguars indeed will draft or sign a quarterback in the offseason. And with nine games remaining in the season, Bortles realistically needs to show more improvement than he has so far to make that consensus incorrect. Still, there’s enough time for that to happen. The story isn’t written yet.

Jordan from Jacksonville:
Do you think the Jaguars will go get a free-agent quarterback and draft a quarterback in the offseason?

John: If I had to guess right now, I’d say yes. That decision doesn’t have to be made until the offseason, so the nine remaining games – and perhaps the postseason – will go a long way to determining the answer.

Bruce from Green Cove Springs, FL:
The more I see of Doug Marrone, the more I like him. Obviously, winning slants my perception. But beyond that, he seems to be that rare breed that is both a strict disciplinarian and a down-to-earth guy the players like and respect. Given the Jaguars record over the past few years, if they make the playoffs this year, could Marrone be a candidate for coach of the year?

John: Of course.

Jason from Salem, OR:
There is a lot of optimism in the air when speaking about the Jags’ future. I really like how they have shaped their defense and done a lot in free agency and the always unpredictable draft picks. So with all the optimism aside, what else would you like to see from management and coaches to have this team continue on the up-trend?

John: Hit on their first- and second-round draft selections and find their long-term answer at quarterback. If that answer is Bortles – and there’s no law that says it’s not – then fine. But that remains the most important unanswered question.

Sean from Jacksonville:
I hate reading ESPN pundits already speculating that this trade for Dareus means the team will be getting rid of Malik Jackson after the season. What a buzz kill. I’m excited in spite of that and optimistic that they are wrong. Malik outplayed his contact last year and should be viewed as a cornerstone. Please tell me your thoughts on this. I’d like to know if there’s even a shred of credibility to the idea of us actually cutting Malik in the offseason.

John: The nature of the Jaguars’ acquisition of Dareus – and the cap-eating nature of his contract – means that people will speculate on who must be released long-term to make room for his cap number. Jackson is a logical choice by some because of he would be “just” $6 million in dead money next season. But there are a lot of moving parts to what will happen next offseason – and nine games remain in this season. How players play the rest of the season will have a lot to do with a lot of offseason decisions.

Bill from Hawthorn Woods, IL:
What transaction was made to make room for Dareus on the 53-man roster?

John: The Jaguars released linebacker Jonathan Freeny.

Dan from Jacksonville:
So, Dede Westbrook is set to make his debut after being on injured reserve, but what happened to Rashad Greene? Is there any chance for him to return this season? He was a good wide receiver at FSU, and I thought he excelled at special teams with the Jags. Am I wrong?

John: Greene is on injured reserve. Because he was placed there before the September 2 deadline to declare the regular-season 53-man roster he is ineligible to return this season.

Bill from Jacksonville:
John, are players employees of the NFL or partners with the NFL? It seems as though the league feels they players are their employees, and the players believe they are partners. The disconnect right now between the league and players regarding the national anthem, safety, and marijuana seems to hinge on this very question, no? Thanks! Go Jags!

John: You’re correct about how the parties see themselves, and about that being at the heart of a lot of issues. That difference in perception has been at the heart of a lot of issues for a long time. The league operates under collectively bargained rules, and sometimes there are disagreements over those rules even after they are collectively bargained.

Alex from Los Angeles, CA:
I’m as excited as anyone that the team is finally doing well enough where we can talk about them during the bye, but I have to ask Sir O-Zone, you excited for the return of the TEAL!?!?! (Also please all Matte Black helmets next season … would be the coolest helmets in the league)

John: We’ve actually talked about the Jaguars here in the O-Zone during bye weeks as long as there has been an O-Zone. As for the return of teal, fans seem excited. So I suppose I am, too.

Todd from Jacksonville:
Remember when we drafted Jalen Ramsey and people were knocking him for his lack of interceptions? I have not heard about that being an issue in a good while.

John: The lack of interceptions indeed was a “thing” about Ramsey leading up to the 2016 NFL Draft. It was silly for a couple of reasons. First, it implied that Ramsey had bad hands – which really doesn’t seem to be the case at all. Second, good hands and a ton of interceptions are relatively low on the list when it comes to important attributes for a defensive back. If a corner takes away a side of the field and plays the run and make plays on the ball, he is a tremendous asset to the defense. Ramsey absolutely is that. Of course, he’s pretty good at the interceptions thing, too.
 

 

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