Category: Uncategorized

O-Zone: Big first day

John Oehser Senior writer jaguars.com

JACKSONVILLE – Let’s get to it …

Mandy from Section 414:
Hey, Mr. O! Training camp is finally here. My husband and I have been sitting in our seats for 12-plus years now and we have seen many losses – as you know – and I’m trying to find something, anything, to make me feel good about this season. I know Blake will never be a Tom, Big Ben, Peyton, etc. But, is it too much for me to ask for him to be like a Brad Johnson or Trent Dilfer? They were middle-of-the-road quarterbacks that managed games and had strong defenses to add up the wins during the year that eventually led to Super Bowl victories. My question, “O” Great One, is this: can Blake do something similar, or were Brad and Trent that much better at the quarterback position – and is our defense comparable to the defenses they played for? Be honest with me O, this Jags girl can take it …

John: I don’t know that we know Bortles’ ceiling yet. He has shown he is capable of making big plays, and making plays “above the Xs and Os.” He also has shown he is capable of committing game-turning errors that prove very, very costly. He has not yet shown he can be a game manager, but it should also be said that the Jaguars’ defense and team as a whole has not during the last three seasons shown themselves good enough to be “managed” to a successful level. I don’t know that Dilfer or Johnson were that much better than Bortles, but they did prove capable of managing the Super Bowl teams for which they played. The most important answer to your question may be this: I can’t place this current Jaguars defense with the 2000 Baltimore Ravens or the 2002 Tampa Bay Buccaneers because those two defenses were among the best of recent decades; the Jaguars have to prove they belong close to that category. It’s hard to manage your way to a Super Bowl if you don’t have a defense on the other side that is capable of doing some of its own managing.

Merriam Webster from Jacksonville:
Zone, I like the way you Defensed yourself in the O-Zone against the critics. I think you may have Defensed yourself into the lead in the Defensive player of the year so far, as you have Defensed well … or Defensed Good … or Defensed well … or Good. Is it well or good? Well, you were good – and Good, you did well?

John: Your question is indefensible.

Glen from Orange Park, FL:
Dante Fowler Jr.’s arrests and tickets are not a good look but it could be much worse. I’m encouraged by the way his teammates talk about him and hold out hope he can turn things around. He seems to have a high motor and a bigger desire than most to really be great on the field. Let’s all hope he can achieve greatness on and off the field. You’re closer to the situation. Do you think he will?

John: Fowler does have a high motor, and there’s little reason to question the energy and desire with which he plays. The question around Fowler is can he hone that motor, energy and desire – and package it with improved pass-rush technique and discipline necessary to be an effective, disruptive defensive end at the highest level of football. I think he has a better chance to do this than many people seem to think, but we need to see some serious signs of it this season. We’ll know relatively soon.

Midlife from Winston-Salem, NC:
Back in high school in Tallahassee in the mid-1970s, I took three years of journalism and considered a career in sports journalism. At that point, it was an extremely poorly compensated profession, so I chose another field. With all the changes since then and all the money in sports now, I am questioning my decision. Not asking for specifics, but is your guaranteed money from the Jaguars north or south of the Linder line?

John: You made a good decision.

Jeff from Jacksonville:
There may not have been a unit that generated more groans per play last season from the fan base than special teams. Do we finally have the depth to put a formidable special teams unit out there? Who do you project to be our two best return men for kickoffs and punts? Would you rather have a returner with great speed/elusiveness but sometimes bobbles the ball, or a returner who will never botch a catch but isn’t much of a touchdown threat?

John: Depth may not be as much of a factor when it comes to special teams as previously was the case; Jaguars Head Coach Doug Marrone has made clear he has no problem using offensive and defensive starters extensively on special teams. He said Thursday he has reduced offensive and defensive players’ reps in the past for not performing well on special teams; I doubt he would hesitate to do so again. My guess is Marqise Lee will return kickoffs this season with Dede Westbrook returning punts. As for the qualities I want in a punt returner, I would (slightly) prefer a guy with sure hands to a game-breaker. I’m conservative that way, but a lost fumble on a punt return is mega-deflating and a sure way to lose games. A similar case can be made the other way about the lift a team gets from a punt return for a touchdown, but I would still rather know I’m getting the ball after every punt.

Greg from Section 122 from Jacksonville:
So, I watched the premier of “Ballers” Season 3. Again we are subject of jokes and cheap shots. The first mention of the Jaguars is the suggestion we are moving to London in line with the NFL’s expansion plans. Seriously, these writers or whoever creates content for the show really should do research. Just amazes me we still get this garbage even with all the improvements in the facilities and moves made by Shad.

John: I guess I now have one more reason to not watch “Ballers.”

Steve from Ponte Vedra, FL:
Mr. Khan has had great success BUILDING his international corporate enterprise. He has had great success BUILDING improvements at EverBank field. The same is true of his getting Daily’s Place done. I am sure he will have great success in BUILDING-OUT the Shipyards. So what does it tell us that he has not had any success so far in BUILDING a winning NFL franchise?

John: Wow. You are serious about the BUILDING part of this question. I know his because I noticed you used CAPITAL letters whenever writing the word BUILDING. What does the Jaguars’ comparative lack of success compared to Khan’s success in all things business tell us? That BUILDING a winner in the NFL is hard. Very hard.

Turd Ferguson from Duval:
Yo O, when do you expect the Jags to decide on the starting O-Line? Will this be in training camp or sometime during the preseason?

John: Marrone has said he expects to have a good idea about the offensive line before the team goes to New England for the joint practices August 7-8. I expect the Jaguars to pretty much know their starting line around then or soon thereafter.

Scott from Jacksonville:
So let me get this straight, you are afraid of Boselli, respect Shadrick but are willing to just tell Malik that he’s straight up wrong?

John: Pretty much.

Matt from Las Vegas, NV:
Hey, John. What’s the word on Branden Albert‘s performance? Did he arrive in better shape as Coughlin demanded?

John: Albert appeared to be in better shape on Day 1 of Jaguars Training Camp Thursday than he did in the mid-June mini-camp. I don’t consider this due to Coughlin “demanding” anything as much as to Albert wanting to show up in shape so he can play at a high level. He’s a 10-year veteran. He understands what he must do.

Jerry from New York, NY:
You’re using the fork that fell on the floor?!

John: Why wouldn’t I?

Keith from Palatka, FL:
Does anyone know why the Jaguars did not sign Gary Barnidge?
John: It’s usually safe to assume when teams don’t sign available players that they assume those players won’t be improvements over players already on the roster.

Chris from Duval:
I think the Jags should start Cam at right tackle, look for a starting left tackle in the next draft: second or third round, so he can develop behind Albert for a season. What say you?

John: I say the Jaguars see Robinson as a left tackle, and I say that his status as a first-round talent according to many analysts could give him a chance to play at a high level in the NFL. I also say there’s nothing wrong with playing Robinson at guard if that’s how it plays out.

Micky from Section 408:
Is there anything you want to share that wasn’t in your Day 1 recap?

John: No, I left it all on the field.
 

 
 

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O-Zone: Joy to the world

John Oehser Senior writer jaguars.com

JACKSONVILLE – Let’s get to it …

Hunter from Laconia:
Let’s say Blake Bortles throws a couple of picks, but is improved from last season. Let’s say 28 touchdowns, 14 interceptions, but the picks are from a dysfunctional offensive line. Would Bortles stay another year? Or be cut even if it’s not completely his fault?

John: The Jaguars’ assessment of Bortles won’t be based solely on statistics. It will be on his overall performance with all factors considered. If he’s playing winning football next season that merits him being the long-term starter, they won’t let a few interceptions caused by pressure bother them. Either way, we can list statistical-oriented scenarios about Bortles from now until the regular season – and I understand the inclination to do so. If he’s playing better – i.e., throwing more accurately, making better decisions, showing more awareness in the pocket – the results are going to show up in the form of a more efficient offense. If not …

Marc from Oceanway:
Did I read correctly that Dante Fowler Jr. has been suspended by the team for four games? If so, are you surprised? Is this a Coughlin/Marrone-ism?

John: You did not read correctly.

Touchdown Tony from Festus, MO:
We have an anemic offense, grossly so. It stands to reason, following Jags logic, that we have the highest-paid running back and center. …. Really? 3-13.

John: The Jaguars’ offense indeed has been anemic in recent seasons; no question. I suppose the way to have changed that would have been to not draft a running back this past offseason or to not have participated in free agency a couple of years back – and then to not have re-signed Brandon Linder and allowed him to leave as a free agent. Yes, yes … that would have been the better plan.

Flounder from Delta Chi:
Oh, boy. Is this great!

John: I know you think that, but try telling that to Tony.

Steve from Sunroom Couch:
John, tell Richard from SS that the Jaguars are already penciled in for a prime-time slot on 10/15 at 4:05 p.m. against the mighty Rams.

John: I’ll definitely tell him, but he probably will tell you that 4:05 p.m. is not a prime-time slot – and he will be right.

DUVAL DOOM from Section 217:
I told you not to say it. I’ll see you at training camp, punk. Shadrick can’t be with you all the time.

John: You know where to find me.

Nate from Atlanta, GA:
With training camp finally here, I was looking through the roster and realized with all the talk about Poz and Jack I know virtually none of the backup linebackers. Is depth a concern with the Jags linebackers?

John: It’s a concern to many fans because they haven’t heard of a lot of the backup linebackers. It’s not as concerning to the team because the backup linebackers are a lot about backing up the position and a lot about special teams. Players such as Audie Cole, Josh McNary and Hayes Pullard III are experienced special teams players and rookie Blair Brown has the skill set to be a factor on special teams. That’s a primary focus for the Jaguars at those spots.

Mac from Fernandina Beach, FL:
Telvin Smith, Jalen Ramsey, Dede Westbrook and Corey Grant line up to race a 100-meter dash. Who you got coming in first, second, third and fourth?

John: Grant wins, and I’d guess Westbrook is second followed by Ramsey and Smith.

Mike from Section 408:
According to Pro Football Focus, Patrick Omameh graded out as our best pass blocker last year. What odds do you give him at supplanting A.J. Cann in the starting lineup?

John: I think there’s a chance this happens, though I would give a slight edge to Cann. That could change dramatically by next week because the Jaguars will have practiced in pads several times by then. So, the odds? Three to one. No, wait: three-and-half to one.

Gavin from Jacksonville:
How many yards do you think Leonard Fournette will gain this season?

John: Eleven hundred fifty-one.

Glen from Orange Park, FL:
Who do you think will line up where regarding our wide receivers and is there much chance that could change during camp and preseason?

John: I can’t see Allen Robinson not remaining in the “X” role he has played the last two seasons. That means he will play the majority of snaps. It remains to be seen how reps/positions are split between Allen Hurns, Marqise Lee and Dede Westbrook, though I anticipate Lee starting opposite Robinson with Hurns/Lee/Robinson all moving into the slot at times. Westbrook as a rookie remains something of an unknown – and how he performs in camp could go change the position’s dynamic.

J.E.T from Jacksonville:
How optimistic should I be this year? Or should I watch the upcoming season with bated breath to finally believe this is the season things turn around?

John: I suppose you should maybe just watch and see how things turn out. These things have a way of working themselves out.

Fred from Jac:
I must admit, I feel it too. But all 32 teams’ fans have an immense amount of hope just before training camp commences. Coming out of the gate quickly is critical: 0-4 to 0-8 just cannot happen. The lousy starts are what have collectively pummeled the fans the past few years.

John: Yeah, 0-8 wouldn’t be good.

Kyle from Pensacola, FL:
Johnny O, I gotta side with The Dude from Clermont. Defensed is informal and should only be used when the word is spoken, not written (or typed). So it’s OK for sports announcers to say “…play was well defensed,” but sports writers should always use “defended.” Even lowly bloggers and menial website guys. I joke … sort of.

John: This is not a topic about which I am passionate, but because “passes defensed” is commonly used as a statistical category, I have no qualms about using it when referring to that statistic.

Holger from Zurich, Switzerland:
What does your normal day look like on a training camp practice day?

John: Hot.

Logan from Wichita, KS:
IT’S HERE!! Training camp us here!!! Football is back!!!! Wait … now what?!?!

John: Now, we sweat. And stink of sweat.

Tom from Marlton, NJ:
I saw on ESPN that Von Miller had a pass-rush camp and many players from around the league were there. I was wondering if you heard about this and if you knew, why it looked like Malik Jackson was the only Jaguar there. I would think Ngakuoe, Fowler, or even Smith would have benefited from a camp like this.

John: It’s my understanding that the camp was known as the “Von Miller Pass Rush Summit” was something to which Miller invited certain players. So, maybe the players you mentioned weren’t invited, or maybe they had previous engagements. Or, in the case of Smith, maybe they’re not really a pass rushers. But whatever … Camps and summits are fine, but they’re hardly the only way to work and improve in the offseason; attendance or lack thereof isn’t a defining commentary on a player’s career or work ethic.

Dan from Ponte Vedra Beach, FL:
O, what are your theories on what is going to happen on Game of Thrones? I know you watch.

John: My wife watches Game of Thrones. I do not.

Marius from Stuttgart, Germany:
Zone, in last year’s training camp, Dante Fowler Jr. didn’t only look like a pass-rush monster, all the other players (especially defensive linemen) said so in interviews. Was our offensive line that bad last year or is he really that good – and just couldn’t do it against other teams? How good does he have to be after this training camp to be a starter?

John: Fowler looked devastating in non-padded work last offseason because that’s when his athleticism and intensity shone through. He is impressive in those situations, and he is impressive in games when he gets off blocks. His issues began when pads went on, because that’s when technique and pass-rush fundamentals moves are at a premium. How good does he have to be to be a start this season? Better than Yannick Ngakoue.

Jags from Jag Town:
Joy to the world … O-Zone is dead … We barbecued its head … What happened to its body … We flushed it down the potty … and round and round it went … and round and round it went … and round, and round, and round it went.

John: I can get on board with this.
 

 
 

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O-Zone: One day more

John Oehser Senior writer jaguars.com

JACKSONVILLE – Let’s get to it …

Richard from Northampton, UK:
So Zone, it seems we don’t have to wait for training camp to find out our starting center then.

John: This is in reference to Jaguars offensive lineman Brandon Linder signing a five-year contract extension for a reported $51.7 million with $24 million guaranteed. There was immediate reaction after the announcement that this means Linder will be the team’s starting center. I don’t get the idea the team is ready to officially commit to that yet. Still, I have said throughout the offseason that I believe Linder will remain the starting center and Tuesday’s news certainly does nothing to change that.

Jeremy from Wise, VA:
With Brandon Linder locked up, do we see any other important players (Allen Robinson, Marqise Lee, Telvin Smith) signing extensions before the season?

John: I would be a little surprised if anything happened on this front before the season. Part of that is because I think the Jaguars still want to see how the wide receiver position plays out, and there’s still some benefit to the new regime seeing first-hand how players perform in new systems. We’ll see.

Brandon from Louisville, KY:
How important do you feel it is for the Jags to win their opener against Houston? If they do win, it will be the first time since 2011 they have won their opener. It seems like it could be huge.

John: It indeed could be huge, and I think it’s important for the Jaguars to win early in the season. They have a new head coach, and there’s a strong belief among players right now in the direction under Doug Marrone. It’s always a good thing when that belief is supported by on-field results. So, how important is winning in Week 1? It’s really important if the Jaguars win – and build on it with more winning in September. If they beat Houston and lose their next three games, it’s not important at all. Bottom line: it’s important – but perhaps not “all important.”

Byron from Denver, CO:
O-Man, if the Jaguars have another disaster season (another year picking Top 10 in the draft) how could the front office convince any fans to stick around for yet another “rebuild?”

John: There’s nothing a front office can do to control this, at least not beyond what the front office always does – which is to have the business and marketing side create the best possible fan experience, and to have the football side acquire the best players possible. That’s a stale answer, but I know of no better one. Jaguars fans are passionate, loyal and they have withstood a lot of difficult seasons. The team appreciates that and understands it needs to win for those fans. There’s no other way to “convince” fans of anything.

Dave from Orange Park, FL:
O-man, why is everyone so high on Fowler? I watched a lot of Gator football, and while he made some spectacular plays, he also seemed to disappear a lot. So far, his NFL career has been a disappearing act. Yannick Ngakoue proved last year he was the better player … maybe it’s time to find Fowler’s replacement and let Ngakuoe shine. Look forward to your opinion on this.

John: Fowler has played one NFL season in which he had four sacks and made a few other memorable plays. This is a similar start to many young NFL pass rushers. As for wanting the Jaguars to “let Ngakoue shine,” Ngakoue played 706 defensive plays last season. That was the second-highest total among Jaguars defensive linemen and 136 more than Fowler. Fowler’s presence on the roster in no way inhibits Ngakoue’s opportunities to shine.

La Shae from CP, MD:
Will they or won’t they this year?

John: Some will and some won’t. Some might.

DUVAL DOOM from Section 217:
Can’t take exhibition games to Europe because they’ll know the difference, but by God, you home fans better pay full price for them. You make me angry, O-Zone.

John: You’ll probably really be mad because I edited your last sentence – and I don’t make the rules; I just explain them from time to time.

Rhonda from Jacksonville:
John: Soccer … really, soccer???? Come on: I’m an American girl. Bring the violence, bring the hurt. Not men who should be wearing skirts!!!

John: Go girl.

Stephen from Jacksonville:
Hey John, is Shark Week overrated?

John: I’m probably the wrong person to ask. I’ve heard of Shark Week, so I know something called “Shark Week” exists, but I don’t have a real feel for whether it involves real sharks in the water or that show that Mark Cuban is on or that WFL team from Jacksonville in the 1970s. It’s all very vague to me.

Miyagi 24 from San Diego, CA:
I know that a lot of people don’t expect our Jags to do too much this year but, for me I look for Leonard Fournette to get 1,400-plus yards on the ground, the A-Team of Robinson & Hurns to each go over 1,000 yard receiving and for Blake Bortles to throw for 4,000 –plus yards!! You gotta have faith in this era of Tom Coughlin and Doug Marrone football knowledge. Is that realistic or just wishful thinking? What say the O-man?

John: Your statistics certainly would put the Jaguars among the NFL’s elite offenses, so the naysayers among our readers might say a couple of things. The first thing they would say is “Nay,” because that’s what naysayers say. The second thing they might say is if Fournette reaches 1,400 yards the Jaguars might not be throwing quite enough for Robinson and Hurns to reach 1,000 yards – and they also might say the presence of Marqise Lee might prevent one of those players from reaching 1,000. But hey, who am I to say “Nay?” I say, reach for the stars, Miyagi. Reach for the stars.

Paul from Jacksonville:
I thought Carson Tinker was the best left tackle in the world …

John: No. But he’s the best at everything else. #Tink

Otto from Ponte Vedra Beach, FL:
John, I am still somewhat nervous about the O-Line. I don’t get the love for Jeremy Parnell. There didn’t seem to have any competition to challenge him in camp. A.J. Cann was mediocre at best. I really hope the coaches give other players a chance at these positions. I would be somewhat disappointed if the same two start the season.

John: OK.

Frankie from Ponte Vedra Beach, FL:
Boselli says that Fowler’s latest incident by itself wouldn’t be a big deal if it weren’t for the fact that it’s part of a larger pattern of behavior. Should fans be concerned about Dante’s behavior or is it the whole “boys-will-be-boys” deal?

John: Fowler reportedly has received a slew of traffic tickets in recent years, which indeed is a pattern of behavior relatively in line with this latest incident in Tampa in which he reportedly got into an altercation that ended with him throwing a bag of liquor in a lake. Taken individually all of Fowler’s reported incidents seem relatively minor. Considered in totality, it’s not the best look if you’re trying to present the image of maturity. Still, while it seems a bit beyond “boys will be boys,” it doesn’t seem to necessarily make Fowler an overly malicious menace. It’s hard to say how it affects Fowler on the field. Some seem to be jumping to the conclusion that Fowler’s off-field behavior points to an immaturity that prevents him from maximizing his potential. I don’t know that that’s a correct assumption. We’ll see.

Trey from Fruit Cove, FL:
This time of year is so full of hope for the football faithful. Offseason moves, draft picks and signings are all made. The rookies all look good. The veterans have all been healing up or working hard on their craft … how could we NOT go 16-0?? We know that isn’t reality, but it doesn’t matter, because we hope. Every one of use feels it. It’s just around the corner. Cool days spent with family and friends watching, relishing, and hoping. We don’t go on that field, but we are there and we can feel it. We are ready for it. The dead zone is almost over for another year. Can you feel it John? It’s hope. And we all feel it.

John: I actually think do feel it. I first thought it was from eating pizza out of the box that had been left out all night despite my wife telling me not to … but no, it’s hope. And I feel it.

Jeff from Wake Forest, NC:
I think I must’ve had a dream where I wrote you a question and every day I am reading and checking to see if you answered it. Also, I think in my dream I am turning into The Dude or you are and we are bowling …ahhh! is The Dead Zone almost over??

John: You did write. I didn’t answer because it was a lousy question. And Jaguars 2017 Training Camp starts Thursday.
 

 
 

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O-Zone: The right call

John Oehser Senior writer jaguars.com

JACKSONVILLE – Let’s get to it …

Jon from California:
This defense looks good … real good. I have a foolproof plan for this team to win. One word: punt. Just punt it away and let the defense do the work. You’re welcome.

John: You’re exaggerating, and that’s fine; I’m all for a nice, healthy exaggeration. Still, this may be a good time to remind people that while the defense does look good on paper, the key to having a defense that can carry a team and win games is for it to score or set up scores. That means being a defense that creates turnovers and big plays. That almost without fail means being a defense that disrupts, creates havoc and pressures the passer in big situations. On offense, it all comes down to the quarterback; on defense, it comes down to pressuring the quarterback. That’s what makes the defensive front and Yannick Ngakoue/Dante Fowler Jr. so important. This team must improve its pass rush in passing situations. I’ve repeated it a lot this offseason, but it’s worth repeating.

Dude from Clermont, FL:
Hey, Mr. O, for goodness sake. It’s DEFENDED, not “defensed!” Staubach! Annoying isn’t it?

John: Your passion on this topic is commendable, though unfortunately incorrect. When speaking of a defender intercepting or breaking up a pass it is perfectly acceptable to call it a pass defensed.

CD from Fleming Island, FL:
More dead-zone tennis talk: it was just amazing to watch Roger Federer dominate Wimbledon, but I’m also happy he was able to beat Rafael Nadal in the Aussie Open final earlier this year. As great as Federer is, there’s always that “but, he has a losing record to Rafa, especially in big events … only won his French Open when Nadal was out … etc. …”, which is a bit mind-numbing given Federer’s success. Both he and Nadal will be remembered as all-timers, but only Federer had that “but…” attached to him, so it was good to see him exorcise that a bit, and continue that success the way he did at Wimbledon. It’s funny, I remember him being an unknown, beating Pete Sampras – I think in the semis – to end his run. They spoke about him as a “decent” player. Little did we know …

John: I’ll probably let this end the dead-zone tennis talk; with training camp two days away, the deadness is pretty much over. Still, I never mind talking Federer and tennis. I personally didn’t believe he needed to win this year’s Australian Open to be remembered as the greatest player of his generation – and perhaps ever – or to be remembered as better than Nadal. Federer is unquestionably one of the best grass-court players of all time as his eight Wimbledons prove, and he has won 10 grand slams (five U.S. Opens and five Australian opens) on hard courts. He also is generally considered one of the best indoor players of all time. The lone mark “against” him is his trouble on clay courts against Nadal. What gets lost, however, is that Federer actually is one of the sport’s all-time great clay-court players. He made five French Open finals, losing four times to Nadal – the greatest clay-court player of all-time. Federer also lost a French Open semifinal to Nadal. If not for Nadal, Federer probably has four or five French Open titles. So yeah, regardless of surface, Federer turned out to be a little more than “decent …”

Ken from Yulee, FL:
O-Zone God, I read on NFL.com that Branden Albert may be released if Cam Robinson wins the starting left-tackle position. If he is released, would Jaguars still have to pay out his two years remaining on contract?

John: No.

Mikey from Tampa, FL:
OK, I know I’m biased, so please talk me down to reality. Am I wrong to say if you compare our defensive line to, say, the Patriots, that we have more talent? What if we compare corners to them? Linebackers? Wide receivers? Running backs? I swear it feels like we have more talent than the reigning Super Bowl champions except of course where it counts most … QB. Is the position really THAT important?

John: First: yes, quarterback is that important. It’s absolutely that important – and in fact, it might be more important. Second: I’d prefer to pump the breaks on the Jaguars’ talent level until they start winning on the field. We can look on paper, for example, and say Allen Robinson, Marqise Lee, Allen Hurns are a talented receiving corps. That corps might even look better on paper, than, say, Julian Edelman, Danny Amendola and Brandin Cooks of New England. But every time I watch the Patriots I see Edelman making big, clutch plays in critical situations. I also always seem to see a lot of other Patriots players make plays in big situations – and I see them win a lot of games. I have watched him do this a long time. I believe a lot of the young players on the Jaguars have a lot of potential, and I believe a lot of their talent will start showing a lot more this season. But let’s let that time happen before anointing the Jaguars as phenomenally talented.

Dave from Orlando, FL:
In 2015, ESPN rated Sen’Derrick Marks the No. 76 best player in the NFL. It seemed like only yesterday when he sacked Charlie Whitehurst to seal the victory against Tennessee in a nationally-televised game. We all loved it when he popped up and did the money sign with both hands, after securing a $600,000 bonus. Less than two years later, he’s released and goes unsigned? How does this happen? What do you remember most about Sen’Derrick Marks?

John: When NFL careers end, they usually end fast. It’s a young man’s game and effective careers spanning a decade or more are very rare. What I’ll remember most about Marks is the person I knew off the field. I never heard anyone say they didn’t like Marks, and I never saw him treat someone rudely or without respect. He seemed to truly appreciate the game and his place in it, and it was easy to root for a player like Marks.

Mason from Palm Bay, FL:
You’ve more or less been predicting the Jags to win seven-to-nine games, which probably means missing the playoffs. Are you going to tell Malik you disagree with his Super Bowl prediction?

John: Sure, if it comes up.

Gabe from Washington, DC:
Which is the bigger concern right now: lack of a premier edge rusher or depth at cornerback? Are those the two most concerning concerns outside of the quarterback position? Because concerning concerns can be, you know …

John: It’s close, but I’ll go with edge rush as the primary concern. While cornerbacks Aaron Colvin and Jalen Ramsey will begin training camp on the physically unable to perform list, they are expected to be back for the long-term, so you have a good idea for the quality of the starting three corners. If they play at their expected level and stay healthy, I believe the Jaguars will get a high level of play from the position. Edge rusher has potential to be good, but we haven’t seen a dominant level from Ngakoue and Fowler. They need to get closer to dominance for this defense to reach its potential.

Shawn from The Mean Streets of Arlington:
They will or they won’t … we won’t know until we know … when is training camp again?

John: Jaguars 2017 Training Camp begins Thursday.

DUVAL DOOM from Section 217:
If it’s not a lack of effort/intensity, but a team actually not being able to do something, how do you (or Coach Dungy for that matter) explain the change in the Colts’ defense in 2006 after the ass-whippin’ Fred & Mojo put on them? They couldn’t stop the run for anything, then after that game suddenly they could. (I swear if you say Bob Sanders…)
John: The Colts’ defense didn’t actually make giant strides in 2006 until a few games after the Jaguars’ 375-yard game. Some of it was inserting Rob Morris at strong-side linebacker after the Jaguars game. But the main difference was that Sanders returned for the playoffs. So, sorry Doom but … (Bob Sanders).

Richard from Southside:
Hey Zone, this question is around prime-time games. We are all familiar with watching games at 1 p.m. here in Jacksonville. Do you foresee the NFL changing start times for the Jaguars if we are on a hot streak? Say 12 games in we are 9-3 … could we get a prime-time switch? It appears the league has done this in the past or would things stay as us? Would they even consider? Although that 1pm start time works great for church services #blessingindisguise

John: The NFL has the ability to “flex” games from Weeks 5-17. If the Jaguars are, say, 9-3 and playing another contending team it’s certainly possible the league could flex that game into the Sunday prime-time slot.

Trey from Fruit Cove, FL:
John, I’m not contagious either, but sometimes on airplanes people hog up the armrest. When this happens, I like to make a call and tell the person on the other end that “No, I’m just using the cream now.” Usually things open up after that.

John: I’ll be doing this now.
 

 
 

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O-Zone: Bitter old man

John Oehser Senior writer jaguars.com

JACKSONVILLE – Let’s get to it …

Rob from Brunswick, GA:
John, the Dead Zone is always somewhat humdrum. But there are some players who manage to give us things to talk about anyway. You’ve got Jackson saying we’ll win a Super Bowl this year, Fowler already getting a sack in 2017 and Brandon Allen saying he is the best left tackle in the world. Who gets this year’s Dead Zone MVP?

John: I’ll go with Malik Jackson for saying the Jaguars will win the Super Bowl. You have to like his moxie, and it’s not a bad way for a veteran with a Super Bowl ring to make a point to younger teammates that this team has the ability to be a lot better than 3-13. At some point, expectations must be higher and Jackson doesn’t mind raising them. That’s good. As for your last point, I’m assuming you mean Branden Albert and not Brandon Allen, but since I never heard Albert say he was the best left tackle in the world, I won’t give him any Dead Zone awards. I also can’t imagine why Allen – the Jaguars’ third-team quarterback – would think he’s the best left tackle in the world. Speaking of moxie …

Mr. O from EverBank:
Do you ever write your own question under a different name so you can tell us something you have been dying to divulge? Wait, what name did I put on this?

John: No, I don’t do that.

Steve from Barranquilla, Colombia for now:
Mr. O, didn’t I tell you that young U of F people tend to make stupid errors? The proud Seminole Nation from FSU never act stupid. Signed J. Winston, Tampa Bay.

John: Some young people do make stupid errors. Some young people actually make a lot of them. A lot of young people play football and some are good enough to play in the NFL. That means there’s going to be crossover in the groups and it means NFL players are going to do dumb things at times. If you’re going to follow the NFL and root for a team this is probably an idea you need to embrace. Or at least one you probably need to accept.

Glenn from Jacksonville and Section 146:
What, Rocky is to blame? Rocky … is … to … blame? I’m sorry. If Rocky is somehow a bad thing for any reason … well, I just don’t want to be right.

John: Let’s not blame Rocky or Rocky II. Put a little blame on Rocky III and then blame Rocky IV and V full on. Those last two Rockys deserve a lot of blame.

Joel from Boston, MA:
We need to be ahead at the end of the fourth quarter. Just sayin’. #Analytics

John: I’ll check on this.

Dave from Orlando, FL:
O-Man, in a game against the Houston Texans last year, our defense was desperate for a big stop. The Texans needed like two yards for a first down and threw a quick hitch to DeAndre Hopkins. Jalen Ramsey was all over him, extended his arm, and prevented Hopkins from gaining another inch. I believe that play was Jalen Ralmsey’s most memorable play of the season. Is there a single play by Jalen Ramsey that made you think, this guy may be extra special?

John: That play is a candidate, and there were a bunch of plays from the Week 14 victory over Houston. The game-clinching pass defensed against Chicago was right there, too. But as memorable as those plays were, they weren’t why I believe Ramsey is headed to All-Pro status. What makes me believe that is he was able to cover teams’ No. 1 receiver all over the field from very early in his rookie season and never seemed overwhelmed. That’s a tough task for a rookie and bodes very well for his future. He looked the part all year. Few rookies do that.

David from Oviedo, FL:
O-Zone, Jalen Ramsey is great at a lot of things, but one thing he isn’t great at is holding his tongue. Several times last year, he directly criticized the coaches or their game plan to the media. I’m sure many fans appreciate his fire, but I see this as a potential powder keg, ready to explode, as soon as the losses start heating things up. There’s talk that Jalen Ramsey may be the next shutdown corner, but what if he’s also the league’s next Terrell Owens?

John: Then he’ll have to be really, really good to back up the things he says. That should be OK in Ramsey’s case, because he’s going to be really, really good. But I don’t see Ramsey being another T.O. Most of the things he has said have been pretty harmless, and I get the idea he’ll get better at knowing when and how to show his candid side.

Dave from Duval:
There are literally hundreds of people on this planet that could be a decent NFL backup quarterback if you give them time to throw, a wide open receiver to throw it to … oh and Justin Blackmon catching it. Let’s just get the JU Dolphins ex-quarterback and pay him the minimum if that’s all you expect out your backup.

John: On occasion, I will publish questions sharing wrong opinions here in the O-Zone. This is such an occasion.

Bill from Jacksonville:
With training camp set to begin, this might be my last chance to get this kind of question in. When asked about taking a regular season game away from the hometown fans and playing it in Europe, fans are often told the NFL can’t simply play preseason games in Europe because “they’d know the difference.” If that’s the case, and I’m not saying it’s not, why are ALL of the soccer games played by European teams in the United States exhibition matches? Americans “know the difference,” but it doesn’t seem to affect attendance. Thanks! Go Jags!

John: Good question. My sense is it has to do with soccer being more understood here than football is overseas – and there being a bit more of a following for some of the top teams. I also imagine it might have to do with the concept of “friendlies” in soccer being a little more accepted than exhibition games are in the NFL. I suppose it mostly has to do with the NFL wanting to be a little more aggressive in capturing the European market. Football until recently was very much an unfamiliar concept in Europe, and there remains a lot of work before the “masses” have an understanding of the sport.

Rob from Jacksonville:
So, when we’re expecting eight wins, everyone complains that the Jags accept mediocrity. But when a player expects to win the Super Bowl, they think is comical? How many wins do they want? When/where would these people prefer lose?

John: C,mon, Rob … fans gonna fan. We know that, right?

Glen from Orange Park, FL:
Forget who we did or did not draft in the first round. How many players on our team would you consider first-round talent? Calais Campbell, Jalen Ramsey, Myles Jack, Paul Posluszny, Malik Jackson, A.J. Bouye, Allen Robinson, Brandon Linder, etc.? High ceiling, low floor difference maker.

John: I’d put Branden Albert on that list, too, with a nod to Telvin Smith. And Yannick Ngakoue has a shot. I’ll leave Leonard Fournette and Cam Robinson off the list until they play an NFL game.

Tom from St. Augustine, FL:
Brian from Nocatee:”Maybe we are cursed. What can we do about it?” John: The Jaguars aren’t cursed. Win.” Me: “You haven’t been sitting near me at EverBank ’cause there’s been a whole lot of cursing going on.”

John: Point taken.

Brian from Mandarin:
John, how good was Joe Jacoby? As a Redskins fan of that era, I never worried about him, even though he faced some strong Giants and Eagles defensive fronts. He made four Pro Bowls, had a couple of All-Pro seasons and won three Super Bowl rings. He’s got the jewelry and 13 seasons of longevity. He was, arguably, the best of the Hogs and was the lead blocker for a historic Super Bowl touchdown run. I feel he was overshadowed by the Hogs and his quiet nature. Not to imply this is a Tony or Joe question but he is HOF worthy to me. BTW, you dissed him on his birthday. He is watching you and your answer.

John: I was a huge Redskins fan of that era, too – and a big Hogs fan. I had a Hogs T-Shirt. I had a Hog nose that you strapped to your face with elastic. I would love to see Jacoby in the Hall of Fame, but a major argument against him is that the Redskins traded for Jim Lachey to play left tackle and moved Jacoby to right tackle. I don’t believe that would have happened to Tony Boselli or a lot of other Hall of Fame left tackles in their careers. I also can’t call him the best of the Hogs because I believed that was Russ Grimm. But hey, here’s hoping both Jacoby and Boselli get in. The arguments for both are better than the arguments against.

Yikes from Jacksonville:
Are u contagious?

John: No. I just tell people that so they’ll leave me alone.
 

 
 

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O-Zone: Fighting back

John Oehser Senior writer jaguars.com

JACKSONVILLE – Let’s get to it …

Micky from Jacksonville:

Didn’t Blake have issues his rookie season with a dead arm from throwing too much in the offseason? Is there a fear of this happening again with increasing his throws to get the repetition to correct his mechanics? Increasing from 100 to 250 and the philosophy “the more he throws the better he’ll be” seems a little dangerous. One of your articles from May 13. I read this was Carson Palmer’s problem the first half of last year.

John: It’s something to consider, and Bortles indeed did have arm fatigue toward the end of his rookie season. This is a situation in which you must put your trust in Bortles, Jaguars coaches and Bortles’ personal quarterbacks gurus in California. Bortles spent two months in California right after the season, then participated in the Jaguars’ offseason program. He then returned to California. He by any measure will have done a lot of throwing this offseason – a lot more, presumably, than he did last offseason. The parties involved certainly will have a plan they feel will prevent arm fatigue. But while it’s possible his offseason workload could be enough to cause a certain amount of fatigue. Bortles clearly believed he needed a significant amount of offseason work. If he thinks that will help, his approach is probably worth the risk.

Gator from Gainesville, FL:

O Man … I want a backup quarterback with a winning record as a starter. I’m sure there are plenty of those available. Even I’m not that dumb. Well … there is one out there, but he is playing baseball right now.

John: Wait a minute … Aaron Rodgers is playing baseball?

Ryan from Detroit, MI:

John – the Jaguars averaged minus-0.15 yards before contact when running to the right (yes, that’s a negative number, and worst in the league). Why do you think we should go into the season with the same right side of the O-line as we had last year?

John: I don’t know that the Jaguars should do that, and I don’t know that they will do that. I do think the Jaguars will start Jermey Parnell at right tackle, and they believe he will play better than last season because he improved after getting healthy late last season. I don’t know who will start at right guard, though I believe Cam Robinson and A.J. Cann will be the team’s starting guards in some combination.

Ryan from Dearborn, MI:

Zone, who do you think will be the first defensive player inducted into the Jags’ Ring of Honor? Can I get a “One fer Poz?”

John: I admit I’m not a great source when it comes to the Jaguars’ defensive history. I missed the some really good defensive teams between 2003 and 2009 or so. I therefore missed the bulk of cornerback Rashean Mathis’ career here, and only saw defensive tackles Marcus Stroud and John Henderson a couple of times a year when covering Colts-Jaguars games. My first vote for a defensive member of the Pride of the Jaguars would be for defensive end Tony Brackens because of his ability to dominate games when playing at his highest level. I’d put Mathis second followed by Stroud or Henderson. But I’m all for Posluszny. It’s not his fault the Jaguars have struggled during his time in Jacksonville. And when it comes to on-field production, exemplary approach, consistency, etc. … well, if you had 22 Posluszny’s on your roster, you would win a lot of games.

Dave from Oviedo, FL:

When your opponent’s star player gets injured is it OK if I feel a little bit happy or does that make you a bad person?

John: You’re not a bad person in your scenario; you’re a fan. And fans gonna fan.

Todd from Jacksonville:

As a hockey fan, I’ve heard the argument about old players versus the new, and how much technology (sticks, size/weight of pads and such) has helped the new. I was wondering if you feel that technology has helped the current tennis pros out, and if the McEnroes and Connors of the world (in their prime) could beat the Federers with equal technology?

John: I can’t compare tennis to hockey because I don’t know enough about hockey to speak intelligently about the effect of equipment. My son has played competitive tennis for the last decade or so, so I know enough about the equipment in that sport to be dangerous. I do know that the technology of the rackets has made the game different enough that tennis in the 1970s is barely the same sport as tennis in the 2010s. Players today swing out on the ball with such a pace and put such top spin on the ball that McEnroe and Connors often would be unable to get balls back across the net. That’s IF McEnroe and Connors were using the rackets they used when they played. If McEnroe, Connors, Bjorn Borg and the like had grown up playing with today’s equipment, they no doubt would have grown up playing a style that would have allowed them to be elite and compete. Great athletes adapt to their times and circumstance.

Jim from Middleburg, FL:

Dear John, talk, talk, talk, talk … September: They will or they won’t! … #ask me in October

John: Yes.

Mason from Palm Bay, FL:

Much has been written about Myles Jack‘s ability to call the defense this offseason. Is this because he has shown that he mentally can’t handle this, or is it just because he hasn’t had to before, therefore we don’t know how quickly he will be efficient at it? I can’t tell if this is a legitimate concern or if it’s a “we don’t know until we know” kinda thing.

John: It’s a lot more the latter. Jack certainly has the mental and physical capacity to handle the responsibilities of middle linebacker. His ability to call the defense is being discussed a lot right now because he never has done it at an NFL level – and because the player he is replacing, Posluszny, has done it at a high level for a while. When a young player replaces a capable player and that capable player is still on the roster, that young player is going to be in the spotlight. As for how legitimate the concern is over Jack, yeah … it’s a we-don’t-know-until-we-know thing. And we won’t know until we know. Or something like that.

Dallas from Valdosta, GA:

I really hope some of Tom Brady rubs off on Bortles during the joint practices with the Patriots. Do you think they will spend much time practicing together or will it be team against team?

John: The practices with New England early in 2017 Training Camp will be solely team against team.

Eric from Jacksonville:

People are sleeping on Yannick. I think No. 91 is going to wake up the nation come 9/10. The man on the top of the mountain didn’t fall there.

John: Yannick Ngakoue indeed is perhaps the most-overlooked young player on the Jaguars’ roster. He had eight sacks as a rookie last season, yet people seem to talk about pretty much every other Jaguars defensive player except Ngakoue. I’m guilty of this as well. Perhaps because he was a third-round selection, some people seem to have the idea that he has maxed out or can’t be elite or a difference-maker. At minimum, he doesn’t get talked about enough as one of the Jaguars’ best young players. That’s unfair, but situations like this have a tendency to work themselves out. If Ngakoue continues to be a consistent pass rusher with eight, 10 or more sacks a season, I imagine recognition will come soon enough.

Letsgofun from Jacksonville:

Do you ever root for the other team?

John: I don’t “root” much at all, though I prefer to see the Jaguars win. But no, I never root for the Jaguars’ opponent. I have no vested interest in any other NFL team to remotely consider the possibility.

Logan from Wichita, KS:

Jackson believes we will be in the Super Bowl this year … you know what? OK!!! I am in!!! Jaguars to the Super Bowl! You can’t win until you buy in. Time to buy in.

John: I actually received emails from Jaguars fans who didn’t like Malik Jackson’s Super Bowl prediction. Jackson played on a Super Bowl team in Denver. He looks around him and sees a young team with talent. He believes in himself. He believes in his teammates. If he wants to set the Super Bowl as a goal, good for him. What is he supposed to want when a season begins? To lose?

Dylan from Tulsa, OK:

Being born and raised in Oklahoma and being a Jags fan is hard especially with the recent success Dallas and Kansas City have had. I’ve been a fan since the days of Donovin Darius, Marcus Stroud, and Mike Peterson. Any advice or snappy quips you could give a loyal Jags fan just trying to defend my team?

John: I know you are, but what am I?

The Hunter 1

The Hunter 2

Leviathan 1

Leviathan 2

Remission 1

Remission 2

Blood Mountain 1

Blood Mountain 2

 

 
 

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O-Zone: Simple solution

John Oehser Senior writer jaguars.com

JACKSONVILLE – Let’s get to it …

Thrill from the ‘Ville:

Why is it that so many fans legitimately believe that a desire to win is all it takes to turn things around? I blame decades of inspirational movies like Rocky. Where all you need is a motivational song played over a training montage and you can suddenly be the best in the world at a certain thing. As Mike Tyson famously said, “Everyone has a plan, until they get punched in the mouth.” The expectations of a head coach or front office can’t change the abilities of the players on the field. Just because someone’s inspired to do something or “won’t settle for less” than something – whatever that means – doesn’t make it so.

John: Wow, look at Thrill from the ‘Ville … dropping some truth – and these indeed are some of the truest words dropped by an O-Zone reader in quite some time. Fans do indeed often feel that a losing record somehow reflects low expectations, bad planning, bad coaching, general off-field lack of direction or even a lack of effort. Those things unquestionably exist in professional sports, but when I am asked about a team showing lack of effort, I always think of something Hall of Fame Head Coach Tony Dungy told me once. Talking about fans criticizing one of his Colts defenses for a “lack of effort/intensity,” Dungy said people often thought that a team lacked those things when it couldn’t stop the run. Dungy’s point was that sometimes it was simply a case of a team not being able to do something – no matter how much effort the team gave, or how much intensity it showed. The same can be said of a team not winning. Is it lack of effort when a team loses, or just a matter of that team not being good enough? It’s the latter far more often than not. And yeah … Rocky and just about every other sports movie made since the mid-1970s can pretty much share equal blame for this phenomenon. It’s the hand we’ve been dealt.

Rhonda from Jacksonville:

I’ve seen a lot of drivers who need to be punched and have their keys thrown in a lake. Non-issue … let the police deal with it. This is another reason to bring back the prison leagues. They are already in jail. #socialjusticefighterssuck

John: I don’t know that I always understand everything Rhonda’s talking about, but I do know I’m starting to like her.

Damian from Appleton, WI:

Who do you think will have the greater positive impact for the team this year? Myles Jack, Cam Robinson, or Yannick Ngakoue?

John: Myles Jack. Because it will be Jack’s first year in his new position (middle linebacker), he could have a few negative-impact moments. But considering his athleticism and ability, the positive impact could be really, really positive.

Derrick from Jacksonville:

If Allen Robinson, Marqise Lee and Allen Hurns play lights out this year, do the Jags keep all three?

John: That would be a tricky, tricky situation. They probably could keep all three for the short term because Hurns’ contract is structured so the Jaguars can get out of it after any season with negligible dead money on the cap. Bottom line? Possible, but I doubt it.

Hippy Ryan from Fleming Island, FL:

As for Bortles’ ability to sell the run in play action, it seems to me a team needs a RUN GAME to sell. I have an ’87 Ford Probe that is absolutely beautiful and runs great if anyone’s buying.

John: OK.

Derrick from Jacksonville:

I don’t disagree A-Rob’s game took a slight drop this past season. However, in watching many of those games I would contribute at least 50 percent of his down season to Blake Bortles throwing many off-target passes. Way too often the passes were either too high or behind the open receiver and A-Rob and other receivers had to make some super catches. Would you agree?

John: I don’t know how to place an exact percentage on this question, but yes: Bortles’ accuracy issues last season contributed heavily to whatever struggles the Jaguars’ wide receivers had statistically.

Mike from Jacksonville:

Do you have a sense of what Fowler is like in the locker room among his peers? Is he the same hotheaded, immature person that has two arrests and 20 traffic tickets in two years? Is he the same guy that tied for the league lead in penalties among defensive ends? If he is that guy in the locker room as well; I believe they call that a “cancer” and serious consideration should be given to removing him regardless of his unfulfilled potential. It feels like we’re watching a train wreck in the making with a whole lot of red flags.

John: I wouldn’t call Fowler a locker-room leader, but he’s not a cancer. Not even close. Fowler is a perfectly likeable, agreeable person to be around. Not every player is at one extreme or the other.

Thommy from Miami, FL:

John … between your column and SOME of the staff at 1010XL, I think I might survive another dead zone. Just wanted to say “thank you.” As you know, I am a musician. It’s the Ramones, the Clash, the Damned the DKS, Black Flag and Fear with an honorable Motorhead mention. … You’re welcome.

John: Good list, and she don’t want a chicken … she don’t want a roast … #therecord

Dan from Fort Dodge, IA:

O-man just got my new shirt and hat combo for the upcoming season, so I hope this set is better than last year’s combination. I also purchased a power bank for my phone which has not worked once and I hope this is not the same as our season, look flashy but fail to convert. #badpowerbank

John: Jaguars 2017 Training Camp begins in five days.

Gabe from Washington, DC:

If you were the GM, and you had to make the call right now between Allen Hurns and Marqise Lee, who would you sign, who would you let walk and why?

John: I’d probably fall down on my knees begging to please, please, please let me wait at least a few games because the decision is just too tough. If forced to make the decision, I would look at Hurns’ production, toughness and reliability and want to retain him. I would worry maybe the slightest bit that Lee sustained some career-slowing injuries his first two seasons. But I also would think of Lee’s remarkable athleticism and remember that he does things no one else on the roster can do. Thinking that way, I probably would choose Lee. But I wouldn’t feel great about letting Hurns go, because I would know there was a good chance I would regret it.

Mike from Jacksonville:

A few years ago I was in Denver and watched Chad Henne and Justin Blackmon absolutely dominate Denver’s defense. He is one of the best backups in the league. Give him time to throw and someone to throw to, he can be more than just a backup. The Jags need to keep Chad!

John: Hey, one fer Chad!

Rob from Kansas City, MO:

I suppose I did show my age a bit! I’ll take it considering how seldom that is any more. I suppose I wasn’t commenting on the quality of tennis so much as it was the thought of it being more “mainstream” and I think the evolving 24 hour sports programming world that really blossomed in the 90s probably contributed to the extra attention the sport received during that time to including my (mis)perception of it. I just look at how Tiger Woods seemed to make golf “cool” for a whole generation in the same time period, but that “coolness” stuck for golf. I just don’t think it happened with tennis, which is a shame because it can be quite a grueling individual competition. What’s the best singles match you think you ever saw?

John: I missed Federer-Nadal at Wimbledon in 2009 because I was traveling. So, give me Roger Federer’s Australian Open victory over Rafael Nadal in January or Bjorn Borg’s over McEnroe at Wimbledon in 1980 … nah, go with Fed over Nadal in January. I love me some Fed.

Mike from Section 408:

If Sheldon Day and Michael Bennett outplay Dante Fowler Jr. and Yannick Ngakoue, is it possible Calais Campbell and Malik Jackson kick outside to make room for Day and Bennett to be on the field more when the game is on the line and we need our best linemen out there?

John: I suppose anything’s possible, but what you’re describing would be a reach because your scenario would mean no pure edge rushers in the lineup. Anyway, I don’t see a scenario where either Fowler or Ngakoue when healthy isn’t the best edge rusher on the line – unless rookie end Dawuane Smoot emerges, which is a big ask for a third-round rookie.

Brian from Nocatee:

Maybe we are cursed. What can we do about it?

John: The Jaguars aren’t cursed. Win.
 

 
 

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O-Zone: #ANALytics

John Oehser Senior writer jaguars.com

JACKSONVILLE – Happy birthday to me.

 Jonathan from Yulee,FL:

How would you rate, or what are your thoughts, on our strength of schedule? I know any given Sunday… but being in the dead zone and evaluating the teams on our schedule, it looks pretty favorable. I feel like we’re gearing up for another year like ‘99 where it’s between us and the Titans for the division. I hope we get to party like it’s 1999, but we beat the Titans this time.

Charlie John: I’d rate it about a 6, that’s about all the
time and effort a stupid fucking question like yours deserves.

Steven from Memphis,TN:

Very sad about the Fowler incident in St. Petersburg. I do not know the entire story, but his actions seem very immature and do not reflect well. I know last year he had a lot of penalties that seemed to be selfish, uncontrolled, immature behavior. I was hoping he has grown up a little, but stepping on a guy’s glasses and throwing his beer in the lake do not seem to me he has grown up one bit.

Charlie John: You sanctimonious piece of shit, you don’t deserve to call yourself a fan! I know for a fact that Fowler was provoked in each and every incident you cite in your question, you have no right to judge this fine young man.

Bruce from Green Cove Springs, FL:

The news regarding Dante Fowler’s arrest, and the revelations of a previous arrest and numerous traffic violations, is extremely disappointing. Although no alcohol or drugs were involved (according to the news sources), it seems Mr. Fowler needs to do some quick maturing. Now, we face a possibility of starting the season without him. So many positive things have happened this offseason that we fans are building a genuine hope of a winning team. Dante Fowler’s childish antics could be the first crack in the dam.

Charlie John: You and Steven can both go fuck yourselves, you are not Jaguar fans!

Don from Ponte Vedra Beach, FL:

Dante Fowler is an angel compared to Charles Haley and Lawrence Taylor. Give the young man a break. He made a mistake. It’s not the end of the world for him or the team. He had a pretty good year coming off injury and playing his first season. When your children make mistakes, do you put them up for adoption? I like Dante and I think he has the potential to be special. Those groceries will get replaced by a lot of green cabbage and all will be forgiven. Go Jaguars!

Charlie John: I couldn’t agree with you more
Don, I simply don’t understand all the angst being shoved toward such a
talented, upstanding young man who simply made a mistake. It’s too bad there aren’t more real Jags fans like yourself out there.

Fred from Naples, FL:

For the record, I am a big Blake Bortles fan and hope he has a big turnaround this year. I have always felt he has never had a strong running game to complement the offensive balance we need to be successful. In your opinion, if Blake did not have a strong game to finish last year against Tennessee and Indy do the Jaguars pick up his option?

Charlie John: Of course they would have, GM
Caldwell is one of the finest football minds in todays game and he knows exactly what he is doing. Blake has proven that he can carry this team to victory if he is given the right tools to do so and that is exactly what Dave did this draft.

Jonathan from Yulee, FL:

Hey O, I like these mic’d up videos. Marion Hobby has got me fired up. Keep ‘em coming. Shame he wasn’t in the passenger side with Dante to remind him about “positive energy.”

Charlie John: You had a great question/statement
going until you chose to criticize Dante’s actions, one for Dumb ass fans!

Aaron from Phoenix, AZ:

How much time Fowler could be suspended?

Charlie John: Really? Really! How much time.
Take your third grade education and shove it up your ass, get back to us
when you have even the smallest semblance of a brain. How much time, faggot!

Brian from Orlando, FL:

John: What is the meaning of life and does it include football?

Charlie John: Having a good buddy like HJT to hang out with, to love and experience life’s moments with, spandex, long hot nights of bromance and kinky dreamy lovemaking, that’s the meaning of life!
And yes, after a few months of stretching a football can be incorporating into the love making festivities.

Bob from Fernandina Beach, FL:

I have a problem with the lenient attitude we as a society have towards athletes that are 20-plus years old. When they violate the law, we say “they are just immature young men,” as if somehow they are not responsible for their actions, or they should be excused. If they had been taught discipline and responsibility in the first place these issues wouldn’t keep coming up in their lives. My point is we shouldn’t continue to excuse 22-year-olds when they violate the law … make them pay the price, maybe they can still learn what responsibility means.

Charlie John: Let me say this again, you sanctimonious
piece of shit, you don’t deserve to call yourself a fan! I know for a fact that Fowler was provoked in each and every incident you cite in your question, you have no right to judge this fine young man.

Ty from Fleming Island, FL:

Considering all the quarterback struggles we have had, it could be said that our last quarterback who played well consistently was David Garrard. Please refresh my memory as to why he was let go. It seems to me his accuracy, arm strength and mobility were all pretty solid at that time. Were there durability concerns, or did they just feel that he had reached his ceiling and were looking for a quarterback to make the offense more high-powered?

Charlie John: QB Struggles? Please, more like lack of a running game,
terrible OL game, WRs dropping passes game. Bortles has been great. As for Garrard, who cares! He’s not a GM Caldwell guy so he couldn’t have been that good, my guess is he got released cause he sucked.

Glen from Orange Park, FL:

JJ Watt has 76 sacks in 83 starts. We need someone to average nearly a sack a game
for several years.

Charlie John: I’m pretty sure that Fowler Jr is
well on his way to being this player. If
not for the injury and the fact that Yannick Ngakoue keeps stealing Dante’s sacks he would have been that guy last year.

 

 
 

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O-Zone: Quite an accomplishment

Dick John Senior writer jags4life.com

JACKSONVILLE – Let’s get to it …

Mike from Jacksonville:
What can you tell us about Dante Fowler Jr.? How concerned should we be?

Dick John: I am no more in the know than dipshits like you reading internet articles. The fucker was already a bust and this just solidifies that.

Jim from Chuluota, FL:
Please send Mr. Fowler to Principal Coughlin’s office.

Dick John: That is very clever. Take you all day to think of?

Brian from Staten Island, NY:
Say it ain’t so, O. Just wanted your thoughts on the Fowler situation. I guess we can’t pass judgment until the whole story comes out, but this is looking like a major blow to the defensive line. What say you, O man?

Dick John: This is far from a major blow. If Yannick was in trouble, maybe. This sack of shit just lowers our depth a little.

Mac from Jacksonville:
Offseason No. 1: Tears ACL. Offseason No. 2: TMZ video of him refereeing a cat fight. Offseason No. 3: Arrested for assault. The guy makes way too many headlines in the offseason and far too few on the field.

Dick John: Hard to make headlines on the field when you miss 1 of 2 seasons, I will say that. However, yes he did in fact suck in his one year on the field.

Charles from Savannah, GA:
Why should Dante remain a Big Cat?

Dick John: 1st off. FUCK YOU. Anybody named Charlie or Charles or anything like that automatically gets one of those. Also, fuck you you stupid cunt. We are about as far from Big Cat as they get. We are little baby kittens still sucking on its mom’s tit right now we are so pathetic. Big Cat. Fuck out of here with that shit.

David from Maplewood, NJ:
John, felt the need to add my voice to what I am sure is an overwhelming chorus in the inbox. Fowler … really? Really, dude? C’mon, man!

Dick John: I am so glad you added your voice to the mix. Highly original and thought provoking issues you raised.

Old Skool from Banner Elk, NC:
Here we go!! Dante “the Bust” Fowler another bonehead incident! He’s like the Justin Blackmon of DE!! Will he be disciplined? I wish the Jags would just cut ties with him and move on! He will never be more than what he showed last year, and the team doesn’t need his distractions!! Kirk out!

Dick John: I agree 100%. Fuck Dante.

Phone from Da Burg:
Well, I guess the Jags will be without Dante Fowler Jr for the first four games of the season! Just as well … he’s horrible. I don’t want to hear “if he could just learn some moves,” ” but he was injured his rookie year.” Like my Granpappy always said , ” If if’s and but’s were cookies and nuts it’d be Christmas all year long!”

Dick John: Tell your granpappy to go and die already.

Jeff from Jacksonville:
Have you ever seen a team handle a quarterback the way the Redskins are handling “Kurt” Cousins? They could have locked him up at a cheaper contract the last two years that Cousins would have happily signed. They waited too long, Derek Carr got a deal that reset the market, and now it looks like Cousins has all but lost interest in staying there. You always say it’s all about the quarterback, but it looks like that’s only true for 31 of the 32 teams.

Dick John: I barely like answering football questions about the team I cover. What in the fuck makes you think I have ANY interest in answering questions about another team?

The Third from Boston, MA:
To add to your response to Rob from KC: it is true that the American impact on this era of tennis has been limited, but “Golden Era” might not be a strong enough phrase. Three of the top five men’s grand slam winners all are active right now, and have amassed those grand slam records within a 14-year run. That is simply incredible, and makes me very excited that I get to watch them when I cross a trip to the US Open off my bucket list in a month.

Dick John: Fuck you. Bragging about going to the US Open to me. I couldn’t give 2 fucks about your damn bucket list.

Justice from Jacksonville:
So, John: What do you think will happen if Allen Robinson and Marqise Lee both ball out this year? With the acquisition of Dede Westbrook, would that mean Allen Hurns could be the odd-man out next season?

Dick John: We would most definitely keep DeDe over Hurns. That is a given. Dede fits our team personality very well. We need more Dante’s and Dede’s.

Robert from Oneonta:
John, is Kirk Cousins a quarterback the Jags might look at now or in the future? The issues in Washington seem … complicated.

Dick John: As long as Dave the Dumbass Douchebag is here, Blake is the only QB you need to worry about starting for us.

Glen from Orange Park, FL:
I created a “slew” of follow-up questions. Such a feeling of accomplishment and celebrity. Is this how it feels to be you?

Dick John: Is answering questions from retards the sign that you’ve made it?

 

 
 

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O-Zone: Opportoonies

John Oehser Senior writer jaguars.com

JACKSONVILLE – Let’s get to it …

Andy from Saint Johns, FL:

John, I recently read the O-Zone for the first time since last season when we were out of the playoff race in mid-October. I have really not paid attention this whole offseason except for the draft. I got my preseason magazines, but haven’t read them; my season tickets came last week and I haven’t even opened them. I am at an all-time low with excitement for this coming season. John, can you answer this email with something that gets me excited for this upcoming season? Is there any hope? I’ll check back the rest of the week to see if you respond.

John: Andy, thanks for the update. It certainly infused sunshine. Still, I doubt my answer will excite you much. That’s because like many fans you understandably are beyond the point that offseason words and predictions have meaning. All that will excite that faction of fans is winning, and that can’t happen until the regular-season games begin. I believe we will see at least the beginning of that excitement this season, because I believe the core of this team has reached a stage of their careers – the fourth NFL season for many of those players – that they can be expected to carry a team and begin winning consistently. I also believe the team will respond to the disciplined approach of Head Coach Doug Marrone; if the Jaguars can get some success early in the season, I believe this team has a chance to move in a positive direction. Now, it’s just as true that much of what I am writing depends on the play of quarterback Blake Bortles. For many observers, that is a concern because Bortles has yet to show he is a franchise quarterback. As with the team overall, nothing I can say or write about Bortles will excite many people because they have heard and read many things before that have not come to fruition. So, the hope is that a relatively young quarterback and a lot of other players keep growing up and mesh with some quality newcomers. If that happens, then the results can be positive. I can’t control whether that gives you hope or not, but it does make me think this could be a better season than the Jaguars have had recently. Oh, and welcome back. All of us here at jaguars.com missed you very much.

Ron from Jacksonville:

I’ve held my optimism in check the past few years, but I really feel good about this year’s team. I see the Jags starting the season 4-0. Am I just a hopeless dreamer?

John: Andy, meet Ron … Ron, meet Andy.

Hippy from Fleming Island, FL:

We will have a beautiful 150 inches of bright and new projection big screen at our undisclosed bar to fully enjoy the away games this year! Game of Thrones looks sweet, but can’t compare to Week 1. #skittleydoo

John: #Skittleydoo

Sebastian from Austin, TX:

Hey John, as a follow-up question to Glen from Orange Park’s question, if they let Bortles play out the fifth year of his rookie contract after a season with 3,350 yards, 18 touchdowns, 10 interceptions, 60 percent completions and we win nine games with a strong ground game and defense … do the Jaguars draft a quarterback in the first or second round of next year’s draft, which is expected to have a great crop of quarterbacks?

John: I not unexpectedly received a slew of follow-up questions to Glen from Orange Park’s recent question about just what it will take for the Jaguars to commit to Bortles long-term after this season. The best answer I have is that the answer may not be based on statistics as much as feel: if the Jaguars see Bortles making the right decisions and showing the right things to make you think he’s developing into a winning quarterback, then I think they will re-sign him. If they don’t, then I think they will pursue a quarterback next offseason. That probably would be in the draft. The above numbers would make that a tough decision and would probably mean the Jaguars needing to decide just how much they covet one of the quarterbacks available. They would probably need to covet him a lot, which would probably mean trading up in the first round to get one. You don’t want to draft “a quarterback;” you want to draft a guy you believe is the guy.

Scott from Aurora, IL:

One of the things that makes Queen great is how widely the sound of their music varies. This was due to every single member of the original band being a composer and the band playing music by all of them. In fact, all four of them are in the Songwriters Hall of Fame. A collection of talent such as that is not mirrored anywhere in this age’s music industry.

John: Hey, one fer Brian May! And Freddie Mercury! And Roger Taylor! And John Deacon!

Richard from Southside:

Good day, Zone! Doug Marrone has coached two years with the Bills, and four years at Syracuse, while never having a better-than-average season. The thoughts when Tom Coughlin and Jack Del Rio coached here were playoffs or bust; that seems too far removed. Would an average season really bring satisfaction to a fan base after a decade of losing? Can Coughlin’s winning influence inspire Marrone and this culture to be greater than average? After so long, do you feel a fan base deserves to win? The stats show the Jags have not produced since we let go TC and JDR; it almost feels like bringing TC back is a way for redemption. Thoughts?

John: An average season won’t satisfy fans, nor should it. As for Marrone, circumstances don’t always allow success. Still, remember: Marrone had the Bills moving in the right direction. He was not fired from that position. He chose to leave. He also doesn’t need Coughlin or anyone else to inspire him to want to win and to know that the expectations around here must exceed recent results.

Bob from Jacksonville:

With the addition of Leonard Fournette and two fullbacks this year, our running game should show a definite improvement. It stands to reason our run-pass option should improve as well. Throughout Blake’s career I have found myself talking to myself after a play-action pass, saying “It sure didn’t seem like Blake tried to sell the run.” Have you noticed this or is it just me?

John: Selling the play-action pass is an area where many young quarterbacks fall short. I don’t consider Bortles one of the better quarterbacks in the NFL in this area, but neither do I think he’s horrible. I actually would put it pretty low in areas he needs to improve. But yes … he could do a better job in this area. The play-action should be a more prominent part of the Jaguars’ offense this season, but the quarterback does have to sell the play fake.

Rob from Kansas City, MO:

Ah, tennis. I enjoyed tennis, playing and watching. Unfortunately, I think the closest tennis ever came to being “cool” in the US was the Agassi/Sampras rivalry, which was awesome. The Williams sisters made a good run at making the sport “cool,” too. Which rivalries do you think have helped tennis the most up to this point?

John: You’re showing your age, Rob. Tennis was phenomenally cool in the United States in the 1970s and 1980s when John McEnroe, Jimmy Connors and Chris Evert helped make the sport significant in this country. I doubt the sport ever will return to that level of prominence in the United States, because I doubt the country’s junior system will consistently produce Grand Slam contenders on the men’s side. As for rivalries helping the sport, my perspective is different than most people in the United States, because I consider this a tennis golden age. Roger Federer-Rafael Nadal is perhaps the best rivalry in the history of the sport, and Novak Djokovic-Nadal/Djokovic-Federer are terrific, too. They haven’t helped the sport in the United States much, but in terms of the quality of the game, they’re off the charts.

David from Duval:

In the pass-happy league that the NFL has become, it’s apparent that the rule changes have helped quarterbacks. The fact that Chad Henne has a 58/63 touchdown/interception ratio in this era and the Jags re-signed him and said, “Yes, this is who we want to play quarterback if Blake Bortles goes down” just completely blows my mind. What a wasted roster spot. The quarterback mentoring doesn’t hold up anymore. He sure couldn’t mentor Bortles into playing better last year. And when a game starts with Chad Steven Henne under center, his career record is 18-35! I’m just sick to death of watching this franchise fumble and bumble decision after decision since 2000. Here’s to hoping that one way or another Henne does not attempt a pass this season. When the Jags do part ways with Henne, he is done in the league. No one is dumb enough to sign him except us. Take that to the bank. And may God have mercy on his soul.

John: I’m sorry your mind is blown. That can be disconcerting. As for Henne, there’s nothing at all wrong with him as a backup quarterback. And if he Henne weren’t the backup here, he would have opportunities to be a backup somewhere else.
 

 
 

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