Category: Uncategorized

O-Zone: Skittleydoo

John Oehser Senior writer jaguars.com

JACKSONVILLE – Let’s get to it …

Micky from Jacksonville:
You’ve talked a lot about Poz coming off on passing downs in favor of Aaron Colvin. What adjustments and substitutions happen on the line on passing downs? You’ve called Abry Jones a nose tackle, so I assume he lines up over the center. Where do the other three linemen line up?

John: Substitution patterns in passing situations vary more on the line than in the back seven. Whereas the common substitution in the back seven indeed would be a nickel corner for a strong-side linebacker – Colvin as a nickel for Paul Posluszny at strong in this case – the substitutions vary for the defensive front. Teams rotate defensive linemen in passing situations because rushing the passer is more physically taxing than protecting the passer, and the Jaguars this season absolutely want to be deep enough along the defensive front that they can pass rush in “waves.” It’s something they discussed a lot around the 2017 NFL Draft. Specific to Jones, his pass-rush ability and athleticism will get him on the field in passing situations more than, say, Roy Miller in recent seasons; still, I doubt he’ll be a pass-rush staple. More common will be combinations that feature Calais Campbell, Malik Jackson, Yannick Ngakoue and Dante Fowler Jr., with Campbell and Jackson inside and Ngakoue and Fowler outside.

Doug from Syracuse, NY:
The schedule-makers are obviously not Jag fans! Who else has to travel to both Super Bowl teams in the first four weeks of the season? … Well, preseason

John: Fight the good fight, Doug.

Ryan from Apopka, FL:
So Roger did it! No. 8! Didn’t drop a single set! Nineteen career majors! Any reason you can’t see him win No. 20 in a couple of months on New York?

John: We’ll set this up for those who don’t follow tennis: Ryan’s referring here to Roger Federer winning Wimbledon Sunday, and the question is whether he can win his 20th career major title at the U.S. Open in September. Is there any reason Federer won’t win? Sure, because winning a grand slam is hard. And because he hasn’t won the U.S. Open since 2008. And because Rafael Nadal is good, too. And because Marin Cilic and any number of big servers/big hitters can get hot and win that tournament. And because Stan Wawrinka is really good on hard courts. But Federer won on hard court in Australia earlier this year. And he won Wimbledon. He has won all four of the important tournaments he has entered this year. So, sure: he can win it. He’s probably the favorite right now anywhere that’s not on clay.

Shawn from the Mean Streets of Arlington:
What a great answer. I couldn’t agree more. You know what I’m talking about.

John: Yes, I do.

Ed from Ponte Vedra, FL:
When I got my season tickets, I had to look up the names of at least five of the nine players featured. That’s kinda sad.

John: Don’t get down on yourself, Ed. It’s comparatively easy to keep track of the Jaguars’ players. For players currently on the team, simply watch a few games in person or on television. For players new to the roster – say, rookies or free agents – just read the website or the local newspaper. You’ll get up to speed soon enough and you no longer will need to feel sad.

David from Broward County, FL:
O-Man, with all the talk of predicting the Jags record this season, I thought of a different question. What will be the Jags’ AFC South record in 2017? I say the expectation should be 4-2, but 3-3 is more likely. A losing division record will be a huge letdown. What do you think the Jags division record will be?

John: Three and three.

Tom from Loughborough, England:
John, my friend (Cardinals fan) has some bold predictions for the Jags next season: Lead the league in sacks, Leonard Fournette to have 1,500 yards from scrimmage, Bortles to throw less than 10 interceptions, the Jags to reach the playoffs. Which do you think is most likely?

John: Fournette having 1,500 yards from scrimmage seems most likely. The Jaguars are going to build the offense around the running game, and he’ll be a focal point of that. One thing about your friend’s list that’s obvious is if the Jaguars attain the first three objectives, they’ll have a really good chance at reaching the fourth.

Scott from New York, NY:
Can you list the items at EverBank Field that you do have say over?

John: Hold on.

Scott from Doboy Island, GA:
Regarding Michael from Port Orange’s question, have the Jaguars’ profits gone way up or the value of the franchise? Or both? The value may have gone way up but that doesn’t mean Shad is making mad bank. Oehser’s double-wide may have doubled in value but that doesn’t do you any good until you sell it!

John: NFL teams with the exception of Green Bay don’t release figures such as profits, revenue, etc., though the Jaguars at their state of the franchise each offseason are a bit more transparent in this area than most. But you’re right that franchise value doesn’t necessarily reflect year-to-year revenue and expenses. As for the double-wide doubling in value, I think you have me confused with Sexton. He showed me around his double-wide a couple of weeks back and it is ni-i-i-i-i-i-ce.

Bored from Jacksonville:
What would happen if I barged into the house of Oehser?

John: Rat dog wouldn’t like it, so there would be insane barking to start. But even aside from her reaction, I’d advise ringing the doorbell. Barging in on a man in his boxers and his tight, sleeveless, white T is considered a high-risk, low-reward endeavor at best.

Steve from Jacksonville:
Go-Go’s because Belinda Carlisle.

John: Indeed.

Otto from Ponte Vedra Beach, FL:
John, I do realize the Collective Bargaining Agreement does not require teams to list injuries during OTAs as opposed to the regular season. With that in mind, I am somewhat nervous about injuries to Barry Church, Tashaun Gipson and Jalen Ramsey. That is three quarters of our starting defensive backfield. I still don’t know what core muscle surgery means. It would be great if the Jags could tell us a bit more.

John: Jaguars 2017 Training Camp begins Thursday, July 27.

Craig from Auburn, IN:
Monumental prediction! If the Jags score more points than their opponents, they will … win! If they don’t, they will … lose! I also predict that their record will be between zero to 16 wins in the regular season, and they may or may not make the playoffs; and if they do, they may or may not make it to the Super Bowl! Man, I am the Nostradamus of our time! Let me know if YOU have any questions of me.

John: Will you mow my lawn?

Ryk from Fernandina Beach, FL:
Maybe, just maybe, it would be palatable for Keith if the video adds were all old-school “Culligan Girl.” How bout it, O!!!!!!!

John: I have no idea what you’re talking about.

Ernest from Rockville, MD:
While we are still in the Dead Zone, here is another music question. What are your thoughts on the band Queen? Did you ever enjoy listening to their songs? The remaining members and Adam Lambert will be playing a show in Washington, D.C. in about two weeks. I would have loved to have seen the “original lineup” but I never took a serious interest in their music until college and Freddie Mercury had already passed away. But I’m grateful to see them in some form.

John: I do consider myself a Queen fan. My credentials include having owned “News of the World,” “Night at the Opera” and “Jazz” on vinyl, and being a fan of “Bohemian Rhapsody” long before Wayne’s World. Best deep track Queen songs: “Don’t Stop Me Now” (Jazz), “It’s Late” (News of the World) and “Year of ’39” (Night at the Opera).

Tyler from Jacksonville:
Why not bring in Johnny Football? I bet you’d be hard-pressed to find a fan that would rather watch Chad Henne…

John: Stop.

Glen from Orange Park, FL:
Let’s say Bortles puts up 3,350 yards, 18 TDs, 10 interceptions, 60 completions and we win nine games with a strong ground game and defense. What kind of contract will he be offered?

John: That may be a scenario in which Bortles plays for the final year of his original five-year contract.

Jonathan from Section 122 and still in the Army:
I got my season tickets in the mail the other day and I let out a “skittleydoo” of excitement upon opening that beautiful yellow envelope. Then I find out that I have to go to California for a 30-day rotation at the National Training Center (NTC) smack dab in the middle of October. You should google NTC, John. It’s not a lot fun, especially since my tickets will go to my son (gasp). The football gods are not on my side this year, it would seem. Remember, I offered to be your assistant when I retire soon. If only for pity, hook me up with a John. #softservewheneveryouwantit.

John: Well, so much for “skittleydoo,” I guess.
 

 
 

Pages: Page 1, Page 2

O-Zone: Trophy time

John Oehser Senior writer jaguars.com

JACKSONVILLE – Let’s get to it …

Ty from Fleming Island, FL:
Fair or not, the Jags and Panthers will always be compared to each other since they both entered the league in ’95. Most would agree that the Panthers have been the more successful franchise up to this point with two Super Bowl appearances and more playoff appearances. What factors do you consider to be the primary reasons they have had more success? Could it be front-office consistency, better scouting/drafting, or just plain luck? Here’s to hoping the Jaguars can turn the tide soon.

John: Really? Do people still compare the Jaguars and Panthers? I suppose so, because I get questions like this from time to time, but I haven’t had much sense for the last decade and a half or so that people compare the Jaguars and Panthers any more than they compare the Seattle Seahawks and Tampa Bay Buccaneers because they both entered the league in 1976. As for your question of why the Panthers have had more success than the Jaguars the last decade and a half, it’s pretty much the same reason the Jaguars have struggled compared to most of the league during that period. The Jaguars haven’t drafted and developed well enough over that time. That’s due in part to luck and in part to bad decisions. Whatever the cause, their talent dipped a great deal for a while. I look at this roster now and believe the Jaguars may finally after a long while be back on even footing with a lot of the NFL. I don’t believe they’re yet above a lot of the NFL, but they’re establishing a foundation. That’s the first step.

Simon from Jacksonville:
Mr. O-Zone, Sir: I like when the Jaguars win. Winning makes me happy! Can I have one fer winning please?

John: Absolutely.

J. Hooks from Orange Park, FL:
Yo Zone! O-line. Prediction. Zone scheme that failed last year, or power scheme? I think I know, but what’s the difference?

John: Most blocking schemes in the NFL these days feature a combination of zone and power. But the Jaguars have two fullbacks (Tommy Bohanon and Marquez Williams) compared to none last year and have two power-oriented backs on the roster (Chris Ivory and Leonard Fournette) compared to one last season, so there might be a smidge more power running in the scheme this season.

Don from Norfolk, VA:
Big O, Thanks for making me look up the word “whelm”. Like I got nothing else to do…

John: Apparently…

Scott from Fernandina Beach, FL:
Hello, Mr. O. While I think Blake Bortles will be improved this year and improved enough to start the entire season, I hope your expectation that Blake will start until the Jaguars are no longer in contention for the postseason is wrong. Blake remaining the starter should be based upon his play, not the win/loss record. If Blake goes something like 37 for 85 with three touchdowns and seven interceptions in the first three or four games, I would hope Doug Marrone and Tom Coughlin would pull the plug and put in Chad Henne/Brandon Allen.

John: My assumption that Bortles will be the starter in 2017 for as long as the Jaguars are in contention is based on the assumption that the Jaguars will contend if he plays well. If Bortles struggles to the degree you mentioned, then yes … he probably wouldn’t be playing anymore. That’s because the Jaguars probably will lose consistently if he plays as you project. Considering his touchdown-interception numbers are 58-34 over the last two seasons, it would be surprising if that number completely flipped to the degree you mentioned.

Michael from Port Orange, FL:
Just read in Black & Teal that Shad Khan has made so much more money in the value of the franchise so when will he give us back our home game! Fans don’t count for the NFL only profits!!!

John: The value of the Jaguars indeed has risen dramatically in Khan’s time as owner – and that is an important thing for the franchise. Considering the progress the Jaguars have made toward stabilizing the franchise in Jacksonville since Khan took over as owner – and considering the importance of London to that stabilization – I can’t foresee Khan and the Jaguars changing their approach anytime soon.

Greg from Orlando, FL:
Federer!! Thoughts?

John: My thoughts are that my tennis thoughts haven’t the slightest whiff of expertise, but I know beauty, grace and greatness when I see it. Federer on Sunday won his second grand slam of the season when he won his record eighth Wimbledon and extended his record to 19 career major titles. His story to me is the most remarkable story in sports this year because the greatest player in the history of his sport is reaching the highest level of his career at an age well past when most players of recent decades have long since retired. It’s rare to witness an athlete redefine the possible. That’s what we’re seeing right now with Federer. I understand few in America care about tennis, and I’m well past the age when I beat the drum to try to force people to care about something because I do. But greatness is greatness, and those who are watching Federer right now feel fortunate to be witnessing true greatness and a true legend far longer than anyone had the right to expect.

Brian from Jacksonville:
Johnny, it’s so nice of you to answer so very many questions every day. But you too must have questions. Zone who do you ask? Do you have any questions for me?

John: Hold on.

Travis from North Dakota:
If Blake Bortles, Allen Robinson, Allen Hurns and Marqise Lee all have a good season this year do you think we would keep all four of them or do you think that Blake and two of the three would be signed if that were to happen? I mean, this is a passing league and if all three receivers show they can be very good together you have to pay them all don’t you or is that just too much money tied up into one position?

John: I imagine Bortles and two of the receivers would be re-signed in your scenario. Some of this could depend on the development of Dede Westbrook; if he emerges as planned then I doubt Robinson, Lee and Hurns are all back in 2018. I actually doubt that happens either way. My guess is out of the trio of Robinson, Hurns and Lee two return. I’d guess right now it’s Robinson and one of the other two. I continue to say this is one of the more intriguing storylines on this team this season because I don’t believe it’s remotely played out. Stay tuned.

Paul from Jacksonville:
To Christopher from Duval Baby, if Chad Henne were better than Blake Bortles, he would have started more games Blake’s rookie season.

John: Well, yes.

Larry from Brunswick, GA:
Mr. O: If things go bad in the first half in Houston, can we expect to see Henne or Allen start the second half instead of Bortles? Also, much is made about Bortles’ poor passing mechanics so how is his handoff mechanics compared to 2015.

John: I don’t expect to see Henne or Allen play against Houston in Week 1 unless Bortles is injured. As for Bortles’ handoff mechanics … they’re awesome, Larry. Just awesome.

Gabe from Washington, DC:
One fer Bortles leading us to a solid 2017 season, even having some seeing us as making a playoff run in 2018! #whelmthem

John: #whelmthem

Jared from O-Town:
Hi John. If we were to be completely blunt, what is the realistic chance that Bortles sees that $19 million fifth-year option? Even if he puts in a Brady-like season in 2017, do you believe the front office lets him play 2018 under that contract? In that scenario, and with his recent history in mind, would he be offered a new contract that better fits his value? On the flip side of that, would becoming a decent game manager prevent him from being released after the season (with an appropriate contract as well)?

John: I put the chances of Bortles playing for the fifth-year option at about 20 percent. If he is really good the Jaguars will re-sign him and if he’s not, then I imagine he will be released after the season. I think the team will want to make a decision after this season, but we’ll see.

Spoon from Hard Work, USA:
Do you think Shadrick and Sexton have noticed you have worked every day while they have … well while they ….aah while they are…. just left you on your own to do all the heavy lifting?

John: Offered without comment.

Wallace from Jacksonville:
Do you play soccer?

John: Wallace, I turn 51 soon. I’m old. If I can get my three-to-four miles a day in on the treadmill, I’m not only finished for the day, I’m looking to see if someone will give me a trophy.
 

 
 

Pages: Page 1, Page 2

O-Zone: Get up, stand up

John Oehser Senior writer jaguars.com

JACKSONVILLE – Let’s get to it …

Josh from Pensacola, FL:
I don’t agree that Blake Bortles is the best running quarterback in the NFL. However, I do think that needs to be part of his game. He seems to have gotten away from it. When he carries the ball, he usually gets a good chunk of yardage. I’m not saying make him a running quarterback, but why not take advantage of that and make defenses worry? It just adds another dimension to the offense. Agree?

John: Not particularly – or at least I’m not “all in.” But that’s because I’m not big on building a large part of an NFL offense around a quarterback’s ability to run. The league more often than not is about quarterbacks winning from the pocket, though there obviously are exceptions. Should Bortles run more? Perhaps a bit more. He rushed about three-and-a-half times per game last season, averaging 6.19 yards per carry and gaining 20 first downs rushing. Bortles does have good awareness once he leaves the pocket, and he has been effective on designated runs. Considering this effectiveness, I wouldn’t mind seeing the Jaguars work quarterback runs into the offense a time or two more a game. Still, you don’t want to see the Jaguars and Bortles get overly dependent on quarterback runs. You need to win from the pocket in the NFL.

Adam from Jacksonville:
Do you play golf?

John: No.

Bryce from Waterloo, IA:
John, if you could take any former Jaguars player (not named Tony Boselli) and insert them into the starting lineup, who would it be? For me, it would be John Henderson. Calais Campbell, Henderson, Malik Jackson, and Yannick Ngakoue/ Dante Fowler Jr. would be a solid defensive front. Jalen Ramsey and A.J. Bouye would thrive in the secondary if we had a front like that. I miss the intensity that Big John brought each and every game.

John: I didn’t cover the Henderson/Marcus Stroud era, so I’m a bit biased toward the Jaguars teams I did cover in the 1990s. Acknowledging that, I suppose my answer to your question would be Mark Brunell. I can’t put Brunell on a par with Boselli, Fred Taylor, Jimmy Smith or even Tony Brackens from that era, but reliable play at quarterback trumps all else.

Craig from Jacksonville:
John, thankfully we are near ending the dead zone for some football. I wanted to ask, do you look forward to game day or is just another day at the office?

John: Game days are cool. I like them.

Cliff from Jersey City, NJ:
Yo, O. A while back you mentioned it was about time for CBS to move on from Phil Simms, or something along those lines. What gave you that sense, and what do you typically look for in game-day announcers? I am interested to see how Tony Romo and Jay Cutler do and how it will ultimately impact their football legacy.

John: I don’t recall saying that about Simms; if I did, I wasn’t passionate about it. I don’t actually pay much attention to CBS or FOX broadcasters because I’m usually covering the Jaguars Sunday afternoons and not watching/listening to the other games very intently. I typically like announcers who can mix insight and humor and make the game a bit more interesting. It’s why I liked John Madden in his prime. He had the ability to entertain and inform in a way that made the casual football fan feel like an insider.

Thommy from Miami, FL:
The Jags are a talented team. While many are gun-shy because of unfulfilled promises, I don’t see the point in not recognizing this. I believe Coach(es Doug) Marrone and (Tom) Coughlin get the best from their people, and IF your roster is better than the other teams in your division, why NOT make the playoffs? There, I said it. I’m glad I did, I’m tellin’ ya! I’m GLAD I DID!

John: #DTWD

Sam from Edgewater:
Cutting ties with Daryl Smith, Reggie Nelson put us further behind than a lot of people want to acknowledge. Hindsight is never 20/20 but those two moves STUNK.

John: I agree the Jaguars made erred not re-signing Smith in the 2013 offseason. He would have helped this young defense during a couple of pretty dark, rough rebuilding seasons. I never covered Nelson, but my understanding was few questioned cutting that tie when the move was made. Either way, I don’t know how much those moves really hurt in the big picture. Would the Jaguars have been better defensively for a few seasons with those two players? Sure, but it’s unlikely they would have been a playoff-caliber team. Would those two players make a huge difference now? Doubtful.

Charlie from Cliff’s basement:
Do you ever plot revenge?

John: A better question is, “Do I ever not plot revenge?”

Marty from Jacksonville:
You said if Blake can’t overwhelm people, he can at least whelm them. Interesting that “whelm” is actually a word. It means “engulf, submerge, or bury.” That’s a tall order for any quarterback.

John: OK.

Nathan from St. Augustine, FL:
If any Hall of Fame voters are on the fence about Tony Boselli, I wish they would watch the tape of him against Hall-of-Famers Bruce Smith and Jason Taylor. A good measuring stick for the Hall of Fame should be how you performed against Hall of Fame players.

John: Performance against elite players is a good measure of a player’s ability, and Boselli more than stands up to that test. It’s something that gets brought up quite a bit when discussing Boselli’s credentials with Hall voters. But it’s difficult to quantify one-on-one battles against Hall of Fame players for all positions, and it’s pretty near impossible for every voter to study every game candidate played against great players. But the more memorable games you have against great players, the better your argument when such things get discussed. Boselli fares well in that area.

Spencer from Birmingham, AL:
I forgot about the green-helmet dots. I, too, was wondering why we didn’t leave Poz at Mike and just have him exit in nickel situations leaving Telvin Smith and Myles Jack. How do the dots work? I assume all quarterbacks active on game day have them since only one will be on the field at a time. Can only one defender come to the stadium with a radio in his helmet? What happens if that guy gets hurt? Does someone pop one in the new guy’s helmet on the sideline? Does the backup Mike already have one? If that were the case, am I to assume he and Jack couldn’t be on special teams at the same time? Poundsigngreendotponderings

John: Two defensive players may wear the helmet-to-sideline device in their helmet – a starter and a designated backup player. It’s typically the middle linebacker and his backup. It doesn’t come into play on special teams as much because the headset is for communication between plays and special teams don’t often play back-to-back plays.

Doug from Jacksonville:
This year Bortles will have better numbers than Marcus Mariota and whomever the Texans roll out. This is a take-it-to-the-bank statement. Oddly enough, Andrew Luck will have better numbers than Bortles but the Jags will have more wins than the Colts. This needs to be earmarked and brought back in a Jaguars.com story come January. These two are free … the next ones will cost ya.

John: I guess we’ll all look forward to that.

Brian from Orlando, FL:
Do Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers, and Ben Roethlisberger have summer quarterback camps? Maybe Blake Bortles should attend. Just sayin’.

John: Many NFL quarterbacks work at facilities with personal quarterbacks coaches during the offseason. Bortles works with quarterbacks “gurus” Tom House and Adam Dedeaux in Southern California. He did so early in the offseason – as he did a couple of offseasons ago – and again for much of the last month. Bortles put in more than ample time this offseason. However his season turns out, it won’t be because he didn’t put in the time to work and prepare.

Gavin from Jacksonville:
Who will be the best Jacksonville Jaguar player in the year of 2017?

John: Jalen Ramsey.

Keith from Woonsocket, RI:
Man I hope Blake has an amazing upcoming season so all these babies can stop crying over this.

John: So, one not fer the babies?

Keith from Summerville, SC:
I’m sure you don’t have any say in this but please, please Jaguars.com stop showing advertisements in front of videos on this site. I know you need revenue but I refuse to watch any video clip that has an advertisement in front of it. Put them on the sides of the screen all day but stop putting them in front of videos. Thank you.

John: You’re right that I don’t have say in that, and I have remarkably little say in a remarkable number of areas with this team. I doubt the Jaguars stop showing advertisements in front of videos on this free website, but … hey, take your stand, Keith. Stick it to the man.
 

 
 

Pages: Page 1, Page 2

O-Zone: Let’s get physical

John Oehser Senior writer jaguars.com

JACKSONVILLE – Let’s get to it …

Chris from Niagara Falls, Canada:
Hey, Zone. I am still scratching my head on the Leonard Fournette selection. My logic is this: I expect Blake Bortles to be underwhelming this year again. So, if the Jags are bad again this year, they will draft a quarterback next year. So, why spend a pick on a guy who you are going to run into the ground and will be of no value when you finally get a new quarterback and have him adjust to the NFL? Was this not a deep draft at running back?

John: One reason the Jaguars took the approach of drafting Fournette No. 4 overall is, of course, that they don’t necessarily agree with your assumption that Bortles will be underwhelming. Their approach is that even if he doesn’t overwhelm opponents this season, he can at least … well … whelm them. They also believe that an improved running game (Fournette) and an improved defense (a bunch of free-agent acquisitions) can help Bortles. But I get that you and many others don’t agree with that. If the aforementioned moves don’t work and the Jaguars indeed change direction at quarterback after the 2017 season, there’s no reason Fournette’s career must be so tragically short that he’s not still playing when a new quarterback is playing at a high level. The career spans for running backs are short, but they’re not that short.

Deegus from 90fournette:
How many touchdowns and/or yards do you expect from Fournette?

John: Eleven and 1,150.

Mike from Atlanta, GA:
Deion Sanders also played wide receiver. I remember guys saying that he would have been a great wide receiver.

John: Sanders did play wide receiver for part of his career. Though he primarily was a deep threat when he played the position, I agree that had he played the position full time – and therefore had the time and training to be a more refined route-runner – he could have been very good.

Stephen from Jacksonville:
It’s been announced: new episodes of “Curb Your Enthusiasm” start October 1. How does that make you feel?

John: Pretty, pretty, pretty, pretty, pretty good.

Willis from Jacksonville:
Looks aside, Bangles or Go-Go’s?

John: Go-Gos – not because of advanced musicianship, or because they had more integrity, or anything of the like … but because when “Our Lips Are Sealed” or “We’ve Got the Beat” came on the car stereo in the early 1980s, you couldn’t help singing along.

Dylan from Tulsa, OK:
I might be one of the few fans 100 percent behind Blake for at least one more year. I think he might have gotten a little dragged into the hype of the team last year – and he disappointed us and himself. So I’m giving him one more year of complete and total faith. After that, however, Mason Rudolph should be everyone’s favorite quarterback in next year’s draft.

John: Hey, one fer Blake! Or, one fer Mason? Now, I’m confused. Again.

Chris from Da Burg’ to Vegas to Hollywood and back to Vegas:
DeAngelo Williams’ comments made me mad, but it’s his opinion and opinions are like you know what. His thoroughly stinks. I literally would slap him with a Jaguars foam finger and inform him that he has never been better than any Jaguars running back and we know that at least two will be HOFers. The important part is … he cannot say the same about himself. And it’s funny how he has this uppity attitude since he played for Pittsburgh. He should remind himself that he was a band-aid holding the real stars’ place. So his pink, purple or whatever color dreads can go hold a sign outside of whatever organization he thinks would kick his tires but I fear he’ll be in the same spot through the season. RIP DeAngelo Williams’ career.

John: I understand that fans feel differently, but I don’t care all that much what Williams has to say about Jacksonville or anything else. It doesn’t stem from a dislike of the man, just a disinterest. It’s like my friend Pete Prisco likes to say, “You’re entitled to your wrong opinion.”

Bruce from Green Cove Springs, FL:
John, assuming Branden Albert is healthy and in shape by the regular season, and further assuming Cam Robinson starts at left guard, the offensive line could be pretty darn good. Good enough, at least, to make holes for Fournette and provide decent protection for Bortles. We’ve taken a “wait-and-see” approach to Bortles, but if Blake does indeed improve both his technique and his decision-making behind our (hopefully) improved offensive line, what do you see as his ceiling?

John: This answer obviously depends on how much Bortles improves his technique and decision-making. If he improves them a little, that’s different than if he improves them a lot. I think Bortles can be an Andy Dalton-level player, but if his decision-making gets a lot better, who knows?

Roshandra from Jacksonville:
John, the Titans and Houston are the favorites to win our division, and they both have a very good running game. Since we got rid of Roy Miller, and he was our main run-stuffer in the past, who is going to replace him? I know we have Abry Jones, but when he gets tired who is subbing with him? I know we have other defensive tackles on the roster, but none to be the size that can play nose. Don’t we need another nose tackle since I am pretty sure the Titans’ and Houston’s main focus on offense is to run the ball? In my opinion, if we can’t stop the run in those games we are not going to be able to compete in the AFC South.

John: The Jaguars’ run defense played at a high level for 10 games after Miller’s season-ending Achilles injury last season. Those games came with Jones starting at nose tackle and without another “true nose tackle” playing a major role. Nose tackles are critical in running situations, but rarely play all three downs so I don’t know that Jones getting tired is a major issue. Either way, Stefan Charles is on the roster, and he can play a role at nose tackle.

Tyrell from Jacksonville:
At the end of this season who do you think well have made the biggest impact for their respective team. Dalvin Cook or Leonard Fournette?

John: Fournette.

Glen from Orange Park, FL:
Russell Wilson is a better running quarterback than Blake for the reasons Don from Ponte Vedra Beach makes in Bortles’ favor – and more importantly, he also wins more games. A 3-13 quarterback is not the best at anything that can be viewed as a positive.

John: This is a conversation that began with Don’s point that Bortles is the best running quarterback in the NFL. Don had some interesting and compelling thoughts and statistics to back this up. That’s fine – and Bortles is effective as a running quarterback. He’s perhaps a lot better than most people believe. But watching players such as Russell Wilson and Cam Newton, it’s difficult to make the argument that Bortles is the best running quarterback in the NFL.

Dave from Duval:
Dear Mr. O, if we are going to talk about Jaguar players and the Hall of Fame, I agree Tony Boselli should be in the HOF as he was the most dominant NFL left tackle during his career. I believe Fred Taylor deserves serious consideration based on his career numbers and his rare his ability to “take it to the house” or run over a DB on any given play. But, if we are talking Jags and the HOF we MUST also talk Jimmy Smith based on his career numbers. Your thoughts?

John: I believe Smith deserves to be in the Hall of Fame. I believe his touchdowns total for his career – 67 – is the biggest thing that hurts his case, but I do believe he deserves consideration.

Dwayne from Jacksonville:
“Shadrick, he’s waist deep in his summer ‘me time’ … it’s best to leave him alone right now.” Shadrick is a fine, upstanding member of the jaguars.com staff and he deserves – nay, commands – our respect. I’d appreciate it in the future if you would remember this.

John: You’re right. My bad.

Nathan from St. Augustine, FL:
With training camp right around the corner this year, what differences can fans expect from Coach Marrone’s camp as opposed to Gus Bradley’s? Oh – and all I can say about your choice in pizza and garlic rolls is you must not have made it out to the Mellow Mushroom yet!

John: I think there will be a handful of days early in training camp during which you see a few more physical drills under Marrone than you did under Bradley. I emphasize “handful” and “a few” because while Marrone likely would love to have a bunch of brutally tough practices, he also knows there’s a limit to how long and how often you have players hitting in camp. But there will be a difference under Marrone? Will there be a harder edge? I’d be shocked if there’s not.
 

 
 

Pages: Page 1, Page 2

O-Zone: Here it comes

John Oehser Senior writer jaguars.com

JACKSONVILLE – Let’s get to it …

Jonathan from Jacksonville:
This is how low the bar of success is for this organization. We are now basing Blake Bortles’ improvement on the last two games and just forgetting that he sucks for the last three-plus years of his career and hoping he will get better this year because of those two games. Even a blind squirrel finds a nut once in a while. Just like when they tried to fool us and say we’re built …

John: I understand this perception, because it’s true that the Jaguars want very much to build on Bortles’ final two games from last season. But no one’s forgetting Bortles’ first two-plus seasons. And no one’s assuming that Bortles will magically turn things around because of those two games. And no one is setting what Bortles has done in any of his first three NFL seasons as the franchise’s bar for success. It’s certainly true that both Head Coach Doug Marrone and Executive Vice President Tom Coughlin know Bortles has serious improving to do to get this team where it wants to go. The Jaguars chose to stay with Bortles as the quarterback because they have seen enough from him to believe they can win if he reduces turnovers, and if they build a stronger running game and defense. Are they right? Is the approach justified? It’s fair to be skeptical, and criticism will be warranted if the approach doesn’t work. We’ll find out the results soon enough. And as far as that blind squirrel … have you seen it? Can you prove it? Didn’t think so …

Dave from Duval:
Mr. O, speaking of numbers, I think an important one for the Jags this season will be rushing touchdowns. Over the last two seasons the Jaguars have only 13 rushing touchdowns and Bortles has five of those. The FIRST thing I heard Tom Coughlin mention to Leonard Fournette after being drafted was about scoring touchdowns. You can’t win in the NFL if you can’t score rushing touchdowns.

John: Wish I’d said that.

Josh from Jacksonville:
A lot of people are worried about the offensive line, but I’m not so much. I am more worried about depth in the secondary. Hopefully no one in the secondary sustains any major injuries but if so, do you feel like we have good enough depth to stay somewhat solid at those positions?

John: Great depth is rare in the NFL, and few teams can withstand a slew of injuries at any one position. The Jaguars like their depth at safety, with Peyton Thompson and Jarrod Wilson. Cornerback is dicier. The top three of Jalen Ramsey, A.J. Bouye and Aaron Colvin have a chance to be as good as any trio in the league at that position. Beyond that trio, the depth isn’t nearly as experienced or well-known. Rookie Jalen Myrick figures to have a chance to be the fourth corner, but do the Jaguars need someone to impress during training camp at the position? Well, they wouldn’t be disappointed if that happened.

Dan from Jacksonville:
I ran into Shadrick the other day and he told me that … YOU are a fine, upstanding member of the jaguars.com staff and deserves – nay, commands – our respect. He’d appreciate it in the future if your readers remember this.

John: That’s nice of him to say. I can’t say I feel the same way about him.

Tom from Virginia Beach, VA:
Why does Myles Jack have to make the defensive calls? As long as Poz is on the field why can’t he still make the calls?

John: Myles Jack as the middle linebacker will be on the field on most of the defensive plays. Paul Posluszny as the strong-side linebacker will be coming off the field in passing situations. It makes sense to have the player who is on the field the vast majority of the plays be the one talking to the sidelines in the helmet-to-sideline head set – and making defensive calls.

Eric from Jacksonville:
When do the Jaguars report back to camp and who do you see as the clear-cut choice for the No. 1 receiver spot?

John: July 26. Allen Robinson.

Mark from Silver City, NM:
Zone, you brought up a good point about A-Rob first needing to prove his effectiveness in this new offense before discussing an extension. To date, he has never really shown the ability to beat double coverage, and throwing with a fullback in the game – meaning fewer receivers on the outside – will make it easier for defenses to double him. We’ve all seen Robinson make some incredible 50/50 catches; however, 33/66 throws probably wouldn’t help our quest for fewer turnovers. It seems that true No. 1 receivers in this league have historically come out knowing how to beat double coverage. In your estimation, is that something that can be taught and learned in the fourth year?

John: Beating double coverage – or more accurately, learning to cope with defenses shading safeties toward their side of the field – actually is something with which many receivers struggle early in their careers. It’s usually something the better receivers handle better over time.

Don from Ponte Vedra Beach, FL:
Blake Bortles is the best running quarterback in the league. He gets the most yards and first downs and takes the least amount of hits. That makes him the best because that’s the only way you get away with it in the NFL. Yards and first downs and no hits. Cam Newton is the best pure running quarterback but you can see he is nicked up – including head injuries – a lot. There is always another perspective. Quarterbacks who take hits will not be in the league long. They also will miss games and have bad games. Nobody gets down or gets out of bounds better than Blake. He has great vision when running. That makes him the best running quarterback in the league.

John: OK.

Christopher from Duval Baby:
Shouldn’t we just let Chad Henne manage the game? He can hand it off and throw 15 times a game. Better than Blake?

John: No, the Jaguars shouldn’t do that.

Jared from O-Town:
Hey John. While I sincerely believe that both Tony Boselli and Fred Taylor are deserving of serious HOF consideration, I wonder how much of what you said of the small market and no Super Bowl is taken into consideration – if any. One example for you: Lee Roy Selmon played in a small market and during his career with Tampa Bay, they were a combined 44-84 with no Super Bowl appearances or wins. If I remember correctly, he was inducted in 1995 (the day before the Jaguars/Panthers HOF game in Canton).

John: I’m not one who believes that the small market plays as much of a factor as many believe. Now, there’s little question that playing in a huge market – say, New York or Chicago – can play a role in this, but I don’t know that playing in Jacksonville is all that much different in terms of national notoriety than Tampa Bay, Seattle, Atlanta. Not playing in Super Bowls certainly hurt that duo, because playing in Super Bowls – and winning them – does carry cache among Hall voters. The bottom line is that while Taylor and Boselli are deserving, they also have elements of their careers that hurt them in the Hall of Fame consideration. Taylor made just one Pro Bowl and never led the NFL in rushing. He also wasn’t a huge touchdown guy, and the Jaguars made the playoffs just twice after his first two seasons. Boselli was an other-worldly offensive tackle, but played at an elite level just six seasons – 1995-2000. I believe both players should be in the Hall of Fame, but I also believe there are legitimate reasons beyond market size why they are not. As for Lee Roy Selmon, he is a good comparison. That’s a reason it was far from a no-brainer when he made the Hall.

Steve from Redlands, CA:
“I can’t think of anything positive about that organization outside of the fact that they have pools in the stadium” – DeAngelo Williams. I did not like his statement although he is entitled to his opinion. If I were a player, this statement would cause angst. It probably does not bother you professionally. I think it should bother everyone associated with our team or the culture will never change. I know: winning changes everything. How long do you think Jaguars fans and the organization will endure these shots? P.S. – one for the pool, I suppose.

John: Winning does change everything. The organization will endure such statements until it wins just like the Cleveland Browns will endure such statements until they win, just like the Tampa Bay Buccaneers once were called the Yucks, just like the Cincinnati Bengals were once called the “Bungles” and so on. The perception of losing organizations is changed when the losing stops. Not before.

Mike from Atlanta, GA:
Did I read that correctly? Training camp is less than two weeks away? Not a moment too soon.

John: Yay.
 

 
 

Pages: Page 1, Page 2

O-Zone: Leave the man alone

 

John Oehser Senior writer jaguars.com

JACKSONVILLE – Let’s get to it …

Scott from Brooklyn, NY:

Mr. O, Jaguars fans need to take the “blinders” off their eyes. They can’t seem to realize that there were two Blake Bortles: the awful one under Gus Bradley – and the player who had a 1-1 record, 600 yards, no turnovers, two touchdowns, 20 yards receiving and one receiving touchdown under Doug Marrone. Lighten up, Jaguars fans: it will be a different Blake Bortles running the team.

John: The Jaguars without question believe there is some truth in what you say. Bortles did play far better in the final two games last season when Marrone was interim head coach than he did in the first 14 games of the season; the Jaguars certainly want to build on that moving forward. At the same time, let’s not be dim about this: Bortles’ struggles last season were not all because of Bradley, and he won’t magically be an All-Pro selection just because Bradley left. What the Jaguars must hope is that Bortles is at least somewhat more the player he was the last two weeks of last season than he was the first 14 and hope they can build on that small sample size. That has been the idea of strengthening the running game and defense this offseason. But either way … hey, one fer Blake!

Don from Ponte Vedra Beach, FL:

There was a time when Giants fans would just tear down Eli Manning and say how bad he was. That kind of talk seems pretty dumb now after Eli won two Super Bowls. Blake Bortles is a really good quarterback who will win. He is also the best running quarterback in the league. He is very, very good at short passes. He has great feel and touch. He is tough. He is young. He does not choke. He works hard. His best days are ahead of him. His teammates respect and like him. Tom Coughlin and Doug Marrone like him. Maybe fans need to take a deeper look at him; way too much diaper crying about him. He is going to be a big-time star. I agree with Dave Caldwell when he says you can win a championship with Blake.

John: Bortles is not the best running quarterback in the NFL, and it goes without saying his touch, feel and accuracy could improve. That said … hey, two fer Blake!

Matt from Las Vegas, NV:

Apparently, ESPN reported that DeAngelo Williams said the following about the Jags: “I can’t think of anything positive about that organization outside of the fact that they have pools in the stadium.” Not to harp on perception too much, but is this the result of being uninformed or is there actually a kernel of truth to this statement that runs through players’ conversations about organizations? I imagine if this were true, we wouldn’t be signing high-profile veterans who know a thing or two about organizational climates/culture.

John: It’s the result of being misinformed. It also reminds me of when I was single and boldly proclaimed I didn’t want to date Kathy Ireland – and furthermore, that there was no reason for her to contact me regarding the matter. She didn’t call, and I don’t recall her being upset I wasn’t interested.

Marty from Jacksonville:

I think people confuse cause and effect. For example: if we run more and throw less, we’ll win more games. Isn’t that putting the cart before the horse? Running more and throwing less is a byproduct of being ahead in games. It doesn’t cause you to be ahead; it comes from being ahead.

John: The idea isn’t how much you run as much as whether you run effectively when you need to run. Doing that will help you win whenever you do it. If you do it early, you can control tempo and it makes it easier to pass protect – and theoretically, to pass – and that can get you ahead. If you do it late, it allows you to maintain your lead, which is a good thing no matter how the lead was attained.

Zac from DiRocco’s Neighbor:

Michael DiRocco states “Bortles’ biggest issues are decision-making, accuracy and turnovers.” Uhhh … so, what can he do? I’m no general manager but aren’t those the Top 3 things a quarterback needs to do well?? (Insert confused emoji’s)

John: I’m sorry you’re confused. Confusion can be confusing – yes, even emoji-expressed confusion. DiRocco in this rare case is correct, because those are areas in which Bortles must improve. What does he do well? He has shown a knack for the big play, and a willingness to stand tall in the pocket. He also has shown flashes of accuracy and good-decision making at times. What he needs is to be more consistent with those flashes, but either way …. Not one fer Bortles, I guess.

Bryan from Reston, VA:

I’m somewhat younger than you so I went and looked up those old bands you guys were talking about last week. What I heard sounded like a bunch of over-emotional guys whining about getting broke up with all the time, generally being majorly disappointed about life, and wanting people to feel sorry for them. Then I thought of you and it all made sense.

John: That hurts, Bryan.

Greg from Section 122 and Jacksonville:

Hey Zone, have been away awhile, sorry. Question: with the move of Poz from middle linebacker, how much difference is there in the new position? Is this a transition you believe he will succeed at? Or is this just prolonging the inevitable of him being released due to age? I really love Poz, if not for his skill, for his incredible heart and soul he brings to that defense. Good to be back.

John: The differences are substantial, most notably that Myles Jack and not Posluszny now will make defensive calls. Posluszny also likely will play on the line a bit more than he did at middle, though I don’t know if that difference will be as pronounced as it would have been had the Jaguars made Posluszny “an Otto” linebacker. That was what the Jaguars’ strong-side linebacker was last season, but Posluszny will be more of a traditional strong-side backer. I do believe Posluszny will succeed on the strong side, because I believe he will put in the time and study to succeed – and I also believe his skill set will allow him to succeed. I also believe the move has a chance to extend his career and his time with the Jaguars. Not that age won’t eventually catch up to him, as it inevitably does to us all.

Frank from Dothan, AL:

Zone, you responded to a question the other day about which receivers from the 2014 class the Jags would retain, and you made it sound as if re-signing A-Rob would be a given if he played at a level somewhere between his ’15 and ’16 campaigns. But, if the team waits to get a deal done until late in the season after Blake has already proven not to be the guy moving forward, why wouldn’t Robinson just play out the last month of his rookie deal and opt for a team with an established quarterback that isn’t as run heavy? Do you really think if his agent tells him the market will yield equal monies elsewhere that he’ll elect to stay in Jacksonville in hopes the team can one day find someone to get him the ball?

John: That’s always a possibility, but Robinson is going to be expensive to re-sign no matter when the sides begin serious negotiation. At the same time, it’s logical for the Jaguars to see how Robinson plays within the framework of this offense and this coaching staff before determining their perception of his value.

Zoe from Jacksonville:

I believe the Jaguars deserve a backup that will compete with Blake Bortles for the starting position. Do you see us looking for that caliber backup this season?

John: It’s July 13. Training camp starts in less than two weeks. I do not believe the Jaguars will actively seek a backup quarterback before that.

Jon from Brentwood, UK:

Mr. O, Gil Brandt has done a Top 20 of offensive tackles and only one current player (Joe Thomas) and Tony Boselli on that list are not already in the Hall of Fame. Is this the year for No. 71?

John: I believe there’s a good chance Boselli makes the Hall of Fame in 2018. If not, I believe he has a good chance to make it soon. That has little to with Brandt’s list and a lot to do with Boselli making the Top 10 in Hall voting last January. It feels like momentum is on Boselli’s side. We’ll see.

Dwayne from Jacksonville:

My sarcasm font isn’t working. Can you get Shadrick and the IT guys to fix that?

John: I would ask Shadrick about this, but he’s waist deep in his summer “me time.” Trust me when I tell you it’s best to leave him alone right now.
 

 
 

Pages: Page 1, Page 2

O-Zone: Funny boy

John Oehser Senior writer jaguars.com

JACKSONVILLE – Let’s get to it …

Amari from Hartford, CT:
It seems like the Jaguars are building a team to take the ball out Blake Bortles’ hands; it’s being built so it can kind of “hide” how bad he is. With that being said, how do we know how good/bad Blake is? Even if he cuts his turnovers and we win more games (which we should with this roster regardless) how do we know if we have a franchise quarterback if he can’t put the team on his back and make the right decisions? I feel best-case scenario for us is for Blake to be great and we keep him – or completely horrible and we move on and find our guy. Him being “in the middle” is the worst thing that can happen because then he sticks around for few more years and gives us flashes of hope.

John: The idea that the Jaguars are trying to build to win “despite” Bortles has become a common perception, one I’m not sure is completely accurate. There’s no question the Jaguars would like to take the ball out of Bortles’ hands at times, and there’s no question they want to see fewer mistakes from the quarterback. But Bortles threw nearly 40 times per game last season. And the Jaguars struggled mightily to generate any running game. Given those circumstances, it’s completely reasonable that the Jaguars would want to find ways to run more and have Bortles throw less. As far as worrying about the Jaguars running too well to find out if Bortles is a franchise quarterback … I wouldn’t worry about that. No matter how well the Jaguars run, Bortles is going to have plenty of chances to make the plays that will show whether or not he can get the job done. He will have moments he must carry the team. It’s the NFL. Even the best running teams must have quarterbacks who can make plays.

Richard from Starke, FL:
Winger, Bon Jovi, and Poison are not metal bands.

John: Neither is Manilow.

Brian from Gainesville, FL:
Big O, what have other teams done to build an elite offensive line that the Jaguars have not done (or haven’t had the opportunity to do)? Let’s use the current Dallas Cowboys line as the gold standard. Why did it get that way? Was it good luck in selecting/signing just the right players? Amazing coaching? Spending time, effort and money there instead of on other units? What does it take?

John: The Cowboys used three first-round selections and a third-round selection on their line, and also signed a first-round talent as an undrafted free agent after off-field concerns pushed La’el Collins out of the 2015 NFL Draft. Other teams in recent years – the Oakland Raiders, for instance – have added free agents to their lines to build strong units. The Jaguars have spent time, money and draft choices there, but they haven’t had the chance to invest multiple first-round selections there yet. They also haven’t hit consistently enough on the players they targeted. Will they invest heavier in the line in the draft in the future? This season will have a huge bearing on the answer to that.

Gabe from Washington, DC:
Will Dede Westbrook have more touchdowns as a receiver or a returner this year?

John: Receiver.

Dylan from Tulsa, OK:
If you had the ability to “Madden Force” a trade for any player not at the quarterback position, who would it be?

John: Julio Jones. He’s in his prime, continuing to get better and he makes the really difficult look really routine really often.

Rob from the duuu:
Would the Jags have to trade with the Cowboys to get Romo? Or can anyone sign him if they want to?

John: Romo has been released by the Cowboys, and therefore he can sign with any NFL team.

Gabe from Washington, DC:
With more emphasis being placed on the run game, would it surprise you if pass protection took a dip this year?

John: Yes, because the line improved as a pass-blocking unit last season and I don’t believe adding Branden Albert and Cam Robinson will make it worse.

Mike from Atlanta, GA:
How much will the more vertical passing game help Bortles? I think that he will never be a precision- timing passing quarterback. He doesn’t throw the short passes all that accurately and he needs time to set up and launch the football. I think looking for more intermediate and longer passes suits his skill set better.

John: I think the Jaguars’ running game will be improved in 2017, and I think that will help Bortles because he has had success as a play-action passer in the past. I agree that Bortles probably will never be a “precision” timing quarterback, but it’s a dangerous game to depend solely upon deep passes. While Bortles never may be a three-step, get-the-ball-out rhythm passer, he needs to improve as a short and intermediate passer to enable the Jaguars to convert critical third-and-manageable situations.

Cooper from Jacksonville:
John, would you say that the only difference between the potential play of Blake Bortles and, say, Brett Favre, is the number of turnovers? Brett Favre had the same gunslinger mentality that Bortles seems to have, yet he had one of the greatest NFL careers for a quarterback. Bortles can’t seem to take that next step.

John: Favre actually was very interception-prone for an elite quarterback, six times throwing 20 or more interceptions in a season. Why was he great? His ability to come back from a bad play and make clutch, winning plays to lead his team to victory. Bortles hasn’t shown the latter ability yet, though there are certainly reasons for that beyond his control. If you’re comparing Bortles to Favre, then there indeed is reason for optimism about Bortles. Favre after three NFL seasons had been a full-time starter for two seasons and had as many interceptions as touchdown passes in those two seasons. He emerged as elite in Year 4. Interception-heavy quarterbacks who become elite are rare in the NFL, and Favre’s success doesn’t guarantee success for Bortles. But if you’re looking for hope for Bortles, some can be found in Favre.

Steve from Shreveport, LA:
I need to know. When you are forced to type the standard Shadrick verbiage do you type it out every time or copy paste?

John: Shadrick is a fine, upstanding member of the jaguars.com staff and he deserves – nay, commands – our respect. I’d appreciate it in the future if our readers remember this.

Crecia from Wake Forest, NC:
I’m Snoopy Happy Dance excited about Calais Campbell playing for the Jags and everyone thinks he will be a big difference-maker. My question is if he is such a huge impact player, why did Arizona let him walk?

John: The Cardinals in recent seasons have allowed several players 30 or older to leave as unrestricted free agents. Campbell fit that description. That’s a wise organizational policy if you have reached the point that you can draft, develop and allow aging players to move on. The Jaguars aren’t there yet, and believe Campbell can have enough of an immediate impact on and off the field to make it worth paying him for what could be a relatively brief stint.

Bill from Jacksonville:
John, I haven’t been able to find an accurate number. Can you list for me the number of interim head coaches – promoted by their team to the full time position – to lead said team to and win a Super Bowl? I mean, surely it’s happened before. An NFL team wouldn’t try something that hasn’t worked in almost 100 years of the league being in existence, would they? Would they, John? Thanks! Go Jags!

John: The Super Bowl only has been played 51 years, not 100. As far as interim coaches who have coached their teams to Super Bowl titles as permanent head coaches, Jeff Fisher probably came the closest. He was the interim coach of the Houston Oilers in 1994, became the full-time head coach the following season and coached the Titans to the Super Bowl following the 1999 season. Bill Parcells was an assistant on the New York Giants’ staff in 1982 and was announced as Ray Perkins’ successor when Perkins announced in December he was leaving after the season. So, Parcells wasn’t technically interim, but he was close. But just because it never has completely worked doesn’t mean it won’t work. I don’t think that many Super Bowl-winning coaches had been fired twice by NFL teams before Pete Carroll was hired by the Seattle Seahawks. He went on to do pretty well there.

Rik from J-Ville:
Why does it always feel like you’re writing about a minor league football team? I am hoping this year you grow up, too. You have a funny way of babying players and it is time to step up your game to 100 percent. The constant oohing and awing about average guys is exhausting. Please give them the respect they have earned and go from there on all fronts.

John: I’m glad you think I’m funny.
 

 
 

Pages: Page 1, Page 2

O-Zone: Just in time

John Oehser Senior writer jaguars.com

JACKSONVILLE – Let’s get to it …

Don from Ponte Vedra Beach, FL:
If you make the playoffs, it’s a good year; if you do not make the playoffs, it’s a bad year. Anybody who gets satisfaction from being 8-8 with no playoffs is a loser. That’s the way it works. This is not Little Billy League where everyone gets to play. It’s the NFL and you make the playoffs if want to be a winner. Eight-and-eight has been the attitude around here for way too long. If you want to be somebody, it’s the playoffs or nothing. All you 8-8 girls need to get your Star Wars lunch boxes and go over to Sbarro’s and hang out with the losers. Go Jaguars and Blake Bortles who will make the playoffs this year.

John: Ah, the great 8-8 debate goes on … Look, I’m not saying a .500 record would satisfy fans, and I guarantee you no one inside the Jaguars’ organization on July 11 is saying, “Let’s shoot for 8-8 … ready … break!” The idea is to win, and no one’s talking about improving being OK and being satisfied with .500. But I have covered this team for six consecutive seasons of double-digit losses. I can’t accurately say the Jaguars have been close to contending in any of those six seasons. From that perspective, being as objective as possible, 8-8 would be a dramatic improvement. To get there, a lot of positive things must happen – i.e., quarterback Blake Bortles playing better, the offensive line playing better, the pass rush being more consistent, the team as a whole playing better in crucial situations. I also assume that for the Jaguars to get to .500 they would need to reduce turnovers and play better on special teams. Those would all be positive for the organization. It might not thrill every fan, and it sure wouldn’t thrill Head Coach Doug Marrone or Executive Vice President of Football Operations Tom Coughlin, but from a big-picture, realistic viewpoint, it darned sure would be progress for a long-struggling organization. Now, give me back my lunch box.

Old Skool from Da Burg:
I’m calling my shot! 12-4 with a sweep of the Titans! And … and a first-round playoff (home) win! Magic Eight Ball has nothing further.

John: OK.

Mike from Chiefland, FL:
Mr. O, lots of fans were not happy with the retention of our offensive and defensive coordinators after last season. I was one of them at first. Then after taking time to analyze the decisions, I saw that Nathaniel Hackett was still running Greg Olson’s playbook, just with some Hackett twists. Then Todd Wash was running Gus Bradley’s defense. Am I right to say we will see big differences in the play-calling style from last year to this year even though we still have the same coordinators? Thanks, Mr. O.

John: I anticipate noticeable differences both offensively and defensively. Hackett indeed was running Olson’s offense in the last nine games of last season after taking over as coordinator, and it’s likely you will see a more power-run-oriented offense in 2017; signs of this already can be seen the return of the fullback to the offense. Hackett showed last season he wanted to establish the run and stick to it, and it’s safe to say that will be his approach moving forward. I anticipate the defense will look pretty similar on the surface, but there will be schematic changes in the secondary and in terms of how the team uses the strong-side linebacker. As far as play-calling style, it’s hard to say how Hackett and Wash will change from last season, though I would anticipate Hackett continuing to be more persistent in sticking to the run and you might see Wash try to give more looks up front in passing situations. Stay tuned.

Logan from Wichita, KS:
Do you foresee the Jags picking up anymore veteran free agents between now and Week 1 of the preseason?

John: I suppose the Jaguars could sign, say, an offensive linemen or a cornerback before Preseason Week 1. I wouldn’t anticipate it being a player who would generate much excitement. The Jaguars’ Week 1 starters almost certainly are on the roster, and most significant contributors are as well.

Charlie from Van by the river:
John, I liked metal, too. Are you a Winger or Bon Jovi guy? I was always partial to Poison myself.

John: I’m sure you were.

Gabe from Washington, DC:
Sbarro’s is fine and all, but did you ever check out Dream Machine in your Avenues heyday?

John: No. My mode of operation was to park just outside the Food Court; order a slice, a garlic roll and a jumbo diet coke; park my fat self solo at a table for two; then watch the world go by. #heaven

Doug from Jacksonville:
You know the mall food court is not only a great place to eat, but to meet girls. That. Place. Is. Awesome.

John: Word.

InfiniteWaters from Ralphville:
Feels so good to be alive, baby! Can I get a hellooooooooooo there?

John: What?

John from Jacksonville:
Now that we are a couple of months from the start of the regular season, it’s starting to sink in – the importance of the first two games (Houston and Tennessee). I’m hoping our Jags are treating these two games as all-important in having a fast start and a successful season. Starting 2-0 with your division and the overall record would bring mega-excitement to the fans. Our playoffs start out of the gate and the team needs to be ready Day One! All in … no excuses. Go Jags!

John: Of course the Jaguars are approaching the first two games as all-important. What else would you expect them to do? Mail it in?

Donald from Tampa, FL:
O-Zone: Other than Blake Bortles, what’s the most important area the Jaguars need to improve this season?

John: It would be easy to say “pass rush,” but I’ve been harping on the need to improve the pass rush all offseason, so I’ll go with turnover ratio here. The Jaguars were minus-16 last season, which means they averaged giving the ball away one time more a game then they took it away. If the Jaguars can reverse that, they have a chance to make the five- or six-game improvement many fans so desperately and correctly covet.

Donald from T:
Brian from Orlando, born in Atlanta, fave color: green, likes: sardines, wine Are we friends yet?

John: Nah.

Gary from St. Augustine, FL:
Zone, I’m excited about the season, but I realize a lot of it is about the return of Tom Coughlin. I also realize he is not the head coach. How much of a difference can he make from the front office … you know, realistically?

John: There realistically won’t be a tangible, statistical difference attributable directly to Coughlin. He won’t make in-game decisions and won’t be on the sidelines. But when you lose as much as the Jaguars lost in recent seasons, the tone and outlook of the organization has to change. Coughlin has helped reset the tone of the organization, and his success and reputation has helped give the tone immediate credibility. That in turn has helped with the “buy-in” necessary – and make no mistake: the buy-in with players entering 2017 is complete. There’s a belief that this approach of Coughlin and Head Coach Doug Marrone can work. The next and far more important step is to build on that with success.

Gabe from Washington, DC:
If Blake Bortles isn’t the Jaguars’ quarterback in 2018, do you think it will be Chad Henne, Brandon Allen, or someone not yet on the roster?

John: If Bortles isn’t the Jaguars’ quarterback in 2018, that will mean another franchise reset at the position. That would almost certainly mean drafting a quarterback in the first round or trading for/acquiring one in free agency – all of which would mean that player being the quarterback for the majority of 2018.

Brian from Gainesville, FL:
Big O, what era did you cover University of Florida sports? Did you enjoy it? Why or why not? How does it compare to covering the NFL?

John: I covered the Gators from spring of 1993 through spring of 1994, so I covered two Southeastern Conference Championship football teams and the 1994 men’s basketball team that went to the Final Four. I enjoyed it for the most part because I had the opportunity to cover big-time events at a relatively young age – and work what at the time was a very competitive beat with a slew of major newspapers covering it on a daily basis. I didn’t enjoy it as much as covering the NFL; the access to players on a regular basis in professional sports is far greater than in college sports – and makes the job far more interesting. I also enjoy covering professional football more than college football. I find the pro game faster and more entertaining.

Jerell from Columbia, SC:
What’s good, Zone? Every time I want to get excited about the Jags I remind myself Blake is still the quarterback and it all fades away.

John: Jerell’s back.
 

 
 

Pages: Page 1, Page 2

O-Zone: Two words

John Oehser Senior writer jaguars.com

JACKSONVILLE – Let’s get to it …

Jason from North Pole, AK:
I personally feel like an 8-8 record depends entirely on how it is accomplished. If the Jags are 4-8, then bench Blake Bortles, and Chad Henne leads us to an 8-8 finish when we have been eliminated in November, then I won’t feel like we accomplished anything. If we are 8-6 and in the hunt in December, but drop our last two games in heartbreakers, it will have been an exciting season. I just want to play meaningful games in December, regardless of the final record. Do you feel like it makes any difference how 8-8 is accomplished?

John: All records are not created equal, and a competitive start leading to playoff contention indeed is the better – and more exciting – of your scenarios. That would make the Jaguars competitive for the first time since 2010, a span of seven years that by any definition is too long. Still, I can’t say your other 8-8 scenario wouldn’t accomplish anything. Winning in the NFL is hard; the Jaguars if nothing else have proven that the last six seasons. If the Jaguars find a way to win half of their games in 2017, that would represent a five-game improvement and would provide tangible, on-field evidence of progress. After more than a half-decade of double-digit losses, that would be a welcome occurrence for this franchise.

Ace from Jacksonville:
Is Jalen Ramsey the best rookie to play in 2016? If not, where would you rank him?

John: Ramsey was outstanding as a rookie. I don’t cover all NFL teams, so I can’t honestly say if Ramsey was better than, say, San Diego Chargers defensive end Joey Bosa, Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott or Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott. I’d put those four in a group at the top, though I’m likely leaving more than a few players out.

Chris from Goodnight, TX:
Which undrafted free agent pickup do you think has the best chance to make the final 53 in your opinion? Avery Gennesy looked good on tape, but he is not very athletic, and the Jaguars have good depth (albeit largely average starters) along the offensive line. Hunter Dimick had great production in college, but it sounds like his short arms kept him from getting drafted. Amba Etta-Tawo and Carroll Phillips also seem like decent candidates. Who is your money on?

John: If I’m projecting the final 53 right now, I don’t have any undrafted players on the roster. That probably will end up being wrong once it shakes out, and I imagine there will be at least four or five undrafted rookies on the practice squad with most or all of those players eventually being signed to the active roster sometime during the regular season. Undrafted rookies typically start to separate themselves and earn roster spots once the pads go on in August. I’ll be watching Etta-Tawo and Phillips closely – and Dimick, too.

Dylan from Tulsa, OK:
Say a decent starting veteran guard/tackle is released for cap space, first-round draft pick, injury, etc. Do you think the Jags will look into signing him? Oh, and can I get one fer Brandon Linder? He doesn’t get enough credit.

John: Experience tells me “decent” often is defined differently by fans than teams. If there were a player available that the Jaguars thought could help them on the offensive line, then yes … they would sign that player. Would the team do that because fans were familiar with the player’s name? Not unless the team thought the player was an upgrade. And yes … one fer Linder.

Mike from Atlanta, GA:
Deion Sanders was probably my favorite player to watch growing up with possibly the exceptions being Barry Sanders and Dan Marino. I consistently watched Prime Time make quarterbacks think they only had a half of a field to use. Most of the time they wouldn’t even look at his side. He frequently gave his receiver space to bait the quarterback into thinking the receiver was open. Throwing at Deion was never a wise endeavor. I’ve never seen anyone cover receivers like him and I doubt we ever will.

John: There certainly have been other great cover cornerbacks. Darrelle Revis in his prime could take away sides of the field and elite receivers. Rod Woodson could do it as well and there have been others. But in terms of taking away a side of the field and creating scoring opportunities – making an impact – on defense, I never saw anyone match Sanders.

Jordan from Hampton, VA:
Winter is coming!

John: What?

Sandman from Jacksonville:
If Branden Albert wins the left-tackle spot this year, or if Cam Robinson wins it, why not let the loser challenge for the right-tackle spot? I believe either one could be stronger than Jermey Parnell. Why not let him be the swing tackle or possibly guard?

John: If the Jaguars shared your belief that Robinson or Albert would be a stronger right tackle than Parnell, then your scenario is one that would probably play out. I have heard or seen nothing to indicate the Jaguars share that belief.

Keith from Palatka, FL:
Our offensive line is still not fixed. It is not from lack of trying by Dave Caldwell (Sam Young, Jacques McClendon, Luke Joeckel, Zane Beadles, Brandon Linder, Luke Bowanko, Parnell, Stefen Wisniewski, A.J. Cann, Mack Bernadeau, Kelvin Beachum, Albert, Earl Watford and Robinson). That’s every free-agency period and four out of five drafts since 2013. After all that time and effort, what we don’t have is a 13th-ranked offensive line as per PFF. I understand the extenuating circumstances that Caldwell was hamstrung by Gene Smith and had to focus on all aspects of the roster. Albert is a stop gap, Cann regressed last year, Linder is a stud, Parnell is not a spring chicken and Robinson has potential. Do you think our offensive line is “fixed”? If not, any idea on how many more seasons it will take to fix?

John: I think the offensive line was better as a pass-blocking unit last season than many fans believe, and I think the protection was more than adequate enough for the passing offense to have been better than it performed. I did not think it was a very good run-blocking unit last offseason, and I thought that had more to do with the run game struggling than the performance of the running backs; not everyone shares the latter opinion. Is the line fixed? I see no reason why it won’t continue to pass protect well, and adding Robinson and Linder – and some improved health elsewhere – could improve as a run-blocking unit. That improvement is one of the team’s three major storylines this season along with Blake Bortles and the pass rush. Much of the fate of the Jaguars’ 2017 season depends on it. Stay tuned.

Dylan from Tulsa, OK:
Nnamdi Asomugha I think deserves to be in the category of really good yet really underrated corners. The dude was Patrick Peterson before Patrick Peterson.

John: OK.

Arthur from Ormond Beach, FL:
Nnamdi Asomugha has to be somewhere in your Top 5 corners. That dude scared quarterbacks so much they only threw to him 27 times an entire season and only 10 of those were caught. IN AN ENTIRE SEASON 10 RECEPTIONS!! And he the likes of Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, Big Ben etc, all in their primes and only Tom Brady had success because he had a dude named Randy Moss to throw to and he still only managed 2 catches against Asomugha. Give me Nnamdi over Sanders any day.

John: Nah.

Terrell from Jacksonville:
I think Dede Westbrook is going to be a star. My question is, “Who do you keep next year?” I like Allen Robinson, but is he a true No. 1? I like Allen Hurns; don’t need a lot of balls to come his way. No. 11 gets hurt too much. Who do you keep if Dede become a No. 1 receiver?

John: This is one of the Jaguars’ most-obvious and most-intriguing season-long storylines for 2017, and I don’t know that anything’s written in stone on this front. Robinson, Hurns and Marqise Lee all have had productive stretches, and of that group, Robinson has shown the most potential to be a No. 1 receiver. If he has a season somewhere between the ones he had in 2015 and 2016, I think the Jaguars will re-sign him to a long-term deal. I think three of the four players you mention will be on the roster in 2018, and I think Westbrook will be one. If there indeed is a decision to be made between Lee and Hurns, it likely will come down to one of the two showing this season that he is a bona fide front-line NFL receiver. I think it’s a tossup as to which of the two will do that.

Jordan from Jacksonville and South Florida:
You recommend Sbarro’s? Sbarro’s in the Avenues Mall is your recommendation? You joke around a lot, but now you’ve gone too far!

John: Two words, Jordan: Garlic roll.
 

 
 

Pages: Page 1, Page 2

O-Zone: Weird-O

John Oehser Senior writer jaguars.com

JACKSONVILLE – Let’s get to it …

Daniel Since Day One from Jacksonville:
Eight and eight? That’s not enough. This team needs one less critical bonehead mistake and one more great play in each game to get over .500. I think that increased discipline and experience will get that. If we have a better-than-average running game, and if Blake Bortles only throws 25 or less times a game, we’re in the money baby! Are you ready for some football???

John: I am ready for some football – or pretty close to it anyway. And while eight victories may not be enough for some Jaguars fans in 2017, considering they went 3-13 last season, eight would be a pretty dramatic improvement. The question: how do they get there? You’re on the right path. One less critical bonehead mistake and one more great play per game is a tested formula for improvement for many teams; such things do turn games and seasons in an environment as evenly matched as the NFL. And discipline and experience can be key to those areas. So, that’s a start. But Bortles remains the key. I wouldn’t bet the mortgage that he will throw 25 times or less per game because that’s a really low number in today’s NFL, but the further he gets from the 39 per game he threw last season the better.

Tim from formerly St. Petersburg and now Fernandina Beach, FL:
John, after 10 long years, I’m finally back. Did you miss me?

John: No.

Logan from Wichita, KS:
Will I ever recover???? Or am I doomed to wear funny hats, fight “the man,” have crazy flashbacks, struggle with a never ending need for cake and pie, write a Logan-zone for a home team and make fun of the next poor sap that loves his team then falls in love and goes off the deep end. GIVE ME HOPE, O-MAN!!!

John: No.

Fred from Naples, FL:
Florida State versus Alabama … biggest opening college football game ever? Who do you like?

John: I do suppose FSU-Alabama will be the biggest season-opening title, lid-lifting game in college gridiron lore. I don’t pretend to be an expert on college gridders, but how do you pick against Alabama? Don’t the Crimson Tide win everything?

Bryce from Waterloo, IA:
John, being from Iowa, we don’t have an NFL team. Everyone is a Packers, Bears, or Cowgirls fan. I started watching the Jaguars as a kid and have been a fan ever since. I am probably the only person in Iowa with a Jaguars decal on my car. I have gone to a game each of the past two seasons and plan on going to another this year if we get off to a decent start. On a non-football related note, can you tell me a restaurant in Jacksonville that you’d recommend? I can’t remember the restaurant, but I had root beer ribs and they were amazing. Point me in the right direction. Looking forward to talking football in the near future.

John: Sbarro’s, Avenues Mall. I think that has been pretty well established.

Wayne from Jacksonville:
Hey, John – what is your “take” on the report that the Colts used hearing enhancements at away games so they could hear Peyton Manning’s count?

John: My take is that I don’t know enough of the details to know whether or not what the Colts did was against NFL rules. Offensive tackle Tarik Glenn recently said the Colts during Manning’s rookie season of 1998 used a sort of “hearing aid” to combat crowd noise and enhance Manning’s calls. It is unclear whether or not the “aids” were electronic, and that seems to be the determining factor over whether such a device would have been allowed. There also have been reports this week that other teams during the past couple of decades have used similar devices – and that it’s OK as long as electronics weren’t involved. It’s possible we’ll never know much more about this issue than we do now; I doubt if the NFL would try to investigate a matter nearly two decades old. Would I be surprised if a team pushed as close to the edge of the rules as possible then or now? No, that would not surprise me, but it’s difficult to have much of a take on this issue beyond that.

Alan from Jacksonville:
I am glad we showed patience in the last draft and avoided picking a quarterback in what was considered a pretty weak group. It puts us in a really good situation for 2018. If Bortles does well, we don’t need one next year. If he bombs, we will have another Top 10 pick in a draft pundits are calling one of the best for that position in a long time. Are you feeling the glow, Sir O of Zone?

John: I don’t know how much glow the Zone is showing, and I’m not inclined to start thinking about the 2018 NFL Draft quite yet. But you have a point about the Jaguars’ quarterback situation. Finding one, developing him and determining if he indeed is the guy is a tough, time-consuming process and patience can be required. Sometimes there are highs lows during that process that make it excruciatingly difficult to determine if a guy indeed is The Guy. That’s where the Jaguars are with Bortles. Is he the guy? Will the patience be rewarded? Or will the Jaguars be starting over – as they did in 2011 and again in 2014? And even if the quarterback class of ’18 is as good as people believe, how many of those quarterbacks will fulfill their potential? Ah, the uncertainty and high-risk business that is finding a franchise quarterback. Stay tuned. Again.

Hugo from Albuquerque, NM:
So, in keeping with the tradition of talking about ranking lists, Gil Brandt just put Bryan Anger as his sixth-best punter of all time. A third rounder doesn’t seem that bad for an all-time great player.

John: I already was sort of worn out on rehashing and debating Brandt’s offseason lists. I must be really worn out because I have no idea what to say about that punter ranking.

Neil from Valdosta, GA:
John, is it just me, or does it seem like there haven’t been any arrest reports this dead period? No weapons charges, new domestic abuse or rape allegations, DUIs, traffic stops involving drugs, or anywhere type of negative news this year. I honestly can’t remember a time it has been so quiet on that front. It’s definitely a privilege to represent the NFL shield, and nice to see guys might finally be getting that message.

John: Shhhhh …

Jason from Da’Hass:
Fond memories of skipping school, and going to Sbarro at the Volusia Mall.

John: Stay in school, kids.

Eddie from Jacksonville:
Deion over Darrell Green? I respect your opinion but I must disagree.

John: I’m a huge Darrell Green guy. Green’s speed was phenomenal and the idea of playing at a high level in this league for two decades – all for one team – is mind-blowing. Still, there were times when Green’s size was a liability against the larger receivers – not a huge liability, but a liability. Sanders in his prime had few if any liabilities in coverage.

Jerell’s Cousin from Ocala, FL:
Jerell is OK, he wanted me to tell you that.

John: Whew.

Chris from Norfolk, VA:
Two questions, O: I’ll take either answer if you want. One: Always sports journalism, or have you submitted other work? Two: Took the wife to London last month to check it out. She wanted two things. Stonehenge tour, and “high tea.” I liked the paste sandwiches, but my question is, how long did it take you to stop the accent in your head? I’m on Week 5 and I’m still all sixes and sevens.

John: I covered the occasional city-council meeting and assisted in some news coverage during my Florida Times-Union days, but when I say “occasional” I mean “very, very occasional.” My beats and primary responsibilities were high school sports, University of Florida sports, NFL and the Jaguars. As far as getting the English accent out of your head, I could give you an exact time frame, but others might disagree and then we’d be in some silly argy-bargy over it. No one needs that in July.

Sam from Orlando, FL:
I tell people I grew up on the Westside of Jacksonville off of Normandy Boulevard and they cringe. I still love it and call it home … One for Normandy Blvd?

John: Absolutely. One fer Normandy Boulevard. #WTWD

Otto from Ponte Vedra Beach, FL:
John, I don’t want to sound negative but, what if Blake Bortles starts off the season with no appreciable change from last year? How many games do you think Tom Coughlin/Doug Marrone will stay with him?

John: I anticipate Bortles being the Jaguars’ quarterback this season as long as they are in contention for the postseason.

Catlover from Jacksonville:
Do you ever put your cat on a leash and take it for a walk?

John: No. That would be weird.
 

 

 

 
 

Pages: Page 1, Page 2