Category: Uncategorized

O-Zone: Budding friendship

John Oehser Senior writer jaguars.com

JACKSONVILLE – Let’s get to it …

Zac needsWs from Orange Park, FL:
The national media is hyping the Jags again. I’ve seen articles about how the Jags have the top cornerback tandem, a Top 10 defense, the No. 5-ranked wide-receiver tandem and the No. 13-ranked offensive line. It’s time to get over the hump and get some Ws. What you say, O-man?

John: Sure, it’s time for the Jaguars to win — past time, actually. As far as where certain Jaguars players or position groups rank among the league’s best, I’ll repeat what I have said a few times since these rankings began being bandied about a few weeks back – that the projections, pontifications and praise about the Jaguars’ talent level are based on the potential of many young players. Those young players indeed do have potential. What they don’t yet have is a body of work that shows they consistently play to that potential. Whether those players can do that or not is one of the major storylines to follow entering the ’17 season. Are the Jaguars as talented as many believe? Stay tuned.

Nate from York, PA:
I’m bored!

John: Read a book. Or get a run in.

CD from Fleming Island, FL:
While I think we can all agree the offensive line’s pass blocking was improved last year, it was kind of a train wreck the two previous years. I can’t help but wonder if it just took a while for Blake to truly trust that improvement. I felt like he had a much better pocket presence toward the end of the season, when he began to finally trust his blocking. Do you agree with that at all – and if so, do you buy into that as an excuse or reason for optimism next season?

John: I don’t call it an excuse, because I’ve never heard Bortles say it – but you’re right that Bortles seemed to settle in the pocket in the last two games of last season. He played better overall the last two games. The Jaguars apparently believe those two games – the ones played with Doug Marrone as the head coach – represent a foundation from which Bortles and the offense can build. They therefore apparently see them as reasons for optimism. We’ll see.

Ken from Jacksonville:
What’s with all the questions about Jalen Ramsey being able to catch the ball? There’s a reason he’s on defense. If he could catch the ball, he’d be a wide receiver.

John: Well, yes.

Gabe from Washington, DC:
Would it be that shocking if the Jaguars traded Poz to a team looking for an experienced, starting-caliber middle linebacker? I’d bet there are a number of teams who could use him as the “quarterback of the defense.”

John: Yes, I actually would be shocked. There may be a number of teams who could use a player such as Paul Posluszny, but what would those teams be willing to trade? And would it be worth the risk to the Jaguars of not having Posluszny on the team? Remember: players get hurt in the NFL. It’s a physical game and backups can matter. There are worse things than having a player such as Posluszny available if Myles Jack is unavailable.

Dan from Jacksonville:
Granted, fans fan – and a victory is a victory. But (there’s always a but) don’t you think that the road to becoming elite is paved with playing against the best your opposition has to throw at you?

John: Without question. Don’t worry about who’s starting or not starting for your opponent. Let them worry about you.

Robert from Oneonta:
Metallica was great Wednesday night in Orlando. Do you have any head banging in your music closet?

John: I liked metal, but didn’t love it. I went through an AC/DC phase in high school, but hey … most of us did. It was the 1980s.

Tom from Loughborough, England:
Over/Under a 8-8 record next year for the Jags?

John: Over by one game, though if you ask tomorrow I might have a different answer.

Charles from Midlothian, VA:
Bill Belichick without Tom Brady? Great coach? Tony Dungy without Peyton Manning? I think Dungy is overrated and without Manning would not be in the Hall of Fame; Belichick on the other hand has proven that while Brady may be one of the greats, he may not have become one without Belichick. Y or N?

John: Very, very few Pro Football Hall of Fame coaches achieved that status without elite quarterbacks, and Belichick and Dungy certainly have relied on great quarterbacks for most of their success. But the facts don’t really support your argument. Belichick clearly deserves his status as one of the best coaches in NFL history, but he made just one postseason appearance without Brady as his quarterback. I also believe Dungy deserves his status as a great coach, and while he won his lone Super Bowl with Manning, four of his career postseason appearances came as the head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, where his quarterbacks were not exactly elite. As far as whether or not Brady would have been elite without Belichick, my guess is he would have been among the best no matter his head coach. His circumstances and path would have been different, but the great ones manage to achieve greatness whatever the circumstance.

Jeff from Jacksonville:
When kickers try for a field goal, their yardage is from where it’s kicked but a punter’s yardage starts at line of scrimmage not from where it was punted. Why is that?

John: I’ve never seen or heard a good explanation for this, though logically I assume it had to do with a field goal being kicked from a placement and therefore easily measurable whereas a punt could take place from a variety of spots behind the line of scrimmage. My best answer on this? Because that’s the rule.

You know who I am from Jacksonville:
So, yeah: You got that 50 bucks you owe me?

John: Please hold for J.P. Shadrick.

Brian from Duval County:
Is it reasonable to expect 10 or more touchdowns from LF27? Marrone has been on record with his desire to run the ball more.

John: Sure, it’s reasonable to expect 10 touchdowns from Fournette. That doesn’t have nearly as much to do with Marrone being on the record about wanting to run as it does with the Jaguars selecting Fournette No. 4 overall in the 2017 NFL Draft. That means he’s going to get a lot of opportunities. And if the Jaguars do indeed run more in 2017 …

James from Jax:
You and “Zach” suggested Jags would have an advantage with Deshaun Watson starting. My question: When a defense is facing a quarterback with no film, can they really scheme a defense?

John: Yes. You can scheme based on what the offense has done in the past, and you can scheme against the tendencies of the coordinator. Scheming in the regular-season opener is always tricky because teams don’t show their entire playbook during the preseason – and they presumably have spent at least part of the offseason preparing for the opener. That’s also why there are a lot of upsets and unpredictable happenings in Week 1. And yes, a rookie quarterback is a trickier scheme challenge than a veteran in the regular-season opener. Still, the chances for rookie mistakes usually counteract that – so, generally speaking, you would want the rookie starting for your opponent in Week 1.

Mike from Jacksonville:
Who should be inducted into the Hall of Fame first: Joe Jacoby or Tony Boselli? Does Joe Theisman deserve to be in?

John: Boselli. No.

Mason from Palm Bay, FL:
I hate watching Bortles throw pick-sixes as much as the next guy, but I kinda miss Jerell this summer.

John: You make a valid point. It seems the last we heard from Jerell was when the Jaguars opted against selecting a quarterback in the 2017 NFL Draft. Considering his feelings regarding Blake Bortles, I assume that Jerell’s silence in recent weeks is related to the aforementioned decision. Here’s hoping we hear from him soon – if not incredibly often.

Luis from St. Johns, FL:
If the Jaguars don’t make the playoffs this year, then I’m not renewing my season tickets until it’s time to renew!

John: Go get ‘em, Tiger.

Logan from Wichita, KS:
That’s cold!!!! But I guess you aren’t wrong for lacking fear of me; after all I’m about to get married and no one fears a soon to be married man. Right?

John: This email is a relief, in a sense. We at jaguars.com have wracked our collective brain for weeks – nay, for months – to solve the Logan Mystery, wondering why Logan from Wichita seems to have been prone recently to panicky responses, paranoid accusations, irrational ramblings and a hallucinatory outlook on the world. The pending nuptials have ended our wonderings. Mystery solved.

Dan from Ponte Vedra Beach, FL:
John, if we ever met I feel like we would be friends.

John: Cool. Call me. We’ll hang out.

Dan from Ponte Vedra Beach, FL:
Never mind.

John: Oh.
 

 

 

 
 

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O-Zone: Searching for answers

 Al Senior writer jags4life.com

JACKSONVILLE – Let’s get to it …

Scott from Satsuma, FL:
John, discipline caused us more than a few issues last season. It kept our defense on the field instead of getting off. The offensive discipline issues put more pressure on Blake Bortles to make a play, and that led to forced passes – a.k.a., bad decisions. Discipline caused quite a lot of the Jaguars’ woes last year. Then, there is the lack of faith Bortles had in his protection. Watch the tape: mechanics and lack of trust really affected him mentally – and for a quarterback to take a leap forward, you need both of those. Fix the offensive line and discipline issues.

Dick John: Holy shit. God forbid you expect your QB to make a play. Not every team can have the Cowboys o-line and even if they did Bortles would still suck.

Aaron from Bethlehem, PA:
When is the Jaguars’ first full padded practice in 2017 Training Camp?

Dick John: Saturday July 29th is the beginning stages of Blake’s final year.

Glen from Orange Park, FL:
Who was the better coach/quarterback combo: Joe Gibbs/Joe Theismann or Tom Landry/Roger Staubach?

Dick John: My answer is only ever allowed to be Bradley/Bortles.

Mike from Jacksonville:
John, I think it is time for you stop with the Cowboy hate and allow Ed “Too Tall” Jones and Harvey Martin into the Hall of Fame. And while you’re at it, you can also let L.C. Greenwood in for sacking Staubach a Super Bowl-record times in 1976. It’s a travesty these guys aren’t in the HOF.

Dick John: The real travesty is that I have to read stupid questions from little shits like you every day.

Doug from Jacksonville:
O-man, you said you missed Jacksonville when you went to Indy: Family, friends, weather, etc. … sure. What about favorite places to eat? Were there places you hit soon as you got back? Places you couldn’t wait to go to again?

Dick John: What are your favorite places to eat? Let me know so that I know to never go there.

Jensen from Nacodogches, TX:
O, I am about to have 12 days of freedom roaming the French countryside. If you were able to have an opportunity to do the same, what destination and activity would you look forward to the most?

Dick John: I hope Napoleon pops out of the grave and sticks you in the ass with his little sword.

Paul from Jacksonville:
With all respect to Zach from Ocala, I hope camp and preseason will go well enough that the Jaguars’ defense will be well-prepared for the Texans without regard for the identity of the opposing quarterback.

Dick John: I’m not worried about the other teams QB, I’m more worried about our fucking QB.

Dylan from Tulsa, OK:
Do you think we ever called Seattle when they were flirting with a Richard Sherman trade? I mean we had the capital to trade for him in good young receivers and maybe a runner as well as draft picks at the time.

Dick John: If we didn’t sign Norman, we sure as hell wouldn’t trade for Sherman.

Roger from White House, FL:
John, as far as Jalen Ramsey only having two interceptions and not being able to catch the ball, didn’t Darrell Green only have 50 to end a 20 year career?

Dick John: Yep. We really are starting the Ramsey HOF talk already. Lovely.

Neil from Gloucester, UK:
Dear Mr. Oehser. Blimey, this Dead Zone is doing my head in! When is something going to happen?! I have come to greatly respect your opinion on football matters. Who is the best cornerback you ever saw? Darrell Green for me. Thank you.

Dick John: I highly doubt that the dead zone is the cause of your head issues. Also, thank you for kissing my ass. You get a mention today because of it.

Jeff from Orange, CA:
It seems that tons of praise is being thrown at Jalen Ramsey, and perhaps deservedly so, but what are the risks of a sophomore slump? In other words, were there any weaknesses you could point out in Ramsey from last year that opposing teams could look to exploit now that there is a year’s worth of NFL film on him that could be studied?

Dick John: Ramsey’s biggest weakness is whatever Steve Smith says it is.

Zach from Jacksonville Beach:
Do you think Parnell could play right-guard?

Dick John: Why? Doesn’t he suck enough where he is?

Thrill from The ‘Ville:
Which do you think is a better strategy, having your shutdown corner mirror the other team’s No. 1 receiver in order to limit his production, or having him mirror the other team’s No. 2 receiver to shut him down completely and roll the double team over to the No. 1 for the whole game?

Dick John: (Finally a semi-decent question about actual football. Oh shit. I have nothing knowledgeable to say.) What do you think?

Bob from Accounting:
The Jaguars have the most losses in a six-year stretch than any NFL team ever. I have yet to hear anyone acknowledge this. Why?

Dick John: Because we aren’t allowed to you fucking asstard. KHAN KNOWS ALL.

Chris from Section 437:
Everyone is thinking way too much about this contract thing. There is a reason why players negotiate for the guaranteed money. Wait for it … It’s guaranteed! The rest of the contract years are the team’s side. If the player is a bust, it’s bad for the team. If he’s great, the team may have got a good deal. But either way the guaranteed money was what the player was worth at the time of signing.

Dick John: If there is one thing most of you are doing, it isn’t thinking.

Tucker from Gatlinburg, TN:
Do you see Bortles in the film room? He has to Manning the film room if he wants to be our future.

Dick John: I see Bortles in the film room all the time. He sure does love watching Snow White. Hi Ho, Hi Ho. It’s high balls that I throw.

Charlie from Fort Mill, SC:
Hey John, tell me exactly why I should respect Shadrick. Give me one good reason.

Dick John: He has a bigger dick than you. How’s that?

 

 

 

 
 

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O-Zone: Hello goodbye

John Oehser Senior writer jaguars.com

JACKSONVILLE – Let’s get to it …

Zach from Ocala, FL:
Regarding the starting quarterback for the Texans in Week 1, I hope they start Deshaun Watson. Yeah, he’s a rookie, so it may be different to game plan for. But look at like this. Our defense versus their offense led by lightweight rookie. Calais Campbell will crush him. Our secondary will pick him off. There isn’t that consistency with DeAndre Hopkins yet. Tom Savage was pretty savage to us. He came in and kinda ran our defense, Jalen Ramsey included …

John: I hesitate to dive deep here, lest I encourage more questions about a subject – the Texans’ Week 1 starting quarterback – that’s not yet particularly critical. Still, I always assume a quarterback with zero NFL experience will make mistakes in his first professional start, so I would say it’s probably an advantage on some level for the Jaguars if Watson starts in that game. Is that edge guaranteed? No. Would an edge guarantee a Jaguars victory? No. Do I think there would be rookie mistakes that could help the Jaguars? Yeah, but how much it would help remains to be seen – and I just don’t know if there would be that much of a difference between he and Savage.

Scroll on Gary:
Ready for Football. #deadzone. So many music, other non-football questions, I just scroll on!

John: That’s the spirit, Gary! And I’m guessing now that what’s done is done, all that scrolling didn’t take all that much out of you spiritually or emotionally.

Tom from Loughborough, England:
Hi John, after a promising rookie season with 14 passes defensed and two interceptions, what would you say are realistic targets for Jalen Ramsey – clearly a very important player to the franchise – to achieve in the coming season? Also, on the topic of Ramsey, would you say after watching him for one season that he has the caliber to become a Jaguars great or an all-time great/Hall of Famer? He definitely seems to fit into one of these two brackets for me …

John: Ramsey in 2017 has a chance to emerge as one of the NFL’s top cornerbacks, and to potentially have a Pro Bowl-caliber season. I don’t know what that will mean in terms of interceptions or pass breakups, because I don’t know yet if teams will continue to challenge Ramsey or begin to throw away from him. That’s obviously out of his control. After watching Ramsey for a year, there’s no question he has the ability to be a Jaguars great and an all-time great. It takes a lot more than that to achieve greatness, but that’s absolutely his caliber.

Mike from Atlanta, GA:
So John, you’re telling me that you don’t miss waking up to a gray, dreary day to snow-blanketed cornfields, your 10th consecutive day without any sunshine while the temperature peaks in the single digits? You don’t miss that? You know you need provisions, food and beverages and such, but you really don’t feel like getting out because on top of the high temperature of six degrees and the wind is kicking up to 30 mph. On top of that, several inches of snow have fallen and you know you have to shovel the driveway and walkway. You don’t miss that? I assume Indiana was similar, but in Iowa, the winter was about four or five months long with brutal cold and not a lot of sunshine. I think of about only two words when I think of winter up there: bleak and dreary. I always felt proud when I came out alive at the end of winter, like I had achieved something. You don’t miss that?

John: Indianapolis winters weren’t quite that extreme, but there absolutely were moments … and no, I don’t miss them.

BunchaClowns from Jacksonville:
Holding a gun to Oehser’s head, forcing him to post nice things about him repeatedly in the O-Zone. #ShadrickSighting

John: Why would I need to be forced into saying nice things about J.P. Shadrick? J.P. 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.

Rhonda from Jacksonville:
In regards to fairness of players’ contracts, is it not true that when a player is on the roster opening day he gets his year’s salary, regardless of how well or how much he plays, whether he gets cut or injured on the first play? I wish my employer had that plan.

John: The rule applies to vested veterans – i.e., players with four or more NFL seasons. That rule does provide those players a measure of security, but remember: the careers of professional athletes are significantly shorter than most careers. Injuries also can end those careers at any time. At the same time, it’s also true that NFL players make significantly more than people in many other careers. What’s the point of all this? Mainly that it’s just impossible to compare contracts and job circumstances of professional athletes to many other professions. Fair or unfair, they’re just different worlds and the ground rules for one often don’t apply to the other.

Tommy from Fernandina Beach, FL:
Johnny-O, I see you as a fan of Chrissie Hynde and the Pretenders?

John: Guilty.

Logan from Wichita, KS:
Dave brings up a good point, O-man! You are always messing with my fee-fees. Why you got to step on my feels to get your kicks? Am I your O-Zone stress ball or are you just trying to keep me from taking your job when you take over as the ESPN guy for the Jags??? I smell your fear! GO JAGS! Run O-man! RUN!!!

John: I have no desire for the job currently held by Mike DiRocco (whoever he is), or any other job for that matter. It would be nice to close here by saying I fear no man, but that’s not true. I fear most men, and a good majority of women, too. Except you, Logan. Except you.

Marc from Oceanway:
All the Staubach bashing got me wondering who I despised as a young football fan. Living in Dallas while in grade school from 1970-1975, I lived and breathed the Cowboys. I obviously hated Billy Kilmer and Joe Theisman, but another NFC East rival that came to mind was Terry Metcalf, who played for the St. Louis Cardinals. I remember him driving me crazy over several years. He was such a graceful and dynamic running back who seemed to have a knack for breaking the long run, and I despised him. I looked him up and was surprised he only played five seasons with the Cardinals and had a career total of 3,489 rushing yards. My memory of him frustrating me and the Cowboys seemed more substantial. John, do you remember Metcalf and did he annoy you like he did me? PS: Moved to Jax in ’95 and have never looked back, that and the firing of Tom Landry left a foul taste in my mouth.

John: I haven’t been bashing Roger Staubach. He was a fine quarterback worthy of his Hall of Fame status. I simply believe Staubach and all other Cowboys from the 1970s are inherently evil; such is the penalty for those men routinely stepping on this young man’s Redskins-filled dreams. I indeed remember Metcalf well. All-too forgotten in NFL lore, he was a critical player on a few St. Louis Cardinals teams that were really, really good under Head Coach Don Coryell from 1974-1976. The 1970s were an NFL era in which teams such as Dallas, Minnesota, the Los Angeles Rams, Miami, Pittsburgh and Oakland dominated for long stretches at a time with other teams rarely breaking through. Teams such as Washington, Baltimore and Cincinnati, Denver and Houston had moments, but they were relatively rare. The Cardinals won the NFC East in 1974 and 1975 with a pass-oriented offense that was in a lot of ways a precursor to the more wide-open offense that were to follow. As a Redskins fan of that era, I don’t have the quite the intense dislike for Metcalf and the Cardinals because they weren’t nearly as good for nearly as long as the Cowboys. But they were good, and the 1974-1976 Cardinals Redskins games mattered on a similar level to Cowboys-Redskins. One such game was in late 1975, when a wide receiver named Mel Gray was thrown a pass from a quarterback Jim Hart. Officials ruled Gray caught the pass, which eventually led to the Cardinals winning in overtime. The game led to the Redskins missing the playoffs, though there is no doubt that Gray dropped the #$%&*@% ball.

Kemoy from Port Charlotte, FL:
Hello.

John: Goodbye.

 

 

 
 

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O-Zone: Blissful thoughts

     Bran Hammer Senior writer jags4life.com

JACKSONVILLE – Happy fourth. Be smart out there.

Let’s get to it …

Rob from Brunswick, GA:
John, in the past every team was promised at least one prime-time game, even if it was a terrible December Thursday game. I noticed we didn’t get one this year. What gives? I obviously missed something here.

Not John: What gives is that their broadcast partners (aka networks) got tired of paying huge money for shit games, and pushed back a little. The NFL gave in, and made a few changes to increase the quality of nationally televised games. Not giving the Jaguars a prime time game was one of those changes.

Scott from New York, NY:
I found myself in what appeared to be a three-to-four hour line for a ferry to the beach and I thought to myself, “What would O-Zone do?” Thankfully, before going any further (or is it farther?), my wife talked some sense into me and we took the train. For a moment there I was about to …

Not John: …masturbate in a public bathroom?

Wes from Baldwin:
What is it gonna take for the Jags to protect home field? Why does it seem like they can’t defend the Bank?

Not John: Find a better GM? Get a real quarterback? Fire the head coach? So far we’re one for three.

Scott from New York, NY:
Is there’s anything you’ve been wanting to tell us?

Not John: Yes. I’ve been sleeping with your wife for years. Whew! It’s good to get that off my chest. Thanks.

Marty from Jacksonville:
O-Zoner, is it not possible that the best five individual offensive linemen may not actually be the best offensive line combination?

Not John: Sure. But I would be more concerned about finding five decent offensive linemen, period, at this point. It’s been a very long time since we had that.

Paul from Jacksonville:
O-Man … would you please tell J.P. to stay out of the Jug, and stop cutting the rug with Linda Lou, or he may run into a feller with the hair colored yeller…

Not John: Forget Shadrick. “Gimme Three Steps” should be T.J. Yeldon’s theme song, because he ain’t breaking off a decent run without them.

Jonathan from Jacksonville:
You forget to mention that the Jaguars’ defense choked in that game as well. And you stating the fact that Jags and Blaine Bortles only put up 150 yards of total offense proves that it doesn’t matter who starts as a quarterback for the Texans because their defense will still win games for them.

Not John: It doesn’t matter who starts at quarterback? You and that guy who compared Blake to Peyton Manning should get together. Between the two of you, you might have a couple of brain cells to rub together.

Mark from Jacksonville:
Jalen Ramsey is an otherworldly talent. The one knock on him is his hands (i.e. catching the pass instead of deflecting it). Do you know if he has worked on improving this area in the offseason and are there drills that they run to work on this area? Would love to see him grab more of the passes he breaks up and truly put fear into quarterbacks.

Not John: From what I hear, Ramsey works on his ball-handling every weekend, often with two balls at a time. It’s something he takes VERY seriously.

Nick from Phoenix, AZ:
O, it’s the dead zone. We’ve heard about your music taste and your (understandable) fear of Shadrick. Let’s go a little deeper! What is a career move that you would make differently? An interview that you wished that you would have taken more interest in, at the time? One you wish you would have had? Maybe a question that you wish that you’d asked while you had the chance?

Not John: O craves the small time. If any city was smaller-time than Jax in the NFL, he’d move there.

Glenn from St. Marys, GA:
Reasons the Jags will be better this season is: One, new coach; two, improved defense; three, improved offensive line; four, monster running back; five, coach Keenan; six, Tom Coughlin and because I want them to be better! Club seat owner since 45 minutes after the announcement that we got a franchise and still enjoying the Jaguar experience!

Not John: OK. Maybe. BZZZT!! Maybe. Love that he’s here. Same with this guy, here’s hoping.

On the other hand, here are six reasons they won’t be better: Blake. Blake. Blake. Blake. Blake. And Blake.

Nathan from St. Augustine, FL:
On a team planning to use the running game as much as the Jaguars, how important is it to have receivers who can run block? And in your opinion who is the best blocker the Jags have at wide receiver?

Not John: It can be a big factor when it comes to springing big plays, after the running back is into the secondary. That hasn’t happened often here in recent years, so it’s hard to say how good the Jaguars receivers are at this. I haven’t seen any deliberately dodging blocks, so that’s a start.

Doug from Jacksonville:
All I want from this year’s Jags is double-digit wins, winning the AFC South and hosting a minimum of one playoff game. If anything less occurs I will send a strongly-worded letter to Mr. Khan.

Not John: You might as well start writing it now.

Brian from Gainesville, FL:
Big O, with all this consternation regarding Cam Robinson starting his career at guard, can you please educate us about the differences in playing guard versus tackle and left side versus right side? Also, given the changes in the offensive line this year, are the guys associating together like an elite military unit? Are they eating, lifting, and hanging out together to gain unit cohesion? If so, is Branden Albert joining in?

Not John: I was going to write a long answer to this, an actual football question for once, but fuck it. It’s the 4th, and I have a shitload of beers to drink if I want to be properly drunk when the fireworks start.

Aaron from White Hall, AR :
So I keep seeing about the ROAR calendar shoots. Do you see any of these girls to have the impact the Culligan girl did?

Not John: Sadly, no. But they’re still pretty hot.

Wiseman from Space:
They better not trade Paul Posluszny. Such heart. In fact, he should be the Jaguars linebackers coach when he retires. Agreed?

Not John: Agreed.

Charlie from Chuckville:
PLEASE HELP OEHSER! I can’t stop picturing you in a speedo!

Not John: Meet Scott from New York at the nearest public restroom. I think you guys might get along together.

 

 

 

 
 

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O-Zone: A little shame

John Oehser Senior writer jaguars.com

JACKSONVILLE – Let’s get to it …

Justin from Hampton:
Do you feel this is a year for great turnaround? I feel the one thing that held us back was our discipline. That is a reflection of the head coach. With Gus Bradley gone, is it easy to say that we will win more games with that change alone?

John: This is a central Jaguars topic this offseason, and many share your view that Bradley being replaced by the disciplined, old-school approach of Head Coach Doug Marrone (and Tom Coughlin) will cure all that ailed this team last season. I understand the sentiment, and there no doubt were discipline issues last season. Dante Fowler Jr. and others committed avoidable penalties, and the special teams certainly seemed undisciplined at times. Still, it’s simplistic and unrealistic to say discipline was the “one thing” holding the Jaguars back last season. There were issues such as quarterback play, lack of pass rush at key times, inability to create enough takeaways, etc., etc., etc., that were as troublesome as discipline. So, yes, it’s easy to say the Jaguars will win more games because Bradley is gone – easy enough, in fact, that many observers and fans have said it a lot. And I do think you’ll see a greater focus on discipline under Marrone. But while that change alone won’t hurt, neither will it make all of the difference.

Roger from Houston, TX:
There is a very simple answer to all of the silly questions about fairness in NFL players’ contracts: the team is the employer; the player is the employee. It’s not a symmetric relationship.

John: Oh, yeah.

Mike from Jacksonville:
Maybe you can provide some insight. Big Cat Country posted an article wondering why we let Kelvin Beachum go. I never really thought about it, but now it has me wondering why the Jags let him go. Was it money? Bad locker-room guy? Seems he could have given our offensive line some nice depth since he can play the guard and tackle spots. Your thoughts?

John: This has been treated as a mystery, but the answer is simple. The Jaguars entered this offseason wanting to improve the offensive line. They wanted to improve the running game. After reviewing the 2016 season, they thought they could take a step toward doing those things by moving in a different direction at left tackle. Many fans and observers thought Beachum was OK last season. He indeed was fine in pass blocking, though not quite as good run blocking. As far as keeping him for depth at guard and tackle, the Jaguars would have had to pay Beachum way too much this season for that.

Richard from Jacksonville:
Any thoughts on the possibility of Hunter Dimick contributing at defensive end this year? It seemed he has the college stats to support the possibility. I didn’t follow Utah football but did see his highlights video after I learned he was signed. Looked pretty impressive.
John: There’s a decent chance Dimick makes the Jaguars’ practice squad this season. Considering the depth and numbers on the defensive line, it would be a surprise if an undrafted rookie makes a significant contribution until/if attrition forces him into the rotation.

Jeff from Jacksonville:
A few thoughts about the whole “Cam-Robinson-starting-at-guard” controversy. First off, don’t you want all of your linemen – especially the starters – having at least a basic understanding of all the o-line positions? Seems like this would give you max flexibility in both rest and injury situations. Second, I think Cam could handle learning two positions that really aren’t too dramatically different from each other. It’s not like they’re asking him to play cornerback! I mean, a left tackle is probably going to have a pretty good idea of what the left guard does by the end of training camp anyway, being that they play next to each other on every snap and all.

John: Oh, yeah.

Steven from Jacksonville:
The short guy who writes articles about the Jaguars for a four-letter network mentioned Paul Posluszny as a veteran who might end up being traded or cut before next season. Bless his heart. I know anything is possible in the NFL since it’s a business, but that one is pretty far out in left field. What do you think? Is the man legitimately crazy or could he be on to something?

John: You’re right that the NFL is a business and anything’s possible. The difference between possible and probable in this case is significant.

Steve from Section 215:
It seems like a lot of people think it is unfair if a team releases a player before his contract is up. Was it fair to the team when they pre-paid him through the signing bonus? The length of a contract is all about managing the cap.

John: Yes, and in the NFL, the guarantees are in the signing bonus.

Keith from Palatka, FL:
I think Branden Albert gets it about as well as Chris Clemons got it when Clemons showed up out of shape for training camp. Do you remember watching Clemons during training camp jogging up and down the field while the team practiced behind him because he was so out of shape? I do not share your confidence about Albert in thinking that he will be more than a tub of goo. To prepare for each season, Jerry Rice ran the hills of San Francisco, Walter Payton ran the sand dunes of Mississippi creeks in army boots, and J.J. Watt literally lived in the weight room at Houston. All Albert has done this offseason so far is prove he is lazy and primarily motivated by collecting a paycheck. I hope you’re right and I’m wrong about him. A lot of players have come to Jacksonville and then dogged it. If he is one of those, I truly hope that Cam Robinson wins the competition so that Albert can go back to the sedentary life-style that he is growing so accustomed to.

John: Chris Clemons is not Branden Albert and Albert is not Clemons. All Albert has proven thus far in his time with the Jaguars is he understands that voluntary means … voluntary. I have no idea if Albert will show up to training camp in shape or not. He said he will. Perhaps he won’t. It’s entirely possible. If that happens, then he’s in the wrong and that’s on him. I’m not sure it’s fair to assume he won’t, but hey … life ain’t fair.

Dave from Sectionless:
Why are you being so mean to Logan from Wichita?

John: For my amusement. Why else?

Sean from Jax:
Without using Google, what was the very first video on MTV? Hint? It was an apropos song title.

John: “Video Killed the Radio Star” by the Buggles – no Google necessary. I had the Buggles’ second album, the one without “Video Killed the Radio Star,” so you’re going to bring a faster fastball that that, Sean.

Matt from Bartow, FL:
What is a grit anyway?

John: Awesome.

Ted from Section 129:
Do Jag fans not remember December 18, 2016 when Tom Savage threw for 260 yards in two-and-a-half quarters to rally the Texans to a 21-20 victory at NRG? Overall it was one of the more complete games we played all year, including a Marqise Lee kickoff return for touchdown, Jason Myers 50 yard field goal, and only one Bortles interception for the day. Yet, Tom Savage came off the bench down two scores and absolutely lit our secondary up, concluding his day with a crunch time game defining third down pass to Hopkins against a smothering Jalen. Is there really even a question as to who fans would rather see Week 1? If you’re thinking you’d rather the Texans start Savage… be careful what you’re wishing for.

John: The Jaguars had 150 yards total offense in that game, and Blake Bortles completed 12 of 28 passes for 92 yards. This doesn’t say much about the merits of Savage versus Deshaun Watson, but it does raise the question of the completeness of the Jaguars’ play that day.

Diana Williams:
We are a US based Certified Premier Google Partner with a 12-year track record. Get 1st page Google placement for under $100/month with a full money-back guarantee. No contracts, either. Please reply with the best number and time to reach you.

John: Call Shadrick on this one. He handles all advertising.

Andy from Jacksonville:
The only Bangles song to sing along with in the car on the way to work … “Walk Like an Egyptian.” The only Bangles song to admit to your wife that you like … “Eternal Flame.” The only Bangles video to watch … “Going Down to Liverpool,” because Leonard Nimoy is in it. … and I just realized I know way too much about the Bangles #canikeepmymancard

John: There’s nothing wrong with the Bangles, and they were actually a groundbreaking band during their time. As such, my belief is there is no shame in having knowledge of the Bangles. It also can be accurately said that you’re testing the boundaries of that belief.
 

 

 

 
 

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O-Zone: No kidding

John Oehser Senior writer jaguars.com

JACKSONVILLE – Let’s get to it …

Bob from Fernandina Beach, FL:
Many fans have questioned why our general manager has not done more to build an elite offensive line. You have consistently answered that he has changed 40 percent … the real issue, John, is that Dallas, Oakland and the Titans have all spent capital in building elite offensive lines – not just 40 percent – and the results are that each of these franchises have not only helped their young quarterbacks succeed, they have also built strong running games, and all of these teams are contending for the playoffs. In light of this, we continue to ask why Caldwell has persisted for the past three years in not building an elite offensive line?

John: Thank you for enlightening me about the real issue, Bob. I indeed often have said the Jaguars have addressed 40 percent of the offensive line this offseason. That’s true, but the number represents just a small part of what the team has done in that area in recent offseasons. The Jaguars since David Caldwell’s arrival as general manager have signed two offensive tackles in unrestricted free agency (Kelvin Beachum and Jermey Parnell) and also signed a UFA guard (Zane Beadles). They have acquired during that time a two-time Pro Bowl selection in a trade (Branden Albert) and have used a first-round selection (Luke Joeckel), a second-round draft selection (Cam Robinson) and two third-round selections (A.J. Cann and Brandon Linder) on the area. They have used this capital on the line while also attempting to build/rebuild every other position-group on the roster. I point all of these things out not to make a case that the Jaguars have an elite offensive line. There is little question the Jaguars’ offensive line has struggled mightily at times the past four seasons, and you can debate whether the franchise has made correct decisions. But to say Jaguars they have not used capital and have somehow not focused on the area recently simply isn’t correct.

Dwayne from Jacksonville:
The O-Zone has had an awesome and important career, so far. Would that be due to grit or talent?

John: I think you must be thinking of a different “O-Zone.”

Hunter from Jacksonville:
Can you tell Coughlin and the boys to lock down Jalen Ramsey to a six-year deal sometime soon? I want to go ahead and get my jersey with full confidence he’ll be around for a while. Thanks!

John: Teams can renegotiate contracts of drafted players after they have finished their third NFL season. That means Ramsey’s contract will be eligible to be renegotiated after the 2018 season.

Ian from Avon, Indiana:
Is it true that J.P. has taken over the O-Zone over this dead period so that Johnny O can catch up on his Chevy Chase movies and draft beers?

John: J.P. 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, but he is not currently writing the O-Zone.

Marty from Jacksonville:
Ozone, regarding the idea of playing Cam Robinson at guard, I vividly recall a game where the Ravens came into our stadium and tore us up playing a rookie Jonathan Ogden at right guard.

John: You’re thinking of a 1996 game between the Jaguars and Ravens. It actually was a game the Jaguars won, 30-27, but the Ravens led by 11 points late in the game and finished it with 150 yards rushing and more than 400 yards total offense, so for a time at least … yeah, the Ravens tore it up with Ogden playing … guard.

Terron from Jacksonville:
Who will be the most surprising player of the year with the Jaguars?

John: I’ll go with defensive tackle Michael Bennett. He missed last season – his second – and injuries slowed him at times while playing 13 games as a rookie. Coaches liked what they saw from him during OTAS and minicamp. It’s a dangerous game picking a player to have a big season because of what he did in non-padded work, but you know me … I love to flirt with danger.

Dan from St. Johns, FL:
Nothing can be more flawed than the idea that if you play out of position you are going to fail. What position did Jalen Ramsey play in college? The position a guy plays is much more fluid than many understand. If you go to a team at any level and a stud is playing your position, you are going to play somewhere else or ride the pine. Adversity and challenges shape people and players; it does not destroy people and players. It’s an even greater flaw to talk about confidence being born from never facing adversity. It is not only wrong, but the exact opposite is true. And, the last time I checked, the left tackle has to block the guy lined up across from him. I am pretty sure that is the same at right tackle and guard. Can we get one for “football players are not fragile?” Thank you.

John: Hey, yeah … one fer that.

Tim from Jacksonville:
Just a thought that I’d like your thoughts on … With emphasis on both Blake Bortles cutting turnovers and the defense causing more, I believe there should be an equal emphasis on capitalizing on said non-turnovers/turnovers. I know this mainly ends up on the offense because if they turn it over less, we should have more chances at scoring drives – and when the defense provides that same opportunity, the offense must take advantage. Over the last few years, it seemed like even when given the chance, the team showed it didn’t know how to handle opportunities beyond the normal drives that come in a game. Is there a way to focus on capitalizing on those things that you believe this new regime will be trying to implement?

John: There is no satisfying answer to this. There’s no “drill” designed to improve capitalizing on opportunities, and there’s no specific set of plays to take advantage of a turnover or sudden change of field position. But there’s no question the Jaguars must improve this area. How do you do it? Grow up as an offense, make plays when it matters and get clutch play from the quarterback position. But eventually you just have to do it. If there was a magic elixir or cure, everyone would use it.

Scott from Jacksonville:
There has been discussion about whether we would want to face Deshaun Watson or Tom Savage in Game One. On the surface, facing a rookie quarterback starting his first game sounds enticing. However, if Watson is good enough to beat out Savage right from the start, it could very well mean Houston has found its long-term quarterback solution. Personally, I would prefer they continue to suck at that position. Give me Savage in the season opener. What’s your take?

John: I don’t know that being winning the Texans’ quarterback competition next month will necessarily be an accurate prediction of Watson’s career. As for who a fan would prefer to face, rookies typically struggle early so maybe Watson is the answer. Given the relative inexperience of both players, I’m not sure there’s a huge difference between the two.

Ryan from Apopka, FL:
With a few days till Wimbledon and in the summer dead zone – and a little bit larger of a following in the O-Zone with our friends over in the UK – I would love to hear your yearly thoughts on Wimbledon. Will Andy Murray play and defend his title? Can Federer win No. 8? Does the Joker come back after a rough start to the year and win three titles in four years? And of course, who do you think wins?

John: My Wimbledon/tennis thoughts are always shaped by loyalty to Federer. Yes, I believe he can win No. 8. Yes, the tournament for me and many other FedFans largely will be about whether or not he does win No. 8. If he plays as he did at the beginning of the year, I think he will do it. Murray is intriguing because he doesn’t feel like he’s at his best level, but he always is a tough out. Djokovic is intriguing because his issues this year seem all mental. Who do I think wins? Fed. Always Fed.

Jason from Orange Park, FL:
John, I am writing for the first time as a Day One fan of the Jags (my family has had season tix since 1995) and a long-time reader of the O-Zone. As it is the dead zone, I have taken the time this week to listen to, and add to my music collection, a couple of Jason Isbell albums. Fantastic. Thanks for helping to broaden my music interests and thanks for the consistently above average Jags coverage! #DTWD

John: #DTWD

Scot from Daytona Beach, FL:
Wassup?

John: Nuttin.

Chris from I Know Better:
How could you leave my wife off your list of Top 5 craziest women?

John: I’ve been married nearly 25 glorious, wonderful years. I know better than to even joke about making a list like that.
 

 

 

 
 

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O-Zone: Easy calls

John Oehser Senior writer jaguars.com

JACKSONVILLE – Let’s get to it …

Josh from Pensacola, FL:

I keep reading on other sites that most of Blake Bortles’ touchdowns in 2015 came in “garbage time.” Is that actually true? I know some of them had to, but we were in a lot of games that season, too.

John: The touchdowns-in-garbage-time theme with Bortles is one of those things that has been repeated so much it’s now accepted as gospel without a thought that it might not be absolutely true. It is true many of Bortles’ touchdowns that season came late in games. In some cases – as with three second-half touchdown passes in a late-season loss to the Saints, for example – the touchdowns came with the game out of hand. In other cases – as with his five-touchdown performance in a loss at Tennessee – the Jaguars were close enough throughout that the touchdowns can’t correctly be discounted. The great majority of Bortles’ career touchdown passes have come with the Jaguars trailing, but you know what? The Jaguars have trailed in most games during his career – and Bortles isn’t completely to blame for that. I personally don’t care that much about Bortles’ touchdowns total from 2015, and never did. I thought he showed flashes that season, but that overall he needed to improve in several key areas last season. He didn’t improve enough, and he enters 2017 still needing to make the same improvements. Focus on whether the Jaguars are converting third- and manageable situations next season. Keep an eye on whether Bortles is managing the pocket better than in his first few seasons. Look to see if he is putting the ball where his receivers can catch it and defenders can’t. Check if he is avoiding interceptions on early downs and in third-and-manageables. If he is doing those things, he will improve – and the guess here is that will lead to a better touchdown-interception ratio and a lot more victories.

Gabe from Washington, DC:

Pro Football Focus (everyone’s favorite source) ranks our offensive line as 13th in the league. Is that how you see it?

John: I can’t rank it that high. Yet.

John from Mexico, NY:

After signing multi-million dollar contracts, players should be responsible enough on their own to put in place their own protections. Looking at past cases where players file bankruptcy because they have spent more money than I’ll ever make in my life, you would think someone might be warned. Furthermore, how come the NFL has literally gotten so out of hand that players are warranted making hundreds of millions for playing a game? I love football but I believe that type of money could be better spent.

John: It’s an easy and common reaction to see a once-wealthy player go bankrupt and say, “How could that happen? Did they not learn from others’ experience?” The reality is there are many factors pulling very young people in a lot of directions, and young people don’t always learn from others’ mistakes. I’m not suggesting people cry for players who lose money, but neither do I think the situations merit derision or ridicule. As for the money players make, I don’t consider NFL player salaries “out of hand.” This is a country in which people are allowed to make what the market will bear. The market dictates that some professional athletes get paid a princely – nay, kingly – amount of money. Could it be “better-spent?” I suppose, but sports are big business and the people who are the best at that business make a lot of money. It doesn’t sit well with some people, and it doesn’t seem fair. But hey … life ain’t always fair these days. I can’t remember a time that it was.

Jim from Madison, WI:

Johnny-O, the Jaguars have been terrible and awful … actually they have been terrawful the last six seasons. Nothing will change this season with Blaine Bortles at the helm. Sorry, I misspelled Blake Bortles. When will we start talking in this column about the 2018 NFL Draft? I put the over/under at Week 8 of the season.

John: OK.

Bill from Hawthorn Woods, IL:

Whatever bet you lost to Shadrick must have been a big one. Is it hard to stomach being so nice for so long?

John: It doesn’t take losing a bet to realize that J.P. 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.

Cliff from Everywhere with a Helicopter:

For what it’s worth, the guitar riff in The Alarm’s “Rescue Me” is one of the greatest in rock history. Look it up, kiddies. I’m sure it’s on the YouTube.

John: If a man can’t change a world these days, I still believe a man can change his own destiny.

Keith from Palatka, FL:

I am beginning to wonder if Branden Albert will be the starting left tackle. We need to win NOW and Albert doesn’t seem to get it. All he has done so far is prove to the new regime that he is lazy (showed up out of shape) and unprepared (had not spent much time in the playbook). His lack of preparation coupled with non-communication went over like a lead balloon with Coughlin and Marrone. He looks more like a player that is ready to retire than one who is ready to compete with a hungry and talented rookie – Cam Robinson. Do you think Albert will be ready when training camp starts? If not, do you think he will beat out Robinson for left tackle? If he loses the competition for left tackle do you think he will still be on the team?

John: Albert actually does get it. He is a 10-year NFL veteran and his job isn’t to get ready or be shape or even show up for voluntary offseason activities. His job is to be prepared and in shape when the Jaguars play real games next season, and if he does that, Executive Vice President of Football Operations Tom Coughlin and Head Coach Doug Marrone will like him fine. I think Albert will be ready when training camp starts, and I think he will be the starting left tackle. If he loses the competition, then yeah … it’s a possibility he wouldn’t be around. I don’t see that scenario taking place.

Andrew from Mattoon, IL:

Q: “Are we not men?”

John: Of course we’re not. We are Devo.

Zain from Jamlando:

What if rookie contracts were shorter, but had team options at a pay raise – like first-round picks, or teams had a Bird rights-like clause similar to the NBA? Thinking three-year contracts across the board, plus top-15 positional average option for an additional year or two. Seems like that would be better for the average player, palatable for teams, although worse for sub-par players.

John: I get the idea that teams and the NFL Players Association like the current system when it comes to rookies. It solved two major issues – ludicrous rookie salaries and rookie holdouts – and drafted players are eligible to renegotiate contracts after three seasons. I don’t know that there is a perfect system, but this is pretty palpable compared to the previous one.

Scott from Brooklyn, NY:

I must say that J.P. 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.

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

Brian from Orlando, FL:

I am just a fan-n-the-attic (fanatic) and I am yelling down the access door to ask this question. If a player signs a $20 million contract and receives a $10 million dollar signing bonus does he get $30 million in total?

John: Not necessarily. While there are many factors such as workout bonuses, incentives and the like that ultimately determine how a player is paid, NFL players usually sign contracts in which they receive an up-front signing bonus and a yearly salary over the life of that contract. If the contract calls for a $10 million signing bonus and four years of the player earning $5 million a season, that generally would be reported as a “$30 million contract.” The player definitely would receive the $10 million signing bonus and almost definitely would play the first season and receive that $5 million. Because NFL contracts aren’t guaranteed, the player would then need to be on the roster each of the final three seasons to receive the $5 million salary for each season. It’s quite often the case that NFL players are released before the end of their contracts. Hence, the importance in the NFL of signing bonuses and big money in the early years of contracts. It is in that part of the contract where a players’ financial security can be found.

Ron from Jacksonville:

Big O, from a lifelong Vikings fan, it is still offensive pass interference.

John: You’re right. Pearson pushed off – and incidentally, Mel Gray didn’t catch the #$%^*&@ pass, either.
 
 

 

 

 
 

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O-Zone: I’ll be here all week

John Oehser Senior writer jaguars.com

JACKSONVILLE – Let’s get to it …

Julio from Oak Hills:
O, not a question – more a comment. It is my opinion that the most talented team does not win. It is the team that plays as a unit and with some grit. TC is preaching grit because he understands.

John: The Jaguars do appear likely to have increased grit this season. Jaguars Executive Vice President of Football Operations Tom Coughlin loves grit, and appears to have the ability to instill it. Head Coach Doug Marrone appears to be a grit instiller, too. Both men have gritty personas, and I think there’s a good chance the Jaguars take on that persona. Grit is awesome. Grit is important. But talent is damned important, too.

Logan from Wichita, KS:
T.J. Lang started as a defensive player and moved to guard and then to tackle. La’ell Collins played guard and tackle. Brandon Shreff played guard and center at Iowa as well as tackle. Osemile and Martin have successfully converted from tackle to guard with very little play there. But they also all knew at the combine that their skills better transferred to the interior line. Moving players around purely because you need someone to play the position or the towel boy comes into the starting lineup is not the best idea. Do I hope if the move is made that it works? HELL YES! GO JAGS! But history says it doesn’t look promising.

John: It’s “Scherff,” “Osemele” and “La-el” – and history doesn’t say that.

Scott from Aurora, IL:
I appreciate the reality of signing bonuses and how they count against the cap. I guess I just don’t understand the environment where teams are able to build flexibility for themselves into contracts, but players – unless they are supreme talents even by NFL standards – are not able to do the same. If a team is able to show a player the door after a certain point in the middle of a contract, a player should likewise be able to leave the team and move on at the same point.

John: I don’t know that it’s “fair” that teams can cut players while players must play for teams when under contract. I suppose life isn’t always fair, and I also suppose sometimes it’s important to be realistic. There is still an element in team sports that teams must have the ability to plan and secure players for the foreseeable future. The NFL Players Association understands this, and therefore has agreed to the current system. Players actually do have a choice: they can play under the current collectively bargained system or choose another profession in which they will make the same amount money. The fact that few such professions exists perhaps explains why so many players with NFL ability choose football as their profession.

Kevin from Section 124:
I want to give a one fer my Papa (William Donald White). He passed June 12. He wasn’t as much of a Jaguars fan as an NFL fan. He was an avid Gators supporter and introduced football to me at a young age. He had a humongous impact on my life and was always a part of it; he taught me to be an upstanding man. After he passed, I recovered a voicemail on my phone after a Jags win last year. In it, he says “How bout those Jaguars! I hope you enjoyed the game, and have a great rest of your night.” It will be something I keep forever. Now whenever I hear his voice … it’s tied to our love of football and my love of the Jags.

John: One fer Papa. Absolutely.

Emory from Jacksonville Beach, FL:
How is the indoor/outdoor practice facility coming along? Will it be ready for camp? We can’t afford to lose any practice time due to rain.

John: The flex field adjacent to EverBank Field is coming along fine. It is expected to be complete by mid-July, and I’ve heard nothing to indicate that won’t happen.

Jeff from Wake Forest, NC:
Manning is my Staubach. I feel your pain.

John: And I yours.

Zach from Jacksonville:
With the news of John Dorsey getting fired in Kansas City, could you possibly see the Jaguars making a position for him just like they did with John Idzik from the Jets? If the Jaguars have a bad season, could you possibly see Dorsey as the next general manager of the Jaguars?

John: I would be surprised if the Jaguars create another front-office position on that level. As for what would happen if the Jaguars had a bad season, it’s a little early to start speculating about thoughts that wouldn’t begin being thunk for quite some time yet.

Dude from Jacksonville:
Sometimes I ask myself: What would Oehser do? And then I don’t do it.

John: Smart.

Mark from Archer, FL:
John, I get wanting the five best offensive linemen on the field at one time. I truly hope, though, that the Jaguars keep Brandon Linder at center. He was ranked the fifth-best center in the NFL last season, and that was his first year playing center in the NFL. Imagine how much better he can be. He might be an elite guard also. But considering the center is far more important than the guard position. I would want my best lineman playing that position instead of guard.

John: I agree Linder should stay at center for the reason you cite, and as of right now – late June – I think you’ll get your wish.

Gabe from Washington, D.C.:
If we had two solid starting guards outside of Cam Robinson, would he be learning to play left tackle in the NFL? Couldn’t time spent learning guard hamper him in the long term? I know it’s common, but still. We want this guy to be an elite-level protector for a long time.

John: There’s no reason Robinson playing guard – if indeed he plays guard – has to hinder him at left tackle for the long term.

Mike from Atlanta, GA:
The Smiths, The Cure, New Order, Duran Duran. Which band had the most success in the 80s? Which band had more musical influence on those that came after them? Which band made the best music? The longevity of Duran Duran and The Cure is impressive. I think the originality, greatness and lyrical prose of The Smiths make them an all time great. I live Joy Division, but to this day I am still dancing at clubs to New Order. Lots of greatness in those four bands. What do you think?

John: Duran Duran was the most successful commercially, and because I haven’t religiously followed music in recent years, it’s hard for me to say which of the other three were most influential. New Order’s sound seems timeless, though I imagine Johnny Marr’s guitar-playing will make the Smiths influential far beyond my lifetime.

Colton from Jacksonville:
Hi John, I just want to ask for your general opinion on the growing list of popular quarterbacks coming out for next year’s draft.

John: I hear they’re supposed to be good and I hear the class as a whole could be one of the best in recent memory. I hear there is more than on potential franchise quarterback who could change a team’s direction. Sometimes you hear those things and the quarterbacks end up being great. Sometimes you hear those things and they’re not. We’ll see what people think in April – and then we still won’t know.

Sunil from Jacksonville:
Hello O! Sometimes during the dead zone, I get bored while driving to work and sing along with the Bangles hit, Manic Monday … even on a Tuesday or Wednesday. Is that okay? #DeadZone

John: No.

Travis from High Springs, FL:
Hi, John. What current running back would you say has the most similar running style to what we can expect to see out of Leonard Fournette this season? Adrian Peterson, Marshawn Lynch. There have been a lot of different comparisons so far. I was just wondering what your opinion was on who may have a similar style.

John: He reminds me some of Adrian Peterson, who has been special with a lot of speed and power but not mind-blowing miss-ability. Fournette at first glance seems similar. The thing about the great runners is many are doubted entering the NFL and show a special something once there that you couldn’t predict beyond doubt would work. They are just able to do it at the highest level, which means somehow, someway – a few times a game – making something from nothing. I think somewhere in his size and power Fournette has that, but we won’t know for sure until he starts doing it.

Chad from EverBank:
I must have missed John from Mexico, NY football question. John, do you have a go-to joke? My example is I’m watching football sitting with my dog. One peculiar thing about my dog is he has no nose. (This is where you ask, “How does he smell?”) To which, my reply would be, “Awful.” Football is fun.

John: I’ve heard that joke before more than once. I still laughed when I read it.
 
 

 

 

 
 

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O-Zone: Hype it up

John Oehser Senior writer jaguars.com

JACKSONVILLE – Let’s get to it …

Bill from Jacksonville:
John, NFL players play in the most dangerous league, with the least financial protections, and yet the NFL simply continues to grow in popularity and profit. How is it that players in the NFL – by far the most popular and profitable professional league in America – are represented by a union that offers the fewest protections and the least leverage? Thanks.

John: This answer won’t be a definitive explanation as I don’t pretend to be an expert in the evolution of league/union relations in the NBA, MLB and NHL. I do know this often becomes a topic at this time of year – the NBA free agency period – because NBA players often have it better than NFL players in terms of guaranteed contracts. A couple of factors play into it from an NFL perspective. One is that NFL teams hesitate to fully guarantee four-, five- or six-year contracts because football career spans are comparatively short; in the case of many free agents signing “second contracts” and therefore entering their fifth seasons, a player’s peak production often won’t last the length of a four-, five-, or six-year contract. NFL teams therefore sign players to big guaranteed money up front with the idea that they can get the player “off the books” and be free of a player’s salary-cap ramifications if the player is released after two or three years. The guaranteed up-front money is the “protection” in the NFL. That has been the system since free agency began in the 1990s. As to why NFL players and agents don’t leverage for more guaranteed money, my best theory is the players in position to leverage – elite quarterbacks – make enough in upfront bonus and guaranteed portions of the contract that they don’t have a pressing need to hold out for more guaranteed years. They also are more likely to see more contract years than other position players. Is this fair overall to NFL players? I would say elite players who sign second contracts typically make enough guaranteed money that I would define them as fairly compensated. Is it as fair as other leagues? I’m probably not smart enough to know what’s fair when it comes to those kinds of millions.

Nate from York, PA:
But Staubach!

John: You people are just mean.

Travis from High Springs, FL:
Hi John, I can’t believe it! Ike Taylor said on NFL Network Jalen Ramsey and A.J. Bouye were his top corner tandem in the league right now. I know they’re both young and haven’t even played a game together yet. But it’s nice to see the Jags get some national recognition for something good for a change.

John: Ike Taylor has been saying that for a few weeks now. While it’s probably premature to call Bouye/Ramsey the NFL’s best, it does show the potential of the pair.

Scott from Aurora, IL:
Who is the greater force: Tinker with a double-bladed battle axe or Shadrick on a mission to the soft serve machine?

John: While Shadrick does enjoy a good soft serve, you never bet against Tinker in anything. Besides, J.P. 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.

Galen from Colorado Springs, CO:
In response to the Derek-Carr-versus-Blake-Bortles comparison – if their situations were reversed, and Blake was playing behind one of the two best lines in football (Cowboys with No. 1) while Derek played behind our offensive line from recent years, I think the narrative around each quarterback would be quite a bit different. That said, I still think BB5 can improve to be the guy for our franchise and lead us to the playoffs. This is only his fourth year! Go JAGS!

John: It’s inaccurate to say the Jaguars’ offensive line has been elite in recent seasons. It’s just as inaccurate – and perhaps significantly more so – to say that is why Bortles is not considered elite.

Dave from Oviedo, FL:
Based on your age and favorite musicians, I feel it safe to say that little Johnny spent endless hours wide-eyed in front of the idiot box soaking up the glow of his MTV. Did early-MTV played a major role in shaping your musical tastes? #chicks4free

John: I was a junior at Episcopal High School when MTV first came available on Cablevision. I am as guilty as the rest of my generation of being glued to MTV for a time, but I can honestly say it did little to shape my musical tastes. My older brother, Don, gave me “My Aim is True” by Elvis Costello and “Road to Ruin” by the Ramones for Christmas in 1978, and my friend Tim Berg a few summers later introduced me to bands such as the Clash, Squeeze, Devo on a visit to Atlanta. That music shaped my musical interest through late high school and early college. The last time I remember any real awareness of MTV was the summer of 1984, when Prince’s “Purple Rain” and Springsteen’s “Born in the USA,” reigned supreme. If you were college age, which I was, it was difficult not to be aware of those albums – and I, like most of my generation, sung loudly whenever driving alone with “Let’s Go Crazy” on the radio. But for the most part, I can’t lay claim to being a huge Prince guy – and “Born in the USA” wasn’t really my Springsteen era. By that point, I was moving on to R.E.M., the Alarm and decidedly less MTV-friendly sounds.

Eric from St. Augustine, FL:
John, how could you leave Ernie Nevers off the list of great running backs? Since he retired, how many NFL championships have the Duluth Eskimos won?

John: I sense you’re kidding, but you may be right.

Dave from Arlington:
What makes the streets of Arlington so mean? And where are the meanest streets in the world? I’d take a guess at Where The Streets Have No Name?

John: I don’t know the meanest streets in the world, though I do know that when a pre-teen and teen-aged John Oehser was walking the mean streets of Arlington, he was not one to be reckoned with. Or maybe he was. Or maybe … come to think of it, no one sweated reckoning with him all that much.

Chris from Orlando, FL:
John you did not really answer Mark from Archer, FL question, so let me rephrase it. I believe he is referring but not mentioning the same scenario we had where David Garrard had a great year of 18 touchdowns to three interceptions in 2007. We then proceeded to give David a big contract and he gave us Blake Bortles-like touchdowns and interceptions. So, can you re-answer his question?

John: Mark expressed in his question worry about quarterback salaries getting out of control, and he also said he would want a few more years of consistency from Bortles before giving him a big contract. I answered the question by pointing out that quarterback contracts have long since been out of control. As far as worrying about Bortles getting a big contract off one good year … yes, that’s a possibility. It has happened before and if Bortles has a monster year it’s very likely he would get a big contract extension. That contract extension would make observers nervous. It would probably make those extending it nervous, but it would be extended because franchise quarterbacks are hard to find. Would Bortles play up to the level of that contract? I have no way to answer that, which probably means I’ll be asked to re-answer his question and then I’ll start getting nervous, too.

Rod from London, England:
Zone, Me wife Maggie May disagree with you at times, but I find a reason to believe. Seems like a long time. That’s alright. Tomorrow is a long time. I am very encouraged about the Jaguars this season. More importantly in any old Mandolin Wind, don’t you think Rod Stewart was underrated? (I know) I’m losing you, here, but, remember zone? Every picture tells a story … don’t it!

John: It does, and yes – Rod was underrated.

Jake from Illinois:
I think Doug said something like talented is what they call you until you actually achieve something (win). Thought that was pretty good. Now for the important stuff: when are you dropping the 2017 O-Zone hype video?

John: Jaguars Head Coach Doug Marrone actually did more than say that: he told the team that was the case during a team meeting shortly after he became interim coach. It was a pretty accurate way to set the tone that while the Jaguars were considered a talented team, they weren’t at the time a team that had achieved much with that talent. As for the hype video, we haven’t yet determined the when, ifs or whys. And there actually remains internal debate over just how much O-Zone needs to be hyped – or indeed, if it needs to be hyped at all.
 
 

 

 

 
 

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O-Zone: Great American

John Oehser Senior writer jaguars.com

JACKSONVILLE – Let’s get to it …

Micky from Jacksonville:
This time last year our hopes were so high and we really believed we had the talent to make some noise in a weak AFC South. So much of that “talent” has been upgraded. I don’t want to be negative; I also don’t want to be naïve. Is the talent on this roster as good as we seem to think? On talent alone, where would you rank us among the other 31 teams?
John: My ranking of the Jaguars’ talent: no longer at the bottom of the NFL, though perhaps not quite so close to the top as many observers believe. While it has been vogue for the last year and a half or so to call the Jaguars a talented team – and while many therefore believed they were “too talented” to go 3-13 last season – it’s more accurate to call the Jaguars a young team with potential. It indeed is a more talented roster than it was a few years back, but the reality is most of the “talent” remains unproven. The Jaguars enter 2017 with many players who may eventually be really good NFL players. Wide receiver Allen Robinson, cornerback Jalen Ramsey, linebacker Myles Jack, defensive end Yannick Ngakoue, wide receiver Marqise Lee, wide receiver Allen Hurns, running back Leonard Fournette, center Brandon Linder, cornerback A.J. Bouye and linebacker Telvin Smith all perhaps fit this description. Maybe quarterback Blake Bortles does, too. But few if any of those players have proven themselves elite over anything resembling an extended time. That makes this an intriguing season. If even most of the aforementioned players are as good as their potential, then the Jaguars are indeed an up-and-coming team. But a lot of those players must play at a high level this season to show they’re indeed on the way to becoming consistent, core players.

Michael from Jacksonville:
(On the J.P. cut and paste) He’s standing right behind you, isn’t he?

John: I’d better not say.

Gabe from Washington, DC:
Zone, who was the last Jaguars draft pick that the team re-signed?

John: The Jaguars in 2015 re-signed defensive end Tyson Alualu – their first-round selection in 2010 – to a two-year deal. Wide receiver Mike Thomas, a fourth-round selection in 2009, signed a contract extension halfway through his rookie deal, but his trade to the Detroit Lions in 2012 makes it hard to argue that the Jaguars re-signed him as a core player in the manner teams must do with draft selections for long-term success. The team also re-signed guard Uche Nwaneri – a fifth-round selection in 2007 – to a five-year extension during his rookie contract. The last players other than the aforementioned to be drafted by the Jaguars and re-signed to core-type contracts were running back tight end Marcedes Lewis and Maurice Jones-Drew, the team’s first- and second-round selections in 2006. And yes – that’s far too few core players selected for far too long a period.

John from Mexico, NY:
Hey, I know this is usually the dead zone where football topics get thrown out for humor and we talk about who’s got crappier music taste. Can we please focus on Jaguars football and topics of the like?

John: Sure, and toward that end, I’ll do as I always do in the O-Zone: Answer questions.

Logan from Wichita, KS:
My point is: teams that have success build around their players’ strengths rather than trying to force a square peg in a round hole. If you have a player that is good at ‘X,’ why would you move them away from ‘X?’ Every championship team uses the strengths of their players, right?

John: Absolutely. I’m assuming this email is in reference to the Jaguars possibly using Cam Robinson at guard for a short time and using Branden Albert at left tackle in the short term. Albert is indeed a good left tackle, which is why I think the Jaguars may opt to not move him away from that position.

Marc from Southside of Jacksonville:
I guess somebody should let Brandon Scherff, Kelechi Osemele, Zack Martin, La’Ell Collins and T.J. Lang know that they’ve been set up to fail, huh? That college-tackle-to-NFL-guard switch is pretty common these days and it doesn’t have to be a permanent switch. Osemele’s contract also means it doesn’t have to be dreaded from a business perspective for these young men.

John: Yes, I guess somebody should be made aware of this.

Nate from York, PA:
Staubach.

John: Watch yourself, Nate …

Scott from New York, NY:
Staubach,.. Staubach, Staubach!!

John: … you, too, Scott.

Scott from Aurora, IL:
Why are NFL contracts so one-sided in favor of the teams? What I mean is: why would a player sign a contract where Years 3 and 4, for example, have no guaranteed money, but are effectively team-only options? Why don’t players force player options for years where salaries are not guaranteed?

John: The guarantees for NFL players are in the signing bonuses. Seen from that angle, the contracts signed by players in high demand aren’t as one-sided as many believe.

Monatte from Jacksonville:
I am confused about our offseason acquisitions and releases. We had a top 10 defense last year but got rid of three of our starting four defensive linemen (including Sen’Derrick Marks) and got rid of our starting strong safety. We decided to upgrade in that area this year; I believe we did, but why not focus on the Achilles heel of our team: offense? It’s hard to get really excited when we are going to basically see the same offense besides left tackle and running back from last year. Am I the only one that thinks Kelvin Beachum was the 2nd best offensive lineman last year? And I don’t think Chris Ivory was that bad. They were not why the offense was pitiful last year. Why does everyone believe things will be any different from last year?

John: You make a lot of fair points, but here essentially was the reasoning behind the Jaguars’ offseason moves. The belief was that despite the No. 6 overall ranking, this was a defense that struggled to create turnovers and that allowed too many points – i.e., it was not an elite defense or a winning defense. The hope is adding players in unrestricted free agency such as defensive end Calais Campbell, cornerback A.J. Bouye and safety Barry Church– and allowing pass rushers Yannick Ngakoue and Dante Fowler Jr. to develop – will allow the defense to take a step from good to difference-making. As far as the offense, the Jaguars believe the way to improve is to improve the running game – and they believe the additions of Albert at tackle, Robinson somewhere on the offensive line, Leonard Fournette at running back and a fullback will help do that. Will those things work? I have no idea, and much obviously depends on quarterback Blake Bortles. Stay tuned.

Mark from Archer, FL:
John, I am worried that if Bortles has a better season he is going to want a contract similar to Derek Carr’s in Oakland. This worries me because Bortles thus far in his career has shown he is not anywhere near Carr’s level. Even if he does have a better season, I would want a few years of consistency before giving him a big contract. Do you think that Carr’s contract is the new standard for all quarterbacks, or is it going to just be for the more elite quarterbacks? I worry if all quarterbacks want that kind of money, even the mid-level ones, that things are really going to get carried away.

John: Carr’s contract will be a starting point for elite quarterbacks, but if you’re worried about quarterback contracts getting carried away, there’s no need: contracts at the position long have been skewed far too high, and mediocrity for decades now has been well-compensated. As far as Bortles, if he has a good enough season to merit a contract similar to that signed by Carr … well, let’s just say we’re a ways off from that and that it would be what is known as “a good problem to have.”

Andrew from Winning:
Surely you don’t think any future general manager in the NFL will gut their roster of veterans before replacing them with equally talented players? Nothing wrong with going young but it is pretty clear from this painfully long process, it is generally better to replace veterans like most NFL teams do.

John: I think it will be rare, but I think it will happen – and it may be happening as we speak. And don’t call me Shirley.

Dwayne from Jacksonville:
It’s good to see J.P. Shadrick receiving the respect he deserves. You ask for examples? You know that awkward time when refreshments are served and everyone hesitates to go first? Or when only one item is left and you kind of want it, but not if someone else really wants it? Well, when J.P is there, those moments are quickly resolved. He is, truly, a great American.

John: Sometimes, the readers are so good it’s scary.
 
 

 

 

 
 

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