Category: Uncategorized

O-Zone: Pretty cool

John Oehser Senior writer jaguars.com

JACKSONVILLE – Let’s get to it …

DUVAL DOOM from Section 217:
Your answer about waiting until August 1 to begin preparing shocked me. I have felt for some time it was unusually short-sighted of the owners to give in on all the practice time rules in the last Collective Bargaining Agreement as to me the quality of the game has really suffered since that time. I liked what Tony Boselli suggested this past Monday on 1010XL: EVERYONE reports on April 1 and begins working. Limit the on-field stuff if you must, but everyone is in the building, being coached and working out. Allow on-field practice at the current OTA schedule, but longer sessions. Then, break and come back for camp as normal. It’s a job. Go to work.

John: I’m sorry you’re shocked. Shock can be … well, shocking. But while I tend to agree that the quality of the play in the NFL has dipped a touch since the 2011 CBA, I attribute that more to reduced contact in practice – fewer “real practices,” if you will – than to anything that goes on in the offseason. I don’t mind Boselli’s suggestion, but it’s not dramatically different than what occurs now. His system I guess would have players reporting April 1 rather than mid-April – and I also guess attendance would be mandatory for all players. Most players report for the voluntary offseason sessions anyway. So, in the Jaguars’ world of 2017, the player most affected by Boselli’s theoretical changes would be Branden Albert because he has yet to report. The biggest thing that could help the quality of play would be more hitting in practice – and more contact practices overall. Still, I don’t see the league moving back toward that – or even toward more or longer practices – anytime soon. That doesn’t seem to be an area on which the NFL Players Association will want to budge.

Geoff from Jacksonville:
I don’t know how I feel about having two Brandons on the O-line. I don’t think that’s ever worked before.

John: Then I suppose it’s a good thing the Jaguars have a Brandon and a Branden.

CC from Duval:
People are really down on Dante Fowler Jr. because of a four-sack season, but they forget he was coming off of an injury that takes a full year after surgery to get back to their comfort way of playing. They also forget players such as J.J. Watt and Vic Beasley had four sacks their first year also; Beasley followed that with 15 sacks in his second season and we all know what Watt has done. Give Fowler a chance to adapt to the NFL and become fully healthy before we start throwing words like “bust” around. DTWD!

John: While I agree that Fowler can’t yet be called a bust, the stories of Watt and Beasley don’t automatically mean Fowler will go from a four-sack player last season to double digits. Being a year removed from a torn anterior cruciate ligament doesn’t guarantee that. The need for him to develop pass-rushing fundamentals is real, and he must do so to reach his potential.

Ben from Northside of Jax:
What are the minicamp dates/times and will they be open to the public?

John: June 13-15. No.

Mark from Jacksonville:
Hi John, I just saw a stat that Blake Bortles has only thrown five touchdowns when the Jags were winning. Do you think this has more to do with the play calling getting more conservative when the Jags are winning or an indication that Bortles only can score in “garbage” time? I found the stat very interesting.

John: I think that statistic mostly has to do with the fact that the Jaguars haven’t been ahead very much in the last few years. It’s difficult to throw touchdown passes with a lead when you rarely have leads.

Logan from Wichita, KS:
So, I have a what-if question. IF the Jaguars had won the Super Bowl in 1999, how do you think that would have changed where the Jaguars are now? I feel if we won the Super Bowl, the Jags’ first-round pick in 2000 would have not been R.J. Soward (the signal of the start of the end of the Jaguars being great). We would have gone linebacker or taken Dennis Northcutt (the clearly better receiver available at the end of Round 1). In that case, we also pay less and could afford to keep our defense solid, and I think we would have built a dynasty on the shoulders of Mark Brunell and Fred Taylor.

John: I doubt a Super Bowl victory following the 1999 season would have changed what was to come for the Jaguars. First, I don’t know that it would have prevented then-Jaguars Head Coach Tom Coughlin from wanting the speed/quickness element he felt Soward would bring; more likely, facing the St. Louis Rams in that Super Bowl would have made him want it more. Second, the end of the Jaguars’ initial run of success actually was brought about by the decline of an offensive line that lost both Leon Searcy and Tony Boselli in a brief period as well as the obvious effect of losing players such as Seth Payne, Gary Walker, Keenan McCardell and so on as salary-cap constraints began to fully take hold. If the Jaguars had won that Super Bowl, the change would have been a four-year run remembered by a lot more people as it should be remembered – as a remarkable early run of success for an expansion franchise and as a remarkably talented, entertaining team. It wouldn’t have done much beyond that.

David from Orlando, FL:
Hey O-man, we’re entering the rainy season. We can’t afford to lose practice time. When will the indoor facilities be ready?

John: The Jaguars haven’t missed any practice time during 2017 OTAs; they instead have moved practice from 11 a.m. to 8:45 a.m. The indoor facility is expected to be ready around mid-summer.

Daniel from Urbandale, IA:
The preseason is a bit like that first HR interview. It won’t get you the job but it can cost you the job. Agree?

John: No.

Jesse from Layton:
As I was listening to Poz’s recent talk with the media after the eighth OTA practice, the thought occurred to me: After he is done with football, if Poz wanted to pursue a coaching career he could be phenomenal. He seems to have a very good cerebral grasp on the game and articulates thoughts very well. Has he ever expressed a desire to coach after his playing days are done?

John: It seems to me I have asked Paul Posluszny about this in the past, and it seems he has said he’s not sure that’s a direction he wants to pursue. I agree with you that I think he would be a very good coach. At the same time, he indeed is articulate, intelligent and willing to work tirelessly. Those are traits that could lead to success in any number of pursuits.

Samwise from Shire:
With Barry Church and Tashaun Gipson out, do you know if James Sample has gotten more reps? I know he is just in pajamas, but how does he look?

John: Offseason media policies prevent us from saying too much about repetitions and other practice details, but the absence of Church and Gipson has given all other Jaguars safeties more opportunities. When Head Coach Doug Marrone discussed the issue recently, he talked extensively about Peyton Thompson and Jarrod Wilson and not much about James Sample. That’s not a definitive statement on Sample, but he talked more about Wilson and Thompson.

Aaron from Aldie:
Because Blake Bortles was our best option at quarterback, for me it takes the wind out of the sails. It’s probably more likely that we will have a losing season more so than a winning season. Sure we may get three more wins, but the upcoming season feels very ho-hum. The lone exceptions: Leonard Fournette and our defense! Anything else?

John: That’s a fair way to look at it, because Bortles and the Jaguars have struggled a great deal in recent seasons. For that reason, they must earn offseason enthusiasm. But if Fournette and the defense are good enough to merit your exclamation points(!), that could earn a lot more excitement than you indicate. And I do think the Jaguars will win substantially more than three games this season.

Jason from Orlando, FL:
O let me know; trying to settle an argument. If they feel like it makes the line better to move Linder to guard; why not kick the tires on Nick Mangold?

John: They don’t think he will help at this point in his career. That’s almost always the reason teams don’t pursue players. Mangold, remember, is in his 12th season. Players don’t play at a high level forever.

Dave from Orlando, FL:
O-man, have you stepped foot in Daily’s Place and what are your thoughts?

John: Daily’s Place is cool. I like it. More importantly, because of its sightlines and unique atmosphere, artists and fans seem to like a lot, too.

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O-Zone: No worries

John Oehser Senior writer jaguars.com

JACKSONVILLE – Let’s get to it …

Rob from Brunswick, GA:
There are lots of posts on Facebook groups and general chatter about us bringing in basically any decent wide receiver that gets cut: Jeremy Maclin, Victor Cruz, etc. I personally think that’s absurd, considering wide receiver is easily our most talented and deepest position – even last year, but especially now with Dede Westbrook on board. What is the position where you feel we could or perhaps should still make a move in free agency for the right player?

John: Indeed … ‘tis the NFL offseason and the NFL offseason ‘tis the time for chatter. But I don’t know that the Jaguars’ Facebook chatter – or any other Jaguars chatter, for that matter – is limited to wide receiver. Whenever a player with the slightest name recognition is released this time of year, chatter is pretty much off the charts. Could the Jaguars use a big-time, experienced, reliable veteran receiver? Sure, if he’s playing at a high level. Are teams going to release, big-time, experienced, reliable high-level players in June? Or ever? That’s a different question. As for the strengths of the Jaguars’ various positions, I’m not as sold as you on wide receiver being “easily” the most-talented group. The Jaguars have potential and some proven production there, but not much more than at, say, secondary and defensive line. Where could the Jaguars make a move in free agency for the right player? I suppose they could do it anywhere for depth, though I would be surprised if anyone signed now makes a huge splash at any position.

Robert from Fleming Island, FL:
Coach Marrone’s press conferences have shown me someone who is “comfortable in his own shoes:” introspective, honest, and demanding while holding everyone to be fully accountable as professionals. What’s your take on how well our team will react to that approach?

John: I have said often in this forum I believe Jaguars players will respond to Head Coach Doug Marrone’s approach because there’s no reason they wouldn’t respond. He is a new head coach and therefore a new voice; players – people in general, actually – typically respond to a new voice. He also as you noted brings an honest, demanding approach and seems to treat players like professionals and adults. Players tend to respond to that. Remember, though: players responded to former head coach Gus Bradley for quite a while and players generally speaking respond to most NFL head coaches for at least some time. Teams must perform on the field and win for players to continue responding to coaches. Belief and response only lasts so long in the face of losing.

Don from Ponte Vedra Beach, FL:
I think we need to fire Tom Coughlin and Doug Marrone and hire that guy I talked to in the grocery store. Man, that guy had all the answers. He is a janitor right now but he has a very high ceiling. Impressive dude who has a scooter and soon with his promotion he can buy a car. He really has all the answers. He knows a heck of a lot more about football than soon to be Hall-of-Famer Tom Coughlin and Doug Marrone. I think his name Billy or Bob or maybe it was Billybob. Just let me know before some NFL team snatches him up. He played soccer in high school so he gets it.

John: His name was William. He knows his stuff.

Stephen from Jacksonville:
If the Music City Miracle had not happened and the Jaguars played someone other than the Titans in the 2000 AFC championship game, do you think they would have played in Super Bowl XXXIV? How do you think the 1999 Jaguars would have fared against the Rams and the Greatest Show on Turf?

John: The Buffalo Bills lost to the Tennessee Titans in the game known as the Music City MiracIe, and the Bills would have played Indianapolis the following week for a spot in the AFC Championship Game against the Jaguars. Bills-Colts would have been played at the RCA Dome in Indianapolis, so I suppose the Colts would have had the edge. I do think the Jaguars would have beaten the Colts in that matchup, mainly because I think the Jaguars matched up well against most of the AFC that season – with the Titans being an obvious exception. As far as the Jaguars against the eventual Super Bowl champion St. Louis Rams, I would have given the edge to the Rams because of exceptional speed and explosiveness on offense. But would the Jaguars have had a real chance? Obviously. Could they have won? Absolutely.

Larry from Brunswick, GA:
Hello John, is there any possibility that Jacksonville will make a move to prior to summer camp to bring in another quarterback or center?

John: Is there any possibility? Sure. Is it likely? No.

Rob from Orange Park, FL:
Not sure how much access you have to the locker room, but what is your sense of the locker room’s “feel” (attitude, morale, confidence, etc.) compared to the last several years. Mostly wondering how the coaching changes have affected the culture. Thanks!

John: In more than two decades covering the NFL I’ve come to find the “culture” of teams most offseasons is similar: hope reigns supreme. That hope is usually accompanied for weak teams by a confidence of improvement and for stronger teams for postseason appearances and Super Bowl contention. The Jaguars’ past two offseasons had a terrific culture, positive attitude, wealth of confidence, etc., etc, etc. That overall forward-moving, good feeling under Bradley really only waned last season when it became evident during a long losing slide that what they originally believed would work wouldn’t. The culture, confidence and morale again appear positive. The players seem to have responded to Marrone’s approach and there’s a general belief that the roster is strong enough to compete and win games. They are saying the right things about Marrone’s approach and I sense they mean what they say. Does that mean the Jaguars will win? That’s another question entirely.

Gabe from Washington, DC:
If Dante Fowler Jr. does not ever beat out Yannick Ngakoue for the starting weak-side defensive end spot, how likely do you think it is that the Jaguars sign him to a second contract to play a different position (in a couple years)?

John: Not very.

Justin from Hampton, VA:
Colin Kaepernick is still unsigned. The Jags should really consider bringing him in to compete with Blake Bortles. It’s proven with a supporting cast and tough defense that Kaepernick can lead a team to the Super Bowl, let alone the playoffs. People are scared to sign him because of the negative attention. I really would like for us to be the team to say “this guy didn’t commit a crime;” let’s bring him in to compete! I know our defense and offensive weapons would appreciate it; some fans will not, but it’s about putting your team in the best position to win! Even Pete Carroll believes he is still a starter in the NFL. How do you feel about the possibility?

John: I don’t believe the Jaguars not signing Kaepernick is an off-field issue, though I don’t doubt there would be fall-out and negative reaction. I do believe it’s a lot more about not believing he’s an upgrade over what’s already here.

Brandon from Washington, DC:
I just want it to be known – and maybe it’s an uncommon position to take – but I really like what the Jaguars are doing with their offensive line. To me, it seems like they are building from the inside out with young talent at the guard and center positions (Linder, Tyler Shatley, A.J. Cann, etc.) with some veteran leadership on the outside at the tackle spots via (Jeremy Parnell/Albert). Got a feeling next year the Jags are going to draft some young tackles to develop into future starters.

John: I think the Jaguars drafted their future left tackle in Cam Robinson this year.

Glen from Orange Park, FL:
John, what is the difference in skill sets for an outside receiver and a slot receiver? Is the difference large enough that the three best receivers may not be the most productive on the field at the same time? In four wide-receiver sets do we typically have two slot wide receivers or three outside?

John: This can differ from team to team depending on the skill sets of a team’s receivers. A team ideally would have two outside receivers with speed, length and great hands with a slot receiver who was quick, strong and durable enough to take the punishment necessary as inside receiver. The Jaguars ideally last season would have had some combination of Allen Hurns, Allen Robinson and Marqise Lee outside with Rashad Greene in the slot; instead, it worked out that Hurns, Robinson and Lee played most of the repetitions with Hurns moving inside to the slot when all three were playing at the same time.

Scott from Jacksonville:
I think you just got called Ophelia, and I was wondering how you felt about that?

John: It’s whatever.

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O-Zone: A lot of truth

John Oehser Senior writer jaguars.com

JACKSONVILLE – Let’s get to it …

Bruce from Green Cove Springs, FL:
I pity the odds-makers right now. How do you predict the Jaguars’ season? If Blake Bortles shows no significant improvement, if the offensive line isn’t effective enough to allow Leonard Fournette to showcase his talent, if the defense fails to generate an effective pass rush… it could be another three- or four-win season. With improved quarterback, offensive line and running-back play, with an upgraded pressuring defense, with a reduction in penalties and turnovers, an 8-8 season seems a reasonable expectation. But with so many remaining questions, how can one even guess at the ceiling? On paper, the talent seems sufficient for 10-to-11 wins and a playoff spot. John, you are notoriously conservative on this, but tell us: if this team makes all the desired improvements, what is the ceiling?

John: I’m notoriously conservative in projecting the Jaguars’ record because while I do think the roster is improved, I also know a team’s record often is more reflective of a few positions than the entire roster. Those positions are often quarterback and pass rush, and those are key areas when it comes to projecting the Jaguars’ record in 2017. I right now see 8-8 or 9-7 as the realistic ceiling because it’s hard for me to project a dramatic improvement from Bortles in terms of decision-making, key plays and awareness until he shows it – and it’s hard to project this team having a “close-the-door, end-the-game” pass rush until it shows it. Those are often the difference in close games, and it stands to reason the Jaguars will play a lot of close games; they sure played a lot of them last season. As for your question – “if the team makes all of the desired improvements, what is the ceiling?” … well, if the Jaguars improve in all of the areas you mention, they’ll be really good. It’s hard to improve drastically in all those areas; if it was easy, all teams would do it. I absolutely don’t see a three- or four-victory season for the Jaguars this season. I think the defensive improvements and the addition of Fournette will get them beyond that. But above 8-8 or 9-7? I’ll need to see significant improvement from the aforementioned areas before I project that.

Billy from Jacksonville:
O-feel-ya, have you recovered from all the negativity of last week yet? You OK, O-dawg? Making sure my main O-dude is cool! OK?

John: Was last week negative? I hadn’t noticed.

Bill from Jacksonville:
John, here’s the problem with going off the last two games Blake played last season: that’s not “franchise-quarterback” play. “Managing” the game for two touchdowns over two games isn’t going to win you a Super Bowl, not in today’s NFL. Thanks. Go Jags!

John: No one has said Bortles played like a franchise quarterback at any point last season. We’re talking about finding a starting point, Bill.

Andy from St. Augustine, FL:
Brandon Linder is working at guard and the rumor is we may end up starting Luke Bowanko or Tyler Shatley at center. If only we had an opportunity to sign a Pro Bowl center last year, our offensive line would be so much better right now. Alex Mack at center and Linder at guard would have been SO much better than Linder/Joeckel last year or any combination we might have this year. Before you answer hindsight is 20/20, it seemed like everyone thought signing Mack last year was a no brainer – except our front office.

John: OK.

Jared from O-Town:
Hey, John: I was wondering just how much one-on-one time would a player like Dante Fowler Jr. get from coaches to work on his technique? Are coaches able to show him different pass rush moves or is this something he must do on his own?

John: Coaches certainly work with Fowler one-on-one. There are periods of individual work early in many practices. Fowler also worked on his own shortly after the regular season before reporting for the Jaguars’ offseason program.

William from Yulee, FL:
Mr. O, which running back not named Fournette will get more carries next season, Yeldon or Ivory?

John: Ivory.

Mike from Atlanta, GA:
Do you feel like people are changing the meaning of words to make them mean what they want them to mean? First it was Branden Albert, and now it’s the secondary. I think for some people the definition of the word “voluntary” has shifted to mean what United Airlines thinks it means.

John: Here’s what I think should lend perspective on the ongoing angst over offseason participation: Jaguars Head Coach Doug Marrone said last week he doesn’t consider what the Jaguars are doing during organized team activities and minicamp “practice.” Yes, it’s important. Yes, players need to know what’s going on. Yes, they need to be ready to practice come July. Yes, they need to understand the assignments and the scheme. Yes, it is better for players to attend than to not attend. But the fact that a few players are running on the side as opposed to being on the field during OTA practices is not going to make a mammoth difference next season.

Scott from Fernandina Beach, FL:
Hi John, I think an improved offensive line will not only help Blake and the running game, but will also help the defense. We had far too many three-and-outs last year that put our defense back on the field too quickly. I think the wear and tear on the defense showed up late in games last year.

John: Hi, Scott. I think you’re right.

Joy from Jacksonville:
Someone should get a shot of Novak Djokovic’s coach at the French Open. Jags jacket every day. It seems he is a local. Kinda cool.

John: I assume you’re referring to David Witt, who actually is Venus Williams’ coach. Witt played tennis at Fletcher High School in the early 1990s, and while I never have seen him cite an interview with yours truly as a career highlight, I assume it ranks as such. Witt currently lives in Ponte Vedra and is a big Jaguars supporter. And, yes … he often can be seen at the Grand Slams in Williams’ box sporting Jaguars garb. And yes … it’s very cool.

Jim from Glass:
Sir, the shortest distance between two points is a straight line. You have written that certain players are not good edge rushers but provide an interior rush to the passer disrupting the offense interior line causing the pocket to collapse around the quarterback. I guess those guard/center combinations covering the eight/nine-holes areas are as important as pulling for sweeps, traps, screens, stunts, backside linebacker/defensive end stunts and downfield blocking. John, comments in statements seem a little well … unappreciative of the skill set and contributions of players like Conrad Dobler, Fuzzy Thurston among others. Love the O-Zone.

John: Guards are important in the modern NFL. Centers are, too. But in an age in which protecting the quarterback is paramount, the tackle positions are generally considered more important. Marrone on Friday, in fact, talked of left and right tackle being the most important positions – in that order – with the interior positions being closer to interchangeable. I put center a little higher than that, but hey … I’m just a senior writer. I’ll defer on this one.

Pedal Bin from Farnborough, Hampshire, UK:
Oh Mighty O, Bortles is clearly going to be the captain of the offense and no one is going to mess with Carson Tinker as captain of the Special Teams. So you have Myles Jack directing the defense, Telvin Smith firing up the defense and Poz still keeping a firm hand on the tiller (and an arm round Jack). So who do you think will be the captain of the defense?

John: I wouldn’t rule out Smith. I also wouldn’t rule out Calais Campbell.

Geoff from Orlando, FL:
I for one am really looking to see what Bowanko can do after a few years as a jar on the shelf. When he played as a rookie, I seem to remember Jeff Lageman lauding his feet and athletic ability. We even ran run plays were he pulled from the center spot. He was just a bit undersized and got pushed around a bit, couldn’t hold up physically against bigger tackles. I bet three years in an NFL strength-and-conditioning program has gotten him big enough to compete and with his feet. I could see him being the Day One center.

John: I’m not ruling out the possibility of Bowanko playing a role at center this season. But I’m even less not ruling out Tyler Shatley playing a role at center this season.

J.B. from Jacksonville:
Would not the NFL be just as entertaining if they waited until August 1 to begin getting ready for the season? I’ve thought, for a few years, all the preparations starting in May are really unnecessary for the players. Your take?

John: My take? Your closer to the truth than many in the NFL would like to admit.

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O-Zone: New crew

John Oehser Senior writer jaguars.com

JACKSONVILLE – Let’s get to it …

Pradeep from Bangalore, India:
Hey, John, why is Coach Marrone is making Brandon Linder take snaps at left guard? Most people outside Jaguars called Linder the only bright spot in last year’s porous offensive line. If players are toggled between two positions every year, doesn’t it send a wrong message to the players and confuse them? For me, it appears a lack of vision or trust. We aren’t allowing players to master the art for excelling in one position.

John: The Jaguars are working Linder at guard and center for the same reason they’re working Luke Bowanko, A.J. Cann, Patrick Omameh and Tyler Shatley at multiple positions along the offensive line during organized team activities: they’re trying to ensure they have the best five players starting there next season. As far as sending a wrong message or confusing Linder, I wouldn’t worry about that. Marrone on Friday said the positive about Linder is he was one of the best guards in the NFL when he played there and one of the best centers in the NFL when he played there. Linder’s a really good player at both positions. A few days working at different positions without pads won’t derail that.

C.C. from Duval:
Hey, O! Did Malik Jackson switch to his old number, 97? If that’s so, how does it work with all the fans who purchased his No. 90 jersey? Do they get a chance to exchange them for free? My wife asked me and I honestly didn’t know the answer. I feel like I should know this answer already.

John: Um …

Micky from Jacksonville:
Stronger position group: Defensive line or wide receiver? Should secondary be in the conversation?

John: Defensive line and wide receiver are close, and I’d give the edge to defensive line because of experience – and because players such as Calais Campbell and Jackson have had multiple seasons playing at a high level whereas none of the Jaguars’ wide receivers has had more than one really, really good season. Secondary has the potential to be in the conversation and it could clearly be the best position on the team by midseason. I want to see the group play together before anointing it the best, but it has a chance.

Joe from Hall of Fame City, OH:
What’s up, Mr. O? DM said it best. We are here to play WINNING FOOTBALL!!!!! It’s about time someone said it. I’m really excited about this year. Can’t you tell with the whole capital letters and exclamation point thing!!

John: YES!!!

Rob from Palm Bay, FL:
Big O, why is it so hard for the majority of this fan base to realize that A, Brandon Albert is a professional and seeking to renegotiate his contract so he is obviously going to show up in shape and ready to go; otherwise he has no validation for a better contract; B, the NFL is a business and has a Player’s Association; players don’t always necessarily hold out because THEY want to be paid more, but also to raise the benchmark of salary for the entire POSITION; C, at this point, everything is VOLUNTARY; this man is hated for no reason before he even has played a down of football for the team.

John: I can’t honestly say Albert is doing what he’s doing for the good of the entire players’ association. I can say that a NFL player who opts not to attend voluntary activities because he wants a new contract is well within his rights. Is Albert hated by Jaguars fans? I don’t know about that. Fans are annoyed now. If he attends all mandatory activities and plays well at left tackle next season, that feeling will change in a hurry.

Logan from Wichita, KS:
To be fair, I said Dante Fowler Jr. “at this point” is a bust. That doesn’t mean he is cemented as a bust in my mind. If he improves and eliminates bone-headed plays, he can be a superstar. But as far as his sack numbers last season … even a blind squirrel can find a nut. His sacks were three on plays that the quarterback was in the pocket for at least 20 seconds (anyone in the NFL can get a coverage sack if given that long to run around) and his one lone good sack is my point of even a blind squirrel can find a nut. Don’t get me wrong. I really, really like Fowler and want him to be a cornerstone of our defense, but right now he simply isn’t there and it’s a big disappointment.

John: Fowler struggled for sacks in his first NFL season on the field. Many, many, many pass rushers have struggled similarly in their first NFL seasons. If Fowler doesn’t improve, he’s a disappointment. Right now, he’s a pretty typical young player.

Chris from Jacksonville:
What time do the players have practice? Just curious.

John: OTA practices begin at 11 a.m. and are closed to the public.

Cliff from Las Vegas, NV:
I get that the Jaguars see Marqise Lee as an outside receiver. However, shouldn’t the goal be to have the best football players on the field? Over the last ten years, touchdowns from the slot have doubled, and we are watching outside guys move in like Doug Baldwin, Larry Fitzgerald – and even Calvin Johnson did it. I like the speedy little guys like Greene and Westbrook, but I gladly take Lee over them.

John: Lee has the skill set to play the slot, but I see him better suited to the outside. He has smooth, sleek speed and athleticism and the ability to separate on the outside. He could do either inside or outside, but I’d like to see what Lee can do for a full season healthy starting predominantly on the outside before I move him inside.

Scott from Aurora, IL:
Would you rather have a quarterback who experiences mental lapses with decisions and pocket presence, but has superb arm talent (strength, accuracy, touch) or someone with superb mental acuity and average arm talent?

John: The latter – and it’s not close.

Glen from Orange Park, FL:
I understand the logic to not taking chances with injuries in May, June, or any time of year. It’s how the Jags have done things for the last several years. My point is we aren’t good enough to do that yet and expect to improve six or seven games this year. We only take big steps forward with a lot more grit and yes, maybe even taking some risks with minor injuries not getting worse. It’s difficult to believe that four out of the five starters in our nickel secondary all had significant injuries to start OTAs. My optimism is well in check knowing we cannot catch and pass the other three teams in our division if we aren’t fully committed right now and every day going forward. Maybe we can still improve three games and call it a move in the right direction. Agreed?

John: I’m sorry you find the Jaguars’ injury situation difficult to believe, but the players in the secondary are here for the offseason program; they’re just not practicing. I can’t for the life of me figure why they would be here at the facility, meeting and going through all other activities and not practicing if there wasn’t legitimate reason they weren’t practicing. But sure … maybe they’re all collectively lying. As for your expectations for the season, I have no idea what the Jaguars’ record will be. I do know that if they don’t improve by more than three games, it won’t be because Tashaun Gipson and Barry Church missed some non-padded practices in May and June.

Jeff from Orange, CA:
Are there any particular signs we should look for from Blake Bortles in preseason games that would indicate progress, or do we basically need to wait for the regular season? As I remember it, Bortles had a pretty solid showing in last year’s preseason that had many believing he was going to take the next step.

John: Bortles in a no-win situation in preseason. If he looks bad, that will be a bad sign. If he looks good, it honestly won’t matter much until the regular season. It all about what happens in the regular season for Bortles. That’s all that matters.

Otto from Ponte Vedra, FL:
John, I’m still somewhat skeptical about our O line. I am getting the impression the powers that be seem to feel we are somewhat set. I’m looking at the same crew from last year. It was an obvious mistake not to go after Osemele or Mack last year. Could have had Feeney this year in draft. What about Mangold on a one-year deal? I do trust in TC. We shall see.

John: You’re looking at a different crew on the offensive line than I see. I see Brandon Albert, Cam Robinson, Brandon Linder, A.J. Cann and Jermey Parnell as the likely starters. Albert and Robinson did not start for the Jaguars last season, so that’s a 40 percent turnover. That’s not a 100 percent overhaul, but it is by no means the “same old crew.”

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O-Zone: Keen insight

John Oehser Senior writer jaguars.com

JACKSONVILLE – Let’s get to it …

Tony from Los Angeles, CA:

#ReasonForOptimism. O Person! I watched my recording of the Christmas Eve game against the Titans last week (because the offseason is long). There were a number of plays in that game where Blake threw the ball at the feet of the running back when the play he wanted wasn’t there. He did this when there still seemed to be time left to try and make a play. My knee-jerk reaction was, “C’mon Blake. Make something happen!” I then remembered, “Oh yeah, we win this game in a dominant fashion.” And Blake had no turnovers in that game. Seems like I remember some similar plays in the last game of the season. One of the first things Tom Coughlin said when he came back was, “Blake just needs to learn that it’s okay to punt sometimes.” Maybe Blake started to figure that out at the end of last season. Though Blake may not be the most accurate passer, or maybe not even as accurate as my little sister, I feel like he’s athletic enough to win some games when you remove the bonehead plays that occur when a guy is trying to put the whole game on his shoulders. It seems he may have started to figure that out at the end of last season. Here’s one for a bonehead-free Blake Bortles season.

John: This gets near the heart of a key to the Jaguars’ offseason – and, of course, the 2017 season. The Jaguars are putting a lot of faith in the idea that Bortles is more the quarterback he was in the last two games of last season than the one he was in the first 14. Part of his improvement during those two games was accuracy and efficiency; the first half against Tennessee was one of the best stretches of his career. But Bortles also did not throw an interception in either of those two games. He wasn’t all-world, but neither was he making obvious, awful mistakes that cost the Jaguars momentum and eventually any chance to win. Whatever formula the Jaguars find for success next season – if indeed they find a formula for success – more interception-free games from Bortles must be a big part of it.

Chris from Mandarin, FL:

Is Jalen Ramsey the type of cornerback that could reach 20 passes defensed in a season multiple times in his career; just how high do you think his ceiling is, John?

John: Passes defensed are a tricky statistic for a cornerback because opportunities can be out of his control. That’s particularly true for a player such as Ramsey, whose reputation seems likely to be such that quarterbacks will throw away from him a lot. If he gets opportunities at the rate he did last season, sure … he can reach 20 passes defensed. He reached 14 as a rookie, which is a good number. What’s his ceiling? He has a chance to be a position-defining player for the time he plays. He’s that talented.

Jon from Fort Stewart, GA:

My Army career is almost coming to an end, so it’s time to look to the future. I was thinking you could use an assistant and I would come on the cheap. Here’s what I bring to the plate: One, I can browse the Internet and find funny videos for you to laugh at; two, I can run down to the cafeteria and grab you a bowl of soft serve at a moment’s notice; three, every time you make a point I can stand behind you and yell “YEAH.” Just something to chew on.

John: This is tempting, but what would be left for Sexton to do?

Nathan from Provo, UT:

John, the only list the Jags will make next year is the Top 10 Defense and Top 10 Offense list. And both based on total yards. This is not “fanning.” It’s finally coming together. The identity of the Jaguars is stop the run, run the ball explosively. Marcus Stroud, John Henderson, Fred Taylor, Brad Meester, Daryl Smith, MJD, Double D, Mathis, T.B. … Leonard Fournette, Allen Robinson, Blake Bortles. The next “Big Three.” Along with the deepest, all-around defensive starting lineup this team has seen in ten years, the Jags are primed to win now. And I think that is what bad-ass Telvin Smith is saying. What?

John: #DTWD

Ricky from Fairport, NY:

It was revealed this week that running back Ameer Abdullah for the Detroit Lions had a Lis Franc injury to his foot in Week 2 that the team kept secret for the entire year. My question is: Is that an NFL violation of the weekly injury report? And by the way, what is the purpose of the injury report? It seems the only ones who really benefit from it are the gamblers. Thoughts?

John: League policy is a player must be listed on the practice report (injury report) if he has a significant or noteworthy injury “even if he fully participates in practice and the team expects that he will play in the team’s next game.” If Abdullah’s injury was significant and noteworthy, it is a violation. Whether the Lions will be penalized, I have no idea. The purpose of the injury report is to protect the integrity of the game, and while gamblers “theoretically” could benefit from the injury report so, too, could fantasy footballers, passionate fans and media/observers following the league. The injury report isn’t perfect, but in a league in which the instinct of many coaches and front-office types is to say as little as possible about anything imaginable, the absence of an injury report would make accurate injury information so unattainable as to be ridiculous.

David from Orlando, FL:

Thinking back to the 2016 draft, most agreed that Jalen Ramsey and Myles Jack were “no-brainer” selections. I kinda feel that opportunity knocked in 2014 with Kahlil Mack and in 2017 with Forrest Lamp and Dan Feeney – except in these situations, we didn’t take them. I think much of the draft is like rolling the dice, but when things fall your way in the draft you’ve to be able to capitalize. I know the decision makers have much more info than any of us, but if that info is leading to bad decisions, what is it worth? Thoughts?

John: No-brainer draft decisions are a myth – at least until well after the draft has taken place. If Forrest Lamp and Dan Feeney are good, they’ll look like no-brainers. If they’re not, they’ll make the teams that picked them look foolish.

Hugo from Albuquerque, NM:

O-dude, it’s the offseason and I’ve been crunching numbers. In the drafts between the year 2000 and 2014, a total of 187 quarterbacks were drafted with about 23 successful quarterbacks in that span. This means that 12.3 percent of quarterbacks drafted became capable starters with 65.2 percent being first-rounders. It’s really hard to find quarterbacks, isn’t it?

John: Yes.

Chad from Palatka, FL:

What would an undrafted free agent deal look like? Do some teams offer better undrafted free agent deals or are they all the same?

John: Most undrafted rookies sign contracts that pay a minimum – or very close to minimum – base salary provided they make the final roster. But teams do offer larger up-front, guaranteed signing bonuses to the better undrafted rookies. That’s the biggest difference in the deals for those players.

Mike from Atlanta, GA:

Why do some people think public displays of anger and yelling at grown men are effective at getting men to do their jobs? Do you have to have your boss screaming at you two feet away because if he doesn’t, you will just sit on your butt and do nothing all day?

John: Actually …

Ed from Ponte Vedra, FL:

I expected Derrick Henry to have a much better impact on the Titans’ offense last year. In your opinion, are we expecting much more from Leonard Fournette first year? How do they compare or not?

John: Yes, the Jaguars are expecting much more from Fournette than the Titans got from Henry last season. The Titans signed Demarco Murray last offseason with the idea he would be their feature back, and that was the role Murray played; the plan all along was for Henry to be more of a complementary back. Fournette was the No. 4 overall selection in the draft. I would be stunned if he doesn’t start the opener. He’s not here to be the other guy. He’s here to be The Guy.

Alan from Reno, NV:

I have a couple of questions. Remember that one time we didn’t want Tim Tebow because of his goofy throwing motion?…even though he won 8 games. But we went ahead and got Blake and his goofy throwing motion, and can’t win more than 5. Maybe Shad should build something else compleatly unrelated to football and pay some more over the hill players to take a break. He can signed me I promise I won’t produce either. What 3 games do you think will get lucky on this year when we go 3-13 again?

John: #hottakes

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O-Zone: Just for fun

John Oehser Senior writer jaguars.com

JACKSONVILLE – Let’s get to it …

Scotty Jag from Points North:
OK … we all wish Blake Bortles the best this year. Put that aside for a moment. How does Brandon Allen look at the quarterback spot? Does he throw a tight spiral? Nice fades? Give us something.

John: Allen remains a topic of great intrigue in Jaguarsland, an understandable fascination considering the uncertainty regarding starting quarterback Blake Bortles – and considering Allen, a sixth-round selection in the 2016 NFL Draft, looked OK during his brief appearance last preseason. How good is Allen? Is he capable? His lack of significant NFL playing time makes it hard to assess from the outside. I watched Allen for a few minutes last Friday during the third organized activities practice. This was the first I really had watched him throw in anything close to a practice or game situation since last preseason. I plan to watch him more as media access permits. He often throws a fine ball. His spiral is often fine. He appears often to be able to make NFL throws. I wouldn’t be so bold as to say his ball stands out from a bunch of other quarterbacks I’ve seen throw, but neither do you cringe and raise your eyebrows after he throws and wonder how he is getting paid to play football. I think Allen perhaps could function at the position and manage a game. I have no idea based on the limited amount I have seen him if he has the “it” factor to be a starter. I’m sure he’ll get a lot of snaps in the preseason. I’m sure observers and fans will focus on him more this preseason than they did last preseason because fewer observers and fans feel good about Bortles than they did last offseason. Can Allen make a push and show he’s more than a reserve? We’ll see.

Steven from Memphis, TN:
So if Brandon Linder is working out at guard, who will play center? Luke Bowanko? Or someone else. Actually I think Linder will play center, but is someone else looking decent at center?

John: It’s unpadded work during OTAs; so the importance of how anyone looks is minimal. I, too, believe Linder will play center. That’s because I believe Branden Albert will play left tackle for the Jaguars next season, with Cam Robinson at left or right guard, Linder at center, A.J. Cann at right or left guard and Jermey Parnell at right tackle. If that scenario doesn’t play out and Linder plays guard, I would guess Tyler Shatley or Bowanko likely will play center – more likely Shatley.

Mark from Archer, FL:
John, am I reading too much into Linder playing guard right now? It would seem to me that if he was/is going to be the starting center, then he should only be playing that position to get better. Do you think that they are planning to play him at guard and start someone else at center? If so, who?

John: I think they are working Linder at guard mostly to have a Plan B in the incredibly remote scenario of Albert not playing left tackle. I also think that the negative to not having Linder at center during OTAs is miniscule because this is unpadded work. There are those who believe it is a crisis to not have Albert in camp, and to not yet have announced the Week 1 starting line. It is not a crisis. It hardly qualifies as an issue.

Chris from Los Angeles, CA:
What’s good, Johnny O! I just saw the piece with you and Mychal Rivera. Gotta say, pretty impressed for the few minutes you had him. Albeit just a few minutes of exposure, he seems like a really intelligent ball player … a real Jimmie Johnson type of player. Well-spoken and good on the mic. Felt good energy out of him, too. What’s your impression and how do you think he’ll fare in our system and club?

John: Rivera indeed was impressive and came across well during Thursday’s O-Zone Live on Facebook. When someone can overcome my influence and come across well in an interview … well, that’s impressive. I’ve brought many a good man down. And I think Rivera’s going to have a bigger role in the passing game than many observers believe. I think he’ll lead the tight ends in receptions, and I think he’ll have a significant impact on the offense.

J, Hooks from Orange Park, FL:
Great interview with Rivera! He truly has been the dark horse in the free-agency frenzy. If he plays as big as his personality, it very well might be the spark we needed at that position. I’ll bet that was a fun interview.

John: Not for him, it wasn’t.

Charles from Midlothian, VA:
I think you decide on who makes the cut based on how awesome our questions are and how much we feed your ego (both good and bad… 😉 ) or at least that’s how my questions seem to get answered. Am I wrong?

John: Darts at a board, Charles … darts at a board.

Gary from Jacksonville:
O, I have a proposal. We hear the tackle from Miami [Branden Albert] wants a new contract. I say: let’s do one. Hear me out. As it is, he gets roughly $8 million a year good, bad or ugly. I say, redo the contract where if he plays every game and makes the Pro Bowl, he is the highest-paid left tackle in the league. However, if he gets hurt, misses games and generally stinks he makes, say, $4 million. If he is as good as he thinks he is, that contract shouldn’t scare him a bit. Put up or shut up, baby. What say you?

John: I say it’s a wonderful idea. I also say it’s not based in anything close to reality.

Glen from Orange Park, FL:
I’ve been trying to contain my optimism and I think I’ve found a way. Just look at four/fifths of our starting secondary sitting out with what? Hangnails? They haven’t done anything yet to injure themselves. Where is the “grit” and playing through injuries that TC talked about? To Telvin’s point, we’ll never get where we need to be with so many starters on the sidelines.

John: I don’t know if that was Smith’s point. There’s grit and playing through injuries, and there’s being smart. Is smart pushing through an injury in organized team activities – nearly two months before pads go on and three months before the start of the regular season – and risking long-term setbacks? Sure, maybe.

Jeff from Jacksonville:
While watching Telvin’s press conference the other day, I made note of the fact that he said “Defense Wins Championships.” I, too, am a firm believer of this age-old philosophy, but it seems like most teams in the league have gotten away from it. Based on this offseason’s acquisitions mostly being on the defensive side of the ball, do you think that the Jags are trying to “Win Now” by hiding sub-par offensive play with hopefully stellar defensive play? It seems as if great defense can carry this team while still trying to figure out how to make the offense work.

John: The league has gone far more toward offense and it’s a league heavily dependent on quarterback play. It’s hard to argue with this approach because the great majority of teams that contend for the Super Bowl every year have elite-level quarterback play. I don’t believe the Jaguars are trying to hide subpar offense. I do believe they saw a defensive unit that was very close to being a strength last season and are trying to turn that unit into something that can help build an identity. I also believe the Jaguars believe they have a better chance at getting better than subpar offensive play by emphasizing the run rather than the pass – at least for the short term. And I think on that topic they’re probably correct.

Ralph from Jacksonville:
Logan’s rather acerbic statement that Dante Fowler Jr. needs a million plays to have a successful pass rush suggests a sack is not a successful pass rush since he had four of them last year and, while I have not counted them all, I am pretty sure he wasn’t in on four million plays. I also note Dante is but 22 years old. I, for one, am far from calling him a bust as Logan has so frivolously concluded.

John: I’m not ready to call Fowler a bust yet, and I honestly don’t think he ever will qualify as a bust. That’s because I think Fowler is fast enough, strong enough and sudden enough to contribute in some capacity along the defensive front. I don’t know if he’ll live up to his status as the No. 3 overall selection in the 2015 NFL Draft because he needs to develop into an elite pass-rusher to do that. He obviously has significant, difficult improvement to make before he gets there.

Shawn from the Mean Streets of Arlington:
Why did you lie to us John? Why? Whyyyyyyy?

John: For sport.

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O-Zone: Sweet anticipation

John Oehser Senior writer jaguars.com

JACKSONVILLE – Let’s get to it …

Mason from Palm Bay, FL:
You typically ignore all of my questions, but I’ve got 99 days until the start of the season to keep asking some version of this. You said Blake was neither great nor awful at practice last Friday. Which is what you wrote before 2015 and 2016. Okay, so is that the standard of NFL quarterbacking? Is 2015 and 2016 acceptable? Are we just going to assume he’s a bad practice player every year and limp our way into the season and finish with five wins? I’m not even sure what “not being a practice player” means when he doesn’t look like a regular-season game player, either.

John: My answers about how Blake Bortles threw in practice Friday aren’t meant to establish a standard of NFL quarterbacking, nor are they meant to provide grounds for whether or not his 2015 and 2016 seasons were acceptable. They were meant to say how he threw Friday – or at least, how I thought he threw. What’s acceptable from Bortles? Not 2015. Or 2016. I don’t have the answer on how much Bortles’ practice performances translate to games, the definition of a practice player or how much Bortles’ performances in 2017 organized team activities will have to do with his 2017 performance. I just know he has to be better, and I believe his decision-making next season will have more to do with his performance than the mechanical issues that are such a hot topic right now. As for my approach to your questions, I rarely ignore any question. I read every email sent to me, in fact. But I can’t answer them all. How do I decide what questions make the cut? Sometimes it’s just how the breeze is blowing when I read the question; I am, after all, a whimsical sort. Other times, I am sending a message about my perception of the emailer’s value as a person by whether or not I answer. I’ve found it better to not to indicate when I am doing the latter. The fallout isn’t always pretty.

Matthew from Jags4life:
Will you come to prom with me?

John: Lemme ask my mom.

Steve from Ponte Vedra Beach, FL:
Why are the defensive players not participating … the ones Smith is upset about? Are they injured? Most of them were here recently and I do not recall anything being said about them limited.

John: Before we go further here, I didn’t hear Smith say he was upset about the Jaguars defensive players who aren’t participating in OTAs. I heard him say he was upset the team wasn’t further along in its progress. I have seen some people speculate he might be upset about players not participating. That speculation doesn’t seem very realistic. And if Smith is upset about that, it’s not particularly fair. The defensive players who aren’t participating in practice – cornerback A.J. Bouye, safeties Barry Church and Tashaun Gipson and cornerback Aaron Colvin chief among them — are out because of injuries. Most of them to my knowledge have been in meetings and at practice working on the side far more often than not.

Logan from Wichita, KS:
I get that it is hard to come back from a torn ACL, but that doesn’t excuse bone-headed plays nor does it excuse Dante Fowler Jr. for only using one pass-rush move every single play. His one and only move is… SPRINT OFF THE EDGE AND HOPE HE IS FASTER THAN THE OFFENSIVE TACKLE. He has no spin move, no swim move and no combo of anything. He just tries to use pure speed and that works great in organized team activities when no one can hit you. But in a real game just sprinting off the edge every play will be successful all of one in 1,000,000 times. That’s why he is currently a bust.

John: It has been well-established that Dante Fowler Jr. must improve his pass-rushing technique. It’s also well-established that he needs to reduce avoidable penalties.

Chris from Mandarin, FL:
I know that in the end we will see what we shall see, but do you think the young defensive ends with the addition of Calais Campbell and other defensive linemen will make the needed jump this season to at least be average at rushing the passer on third down? Do you think an average third-down pass rush would elevate the Jaguars from currently being a good defense into a great one?

John: Third-down pass rush absolutely holds the key to whether the Jaguars can be an elite defense this season. That’s why I believe Campbell was the most important unrestricted free agent signed by the team this offseason. I do think his presence and the further development of Yannick Ngakoue will get the pass rush to at least an average level. I believe it needs to be great in must-pass-rush situations, and I do have serious doubts whether this group can be great. That’s because when it comes to pass rushing, great means multiple players who can get consistent pass rush in late-game situations. I believe Campbell can do it. I think Ngakoue will get a step better in the area this season. Fowler is important in this equation, and he hasn’t shown it yet. If he does, then the Jaguars can take another serious step toward greatness. If he doesn’t, I wonder who gives them that step.

Justin from Hampton, VA:
Other than Leonard Fournette, who are you looking forward to seeing when the pads are on? My pick is Cam Robinson; we need a beast on that line.

John: Dede Westbrook. This team needs game-breaking players.

Robert from Moorpark, CA:
Two questions, Big-O. I like Allen Hurns, and Marqise Lee, but when I watch A-Rob, he just looks like he has “it” out of the wide receiver position despite the dropped off production from last year, and the dependence on quality quarterback play. Do you see Robinson having another Pro Bowl year in 2017? And what are your thoughts on him becoming a NFL superstar?

John: Robinson can have a 1,000-yard, double-digit touchdown season next season because he wasn’t too far off those numbers last season in what by any measure was a very difficult season for the offense on a lot of fronts. I’d have to put Robinson as a Pro Bowl long shot not because he won’t be productive, but because the Jaguars don’t want to throw nearly as much as they did in 2015. That doesn’t mean Robinson can’t have a very productive season – maybe even a better season in some ways than 2015 – but his numbers may not be eye-catching enough to make the Pro Bowl at a very competitive position. As for him becoming a superstar … sure, I think he can get into the upper echelon of receivers. He has the skill set – and his range and ability to high point the ball is the sort of “above-the-Xs-and-Os” attribute a player needs to be special in the NFL for the long term. This is a big year for him on that front because he’s had one down year. He doesn’t want that to become a trend.

Zack from Jacksonville:
One of the biggest improvements I want to see under Doug Marrone is reduction of penalties. It seems like we always have not only the worst timing when it comes to penalties, but just extremely dumb penalties at that. I especially think of Fowler as I type this. Do you foresee an improvement? If so, what do you think Marrone can do that Bradley could not, in regards to getting the team to play smarter?

John: Marrone will emphasize the area, and players will have no room for doubt about what penalties are acceptable and what penalties are unacceptable. Marrone will make it clear in meetings, in team rules and in immediate ramifications for unacceptable penalties. And yes, Marrone will be quicker to reduce playing time for mistakes in this area than Gus Bradley was last season. Will Fowler get it? Will other players? If they don’t, it won’t be for a lack of emphasis.

Kevin from Fleming Island, FL:
Why are we rebuilding everything but the quarterback position, which is the most important of all? You know and I know how this will end up. I can’t believe Tom Coughlin is going to accept this poor talent at quarterback that will drag the franchise down.

John: You’re not nice.

Don from Jacksonville:
Hey, John: Do you think Gus Bradley will get another shot at head coach in the NFL? Why not?

John: I don’t think it’s out of the question. History shows many NFL head coaches who have lost many games have gotten another chance. I’m not saying Bradley “deserves” anything after his record in Jacksonville. I am saying it’s a weird league.

Trevor from Deland, FL:
Hey Johnny. Just checking in on ya! I hope you have a great summer. See you at training camp! Peace!

John: Well, we’ll look forward to that, Greg.

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O-Zone: Who knows?

John Oehser Senior writer jaguars.com

JACKSONVILLE – Let’s get to it …

TBoyone from Fruit Cove, FL:
John: Just watched Telvin in his press-room interview session. HOT DAMN, I’m happy he is on our side. Man talks like a man, and we have seen him play like a winner. Foretells a better “in-game” attitude if I read between the lines of his comments. Is he as real as he appears on camera?

John: You’re referring to Jaguars linebacker Telvin Smith’s comments after organized team activities Tuesday. Smith said he was “heated” because the Jaguars weren’t where he believed they should be as a team. Yes, Smith’s as real as he appears on camera – and yes, he clearly was sending message to teammates. He’s a leader. He has grown into that role and knows it’s time for him to embrace it even more than he has in the past. He’s also tired of losing, which he made clear Tuesday – and which he made clear earlier this offseason and late last season. Smith also made clear Tuesday he believes this is an important time if the Jaguars are going to improve next season – and finally, he made clear he believes what he and his teammates have done thus far in OTAs isn’t good enough. This is a good sign for the Jaguars, as was Head Coach Doug Marrone last Friday saying the Jaguars still had a long way to go. Why is it a good sign? Because both men are right. The Jaguars went 3-13 last season. It’s May. If they were talking about the playoffs, something would be wrong. And is it good that the Jaguars are being vocal in their displeasure? Sure, it doesn’t hurt.

Rob from Brunswick, GA:
John, I know you have been asked this question a hundred times at least. So, I won’t ask it again.

John: OK.

Bill from Jacksonville:
John, what’s the “culture” Telvin Smith says the team is trying to break in the locker room? Wasn’t Gus Bradley credited with creating a good culture for this young team? Heck, when all else failed for Bradley, the “culture” of the team was the area his defenders could still point to. Now a leader of the team says his culture needs to be broken. Thoughts? Thanks! Go Jags!

John: When NFL teams lose, all things involving culture, approach, philosophy, system, etc., etc., etc., are seen as wrong and therefore must change. The Jaguars liked their culture under Bradley for several seasons because it was seen as one in which young players could develop. Then they kept losing. That meant the culture had to change. So, what specifically is the culture Smith says the team is trying to break? The losing one.

Logan from Wichita, KS:
Sounds like Smith is making it painfully clear that Gus created a “who-cares-if-we-win” environment. That will be a hard cycle to get out of. Sounds to me like this season is already off to a bad start.

John: There will be those who take Smith’s comments Tuesday as a knock on Bradley, though considering the respect Smith has for Bradley I hesitate to make that assumption. There will be others who see Smith’s comments Tuesday as him making it painfully clear it doesn’t matter who’s coaching a team, and that in professional football it’s up to players do the things necessary to win: “They [coaches] can only do so much. I like the analogy that they’re just the wardens of the prison, but we’re the officers in the prison that run the day-to-day. They just oversee what’s going on. We have to take the things that we go through in the locker room and outside of this building and we have to grow and come together.”

Glen from Orange Park, FL:
O, your description of Blake Bortles’ performance last Friday was far from glowing. It was actually concerning. His ceiling seems to be fairly low as is his floor. In your opinion how long of a leash will he have this season? If he doesn’t look good in camp will they stick with going Chad Henne/Brandon Allen? So much is riding on the quarterback position and not sure this fan base can endure another three-to-five-win season, especially with the same quarterback all year. Throw me a lifeline, John! Tell me there is a Plan B.

John: My description of Bortles last Friday wasn’t glowing, but neither was it harsh. He looked OK. Not great. Not awful. OK. I would have said much the same if asked about Bortles in OTAs before 2015 and 2016. The point I was making is it doesn’t matter too much how Bortles looks in OTAs so long as he doesn’t look awful – and he didn’t look awful. I don’t expect him to be a classically beautiful quarterback in practice; many successful quarterbacks haven’t looked classically beautiful in practice. If Bortles looks OK mechanically next season and improves his decision-making and pocket awareness then I think he and the Jaguars can be successful. As far as the length of Bortles’ leash next season, I don’t know that there’s a hard, fast number. I don’t think he can struggle as mightily as he did during the middle part of the season last season and continue to start. Whether or not Plan B would be Allen or Henne likely will depend on how well Allen plays during the preseason. I’d love to give a more specific answer, but Allen has played a few preseason series. The body of work isn’t yet there for more specifics.

Aaron from Bethlehem, PA:
Why does everyone call Dante Fowler Jr. a great athlete? Sure, he ran a great 40-yard dash for an edge rusher, but did you know he was only in the 43rd percentile for vertical jump, 37th percentile for broad jump, and 23rd percentile for three-cone among the edge rushers in that class? So, he has below-average explosion according to the jumps. The three-cone drill is also a very important drill for a pass rusher indicating his quickness, ability to change direction, and bend … and he did very poorly in that. Can we put an end to the myth that he is a great athlete? He can run fast in a straight line, that’s about it.

John: I look at Fowler and see a better athlete than you (or the numbers) see, and we could probably have a healthy debate about combine numbers and what makes a player athletic. Bottom line: Fowler absolutely needs to get better fundamentally as a pass rusher, and if he’s not successful in the NFL it won’t be because he’s not a good enough athlete.

Paul from Jacksonville:
Someone forgot to tell Dave from Orlando that the reason “most of us” don’t value your opinion isn’t because of your bias, dishonesty or inaccuracy, but rather because you keep printing “you won’t print this” emails.

John: It’s funny. I get a lot of emails from people who like me for my dishonesty.

Jeffrey from Milton, GA:
Can you explain the type of players that the Jaguars, including Dave, Tom, Doug and the coaches, are looking for to play strong-side and weak-side linebacker in the Jags’ 2017 defensive scheme? Is there a comparison to be made from another team or teams in the league? Thanks.

John: Paul Poslusnzy will play strong-side linebacker in the Jaguars’ defense and Smith will play weak-side linebacker. Though Smith is not as big as many NFL weak-side backers, he has other prototype traits of the position – quickness, suddenness, ability to pursue, ability to disrupt in the backfield. Posluszny’s strength on the strong side would seem to be strength at the point of attack and ability to pursue and consistently in the running game. Neither Smith or Poslusnzy excel as pure edge rushers, but that trait is comparatively rare in 4-3 outside linebackers.

CC from Duval:
Watching the NFL Top 100, it just dawned on me that Jalen Ramsey isn’t on this list. I’m questioning if A.J. Bouye will get snubbed as well. No worries: 2017 they’ll get their minds right and remember the tandem. DTWD!

John: I have a tough time working myself into a lather for offseason lists, and I particularly have a tough time getting emotional when players from 3-13 teams don’t get honored. I honestly don’t know if either Bouye or Ramsey will make the NFL Network’s Top 100 players list for 2017. Both probably deserve to be on it. It probably would qualify as a snub if they don’t make it. So … yeah.

Todd from Jacksonville:
Continuing Tommy’s wise words about what “we all know.” We all know the earth is flat, and the sun revolves around us. And you can’t deny the moon landing was faked. Above all else, you have to admit that we are all part of someone else’s dream, and none of this is real! Just praying for the day you all wake up and admit it! (Except for the person whose dream we are all living in … then we’d all disappear!) We all know!

John: Well, what do you know?

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O-Zone: May we walk

John Oehser Senior writer jaguars.com

JACKSONVILLE – Organized Team Activities Week 2.

Let’s get to it …

Norman from Palm Coast, FL:
Dear Zone, do you find it difficult to have to defend your answers day in and day out? After all, we write in questions to hear … your opinion!! Not everyone will like it and you have said repeatedly that you get that. I for one enjoy the answers – some serious, some silly – but I also know if I don’t like it I can do what my mom always told me: if you don’t like the site, then stop getting on it!! One fer Mr O!

John: I don’t actually find it difficult to “defend” my answers day in and day out. That’s because while some questioners do assume an attacking tone at times, I try not to “defend” in my answers. There are a couple of reasons for this. I try not to “defend” myself because this forum isn’t about me; rather, it’s about the Jaguars. I also try not to “defend” the Jaguars, because it’s fair for fans to show anger and discontent – and because for the most part the people making decisions, coaching and playing for the Jaguars don’t need me to defend them. What I try to do instead is answer questions as honestly as possible, with as much insight as possible while trying best as possible to take the emotion, anger and immediacy out of the equation. I also try to not worry much about whether or not people like the answer because if I worried about that, the answers over time would seem disingenuous. In the case of the last few years, it would be easy to write that former Head Coach Gus Bradley, General Manager David Caldwell, quarterback Blake Bortles or any number of other primary characters in the Jaguars’ story were awful in their roles and singularly to blame for all that has ailed the Jaguars. It would have been particularly easy last season and this offseason to categorically take the approach that Bradley was the primary reason the Jaguars struggled the past four seasons. When coaches get fired, organizational cultures shift and all that came before it is painted as the culprit. This is an easy approach to take because it allows fans to believe that the “problem” is solved and that things will magically improve. There typically is far more to be done than simply changes coaches, and that’s the case with the Jaguars. But I digress … the point here is that, no … not everyone’s going to like that opinion or a lot of others. And that’s OK, but one fer Mr. O? Nah. One fer those who don’t like Mr. O’s opinions but keep reading. Bless ‘em – and may we all keep not getting along and kinda, sorta getting along at the same time.

John from Ponte Vedra Beach, FL:
Is it true that Bortles has never won a division road game and has only two division wins at home, one of which came in London? That can’t be correct, can it?

John: It’s not correct. Bortles and the Jaguars indeed haven’t won a division road game in the last three seasons. They have won five division home games, including one in London.

David from Munich, Germany:
I felt the team kind of lost its way last season after the Week 1 loss the Packers; they were (in my opinion) the better team and got screwed by some bad calls. I felt the disappointment and loss of confidence after being close but not getting there – paired with the terrible game against the Chargers – derailed the whole season. Could you imagine an alternate universe in which the Jags would have won at least seven – maybe even nine – games last season only based on the different vibe around the team after beating Green Bay in Week One? This idea gives me hope for this season. I feel like if the team wins close ones early it could snowball into a really good season.

John: A good start absolutely can help a team; it would behoove the Jaguars to start well under Head Coach Doug Marrone this season and it would have behooved them to have started well under Bradley last season. That’s because there’s a belief factor for any team, a factor that is particularly important for a team that has lost as much as the Jaguars in recent seasons. I don’t know that the Packers loss changed everything, though, just as I don’t know that I buy the theory that Bradley “lost” the team in the awful loss at San Diego in Week 2. The Jaguars responded to that start with a close loss at home to Baltimore that they could have/should have won, then won back-to-back games after that. The season to me started to turn bad fast against Oakland in Game 6 – and then after that … well, yeah. How important are the first two weeks for Marrone and the 2017 Jaguars? They’re important, to be sure, because a good start always is important. But I don’t know that they’re make-or-break games. I think this is going to be a pretty mentally tough team. And a mentally tough team should be able to overcome some early adversity.

Jeff from Jacksonville:
I’m not as down on the preseason as most. Yes, it’s boring, bad football and every fan hates to watch a key player get injured in a meaningless game, but what would happen if you eliminated it? These are warmup games for the regular season, and you can’t really simulate that practicing against another team. The first couple weeks of the regular season are usually sloppy enough; if they get rid of the preseason we’ll be watching bad football until Week 6 or 7!

John: That’s indeed the dilemma. I believe front-line players need at least two preseason games to get some level of preparation for the regular season, and I believe you need at least one – maybe two – more to get enough evaluation for roster players. That’s probably the old-school guy in me talking, and perhaps the league could make due with three preseason games. It’s not that I love watching them; I don’t. But I do believe in the preparation/evaluation value. None of that means I think the old-schoolers will win out on this in the long run. I don’t – and I believe that at some point in the next 10 years or so we’ll see a shorter preseason.

Nathan from Provo, UT:
O-Sure, let me get this straight . . . the man who took an NFL franchise to a record, most successful first-five seasons, went on to coach another team, to two Super Bowl victories over the dynamic New England Patriots (both times against Tom Brady) is now again involved with this franchise? With the talent I’m seeing on paper, I am excited for the future. Here’s one for the 2017 Jacksonville Jaguars!

John: Tom Coughlin indeed is back in Jacksonville, and that indeed has a lot of people excited about the 2017 season. I like this question for its simplicity and its truth – and because it might get us back looking at the present and future of this franchise rather than bickering over its recent past. But to answer your question … yes, the man who took an NFL franchise to a successful first five seasons and who went on to coach the New York Giants to Super Bowl victories over New England is now again involved with the Jaguars. That doesn’t mean the past doesn’t count, and it doesn’t mean the past five, six, seven or more seasons haven’t been long and frustrating for the Jaguars and their fans.

Mark from College Park, MD:
Not living in Jacksonville anymore due to work, it looks like Daily’s Place is a real hit. Did you let your hair down this weekend and jam out?!?

John: I didn’t. But many did. Daily’s Place indeed is a hit. That’s not a surprise. Jaguars Owner Shad Khan took a big swing at a game-changing pitch. His swings usually don’t miss.

Tommy from Jacksonville:
We all know Dante Fowler Jr. is a bust. The guys we could have drafted other than him should have got Dave Caldwell fired on the spot. John, I know you got to laugh at the fact Dave still is with the organization. If you don’t you should; because his performance is pathetic. He was never meant to be more than an assistant. You’ll support the organization as you should but if there is anything I can guarantee it’s that Dave Caldwell will not be the general manager after next year and he will never have a job as general manager again.

John: Few things are of more value to a man than a wise confidant who can tell him when he must laugh – and for that matter, who can tell him generally speaking what he should do and how he should feel about things. Rare it is to find someone you can trust to do these things who also can give you a sound, clear, level-headed road map for the future. I don’t know much, but I do know enough to take note of such a man, thank him and make sure I walk with him through the rocky road of life. So, you are noted, Tommy. Thank you. And may we walk on, you and I, down our rocky path. Yay … may we walk.

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O-Zone: Mr. Right

John Oehser Senior writer jaguars.com

JACKSONVILLE – Let’s get to it …

Jake from Illinois:
Zone, was Leonard Fournette a pretty highly-touted baseball prospect coming out of high school? Shortstop and centerfield? I thought I saw something about that during draft season. Maybe it doesn’t necessarily translate to catching a football out of the backfield, but if he was a shortstop (and a good one) I dunno if we need to worry about his hands.

John: Fournette to my knowledge ran track and played football in high school, and I’ve seen nothing in his background about baseball. Whatever his athletic background, I don’t sweat the concern over Fournette’s hands as much as many. From what I saw Friday during the third organized team activities, Fournette’s hands are at least adequate – and Jaguars Head Coach Doug Marrone talked positively about Fournette’s receiving ability after Friday’s practice. Here’s the main thing on this issue: while it would be great if Fournette can catch, block and do all of the periphery things backs are asked to do, he’s here to run – and as Jaguars Executive Vice President of Football Operations Tom Coughlin put it during the draft – to put the ball in the end zone. If he can do the last two things, the Jaguars won’t spend much time worrying about his hands out of the backfield. And anything he gives them as a receiver will be a bonus.

Aretha from Jacksonville:
We know that Poz has had a big impact on Myles Jack, and the way he has handled that deserves great respect. But, it also sounds like a one-fer is due to Chris Ivory after Fournette’s statement on Friday.

John: Ivory indeed apparently is working closely and professionally with Fournette – that despite Fournette clearly being in Jacksonville to be the No. 1 running back. Fournette made mention of this Friday, saying that Ivory had taken him under his wing. It’s relatively common for NFL veterans to be helpful with young players, and many veterans feel an obligation to do so. Still, that doesn’t mean they have to do it, and it doesn’t make it less notable. So, yeah … one fer Ivory!

Ricky from Fairport, NY:
A wise man is one who understands who is boss in the family …the wife. She obviously he hasn’t told you, however, that preseason games need to be reduced or totally eliminated. Making rules changes that benefit their importance is absurd. When she tells you at 4 a.m. that she has to pay full boat for these unimportant games that don’t even showcase her favorite players while you sit in your comfy press box I bet the neighbors will hear it!

John: I dislike preseason as much as the next person. It turns training camp into perhaps the longest month of the season from a coverage standpoint, and there’s no question that in the ideal world for fans teams would go straight to the regular season. But there is a preparation/evaluation element to preseason games that teams value – that despite the games not being aesthetically pleasing. Now, as for fans having to pay full price for tickets … though the issue is well above my pay grade, I’m not a fan of that. Either way, this latest rule change won’t change the preseason conversation one way or the other. I suspect sometime in the next decade or so the league will reduce the preseason schedule to two or three games per team. I suspect that will happen when it becomes financially feasible to do so, and I expect the football people who miss preseason for evaluation purposes will just have to live with that inconvenience. Until that happens, this new rule eliminating the Preseason Week 3 cut to 75 will help all involved.

Chris from Mandarin:
Is it possible that strong-side linebacker ends up being an even more natural fit for Poz’s skill set? I don’t see anything from that role that he couldn’t do better than Dan Skuta did, and that includes blitzing. He has been effective in that in the past.

John: I agree that Posluszny seems to possess the skill set to play the strong side, but it’s hard for me to say he’s a better fit for strong than middle. You’re talking about a player who has played middle linebacker in the NFL at a high level for a decade. As far as rushing the passer, I don’t doubt Posluszny will figure out a way to be effective at times. But he’s not likely to rush off the edge as regularly as Skuta, who was more accustomed to doing so from the strong side. The trick will be getting Posluszny in blitz situations, where he indeed has been effective quite a bit from the middle.

Aaron from White Hall, AR:
I know it’s not that big of a deal for a rookie to miss OTAs because of the PAC-12 rules, but why does the NFL honor that rule? The NFL has no obligation to the NCAA or the PAC-12 so I’ve just never understood why the NFL abides by the rule if they don’t have to?

John: The rule that rookies can’t participate in OTAs until their school is finished with the spring semester is a mutual rule between the NCAA and the NFL. The NFL basically abides by it because it’s a good look for the league to “encourage” players to stay and finish the spring semester rather than withdraw from classes to join practice. It’s a silly rule at this point because most players in NFL camps opted to not attend the spring semester anyway. That means the end result of the rule is it hurts marginal players’ chances of making the team – and it also sets drafted rookies back, at least to some extent. The NFL sticks with it because it would be a bad look to get rid of a rule that appears to promote academics, but I agree – it’s time for it to go.

Notatroll from Jacksonville:
If I be your best friend, will you get me season tickets?

John: No.

Bradley from South Lake Tahoe, UT:
Do you think the Jags will be better than, worse than, or about the same as the league average in the following categories: One, turnover differential; two, rushing yards; three, sacks; four, red-zone touchdowns; and five, penalties?

John: I think a huge focus for the Jaguars will be on all five areas. I would be surprised if the Jaguars don’t get significantly better in the first two areas (turnover differential and rushing yards) and the fifth (penalties), and if they get better in those areas the record should get better, too. Where will the Jaguars rank in turnover differential, rushing and penalties? Let’s say close to the Top 10 – somewhere in the Top 10-to-15. The most intriguing area to me next season will be sacks. Can the Jaguars get pressure when it matters? That will go a long way toward deciding their season.

Will from Jacksonville:
What players on offense and defense would you take in a hypothetical game if that player had to play all 11 positions? For example, 11 Leonard Fournettes vs. 11 Jalen Ramseys. Or maybe 11 A-Robs vs. 11 Telvin Smiths.

John: Eleven Carson Tinkers … on both sides of the ball.

Scott from Fernandina Beach, FL:
Hi, John. I believe that Blake Bortles’ down-the-field accuracy will improve if he can throw a decent spiral. I’m hoping his ability to lead his receivers on crossing routes will improve. I think he had at least three interceptions last year by throwing behind his receiver and the ball being tipped.

John: There are obviously situations in which Bortles would be helped by throwing a tighter, more-accurate spiral. I don’t think that issue is as big as his decision-making, but it’s still clearly an issue to some extent.

John from Imperial:
We need to convince the owner and general manager to go all out and draft a couple of quarterbacks and a couple of running backs and re-sign Eben Britton for right tackle do you agree? We need to go back to smash mouth football from ’07.

John: #DTWD

Dave from Orlando, FL:
Your opinions are clearly biased when you can’t even bring yourself to admit Gus Bradley did a very poor job coaching and preparing this team last year. It’s dishonest. It’s why most of us don’t value your opinions at all. It makes you seem very petty, too, when you try so hard to argue with fans and want to be right all the time. So just delete this one, too, because you’ll never post this.

John: Hmm … Maybe you’re right, Dave. Maybe I am petty. Maybe I do owe it to fans to tell them what they want to hear rather than answer honestly based on thought, analysis and experience. Maybe I should take the easy way out. Or maybe I should just keep being right all the time. I’ll probably do the latter, and here’s the weird thing: being right all the time doesn’t take me nearly as much effort as you seem to think.

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