Category: Uncategorized

O-Zone: Seriously

John Oehser Senior writer jaguars.com

JACKSONVILLE – Draft Day is upon us, which means a long night ahead. So …

Let’s get to it …

Matt from Section 133:
If the Jaguars DO pick a quarterback Thursday, what do you think that would mean for Blake Bortles? Would that be the death knell of his career in Jacksonville? Or would he still get a chance to start the season and prove he should be the starter?

John: The answer depends on how early the Jaguars select a quarterback – if it indeed happens. If the Jaguars select a quarterback in the later rounds, then Bortles almost certainly would get a chance to start the season. If they select one in Rounds 2 or 3, then I imagine Bortles would start as management/coaching kept a close eye on the drafted quarterback. If the Jaguars trade into the end of the first round and draft a quarterback, I imagine that close eye would have laser-sharp focus. If the Jaguars select a quarterback at No. 4 … well, I don’t know what a death knell sounds like, but something would be tolling – and it wouldn’t be the bell that tolls at the end of the third quarter at the ‘Bank.

Bruce from Jacksonville:
What is it about the spread offense that works in college and does not work in the pros? Is it just the level of talent on defense in the pros versus college? One would think that all things being equal someone would find a way to make the spread work in the pros to be able to better use the quarterback that is coming out ready to play that style but not ready to play “pro-style” offense.

John: The speed of NFL defensive players prevents NFL teams from using spread offenses. College and professional football are two different sports because of the difference in the speed.

Shannon from Brunswick, GA:
Alright Zone: It’s crunch time. Who do you say we are drafting in the first round?

John: Leonard Fournette.

Doug Season-Ticket Holder Yet to Renew:
Please, please, please for the love of God don’t let our pick be Fournette. If there was ever a bust glaringly obvious it is Fournette. Please, please, please, please …

John: This is going to be a fascinating inbox Thursday whatever direction the Jaguars go. I won’t be bored.

Frankie from London, England:
Hi, John! My question to you is completely hypothetical. Which Jaguar do you think would have the highest trading stock? I would presume Jalen Ramsey, but I’m interested in your top three.

John: This is a tricky question because you just never see elite, young players traded in the NFL. Still, Ramsey would be first. Let’s go with defensive tackle Malik Jackson and cornerback A.J. Bouye next because they’re young enough players to be considered ascending and if teams would want to trade they would prefer acquiring ascending players.

Jordan from Jacksonville:
The truest thing I’ve heard this draft season is that I would give up my entire draft for Sam Darnold next year. Without hesitation.

John: If he’s as good as advertised … yeah. The quarterback position has that much value, and the great ones are that rare.

Thrill from the ‘Ville:
I don’t understand the talk about trading back, then drafting a quarterback. Or trading back into the late first round to draft one there. If the team believes a quarterback is worth taking in the first round, anywhere in the first round, then the team must believe he’s a franchise level-player. And if he’s a franchise-level player, No. 4 is not high. Why risk losing your guy? What am I missing?

John: I don’t entirely disagree. That’s part of the reason I shrug a bit at the idea of taking a quarterback in Round 3 or 4 with the idea if him being a “developmental player.” There are obvious exceptions, but guys “developing” into great quarterbacks are comparatively rare. Your chances of finding a franchise-level quarterback increase the earlier you take him – and if you take quarterbacks late, you’re counting on real long shots. I know people will shout “Dak Prescott” and “Russell Wilson” in response to this, and who knows? Maybe the next Prescott or Wilson is in this draft. In that same vein … yes, if the Jaguars believe a player such as Deshaun Watson or Mitch Trubisky is a true franchise quarterback, then by all means the Jaguars should take that player. If you like a guy, don’t risk losing him. Don’t wait.

Matt from Fernandina Beach, FL:
If I’m not mistaken, the last time Jacksonville hosted an NFL event was the Super Bowl in 2005. It seems like Shad Khan wants to change this and with all the upgrades/additions to EverBank Field, when do you think Jacksonville hosts an NFL event? (NFL Draft, Pro Bowl, Super Bowl, NFL Annual Meeting, etc.)

John: I think Jacksonville will host the NFL Draft in the foreseeable future. I don’t see the city hosting the Super Bowl, because Khan is on record saying he doesn’t think the city’s infrastructure would host the game well at this stage. The NFL Annual Meeting is a long shot because they typically rotate between Phoenix, Palm Beach and Orlando – and there’s comparatively little buzz generated by the event, anyway. But the draft seems like the best fit. Khan has said Jacksonville would be a good location for the event once the Daily’s Place Amphitheater is complete. Khan’s wishes in these sorts of areas have a way of coming true, so this is one I see happening.

Nate from York, PA:
Why not put Myles Jack in the SAM position and let Poz stay in the middle and then when Poz does retire move Jack in the middle?

John: The Jaguars want Myles Jack to be a three-down player, meaning they want him on the field in running and passing situations. The SAM – or strong-side – linebacker is more of an early/running down in the Jaguars’ scheme whereas middle linebacker position is more of a three-down position.

David from Waycross, GA:
Fournette’s stats against elite defenses in college is a red flag.

John: How did his offensive line play?

Rico from Jacksonville:
Zone, are you at all concerned you may be a playa to be named later in a trade on draft night? You, after all, are a franchise-defining senior writer in this league.

John: At my age I just hope I’m not forced into retirement – or asked to change positions.

DUVAL DOOM from Section 217:
So, today I had a kale smoothie (along with about a dozen other ingredients) for lunch on the advice of Carson Tinker. It wasn’t good, but I felt decent after knowing about the healthy nature of what I had consumed. Well, it’s now 2 a.m. and I am writing to you as my body does some serious … soul searching … with a question. Is it possible to take ones love of team too far and listen to one’s long snapper when one shouldn’t?

John: If you’ve listened to Tink you’ve already gone much too far.

Ed from Ponte Vedra Beach, FL:
I cannot get excited about the draft. All I’m hoping for is that in 2018 the Commissioner says: “And for the 25th pick, the Jaguars choose …”

John: I understand your lack of excitement, because there are scenarios in which the Jaguars could select a player that doesn’t generate post-draft buzz. The good news in that scenario is players don’t need to have post-draft buzz to improve a roster over the long haul. As far as draft positioning, I can’t say I feel good about the Jaguars selecting No.25 in 2018. How about if I tell you I feel good about double digits for the first time in a while?

David from Orlando, FL:
“With the No. 4 overall pick of the 2017 NFL Draft, the Jacksonville Jaguars select quarterback Patrick Mahomes from Texas Tech.” O-man, what’s your biggest OMG memory from an NFL draft?

John: When the Jaguars traded up in 2011 to select Blaine Gabbert.

Troy from Richmond, VA:
It is reported that the Titans have had at least eight teams reach out to them about the No. 5 pick. If there is that much interest in moving up, do you think our chances of moving back are better? Or are they going No. 5 because it would take less draft capital?

John: The absence of one critical detail in the reporting makes your question impossible to answer. That detail: what teams are offering to move up – or if they are offering anything at all. Officials from teams call officials from other teams constantly in the days leading to the draft. Many of these calls are along the lines of, “Would you be interested in trading this for this if we offered this, this or this?” Some are more detailed and some are more vague, but if there is serious interest in the Titans’ selection at No. 5, then certainly there would be serious interest in the Jaguars’ selection at No. 4. And it feels like there seriously could be a serious possibility of the Jaguars trading down Thursday. Seriously.


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O-Zone: Bold

John Oehser Senior writer jaguars.com

JACKSONVILLE – Let’s get to it …

David from Jacksonville:
If we were ranked sixth in the NFL on defense why not keep the same players and concentrate on offense?
John: A few reasons. First, even if a unit performs well you don’t stay status quo for the sake of staying status quo. Second, the Jaguars saw an opportunity to upgrade cornerback with a potential core player opposite Jalen Ramsey and believe they did so with A.J. Bouye. Third, they felt they needed defensive leaders such as end Calais Campbell and safety Barry Church; this was a team that had a few leaders in recent seasons, but not nearly enough. The biggest reason, though, is while the Jaguars indeed finished sixth in the NFL in yards allowed last season it’s hard to argue the defense actually was a Top 10 unit. It didn’t force enough turnovers and didn’t get off the field in enough crucial, game-turning situations. Much of that can be attributed to not having a reliable, lock-down pass rush. That’s the element of a defense that most often forces turnovers. and that makes the biggest difference on third downs. Perhaps the major question about the defense entering 2017 is whether the Jaguars will improve in that area. That will be a crucial tell for the improvement of the team overall.

Jerell from Columbia, SC:
Deshaun Watson at No. 4 seems very real. I am all for it. If the Jaguars’ brass thinks he is a franchise guy or can get there, then No. 4 is not too high. We know what Blake is and isn’t and I’ll leave it at that.

John: A key to the 2017 NFL Draft is whether the Jaguars’ front office truly believes Watson is a franchise guy. If that’s the team’s view, I believe there’s a real chance the Jaguars select him No. 4 overall. There are serious questions over whether he indeed is a franchise guy. He would be a risk there, but a quarterback drafted early is always a risk. We’ll see if it’s one the Jaguars take.

Logan from Wichita, KS:
Can the draft start now? I am so sick of these never-ending mock drafts. They should be outlawed. They keep projecting the same players day after day after day to nauseum. I feel like the only thing we don’t know about the potential picks at this point is what kind of underwear they run fastest in. I mean, come on! Just draft and be done with this mock draft crap!

John: For someone who hates mock drafts it sounds like you read a lot of, you know, mock drafts.

Mike from Houston, TX:
Hey, John: Here is maybe a little different perspective on Poz’s move to SAM. I liken it to a move of a cornerback who has reached the point in his career when it’s time to make the move to safety. Maybe this move will allow Poz’s strengths to be applied more pointedly and actually prolong his career. He is the consummate professional and if anyone can do it and thrive, he can. Your thoughts??

John: There is merit to the analogy, with one obvious caveat being that Paul Posluszny played at a high enough level at middle linebacker last season that he didn’t need to move to be an effective player. That said, the presence and potential of Myles Jack prompted the team to make the move – and it indeed could have the effect of prolonging Posluszny’s career. I do believe he’ll adapt to the new position because I think he’ll approach the change professionally. I also believe that the Jaguars will enter next season secure in the knowledge that they have a very capable backup middle linebacker in the form of their starting strong-side linebacker. If I were in defensive coordinator Todd Wash’s position, that would help me rest easier.

Tommy from Fernandina Beach, FL:
I think the Jaguars need to go tight end first and running back second. Last time they did that they ended up with Marcedes Lewis and MJD. Just saying those two didn’t turn out so bad!

John: Well, as long as you were just saying.

Jon from Portland, OR:
What do you think the difference in the team mentality was in the wins over Tennessee and Indianapolis last year? Most games we struggle and limped through the first half, and had to play a lot of catch up. Both of those games, however, we scored a lot early and were mostly dominant all around. Did you see anything different about those games, and do you believe we’ll see more of whatever that was next season? And as always, #DTWD from the west coast.

John: There’s no question the Jaguars played those games with a sense of urgency. I think most of that can be credited to the team having changed head coaches, replacing Gus Bradley and having Doug Marrone in the position on an interim basis. The burning question entering 2017 indeed is will that intensity carry over with Marrone as head coach. Marrone addressed this recently at the NFL Annual Meeting, and I thought his point had a lot of merit. He essentially said he wasn’t sure how much credit he could take personally for the added urgency because the reality is players, coaches – everyone involved – automatically take on added urgency when there is a change in leadership. It causes players to take notice and essentially say to themselves, “If it could happen to him, it would happen to me.” There was a similar uptick in the rushing offense, remember, the week after Nathaniel Hackett took over for Greg Olson as offensive coordinator. Now, none of this is to say the Jaguars won’t play with urgency under Marrone. I think they will, and I believe this team undoubtedly will enter the season responding to Marrone, believing in the message and playing as he wants. How long will that last? Can he get the same intensity week after week? That will be his weekly and daily task, and much will depend on results. My guess is we’ll see steady improvement and that over time the team starts looking and playing with the intensity showed in the victory at home over Tennessee last December. It won’t happen every week, and it will take time to reach consistency, but that would be a positive direction.

Scott from Jacksonville:
All of the speculation on the draft makes for great conversation, but it seems that more trades are made in recent years than in the past and that quarterbacks always go higher than anticipated. Do you think there is much chance that someone wants to move up to our spot to get a quarterback, allowing us to still get a great player and additional picks?

John: I think there’s a lot of talk and speculation entering the draft about teams wanting to trade up and teams wanting to trade down. My gut is most of the talk is from teams wanting to trade down, and my gut also is that most of the teams thinking about trading up won’t want to give up enough to actually trade up. I’d say there’s a 30 percent chance the Jaguars get a good enough deal to actually move out of the No. 4 spot. No, wait. That’s too high. Make it 32 percent. No, wait …

Bob from Sumter, SC:
Do you get the sense the Jaguars’ decision-makers believe the individual talent level on the offensive line is better than most people think and that with improvement in other areas and modifications the line has the potential to play at a higher level? Seems that if they did not believe that they would have gone after free agents more aggressively.

John: It’s pretty evident from the Jaguars’ actions this offseason that they are OK with Brandon Linder, A.J. Cann and Jermey Parnell at their spots, and that they wanted to upgrade left tackle. The team believes that happened with the signing of Branden Albert and the decision to move on from left tackle Kelvin Beachum. I also believe there’s a good chance the Jaguars select a guard who could start before the end of the season. If that happens, the Jaguars essentially will have moved to change 40 percent of the offensive line. That’s pretty high turnover.

The Third from Boston:
The Jags have been “linked” to 10 different players via mock drafts, rumors, pre-draft visits, and analyses of David Caldwell’s and Tom Coughlin’s historical tendencies. This level of uncertainty around the pick seems like the environment Caldwell relishes. No one has a bead on his guy. Will be interesting to see how it all unfolds.

John: I have less of a feel for the Jaguars’ first-round selection this year than in any of the past five years. That’s saying something because I’ve missed on a lot of those selections.

Derrick from Jacksonville:
No question, just a bold prediction. Jags will win their division this year. Jags go 4-0 to start the season and 6-0 in the division. Tom Coughlin understands that a must first win its division to have a chance to be successful. I predict Jags go 10-6 for the season.

John: #DTWD


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O-Zone: Panic room

John Oehser Senior writer jaguars.com

JACKSONVILLE – Let’s get to it …

Samwise from Shire:
In your last Facebook Live, you guys never mentioned O.J. Howard. I know No. 4 is high, but you said all of the offensive guys had question marks. What are the negatives of Howard? I want him and then Joe Mixon in the second.

John: Senior correspondent Brian Sexton and I indeed neglected to mention Alabama tight end O.J. Howard on Facebook live Monday when discussing potential No. 4 selections for the Jaguars. One reason we didn’t mention him is we weren’t going off of a checklist, so our conversation wasn’t necessarily comprehensive. Still, while I wouldn’t eliminate Howard as a possibility at No. 4, he’s very much a long shot. It’s not so much negatives about Howard as much as issues with positional value; tight end is just tough to take so early. The question of how many times per game the player realistically will impact a play long has reduced tight ends’ draft value. At the same time, position “value” isn’t as much of a hard, fast rule as was the case a decade or so, so maybe – but just maybe.

Emory from Jacksonville Beach, FL:
What are your expectations for Dante Fowler Jr. next season? It looked as though he played really hard and has speed, but that his pass-rush technique needed work.

John: Good eye – because that pretty much defined Fowler’s first NFL season. He did play with great effort that allowed him to make a few splash plays. That effort, athleticism and speed leads me to believe Fowler will find a way to be productive on some level in the NFL. The question with Fowler is whether he can turn his talent into elite-level pass-rushing production. That’s where technique comes in. I can’t predict if that will improve or not. If it does, Fowler has a chance to produce in a big way.

Nathan from Richmond, VA:
I get that the quarterback is the key player in this whole funky, fluky NFL thing. But I have to wonder, “Why?” I get that rules have been implemented that help offenses utilize the position more, but it seems logical to me that some team would devalue the position back with the rest of the positions and then try to level the field. I can’t wrap my head around the idea that some football guy somewhere hasn’t said, “You know what? We don’t have a great quarterback, but we have a good one. Why not just make him another part of a great team?” Then again, I get hit in the head a lot.

John: Teams have taken that approach – and teams have won without great quarterbacks. An argument can be made that Russell Wilson wasn’t elite when the Seahawks first started winning in this era, and teams such as Baltimore in 2000, Tampa Bay in 2002 and even Denver in 2015 won Super Bowls without elite-level quarterback play. But if you’re playing the percentages – and if you’re looking to be competitive consistently and for the long-term – you need consistent, efficient production at quarterback. Why? Because he has the ball in his hands every play, because it’s really the only position where greatness at that spot can overcome weakness at others – and because turnovers from that position can bring down an otherwise functioning team very, very quickly and easily. This isn’t particularly new, by the way: Whatever the era, the better teams more often than not have had the better quarterbacks.

Chad from EverBank:
I find it funny that people still have issues with the London initiative. The London situation has been the same for the past four years, yet fans gonna fan. Here’s a thought for all those struggling to comprehend the concept. The London game is a HOME game. It’s set up that way for several reasons: the money, and to balance the home/away schedule. Accept it for what it is instead of continuing to want it to be something it’s not going to be – and let’s move forward. For instance, I may want pizza for dinner, but if I’ve got a hamburger in front of me, I’ve got burger. No amount of wanting is going to change the burger into a pizza. Shad Khan doesn’t want to change the London initiative, at least not for the current contracted period. The London game is good for us. It makes Khan and the Jaguars money. If Khan and the Jaguars make money, the likelihood of Jacksonville losing our franchise goes down. London = local happiness.

John: I like pizza.

Johan from Gothenburg, Sweden:
Hi, John: As a Jaguars fan living in Sweden and looking forward to the draft I wonder at what time the Jaguars most likely will make their pick (assuming they stay at No. 4)? It will be in the middle of the night and as most poor souls do, I have to get up early for work. Thanks in advance and thank you for the great job you do to spread the news about the Jags.

John: The NFL Draft is scheduled to begin at 8 p.m. With 10 minutes between selections, it seems likely the Jaguars will select between 8:20-8:35. That’s Eastern. So between 2:20 or 2:35 a.m. Sweden time. Ish.

Dave from 137:
“Much will hinge on the ability of the quarterback position to be more efficient and to dramatically reduce mistakes.” Improved quarterback play absolutely is the No. 1 most important thing for the team to improve. You mentioned that once we have a better feel for this, it will be easier to predict how much the record will improve. So here’s the question: How and when can you make that determination? Blake looked pretty good early in preseason last year, which ended up meaning nothing. Are we just going to have to wait until the season starts and hope for the best?

John: We’ll know a little in the offseason. We’ll know a little in training camp. We’ll know a little in the regular season. We should be able to see if Bortles is more accurate. We should see signs of him running the offense well. We should be able to hear from teammates and coaches if things are going well. But realistically … yeah, we won’t know for sure if or how much Bortles has improved until the regular season.

Bill from Hammock, FL:
Mr. Oehser, I am trying to manage my expectations which – admittedly – slide to the positive side this time of year. I believe the defense will be very good both with the additions and the experience gained from last year for our solid 2016 rookie class. The question is obviously the offense and specifically the quarterback and offensive line. I believe the new discipline will help tremendously. However, don’t you think there will be an emphasis on Bortles being more of a game manager and avoiding turnovers at all cost. How do you think this will play out for Bortles and his development?

John: That is the ultimate question regarding Bortles’ future – and regarding the Jaguars’ 2017 season. There’s no rule written anywhere that a quarterback must be a “game manager” in order to reduce interceptions. Plenty of quarterbacks have played aggressively without finishing near the league lead in interceptions/fumbles lost. You can make good decisions about when to be aggressive and you can find favorable match-ups that reduce the chances of turnovers on plays. Remember: it’s not as if an inordinate number of Bortles’ interceptions have come off plays of aggression. A lot of have come because of accuracy issues and incorrect reads. Improve the second area and the turnovers should reduce accordingly. Can Bortles do that? His future as an NFL quarterback depends on the answer.

Matt from Easton, PA:
Just wanted to add a worthwhile note about the Jaguars’ schedule that I saw written on ESPN for those who might not have seen. While fans are upset about not having a single prime-time game (myself included), from a purely competitive standpoint it could be seen as an advantage. The team will not once have to prepare on a short week this season, and awkward travel arrangements are out of the equation. While I would love to watch this team on Monday nights, maybe this is a slight advantage that will help them get back to those games. Do you agree?

John: Coaches with rare exceptions would love nothing more than a schedule featuring 16 one p.m. home games. Football because of its once-a-week nature is a routine-based sport, and short weeks, night games and road games mess with a routine. Good teams can overcome breaks in the routine, but as far as coaches are concerned, early afternoon games seven days apart are ideal.

Nathan from Fort Belvoir, VA:
You open door and walk into a room, you see Tom Coughlin and Dave Caldwell standing there with their entire draft board exposed. The three of you lock eyes knowing you saw it. What do you say and do?
John: Break into song.


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O-Zone: No video evidence

John Oehser Senior writer jaguars.com

JACKSONVILLE – Let’s get to it …

Steve from Jacksonville:
From multiple perspectives, the Jaguars’ 2017 schedule is about as friendly as can be. Only one brutal hot game (Week 2), a bye near the middle, no home games on holiday weekends (which is usually a tough sell for tickets) – and starting with Week 6 at home, it’s very doable. Outside of division games, the tougher teams are all here. Thoughts?

John: I wrote and said immediately after the Jaguars’ 2017 schedule was released it was a very negotiable schedule. There aren’t any stretches you see immediately as brutally difficult, and there are several road games against teams that really struggled last season. But I actually think it’s “doable” well before Week 6. The Jaguars get Tennessee at home Week 2, and their Week 3 and 4 games are against the Jets and Ravens – two teams the Jaguars have either beaten or played well against in recent seasons. There’s no such thing as an easy NFL schedule, especially for a team that went 3-13 the previous season. Still, if the Jaguars are indeed better this season, the record should show it.

Jeremy from Jacksonville:
Yannick Ngakoue was one of the players that really surprised me last year, albeit one of the few pleasant surprises. I really liked watching him play, because his passion and dedication were obvious and that has nothing to do with Dante Fowler Jr. (I made a wish we would draft Fowler). I just watched your interview with Yannick; I’m buying this dude’s jersey. There is something about this guy that you know you’re going to get everything from him on game day. I’ve known a lot of losing over these years but pros like MJD got me through the rough times because watching those players leave their heart on the field are the same kind of players that will bring greatness back to this city. One fer Yannick. One fer you, too, John. Your dedication and passion are evident as well, I don’t care what Khan says about you.

John: One fer Ngakoue? Absolutely. He seems on the verge of developing into a very important player for this franchise, and – as you saw on O-Zone Live on Facebook Thursday – he’s becoming more comfortable speaking to the media about himself and the team. He has a chance to be an interesting player around here in the coming seasons. As for me …nah, no one fers. Khan’s right. Nothing to see here. Move on.

Brother Bob from Gainesville, FL:
POZ ROCKS! So let’s stop being defense attorneys and think: Who has been the Sam/Otto through Jaguar history? How many of them owned the size, speed, skills, and knowledge of DA POZ?! This will be tough for him, but consider this … Smith, Jack, Poz! Now that lineup looks terrifying to the offense! Whatcha think, John?

John: I think the transition from middle linebacker to the strong side will be a tough one for Posluszny. I thought it before, but I particularly think it because he thinks it – and I haven’t been around many players with a greater appreciation/awareness for what it takes to prepare and play at a high level in the NFL. Still, I do believe Posluszny can do it, because I believe he’ll put everything he can into doing it well – and if it works, yeah … the Jaguars could have a pretty nasty group of linebackers next season.

Andy from St. Augustine, FL:
Shouldn’t the answer to the question about the greatest player in franchise history to only play for the Jaguars be Tony Boselli? If my memory serves me right, I don’t believe he ever actually played for the Texans after they claimed him in the expansion draft.

John: Boselli didn’t ever play a game for the Texans, so yes – if the question is about the greatest Jaguars player to never have played in a game for another team, then the answer clearly is Boselli. If the question is about the best Jaguars player to never have been with another organization, then he doesn’t qualify. Actually, since it’s just a question and not really an award or anything official, I suppose you can answer however you see fit.

Kamal from Chicago, IL:
I know we signed Tashaun Gipson and Barry Church in free agency the last two offseasons, but they are essentially veteran depth. Both seem to be above-average starters, but with two of the highest-rated safeties coming into the league in the last 10 years, why is there not much chatter about us grabbing one of them? Isn’t the whole point of free agency to fill holes to make sure you don’t reach for positions and ensure you can match value to the pick? Malik Hooker or Jamal Adams seem like they may be the BPA when we pick.

John: I agree, and I think there could be a better chance of the Jaguars selecting a safety No. 4 overall than many observers believe. But I wouldn’t go so far as to call Gipson or Church veteran depth; they are starting level players. If the Jaguars do take a safety Thursday I imagine it would be Hooker, who is more of a free safety than Adams.

Bruce from Green Cove Springs, FL:
We all hope for a better season in 2017. We’ve focused on free-agent acquisitions, the upcoming draft, and the need for improvement from players already on the roster. One thing I haven’t heard much about is discipline. In my mind, inconsistent play and league-leading penalties indicate a lack of discipline. Now, with Doug Marrone coaching and Tom Coughlin watching (closely) over his shoulder, I suspect discipline will become a major focus. Am I giving discipline too much weight? Or could discipline be the difference between, say, a 7-9 team and a 9-7 team?

John: A major offseason focus for this team undoubtedly will be discipline, penalties and turnovers – with a big emphasis on turnovers. I don’t know that inconsistent play has much to do with a lack of discipline, though; I credit inconsistency more with youth and struggling quarterback play. But turnovers? I think it’s safe to say that’s where Marrone and Coughlin would like to see the biggest difference this season. And yes, turning around the Jaguars’ negative turnover ratio without question could make a four-game difference in the record.

Tommy from Jacksonville:
Telvin Smith is the best player on this team. On and off the field. Can I get one for No. 50?

John: I’d say Smith needs to be a touch more consistent to be the best player on the team on the field, but it’s the offseason and who needs to nitpick? He’s absolutely a good player and a good guy. One fer Telvin.

Al from Gainesville, FL:
I keep reading that the Jags get significant local revenue from the London game. What is it that makes the London revenue significantly better than revenue from a Jacksonville home game?

John: More seats. More people in those seats. People paying more to be in those seats.

Marc from Oceanway:
Using the phrase “increases our local revenue” when discussing the London game has always sounded counterintuitive to me. If we said it increased our overseas revenue I would understand. Can you explain how this works?

John: The NFL divides revenue in a few ways. One of the significant streams is shared revenue such as money from the television contracts. All teams get pretty much the same amount of shared revenue. Local revenue is revenue teams need not share. Much of that revenue is generated by home games. Because London is one of the designated 10 home games, it is considered local revenue.

Thommy from Berlin:
Jacksonville has produced and produces MORE great rock bands with less support than the average non-fan has ANY IDEA about – yes MORE than Austin, more than Atlanta. We have GREAT bands, here- YES I mean NOW – many of whom make the ‘popular’ one look very much the weak sisters of the brood. Yes, O-man, you know who I am. (If, in fact, you remember it).

John: I absolutely remember, and you’re right about Jacksonville producing great bands. Still, the “popular” one is no one’s weak sister.

John from Boynton Beach, FL:
Do you consider yourself lucky that senior writer is not considered a football operation, so TC isn’t glaring at you a couple times a day?

John: He knows where to find me.

Alan from Jacksonville:
For me, the second round is almost always the most exciting of the draft. In the first round, there are probably five players we could realistically take, but in the second it’s a much wider pool. Who do you think is currently being touted as a first-rounder that could slide down and fall into our hands this year? In other words, who is going to be our Myles Jack/Allen Robinson this year?

John: I’m not ruling out Joe Mixon.

Ben from Jacksonville:
Mr. O, are you a better journalist or basketball player???

John: I honestly have no idea how I grade out in my current endeavor. Eh? Middling? So-so? Creepy? Odd-looking? Half-hearted? Whatever the description, I hope to heaven I’m better at this than I was at basketball. A few photos remain of my days on Episcopal’s hardwoods in the tiny upstairs gym, and there are no videos of which I am aware. In this case, that’s a very good thing.


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O-Zone: Boom, baby

John Oehser Senior writer jaguars.com

JACKSONVILLE – Let’s get to it …

Scott from Aurora, IL:
Why don’t people understand scarcity relative to demand is what drives market price? I chuckle every time I see someone claim an athlete should “show they deserve a raise.” There are few things more showing than when someone needs your particular expertise, it isn’t available to them, and your replacement doesn’t come close to rising to your level. That said, we don’t even know if Branden Albert is holding out yet. But if he is, good for him.

John: You’ll rarely if ever hear me say a player shouldn’t try for every dollar possible. One reason is the one you cite – that professional athletics are a supply-demand businesses. Another is that high-profile professional sports are entertainment, and the rules are different in entertainment. Do actors or high-profile singers “deserve” what they make? No, but people will pay to see them perform. Another is that the NFL is a brutal sport and players have short earning potential compared to people in other fields. Their method of seeking a raise and making their points often is staying away from offseason voluntary activities. Because these activities are voluntary, they have every right to not attend. If they stay away during mandatory events in the offseason or season, that’s different. Then, you’re in violation of your contract and hurting your team.

Mark from Archer:
John, if Blake Bortles can play the first game of the regular season without any turnovers or boneheaded throws he has made the last three years I will be hopeful for the season. But if he comes out and plays the same way he has been playing, I fear we are in for a very long season. I know one game does not define a season but if we are going to have a chance we need to see improvement from Bortles right away.

John: That’s fair.

Jags Fan 818 from Jacksonville:
Here’s one for Poz!!! I really hope he doesn’t ask to be released and go to another team and play his position. If he doesn’t, I have no doubt that he will put his all into his new position. Poz has done so much for this team. I’d hate to see what this team would be without him. He is an asset in every way. Go Jags!

John: I don’t foresee this being an issue. My impression from speaking with Posluszny in recent seasons is he doesn’t have much desire to play for another team at this point in his career. That could change with the position change, but I’d be surprised if it does. As far as your bigger point about how Posluszny will approach the change from middle to strong side … yes, I have no doubt Posluszny will dedicate himself to learning this new position. It without question will be difficult and there’s no guarantee he will succeed. But if he doesn’t, it won’t be because of a lack of effort or commitment.

Peter from Orlando, FL:
John, I realize things are voluntary right now, but it would be somewhat thoughtful of Branden Albert to return Doug Marrone’s phone call. I would think it important for the team to know before the draft if he is planning retirement absent a new long-term deal with huge signing bonus or something crazy like that?

John: There’s no indication Albert is planning retirement, and there’s no indication that him not being at voluntary offseason workouts is anything but a statement about wanting a new contract. But yeah … he should have made contact with Marrone. If he indeed didn’t do that, that’s a misstep.

15-1 from Jacksonville:
Honestly, I see a 15-1 record. It’s possible with the improved team, and avoiding key injuries. Only tough game is playing in Pittsburgh.

John: Hater.

Jason from North Pole, AK:
I don’t understand why everyone is so bent of shape about Branden Albert missing voluntary workouts. The practices are optional, but so is his playing time. He isn’t getting younger so the Jags hold all the cards here. What’s the big deal?

John: It’s a big deal because some time in the last 15 years voluntary offseason workouts have morphed from things that were once low-key and rarely reported upon to part of the discussed/analyzed NFL calendar. When that happened, it suddenly became a big deal if all not every player attended. Somewhere during the last 15 or 20 years, fans and perhaps media forgot that “voluntary” meant “not mandatory” and attached pariah status to non-attendees. Would players ideally attend? Sure, but missing them doesn’t make them bad people or bad players. In specific reference to Albert, remember: the Jaguars are still in Phase 1 of the offseason, so he’s missing lifting and meetings. I imagine as a veteran he will report in shape and I imagine as a veteran left tackle he will pick up the offense just fine.

Rob from Orange Park, FL:
I’m writing in to validate the “POZ-being-a-good-dude sentiment.” I, being the rabid, voracious-for-any-and-everything Jaguars fan I am, recognized him walking out of a store on the Southside as I was walking in. I got his attention by saying “excuse me, sir (though we’re probably the same age), just wanted to tell you go Jags and be blessed.” With a welcoming demeanor he smiled, reached out to shake my hand, said thanks and that he appreciated that. I in turn wanted to high-five each person I passed for my remainder of time in the store and on way out to the car. One and his family ‘fer POZ and his – while a Jaguar and beyond.

John: Posluszny seems to genuinely appreciate fans and what they mean to this team – and what the team means to the community. He also seems to be a genuinely good person. He’s not alone on the Jaguars in this, but he undoubtedly represents the team well and has throughout his tenure here.

Matt from Erie, PA:
Is it just me, or do I seem to be one of the only people who believe Bortles can win us some games? He has shown flashes of greatness with a – to be frank – fair-at-best offensive line and no run game. He’s still young, doesn’t make excuses, and puts in the work. Why all of the negative talk, O-man?

John: The reason for the negative talk has been pretty well-documented, and it’s overkill to rehash every last detail here again. The concerns around Bortles center on decision-making and accuracy – and the fact that he either regressed or failed to improve in many areas his third season. As you note, he hasn’t had enough help in his first three seasons, but he also hasn’t made strides. When you couple that with a lot of losing, you get a lot of negative talk around a quarterback.

Thrill from the Ville:
It seems that Dave Caldwell’s biggest flaw to date may have been his approach to free agency. Conventional wisdom says you build through the draft and patch holes with free agency. Dave’s “ascending-young-player” approach to free agency makes it seem that he was also trying to build for the future with free agents rather than merely patching holes. Considering the state of the roster when he took over, I can’t say I blame him for trying, but it doesn’t seem as though that worked out well, does it?

John: The Jaguars went 3-13 last season, so it’s hard to say that too much in recent seasons or offseason has “worked out well” for the Jaguars. I don’t necessarily see Caldwell’s philosophical approach to free agency as an issue, though. The Jaguars didn’t partake heavily in veteran free agency the first two years of Caldwell’s tenure; in the last two years, they focused on veterans in the 26-to-28-year-old range entering their second contracts. That’s pretty much the accepted NFL free-agency formula.

Robert from Rochester, NY:
Did you know the Jaguars only have ONE more win that the Browns since 2010? I sure didn’t know that and it blew my mind … maybe I’m blind, but we seem like a more organized 30-82 than the quarterback-revolving, talentless, 29-83 Browns. Man, we need to turn this around.

John: I actually didn’t know the Jaguars since 2010 were one game better than the Browns. I didn’t know this because I hadn’t thought about it. Now, I’ve thought about it. Thanks, Robert. Thanks very much.

Greg from Section 122 and Jacksonville:
I don’t understand something. All the money and improvements being poured into this stadium seem to make NO difference to the NFL when it comes to exposure of our team. Team has a new stadium … BOOM, instant Super Bowl. Is it going to take playoffs for us to get some recognition? If I was Shad Khan, I would be having a conversation with the league and voicing a complaint.

John: I’ll assume you’re talking about the Jaguars not having a prime-time game. Those games are about ratings and eyeballs, and eyeballs typically don’t care about money and improvements. Ratings and eyeballs just care about winning. In other words, “Team wins more than three or four games a season … BOOM, respect.” That’s the way it is.


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O-Zone: Diet and exercise

John Oehser Senior writer jaguars.com

JACKSONVILLE – Let’s get to it …

Tim from Jacksonville:
7-9?

John: I received this admittedly long-winded, meandering email shortly after the Jaguars’ 2017 schedule was released, so I can only assume it’s a request to predict … wait for it: the Jaguars’ 2017 record! And yeah, I actually think 7-9 is about right. I could see 8-8, but it’s tough to predict a five-game turnaround for a team that finished 3-13 the previous season and hasn’t finished .500 or better since 2010. I wrote and said Thursday I believed this schedule very manageable if the Jaguars are really improved. Much will hinge on the ability of the quarterback position to be more efficient and to dramatically reduce mistakes. Once we get a better feel for that area, we’ll have a far better feel for the team’s outlook for 2017.

Alan from Ellington, CT:
How does a trade work? What would happen if on draft day when the clock is ticking two general managers make a trade for picks and a veteran player? Later that day, one general manager says he didn’t trade the player, just the pick. Who else would know?

John: All trades must be documented with and cleared through the league office.

Travis from High Springs, FL:
Hi John, Poz has been my favorite player since we acquired him, and I think possibly our best. Do you think that there should have at least been a competition in training camp for the position? I’m just a fan, so I don’t even pretend to know or understand everything about the NFL. But I find it strange to just move a player that’s been statistically close to the top every year at his position without even having a competition.

John: I don’t know that there was much point in a training-camp competition between Myles Jack and Paul Posluszny. Posluszny has a longstanding body of work and I don’t think anyone around the Jaguars – particularly defensive coordinator Todd Wash – is remotely uncertain about what Posluszny can do at middle linebacker. To have a competition would mean sharing reps, which in turn would mean fewer reps for Jack – and Jack obviously needs as many reps as possible at the new spot. The only way Jack won’t start is if he proves unready or incapable – or if he is injured. If any of those things happen, Posluszny is a phenomenal choice for a backup – and there’s no doubt he would be ready to start.

Mike from Section 238:
Dante Fowler Jr.’s sacks total compares with the sacks total for Khalil Mack, J.J. Watt, Vic Beasley and Jadeveon Clowney during their first year playing. It might be a little early to label Dante a bust.

John: Yes.

Logan from Wichita, KS:
Why does everyone seem to think drafting a quarterback this year will fix the team? All quarterbacks in this year’s class are rated poorly. How can we possibly take a huge risk on a quarterback at No. 4 and then suffer him being worse or the same as Blake Bortles? That would be a huge waste! If we want a good quarterback, how about we fix the offensive line and then think long and hard about a quarterback next year if Bortles doesn’t pan out?

John: The quarterbacks in the 2017 NFL Draft are rated at numerous levels, but I’ve come to believe more and more the word “risk” for the most part is pretty near meaningless when it comes to drafting quarterbacks. The risk is enormous when selecting any quarterback, and there have been few players at the position with consensus “high” ratings in recent drafts: Andrew Luck and to a far lesser degree Jameis Winston, and … well, the list of can’t-miss guys runs out pretty fast. If the Jaguars love a quarterback and passionately believe he’s a big-time player, then they should take him at No. 4. If they do, then they’ll learn when he begins playing if he was worth the risk. Until then, you just don’t know.

Scot from Aurora, IL:
I don’t care about the schedule. This is the NFL and you have to beat good teams. Just win baby. Also, gimme one for Poz. He’s a consummate professional and flat-out balls on the gridiron.

John: Hey, one fer just winning and one fer Poz!

Travis from St. Louis, MO:
Brett Favre had only one season in which he didn’t throw over 10 interceptions. Peyton Manning had two 20-interception seasons in his first four seasons. I’m not trying to compare Bortles to them, but his performance in my opinion has had more to do with a bad offensive line and no help from the running game. When you have to throw 40 times in a game, you are more than likely going to throw more picks. I’m not trying to give him excuses – he needs to improve decision making and pre-snap reads – but I feel his ability to extend plays and his toughness is something that can’t be overlooked. This is a make-or-break season for sure, and I can’t wait to watch him torch the league. I’ll be back at the end of the season to gloat.

John: Bortles without question has been under too much pressure in his career, and he without question is a tough, resilient player. What are and will continue to be in question are his decision-making, pocket awareness, accuracy and pre-snap reads; some of those issues have had to do with protection and some haven’t. I think Bortles will get the opportunity to perform in what essentially in many ways will be a fresh start this season. That could benefit him and lead to the strides he needs to make. We’ll see.

Brad from Section 115:
Hi, John, I am one of the people disappointed at no prime-time games. Don’t they have flex scheduling in the second half of the season? Could the Jags get a prime-time game if they are relevant or play someone else that becomes relevant?

John: Yes.

Michael from Section 122:
Why can’t you refer to the London game as the moneymaker or something else? It is a home game in name only. As fans, we get only seven in-season home games. The owner can call it a home game, but we don’t. Every time I see you write, it lowers my respect for your journalistic reputation.

John: I refer to the Jaguars’ game in London as what it is under NFL rules: one of eight home games. It is also very much a home game in the sense that the Jaguars receive significant local revenue from the game that they do not receive from a road game. In that sense, the London home game is a critical piece of what makes the Jaguars sustainable for the long-term in Jacksonville. Fans can call the London game what they like, and I have written often that I understand that there is a large group of fans who never will like the idea of the home game in London. That’s fine, because intrinsically it is a tough thing to accept. Still, accepted or not, it is by definition a home game and one that is important to the franchise.

Frankie from London, UK:
Mr O! As we move closer to the NFL draft, the leading candidates for the Jaguars’ No. 4 overall pick appear to be Leonard Fournette, Jonathan Allen and Solomon Thomas. I’d be satisfied with any of them. That’s a good thing … right?

John: Sure, but as it moves closer this feels more and like a draft in which the unpredictable happens. I’ve been leaning Fournette/Allen all along. Now, I’m not remotely sure.

John from Starke, FL:
Good day, John: I haven’t written since last year; I’ve been in hibernation. I had big hopes for 2016, but we won more games in 1995 – our first year. I don’t care about free agency, I don’t care about the draft, and I don’t care about the schedule. The only concern for 2017 is BB5. He is on the hot seat – and he and he alone will dictate the season. So, all of the offseason stuff doesn’t count unless the team produces more W’s. Now, wake me up when the season starts, John. Can you do that for me? It’s back to hibernation.

John: It’s all about the quarterback. Sleep tight.

Nate from York, PA:
Al talks about MJD and Josh Scobee playing for other teams in their career, but if I remember correctly, Fred Taylor also played with the Patriots towards the end of his career.

John: Yes, he did. That’s why when Al asked about the greatest player in franchise history to only play for the Jaguars the answer was not “Fred Taylor.”

Johnathan from New York:
John, I don’t always diet and exercise, but when I do, I expect the results to be instant, dramatic and spectacular.

John: I don’t always diet – and I exercise in my own sad, desperate, lunging way. I gave up hoping for spectacular results a while back. Then again, I gave up hope on pretty much all fronts a while back, too.


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O-Zone: Close call

John Oehser Senior writer jaguars.com

JACKSONVILLE – Let’s get to it …

Scot from London, England:
Of the first eight games of the season, only two will be played in EverBank Field. If my math is right, that means 75 percent of the games played in the first half of the season will be away from EverBank. Here’s to hoping that the Jags will still be relevant when the team finally plays the other five games at EverBank.

John: Your math isn’t right, but your point is accurate. The Jaguars indeed play five of their first seven games in 2017 away from EverBank Field – four road games and the home game against Baltimore at Wembley Stadium in London in Week 3. They play Cincinnati at home in the eighth game of the season, so they actually have four home games in the first half of the season – but yes, the first half is challenging in the sense that the Jaguars will travel a lot. The reality is that the Jaguars’ annual game in London automatically creates a stretch of extensive travel in the schedule. It’s not ideal and some fans will never like it, but I don’t see it changing soon. That’s why Wembley must be a home-field advantage. It felt more like that the last two seasons. We’ll see if the trend continues.

Jonathan from Middleburg, FL:
The schedule is terrible for fans … I don’t understand how there is such an imbalance between home and away. Is it that hard that we have only two games in EverBank Field during first half of season? I know there is a London game but it’s ridiculous. Have to wait ‘til November to get to the home-field advantage that is so critical … I hope we are still in it at that point … sheesh. I don’t get it.

John: One thing to remember about this schedule: it is friendly for fans in one sense, and that’s the weather. There is only one game in Jacksonville in September or October with a 1 p.m. start. Considering the heat for 1 p.m. September and October games, that’s not insignificant. Beyond that, I’ll repeat London is going to cause a stretch of games where the Jaguars are away from EverBank more often than once was the case. The negative of the ’17 schedule from that perspective is the beginning of the season. The positive? Five of seven home games coming out of the bye.

Tommy from Jax:
This may not be nice, but I will not waste another Sunday at EverBank Field with Blake Bortles starting. Personally, I just don’t enjoy his style of play. Any games that are eventually won with him at quarterback are ugly, sloppy games that the defense won. Jacksonville deserves a better product. Three years of complete disgrace and we still haven’t tried to see if the problem is the quarterback. The worst part is I feel this is all ego – the inability to openly admit a poor decision. It’s great Shad Khan has patience, but this becoming hard to grasp.

John: The 2017 NFL Draft has yet to take place, so we don’t know for certain if the Jaguars are indeed committed to giving Bortles another season. If they do, it can’t be construed as ego. Jaguars Executive Vice President of Football Operations Tom Coughlin has no attachment to Bortles, nor does Head Coach Doug Marrone. If the Jaguars move forward this season with Bortles, it’s because they believe he’s the best option in the immediate circumstance. No more and no less.

Al from Fruit Cove:
The Jags have rightly honored Tony Boselli and Fred Taylor as two of the team’s greatest players. They’ve signed Scobee and MJD to one-day contracts so they could retire as Jaguars. But each of those players, and many other former standouts, spent at least part of their careers with other teams. So the question that came up is: Who would you tag as the greatest Jaguar to play his entire career in Jacksonville?

John: Most really good Jaguars players indeed have finished their careers elsewhere. I suppose I would have to go with Tony Brackens with a nod of apology to Brad Meester.

Kenny from Jacksonville:
John, how is the Doug Marrone/Tom Coughlin dynamic going to work? I’ll use the Branden Albert “situation” for example. Everyone is concerned with how TC views him as if he doesn’t have a head coach to report to. Also I’ve seen the question of where will TC watch the game, from the sideline or the booth? How much patrolling will he do during practice? Seems like Doug Marrone may be “head coach” in name only.

John: I expect the Marrone/Coughlin dynamic to be less of an issue/concern than many observers believe. Coughlin will watch games from upstairs in the press box, although he certainly will be on the sidelines during practices – and I imagine he will be very, very, very, very close to the field during those practices. The reason I don’t see it as a huge issue is Marrone appears to be very much like Coughlin in a lot of ways, so I doubt there will be huge philosophical differences in terms of how to interact with players, how to run practices, how hard to work players, how to game plan, etc. Now, will there be an “issue” between Marrone and Coughlin if the Jaguars don’t win games? Sure, but that issue tends to arise whenever teams don’t win. I don’t think that would be unique to this situation.

Scott from Jacksonville:
Does the strong-side linebacker cover the tight end – and if so, isn’t Poz too slow for that?

John: The strong-side backer has more run/pass rush responsibilities than pass coverage responsibilities. Ideally, you want a safety or weak-side backer in coverage on the tight ends more than your strong-side linebacker. But one thing to consider about Posluszny’s supposed lack of speed and this idea that he’s a liability in coverage: since Posluszny joined the Jaguars, the team has 60 interceptions. One player has accounted for 11 of those interceptions – nearly 20 percent and far more than any other Jaguars defensive player during that span. That player? Posluszny. That’s not to say there aren’t better options to defend the pass. There are. But don’t just casually assume that he can’t make plays in coverage.

Brandon from Athens, GA:
John, it does not seem that Paul enjoys this change very much at all. Kinda feel for the man. What would it be like if someone came to you and made you do Boselli’s job all of a sudden?

John: Easy.

Mike from Atlanta, GA:
Do you think this draft will have a familiar Caldwell feeling to it, or will this feel like a TC draft? For better or worse, I found myself agreeing with what Caldwell was doing and I often understood the logic in what he was doing, so much more than the previous general manager. TC had a pretty decent track record in Jacksonville with the draft. I am wondering if the logic behind the decision making is going to change significantly. Right or wrong, I think a Caldwell draft would be more of a focus on specific facets of the team, like probably a focus on defense, or the running game, whereas I’m thinking a TC feel would be talented big guys early and filling out need at skill positions later. What do you think?

John: I doubt you’ll see a huge noticeable difference between Coughlin and Caldwell in terms of the draft, with the caveat being that if the Jaguars select a quarterback early I think that would certainly have a Coughlin feel. I see the biggest difference between Caldwell and Coughlin in the approach to free agency. Caldwell had more of an eye toward the future in that area whereas Coughlin’s influence seemed to have had the Jaguars leaning more toward some older, experienced veterans who may bring more immediate results.

Ed from Jacksonville:
If you were the coach, would you have moved Posluszny?

John: No. If I were the coach I would have kept Posluszny in the middle in base situations and left Jack at outside linebacker in base situations, keeping Jack and Smith on the field in nickel situations. But it’s Jack’s time and it’s time to move him to the middle. The team wants him as a three-down player and his talent needs to be on the field at some point. Now is that point.

Dave from Orlando, FL:
No more ping pong? What’s next, getting rid of the poker table, the arcade and the ice cream machine?

John: The team actually tried to get rid of the soft-serve ice cream machine in the cafeteria once. A few days later, what is now known as The Shadrick Incident ended peacefully and without bloodshed – after a few near-misses and a lot wasted taxpayer dollars. The team agreed to leave things be, and no one wants to upset that apple cart again.


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O-Zone: 4/20/17

John Oehser Senior writer jaguars.com

JACKSONVILLE – Let’s get to it …

Chris from Jacksonville:
The NFL schedule is being released Thursday. How much impact do you think the order of games will have on the Jags’ success this season? Seems like the Jags would be much better off starting with the Rams and Browns (hopefully two wins) and getting some momentum instead of the Steelers and Seahawks (very tough games) and looking at 0-2 going to London.

John: I’ll say now about the Jaguars’ 2017 schedule what I’ve always said about NFL schedules and what I’m sure I’ll say about the Jaguars’ schedule when it’s released later Thursday: you have no idea how easy or difficult an entire NFL schedule or even a part of a schedule is until you’re a few weeks into the season. Jaguars observers thought the 2015 regular-season opener against Carolina was a “winnable” game and it turned out the Panthers won 15 games that season. A two-game late-season stretch against Denver and Minnesota at home last season looked brutal before the season and it turned out those should have been winnable games for the Jaguars. Would it be good for the Jaguars to go 2-0 and get momentum? Sure, but the Jaguars need to start winning before we decide certain games are winnable and certain ones are tough. What’s the best scenario for the Jaguars early? To paraphrase Jim Mora, people will think they know, but they just … don’t … know.

Keith from Palatka, FL:
Talk is cheap and easy. I’ll believe it when it translates into victories on the field.

John: OK.

Rob from Jacksonville:
John, after consulting a list of big Jacksonville musical acts, I came to a conclusion: Jacksonville needs to grow better music. Limp Bizkit trailed only Lynyrd Skynyrd. I realized somewhere, somehow, Jacksonville had really screwed up.

John: I suppose you can take one of two approaches here. One would be to bemoan the lack of a bunch of legendary acts hailing from Jacksonville. The other would be to realize Lynyrd Skynyrd achieved greatness on a level few bands ever reached by accomplishing one of the rarest feats in music: producing a timeless sound and energy with songs written in a clear, timeless true voice that assured the band a place as pioneers and legends. Perhaps a city only gets one of those. And maybe one is enough.

Tommy from Jacksonville:
If we pass on Deshaun Watson this franchise is going to be set back many years. Next year with Blake Bortles starting we are looking at 8-8 at best thanks to the help of a great defense. From here, we are picking in the middle of the draft where Deshaun Watson quality of players are much harder to land.
John: Hey, one fer Deshaun Watson!

Mike from Section 238:
Do you think TC’s definition of “voluntary” is closer to Edgerrin James’ or United Airlines’?

John: It doesn’t really matter because the definition that does matter is outlined in the 2011 Collective Bargaining Agreement.

Micky from Jacksonville:
There are rumors that the Jags will select Joe Mixon at No. 35 if he is still on the board. Is that a pretty solid indication that the Jags have absolutely no interest in drafting Mixon?

John: Not particularly. The 2017 NFL Draft is still a week away, and I imagine we’ll see reports in the next week of the Jaguars selecting Deshaun Watson, Mitch Trubisky, Cam Robinson, Malik Hooker, Leonard Fournette, Jonathan Allen, Solomon Thomas, Jamal Adams and so on and so on and so on. The reports/rumors/speculation around Mixon heightened this week with a report by Jason LaCanfora of CBS that the team would take him at No. 35 if he’s available. How valid is that report? As valid as any pre-draft report, I suppose, because so much is speculation and guesswork and projection. Any report involving Mixon is more intriguing than most because of his off-field issues and because of the well-known, hard-to-get-past video that most NFL followers by now have seen. I don’t have access to the Jaguars’ draft board, and I don’t expect to know if Mixon is on or off their board. I’m on record saying I believe there’s a chance the Jaguars take Mixon, and I’m on record that I’m OK with that because I’m not a huge believer in bringing off-the-field incidents into the draft process; if a player is legally allowed to be in the NFL then a player is allowed to play in the NFL if a team wants him. I feel that way mostly because it takes a lot of the gray area out of the process, and because I don’t see the NFL as an ethical/morality stage as much as I see it as a business and a sport. But I digress …

Glen from Orange Park, FL:
John, can you explain the differences of the linebackers in our defensive scheme? Do they line up on the same side of the field each play or will Telvin Smith and Paul Posluszny swap sides depending on the offensive formation? Will Myles Jack actually stay in the middle or is “middle” linebacker really in name only?

John: The Jaguars are making some changes to the defensive scheme, so it’s difficult to define exactly the roles of the linebackers, but I expect Jack for the most part to be a true middle linebacker, with Smith a true weak-side linebacker and Posluszny a true strong-side linebacker. Strong-side linebackers generally line up to the “strong” side of the defense, which means to the side of the blocking tight end. Weak-side backers typically are faster in pursuit and lineup opposite the tight end. I expect Jack and Smith to stay on the field in passing situations with Posluszny likely coming off the field in favor of a fifth defensive back.

Tom from Orlando, FL:
I read today the Jaguars’ owner gave $1 million to Trump’s inauguration. I am never buying another ticket or piece of Jaguars apparel as long as he is the owner.

John: OK.

Scott from Daytona Beach, FL:
I think we all knew this already but POZ is an awesome person. I wish we had more POZ’s in the league.

John: True. I having built a lifetime on questionable decisions, low character and scant initiative typically find myself uncomfortable around high-character, motivated, classy people. Despite this, I respect and admire Paul Posluszny quite a bit. I can’t help it. He’s that good of a guy.

Cornel from Santa Maria, CA:
John, help me understand Poz being moved to outside linebacker. They’re taking a guy who has played middle linebacker for a decade and moving him to outside linebacker, which to me would require more speed. They are then taking a guy who has more speed and moving him to middle linebacker. This one is hard to understand.

John: The Jaguars want to get Jack on the field on three downs compared to one or two per series. This is the way to do that.

James from Destin, FL:
John, over the past seasons I’ve written you talking about players being prima donnas. Brandon Allen is just another one. There are very few players in the NFL today that would have held up playing back in the 70′ and 80’s. If I was coming into a new team under his circumstances I’d be on the field showing what I could do to EARN a bigger contract, not sitting home sucking a pacifier. I would also like to add if you print this or if you tell him, I’m in section 208 and I’d be happy to tell him to his face. Make sure Khan builds a safe place for him to go, he’ll need it.

John: It’s Branden Albert and he’s not doing anything wrong.

Rob from Brunswick, GA:
Any idea yet on the dynamic of the new front office? I have been assuming that Tom Coughlin has final say on basically everything football-related. As far as who gets drafted and where, is that his call? Or is he leaving that to Dave Caldwell? It’s a little confusing to have Coughlin in the position that he’s in. Is he essentially acting as general manager with regards to free agency and the draft?

John: I see how this is confusing, but it’s actually relatively simple. Caldwell reports to Coughlin and acts as general manager, overseeing scouting and evaluating players, etc. The two meet and discuss personnel matters pretty much constantly, and presumably reach a consensus on many things. But yes – Coughlin has final say, so in that sense he acts as the ultimate general manager on all Jaguars matters when it comes to free agency and the draft.

Ed from Ponte Vedra, FL:
I am so very disappointed in me. You mentioned Calais Campbell as one of our best players and I didn’t even know he was a Jaguar. What’s wrong with me? I am serious about this!

John: As the great Southern poet Charlie Daniels said in The Legend of Wooley Swamp, “There’s some things in this world you just can’t explain.”


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O-Zone: ‘IT’ factor

John Oehser Senior writer jaguars.com

JACKSONVILLE – Let’s get to it …

Matt from Vegas:
While many seem to be forcing themselves to not be as excited this year for fear of another letdown, I’m as optimistic as I’ve ever been for these Jags. They lost eight games by a touchdown or less, added quality veterans, and get a high draft pick in one of the deepest drafts. The best team on paper is a solid training camp away from being a team we can be proud of. On a scale of one to 10, what’s your confidence in this team’s likelihood of being very competitive and able to knock off the elites this year?

John: If 10 is “very confident” and one is “not confident at all,” I’m a four. That’s not because I don’t think the Jaguars will improve; rather, it’s because after you asked about the Jaguars “being very competitive” next season, you added “knock off the elites.” I think there is a good chance the Jaguars can be competitive and improve by maybe four-to-six games. That’s a sizeable improvement. But there is a huge gap between competitive and “beating the elites.” I also remain concerned about quarterback play; until we see the position become more dependable, it’s difficult to predict the team playing at an elite level. I’m not saying it absolutely can’t happen, but it’s difficult to predict something until you see at least the first evidence it exists.

Bruce from Green Cove Springs, FL:
Wow, what an interview with Poz. He’s such an open and honest guy that his body language clearly showed his discomfort with the idea of a new position. But his words and attitude showed nothing but professionalism. I don’t know how he’ll do with the adjustment. But I know he’ll be the best he can be. And having watched Poz, that could be pretty darn good.

John: Paul Posluszny indeed remained remarkably poised Tuesday, speaking publicly as he did shortly after learning that he will be playing strong-side linebacker as opposed to middle linebacker next season. But I interpreted Posluszny during the interview more as being upset and maintaining his composure. Is he a bit uncomfortable? Yes, but that’s because he’s accustomed to being fully prepared and fully knowledgeable with his position. But Posluszny clearly was disappointed with the move, and understandably so: he has played middle linebacker in the NFL for a decade, and played as well as anyone on the Jaguars’ defense last season outside perhaps Jalen Ramsey – and despite all that he’s being moved. Is it part of the NFL? Yes. Is it the right move? Perhaps. But whatever the answers to those questions, Posluszny would have been almost inhuman had he not been upset. And he indeed handled the situation with professionalism – which is exactly how anyone who has been around him for nearly six seasons would have expected him to handle it.

Todd from Jacksonville:
Is it too early to start yelling #MOODACHAY!!!?

John: Why would it be?

Paul from Gainesville, FL:
Voluntary means voluntary, I am pretty sure.

John: As I have done before, I’ll refer to former Colts/Cardinals/Seahawks running back Edgerrin James on this topic. Upon opting early in his career to not attend the Colts’ voluntary offseason program, he said while he only attended the University of Miami for two years before opting for the NFL Draft, he indeed attended long enough to know what “voluntary” meant. I’m paraphrasing, but you get the idea.

John from Jacksonville:
Tommy Bohanon was the lead fullback blocker for Chris Ivory when he led the AFC in rushing in New York. Do you think the Jaguars are setting up Ivory for the lead role again?

John: I think the Jaguars signed Bohanon this week because they are considering having a fullback on the roster. If the Jaguars are going to carry a fullback, they want him to be good – and the Jets have been a good running team at times in recent seasons. That would undoubtedly benefit Ivory if he were in the lead running-back role next season, but it would benefit any other Jaguars runner, too.

Chris from Mandarin:
Repeat after Bill Belichick: “No days off.” Branden Albert is a bum.

John: A player is in no way a “bum” for operating within NFL rules. There’s no reason to think Albert is not working, and remaining in shape, just because he’s not doing so at EverBank Field. NFL offseason workouts are called “voluntary” for a reason; it’s because they’re voluntary. This is professional football. Players are allowed to do things within the rules of the Collective Bargaining Agreement; it’s why it’s there.

Zach from Jacksonville:
Who would you say is the best player (or players) on the team right now? Who do you think the best player or players will be in two years?

John: You never know for sure what will happen from one season to the next, but based on past performance, I would say Calais Campbell and Jalen Ramsey would be the best players on the Jaguars right now – followed closely by Posluszny. That’s based on the level at which Posluszny played last season, when I thought he and Ramsey by season’s end were the Jaguars’ best players. I can’t put any offensive players in the group because Allen Robinson didn’t perform last season as he did in 2015. I think Ramsey will be the Jaguars’ best player in two seasons. He certainly seems headed in that direction.

Mike from Eagle River, AK:
I am the only Jags fan, outside of my family, I have ever known. Because of this, my brother and I make wild bets about how great the Jags are going to be every offseason to #represent. Normally I throw in some meaningless facts to get people to think that maybe we actually will be good. That being said, I’ve drawn a fat blank on what to be hopeful about this year. Advice for a frozen Jags fan??

John: I get this line of questioning a lot, but I actually feel more strongly than I did this time last offseason that the team will move toward .500 – perhaps very close to .500. I thought entering last offseason the defense had a good chance to go from being a liability in 2015 to at least an average defense in 2016 – with a chance because of the young talent to be really, really good in 2017. The unit seems on course for that, with the main question entering the offseason program being whether the pass rush can generate effective, consistent pressure in meaningful situations. If it can, then this defense can become really good by the end of the season – perhaps good enough to carry the team at times. I thought entering last season the offense needed to make dramatic strides, and I wasn’t real confident it was going to be the team strength many observers assumed. The offense indeed struggled. I have an idea the Jaguars can make at least some marginal strides offensively this season. If the defense is as good as its potential, then the combination of those marginal offensive strides and more disciplined special teams play could mean some significant improvement. I don’t know that the Jaguars yet have the quarterback play or offensive efficiency to contend for the postseason, but can this team improve next season? Sure.

Al from Orange Park, FL:
I thought Poz played at a very high level last year. I’m nervous about replacing him with an unproven player. I hope if that decision turns out to be a mistake, it gets quickly corrected. Your thoughts?

John: The time is now to play Myles Jack at middle linebacker. He’s a young, mega-talented player who the team wants on the field in all situations and the best way to do that is to play him at middle linebacker. I wrote a few weeks ago that I thought there was a chance that Posluszny could move to strong-side – and that if that happened there was a chance that he might be moved back to the middle at some point during the season if the move doesn’t work out. I stand by that thought because Posluszny played at a high level last season – and because he’s a smart player who’s very dependable on the inside. Jack could well be just as dependable, but he hasn’t shown that yet. His transition and the transition of Posluszny to strong side will be fascinating. On the move’s success could much of the team’s defensive performance next season hinge.

Joe from San Antonio, TX:
Even having the best players at every position doesn’t guarantee wins? Imagine Tom Brady throwing passes to Julio Jones and Antonio Brown with the option of handing the ball off to Le’Veon Bell or David Johnson. And that’s without even mentioning the players that would stack that defense. I’m pretty confident I could guide that team to at least a first-round bye, and I’m just a guy in IT.

John: Good players are cool. Guys in IT think they can coach them.


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O-Zone: Boom or…

John Oehser Senior writer jaguars.com

JACKSONVILLE – Let’s get to it …

Josh from Pensacola, FL:
Should we be at all worried about the reported holdout by Branden Albert? I know it’s voluntary workouts, but is that the kind of player we want or need? I don’t like it.

John: Well, I’m not sure anyone likes it. But left tackle Branden Albert, acquired by the Jaguars in a trade last month from the Miami Dolphins, indeed reportedly did not attend the opening of the 2017 offseason program Monday – and indications are he wants the team to address his contract. My interpretation: though the Jaguars obviously would prefer if Albert were here, they likely figured this scenario was possible. He had indicated as much around the time of the trade, and media reports from Miami at that time also indicated as much. It stands to reason Albert would want something done with his contract. A veteran who doesn’t have many more high-earning NFL seasons, Albert is scheduled to make about $18 million over the next two seasons, with none guaranteed. Had he signed somewhere as a free agent last month instead of being involved in a trade this offseason, he likely would have earned guaranteed money. I don’t think it’s unusual that he wants to talk contract before beginning to work out with his new team. I would imagine at some point the sides will reach common ground, though I doubt the Jaguars will pay Albert elite-left tackle money. I also don’t anticipate this being something that will cause Albert to not start for the Jaguars next season – or that hurts him on the field. Look for it to be an offseason story that causes a measure of offseason angst (witness: the next few emails), but it doesn’t feel like something that we’ll be talking about come September.

Chaun from St. Louis, MO:
What would be your opinion of a perfect draft for the Jags (for each round).

John: My opinion would be surprise. Perfect drafts hardly ever happen.

Logan from Wichita:
Wow! I am so glad we let Kelvin Beachum go in favor of bringing in Branden Albert. That is working out great so far … wait … no, it’s not. GO FIGURE! Now we have a left tackle that is going to hold out and miss valuable time coming into A NEW TEAM. This is working out great. What a joke. We are screwed. Way to go Jags!

John: Logan, Logan, Logan … some perspective, please. Please? The NFL regular season is four-and-a-half months away, and the offseason program that began Monday is voluntary. If you consider the two factors in lockstep, it’s easy to see that while it would have been preferable to have Albert in Jacksonville, there is no need for CAPITAL LETTERS or exclamation points with this story. The Jaguars are not screwed and it’s not a joke. NORMAL PUNCTUATION is fine in this instance!!! Albert is a veteran left tackle who certainly can perform at a high level next season whether or not he reports in April for the voluntary portion of the offseason. If Albert misses mandatory things – which begin in June – then we can hit the CAPS LOCK button. Until then … these things aren’t ideal, but they happen in the NFL.

Mike from Atlanta, GA:
Did the Jaguars anticipate this possibility with Branden Albert? I’d be tempted to say that I don’t believe he will sit out this season and forego salary and at age 32 allow another year to go by and try to come back to the NFL at age 33 and get a big contract. I don’t think he has a lot of leverage to work with; maybe he sees the same thing and thinks this is his last chance to get a big contract.

John: The likelihood of Albert sitting out the season or of this really becoming “a thing” is very, very low for several of the reasons you cite.

Matt from Jacksonville:
How are we not talking about “Werewolves in London” with our presence in the U.K.!?!? Also, I’m hoping some team entices the Jags enough to trade down. I’d love to see them get Forrest Lamp later in the first. All the reports I’ve read on him says he’s got the nasty steak you need in a guard.

John: I suppose even nasty steak is better than no steak at all.

Joe from Colonia, NJ:
John, thanks for everything you do. Two scenarios for you: 1. Coughlin and Caldwell decide to pick a quarterback with their first-round draft selection (albeit unlikely) and also decide to let Johnny-O (that’s you) decide between Trubisky and Watson … who do you take and why? 2. Tom and Dave decide they are going with a defensive lineman or running back with their first selection and Myles Garrett, Solomon Thomas and Jonathan Allen went with picks 1-3; your Nokia flip phone rings in your pocket, you answer, and it’s Dave asking you what the heck he should do. What do you tell him?

John: In the first scenario, I would take North Carolina quarterback Mitch Trubisky because the word on Deshaun Watson is he struggled with decision-making and field vision at Clemson. That makes me nervous when it comes to a quarterback transitioning successfully to the NFL. That doesn’t mean he can’t or won’t be successful, but it’s something that rightfully concerns teams when discussing Watson. I don’t think there’s an ideal choice between the two, but I’d take a chance on Trubisky’s inexperience over Watson because of the decision-making. As far as your second scenario, if the Jaguars are determined to go defensive lineman or running back, I would draft Leonard Fournette because the top defensive linemen are gone and Fournette is still there.

Dave from Duval:
The first few seasons they played AC/DC’s “Welcome to the Jungle” at the stadium. We won a lot during those times. As long as we’re trying to capture that success again let’s bring it back!

John: Guns and Roses performed “Welcome to the Jungle.”

Mason from Palm Bay, FL:
Reading your latest mock draft, I agree with all the concerns surrounding Fournette, Thomas, Allen, etc. You have always said your first-round pick doesn’t need to be a player you draft for Year 1, but for the next 6-10 years to build a core around. From that perspective, do you think Malik Hooker/Jamal Adams might be the choice here? I know they aren’t a position of need but they look to be the safest bets at No. 4. (Assuming nobody wants to trade up and we pick at four).

John: From a purely philosophical, theoretical perspective, I would have no problem with the Jaguars selecting Hooker or Adams at No. 4 overall. Everything I have heard or seen about Adams in particular is that he is a special player more than worthy of the selection. But the NFL Draft isn’t philosophical or theoretical; in practice it’s just hard to see the Jaguars taking a safety at No. 4 overall with Barry Church and Tashaun Gipson on the roster.

Al from Orange Park, FL:
“Sweet Home” was for many years a just-after-halftime, get-the-fans-jacked-up Jaguars tradition. I for one want it back. Something special has been lost.

John: True that.

Larry from Jacksonville:
Fowler is now a bust. Albert doesn’t want to play here. The line is trash and everyone wants to draft a terrible quarterback or bust running back. We will never see over four wins for another 20 years.

John: I was planning a Best-of-the-Ozone-2017 edition sometime between now and the draft. Thanks, though. You saved me the time.

Josh from Lynchburg, VA:
If I never have to hear “Free Bird” or “Sweet Home Alabama” again it would be too soon.

John: I felt this way once, too, Josh. I grew out of it.

Marcus from Jacksonville:
Could you possibly give us a more concrete definition of draft “bust?” Here’s how I see it. After a minimum of three years, if you could go back and redraft, would you still choose that player at the same spot without knowing anything about any other player? If you would not, that player is a bust. Is that too harsh of a judgment?

John: You definition of “bust” is a bit too strong for my taste. I consider a draft “bust” a player who was picked in, say, the Top 50 selections – and who contributed nothing close to what was expected for the level where he was drafted. You would have to put former recent Jaguars players such as Blaine Gabbert and Justin Blackmon in that category – and perhaps Luke Joeckel, though he wasn’t a “bust” to the degree of Gabbert and Blackmon. I wouldn’t put Tyson Alualu in the category of a “bust,” for example, because he played a lot of years for the Jaguars and played very well at times despite never living up to his status as a Top 10 selection. Many people would put all of the aforementioned players into the “bust” category and that’s fine. It’s their definition, but not mine.


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