Category: Uncategorized

O-Zone: Conspiracy theory

John Oehser Senior writer jaguars.com

JACKSONVILLE – Let’s get to it …

Royce from Jacksonville:
Mr. O, head coach Doug Marrone is talking about rebuilding Blake Bortles from the beginning. What does that mean for a quarterback going into his fourth season? Should the Jags take a quarterback in the first or second round?

John: When Marrone talks about rebuilding Bortles from the beginning, he’s talking about rebuilding Bortles’ foundation – in terms of fundamentals, mechanics and functioning in what in many ways will be a new offense. It’s about a fresh start; considering Bortles had an up-and-down season that was more downs than ups last season, the approach makes a lot of sense. If the approach has no other benefit, it perhaps takes at least a little pressure off Bortles by allowing him to approach this season as if he’s starting from the beginning with no preconceived judgements of expectations. That doesn’t mean there’s no pressure on Bortles, but perhaps it will alleviate some. As for your second question: should the Jaguars take a quarterback in the first or second round? I’d be hesitant to do so, because I don’t see a fall-in-love-with-the-guy-and-commit-to-him quarterback in this draft and that’s what you want when taking a quarterback so early. Will the Jaguars take a quarterback in either of those two rounds? I’m not ruling it out. Not even close.

Strnbiker from Dothan, AL:
Tomorrow never comes. If it did it would really be yesterday. What?

John: Ouch.

Stanton from Jacksonville:
With Josh Scobee retiring as a Jaguar and saying how much he loves the town, do you think there is any correlation between Jaguars players that adopt Jacksonville and their success as a Jaguar? It seems many of the great players are the ones that love the town, and almost all the stars from the great 90’s team still live in Jacksonville. If I were the general manager, I would make sure high draft picks and free agents are likely to integrate in our community.

John: Nah. Not really. I think it’s more a case of Jacksonville being a really good and underrated place to live. Most people who live here a while either love it immediately or grow to love it in time, and most good players stay around long enough to grow very attached to it. That’s what happened with a lot of the Jaguars’ best players in the 1990s, and it’s what happened to Scobee. As for a general manager selecting a player likely to become part of the community … he should focus on picking good players. If they’re good and the team wins, the city of Jacksonville will embrace them soon enough.

Jerell from Columbia, SC:
Watson at 4?

John: I’m not ruling it out.

Mark from Archer, FL:
John, another one for Mr. Khan. I just read an article by the Travel Channel. EverBank field was listed as one of the NFL’s top bucket-list experiences for football fans. Mr. Khan really has done an amazing job upgrading and enhancing the stadium.

John: I don’t want to ignore the contributions of the city of Jacksonville, or of Jaguars President Mark Lamping on this front, but considering the state of the stadium in 2012 … and considering that the stadium essentially is being renovated and turned into a state-of-the-art facility before our eyes … well, yeah … one for Mr. Khan. No doubt. The job Khan has done legitimizing the infrastructure of the Jaguars/EverBank Field is one of the least-discussed notable stories in the NFL over the last half-decade. It’s good to see that changing on some level.

Doug from Jacksonville:
Leonard Fournette will be a bust. Hopefully, the Texans or the Colts pick him. I’m not usually very passionate about players to be drafted. I was against the Jags drafting Johnny Manziel. I was against drafting Tim Tebow and I’m against drafting Fournette. Other than those three, I’ve had my faves or players I hoped they would pick or pass on, but only those three have I had an inclination to be passionate about. Let the powers that be know I’m two-for-two and expect to be three-for-three as I’m sure they are interested.

John: What’s weird is I usually don’t print out O-Zone emails and discuss them with the head coach and executive vice president of football operations less than two weeks from the NFL Draft, but hey … I made an exception in this case. When time came for the scheduled meeting, I introduced myself to Marrone/Coughlin and ignoring their confusion and the sudden presence of security, I told them “Doug from Jacksonville” ain’t a Leonard Fournette fan. They thanked me for my input, and I can only assume the noise I heard as I was being hurried from the office by elbows and arm pits was them high-fiving one another at their good fortune on the day that surely will be remembered as “The Day Doug from Jacksonville Got Involved.”

Fabian from Jacksonville:
Hey John, I was watching O.J. Howard’s highlights and all I could think was “this guy can be to Blake what Gronk is to Tom Brady.” Seeing his rare traits of strength, speed, and agility definitely makes him a Top 10 pick. Also, tight end is one of the softer, less-talented areas of our offense, which led me to the thought of a possible trade scenario by trading down with the Panthers, assuming they will be targeting Leonard Fournette. Any thoughts?

John: I think O.J. Howard would be a good selection in the first round. Tight end makes sense, and Howard appears to be a player with a legitimate chance to become a Pro Bowl tight end. Draft-day trades are impossible to project and the pre-draft discussions about them typically end up being so much ado about so little, but if the Panthers indeed want to trade up for Fournette enough to offer the Jaguars a good deal … sure, why not?

Michael from Jackson de Ville:
John, it’s time to settle the “will-Fournette-be-great debate?” It’s really quite simple. If the Jags draft him, based off recent drafts (excluding Jalen), he’ll be a bust. However, if we pass on him this dude has Pro Bowl written all over him. Signed: longtime Jags fan.

John: That unfortunately is the attitude of many Jaguars followers. It’s difficult for them to hope for anything positive, and the team’s struggles have made that the case. Fans have had little reason to hope, and that’s the result of a lot of years with a lot of struggling. It’s up to the Jaguars to change that attitude. Nothing else will work, and me answering questions about how players bust for all teams and how the draft is a crap-shoot won’t, either. None of that will change it. Just winning. Just winning.

Steve from Denver, CO:
“Bring Lawyers, Guns and Money along with a team’s senior writer?”

John: Dad, get me out of this.

Preston from Oakville, CT:
I read a rumor about the Cardinals trading their first rounder for Blake Bortles. If this was offered, do you think the Jags would make that deal? And if they did, would that guarantee then picking a quarterback this year, or could they give Brandon Allen, or Chad Henne a year at the helm?

John: I can’t say I know the origin of every internet “report,” but my understanding is that this Bortles-to-the-Cardinals-for-a-first-round-pick thing isn’t so much a rumor as it was included by a website as a trade that would make sense in the 2017 NFL Draft. I think the article may have been mistitled, because I don’t actually see the trade making much sense. I think realistically the Jaguars might entertain such an offer because it would give them selections early in this year’s draft. What I wonder, though, is what the Cardinals’ incentive would be to make such an offer? I’m not saying Bortles absolutely, positively won’t develop into a franchise quarterback, but he certainly hasn’t played well enough through most of his first three seasons to make you think teams are going to start giving up premium draft selections to acquire him.

Bob and Doug from the Great White North:
Good lord, does anybody really need to hear “Sweet Home Alabama” ever again?! The South’s gonna do it again … what does that mean, lose again?!?!

John: Take off, eh?

Jaguar Pete from Tallahassee, FL:
I have tried not to be sucked in to the whole “Sweet Home Alabama”/Neil Young discussion, but being an old timer – a very old-timer — Lynyrd Skynyrd’s first hit, “Free Bird,” will always be for me their signature song. They were just a local band when I saw them play it for the first time at the Comic Book Club in downtown Jax. It was great then and can still give me a chill when I hear it. I would much prefer to give that song anthem status than “Sweet Home Alabama.”

John: “Free Bird” is fine. Or “Sweet Home.” Or “You Got that Right.” Or “Working for the MCA.” Shoot, I wouldn’t even mind “I Ain’t the One.” #Imustbeinthemiddleofsomekindofconsipracy


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O-Zone: No tomorrow

John Oehser Senior writer jaguars.com

JACKSONVILLE— Let’s get to it …

Rob from the Duuuu:
To add a few more players that should be in the Pride of the Jaguars ahead of Josh Scobee, I would put Marcedes Lewis and even Paul Posluszny. Did Scobee ever make a Pro Bowl? What if we get a really good kicker in the near future who has a better career than Scobee? We gonna have six dudes and two of them kickers? It really is a huge outrage that this “Ring of Honor” was such a hard-to-achieve honor that Mojo, Sheen, Brack, Darius, Keenan and up until a few months ago Jimmy Smith were all shunned and now this? Sorry, man, but it is either a complete outrage or they got to open up the flood gates and let like 20 dudes in the ring right now. I can tell you it will mean a lot less to guys like Mojo who truly deserve this honor when and if they do get it. Going in after Scobee is truly a disgrace to their legacy. Letting him retire here and giving him some good PR and writing about his career was all that was needed with Scobee. Or a job as an announcer. It’s too late now. The ring of honor is a joke, and there is no honor in being a part of it anymore.

John: Um, Rob? Rob? Take a breath, OK? Another. Another. Better? Good. First, if the Jaguars got a really good kicker in the near future and put him in the Pride of the Jaguars a few seasons after he retired, that would mean putting him there in about two decades; I suppose I’d worry about that in about … oh, two decades. Second, Scobee’s not in the Pride of the Jaguars. No one around the Jaguars ever said he was going to be in the Pride of the Jaguars. I honestly doubt he will be in the Pride of the Jaguars. I personally think having him retire as a Jaguar was honor enough – and I think that will probably the highest Jaguars honor he receives. My point in my discussions on this topic this week is that Scobee meant a lot to this fan base and gave them a lot of good memories. The other players you mentioned did this as well. Scobee also was very important to a lot of people in the community for a lot of years and mattered a lot during a time when this franchise was struggling. Those things were true of a lot of the players you mentioned, and there are a slew of players honored around the NFL for being meaningful players to their team and their communities on and off the field for a lot of years. I personally have no problem with teams honoring a lot of players and I don’t even have a problem with teams honoring “too many players.” I guess I just think there are worse crimes and far bigger “outrages” and “disgraces” in our world.

DimeJag at Jag4slife forum:
Hey, man …. With the draft in less than two weeks, I gotta tell ya, the Jaguars better not draft any “busts” this year. Any player who doesn’t go to the Pro Bowl or lead his team to the Super Bowl in his first three years is a “bust.” In fact, even if a player makes the Pro Bowl, or gets voted No. 56 in the NFL Network’s Top 100 players, if they have a bad season after that … the player is a “bust.” No ifs, ands or busts about it. And, one more thing … Me and my friends don’t appreciate the efforts of the Jaguars’ organization trying to sell season tickets and other ticket packages, because they’ve been losing too much. None of us are season-ticket holders, and those of us who did have season tickets haven’t renewed them. I know “homers” would say that if the team had 100,000 fans who shared this incredibly flawed way of thinking, the team would not be financially viable in its current location, and would be better served to consider moving, but I don’t care. That’s your problem!

John: Yeah, but how do you feel about Scobee and the Pride of the Jaguars?

Warren Z:
How come you didn’t mention Zevon’s “Play It All Night Long?” … I know you are a fan.

John: I indeed could have mentioned Warren Zevon’s “Play It All Night Long” in our Lynyrd Skynyrd/Neil Young discussion. It was a song in which Zevon referenced “Sweet Home Alabama,” referring to it as a “dead band’s song.” Zevon reportedly once told Rolling Stone he intended it in part as a tribute to Skynyrd, and while at first listen it may be difficult to see it as a tribute, anyone familiar with Zevon’s twisted genius realizes tributes from the late, great songwriter probably came in forms previously not considered such. But I digress: I didn’t include “Play It All Night Long” in the Skynyrd/Young discussion because I figured we had digressed far enough. I feared that before. Now, I am relatively certain of it.

Trae from Jacksonville:
Shinedown? What are these kids thinking these days?

John: It’s a whole thing.

Rick from Saint Jones:
After researching Derek Barnett, I came away very impressed, and think he’s one of the most underrated, potential top picks in this year’s draft. Keep in mind he’s only a junior. In three years at Tennessee, both forced fumbles and sacks increased each year, with nine sacks in 2014, 10 in 2015 and 14 in 2016. I would also point out this was against the likes of Brandon Scherf, DJ Humphries and Cam Robinson. I would feel safer if we were to pick Barnett over Leonard Fournette. I would think success against first-round NFL talent such as his would raise interest among scouts, would you agree? Since his stats haven’t peaked yet, he could continue to improve.

John: I’m not all that big on college statistics as a measure of how a player will fare in the NFL. Even playing against “SEC Competition” isn’t a real great comparison to playing NFL players every week. That’s why you must project how players will play – and it’s what makes the draft process such a maddening crap-shoot at times. The book on Barnett is that while he wins – and gets a lot of college sacks – with speed and quickness, he doesn’t often win with power and strength. That’s why he’s in the Top 10-to-15 and not the Top 5. I like the idea of Barnett in the first round. At No. 4? Maybe … just maybe.

Tom from Loughborough, England:
I take back what I said about a month ago. Leonard Fournette looks like an absolute beast who would definitely alleviate pressure from Blake Bortles. Go watch him running over Brandin Bryant from Mississippi State. Fournette actually throws him to the ground like a piece of paper into a bin!! (Or should I say trash can …)

John: There’s no question Fournette is a beast – and if being an elite NFL running back was about the ability to run over college defenders, Fournette would be a dead-solid lock as a Top 5 selection and future multi-season All-Pro player. The question with Fournette isn’t about college-level power and strength but about NFL “miss-ability.” It’s really hard to be an elite NFL back without the ability to make the first defender miss with side-to-side quickness. Does Fournette have enough of that to be elite in the NFL? Some believe yes and others aren’t as sure. That will be the toughest question to answer until we actually see it at the NFL level.

Don from Ponte Vedra Beach, FL:
Even if you had the best player in the league at every position it would not ensure a winning season. It’s not individuals who win; it’s the best team that works and does those things that nobody else wants to do. When the season starts, you have who you have. What you do with it depends on how well everyone works as a group. Every player on the team needs to have a chip on his shoulder. One individual here or there is not going to get you squat! You do need talent to win, but are you going quit if you’re weak in one position or another? I just do not understand why fans have a hard time understanding what team means. Who you have is what you got and you have to make it work with no excuses. Doug Marrone and Tom Coughlin know this. Why do fans have a hard time with it? You have to find a way to win with what you have if you want to be a winner. Deeds not words!

John: True, Don. All true … though having the best player in the league at every position wouldn’t suck, either.

Scott from Columbus Circle, NY:
I think you should take tomorrow off. Go ahead and pick a few questions right now, answer them, write the blog post and pre-post it with a delay so that it appears at exactly 10:04 am tomorrow. Everyone, even you, deserves a day off every few years.

John: Tomorrow never comes, Scott. It never comes.


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O-Zone: Hobby lobby

John Oehser Senior writer jaguars.com

JACKSONVILLE – Let’s get to it …

Chris from Mandarin, FL:
It seems Doug Marrone recently had his first foot-in-mouth/Doh! moment as a head coach when he said the offensive line needs to play with a chip on its shoulder. Pardon me, but was he not the offensive line coach the last two seasons? Wasn’t he responsible for them playing well and taking on his philosophies then? If he couldn’t get his message across directly to the unit when he was their position coach, why should we think an offensive line that is 4/5 the same as last season will be any different?

John: First off, I don’t know that the offensive line will be four-fifths the same next season. The 2017 NFL Draft hasn’t been held yet, and there’s every chance a starting interior player could emerge from that weekend. With Branden Albert also being new, that’s 40 percent of the offensive line. As far as Marrone saying the line needs to play with a chip on its shoulder being a foot-in-mouth moment … I guess this is why coaches and other public figures sometimes are reluctant to speak candidly in public. I’m sure Marrone told the offensive line similar things in the past, but does that make it wrong to say now? If he had said, “You know what? The offensive line has been awesome in recent seasons … I hope those fellas just keep doing what they’ve been doing,” that might have been seen as a bit silly considering how the unit played at times. Marrone’s job as head coach is to set the tone for the entire team, offensive line included. He plans to set that tone for the offensive line when the players report for the offseason program, and he said as much. People may think of him saying they need to play with a chip on their shoulder a foot-in-mouth moment, but here’s guessing he doesn’t regret saying it and that he would say it again.

Jeff from Wake Forest, NC:
Chris Smith was traded and Jonathan Woodard is still around. We haven’t heard much since he was injured early on, but they must see something in this young man to keep him around. Do you hear any scuttle on him lately or where they envision him fitting in the pass rush?

John: The Jaguars like Woodard and believe he can be a productive part of the defensive line rotation, though he’s more of a strong-side player than a pure edge rusher. He is recovering from the Achilles injury that kept him out all of last season. I expect to learn early next week exactly when he is expected to be full strength.

Tom from Section 141 and the Mean Streets of Arlington:
My son and I were at a Suns game a few years ago and they played Sweet Home Alabama during the seventh-inning stretch. My son then posed the question: “Dad, why is that song the Jacksonville National Anthem?” “It just is, son. It just is.” Bring back Sweet Home!

John: You’re an awesome father. #bringitback

Steve from Jacksonville:
My question is about the process of NFL trades during the draft. If a team were interested in trading up, would they call some time before the draft to discuss the price and interest with other teams? Or does all of this happen exclusively on draft day?

John: Both. It’s quite common for general managers to speak before the draft to gauge interest about potential trades and explore scenarios. At the same time, trades often happen that weren’t discussed beforehand – particularly in the later rounds.

Tom from Boston, MA:
JPP, Justin Tuck, Osi Umenyiora, Chris Canty, Strahan are credited in large part for the Giants’ Super Bowl victories holding Tom Brady and Company to just two touchdowns in each game. The offensive line also allowed the G-Men to out-rush New England by significant margins both games. We can’t have too much talent or depth in the trenches. Ahmad Bradshaw and Brandon Jacobs were not difference-makers or any better than Chris Ivory/T.J. Yeldon. Let’s build this the Coughlin way!

John: OK.

Aaron from Chantilly, VA:
Do you think Blake Bortles could be a solid future backup quarterback and groom Mitch Trubisky for the next year or two while he holds onto the starter role?

John: I don’t think Bortles or any other quarterback is going to “groom” a backup while he’s starting, nor do I think you want a starting quarterback worried about grooming a young player to be a backup. I also don’t think a quarterback selected in the first two rounds is going to sit for two seasons. He might sit for one season, at the most.

A.J. from Kalispell:
I recently read about Telvin Smith calling out players for charging kids to attend their camps. Normally, I don’t pay much attention to things like this, but with Smith being on a rookie contract and sponsoring his own camps by involving local business and making sure every kid that wants to come can, it makes me glad he is on our team. Not only is he a beast on the field but he’s a true asset off of it. Here’s hoping he stays in Duval for years to come.

John: Agreed.

Marissa from Orange Park, :
John, when you say, “The 59-yarder to beat Indianapolis at EverBank Field in 2010 certainly is Scobee’s most memorable kick,” the operative word that should also be acknowledged is “EverBank,” who committed to Mr. Weaver and the city of Jacksonville just a few months before that game. People remember the kick like it was yesterday. However, they may have forgotten the organization going three years without a corporate sponsor after Alltel’s deal expired in 2007. Granted, the monies agreed upon were relatively insignificant in comparison to other NFL markets, totaling roughly the same amount Gillette pays to advertise in the Patriots’ parking lot. Nonetheless, the deal was a very instrumental and necessary piece of the puzzle for keeping the team in Jacksonville at a time when every out-of-market question surrounding the Jaguars was, “When are they moving to LA?” At the height of a very tenuous and seemingly dire period, EverBank’s endorsement essentially proclaimed belief that professional football could exist in Jacksonville when other corporate sponsors, and subsequently the national media, mostly disagreed. That deal helped provide a foundation for establishing the stability Mr. Khan has been able to strengthen, something that may have never happened absent EverBank stepping up when they did. In a year when three teams now call new markets home, the Jags were never once mentioned in those conversations. Congratulations to Josh Scobee for a great career, and three cheers for the sacrifices the City of Jacksonville and Mr. Weaver made at critical times throughout the organization’s difficult infancy, as well as for Mr. Khan’s remarkable business acumen since taking over. But, can we also get one-‘fer the nice folks at EverBank?

John: True that. One fer EverBank.

Frank from Amelia Island, FL:
Would you agree MARCEDES Lewis has limited utility and needs to be cut? Do you see any chance getting HOWARD AS THE NEXT GRONK?

John: I absolutely disagree that Lewis needs to be released. I think Lewis is a veteran who is a better run-blocker than pass-blocker, but he is a front-line NFL tight end who absolutely has a place on an NFL roster. There is a tendency among fans to want to release or trade familiar players, but releasing good players isn’t a smart way to go. As far as selecting Howard … sure. Is it fair to expect him to be the next Gronk? You’re talking about a player who when healthy has been among the most dominant players ever at the position, so that’s a big ask – but I think Howard has a chance to be really good.

Thomas from Jacksonville:
Lynyrd Skynyrd sucks. Shinedown is the best band from Jax. We should …

John: You wrote some more things and I stopped reading. I admit there was a time when I was young (a long, long, long time ago), inexperienced and unwise that I, too, was lukewarm on Skynyrd. As I grew and matured I realized the error of my ways. I wish you maturity and wisdom, Thomas. Godspeed.

Preston from Oakville, CY:
O-man, I don’t see Myles Garrett falling to us, but it’s not a lock for him to be drafted No. 1. If he isn’t, how seriously would we consider trading with the 49ers to pick him up?

John: Rumors and speculation aside, I’d be very surprised if Garrett is not selected No. 1 overall by the Cleveland Browns. I’m sure the thought of trading up would cross the minds of Jaguars higher-ups. But I would anticipate the 49ers wanting more for the No. 2 selection in that scenario than the Jaguars would want to give up. But who knows? Because who really knows what the 49ers would want?

Charlie from Ponte Vedra Beach, FL:
I like to pull my cat’s tail just to hear it hiss. Is that so wrong, O?

John: Doing that, while perhaps amusing, is cruel to the animal so I am obliged to say, yes, it is wrong – and I would never partake or encourage such an activity. (Although in the 1970s, before political correctness, it was probably a pretty cool hobby).


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O-Zone: Turn it up

John Oehser Senior writer jaguars.com

JACKSONVILLE – Let’s get to it …

Tyler from Jacksonville:
Players that deserve the Pride of the Jaguars before Josh Scobee … Mike Hollis, Rashean Mathis, Tony Brackens, Kevin Hardy, Leon Searcy, Donovin Darius, Keenan McCardell, Daryl Smith, MoJo Drew, Greg Jones, and I could keep going with the Lagemans and Smeenges of the world – and then Scobee slots in right behind them as a career mid-level kicker…

John: You’re probably right. I’d throw in Brad Meester and a couple of other longtime Jaguars players as being more “deserving” in terms of being better players than Scobee, too. My point remains the same as when I discussed this earlier in the week – and that’s that I would have no problem with Scobee being placed in the Pride just as I would have no problem with a bunch of other players you mentioned. That’s because while Scobee may not have been a Pro Bowl kicker, he provided fans with a bunch of memories and happiness for a lot of years and carried himself well while doing it. He therefore was a fan favorite and a beloved player. If you go around the league and see “Rings of Honor” for all 32 teams, you’ll find that a lot of players seem to be honored for precisely that sort of career. And that’s OK.

Julio from Orlando, FL:
John, please don’t ever say, “This gu-u-u-u-u-u-u-u-u-y” again. Thank you.

John: Nah, I’ll probably write it again. It makes me laugh.

Chaun from St. Louis, MO:
Let’s say Myles Garrett slips to us at the fourth pick and we draft him. What would our front seven look like?

John: It would look like a front seven with a lot of depth, and with a lot of options to rush the passer. I have no idea who would start on the line in 2017 Week 1, but it would stand to reason Garrett would start at one end relatively soon if he’s as good as advertised. Is he as good as advertised? We won’t know that until games begin.

Andrew from Honeytown:
Myles Jack indicated he has been in town most of the last three months working out. That is a TC kinda playa. The Patriots’ coach in the winning Super Bowl locker room said NO DAYS OFF. In your experience with winning teams, what percent of players would you say work out at their home stadium most of the offseason?

John: I don’t want to dampen your enthusiasm for Jack’s approach, because it did sound from listening to him Wednesday on Jaguars.com LIVE as if he is approaching things the right way. But it’s my experience there’s typically not a huge difference in offseason participation from winning teams to struggling ones. Players that live in town typically work out at the team’s facilities during January, February and March, then a pretty high percentage – over 90 – typically participate in the voluntary offseason program beginning in April. What matters far more is what players get done wherever they’re working.

Lane from Orlando, FL:
O-man, it’s common knowledge that Skynyrd wrote “Sweet Home Alabama” as a response to the Neil Young songs “Alabama” and “Southern Man,” which criticized the state in a big way. Don’t you know the lyrics? “Well, I heard Mr. Young sing about her. I heard old Neil put her down. Well, I hope Neil Young will remember — a southern man don’t need him around anyhow.” Neil Young actually liked the song and has played it in concert before. There was a perceived rift between Young and Skynyrd, but they actually liked each other. It’s an interesting read if you ever research it.

John: Thank you, Lane – and thank you to all others who criticized my Skynyrd knowledge in response to a Thursday morning O-Zone question regarding Sweet Home Alabama. Yes, I do know the lyrics, am well aware of the Neil Young/Skynyrd/Sweet Home Alabama story, and am well aware of the stories surrounding Ronnie Van Zandt and Young. I also know that Young in retrospect thought Van Zandt was right in his criticism of his two songs – and that he didn’t think much of his own song, “Alabama,” as time went on. I know if you listen to “Sweet Home” just right,” you can hear at one point the words “Southern Man” very faintly. I know it’s “Swampers” and not “Swampland,” and I know a few other things I didn’t mention in Thursday’s answer. I know, too, that Young and Van Zandt both rank among the best song writers of recent decades. I know Curtis Loew was the finest picker to ever play the blues and I know when Young sings “There is a town in North Ontario” at the beginning of “Helpless” it sends chills through you. But I was assuming that the O-Zone question to which you refer wasn’t so much asking for a history of the song as it was asking why a band from Jacksonville, Florida, would care enough about Alabama to write a song about the state. I therefore tried to answer the question in that vein as best as possible rather than try to write a comprehensive history of the song. The history of the song indeed is intriguing, and I remain confident that those interested in it can find far more detailed and accurate versions outside the O-Zone. I also remain steadfast in the main point of the answer which is that I’d like to hear Sweet Home at Jaguars games again. #Tellthetruth

Ed from Ponte Vedra, FL:
I have heard several national NFL media commentators strongly mention how Johnathan Cyprien will make the Titans so much better. If he can make another team’s defense better and we have all this salary cap room, what is the No. 1 reason we would let him go?

John: The Jaguars didn’t think letting Cyprien go would make them worse and in fact thought moving in another direction would make them better. That’s why they allowed him to sign elsewhere and why they signed strong safety Barry Church from the Dallas Cowboys as an unrestricted free agent.

Frankie from London, UK:
John, I was just wondering your thoughts on a theoretical 3-4 defense. I know it’s ultimately nothing to debate, but doesn’t this team seem so right in that set up? Can you see it happening for even a few snaps here and there? Wondering your thoughts.

John: This continues to be a popular 2017 offseason question, in part it seems because Dante Fowler Jr. late last season expressed his wish to play more standing up. He indeed seems to have some strong-side linebacker traits and Calais Campbell and Malik Jackson both could play defensive end in a 3-4 scheme. And yes, I could see the merits of a 3-4 defense with this team’s personnel, although I’ve always been partial to having four down-linemen with the defensive ends having their hands on the ground and rushing. What matters more than that is that Head Coach Doug Marrone has said he is partial to that approach, too. In light of Marrone’s opinion, I anticipate the Jaguars running a 4-3 scheme this season, though I do think there will be some 3-4 looks on occasion.

Jonathon from Jacksonville:
O, what was your favorite moment during Scobee’s career as a Jaguars player? My favorite moment occurred when I was stationed in Norfolk, Virginia and he had kicked the 59-yard winner against Indy … just curious.

John: I don’t necessarily have that many “favorite” career moments from players I cover. The 59-yarder to beat Indianapolis at EverBank Field in 2010 certainly is Scobee’s most memorable kick, and I’ll always remember him as the player whose last-second, clutch kicks beat Indianapolis not once or twice but three times when I covered the Colts. Perhaps no player other than Tom Brady had as many huge moments to beat the Colts during that period than Scobee. I’ll remember Scobee for being a player who truly appreciated the fact that he was playing a game for a living, and he never seemed to forget that he was fortunate. He was always decent and gracious, and I never met anyone who’d met Scobee who found him anything else.

Brian from Orlando, FL:
Comparing quarterbacks to a captain of an aircraft carrier. Becoming a captain of an aircraft carrier is a long and winding road. The candidate must complete 20 years of jet fighter service, then serve as executive officer on a carrier, then go to nuclear power school, then serve as a captain of a deep draft (non-carrier) ship for six years; finally he can be eligible to be considered for the top spot as an aircraft carrier captain. So, there are always many people in the pipeline to supply the need for captains of the 15 or so carriers the USA keeps active. Why can’t the NFL design a program to give more young quarterbacks a chance to gain experience and keep the quarterback pipeline full and flowing nicely?

John: This is a good plan. As soon as the NFL starts looking for 55-year-old rookie quarterbacks, I’ll speak to someone about implementing it.

Nathan from Richmond via Duval:
John, turn it up.

John: Damn right.


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O-Zone: Bring it on back

John Oehser Senior writer jaguars.com

JACKSONVILLE – Let’s get to it …

James from Jacksonville:
O, with the release of Dan Skuta, is it safe to say the Jags will be shifting to have Myles Jack take over that spot? He did show some great things when he did get playing time and I feel like he can add to the speed of the defense.

John: Jack actually already was at that spot, with him and Skuta – who indeed was released Tuesday – playing the strong-side “Otto” linebacker position last season. Though Jack started the final 10 games, the two essentially split reps. One possibility for this season is Jack moving to the middle; that has been speculated upon, though not confirmed by the Jaguars. Still, the Jaguars want Jack to emerge as a three-down player this season, and moving him to the middle and moving Paul Posluszny to strong-side linebacker is a way to accomplish that.

Jon from St. Augustine, FL:
Myles Garrett had a career total of 11 SEC sacks compared to Derek Barnett’s 29! I’m with Eric from Yulee, FL. Barnett should be a serious candidate at No. 4. Any shot the Jags take him?

John: Sure.

Mason from St. Augustine, FL:
Zone, you have said you don’t believe a quarterback will be taken at four. I agree. Any quarterback taken in Round 2 or later will have a tough task getting reps with the ones in training camp. However, Tom Coughlin made a remark a couple weeks ago about “wanting to see how Bortles practices.” Do you think Coughlin will cut him less slack for “not being a good practice player,” thus possibly opening the door for the young guy?

John: It’s tough to say how Coughlin will judge Blake Bortles based on practice. It is true that Bortles has struggled at times in practice throughout his career, but he struggled in practice in 2015 when he also played pretty well during the regular season. My sense is Coughlin’s focus in practice when it comes to Bortles will take into account preparation, knowledge of the offense, etc., as much as it does accuracy. I don’t yet know whether it will be a deciding factor on whether or not the Jaguars start Bortles next season.

Drew from California:
Was it just me or did it seem from watching the Jags 365: Inside the Red Zone event that the Jaguars would rather trade out of No. 4 rather than draft there?

John: You’re referring to Tuesday’s Inside the Red Zone event, which featured Coughlin, Head Coach Doug Marrone and General Manager David Caldwell speaking to select fans at EverBank Field. Coughlin and Caldwell did joke about waiting for the phone to ring as the draft approached, and each smiled at the idea of trading down. I don’t think there’s any question the Jaguars would love to have the opportunity to explore the option of trading down. How wide would those smiles be if the phone did ring? And would the Jaguars actually trade down? That would depend on the quality of the offer.

Dan from Grimsby, UK:
I can’t remember if it was catchable, but if it was how could you forget the interception after the pass deflected off Yeldon’s foot? That is the first interception that springs to my mind when I think of the 2016 season.
John: You’re referring to a recent O-Zone question about how passes deflected off receivers might affect the Jaguars’ evaluation of Bortles. I didn’t “forget” the pass Bortles tried to dirt that instead bounced off running back T.J. Yeldon’s foot and subsequently became an interception, although I probably speak for a lot of Jaguars observers when I say forgetting it wouldn’t be a bad thing.

John from Jacksonville:
John, I can’t believe these fans who want POZ out of the starting lineup. He has played very well since he came here. I for one would give him as much playing time as I could get him. You don’t come across his kind of play often enough in the NFL. Count me as one for POZ. How about you?

John: Count me as one who thinks Poslusnzy often is undervalued by Jaguars observers, and count me as one who believes he’ll start somewhere on the defense next season and mean a whole lot to the unit. He has done that pretty much every season he has been with the Jaguars. I won’t bet against him until he doesn’t.

CC from Duval:
I have a question. Why are we suddenly believing the hype of a player like Solomon Thomas when he only had 8.5 sacks last year and 3.5 sacks the year before that? I may be wrong, but he has a lot of opportunities to rush the passer in that pass-happy PAC12. Nobody knew who he was mid-year; 8.5 sacks is OK, but why is no one bringing up the “one-year-wonder” conversation? They do it with everyone else (I understand it’s not his fault; a player’s light comes on when it does, but that’s the case with every other player that got that tag as well). If we understand that Blake Bortles screwed us badly last year and the year before that with all of his poor interceptions and lack of first-quarter touchdown passes (we all know the terrible stats of BB), why is it hard to understand that with the defense built through the draft and free agency the past couple of years that the Jags would draft a transcendent player such as Leonard Fournette? He takes the ball out of Bortles’ hands so we won’t have to see him throw it 35-plus times a game and we let our defense and running game win the game. If we draft the Jonathan Allen kid from Bama, he won’t contribute right away because we have defensive tackles already on the roster and if we get Thomas what are they saying about Dante Fowler? I get it he had an underwhelming year last year, but that was him coming off of a ACL injury. If the Jags want to move on from someone, it should be Bortles. Why are we having so much patience, but we’re panicking and trying to draft Thomas when we already invested multiple high draft picks the past couple of years? DeMarcus Walker from FSU will be there in the end of third round. They can grab another defensive in the third round but we need a left guard with the second-round pick. People are already salivating over our defense; it’s by far considered our strongest unit of our team before the draft and it did a good job last year even when BB played double agent with us. We need help on the offensive side of the ball and Fournette seems like the no-brainer pick to help settle BB down. Sleeper pick: Reuben Foster or Deshaun Watson, but I don’t know why people act like Fournette isn’t that guy. They’ll say, “Well, he didn’t do it against Bama.” Name me one running back that did outside of Nick Chubb at the end of the game when he ran for an 80-yard touchdown once Alabama took out their starters because the game was already won. LSU never had a quarterback and ‘Bama stacked the box and dared LSU to pass. Leonard Fournette never had a chance with Bama’s talented Front 7 but then again name a running back that did? I’m tired of our offense only putting up two field goals until late third quarter when we are losing we have good players I believe Fournette to be a player to make everyone else great! DTWD

John: I once read an interview with a book editor who read a manuscript that was so complex in structure, its plot-lines so intricately intertwined, that when he finished didn’t know if liked the book or not. He said he bought the book and approved publication because he didn’t want to risk depriving the world of the writer’s genius – even if he didn’t understand the work. I don’t know why I thought of that story just now.

Richard from Gainesville, FL:
Do you see Solomon Thomas or Jonathan Allen starting if drafted? Isn’t the first round pick, ideally, supposed to be a starting player? Are the Jaguars really in a position to draft a player in the first round (#4 even) that is not expected to start?

John: You don’t draft a player in the Top 5 in the NFL Draft based on the belief that he will start Week 1 as a rookie. You draft him based on the belief he can be an impact player and a potential multi-year Pro Bowl player for a half-decade or more. I don’t know that Allen or Thomas would start, but either would play a key role early and seem to be players who could be really good for a long time.

Travis from High Springs, FL:
Hi John, Lynyrd Skynyrd was before my time, but I really enjoy their music. With you being a little older than me, I thought you might know the answer to this. Why do they have a song titled Sweet Home Alabama if they’re from Jacksonville, Florida? Is there a reason for this or is it just one of those mysteries of the universe?

John: I, too, am a Skynyrd fan, though I wouldn’t pretend to know enough about them to know all the details behind Sweet Home Alabama. I do know that Skynyrd had a familiarity with Alabama, having recorded at the legendary FAME Sound Studio in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, — and mentioning the musicians from the studio’s house band, the legendary Swampers, in “Sweet Home.” I also know it’s a more complex song than many believe, which isn’t surprising considering Ronnie Van Zandt’s status as one of the great songwriters of the last 50 years. What I mostly know is the song – like upwards of 15, 20, 25 Skynyrd songs – is a classic. It also brings to mind a question: What has two thumbs and wants Sweet Home Alabama played during Jaguars home games again? This gu-u-u-u-u-u-u-u-u-y.


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O-Zone: New direction

John Oehser Senior writer jaguars.com

JACKSONVILLE – Let’s get to it …

Mike from Jacksonville:
You have mentioned there is a good chance the Jags take a quarterback later in the draft. Do you think Patrick Mahomes II is a realistic pick? I think he definitely needs to sit for a season or two, but could turn out to be a solid starter. Who else besides the Mitchell Trubisky, Deshaun Watson, DeShone Kiser do you think the Jags have a realistic chance at drafting?

John: I think there’s a realistic chance the Jaguars could draft any number of quarterbacks, but I doubt they will do so at No. 4 overall. That’s why I doubt players such as Trubisky and Watson end up in Jacksonville. I think the odds of the Jaguars taking a quarterback increase dramatically in Round 2, then taper off after that because it feels like there are a slew of developmental guys who could be available at the bottom of the first or top of the second rounds. I don’t think Mahomes is realistic for the Jaguars, either, because all indications now are he will go in the first round – and probably too early in that round for the Jaguars to consider trading up to get him.

Sam from Orlando, FL:
Why isn’t Dalvin Cook considered much of a possibility for the Jags at No. 4? Is it because he isn’t considered a workhorse 25-to-30-carries-a-game type of back? Or is it the off the field stuff that has cropped up? … Allegedly.

John: I don’t sense off-field issues are hurting Cook’s draft stock much. My sense is analysts cooled on the idea of Cook at No. 4 because he isn’t a workhorse, carry-the-offense back – and because it’s a very deep running back class with a lot of value to be had in later rounds.

Eric from Yulee, FL:
With Derek Barnett getting more sacks than Jonathan Allen, Solomon Thomas and a half a sack less than Myles Garrett (hope my numbers are right) why isn’t he being discussed as being the second-best defensive lineman or being in the discussion as a Top 4 pick?

John: Because sacks and college production are only part of the equation when considering where to draft a player. Allen, Thomas and Garrett generally speaking are considered better physical prospects with better measurables and better NFL upside than Barnett. But not by much. Barnett seems likely to go in the Top 20, perhaps the Top 10, who knows? He may end up the best NFL player of the bunch.

Tom from Keystone Heights, FL:
I heard from others that Leonard Fournette does not fit the Jaguars’ offensive scheme. I’m of the belief that a good back will do well anywhere he goes, as long the offensive line blocks halfway decent. What do you think, John?

John: I think we’ve reached the stage of the pre-draft process when there’s a whole lot of speculatin’ going on. Speculatin’ is fun and people like it – but in the weeks before the draft it runs very much amok. In this case, it has become vogue to say that because the Jaguars run a shotgun-based spread-style offense –and because Fournette didn’t run well in college from the shotgun – he’s not a fit. The trouble with that speculation is I haven’t heard for certain what style of offense the Jaguars plan to run under offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett, and I also don’t know that Fournette ran enough from the shotgun at Louisiana State to know for certain if he’s a fit for the offense. I do think there’s some merit to the idea that Fournette should be in a power, run-oriented system. But I think it’s a bit premature to say if that means he won’t get drafted by the Jaguars.

Brian from Jacksonville:
A lot of pundits have Carolina wanting Leonard Fournette badly, so shouldn’t the Jags be hinting they will take him to set up a draft day deal? We’d only move down a few picks in the first round and could gain a third-to-fifth-round pick. Unless Solomon Thomas or Jonathan Allen are available at No. 4 on draft day, do you think the Jags may try to cut a deal with Carolina?

John: Hinting how? The Jaguars really haven’t spoken much publicly about the draft, so should they install some banner ads on the website, or put Fournette’s picture on the home page? Look, there’s a lot of speculation about Fournette at No. 4 to the Jaguars, enough that I’m sure teams consider it an option. At some point between now and the draft, general managers will start calling around the league to explore potential draft-day trade partners. If the price is right for both sides, a deal will get done whatever amount of pre-draft hinting has taken place.

Glen from Orange Park, FL:
Players know their strengths and weaknesses. If they avoid doing certain drills/measurable(s), you can bet they wouldn’t stack up favorably to their competition.

John: OK.

Chad from Yulee, FL:
Another defensive lineman from last year’s 53-man roster is gone. I think we are much more likely to get Allen/Thomas/Barnett at four now.

John: The Jaguars indeed traded defensive end Chris Smith to the Cincinnati Bengals Tuesday. I think there’s a good chance the Jaguars select Jonathan Allen, Solomon Thomas or Derek Barnett at No. 4 overall (emphasis on Allen or Thomas), but the departure of Smith doesn’t have anything to do with that thought.

Josh from Fort Pierce, FL:
Do you think it matters at all that Fournette’s production against the top teams he faced was dismal? Dalvin Cook on the other hand seemed to thrive when the lights were brightest.

John: I think it matters, but a very, very small amount. College football is a dramatically different game than the NFL. Teams put far more emphasis when studying draftable players on how they think players will perform in the NFL than what their statistics were in college. You definitely like players who were productive at the college level, but you also don’t want to penalize a player such as Fournette for not being productive against, say, Alabama without considering the reasons for not being productive. Was it was because he couldn’t avoid one defender? Was it because he couldn’t outrun one defender? Or was it because the ‘Bama defense as a whole was better enough than the LSU offense to render any runner ineffective? That’s the question NFL types will consider when studying how Fournette did in such games.

Joe from Fleming Island, FL:
Why are we not hearing more about drafting offensive line? I realize there is no player thought to be a good value at No. 4. However, there’s no real discussion about second- and third-round offensive-line candidates. I would like to see pass rusher, running back and offensive line in the first three rounds, and not necessarily in that order. Even better if we could trade back and get those first three positions with whatever turns out to be our first three picks. John, do you think offensive line doesn’t get the talk from the fans because they aren’t “skill” positions and touch the ball.

John: I gave up a long time ago trying to figure out why fans discuss what they discuss. I’ve said quite often I believe the Jaguars will select an interior offensive lineman in the draft later this month that they believe capable of becoming a starter – perhaps next season. I believe that could happen in the second or third round. There are no guarantees when it comes to the NFL Draft, but I certainly believe that scenario is possible.

Micky from Jacksonville:
I just noticed three of our out-of-division home games are against Seattle and the two Los Angeles teams. I like it. We have to travel west to play San Francisco and Arizona. I especially like the San Francisco game. I’m sure we won’t be favored to win these games unless we win early, but I still like having stronger opponents at home with them having a long travel and playing a weaker team when we have to cross the country. Would you agree?

John: Sure, on the surface those factors would play into the Jaguars’ favor. But I’ve always been of the belief that you don’t know much about the true difficulty of a schedule until you get into the season – and that good teams tend to figure out a way to negotiate most schedules whatever the difficulty. Let the Jaguars win a few games and show they have a chance to compete home and away and then we can get more detailed about where and who they’re playing.

Gary from St. Augustine, FL:
C’mon, Zone. Enough is enough. You gotta make some changes.

John: You’re right, Gary – and I suppose this is as good a time as any to let people know I indeed am considering some changes. I’m considering becoming an inventor. I’ve always had a curious mind and been mechanically inclined. I’ve also decided to invest heavily in expensive shampoos, lotions and colognes. Not everyone in my inner circle believes this new direction will have the desired positive effect, but I feel the moves are right for me at this time.


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O-Zone: Setting the board

John Oehser Senior writer jaguars.com

JACKSONVILLE – Let’s get to it …

Chris from Palatka, FL:
Hey, John: Of the many interceptions thrown by Blake Bortles last season, how many were potential “complete passes” that were turned into interceptions by being bobbled by wide receivers and subsequently taken by defenders? Not making excuses for Bortles by any means, but are these plays taken into consideration by the brass?

John: Several of Bortles’ interceptions last season indeed were deflections off receivers’ hands, with a couple of the most notable being one in the regular-season opener off wide receiver Marqise Lee and one in a Week 5 victory over Chicago off wide receiver Allen Robinson. There were certainly others … and yes, the Jaguars’ front office considers pretty much every factor when evaluating Bortles – deflections and catchable passes very much included. But remember: while some of the interceptions that caromed off receivers should have been caught, others – such as the one off Lee in the opener – were caused by inaccurate passes. The bottom line: Bortles needs to throw more accurately and play better. Counting an interception or two differently on the Blake Blame Monitor isn’t going to change that.

Greg from Section 223 and St. Johns, FL:
John, given the lack of premium-position players projected at the top of the draft, might we be in for a major surprise? I could see this one being a shocker … I’ll just throw Reuben Foster out there as food for thought.

John: This indeed seems like a year in which there could be many surprises near the top of the draft. Such is often the case when there aren’t clear-cut highly-rated players at premium positions. I, for instance, would be surprised if the Jaguars don’t select either Solomon Thomas of Jonathan Allen if one or the other is there when the Jaguars select at No. 4; their talent level and the fact they are defensive linemen indicates either would be worthy. If Allen, Thomas and defensive end Myles Garrett are all gone at No. 4 … well, there are a lot of scenarios that could follow. I don’t think it’s a lock that the Jaguars will select Louisiana State running back Leonard Fournette in that scenario, but if he’s not the selection, I have no idea what will happen. So, yes, I think there is a possibility of a major surprise for the Jaguars on Draft Night – and yes, Foster is a possibility that would qualify as a shocker.

Jen from Jacksonville:
What do you think of this starting defensive front seven: defensive end Yannick Ngakoue, defensive tackle Malik Jackson, defensive tackle Abry Jones, defensive end Calais Campbell, strong-side linebacker Dante Fowler Jr., middle linebacker Myles Jack and weak-side linebacker Telvin Smith? That’s all your speed, strength and bulk. Fowler is the weak link but with his speed they can’t run to that side at all. Thoughts …

John: My first thought is people this offseason throw out a lot of scenarios for the Jaguars’ defense that don’t include Paul Posluszny, and my thought on that scenario is it overlooks him being perhaps the Jaguars’ best defensive player last season. Another thought is that all indications this offseason are that Fowler is going to stay at defensive end.

Chris from Clemson, SC:
I’ve seen reports saying if Solomon Thomas is on the board at No. 4 the Jaguars will take him. How do you think the front seven would look if they take him, he’s good, Fowler lives up to his No. 3 selection and Ngakoue keeps getting better?

John: I think the Jaguars’ front seven in that scenario would look like you want your front seven to look: like one that has a bunch of players who can rush the passer effectively. As for who starts where in that scenario, I have no idea. You couldn’t start all three players, but if they are all three as good as your question indicates, the Jaguars would be really good in passing situations. That would be a good problem and one the Jaguars haven’t had in a long while. I do think if Fowler lives up to his potential he will be in the starting lineup, though.

Chad from Saint Augustine, FL:
Fowler is a bit of an enigma to me. Do you think he could play middle linebacker?

John: Could he? I suppose. Will he? Not for the Jaguars and likely not for any team in the NFL.

Rob from Brunswick, GA:
I keep hearing the Jaguars mentioned as a possible landing spot for Richard Sherman from Seattle. I personally don’t see it. Of course it’d be great to have him, but I can’t see why we’d trade draft picks or talent for him. Our need doesn’t seem to be that desperate for a cornerback, even a good one. Am I missing something?

John: No.

Glen from Orange Park, FL:
The NFL honors a Man of the Year for off-field work in the community. Why don’t teams draw more attention to players that go above and beyond anything required by contracts? Perhaps there should be a Pride of the Jags for off-the-field accomplishments and giving back to the community.

John: Teams talk about and promote their players’ off-field accomplishments a lot. Whether media and fans always pay attention to that conversation is another question.

Neil from Gloucestshire, UK:
Are mock drafts are purely for fun – or, due to my newness to the game, should I be taking them seriously? Looking back at past mock drafts they appear to be unbelievably inaccurate. Why is that? Thank you.

John: Mock drafts are for entertainment purposes only. Then again, that’s the case with most NFL analysis – and with the NFL, for that matter. But specifically to mock drafts, they’re OK when used to get an idea of how early certain players might be selected, but a good projection will get a few correct and a lot more right than wrong. Why is this the case? Because beyond the first two or three selections, no one really knows what teams are thinking before the draft. Come to think of it, few people usually know all that much about the first two or three selections, either.

Steve from Denver, CO:
If TC goes with Allen from ‘Bama with our first pick, isn’t he telling BB we are done with your lack of progress? When healthy he has three experienced wide outs, a former Pro Bowl tight end and an offensive line that is showing progress. Put up this year Blake Bortles, or you are history in Jacksonville?

John: I think if Tom Coughlin and the Jaguars select Jonathan Allen from Alabama at No. 4 overall they are saying they believe Allen is the best player available there. I don’t think it has anything to do with Bortles one way or the other.

John from Jacksonville:
Has any team ever held its selection on purpose as time expired so it can select this player it needs and likes at a more favorable spot? Say a running back, offensive tackle or tight end?

John: No. That would result in a team dropping back one spot in the draft. The benefit of that wouldn’t be worth the risk of losing the desired player.

Greg from Virginia Beach, VA:
Funny story. So, back in the day an ex-girlfriend of mine called and asked to help her move a couch. Halfway down the stairs of the apartment building she can no longer grip the couch anymore, so I’m just holding my end up with no end in sight while her end is resting on the building stairs. We don’t know what we’re going to do when all of a sudden this black Benz pulls up, Rashean Mathis jumps out like he’s freaking Batman, and with a bandaged knee helps us move the couch. That’s Hall-of-Fame worthy in my book.

John: That is Hall worthy, and it’s pretty much in line with just about everything I experienced from or heard about Mathis. I never found him to be anything but classy, friendly and helpful. None of which answers the obvious question of why you agreed to do something nice for someone. Never get involved in the struggles of others. It’s inconvenient and usually doesn’t bring you financial reward.

T.I.C. from Jacksonville:
Do you suppose all them Tebow fans care more about baseball now?

John: I imagine so, and you know what? Tebow is faring better early on with the New York Mets’ minor-league team than many expected. He has been lampooned, criticized and doubted a lot – and I, for one, scoffed a bit at the baseball idea. Here’s hoping his success continues. If it does, good for him.

Trae from Jacksonville:
Hey John. I’d be really interested to know how your personal draft board would bet set at this point if you were in charge of making the Jaguars’ No. 4 overall selection.

John: One, Myles Garrett. Two, Solomon Thomas. Three, Jonathan Allen. Four, Leonard Fournette. Or maybe O.J. Howard, or maybe Derek Barnett, or maybe – but not likely because of position – Jamal Adams. Or maybe – but not likely because I just can’t bring myself to do it – Deshaun Watson. So, for today: Fournette. For today.


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O-Zone: Lethal weapon

John Oehser Senior writer jaguars.com

JACKSONVILLE – Let’s get to it …

Winston from Duval:
Do you think the defense is good? I ask no snark only because I hope the Jags just take the best defensive lineman available in the draft. Maybe the stats said they were better last season, but they really only got better in a couple spots on the eye test – namely Yannick Ngakoue and Jalen Ramsey. The defense basically couldn’t be relied upon, didn’t force turnovers, wasn’t a force. I hope they go heavy rather than for a running back. Let’s get good at something, rather than bad to average in everything.

John: I do think the Jaguars’ defense last year was good, but I think we agree in the sense that I didn’t think – and never have said – it was great. The defense as a whole actually did play the run well most of the season, and there were games such as at Buffalo when it was near-dominant much of the game. What it lacked was what it has lacked for several seasons: a crunch-time, close-the-door pass rush. Lacking that is why it feels as if it’s not a force, and it’s the primary reason the unit didn’t force enough turnovers last season. Defenses feel dominant when they stop the run on early downs and get off the field in passing situations either by forcing errant throws, registering sacks, forcing fumbles and getting interceptions. A pass rush in obvious passing situations often forces these things. If you lack a pass rush in obvious passing situations, opponents tend to complete passes for first downs, taking the air out of the defense and making the whole unit feel as if it doesn’t pass the eye test.

Bryant from White Plains, NY:
John, I think there was a big issue with one of your past questions. One can never have too many IPAs.

John: True that.

J Hooks from Orange Park, FL:
Ed from Danvers, MA’s question regarding retiring jerseys got me thinking about Rashean Mathis. As I recall, he wanted to retire a Jaguar, like Josh Scobee and Fred Taylor, etc. He wasn’t given that opportunity as I recall. Why was he not given that opportunity? He was a great Jaguar, and his late-game interceptions, I don’t know, got us into the playoffs?

John: Rashean Mathis signed a one-day contract with the team and retired as a member of the Jaguars last April. I recalled it because, I don’t know, Google?

Robert from Kentucky:
Limited Pro Day drill participation is routine when the combine participation was full. All we get with Leonard Fournette is a good weight, adjusted 40-yard dash time and a very poor vertical jump. The people who question his short area explosiveness and lateral agility have plenty of ammo.

John: True, and Fournette has every right to approach the Pro Day as he sees fit. I’m sure there are teams that will not select Fournette for various reasons but I don’t think him not doing certain drills at his Pro Day will do much to change people’s thoughts on where to draft him.

Bruce from Green Cove Springs FL:
The Jags will pick Leonard Fournette. Or O.J. Howard. Or Jonathan Allen. Or Solomon Thomas. Or … It’s so confusing. What does the decision process look like on the inside? Do proponents of certain players get emotional about their preference? Or is it just a reasoned, business decision?

John: The decision process is the scouting process, which this month consists of scouts and coaches meeting and discussing all prospects in the draft, after which key decision-makers such as Executive Vice President of Football Operations Tom Coughlin and General Manager David Caldwell set the draft board. As far as the first-round selection, the Jaguars will enter the draft with at least four players they consider worthy of the selection. That’s because they select No. 4 overall. I imagine they also will have a few scenarios involving trades. Yes, some draft discussions get emotional, but you want to take emotion out of the equation as much as possible before the draft. I imagine Caldwell and Coughlin will work together without a bucket load of emotion, and if there is a dispute Coughlin will solve it relatively calmly by making the final decision.

Abe from Mobile, AL:
I’m always a bit confused by the questions and comments from folks that are worrying about a rookie who skips certain drills at Pro Days or the Scouting Combine and saves it for later and so forth. This concern of, “What does it say about them?” confuses me. What does it say about high school seniors who stop taking the SAT when they get the score they need to get into college? Only that they are savvy enough to hold up when they have established what they need to get into their college of choice, and they don’t want to rick being sick or a bad test day to drop them from contention. Same thing with rookies. They are smart enough to know that all they are doing is risking an injury, or feeling ill that day, and then boom, their stock falls.

John: Pretty much.

Brady from Jacksonville:
I love the idea of hosting the draft in Jacksonville, but do you think it will be as much fun when we are picking from 29-32 annually over the next 10 years ?

John: It may not be as fun for the moment between eight and say, 9:30 p.m., on the first night of the draft, but I assure you … oh, I see what you did there. Good one, Brady.

Jeff from Jacksonville:
Could Blake Bortles’ shoulder injury last year have been part of his bad performance? Is his shoulder healed now and ready for training camp?

John: I don’t think there’s any question Bortles’ shoulder had an effect on how he played at times last season, but it wasn’t the only factor in how he played – and he never said or implied that was the case. Bortles recently returned to Jacksonville from working with his quarterbacks coaches in California and said he is ready for the Jaguars’ offseason program that begins April 17.

Jag Nissan from Nashville, TN:
You said, “Don’t be surprised if Poz takes back the middle linebacker position from Jack.” Why put Jack at middle linebacker? If he is a top five talent, then why do we put him at another position? I love Telvin Smith but put Jack at his natural position. I’m sick of us moving players around out of their natural positions. I’m sick of it. Look at the dumpster fire we called an offensive line last year. Nobody on the interior was playing where they did in college. It’s the NFL. The highest level of competition.

John: I don’t know that there is all that much unnatural about putting Jack in the middle.

Jon from California:
I don’t know if this topic gets debated around the NFL, but in regards to the quarterback QB rating, I think the quarterback should get credit for the yards up until the receiver catches it and the receiver should get credit for yards after the catch. Separately, No double-dipping. Just saying. Any thoughts?

John: Nah – and a few reasons. One is that there are times – many times, actually – that the quarterback’s throw is a reason for the yardage after the catch. A perfectly-thrown long pass, crossing route or screen pass likely results in more yards after the catch than a poorly-thrown pass. Also, quarterbacks for years have gotten credit for yards after the catch, so to change the formula now would make the already difficult task of comparing passers across decades or eras even more difficult. A final reason is that there already are statistics for yards after catch and yards before catch. They’re available, but trying to separate the statistics when it comes to passer rating probably would cause more confusion than it’s worth.

DUVAL DOOM from Section 217:
Eh … I am still ambivalent towards the Jaguars. I WANT to be excited. I’m sure it’s going to happen at some point, but I am not there now. You know what I AM excited about? Daily’s Place & the three shows I’ve already bought tickets for. What a great thing for the city. I’ve got tickets for Train/OAR, Third Eye Blind, and Matchbox Twenty/Counting Crows. Realizing that so far the bands appearing are geared towards a certain time period of music, what have you thought about the new amphitheater & the acts the team is bringing in? Pretty impressive to me.

John: The Daily’s Place acts are all pretty cool. People seem to like them. I have to admit your skewing a bit younger than me, which is good for you and expectedly sad for me.

Sean from Jacksonville:
John, as a law enforcement agent that has personally witnessed your imposing physique on display while jogging, I offer warning that you being shirtless in public, whether at a Mexican restaurant or elsewhere, could be construed as exposing a lethal weapon.

John: Yes.


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O-Zone: Sooner not later

John Oehser Senior writer jaguars.com

JACKSONVILLE – Let’s get to it …

Tom from Orlando, FL:
What do you think is the NFL’s worst/most misleading statistic and why? Quarterback rating? “Total” defense? Pass/run balance? These three all bother me. The quarterback rating is just weird. Total defense is misleading, because it doesn’t take into account turnovers, short fields, and defensive/special teams scoring. Finally, wanting the “balanced” offense is ridiculous when teams try to kill the clock by running over and over when they have a lead. Did I miss a statistic you find even worse?

John: I actually find most NFL statistics sometimes misleading in the sense that fans, media and other observers want to take the statistics and draw hard, fast conclusions. This is difficult if not impossible in a sport in which nearly everything that happens depends on far more than one factor. Whereas in baseball a player’s batting average might be close to an accurate measure of his worth as a hitter, a wide receiver’s number of receptions might not say much at all about his true value as a player. Statistics in the NFL can be used as a tool, but they are misleading without proper context. I actually find quarterback rating a relatively accurate gauge of the position – certainly as good as total yards and/or touchdowns passing, and I’ve always considered total defense just a so-so gauge because it’s based solely on yards. I’ve never thought much about offensive balance, but I’d say the main issue with the total-defense statistic is total yardage isn’t always a great gauge for a defense’s effectiveness. It also can be so skewed by a possession or two late in the game. A defense can have a fantastic game and be holding a two-touchdown lead with four minutes to play and have its yardage total skewed by a meaningless drive during which the defense is essentially giving up yards to ensure it runs out the clock to win the game. I don’t know if I consider any particular statistic catastrophically worse than any other, but the one I tend to value most are passing yards per attempt, turnover margin, red-zone efficiency, third-down efficiency and yards allowed per rush. If a team is strong in those areas it’s usually doing OK.

Marc from Oceanway:
How otherworldly do you think Myles Garrett is? I know he will never fall to our No. 4 pick. However, it does seem like he would be an amazing fit and final piece for our defense. John, would you trade our first- and second-round selection to move up three spots and pick him? How about if it required our first three picks?

John: I would not do that, and I don’t think any team would do that for a defensive end. Garrett looks like he will be a good player. Is he a can’t-miss player on the level of Andrew Luck? Is he a quarterback? He is not. So …

Moron from Outer Space:
Ask a stupid question …

John: Fit right in.

Dave from Orlando, FL:
O-Zone, are some defensive ends only asked to sack the quarterback whereas others are expected to respect the run? It seemed last year Dante Fowler Jr. would blast off the line for an outside rush, but would seem to stop – as if he were responsible for runners in his zone. Dante said something to the effect that he felt like a caged animal in the defensive scheme. Did he mean, “If I wasn’t responsible for playing the run, I could’ve been smashing the quarterback all day long?” Did we ever get a fuller explanation on what he meant by being “caged.”

John: I tend not to put a world of stock in things said by young players in the aftermath of frustrating seasons, perhaps because I’ve said things in the aftermath of frustrating things and realized later those things didn’t have much merit, or that I didn’t mean exactly what I’d said. I got the impression that what Fowler meant when he said he felt like a caged animal was that he was frustrated by his first season playing in the NFL – and that he felt he could have been used differently in a lot of situations. I think Fowler would like to stand up more and just chase the quarterback, but I also think he can improve overall as a pass rusher – and that he’s really good at things other than just chasing the quarterback and still needs to be able to do those things.

Al from Orange Park, FL:
To add to your thoughts on quarterback accuracy, I believe that throwing to a player on your own team as opposed to one on the other team is considered to be a plus.

John: True that.

Mike from Atlanta, GA:
What did you think when Barry Sanders retired? On one hand, he can decide for himself what he wants to do, and I surely won’t consider his thoughts when/if I decide to change jobs. On the other hand, I was as big a fan of his as any and I immensely enjoyed watching him play. I felt like he was going to take the all-time rushing yardage mark and never look back. I was also convinced he was going to take the single-season rushing crown. I thought he had a lot of greatness left. I guess I felt like I wasn’t finished with the story. That’s selfish but that’s how I felt.

John: That’s fair, and it’s how fans should feel. One thing fans, media and observers sometimes forget is while they feel passionately about athletes, the athletes’ stories are more than “stories” to the athletes. For the athletes, it’s their lives. One thing I’ve always been intrigued by, for example, is when media decide a player “needs” to retire at a certain time – with the reason often being that a player needs to “go out on top,” “protect his legacy” or otherwise leave some image of himself for the viewing public. I remember when John Elway won his first Super Bowl title and even his second; many in the media clamored each time that he should go out on top and protect his legacy by not playing when he was perhaps past his peak. I always considered this a silly, selfish, short-sighted opinion. Here was a man who was one of the world’s best at what he did – and still capable of doing what he loved to do. Why shouldn’t he have done it for as long as he could? Wasn’t it his decision to make? Once a player is done playing, he’s done – and he has the rest of his life for retirement. Sanders’ decision certainly was a tougher one for people to understand compared to that of Elway. Most people, to be sure, can relate to a player such as Elway or Peyton Manning wanting to continue to play even when their skills have diminished. But Sanders retired absolutely in his prime. I, like you, was surprised. I remember assuming for at least a season that he would return, but you know what? He went when he wanted to go and he was ready to leave the game. I’ve never heard or read that he regretted the timing. So, good for him. He did it his way.

Dave from Duval:
O-Zone, Patrick from Springfield asked, “What exactly is quarterback accuracy”. Tell him to re-watch the Super Bowl of the Patriots versus the Falcons starting about mid-third quarter with the score 28-3. Watch Brady …

John: Good point.

Ed from Danvers, MA:
Zone, here’s an idea: instead of putting a guy into the Pride, create an area where you can retire the number of a very good player (like Scobee or Rashean) for the same number of years that he played. At the end of that time, invite the player back to formally give his number to the new guy and he walks off to thunderous applause. Win-win.

John: I don’t mind that idea. Then, again, I don’t particularly see the harm in putting either of the two very good players you mentioned in the Pride, either. Both players played at a high level for this team for a very long time and mattered a lot to the community and the fans. They were identifiable and liked on and off the field for a lot of good reasons. I don’t see where honoring them is a bad thing.

Strnbiker from Dothan, AL:
I understand wanting to host the draft, etc. That in mind, does Jacksonville still have the same major problem they encountered when hosting the Super Bowl? Lack of hotel rooms?

John: Jacksonville probably doesn’t have the logistics downtown to host the Super Bowl, with hotel rooms being one of the issues. That’s certainly Jaguars owner Shad Khan’s thought – and he has said in recent seasons he won’t likely encourage Jacksonville bidding on a Super Bowl for that reason. He also has said he wants the city to host something it can do well, and he believes the NFL Draft will fit that description once Daily’s Place is complete. The infrastructure will be more than capable of handling that.


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O-Zone: Dinner attire

John Oehser Senior writer jaguars.com

JACKSONVILLE – Let’s get to it …

J Hooks from Orange Park, FL:
I get the feeling this draft, especially, is going to cause a lot of controversy amongst us crazy fans. It’s such a strange draft for us to be picking where we’re at and I foresee our picks being viewed as “unconventional.” Does that make sense, or have I had too many IPAs? What are your thoughts on this and that?

John: I fully expect there to be some fans who love the Jaguars’ selection in Round 1 later this month, but I fully expect there will be more who hate it. That’s because there’s no clear-cut obvious selection, and because opinions currently seem split between those who want to trade, those who want to select a running back, those who want a quarterback and those who want defensive line. Indeed, there undoubtedly will be anger, angst, discontent, a sense of panic and two doses of anarchy in the inbox on the morning of April 28. Then again, why should that morning be different than most others?

Dennis from Palm Coast, FL:
John, Leonard Fournette did none of the exercises that showed how much wiggle he will have as a running back. Sure, there is the tape, and he did the pass-catching drills at his Pro Day. Still, to me that he didn’t do the three-cone drill, etc., is a red flag. Take a running back in Round 3 or 4.

John: I philosophically lean way, way, way toward taking a running back in later rounds as opposed to early in the draft, but what Fournette did at his Pro Day has nothing to do with it. Players routinely participate in a limited number of drills at their Pro Day. It’s barely an issue.

Michael from Jacksonville:
Do you think the building of the new Daily’s Place might put Jacksonville in the running to host a draft one day?

John: Jaguars Owner Shad Khan has been up front since construction of Daily’s Place began about wanting to eventually hold the NFL Draft there. Considering the NFL now is rotating draft sites, and considering the state-of-the-art nature of Daily’s Place, I’d be stunned if in this case Khan doesn’t get what he wants relatively soon.

Chris from Wichita, KS:
I’m not sure why people keep saying the Jags should trade back in the draft. It sounds great in theory but who is the potential trade partner or who is the talent that will inspire someone to trade into the Top 5 of the draft? Do you have any insights or speculations for that O-Zone?

John: Trading usually is more difficult than many observers believe for precisely the reasons you cite. I see no reason this year should be any different.

Dave from Jersey City, NJ:
Nine years ago the Jaguars traded up to select Derrick Harvey 42 picks before Calais Campbell was taken … yikes. That is all.

John: And here we are …

Tyler from Jacksonville:
Josh Scobee in the Pride of the Jaguars??? Yeah, if we want to make the thing a big joke. Kickers should rarely be considered for such honors – maybe the Adam Viniatieris or Morten Andersens of the world, but not Scobee. He isn’t even the best kicker in the Jaguars history, and he was never close to being the best kicker in the league during his time played often meddling in the middle of the pack. C’mon, O-man …

John: People tend to overthink and get overly emotional about Pride-of-Jaguars-ish honors around the NFL. I believe it absolutely should be an honor that goes to worthy players, but putting players on stadium walls is not the same as inducting them into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. It’s OK for very, very, very good players, fan favorites and players who have contributed to their franchises in memorable ways to be honored. Scobee played a long time, made a lot of big kicks and endeared himself to a lot of fans during his time here. I have no problem honoring such a player.

Terrell from Jacksonville:
Why not use Myles Jack the same way Von Miller is being used? He may be even faster and stronger. And don’t give up on Dante Fowler Jr.; I think he wants to be great. What do you think?

John: I think Myles Jack is more suited to being a pursue, chase and cover linebacker off the ball than Miller, who is more of a pure pass rusher with the ability to do a lot of other things very, very well. When it comes to Jack, I think Luke Kuechly more than I think Miller; that’s a good thing because Kuechly is really good. And you’re right: it’s not time yet to give up on Fowler; there’s too much talent in that guy.

John from Jacksonville:
I just read a question from Jags Fan 818: “Do you think the Jaguars will take a bye in Week 4 after our London game or do like the Colts did and wait a few more weeks?” Do we get to choose?

John: The Jaguars don’t necessarily get to choose the date of their bye week, but teams that play in London do have the option of having a bye week the week following the game. They also can request the league for a later bye week. There’s no guarantee the request is granted, though the league last season did give the Colts a later bye week. The Jaguars in their four previous games in London have wanted the bye immediately afterward, but it’s my understanding they may prefer it later this year.

Otto from Ponte Vedra Beach, FL:
John, in all of my years watching the NFL Draft there is something I never understood. The pundits seem to say there are certain positions you “can’t” take early – a running back, center, guard or safety. I heard Tony Boselli say the other day he is very high on Forrest Lamp at guard from Western Kentucky. He thinks he is much better than Dan Feeney from Indiana. The mocks seem to have Lamp going in the 20s. If he can be an anchor of our line for 10-plus years why not take him at No. 4? I look at a Bruce Matthews, who was an All-Pro Guard for many years. If a player can greatly help a team, who cares where he is picked?

John: The consensus in league circles is there are indeed certain positions you don’t take early in the Top 5 in the NFL Draft. Though some of this thinking is changing a bit, the feeling is the value/importance of a guard/center/safety/running back is such that even the best player at that position won’t help your team as much as a very good/elite player at a premium position such as cornerback/pass-rushing end/quarterback, etc. It’s considered much harder to find the premium spots, and the general thought is the value you get from an elite guard or center isn’t greater enough than the value from a second-or-third-round guard to merit burning a premium draft selection. Salaries also influenced this thinking for a long time, because teams couldn’t justify Top 5-rookie salaries for non-premium positions. The implementation of a rookie pool in the 2011 Collective Bargaining Agreement alleviated some of the salary concern, but there’s still resistance to taking an interior lineman, running back, middle linebacker, safety, etc., too early because of the perceived value. Teams just feel like you can find good players at those spots further down in the draft.

Tommy from Jax:
The O Zone can get heated at times. Have you ever been told to calm it down?

John: No one soothes The Zone.

Patrick from Springfield:
What exactly is quarterback accuracy?

John: It’s an important part of the quarterback equation, and while it’s measured by completion percentage, it’s more than that. First off, completion percentage doesn’t take into account dropped passes or passes intentionally thrown incomplete. But there are a couple of important levels of quarterback accuracy. First, a quarterback must routinely throw catchable passes that give receivers a chance to make the reception. More ideally, the quarterback must throw passes that enable a receiver more often than not to catch the ball in stride and continue to run for yards or to make the catch a higher percentage of time than if he is having to dive or go high for the ball.

DreamWeaver from Section 214:
Walked into my favorite Mexican restaurant a couple days back and guess what I saw? A suave looking senior writer out on a date with what I hope is his wife. I thought about stopping to talk with you, but your lady friend seemed happy and – according to your frequent remarks on this page – that seems like a rarity for her. Also where did you get that shirt? It was killer.

John: My wife by rule is a happy person. It’s my presence that understandably causes the exceptions. As for my killer shirt, I fear the senior writer you saw must have been someone else. When I eat Mexican, I do so sans shirt.


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