Category: Uncategorized

O-Zone: Wow! Really?

John Oehser Senior writer jaguars.com

PHOENIX, Ariz. – One more NFL-Owners-Meetings-style O-Zone.

Let’s get to it …

Stephen from Jacksonville:
Now, three NFL teams in the past 15 months have announced plans to relocate. While I have faith in Shad Khan and his genuine interest in keeping the Jaguars in Jacksonville, I can’t help but worry. Mark Lamping again discussed the team’s finances in this year’s State of the Franchise and there seemed to be a very concerning tone about the team’s profitability in our market. I believe improving the area surrounding the stadium could add to the team’s stability, but I’m not so sure it would be enough. We as fans can only do so much to buy tickets, merchandise and support the team. What more do we need to do as a city to keep the Jaguars in Jacksonville? Do we need a billion dollar stadium? John, please share your thoughts on the relocation of the Rams, Chargers and Raiders. What do you think about the stability of the Jaguars in Jacksonville? What more can we do to ensure that the NFL has a home in northeast Florida 20 years from today?

John: This was a topic when I spoke with Jaguars Owner Shad Khan Monday minutes after the Oakland Raiders’ move to Las Vegas was approved by NFL owners. What does the Raiders’ move mean? I think the Rams, Chargers and Raiders moving clearly shows that cities and franchises must work together to ensure that stadiums and the surrounding infrastructure produce enough revenue to keep franchises financially viable. I can’t predict the future into eternity and no one can (except J.P. Shadrick, and then only on weeks when there’s a full moon). I can tell you that Khan since he took over ownership of the team has made clear his desire to keep the Jaguars viable in Jacksonville and that he never has swayed from that stance. Is Jacksonville a challenging market because of its size? Absolutely. But the renovations to and around EverBank Field in recent seasons are not an afterthought or an aside in this discussion. They are front and center because they not only represent Khan’s commitment to Jacksonville, they are also key to keeping the Jaguars viable in the city. Daily’s Place and the surrounding areas are revenue-generating projects, and the US Assure Club is a revenue-generating project. A home game at Wembley Stadium in London and the accompanying establishment of a foothold in that market are revenue-producing entities as well. It’s all done with the idea of ensuring the Jaguars have a workable model with a home base of Jacksonville. As Khan said Monday, “Actions Speak Louder than Words.” His actions remain loud and clear, as does his commitment to this city. Monday made that clearer than ever.

Chris from Nevada:
Thoughts on Chad Kelly? He made a Fit?

John: He made a what?

Anthony from Columbia, SC:
O, right now, who’s backing up Calais Campbell at strong-side end?

John: Jonathan Woodard.

James from Suffern, NY:
Why won’t the Jaguars give Luke Bowanko another opportunity to get into the starting offensive line? In his rookie year he played very well next to Brandon Linder and in my opinion was a better option than Wiz [Stefen Wisniewksi] was when he was in Jax. I know he’s plagued with injuries, but thoughts?

John: The Jaguars certainly will give Bowanko a chance to start in the sense that he will be in organized team activities and training camp, and if he plays well enough to get into the starting lineup, he almost certainly would get into the starting lineup. The reason he isn’t in the starting lineup at center is the Jaguars very much like Brandon Linder and believe he’s the best option to play center. Until something proves that not to be the case, that’s the approach they will take.

John from Boynton Beach, FL:
In the middle 13 (THIRTEEN!) games of last season, Blake Bortles seemed to play like Cougar in Top Gun after that MiG spooked him. Rattled, poor decisions and didn’t seem like he could put the ball where he wanted to at all. He lost his edge. It’s really hard to believe that the team is standing pat with their quarterback group as it is. Do you think there will be at least one viable quarterback option added to this roster before training camp starts? (I wasn’t sure if any millennials read the Zone, so I went with the 30-year-old movie reference.)

John: This question circles back to the same point that so many questions about the Jaguars during this 2017 offseason seem to focus upon: just what is a “viable quarterback option?” Is it a player who’s going to clearly be a better option than Bortles? If so, then the answer is probably that the Jaguars won’t sign such a player. I think there’s a decent chance the Jaguars will draft a quarterback next month sometime after Round 1. If that happens, I am sure to receive questions from the draft until training camp about that player’s ability to start. My answer almost certainly consistently will be that a quarterback drafted after Round 1 probably isn’t going to start for the Jaguars next season. Will the Jaguars sign a veteran quarterback between now and training camp? I doubt it. (By the way, I read your entire question, something I rarely do. What’s a millennial?”)

Stephen from Jacksonville:
Gotta win the line of scrimmage to win in football. Gotta get after the opposing quarterback. Gotta protect your own guy. Gotta get the big men early. Jags gotta get a D-lineman in the first round and a couple of mauling o-linemen in the next two rounds. Make it happen for me, Johnny-O.

John: OK.

Brandon from Fayetteville, AR:
We drafted Blake with the intention of him sitting and watching for a year. Have we completely forgotten why that plan was abandoned? He took 16 sacks in two-and-half games. If he’s great in the quarterback room, then offer him a coaching job. Why is he taking up a roster spot?

John: I guess you’re saying you want the Jaguars to have a backup quarterback other than Chad Henne. One thought on that is finding a veteran backup in the Jaguars’ situation is easier said than done. Not all veteran backups are willing to sign with a team where it’s perceived there is a starter entrenched. And not all quarterbacks who still believe they can be a starter are willing to sign somewhere where the perception is that a team is likely to stay with a young, early-drafted quarterback. Henne’s “taking up a roster spot” because he’s a veteran with starting experience. He’s not a dazzling option that’s going to excite fans. Most backups aren’t.

Michael from Port Orange, FL:
I remember the Coughlin years. He led the team to the early successes but he got fired because he didn’t get to the Super Bowl and fans were screaming because he played boring football. The only time it got exciting was when we were behind and had to turn Mark Brunell, Jimmy Smith, and Keenan McCardell loose. The speculation that the two tight-end offense will be the staple will bring about the same results. We will also lose one of the three quality wide receivers we have because of the lack of playing time. I will hate to see that. We will win but not enough and it will bore the fans, who then won’t come to the games.

John: You offer your points with impressive conviction. Alas, conviction – even impressive conviction – does not ensure speaking the truth. I remember the Coughlin years, too. I covered them from 1995-2000 and I remember four postseason appearances. I also remember covering the Indianapolis Colts for 10 seasons when their favorite formation was a two-tight end set and they managed to play three receivers enough that three caught passes for 1,000 yards and 10 touchdowns one season. Bottom line: the fans have come to Jaguars games in impressive numbers for the past five or six seasons, particularly considering the lack of on-field success. They’re not going to go away when the team wins.

Miguel from Jacksonville:
How come you always stand on a milk crate when you do interviews with Pete Prisc…wait, he’s not really that short, is he???!!!

John: He was the one on the milk crate.


Pages: Page 1, Page 2

O-Zone: At some point…

John Oehser Senior writer jaguars.com

PHOENIX, Ariz. – The Monday O-Zone, NFL-Owners-Meetings style …

Let’s get to it …

Jeff from DeFuniak Springs, FL:
John, I think Blake Bortles is really focusing hard on improving and I think he is taking this more seriously than he did last offseason. I think the Jaguars would be wise to have a better backup option than Chad Henne if Bortles fails. Tom Coughlin said it is all about winning. Let’s set the team up with a backup option. Thoughts?

John: My thoughts are that while it is vogue to say Bortles didn’t work hard last offseason to explain why he struggled last season, I just don’t know if that’s the case. Bortles worked last offseason – he just worked in a different way than he did the previous offseason, meaning he stayed in Jacksonville and worked with his receivers rather than going to California to work with personal quarterbacks coaches. That seems to have caused his mechanics to slip, which perhaps was part of the reason – though certainly not the entire reason – he struggled at times last season. As for backup options other than Henne … I suppose they exist, but I don’t know that there are significantly better backup options than Henne. He has NFL starting experience and has had productive games in the NFL. He’s probably not as good as, say, Ryan Fitzpatrick, but I don’t know that Fitzpatrick wants to go somewhere to be the backup with no chance of starting. If you’re looking for a backup who is going to be willing to play a backup role, Henne likely is as good as any option. Remember: If there were great backup quarterbacks available, they wouldn’t be backups. They would be starters.

Zach from Fort Myers, FL:
Do you think it’s possible that we use our fourth overall pick on Obi Melifonwu, a big-body corner out of UConn who posted very explosive numbers at the Combine – not to mention a player who had a solid college career? Imagine Obi, Jalen Ramsey, Barry Church and Tashaun Gibson in the secondary.

John: This is odd not because it’s the second time in a span of several days I’ve received a question about the Jaguars drafting a cornerback at No. 4 overall, but because it’s the second time in a span of several days a question about the Jaguars drafting a cornerback at No. 4 has mentioned defensive backs on the Jaguars’ roster and not mentioned cornerback A.J. Bouye. It’s not completely out of the question that the Jaguars would select a cornerback at No. 4, but the free-agent signing of Bouye shouldn’t be ignored. When figuring how the secondary is going to look next season, figure him into the starting lineup.

Royce from Jacksonville:
Mr. O, when will the Jags have to make a decision on Blake’s fifth-year option and does this happen before OTAs or training camp?

John: The Jaguars must decide on Bortles’ fifth-year option by early May, so it’s just before organized team activities and well before training camp. But keep the whole fifth-year option story in perspective. While I imagine the Jaguars will pick it up, whether they do or not really doesn’t change much about the team’s quarterback dynamic. Whether or not the Jaguars pick it up, Bortles is almost certainly going to be the starter next season – and whether or not the Jaguars pick it up, he is going to have to play at a higher level than he previously has played to remain the starter in 2018 and beyond.

Steve from Hudson, FL:
Do you think Mychal Rivera may be the answer to the question about a fullback? Seems to me he may be just the right skill set/size for the task plus good hands. Just fanning here!

John: No, you’re not fanning. Rivera, a tight end who signed with the Jaguars as an unrestricted free agent from the Oakland Raiders last week, can play the role of a fullback – and he said as much upon signing. I would be surprised if that’s the Jaguars’ only fullback option entering OTAs and training camp, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s a serious option.

Josh from Pensacola, FL:
How much do you think having a legit defense will help Bortles? Do think the pressure of feeling the need to be the “savior of the franchise” will be alleviated? I wonder if that pressure led to a lot of his bad decisions. Your thoughts?

John: I thought the Jaguars’ defense was pretty legitimate much of last season, but it certainly could be more legitimate with a lock-down, pressure-situation pass rush – and there’s no doubt getting a pass rush that can force turnovers and improve field position would help everything. How much would it help Bortles? Some, though a strong running game that would create more play-action situations would help more. I don’t put much stock in the idea that pressure led to Bortles’ struggles last season, though. I wouldn’t say he’s immune to pressure, but he handles it pretty well – and he doesn’t seem to carry the weight of too much on his shoulders. Bortles’ struggles seem to come from mechanics, experience and decision-making more than him feeling pressure to be the savior of the franchise. I just don’t know that he sees himself that way – and I think he would handle it OK if he did.

Greg from Carlsbad, CA:
I met John at a bar in San Diego before the ’15 game. As far as his professional skill as a writer and decency as a human being, I’ll say this: he’s taller than I thought he’d be.

John: That wasn’t me.

Robert from Amelia Island, FL:
The total guaranteed money to be paid to the nine new Jags far exceeds the total that the eight departing players will be paid by their new teams. I find it very interesting, however, that the total base salaries this year indicates that the Jags will be paying less for their new acquisitions than the new teams will be paying for their eight new players. I think this represents good roster fiscal management by Dave Caldwell. What’s your take on this?

John: I think the Jaguars hope the nine players they acquired are better as a whole than the eight departing players.

Jerell from Columbia, SC:
Do you see the Jags drafting a quarterback in the first two rounds or will they allow Blake to lead this team to a Top 5 pick next year and then draft a quarterback?

John: I doubt the Jaguars draft a quarterback at No. 4 overall. Their decision on a quarterback in the second round seems far more interesting. I think there’s a chance the Jaguars could take a quarterback there or that they could possibly try to move up a few spots into the first round if there’s one they like. I doubt the second-round or late first-round scenario would mean that player starting this season.

Gabe from Washington, DC:
If the Jaguars think there’s an elite talent at cornerback or safety in the draft, and that it’s more likely to be a hit than any other players available at No. 4, then I wouldn’t mind the pick at all. Defenses are playing in nickel more and more, and having that much talent there could really be something. Telvin Smith, Myles Jack, Jalen Ramsey, A.J. Bouye, Marshon Lattimore/Jamal Adams/Malik Hooker and Aaron Colvin could stabilize the back seven of the defense for many years. Then we just load up on waves of defensive linemen.

John: I’m warming to the idea of the Jaguars possibly selecting a defensive back at No. 4, but it’s a lukewarm warming at best – and it’s still hard to project a safety there. On the one hand it would be a positive thing because a selection of a player such as Jamal Adams or Malik Hooker would mean the Jaguars are absolutely selecting the player they think is the best player. The presence of safeties Barry Church and Tashaun Gipson already on the roster would mean Adams/Hooker aren’t need selections. Still, it’s just hard to predict that considering you’re usually not rotating safeties. An elite corner … well, considering teams indeed are in nickel defenses these days so much more than they are in base defenses … yeah, it certainly is reaching the point in the NFL that it’s hard to have too much talent at that position.

Daniel Since Day One:
I don’t think I can imagine a worse scenario for the team then to draft a quarterback (who is not yet NFL ready), then throw them out to the wolves in their first season. Coughlin won’t allow that. Anyone we draft at quarterback needs at least one complete year and maybe two or three before they should be on the field. If we had done what we said we were going to do with our last three high quarterback picks, things would have been much better for the team.

John: If the Jaguars take a quarterback in the first three rounds in next month’s draft they will be taking him with the idea that he will play well before his fourth season. You can get away with letting an early-round quarterback sit for a season, but not much longer.


Pages: Page 1, Page 2

O-Zone: What a mess

John Oehser Senior writer jaguars.com

JACKSONVILLE – Let’s get to it …

Aaron from White Hall, AR:
I know bringing in Tom Coughlin is about “win now,” but I hope it keeps looking the way it does now. Let Blake Bortles play this year. If he plays great, then: good, we are OK. If not, draft a quarterback in the 2018 class, which is supposed to be loaded compared to this year’s draft. Since Blake’s my guy, here’s guessing he plays up to his potential.

John: I do believe that’s how it will play out – at least in part because that’s how circumstances will dictate it plays out. Bortles appears likely to start next season, because it’s hard to envision the Jaguars drafting a quarterback who will be more ready than Bortles to play at a high level next season. Also, Tom Coughlin and fellow Jaguars higher-ups David Caldwell and Doug Marrone continually have talked about the 2017 season in the context of Bortles reducing mistakes and improving around Bortles to allow the young quarterback to play better. We won’t really know the Jaguars’ direction in this area until the draft. If NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell in Round 1 says “Deshaun Watson” immediately after saying “the Jaguars select,” then all of this discussion changes dramatically. I don’t expect that to be the case.

Tom from Loughborough, England:
John: offensive lineman, quarterback or other in the second round? Which do you feel is more likely?

John: I typically steer clear of predicting the draft after Round 1 because it is by its nature a crap-shoot. There are hundreds of players multiplied by multiple positions, so your chances of being even remotely correct are so low as to essentially be guessing. Still, we’re a month from the draft, so we’re close enough for generalities. I think there’s a chance the Jaguars could select a quarterback in Round 2 this year – if they have identified someone who could start in 2018 or beyond and at least have a chance of developing into a player who could play sometime in 2017 if absolutely necessary. If there’s not such a quarterback, then sure … guard or center makes sense, with guard more likely.

Frankie from London, UK:
Hey John! Good stuff with Dante. I’m looking forward to seeing this “less-aggressive” monster that has been “working on his technique.” We all know he has the physical attributes to succeed, but temperament and technique seemed to be missing. My question is regarding Allen Robinson. I know he didn’t hit the same numbers in 2016 than 2015, but do you think he has an argument of being one of the most underrated wide receivers in the division? His numbers weren’t helped by poor officiating (so much pass interference) as well as being specially targeted by opposition defenders.

John: I don’t really know how to judge where Robinson is “rated” against the rest of the AFC South wide receivers, but I suppose he’s as good as any outside DeAndre Hopkins and T.Y. Hilton. Either way, this is a big year for him. He showed the potential of being a very good NFL wide receiver in 2015. He needed to improve as a route-runner last season, and he said he did. It didn’t translate into numbers for a number of reasons. Bortles’ struggles, being targeted by defenders and some questionable officiating were among those reasons. But Robinson also had his share of drops last season, and I doubt he played as well as he hoped overall. Robinson showed real signs in 2015 of possibly developing into a real No. 1 receiver in the NFL. That’s rarified air he hasn’t yet reached. Can he reach it in 2017? That’s a big storyline around this team.

Mark from College Park, MD:
Can you give an update on the NFLPA inquiries on Tom Coughlin’s emails?

John: This is an issue reported by Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times-Union Friday. According to O’Halloran, Coughlin sent emails to several Jaguars players under contract requesting that they return to Jacksonville for physical examinations earlier this month. The NFL Players Association according to O’Halloran is investigating the matter to determine if it is a violation of the NFL’s Collective Bargaining Agreement.

Brian from Duval:
How many offensive linemen do you expect the Jags to draft?

John: Two.

Jon from Brentwood, UK:
John, with MoJo rating Joe Mixon the No. 1 running back (ahead of Dalvin Cook and then Leonard Fournette) do you think there is any place for him in the discussions around the Jags’ first-round pick?

John: Where Maurice Jones-Drew ranks a player obviously has no bearing on who the Jaguars will take when or where. I don’t have access to the Jaguars’ draft board, and I don’t anticipate that changing in the next 32 days, so what I can tell you about former Oklahoma running back Joe Mixon is this: I don’t see him involved in the conversation for the Jaguars or any team in the Top 10 or 20. That’s just too early considering his well-documented incident at Oklahoma. After that, it will be up to an individual team to determine if Mixon’s talent is worth the surrounding story – and to determine his character and value separate from his well-publicized off-field incident. I’ve said before that my approach is to separate off-field from football, so I rarely have issues with teams that draft players with issues in their past. And I wouldn’t have a problem if the Jaguars drafted Mixon. I simply see the NFL as a business – and if a player is legally allowed to work, I don’t have a problem with him being hired to play football. Many disagree with this, and there are people who would be vehemently against bringing him to Jacksonville. I understand those feelings. What I don’t know, and what I doubt we’ll know until draft day, is how the Jaguars specifically feel about Mixon. The Jaguars typically don’t discuss individual players before the draft, and I don’t anticipate them changing the approach. I know Caldwell long has said he believes it OK to bring in players who aren’t choirboys, so it’s very possible that there is a round in the draft when the team would consider selecting Mixon. We’ll see.

Dave from Duval:
I know this is completely far-fetched and unrealistic. But hypothetically speaking, if Tom Coughlin considers quarterback the biggest need (upgrade) for the team like everyone else thinks – and if he does like a quarterback at No. 4 (which coincides potentially a great place to find one) – wouldn’t the best thing to do at this point is give the impression that he has no intention of taking a quarterback and that we have a starter?

John: Yes.

Carter from Jacksonville:
I saw a report recently that said the Jags have 12 draft picks in this year’s draft. How many picks do they currently have?

John: The Jaguars have eight selections in the 2017 NFL Draft: one in Rounds 1-6 and two in Round 7. They received the extra seventh-round selection from the Miami Dolphins in exchange for tight end Julius Thomas.

Justin from Jacksonville:
Johnny, Zone … I know fans are gonna fan, but c’mon: if it was up to the masses we would have cut Blake, Poz, Marqise, TJ, Ivory, Parnell, Cann, Dante, Jason Myers and many others. If all these people had their way, all that would be left is Tinker to Shadrick to Oehser (which was a great double-play combination), but not the roster we want. Let the talent develop. Not all will be stars, but I bet some will shine a long time, and I personally think Bortles will be one of them.

John: OK.

Dimejag from jags4life forum:
Hey man, I have a question about the Jaguars. If I specifically tell you that it makes me mad when people call me a hater, and then you go ahead and title that day’s O-Zone column, “Hater Boy,” does that mean you’re intentionally trying to make me mad? It sure seems like it!! Don’t push me, four-eyes. … Me and my friends know A LOT about the NFL, and we’re pretty much world-class evaluators of talent, and incredibly skilled at offensive and defensive scheme creation, and player development. And, just FYI, we now have a pretty awesome plan in place to execute a hostile takeover of the Jaguars by the midseason point of 2017. If the team is not 6-2 or better at that point in time. So, let this serve as a warning to anyone who doubts me. … If you strike me down, I shall become more powerful than you could ever imagine!!

John: That would be awesome.

Greg from Jacksonville:
Not to sound like a jerk, but when a person starts with “I was watching a highlight reel,” you know what comes next is going to be a mess. Of course every player looks strong, fast, agile, versatile, etc. in highlight reels.

John: Not to sound like a jerk, but based on recent correspondence with “Dimejag from jags4life forum,” it might be said the phrase “I was watching a highlight reel” is far from the only one in this forum that foretells “a mess.”

 


Pages: Page 1, Page 2

O-Zone: Underwhelmed

John Oehser Senior writer jaguars.com

JACKSONVILLE – Let’s get to it …

Otto from Ponte Vedra Beach, FL:
John, as just about all feel, I am thrilled Tom Coughlin returned to the Jags. I’m happy with his free agency so far, but (here it comes) I would have thought Blake Bortles would have been gone when Tom came on board. I just cannot see why the Jags are leaving their fortunes in Bortles’ lap. Realistically, even in 2015 his stats were padded in fourth quarters when the other team was in prevent defense. I’m just hoping there is a plan other than “BB will be better this year.”

John: This is not an uncommon sentiment, though it is one does not take into account the realities of the NFL – and yes, even Coughlin often must adhere to NFL realities. In this case, the reality is that an executive vice president of football operations or general manager or head coach can’t simply look at a quarterback and say, “He’s gone.” They must look at a quarterback and decide if realistically there is an improvement to be had elsewhere. It’s quite reasonable to assume that there are quarterbacks that Coughlin, Head Coach Doug Marrone and even General Manager David Caldwell would prefer to Bortles. Many teams would prefer different quarterbacks. There are certainly quarterbacks whose track records indicate they are less interception-prone than Bortles and who have achieved elite levels – or who are closer to elite levels than Bortles. But those quarterbacks play for other NFL teams, and the ones who don’t play for other teams aren’t perceived to be significant improvements from Bortles. That’s where Bortles stands now – in March 2017. It’s up to him in the coming months and next season to move toward that elite level. If he does, then he’s probably the Jaguars’ starting quarterback moving forward. If not …

John from Jacksonville:
John, I believe teams that pick lower in the first round bring out negative points of character or injury to make a player fall so they have a chance to pick him for themselves. What do you think?

John: So, you’re saying there may be gamesmanship, draft chatter and pre-draft rumors? And you’re saying such things might be perpetuated by teams for their own advantage? And you’re saying that officials of these teams might sometimes “overemphasize” these things when speaking to a reporter “confidentially” in the hope that the reporter might write it or talk about on television and have these things potentially cause players to slide in the draft – again, to the team’s advantage? Naaaaaaaaaaaaah……

Michael from Charleston, SC:
Has there been any interest on the behalf of the Jags concerning overlooked free agents such as Jay Cutler, Adrian Peterson, Johnny Manziel, Darrelle Revis etc? The aforementioned group may be a gamble, but Peterson and Revis seem like quality vets and Coughlin-like locker room guys. Has there been any legit looks at all from the David Caldwell?

John: I’m certain the Jaguars have considered all four players in the sense that someone on the level of Coughlin or Caldwell has seen that the player is available and determined whether or not to pursue the player. None of the aforementioned players has been reported to have visited Jacksonville.

Andrew from Mattoon, IL:
Dear Mr. O: I enjoy reading that O-Zone daily … I do not wish to meet you.

John: I get it.

Alon from Malibu, CA:
As the No. 3 pick in the 2015 draft, is Dante Fowler Jr. at this point a bust? The other Top 6 players from the draft are starters and have played in a Pro Bowl.

John: Fowler at this point is a first-year player who struggled as a pass rusher in his first year. He also is a player who played that year while returning from a torn anterior cruciate ligament that cost him his rookie season. He’s a player that must improve as a pass-rusher and who realizes this. Does that make him a bust? I’m sure there are people who would say so. I see him as a work-in-progress who definitely needs to make major strides this season.

Jordan from Jacksonville:
If the BAP is a cornerback or safety at No. 4, take him.

John: OK.

Alan from Aurora, IL:
This year we are losing some well-liked and talented players. Who will you miss covering the most? And who do you think will have the most productive post-Jacksonville career?

John: I make no secret that I enjoyed covering Tyson Alualu very much. I was always impressed by his class, professionalism and willingness to discuss sensitive issues. He began his career here with many fans angry he had been drafted “over” Tim Tebow, and injuries early in his time here helped cause him to never live up to his status as the No. 10 overall selection in the 2010 NFL Draft. Still, he developed into a reliable, professional player and never seemed to resent the undue criticism of many fans. Of the free agents who left the Jaguars in the past few weeks, give me cornerback Prince Amukamara as the player who might have the most productive career. If he can stay healthy, he can play at a high level.

Dave from Los Angeles, CA:
I’m not a big Bortles believer at this point, but I respect his grit and desire to improve. Who doesn’t love an underdog story? The talking heads have written him off. The Jags won’t pick up his option. He’s reworking his mechanics in year four. Basically, the whole world is against him. And yet, there’s a chance he could show up and rewrite his story in 2017. Here’s hoping – for his and the team’s sake – he does just that.

John: Hey, one fer Blake!

Ray from Jacksonville:
John: I think the Jags should pick Marshon Lattimore and have two very good corners who would make the pass rush better. Since the team seems like it will keep Bortles, it can get a pass rusher with one of the top five picks in next year’s draft.

John: The Jaguars signed cornerback A.J. Bouye as an unrestricted free agent early this month. Considering how much they paid him to sign, and considering the presence of Jalen Ramsey at the other corner, the Jaguars certainly hope they already have two very good corners.

Wyatt from Jacksonville:
O-Zone, I know there is a lot of fixation on Blake Bortles when it comes to turnovers and such, but why is no one mentioning that the Jaguars had the most fumbles from their running backs in the NFL last year? They also had disastrous turnovers on special teams and major failures in return coverage. Much like most things, the problems the Jaguars had in 2016 can’t just be attributed to one thing. Yes Bortles needs to be better, but he had a significant number of “interceptions” that hit his wide receivers before being picked, and I don’t really think a pass that hits your wide receivers before being picked is a decision making issue. What say you, O-Zone?

John: I’d say when team commits as many turnovers as the Jaguars did last season, it of course is more than one thing. Turnovers and special teams are two areas that no doubt will be a major focus. But while it’s not all Bortles, lost fumbles and interceptions are too big of an issue, and if they’re not reduced improving in the other areas won’t be enough.

Paul from North Dakota:
I thought I heard somewhere that Mr. Coughlin would like to see us run the ball more with a fullback lead-blocker option. If that is so, are they looking to find a true fullback or is it likely going to be a tight end or other running back lining up with a hand in the dirt behind the offensive line and in front of our running backs.

John: Coughlin actually to my knowledge hasn’t specified that he wants a full-time fullback. He did shortly after re-joining the Jaguars mention that he has had success with a fullback before, and he immediately said that you could have success with a full-time fullback or with a tight-end playing the position or by using other approaches. Perhaps because of some outside preconceived notion that the lack of full-time fullback is what has ailed the Jaguars’ offense in recent seasons, there were some who took this to automatically mean that Coughlin would sign a full-time fullback – possibly in unrestricted free agency. This so far hasn’t happened and I expect the Jaguars will find someone to play the role of the fullback. Perhaps that’s a full-time player in free agency or the draft, or perhaps that’s a defensive lineman or tight end moving to the role. Either way, I wouldn’t stress: they’ll find someone to fill the role. It’s not an impossible “get.”

Bill from Hawthorn Woods, IL:
Tell Glen not to get so jazzed up about meeting you. It’s a rather underwhelming experience.

John: Bill, I have to live with myself all day, every day. I know all about underwhelming.

 


Pages: Page 1, Page 2

O-Zone: A sort of awe

John Oehser Senior writer jaguars.com

JACKSONVILLE – Let’s get to it …

Damien from Appleton, WI:
Which do you think will be a bigger story: How will the Jaguars address improving the running game or how will they get Myles Jack playing more snaps?

John: The bigger story nationally undoubtedly will be how the Jaguars get Jack more snaps; he is a high-profile player who could have been a Top 5 selection in the 2016 NFL Draft if not for knee issues. That level of player is going to draw eyeballs nationally. But the more important issue for the Jaguars almost certainly will be the running game – in part because it’s the tougher issue to control. All the Jaguars need to do to get Jack more snaps is to say, “Here are more snaps, Myles … go play–” and I absolutely believe Jack will get ample snaps this season. Improving the running game will be about improving the line as a run-blocking unit, committing to the run more and perhaps improving the running-back position – and even then it’s not as simple as saying, “Here … go play.”

George from Jacksonville:
Zone, whenever my wife tells me something I say, “That’s not what O-Zone would do,” or, “That’s not what Johnny O would say.” I came home today and my dog, Zoney, and she were gone with just a note that said “Ask that #*&% Zone where I went.” So my question: “Do you know where my wife and doggie are?”

John: Out.

Glen from Orange Park, FL:
We know the opponents and the game in London. When do we find out the rest of schedule?

John: The NFL schedule typically is released in mid-to-late April in advance of the NFL Draft. I’ve heard nothing to indicate that won’t be the case this offseason.

Chris from New York, NY:
Chris Ivory led the AFC in rushing the year before last. He runs violently. He averaged over four yards a carry every season except last year. While playing with Drew Brees in New Orleans, he averaged 5.2, 4.7, and 5.4 yards a carry. He’s under 30 and has had a light workload. He is not the problem. O-line and quarterback play will handicap any running back.

John: OK.

Gabe from Washington, DC:
If the first three picks in the draft go Myles Garrett, Solomon Thomas, Jonathan Allen, then who would be the best available non-running back for the Jaguars to take?

John: This is a tough question, and it’s a real possibility because I don’t see the Jaguars being able to trade down out of No. 4 overall. I also assume they’re not going to take a safety or a cornerback at No. 4. That makes running backs, Alabama tight end O.J. Howard, Tennessee’s Derek Barnett possibilities – and quarterback. Because I just don’t see the Jaguars selecting quarterback No. 4, I’d say Barnett – because defensive line/pass rush is always valuable. Let me clarify that answer by saying this: this feels like a year when the mocks and projections may be way off compared to how general managers really feel. Players such as Thomas are being projected in the Top 3 by some analysts and much further down the draft by others. If the Jaguars face your scenario at No. 4 and don’t take a running back, the selection could be shocking – and it might be the right choice because of the unpredictable, hard-to-sort nature of much of this year’s first round.

Bob from Sumter, SC:
Just looking at highlight reels, Leonard Fournette’s running style reminds me of Jerome Bettis – one cut, downhill, can bounce it outside, run over people and surprising speed once in the secondary. Do you think there is truth in that an elite back can help elevate the offensive line in the sense of giving the unit an “if-we-can-hold-the-block-a-second-longer-he-can-break-one” kind of mentality?

John: To an extent, yes, but it’s tough to draft a running back on the assumption he will make your offensive line better. I adhere more to the opposite theory – that a quality offensive line can elevate the level of pretty much any back. By extension, it’s difficult to overcome a struggling line with even the highest-quality back.

Chris from London, England:
O Man, what are your thoughts on the signing of Mychal Rivera??? Lots of fans saying roster depth, but I have a feeling he could be more and a useful addition!

John: I think Rivera will be a key part of the Jaguars’ tight-end rotation. He is a versatile, experienced player who can receive and block. He’s yet another example of the Jaguars this offseason signing experienced veterans – i.e., fifth-year veterans or older – to ensure that this has the overall feel of a more experienced, professional roster next season. Could the Jaguars draft a tight end and upgrade the position overall? Absolutely. But Rivera’s presence helps them to not be forced to do that.

Jason from North Pole, AK:
Any thoughts on Mychal Rivera? Do you think his signing affects the draft at all? What are the team’s expectations of him?

John: I think the signing of Rivera affects the draft in the same way as many of the recent signings. By signing a slew of veteran, experienced players, the Jaguars will enter the draft truly not needing to draft for need. Rivera means if there is a tight end they like in, say, Rounds 3-6, they can draft him. But they don’t have to draft the position there – and they darned sure don’t have to depend on a mid-round rookie to play anything close to significant snaps next season.

Mac from Neptune Beach, FL:
You were extra sassy in the March 23 O-Zone. I don’t like it.

John: On a scale of of 1-to-10 …

Zac from St. Augustine, FL:
Somewhat off topic, but your thoughts on the NBA and having players not compete every game and instead have guys rest certain games to increase the longevity of their careers. Will this ever spill into the NFL? A reduction of Thursday night games, London games, additional bye weeks?

John: I think the NBA is in a brutally tough spot, because it’s a league driven by star power that markets itself as such – and yet, there absolutely is benefit to resting these stars throughout the course of the regular season. There without question is logic to sitting a player such as Stephen Curry a few nights each season in order to rest him for the postseason and to increase his chances of a long career. I probably would be all for it if I were the player or the team executive. At the same time, if I had paid to take my son to an NBA game when he was 10 years old, I can imagine the disappointment he would have felt if his favorite player had “rested.” And considering I don’t like to pay more than five dollars for … well, pretty much anything … I can imagine what my level of anger would have been at the situation. Fortunately for those of us who follow the NFL, this isn’t likely to be a trend in this situation. There are situations when teams rest players, but it’s always late in the season when playoff seeding has been decided. That situation angers some fans, certainly, but I think most fans of teams generally can understand the benefit and understand it’s a smart thing to prepare for the postseason in a physically demanding sport. It almost certainly won’t happen in another situation in the NFL. There are only 16 games in a season. While players certainly could benefit from rest, each game during the NFL regular season is far too valuable to risk a loss because you’re resting a player who might otherwise be able to play.

Jaginator formerly from Section 124:
Leonard Fournette = Ron Dayne 2.0

John: That’s the concern. No doubt.

Anonymous from Cube 34:
Thanks for always putting the O-Zone Live interviews in text format. The videos won’t play on the computer at work and the boss sometimes frowns when I have earbuds in. Pesky employers! Do you ever have similar issues at your work?

John: Some do, but not this guy. While there are strict guidelines governing the on-the-job behavior of most Jaguars employees, I do not adhere to such things. This is because I am acknowledged as a free spirit, special and “above the law” ‘round these parts. As such, I do things when I want, in the manner I want, wearing what I want and – above all – listening to whatever I want. Indeed, I’m not embarrassed to say that because of “who I am” I’m treated with more than a bit of deference, respect and even a “sort of awe” by even the highest level of Jaguars management. It’s a bit embarrassing at times, but – alas – hardly undeserved. I know all of this for the simplest of reasons: I asked Lamping. He promised he would get back with me when he was done with a couple of meetings. And once he got a run in.





Pages: Page 1, Page 2

O-Zone: Common bond

John Oehser Senior writer jaguars.com

JACKSONVILLE – Let’s get to it …

Mike from Navarre, OH:
In a recent O-Zone, Doug from Bronx, NY, brought up some great points in discussing the competitive statistics the Jaguars posted in 2016. The glaring problem is the minus-16 turnover margin. Turnovers translate to points, especially when they’re committed in less-than-ideal field position. Can Blake Bortles‘ offseason work help fix this issue or do you think he still has a ways to go when it comes to his decision-making and it’s going to be another long season?

John: Mike, I don’t respond this way to be vague, but if I knew the answer to this question I would know in advance pretty much exactly how the Jaguars will fare next season. And if I knew that, then I have no doubt Jaguars Executive Vice President of Football Operations Tom Coughlin would have me in his office predicting all things football as they pertain to the Jaguars. This answer is not meant to be facetious or condescending, but it is meant to point out that Bortles’ ability to improve in the area of turnovers – interceptions and fumbles lost – is perhaps the most critical question surrounding the Jaguars next season. There’s no doubt some of the turnover issues last season were caused by mechanics in the sense that mechanics led to inaccuracy, which often led to tipped balls that led to frustrating interceptions. At the same time, interceptions from poor or slow decision-making have been the major thing haunting Bortles through three seasons, so it would be disingenuous to say the issue can be fixed by two months in California this offseason. Yes, I believe Bortles has a long way to go in terms of decision-making. I say that based on the first three seasons of his career. But you can go a long way in that area in a short time. If Bortles can do that, the season could still be long, but it would have a chance to be a lot more successful than the past few.

Gary from Palm Coast, FL:
Your response to Daniel from Jacksonville omitted one important item. If the offense is in true hurry-up, it is difficult for the defense to substitute. If the offense makes a substitution, doesn’t the defense have time to also make substitutions?

John: Yes, which is why my answer concluded with the sentence, “If the offense is hurrying but substituting on occasion, then it’s possible sometimes for the defense to adjust personnel as well.” So, yes … I indeed omitted the item – except in the sense that I did not.

Glen from Orange Park, FL:
Sometimes I read your responses and just think, “Wow, he is so awesome! I would be so honored to meet him some day in real life!” Can we have a drawing or something so one of your faithful fans has a chance to meet you?

John: No, and it doesn’t matter how good a picture you can draw.

James from Duval:
That Daily’s Place auditorium and surrounding areas currently under development would be a nice location to host upcoming NFL drafts. Have you heard anything from the Jaguars’ brass about that? Do the Jags bid on the event like they would a Super Bowl?

John: Jaguars Owner Shad Khan is on record saying he wants to bring the NFL Draft to Jacksonville once Daily’s Place and the surrounding facilities are ready. Philadelphia has the draft this year and in 2018. I would anticipate Jacksonville bidding on – and getting – the draft sometime after that.

Marc from Jax:
I’m guessing Dante Fowler Jr.‘s best bet at getting snaps is playing strong-side end on some nickel downs and weak-side end on some base downs. Any thoughts on that from the O-Man?

John: My first thought is the question is phrased curiously. There’s no question that Fowler is going to “get snaps” next season, and there’s no “betting” involved. He’s going to figure heavily in the Jaguars’ defensive-line rotation, and he absolutely is going to be an important part of the plan entering the season. And yes, I anticipate he will play both end positions in various packages. Will he start? That is the question, and I don’t yet have a feel for the answer.

Nathan from Provo, Utah:
John, wow. If the Jags are in a position to go running back with their first pick, then the success of this team will truly be measured by the quarterback. I would like your thoughts. Even before the latest free-agent acquisitions, I felt addressing the offensive line would be prudent in Round One. “What say you?”

John: I do think the Jaguars selecting an offensive lineman in Round 1 would be prudent – if they are able to trade back from No. 4 overall, or if they are able to trade up into the first round from the top of the second round. Offensive line at No. 4 of this draft? That would seem like a reach and wouldn’t feel prudent at all.

Jeremy from Dodge City, KS:
Do you ever read the comments section on O-Zones?

John: What’s a “comments section?”

John from Cape May, NJ:
If the Jags take Leonard Fournette at No. 4, I’ll quit being a Jags fan. I have no faith, no matter who picks him, that Fournette will be a once-in-a-generation talent. I question his vision, his elusiveness and ability to make people miss. His tape shows it all. All of his highlights are of him running through a hole that a semi could fit through. Yeah, he’s big. Yeah, he’s fast, but so is everyone else in the NFL. Fournette would be an absolute disaster of a pick for the Jaguars.

John: So, you’re saying the Jaguars should take Fournette, but trade up to get him?

Chad from St. Augustine, FL:
Zone, I am not a professional football player. However, when I look at Leonard Fournette he appears to be someone that I would not want to try to tackle. That guy is special. Do you think he is No. 4 overall special?

John: While John from Cape May certainly seems to think so, there are some legitimate concerns concerning Fournette that I share. He is physically imposing, and fast, but I agree with those who wonder if he has the miss-ability at the line of scrimmage necessary to be elite in the NFL. I understand the philosophy behind selecting Fournette so early. I get that he could be a build-your-offense-around-him player, and that such a player might be the quickest way to add an element to this offense. But I also am concerned about that miss-ability issue. I believe his NFL success will hinge on it.

Donald from Jacksonville:
when I go to jax.com there is no obvious place to sign in at?

John: when I go to Smoothie King sometimes I order the large and other times I order the small

David from Elgin:
Hi John, as you know, I was predicting and hoping blindly for drafting Fournette at No. 4, but now that the bandwagon for this is growing I am beginning to look at other scenarios. On hearing the RIDICULOUS possibility of us trading back into the first round for a quarterback, how would you feel if we took Fournette then traded back into first round for one of the top offensive line prospects such as Forest Lamp? Or if we pass on Fournette trading back into first round for Cook or McCaffrey? If Blake Bortles does not progress this season, surely the 2018 quarterback class would be the time to look for a replacement under center?? The running-back situation must, must, must be addressed by pick 36 or it will be yet another losing season.

John: I don’t know if the Jaguars will take a running back in the first or second round, but I do know that the class is deep enough that all hope is not lost at the position if they don’t address it until the third round or later. But I do find your conviction that trading back into the first round for a quarterback is RIDICULOUS. I sense you are passionate about this because of your use of CAPITAL LETTERS, but I don’t see the idea of trading up six or seven positions to get into the bottom of the first round if you like a quarterback RIDICULOUS at all. In fact, because it appears several quarterbacks in need of a season to develop could slide to that position that it seems to be a year when selecting a quarterback early in the second round or late in the first makes a lot of sense. And don’t call me Shirley.

Micky from Orange Park, FL:
I decided to log in and agree with one of the commenters’ mock draft. I’ve never left a comment before, so I signed in using my Google sign-on only to get a message that I was blocked and black listed. I’ve never been blocked or black listed to my knowledge. Does this make me a bad boy that the chicks will dig?

John: Probably. If so, welcome to my world. Enjoy.




Pages: Page 1, Page 2

O-Zone: Allergy Season

John Oehser Senior writer jaguars.com

JACKSONVILLE – Let’s get to it …

Bo from Dresden, NC:
John, who on the roster made Tyson Alualu expendable? He seemed like a Tom Coughlin-type guy – also very durable and dependable. What is your take?

John: My take is I was surprised the Jaguars didn’t try to re-sign Alualu when he became an unrestricted free agent this offseason – for the exact reasons you cite. Alualu, who signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers on Tuesday, indeed was a reliable, durable defensive lineman in seven seasons with the Jaguars – and while he never fulfilled the expectations of being the No. 10 overall selection in the 2010 NFL Draft, he absolutely was a good player for a long time. I haven’t asked Coughlin or General Manager David Caldwell why Alualu wasn’t re-signed, but the Jaguars signed defensive end Calais Campbell as a free agent, and they like second-year end veteran Jonathan Woodard. They also have Dante Fowler Jr. and Yannick Ngakoue at defensive end and there’s a draft coming up. This feels like more of a legitimate case of the team feeling it was time to go in another direction at the position as opposed to a commentary on where Alualu is as a player. Here’s guessing Alualu plays several more NFL seasons and here’s guessing the Steelers are happy with the signing.

James from Duval:
Alu Alu??? Really. Sad to see this this one go. I really like Tyson. One fer Tyson Alualu?

John: You know what, James? I’m sad to see Alualu go, too. He dealt with microfracture knee surgery early in his career and often during that time played despite not practicing much during the week – and despite sometimes not knowing during warmups if he indeed could play. He also dealt with a lot of tough questions, and a lot of outside criticism, during his career. Through it all, he handled himself with class. One for Alualu? No doubt.

Chaun from St. Louis, MO:
Let’s say everyone stays healthy. Do you think Dante Fowler Jr. will win his starting spot back?

John: I suppose it’s technically correct to ask about Fowler winning his job “back,” because he did start at the Leo position in Week 1 last season. But the reality was Yannick Ngakoue pretty much started over Fowler all of last season. Still, that’s being nitpicky about your question. Will Fowler start this season? I have no idea. He has to outplay Ngakoue to do it, and he didn’t do that last season. If Fowler develops as a pass rusher and is more consistent in that area, then he certainly can win the job back. He’s an athletically gifted player and gives the Jaguars a lot in terms of pursuit and run support. Will he develop? That’s a major storyline for the offseason and training camp, but I don’t pretend to know the answer.

Don from Jacksonville:
The fact that our senior writer doesn’t have Deshaun Watson going in the first round concerns me about his football IQ.

John: It should actually have the opposite effect. I think there’s a chance Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson gets selected in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft, but it’s very likely he slides down late in the round. There are enough serious questions about his arm strength and the way he read defenses in college that it’s hard to see him in the Top 10. If he slides that far, he may get selected late in the first round. But there’s also a good chance he could slip out of the round entirely.

Daniel from Jacksonville:
How do substitutions on defense work? Is it all up to the defensive coordinator based on the package he wants on a given down? Does somebody keep track of who needs a rest and relay that to the defensive coordinator, who then will change the defensive look according to the available personnel? How does this all work if the opposing offense is in hurry-up?

John: The team enters the game with a depth chart in each personnel grouping. That depth chart ultimately is the decision of the defensive coordinator. Plays are charted throughout the game, and the coordinator is made aware of the need for substitutions. At that point, the availability of personnel could come into play when deciding the defensive play call. If the opposing offense is in hurry-up, defensive substitutions often depend on just how much hurrying the offense is actually doing. If the offense is calling everything from the line and not substituting, then the defense is unlikely to substitute. If the offense is hurrying but substituting on occasion, then it’s possible sometimes for the defense to adjust personnel as well.

Dave from Duval:
Care to make a friendly wager on Deshaun Watson going in the Top 5?

John: Not really, because that would make it seem as if I was rooting against Watson to be selected early. Nothing could be further from the truth. I hope for his sake he is selected No. 1 overall. But when doing mock draft version 1.0, I had him sliding to the end of the first round – and once he slid there, I didn’t project any of the teams late in the draft selecting him. It’s very possible some team could trade into the first round to get him. I think multiple teams may do that for quarterbacks this year. But I don’t project trades in mock drafts, so I didn’t project that happening.

Cody from Savannah, GA:
Over the past few days or so I’ve been looking at a lot of the new mock drafts and about 90 percent of them have us Leonard Fournette at No. 4. Aside from the other 10 percent, what do you think the real possibility of landing him is?

John: Fournette indeed was the selection in six of the 14 mock drafts included in this week’s jaguars.com 2017 mock draft tracker, v 8.0. What does this thrilling statistic mean? Most obviously, that when looking from the outside in, the Jaguars appear to have filled some needs through free agency and seem to have few – if any – glaring needs entering the draft. It also means national analysts realize Coughlin and Head Coach Doug Marrone put a priority on a strong running game. The analysts also see that the draft isn’t perceived to be strong at some traditional spots, which means running back at No. 4 might make some sense. All of those factors went into my thinking when I projected the Jaguars to take Fournette at No. 4 in the first 2017 Jaguars.com mock draft this week. As for the question: what are the chances of the Jaguars landing him? Well, if they want him, I believe the Jaguars will land him because I believe he will be available at No. 4. The question is whether they indeed want him. No one outside a select few will know that until draft day. I believe it will come down to Fournette or a defensive lineman. I waver every day, and I doubt that will change until draft night.

David from Charleston, SC:
NFL.com posted the updated power rankings after all the big free agents had signed and they had the Jags behind all three of our division foes. Besides past record, what makes the other teams better? I know the Jags haven’t exactly put their skill to the field and I’m no expert, but when I compare the teams in the AFC South I have a hard time seeing how the Jags won’t win. What say you, Mr. O?

John: I say the Jaguars haven’t won more than five games in a season since 2010 and right now every team in the AFC South has a legitimate reason to be ranked ahead of the Jaguars. The Texans won the division last season and have a top-level defense. The Colts and the Titans are perceived to have better quarterbacks – and based on last season, that perception is hard to argue. I don’t have a particularly hard time seeing the Jaguars not winning the division next season. They have to make significant improvements and take a mammoth jump. They’re capable of doing that, but it’s awfully hard to predict it until something more happens than some good free-agency signings.

Chris from Roseville, CA:
Time will tell for Blake Bortles–Jalen Ramsey, but the Jaguars haven’t had a home run in the first round since Big John Henderson in 2002. Some might say Reggie Nelson, but most of his career has been outside of Jacksonville. We’ve had a little better success in the second round (MJD, Mathis, Daryl Smith). We will never win unless we start hitting on first- and second-round picks – no matter what number they are drafted.

John: I’m as big a proponent of a wait-and-see approach on young players as anyone, but I’m hard-pressed to not project Jalen Ramsey being a home run. Aside from that … yeah.

DUVAL DOOM from Section 217:
I frequently start coughing uncontrollably, then finish by sneezing. This happens most often reading the O-Zone. What does that mean?

John: It means you’re allergic to bullshit.



Pages: Page 1, Page 2

O-Zone: Whole lotta awesome

John Oehser Senior writer jaguars.com

JACKSONVILLE – Let’s get to it …

Doug from the Bronx, NY:
Surprising stats from 2016? Jags first downs-321, opponents-305; Jags total yards-5,359, opponents-5,147; Jags offensive touchdowns-32, opponents-37. Does this indicate we are close? We were within one score of winning eight more games last season. I’m not trying to get anyone hopes up; I’m getting expectations up!!

John: The statistics you cite do suggest the Jaguars’ 2016 season was not the one-sided, uncompetitive mess that might otherwise be indicated from a 3-13 season that felt exactly that bad on a lot of levels. The statistics also imply the Jaguars in some senses were close to being a much better team than they were. But I believe most people watching closely sensed that last season, anyway. The reality is most NFL teams can look at most seasons and say, “You know what? If a few things had gone differently, we would have won more games.” The NFL by nature is a league of razor-thin margins. The Jaguars for a while were off that margin because they weren’t competitive. Now, they’re back to being competitive. That’s the positive news. The other side that is improving even razor-thin margins in the NFL is very tough, so the next strides the Jaguars must make will be tougher than the ones already made. That’s not to say they can’t make them. It is to say that it’s probably not much use to point out how close the Jaguars might be to contending. Besides, people don’t want to talk about close anymore. They just want to win.

Jerell from Columbia, SC:
Blake’s mechanics looked the same as always at his charity event when he threw the football. That’s why quarterback will be addressed in Round One, Pick Four.

John: OK.

Don from Ponte Vedra, FL:
How can anyone not be excited about Blake Bortles as the quarterback? He is a great athlete who has a strong arm, throws short passes with timing and touch, moves in the pocket well and picks up running yards with smart running. He is a tough guy who makes no excuses. He is still young and he throws a lot of touchdowns. The ducks he throws are not the norm. Bortles is going to be the man soon enough and you can win a championship with Blake Bortles!

John: Hey! One fer Blake!

Mark from College Park, MD:
O-Man vs Coughlin. What is the overall head-to-head record in terms of getting to work first? Have you recorded a win yet?

John: I’m oh-for-whatever and plan to stay that way.

James from Duval:
John. How many picks do we have in the 2017 NFL Draft? I’ve read that we have 12. Is that correct? If so, how did we get so many?

John: The Jaguars have eight selections in the 2017 NFL Draft: Round 1 (No. 4 overall), Round 2 (No.35), Round 3 (No. 68), Round 4 (No. 110), Round 5 (No. 148), Round 6 (No. 187), Round 7 (No. 222) and Round 7 (No. 240). The selections are the normal selections they have in each round as well as a seventh-round selection (240) acquired in the trade with Miami for tight end Julius Thomas.

CliffNDime from Jagvall:
Given that his former coach is now in JAX, would the Jaguars trade for Eli Manning? What would it take? Bortles and a second-rounder?

John: Aaaaaarrgggghhhhhhhhh!!!

Jay from Cherokee, NC:
If part of Bortles’ regression and progression hinges on the time he has spent at the QB3 camp, then what’s stopping Shad Khan, Tom Coughlin, or Doug Marrone from having a similar setup in Jacksonville? Khan has clearly shown money is no object when it comes to improving this organization and at worst it could benefit future quarterbacks.

John: Bortles works in the offseason in California with quarterback “gurus” Tom House and Adam Dedeaux. They have a flourishing business there and work with many NFL quarterbacks, so it’s a safe assumption they would have no interest in shutting the business down to establish a Jacksonville-based, Blake Bortles-centric quarterback camp in Jacksonville. A second reason that wouldn’t happen is players under NFL rules can have no football-related contact with their coaches between the end of the season and the opening of the offseason program in April. If Khan/Coughlin/Marrone established a similar setup in Jacksonville, Bortles wouldn’t be allowed to use it in the offseason.

Paul from Temecula, CA:
I’m really just hoping, one day, you read one of my questions and think, “Wow, great question.” The struggle for zone’s acceptance is real.

John: When I first read this, I thought, “Wow. This is a pretty good question.” Now, I’m not as certain.

Wallace from Jacksonville:
O Man, want to know why we fans are not happy with Cann and Parnell? We watched them play last season. Neither improved from 2015 and in Parnell’s case it could be argued that he played worse in 2016. So why would any logical person expect these two to perform better in 2017?

John: There seems to be some perception among readers that I’m confused about why fans aren’t happy with A.J. Cann and Jermey Parnell. I assure you no such confusion exists, primarily because I spend comparatively little time wondering why fans think things they do. The reason for this is there are many, many Jaguars fans with many, many varying opinions and to try to figure out why even the slightest number of them feel as they do would be to spend an inordinate amount of time on a matter that I can’t remotely control. What I can tell you is the team believes Parnell played better when healthy at the end of last season than he did early, and that Cann has a chance to develop into a good NFL guard. There apparently are many fans who don’t agree with this. I’m afraid this is just going to be one of those areas that causes angst and irritation for a while. That’s OK. Angst and irritation is good for us. It builds character.

Lance from Section 131:
Zone, looking at the 2017 schedule, I would think 3-3 in the division is doable. I believe the Jags should be able to beat San Francisco and the Los Angeles Rams, as well as have a very good chance in Arizona against an aging Cardinals team. We should also be able to handle both the Browns and Jets. In all reality, we’re probably not quite ready to line up favorably against the Steelers or Seahawks this season, but should be in each game with a chance to win against the Ravens in London, where we’ve been pretty good of late – as well as both the Chargers and Bengals at the Bank. I realize a lot can change with match ups week to week in the NFL, and that the Jag Nation hype-train has justifiably slowed its roll this offseason, but on paper .500 seems very attainable. A more-disciplined approach, better special teams execution, limiting unnecessary turnovers, learning to close out games against teams we should beat along with a call or two that are supposed to go our way, and a six-or-seven game improvement is actually within the realm of possibility against what is seemingly a very favorable schedule this year. Keep the Faith Zonians! #DTWD

John: OK.

Tyler from JAYcksonville:
Next year’s defense will be like watching a Lamborghini being driven by a 16-year old that never practiced driving a stick. Stalling, revving, grinding gears … while all the men stand around with grimaces on their faces knowing what the machine is truly capable of. Let us hope that all with all the upgrades, they sprang for the automatic-transmission upgrade. The 16-year old still isn’t the best to have behind the wheel but at least we can go fast. I wanna go fast!! And before you snark me like a shark-b, remember that I have been right much more often than you about all things Jaguars over the years. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve been wrong a lot too, but I’m sure your avid readers will know the amount of wrongness that is allowable to meet the O-threshold. … Todd Wash is the 16-year-old John. … Unsure if you got that metaphor or not. O-DOYLE RULES!!!

John: I honestly didn’t get the metaphor, so I’m glad you specified. One reason is while I was reading your email, I was distracted because I kept thinking, “Wow, it must be awesome to be as awesome as this guy.” Another reason may have been when you were talking about 16-year-olds and transmissions and old men grimacing I kept thinking, “Yes, this defense has a chance to be pretty good – if it can consistently get pass rush in passing situations and turn that disruption into lost yardage and turnovers.” I kept thinking that because that’s what was missing last season in key situations and if the Jaguars don’t get that, then the offseason upgrades and driving level or age of the driver or the old men or the grimacers or whatever subject is appropriate for this part of the metaphor won’t matter much. But stay awesome, Tyler – or, in other words, just keep being you.




Pages: Page 1, Page 2

O-Zone: Take a breath

John Oehser Senior writer jaguars.com

JACKSONVILLE – Let’s get to it …

John from Jacksonville:
Can you explain how the rookie pool works?

John: I sure can! Under the NFL’s 2011 Collective Bargaining Agreement, each team is assigned an amount of money and cap space it can use each season to sign rookies. This was a change from before, when rookie salaries – particularly in the top few selections and particularly at the quarterback position – escalated to the point that they could cripple a franchise if the player did not live up to his draft positioning. The rookie-pool formula as it stands now is not made public, but it’s generally based on team’s number of draft selections and where rookies are drafted. Teams then have that amount of money to sign their drafted rookies and free agents.

Jeff from Keystone Heights, FL:
Do you think the inception of the rookie-wage scale has helped alleviate concerns of taking a non-premium position further and further up the draft board? You’re definitely trying to get value for the Pick Number, but that was in part because you were paying astronomical dollars to an unproven player and you wanted that for premium position. Maybe that’s not the case as much anymore. Any degree of agreement with that?

John: I do believe the rookie scale has had an effect on how teams view certain positions at the top of the draft – at least to a point. I wouldn’t say that the scale has completely transformed how teams draft early in the first round; old habits and thought processes tend to die hard, so you still see a lot of the traditional thinking take place at the top of the draft. Still, you are seeing some more unconventional selections in recent seasons. A safety could be selected in the Top 5 this offseason and two safeties could be selected in the Top 10 – though that may be a case of safety overall taking on more importance in an increasingly pass-oriented league. Running back Ezekiel Elliott went No. 4 to Dallas last offseason. Two guards were selected in the Top 10 in 2013. There is talk tight end O.J. Howard of Alabama could be selected in the Top 5 this offseason. All of those are sort of against conventional wisdom. Now, I can’t foresee there ever being a time when guards, tight ends and middle linebackers dominate the Top 10, because teams are always going to need quarterbacks, pass rushers, cornerbacks and defensive tackles more than other positions, but the rookie wage scale has allowed teams to not be quite so concerned about paying non-premium positions Top 5 money.

Adrian from Inglewood, CA:
Good enough is not good enough.

John: I wouldn’t know.

TomCat II from Jacksonville:
John, the hiring of Coughlin has been described as a crappy thing to do to Caldwell. Was it?

John: I don’t know how crappy or uncrappy hiring Tom Coughlin as executive vice president of football operations was to Jaguars General Manager David Caldwell. Shad Khan believed the Jaguars needed Coughlin’s direction, leadership and experience – and the way to put that in place was to hire Coughlin to oversee all things football. Khan clearly believed in Caldwell or he wouldn’t have extended his contract to have him in place along with Coughlin and Head Coach Doug Marrone. Actually, Khan in January could have fired Caldwell. Now that I think about it, that would have been a lot crappier than retaining him as general manager.

Josh from Pensacola, FL:
I love the moves we made in free agency. The only player I wasn’t really familiar with was Barry Church. Do you think he is actually an upgrade over Johnathan Cyprien?

John: I don’t know that Church is a mammoth upgrade over Cyprien, but he clearly is a fit for what the Jaguars wanted to do in free agency – i.e., bring in experienced, professional players who know what it takes to win and can consistently play at a high level. On that front … yeah, Church is probably an upgrade.

Aaron from White Hall, AR:
So, I just moved and had to wait for my internet to get set up. It was a lonely week as my data on my phone ran up. I could no longer read the O-Zone every day. I felt lost, insecure, helpless. Hunger started to set in and when I was just about to give up hope that I would never read the O-Zone again I heard a knock. It was the cable guy and everything is now right again.

John: Not being able to read to the O-Zone is not why you should give up hope.

Sid from Jacksonville:
Hey John, do you believe that the problems that Blake Bortles has had in his career thus far could realistically be fixed this offseason? Also, any news about how he’s doing in California?

John: Bortles spoke about this Sunday before his charity golf tournament, saying he indeed feels good about the work he has done in California on his mechanics. And there’s no reason to think Bortles can’t improve in those areas; he certainly made strides in mechanics between the 2014 and 2015 seasons, so it stands to reason it can be done again. The bigger issue is whether Bortles can improve the mechanics and at the same time improve the areas that he needed to improve on following the 2015 season. Remember: a lot of the Jaguars’ hopes for 2016 were based on the idea that Bortles would improve in decision-making, pre-snap reads, intermediate passing, pocket awareness, etc. Can Bortles improve all of those things while ensuring his mechanics stay stable? That’s as big a question as his mechanics.

Ken from Vero Beach, FL:
Give Bortles a break. He has never had a running back or a tight end. What quarterback can operate without those two positions?

John: Nah. I can’t go there. Bortles hasn’t had enough help, but he also needs to play much better.

Scott from Jacksonville:
Hi, O-Man. With so much activity in free agency, it seems Tom Coughlin is going all-in to try and win as immediately as possible. Considering that and Coach Tom’s commitment to immediate success, I have a very hard time imagining him entering the season with the most important position on the team being such a question mark. I know Blake is working hard and is going to give himself a good chance to succeed, and I am certainly hopeful, but vast improvement is not guaranteed. I just don’t see him standing pat. Do you?

John: Yes.

Les from Jacksonville:
I don’t understand why you feel like one old left tackle is going to change anything. We couldn’t move the ball an inch behind this line. What if the old guy gets hurt? Then what? We basically have the same offensive line. I don’t understand where all the optimism comes from. Just tell it how it is. This offensive line sucks to the second power.

John: I don’t know that I feel that the Jaguars acquiring left tackle Branden Albert indeed will change the Jaguars’ offensive line. I certainly haven’t written or said anything to that effect because I don’t know what impact the move will bring. I do know that the Jaguars believe Albert will be an improvement over Kelvin Beachum, particularly as a run-blocker. If Albert gets hurt, I suppose his backup will play. But here’s the thing about the offensive line as it moves forward. We know the unit will have one new starter. I believe there’s a good chance a rookie could start at guard. If that happens, then you’ll have 40 percent of the offensive line being new entering next season. Within the context of roster change in the NFL, that’s not an insignificant number – and in that scenario it certainly couldn’t be said that the Jaguars would be entering next season with “the same offensive line.”

Alan from Ellington, CT:
When Tom left, the Jags were in a salary-cap mess. Wasn’t he general manager back then also? Do you see any of those spending habits coming back as he starts getting into free agency?

John: Not particularly – and remember: Just because you spend money in free agency doesn’t mean you’re spending in a way to get into salary-cap trouble. The Jaguars have guaranteed players such as A.J. Bouye, Calais Campbell and Barry Church significant up-front money this offseason, but the contracts are structured in a way that allows the Jaguars to get out of the deals after two seasons if they deem it necessary.

Logan from Wichita, KS:
I most want to trade back from the No. 4 overall pick because of two things. One, we have had one good pick in the Top 10 EVER (No. 71 that should be in the Hall of Fame). Two, we have been in the Top 5 so long it obviously ISN’T an advantage. Good teams draft well from Nos. 11 to 25. Last I checked three through 10 is Destination Failure.

John: Take a breath, Logan. Fred Taylor was selected No. 9 overall in the 1998 NFL Draft.



Pages: Page 1, Page 2

O-Zone: Programming note

John Oehser Senior writer jaguars.com

JACKSONVILLE – Let’s get to it …

Tom from Loughborough, England:
John, am I missing something? The Jaguars have Chris Ivory and T.J. Yeldon. Why take Leonard Fournette with the fourth pick, a player who doesn’t seem to have the raw talent the Jags need? Is it simply to take pressure off Blake Bortles?

John: This indeed could be a central issue as the Jaguars prepare for next month’s 2017 NFL Draft: does Louisiana State running back Leonard Fournette or does he not have the raw talent to be worth the No. 4 overall selection? If he does, and if he indeed is a once-a-decade back, then the selection makes some sense for the Jaguars. I wouldn’t love it, but considering the lack of dynamic skill players on this offense, it does make some sense. If he’s not that level of player, then it’s obviously the wrong selection. I don’t anticipate knowing the answer until April 27. Jaguars General Manager David Caldwell never has been much for walking around EverBank Field before the draft with a T-Shirt depicting his favorite player. I haven’t been around Jaguars Executive Vice President of Football Operations Tom Coughlin before the draft in more than a decade and a half, but if memory serves that’s not his normal pre-draft garb, either.

Eric from Duval:
If New Orleans called and wanted to move up to the No. 4 selection to select Mike Williams out of Clemson, what compensation – besides trading back to pick 11 – would you need to get the deal done?

John: I’d be hard-pressed to see any team trading up seven selections for a receiver in this draft; there are too many wide receivers projected in the first round and not a huge perceived difference between two or three of them. But if the Saints indeed made that call, they probably would need to offer a second-round selection and a couple of third-round selections in addition to the No. 11 selection.

Matt from Las Vegas, NV:
Are we overthinking this draft? We all witnessed Coughlin win in New York in the trenches. Pass-rushing, specifically, was the difference-maker late in games. Not to mention they won those games without “elite-“drafted running backs. Don’t all signs point toward an elite defensive lineman and perhaps drafting a running back a little later? My understanding is that the running-back class is very strong: dudes out of Texas, Oklahoma, Pitt could probably carry the load in a two-back setting.

John: Of course we’re overthinking the draft. What the hell else is there to do for the next six weeks?

Brandon from Duval:
John, what do you think it would take for us to trade up to get back into the mid-first round? And do you see us possibly doing something like this?

John: The Jaguars would need to jump nearly 20 spots to get to the midway point of the first round. That’s a huge jump and would probably require a second-round selection and a couple of late-round selections. I think they might move to get back into the first, but probably not into the Top 20.

Mike from Atlanta, GA:
Who is going to catch passes from the tight-end position? Do you see the Jaguars spending a mid-round draft pick and making a post cut-down signing there after Week 3 of the preseason?

John: I don’t see the Jaguars getting into a situation where they are waiting on a post-Week 3-preseason acquisition to fill a major hole on the roster. Such a move could be made, but that wouldn’t be a plan for filling what they would consider a major role. Remember: the Jaguars have Neal Sterling, Marcedes Lewis and Ben Koyack at the tight-end position. I think they will address the selection at some point in next month’s draft, but I think most of the production from the position next season likely will come from that trio.

Fred from Naples, FL:
If you ask former Jaguars owner Wayne Weaver what was his single biggest mistake as owner of the Jaguars, he will tell you it was firing Tom Coughlin because he didn’t think he would accept just being a head coach and them bringing in a general manager. Can you imagine what our past success might look like if he had stayed the entire time?

John: I have heard Weaver say that, and no doubt there is a level of regret there. But remember, time has a way of clouding memory. The Jaguars following the 2002 season had had three consecutive losing seasons, and Coughlin had total control of the organization since its inception. It was hard at the time to imagine him staying without that control. I don’t know what the Jaguars’ record would have been had Coughlin stayed, but it’s not hard to understand why Weaver took the approach he did. A few owners might have made a different decision, but not many.

James from New York, NY:
Our defense is looking very talented, perhaps among the league’s best. We have “good enough” playmakers on offense assuming we draft a tight end and running back. (Quarterback is another long and convoluted story.) I know we signed Branden Albert, but call it like it is, John: our offensive line is not good. In fact, it’s poor. We realistically have one above-average offensive lineman returning from last season. Please don’t try to convince me Cann, Parnell, Omameh, Shatley, Wells, etc. are quality players. They are not. I’m concerned. What could be the route in addressing this?

John: We can go over and over this from now until next season, but I fear the disconnect is real and will remain so until then: the Jaguars apparently believe far more strongly in A.J. Cann and Jermey Parnell at guard and right tackle, respectively, than fans believe in those players. I understand the disconnect. I understand the concern. But the Jaguars appear likely to start Cann/Parnell next season along with Linder at center and Albert at left tackle. They also appear likely to draft a guard – possibly a center, but not likely – with the idea that rookie will compete for a starting job. That’s the route.

Tommy from Pensacola, FL:
I know you’re not one to keep detailed records, but can you take a stab at what the streak is up to these days?

John: 2,051.

Marty from Jacksonville:
John, if offensive guard is so easy to obtain in the second and third rounds of the draft, why don’t we have one already?

John: The last time I checked the Jaguars haven’t drafted guard with every second- or third-round selection over the past three or four seasons. That might be because they have used those selections on other areas of the team. The Jaguars have had a lot of areas to address in recent seasons. Guard has just been one.

Marty from Jacksonville:
I told my wife, “Oehser says there’s nothing wrong with a bit of nasty.” Didn’t work.

John: I don’t get it.

Bill from Springfield, VA:
Zone, we have been very active in free agency. I’m a bit concerned over some of the long-term deals. Building a roster is best done through the draft. Are we mortgaging the future for winning now? Thanks!

John: No. The Jaguars’ free-agency deals in recent seasons for the most part have been structured in a way that guarantees money in the first two years of the contract, enabling the Jaguars to get out from under the contracts after two seasons if the player is no longer playing at a level to merit the salary. The Jaguars’ approach in recent offseasons has been expensive, but the future is not mortgaged.

Sean from Jacksonville:
Will there be an article about who left the team and where they ended up being signed? It is sometimes enjoyable to watch a former team member play somewhere else. Thanks!

John: This has been written often on jaguars.com in recent weeks. The Jaguars released defensive end Jared Odrick, cornerback Davon House, defensive tackle Sen’Derrick Marks and defensive tackle Roy Miller III in recent weeks. House signed with Green Bay. Safety Johnathan Cyprien (Tennessee), offensive tackle Luke Joeckel (Seattle), left tackle Kelvin Beachum (Jets) and cornerback Prince Amukamara (Chicago) have signed with other teams as unrestricted free agents.

Bored from Jacksonville:
So are the Jags gonna sign anyone (namely running back, defensive tackle of linebacker) or are they done? Still a ton of cap space left.

John: I wouldn’t be shocked if the Jaguars signed veteran or two at some point between now and training camp. That could happen as a player’s idea of his market value gets more in line with teams’ idea of their market value. Or it could happen as veterans from other teams get released, with sometimes happens after the draft and sometimes happens throughout the offseason. But I expect the Jaguars for the most part are done with their high-profile free-agent spending this offseason.

Trae from Jacksonville:
You should go ahead and hire Jerrell. A weekly radio or TV slot with the two of you would be gold.

John: Indeed.




Pages: Page 1, Page 2