John Oehser Senior writer jaguars.com Follow John on twitter Like The O-Zone on facebook
INDIANAPOLIS – Combine, Day Two.
Let’s get to it …
Justin from Toronto, Ontario:
There is a lot of talk about the Jaguars possibly signing A.J. Bouye in free agency, and he is considered a top-level corner by almost everyone. However, do you think he might have thrived in Houston due to the really good pass rush the Texans have there? I think that the situation he was in may boost his value more and he might get overpaid, and he wouldn’t perform as well with the Jaguars’ pass rush.
John: Bouye indeed is a good player. He almost certainly will be one of the most highly sought-after – and highly-paid – players in 2017 free agency. And rightly so. I think he’s a player the Jaguars should and will pursue next week because putting him opposite Jalen Ramsey would give the Jaguars a pair of top-level corners for the foreseeable future. At the same time, there’s no question Bouye benefitted from the Texans’ pass rush because any corner in the NFL benefits from a quality pass rush – just as every corner is hurt when his team’s pass rush is ineffective. That’s not a knock on any NFL corner; it’s just a statement of fact that most NFL corners need a pass rush to force mistakes. NFL quarterbacks for the most part are that accurate. So, yes … unless the Jaguars improve their pass rush, Bouye probably wouldn’t be as effective with the Jaguars as he was with the Texans because the Jaguars’ pass rush wasn’t as good this past season as that of the Texans. That doesn’t mean the Jaguars shouldn’t pursue Bouye. I believe they should. And if the Jaguars do sign Bouye, they certainly will overpay to get him. Because free agency.
Mike from Atlanta, GA:
Who is now going to catch passes from the tight end position? I’m not necessarily opposed to the Julius Thomas trade, but I am wondering what the Jaguars will do at tight end. If you are going to run Air Coryell, or some variation, you want someone to be able to catch passes over the middle; otherwise, you can bracket the receivers on the outside with corners and safeties over the top. I remember this being a thing about 10 years ago and the drafting of Marcedes Lewis was supposed to – at least in part – address that issue. Also, having been an observer of the NFL for a long time, obtaining a productive pass-catching tight end who isn’t too much of a liability in run blocking isn’t easy in free agency or the draft. What do you think about this quandary, and what do you think they will do?
John: First of all, I think you need a quality tight end in the NFL no matter the offense because no matter the offense teams can bracket receivers if you don’t have one. I do think the Jaguars will address the position at some point between, say, Rounds 3-5 in the 2017 NFL Draft, and I also think they’re intrigued by Ben Koyack and Neal Sterling. They haven’t shown they are elite yet, but they showed good signs last season and the tight-end position really didn’t have a dropoff when they moved into the lineup as Thomas’ playing time waned.
Glen from Orange Park, FL:
I was not thrilled about trading for a 32-year-old tackle coming off his worst season and injured. Then, I read that Albert is an awesome locker-room guy and will be an excellent mentor for our young linemen. If he is the kind of player that makes those around him better then it makes total sense and tell TC and the boys I’m sorry for doubting them.
John: I’ll let them know. And then I’m sure they’ll sleep soundly.
Gabe from Washington, D.C.:
What does your gut tell you is a more likely pick at #4 overall: running back or cornerback?
John: If those are my choices, running back.
Bob from Hilliard, FL:
Wow. Your answer to Kim from Section 130 recently was depressing. “A chance to be .500.” I believe you wrote that last year. This team hasn’t been .500 since 2010 (which included a three-game losing streak) and has not been to the playoffs in a decade. Your answer confirmed why it isn’t worth the fans’ time to go to a game this year.
John: I can’t speak to what the answer confirmed. Only you can interpret that, so I’ll leave that to you. I can tell you this, “Bob:” The Jaguars went 3-13 last season. Am I supposed to write they’re going to win 10 games next season? Is that believable right now? I think they’ll be better – perhaps even a lot better. I think a lot went wrong last season and I think that if they can get some things going right – pass rush in key situations, fewer key turnovers, better special teams play – they have a chance to improve significantly. But getting to eight victories would be a five-game improvement and would be the Jaguars’ best season in seven seasons. It’s my experience that such turnarounds are rare. It doesn’t mean they can’t happen, but it does mean they’re rare. I’m sorry that’s true and I’m sorry that that doesn’t “wow” you. But a five-game improvement would be dramatic and would be cool and would make things look a lot brighter than before, and I do think it’s possible. I could lie for your benefit and generate false hope, but I’m not sure what purpose that would serve.
Kek from jags4life forum:
Hey Shirley, your jokes are soooo played. No one thinks they’re funny anymore. Not that they were in the first place.
John: Good call, “Kek.” You figured me out. I quote “Airplane,” a movie that came out nearly 40 years ago, thinking people are going to find me stunningly, uproariously funny and clever. Way to bring it.
Weston Greenville, DE:
My name is Weston and I am 11 years old. I think we should get Alshon Jefferey or DeSean Jackson for a wide receiver to give Blake Bortles more options. I know our wide receivers are good but I think we could use another option. Do you think that we will get them?
John: Weston, I don’t hate your idea. The Jaguars are indeed good at receiver, and I think Marqise Lee, Allen Robinson and Allen Hurns have a chance to have really productive seasons next season. But I still would be particularly intrigued by Alshon Jeffrey because I don’t know that a team can have enough playmakers for whom defenses must account. Jeffrey is such a player. He’s a true No. 1, and while Allen Robinson has shown signs of that, signing one wouldn’t be absurd. I don’t believe the Jaguars will go this route next week because there are needs elsewhere, but I wouldn’t think it was tragic if they did it.
Mike from Horseheads, NY:
Hey, Zone: I like how nobody has mentioned that Branden Albert was the starting left-tackle for a Miami team that rushed the ball for 200-plus yards in three games last season with an average running back. That counts for something, right?
John: If Branden Albert was an upgrade, that would mean the Jaguars’ front office made a good move. That’s possible, but a lot of people aren’t ready to discuss things in that context.
Dalton from UCF:
What do you think about putting Myles Jack at strong safety? We had troubles trying to find ways to put him on the field last year and coming out of college he was known for his versatility. He even stated during his combine press conference that some teams envisioned him in that Kam Chancellor role. If we put him there, we don’t have to spend big money on a free agent or overdraft for the position at No. 4. Do you think this is something to consider or am I out of line here?
John: You’re not out of line. I think Myles Jack is a linebacker and I think he’s going to play linebacker for the Jaguars next season. A lot. And by the way, if you’re referring to Jamal Adams of Louisiana State as a possibility at No. 4, I’m not sure that qualifies as over-drafting. He’s special, and he can cover. Drafting a safety that early would be unusual, but if he’s special that means he’s “elite.” If he’s elite, he wouldn’t be overdrafted at No. 4. Elite players are cool, and the Jaguars don’t have enough of them.
Nate from Fogertyville:
R-E-L-A-X!!! I’m pretty sure Tom, Doug, and Dave have a plan. How about we let them execute it before we criticize?
John: Where would the fun be in that?
Bo from Dresden, NC:
John, we have to be the only team with a VP of football operations on our team page. Players make plays. I’m having a hard time hanging my hat on office personal.
John: OK, but don’t take it “personnel-ly.” The marketing department is just trying to promote the team.
O-Zone: Getting his due
John Oehser Senior writer jaguars.com Follow John on twitter Like The O-Zone on facebook
JACKSONVILLE – Let’s get to it …
Marcus from Jacksonville:
You make it seem like bringing in another quarterback to compete for the starting job is a challenge because you pay two guys “starter money.” The problem with that argument is Blake Bortles isn’t making “starter money.” He is still on his rookie deal, so if you bring in another guy for more money, it’s not like you’re paying two guys $15 million-plus a year. Bring in one of those guys via free agency or a trade, let them compete through the offseason and preseason, then cut the one that doesn’t win the job.
John: I can’t speak for how I’ve made it seem, though I can tell you there often is a difference between what is read and what is written. I can tell you that the Jaguars’ challenge in acquiring a quarterback to compete with Bortles has nothing to do with paying two players starter money. It does have a lot to do with not wanting to pay a player starter money – or trade for such a player – if you don’t see him as starter. It also might be difficult to sign a player such as, say, Tony Romo or Jay Cutler, if that player believes he’s coming in to compete rather than be the starter. It also might be that the Jaguars legitimately don’t see a quarterback available who’s clearly a better option than Bortles – and who therefore is worth paying front-line money. If they don’t see such a player, that could very well preclude them signing a quarterback, and that has nothing to do with how much money Bortles is making.
Go git ‘em Oehser:
A.P.! A.P.! A.P.! A.P.! A.P.!
John: Stop.
Tom from Orlando, FL:
JPP getting the franchise tag has crushed my free agency dreams.
John: Good players are cool. Teams tend to like them, and they tend to find ways to keep them.
Thomas from Williamsburg, VA:
Hey, wasn’t Jimmy Smith a free agent? That should end that debate.
John: I assume the debate to which you refer is the one about the best free-agent signing in Jaguars history. Smith indeed was a free agent, but he was a “street” free agent, meaning he had been released by the Philadelphia Eagles and essentially was out of football when the Jaguars signed him early in the 1995 offseason. The discussion to which you refer was more about “unrestricted” free agents, which refers to players who become free agents after the expiration of the previous league year. If the discussion included street free agents, then yeah … Smith would be the best in Jaguars history, and there wouldn’t be a debate.
Dave from Orlando, FL:
O-Man, Tom Coughlin has placed a major emphasis on toughness. Do you have any plans on toughening up your act?
John: Does weeping count?
Glen from Orange Park, FL:
How difficult is it to get our best three linebackers (Telvin, Puz and Jack) on the field for the majority of snaps?
John: It was pretty difficult last season, and the Jaguars didn’t do it enough. I don’t know how much more difficult or easy it will be next season, but I expect it to happen a lot more.
Mike from Jacksonville:
What do you think about Tony Romo being signed to compete with Blake and – if nothing else – to be the No. 2 guy? Seems Blake could learn a lot from Romo as far as being a legit in-pocket quarterback that can run.
John: I don’t think Romo will sign anywhere to compete and possibly the No. 2 guy.
Mike from Jacksonville:
Of course Bortles needs to play better and getting a big-name running back would be awesome, but with Tom Coughlin running the show do you anticipate a focus on building up a dominant offensive line and defensive line? It seems the teams that are consistently good have solid big men.
John: I do think the Jaguars will focus on improving the offensive line and defensive line under Coughlin. I think the Jaguars focused on those areas in recent seasons, and I think they were more successful in the efforts defensively than they were offensively.
Jim from Neptune Beach, FL:
Maybe not a question but I, for one, will be glad to not watch the previous seasons’ conversations rattle on about Leos and Ottos and why any particular player fit a Leo scheme and/or an Otto scheme. To me, going back to the traditional position schemes will be a treat.
John: You’re not alone.
Nick from Fort Pierce, FL:
Why does Davon House seem to be on the outside looking in? If I recall, he was our No. 1 corner two years ago and did a decent job on the best wide receivers in the NFL. I don’t mind him opposite Jalen Ramsey if A.J. Bouye doesn’t pan out and Prince Amukamara leaves. We have bigger fish to fry, what say you?
John: I like House and the Jaguars like him when he is playing at a high level. He was inconsistent at the beginning of last season, and has been inconsistent at times since joining the Jaguars. I think the Jaguars will try to upgrade the No. 2 spot beyond both Amukamara and House.
JP S from Tuscaloosa:
So, it sounds like the new offense could best be termed “exotic smashmouth.”
John: I get the reference, because there do seem to be some similarities between how the Jaguars may wind up building their offense for 2017 and how the Tennessee Titans built the offense they began calling “exotic smashmouth” last offseason. But those comparisons as of right now are premature because the Titans signed DeMarco Murray and drafted Derrick Henry last offseason and the Jaguars have yet to acquire a running back this offseason. Also, the “exotic” part of the Titans’ scheme had a little to do with the running/escapability of quarterback Marcus Mariota, and while Blake Bortles is mobile, he perhaps isn’t as “exotic” as Mariota. But I do sense there’s a chance the Jaguars could be moving in a similar, physical direction to that of the Titans. Right now, that’s just speculation, but it has a similar early feel.
Bryant from White Plains, NY:
Do you think there are veterans on the roster that the Jags are interested in cutting, but they are waiting to see how free agency and the draft plays out before doing so?
John: I wouldn’t say the Jaguars are “interested” in that, but there are positions where veterans could be released depending on future acquisitions. House, right tackle Jermey Parnell, running back Chris Ivory and defensive tackle Sen’Derrick Marks could be in that situation.
Darren from Arlington, TX:
OK, I’ll try again. … I really like Amukamara opposite Ramsey. Do you have any insight on how the organization feels about him? If you’re playing GM, how much are you willing to pay to keep him here?
John: Thanks for continuing to try. I get many emails every day and answer a lot of them, so sometimes your efforts may result in failure. That’s OK. Failure is good. It builds character. The Jaguars liked Amukamara last season, and there likely is a price at which they would want him back. I get the sense that that price won’t likely match the lengths and terms Amukamara believes he will get on the open market.
Jerell from Columbia, SC:
Draft Fournette!
John: I think this is a possibility, and the best part would be that a strong running game would really help quarterback Blake Bortles. Isn’t that right Jerrel? Jerell? JERELL!!!???
Joe from Woodbridge, VA:
I asked the question about the importance of the pass rush. The point was to question the logic of the importance of the position. If you look at the playoff teams of this past season what teams were actually dominant on the defensive side of the ball? The Jags play the Texans twice a year and I think you can walk away saying you don’t fear the Texans as currently constructed even with a fully healthy JJ Watt. Is it nice to have a dominate pass rush? Yes. Is it necessary to win a championship? You can look as far as this past Super Bowl with Atlanta and the Patriots. The feared pass rusher was in that game was Vic Beasley? How did he do? Successful teams every year have solid quarterback play and running game – two things that the Jags have not had both at the same time since the productive years of 1996-2000. Am I wrong here?
John: I understand that your question was to question the logic of the importance of pass rusher, and believe me: no one who knows the NFL is going to question the importance of the quarterback position. But while a running game is important, the ability to pressure the passer is absolutely critically important to success in the NFL. Is it more important than a running game? In this era of the NFL, yes … I would say that’s the case.
Shane from Atlanta, GA:
I didn’t see Tinker mentioned on your toughest list. I’d watch my back if I were you.
John: Fair point.
O-Zone: Coach ’em up
John Oehser Senior writer jaguars.com Follow John on twitter Like The O-Zone on facebook
JACKSONVILLE – Let’s get to it …
Michael from Tupelo, MS:
Can you see us going out and getting the two best guards available in free agency and a tackle to take the job or compete with Jermey Parnell? We would have major depth at that point. We then address defensive needs in the draft. Let’s make the offensive line both a strength and priority. Extremely difficult to be tough without a very good offensive line.
John: I would be stunned if the Jaguars don’t sign at least one guard in free agency. I don’t know that they need to replace A.J. Cann, because I don’t think he was the liability last season many fans believe. General Manager David Caldwell in fact said Monday on Jaguars Today that the team sees Cann as a player who can be a high-level NFL guard, so two veteran interior linemen may not be the free-agency direction. As far as right tackle, that will be intriguing in free agency and/or the draft. Caldwell said on Monday that Parnell played well when healthy late last season, so it’s not as if the Jaguars can’t function at that position if they don’t upgrade. Still, if an upgrade is attainable … yeah, I think it’s a real possibility.
Mike from Section 238:
I know you won’t print this because it’s not the party line, but after reading your column the past several years I think I finally figured out what needs to happen to satisfy the fan base: Shad Khan must get on his knees and apologize to the fans; the players have to cry, throw their helmets like Jared Odrick, and be generally inconsolable during the offseason and after every loss; Dave Caldwell and Doug Marrone need to guarantee a Super Bowl victory next January no matter how unlikely that is; and Tom Coughlin needs to announce that the league has passed a rule that free agents cannot turn down any reasonable Jaguars offer. Can you make that happen soon please so I don’t have to listen to any more whining about spilt milk?
John: /drops mic
Mark from Archer, FL:
Tom Coughlin has been a great coach in his career. But just like past failures from a coach do not mean he won’t be successful, neither does past success guarantee future success. My point: all these moves that Coughlin is making, everyone is saying Coughlin was great, etc. There is a sense that to many he can do no wrong and all his moves are smart. Are there any moves he has made thus far that you do not agree with?
John: You say “all these moves,” but the only things of roster-shaping significance the Jaguars have done thus far this offseason is release Jared Odrick, trade Julius Thomas for a seventh-round selection, trade for left tackle Branden Albert and opt to not exercise the option for left tackle Kelvin Beachum. I said “only” in that previous sentence because entering the offseason Odrick’s release felt pretty much like a foregone conclusion and I doubted Thomas would be back. So, the one that stands out is acquiring Albert and not retaining Beachum at left tackle. That move did surprise me because I thought Beachum played OK last season, but Albert is a two-time Pro Bowl left tackle who is considered a better run-blocker than Beachum. Would I have let Beachum go? Probably not. Would I have let him go had I known Albert was the replacement? Yeah, probably.
Kim from New Smyrna Beach and Section 130:
John, I need some help. I’ve been a Jaguars fan for a long time and a season-ticket holder for 10-plus years. For the first time ever, I am having a really hard time hitting that renew button to spend another season at EverBank Field. Please, John: I need some inspiration, a pep talk – give me a reason to renew!
John: Kim, I’ll be honest: I don’t in this forum “encourage” fans to buy season tickets or any type of ticket. It’s not that I don’t want fans to do this, and I hope they do. But that’s not my job, and it would feel false if I went on this website and pumped answers full of unreasonable hope as opposed to trying to write as accurately and honestly about this team I know how. Now, I can tell you that the fan experience at Jaguars games is really cool and that there are far worse things to do on a Sunday than go to an NFL game. I can also tell you I foresee a time in the coming few seasons when the patience and perseverance of this fan base will pay off, and I have to think it’s going to be cool to be in EverBank Field when that happens. I also can tell you that I believe the Jaguars have a chance to be improved next season. I believe these players will play hard for Head Coach Doug Marrone, and I believe Marrone and offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett have a chance to get more out of quarterback Blake Bortles – and therefore more out of the offense – than he produced last season. I also think the defense will be improved. And I do sincerely believe that Marrone will be able to get a lot out of this team, and that the Jaguars have a chance to push to be around .500. I think that would generate a lot of excitement because it would be a five-game improvement. I also think that would bode well for the future. I don’t know if that’s a pep talk, but that’s what I tell readers, friends, family, etc. who ask about the Jaguars. I believe there is a core of good young players here, and I believe it can be an exciting season if Bortles takes some significant steps to improve. Is that enough to renew? Only you can decide that.
Ed from Ponte Vedra, FL:
We can move around players and improve the defense all we want. But until Blake Bortles can prove with consistency he is the guy, we will never hit the 8-8 the fans are looking for.
John: Kim’s not going to like that statement, Ed.
Aaron from Chantilly:
I’m loving Coughlin’s attitude and respect for the team. He doesn’t go out of his way and paint a negative picture of someone, but you can tell he isn’t pleased with a number of performances/players from last year, which is appropriate given our record. Very excited about free agency and the draft.
John: Tom Coughlin is a professional football man and carries himself as such. The Jaguars have struggled for a long time and lost 13 games last season. It stands to reason he might look at the roster and figure some adjusting was needed.
CC from Duval:
Quick question. Everyone is freaking out about the Jags possibly letting Johnathan Cyprien walk in free agency, but if the team decides to go running back No. 4 overall in the draft after addressing the offensive line in free agency what do you feel the organization feels about James Sample? I know his health is a concern but I haven’t heard anything on him in a while. What do you think about him being Cyprien’s replacement?
John: James Sample has talent. He also has played in four games in two NFL seasons. It’s not out of the realm of possibility that he plays a role for the Jaguars next season, but if the Jaguars don’t re-sign Cyprien I think it’s safe to say they’ll draft or sign someone outside the team to address strong safety.
Bo from the Highlands:
Can you tell us your thoughts on the running back position excluding the draft – Chris Ivory, T.J. Yeldon, Corey Grant, D-Rob and Joe Banyard? Do you sense a trade? And do you think Grant could take the No. 2 running back spot? C’mon: Ivory and Grant’s speed.
John: I don’t sense a trade for a veteran running back happening, and I do think the Jaguars will draft a runner in the first three rounds. I think Yeldon has a chance to be a very good player as part of a rotation and I think Ivory has proven he can be effective in the right situation. I also think Grant can be an effective reserve/special teams player. But overall, there is not a game-changing back on the Jaguars’ roster. My gut is the Jaguars will try to change that during the draft.
Jeff from Keystone Heights, FL:
Would you agree if a team releases a starter it’s not only because they believe they can upgrade the position, but they may also want a different type of player to fit a scheme or philosophy? For example, releasing Julius Thomas doesn’t mean they don’t think he’s capable of being a productive tight end … they may envision a better blocker or quicker style than what he brings. A 3-13 record, multiple losing seasons and new staff must bring these types of thoughts and decisions. Surely, no one thought we would have the same starting 22 and just coach them up.
John: Apparently some people did think that. They were wrong. And stop calling me Shirley.
O-Zone: Hanging tough
John Oehser Senior writer jaguars.com Follow John on twitter Like The O-Zone on facebook
JACKSONVILLE – Let’s get to it …
Keith from Palatka, FL:
I believe that Doug Marrone and Nathaniel Hackett will run a version of an “Air Coryell” offense, since this is what they ran at Syracuse and Buffalo. Oversimplified, the Coryell offense is a combination of deep and mid-range passing and a power running game. It should come as no surprise that they are going to build an offensive line that will feature power run blocking and a power running back (like Leonard Fournette). Why are people surprised and angry that Kelvin Beachum, who does not fit that scheme, is being let go in free agency?
John: I believe Hackett’s offense ideally will look much like the one you describe, and a lot of the offseason tea leaves indeed look that way, too. I say “ideally,” because I believe right now Hackett and the offensive coaches are deep into installing the offense, and I imagine that process is about building a system that these players – particularly quarterback Blake Bortles – can execute well more than it is about designing a particular style of offense. And yes, ideally the Jaguars next season will run effectively to control tempo – and to help Bortles, who has shown effectiveness as a play-action passer. Why are people angry that Beachum is being let go? Because Beachum didn’t play poorly last season, and because there’s a perception that he was the best option possible at left tackle – and because fans gonna fan, as well they should.
Dave from Oviedo, FL:
Mr. O – Do teams have integrity anymore when signing players that break the law? I’m afraid we’re getting to a point where a star player could shoot someone in the street, and they’d still make a roster if that player could score touchdowns and help a team win. I know: you don’t want a team of boy scouts, but where do you draw the line … and why does that line (of right and wrong) keep moving based on a player’s ability to win football games?
John: There’s actually no moving line. If one team believes a player can help it win that player will usually play in the NFL if he is legally allowed to do so. There are exceptions, but they are relatively rare. This has not changed much in the time I have watched and followed the NFL and I don’t expect it to change in the foreseeable future. This is not much different than other major professional sports.
Emile from Tallahassee, FL:
Fans during the season: “This team stinks! Let everyone go! Trade them!” Fans during the offseason: “What!? Why are the letting that guy go? How dare they trade him?”
John: Yes. Fans gonna fan.
Genuinejag13 from Jacksonville:
Is there a chance that Bortles and Henne could play special teams or does everyone not mean everyone?
John: C’mon, Genuinejag13 from Jacksonville … be better than that.
Mike from Jacksonville:
A few years ago I hoped the Jags would draft Jay Ajayi. They drafted Yeldon in the second round, whereas Ajayi landed in the fifth. Do I want the Jags to spend the fourth overall pick on running back? No because you can get quality much, much later.
John: You’re a long way from wrong.
Steven from Memphis, TN:
Blake is out west working on his mechanics. My question concerns the other area of his game that you have pointed out a number of times. Pocket presence, decision making, seeing the field, protecting the football among others. Will fixing his mechanics correct these mistakes, or are these problems only corrected once camp starts and with coaching and experience? It just seemed to me that Tom Coughlin is not very happy with Blake and I wonder if he sees these problems I mentioned as unfixable? IF Blake cannot correct these issues and we do not get a quarterback in free agency or the draft we are in a lot of trouble next year and the next several years.
John: Better mechanics can’t hurt Bortles in the other areas he must improve, but neither will they fix those other areas. Experience should help, as should comfort level in the offense. Hackett certainly is working on creating as many situations in which Bortles is comfortable and as confident as possible. That’s not an overnight process, but that’s Hackett’s objective. As for quarterback-related feelings, I didn’t get the impression during his Friday media availability that Coughlin dislikes Bortles, but there’s no question Coughlin believes Bortles has to protect the football and make better decisions. I don’t think Coughlin’s in that belief, though perhaps he addressed it a little more directly than we have heard in recent seasons.
Mark from Archer, FL:
John, I get that after such a horrible season a lot of changes need to be made. I also get that I am just a fan and not a coach or scout or anything. But from my point of view we are addressing the wrong issues. Right tackle to me was the worst spot on our line. I cannot even count how many penalties were on our right tackle last season. My opinion is Parnell should have been the first player cut after the season.
John: OK.
Fred from Naples, FL:
Is Paul Posluszny the best free-agent signing in Jaguars history?
John: He’s in the conversation. Leon Searcy and Keenan McCardell are in the conversation, too, and I’d have to put McCardell on the top of my list.
Hunter from Jacksonville Beach, FL:
Over-under on a 15 percent chance Luke Joeckel stays for 2017 …
John: Over. Barely.
J Hooks from Orange Park, FL:
John, my biggest take on the Coughlin presser is that it’s not necessarily particular players that need to be replaced, but more-so the overall mental and physical constitution of the “team.” I also believe he saw that one of the biggest flaws was special teams play, which is ALL about mental and physical constitution! Am I too far off base here, or was he sending a message to the players more than appeasing the media? On a side note, isn’t Jerell Superman’s dad or something?
John: I wouldn’t say Coughlin’s Friday presser gave a message that particular players didn’t need replacing. Particular players are starting to be replaced, and I anticipate that continuing. When I asked Coughlin his impression of the state of the roster on Friday, he twice said, “We have work to do.” That work is going to be about upgrading players. Now, there’s also little question Coughlin believes the overall physical and mental constitution of the team needs work, too – and he clearly believes special teams must be more of a priority. When it comes to the target of his message Friday, I’ve never thought of Coughlin as one to “appease” the media – or anyone else, for that matter. Was he sending a message to players? I suppose, but mostly he was answering questions honestly about where he believes this team stands. He believes this team has to be tougher mentally and physically, and he was pretty clear about that. As far as Jerell, you know what … maybe he is Superman’s dad. That would explain a lot, and it would leave some things unanswered. And I bet Jerell would like it that way.
Eric from Portland via Duval:
Can we tell Joe from Woodbridge that the reason Texans’ defense was still the best after JJ Watt went down was because guys like Jadaveon Clowney and Whitney Mercilus were ready to step in? This proves the importance of the pass rush and having multiple productive rushers, not the other way around.
John: You can’t have enough pass rushers in the NFL. It has been that way since before the modern passing era. It is that way now. I don’t anticipate it changing.
Bo from Desden, NC:
If Tom is not sold on Blake do you think we will bring in more quarterback competition or just go with Chad, Blake and Allen?
John: If Coughlin is not sold on Bortles I think Coughlin will explore every avenue to legitimately make the Jaguars’ quarterback position as strong as possible this year. That’s not a vague answer as much as it is one that reflects the quarterback market this offseason. There does not appear to be a quarterback available at No. 4 overall that is a bona fide franchise guy, and the veteran quarterback market as usual is questionable at best. Are Tony Romo, Jimmy Garropolo or Jay Cutler worth big-time trade or salary equity? Coughlin’s not going to tip his hand on this. If he likes any of those quarterbacks my sense is he would pursue them.
Marc from Oceanway:
Coughlin wants and expects toughness in his players. Blake Bortles at least has this going for him. How do you think Bortles fares in the toughness category? Any other Jaguars that stand out to you as being an example of the toughness Coughlin expects?
John: Yes, Bortles is tough. As far as other Jaguars who exhibit that toughness, there are many. Paul Posluszny, Tyson Alualu, Allen Hurns, Roy Miller. There are others, but those guys stand out.
O-Zone: Memories blur
John Oehser Senior writer jaguars.com Follow John on twitter Like The O-Zone on facebook
JACKSONVILLE – Let’s get to it …
Logan from Wichita, KS:
All I got from Tom Coughlin’s press conference Friday was “blah, blah, blah … the players we have are wimps that need to tough up, our quarterback is terrible and we still suck…” Yippee.
John: Logan, I assure you Coughlin’s not walking into his press conferences worrying about what you and the fans think about what he’s saying. That doesn’t mean he’s not working to improve the team, but that work doesn’t extend to saying what fans want to hear or trying to make them happy when he speaks publicly. I also can assure you he’s going to be honest in his assessment of the Jaguars and he’s going to be steadfast in his effort to articulate his thoughts about the team. I thought Coughlin’s press conference Friday was forthright and honest. He clearly believes the Jaguars need to get tougher, and he believes that not only must quarterback Blake Bortles improve, but players around him must improve, too. I didn’t get the impression he believes Bortles “sucks,” and I actually thought he sounded more supportive of Bortles than he did in the introductory press conference. It also sounded to me as if he likes the potential of pass rushers Dante Fowler Jr. and Yannick Ngakoue and that he really likes Jaguars middle linebacker Paul Posluszny. Mostly, I got the impression that the Jaguars are going to work to build the offensive line and improve this running game. That maybe didn’t peel back the curtain into all of Coughlin’s Jaguars-oriented thoughts, and maybe it doesn’t excite you. I guess that’s just the way it be.
Glen from Orange Park, FL:
JPP or Melvin Ingram? Prince Amukamara, A.J. Bouye, Stephon Gilmore, or Logan Ryan? Kevin Zeitler, or Larry Warford?
John: JPP, Bouye and Warford, but hey … I’m guessing.
Bob from Sumter, SC:
I’m in the minority. I like the Kelvin Beachum/Branden Albert/Julius Thomas moves. Albert is a better run-blocker when healthy. Thomas is not a good run blocker. Running the ball is Priority One. Jared Odrick was OK, but the message is we’re not paying big bucks for OK. Obviously, I think they’ve given a little thought to who might replace him before they released him – just a wild guess. There’s a reason we were 3-13 and it wasn’t just Bortles. The Jags will improve under TC and Marrone. As for how much, as you say “stay tuned.” #DTWD
John: #DTWD
Gabe from Washington, DC:
If all of the following guys were available in free agency, and the Jaguars deemed them upgrades, would the team be able to afford paying top dollar for Jason Pierre-Paul, A.J. Bouye, Eric Berry AND Kevin Zeitler? That would make me excited.
John: Berry won’t be available, but the Jaguars could afford to pay a top dollar to a point for the other three. I don’t know that doing so in one offseason would be prudent – or if they realistically could lure all three – but it’s not impossible.
Matt from Section 133:
In your response to Bob from Hilliard, you said, “This is a different organization with Tom Coughlin and Doug Marrone in charge.” I noticed that David Caldwell was conspicuously absent from that sentence. I truly don’t mean this to sound flippant, but what is he still doing with the organization? Is it disingenuous to allow him to keep the title of General Manager? If not, then why isn’t he more at the forefront of the picture this offseason? It feels to me like the public perception is that this is now Coughlin and Marrone’s team. (I don’t see Caldwell’s serious face scowling at me on the homepage, after all.)
John: David Caldwell is still the general manager and because he’s still the general manager it’s not disingenuous for him to have the title. As Coughlin said repeatedly on Friday, he and Caldwell and Marrone are running the Jaguars as a team. But when it comes to final decisions, Coughlin makes those. And when it comes to coaching the team, Marrone does that. Hence, the use of the phrase “in charge” when referring to those two.
Aaron from White Hall, AR:
I would rather stick with Blake this year to make sure he isn’t our guy before moving on, but I wouldn’t mind trading for Jimmy G as long as it wasn’t for our fourth overall pick. The guy I would rather see that wouldn’t cost a draft pick and would bring in competition is Mike Glennon. Thoughts?
John: If you trade for Garoppolo it’s probably going to cost the No. 4 overall selection – or it will at least cost enough that he’s going to come in as a starter. As for signing Glennon, sure … I guess. But is he better than Bortles? Significantly? And if he’s not, then are you willing to pay premium $$$?
Scott from Jacksonville:
Beachum wasn’t any worse than Albert last year, and being two years removed from ACL surgery, Beachum should only get better. On top of that, Beachum is entering his prime, while Albert is past his. I just don’t get this one, O-Man.
John: Reread your first sentence and assume that someone very prominent in the Jaguars’ decision-making hierarchy – perhaps someone who has coached here before and who was recently hired to make decisions regarding the direction of the organization – doesn’t agree with the aforementioned first sentence.
Brett from Jacksonville Beach:
Off topic, but with the Daytona 500 approaching, can you speak about covering Dale Earnhardt’s death? Frank Frangie mentioned your coverage during a show this week.
John: I indeed covered the 2001 Daytona 500. It was the last of about 10 or 11 consecutive Daytona 500s I covered for the Florida Times-Union. I actually didn’t “cover” Earnhardt’s death any more than the hundreds of other reporters there. I worked the race as I always did from the Benny Kahn press room in the infield of Daytona International Speedway and I watched Earnhardt’s last-lap collision with the wall on television. I like many others thought comparatively little of it because at first and second glance it didn’t seem any more violent than many incidents at DIS. Having covered double-digit NASCAR races there, I had seen many drivers walk away from far worse. Following Earnhardt’s collision, I interviewed other drivers post-race and was writing my stories when I got a call (and I believe I’m remembering this right) from an assistant sports editor saying one of our photographers was hearing rumors that Earnhardt had died. I dismissed it because it still didn’t seem possible. This was before Twitter and instant news, remember, so information traveled comparatively slowly. Soon after the call, the mood in the press room changed. My memory is fuzzy, but it seems likely that the more tied-in reporters and media types were hearing similar rumors, and that if Earnhardt hadn’t died, something was happening. After what I remember as a long time, NASCAR President Mike Helton came into the room. By now, the press room was packed. And by now, it seemed everyone sensed what was coming when Helton said the now infamous words, “We’ve lost Dale Earnhardt.” What I also remember was walking from the press room to Halifax Medical Center with my friend from the Florida Today, David Jones. I don’t know, really, if I was thinking I’d talk to someone when I arrived at Halifax or if it just seemed like what a reporter was supposed to do. I honestly don’t even recall now if we walked there before Helton’s announcement, or if we walked afterward; it has been a long time and details fade. What I remember is the walk was long, and I remember from a relative distance seeing Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Teresa Earnhardt – Earnhardt’s wife – outside what was probably the emergency room. The absurdity of our walk to Halifax dawned on us both around this time; whatever had happened to Earnhardt there were going to be no comments from family at Halifax. This was bigger than that. We walked back to the press room. Here, the memories again blur. What I remember most is the stunned feeling leaving DIS that night. There was always eeriness to the track on Sunday evenings after the 500. Two weeks of Speedweeks were over, and the sudden quiet always seemed odd. This obviously felt eerier. I don’t pretend to have known Earnhardt, and Dale sure wasn’t my friend, but you couldn’t cover Daytona for the 10 years I did without feeling his presence. He only won one Daytona 500, but he was a master of that track. He won countless smaller Speedweeks races there, and as little as I knew about the ins and outs of racing, you didn’t have to know much to understand his greatness. He was simply the best driver of his era, the most intimidating, the biggest personality, the sport’s defining presence. He was always the biggest story at the 500, win or lose, and it goes without saying that his death didn’t seem real as I walked from DIS that night. This was a guy who in a very real sense was bigger than life around NASCAR, and now he was gone. I left the Times-Union later that summer and haven’t covered a race since, but I doubt I’m alone among media members who count that day as one of the saddest and most memorable days of my career.
O-Zone: How sweat it is
John Oehser Senior writer jaguars.com Follow John on twitter Like The O-Zone on facebook
JACKSONVILLE – Let’s get to it …
Jeremy from Bossier City, LA:
So, we now need a starting-caliber left guard, right guard, right tackle, tight end, quarterback, defensive end and depth at several positions. We give up a draft pick to let a left tackle go while signing another, even though Kelvin Beachum is definitely an NFL starter and likely to be for a long time (and he’s the type of guy you want on your team; #winner). We also let Julius Thomas go for a seventh-round draft pick when Nathaniel Hackett could find a way to properly use him. By not retaining Thomas and Beachum, we created two additional needs that weren’t there two weeks ago. On top of that, the word on the street is we are going to let Johnathan Cyprien walk and have to draft or sign another safety when he’s clearly a starting-caliber safety. Oh, and we only have $73 million in salary-cap space. Pure genius! Just pure genius! My only hope at this point is that somehow I can eat crow this coming season.
John: I can’t speak to your future diet, but I do know when a 3-13 team changes head coaches and front-office leadership there are going to be changes. Those changes won’t be cosmetic in nature and more likely might involve foundation-changing moves. Changing left tackles is a foundation-changing move. The Jaguars clearly didn’t like Beachum enough at left tackle to move forward with him there, and they clearly didn’t like Thomas enough at tight end to move forward with him there. Those changes mean dramatic change at those positions, and if they change from Cyprien to someone else, that would mean a dramatic shift at that position, too. The Jaguars have lost a lot of games for a lot of consecutive seasons. It’s not so surprising that someone trying to change that trend might implement dramatic change.
Aaron from Chantilly:
Risk with Fournette compared to Cook in my mind is that Fournette will last four or five years with his running style whereas Cook’s style could yield a 10-plus-year career.
John: While Dalvin Cook’s style indeed might give him a year or two longer than Leonard Fournette, the risk with drafting any running back is longevity. You don’t draft any running back thinking about a double-digit career. If you get more than six elite years, then you have to be ecstatic.
Bruce from Green Cove Springs, FL:
I understand the angst over personnel moves to a point. We like certain players and it’s sometimes hard to see them go, even when the moves result in seeing even better players brought in. But it’s too early to fret. The free-agency period doesn’t even start until March 9, and then there is the draft. I am more concerned about another indicator: I don’t see a Jaguars UFA that we would even consider for a franchise tag. Is that a legitimate concern?
John: Teams using or not using the franchise tag isn’t necessarily a reflection of the quality of players on their rosters. Sometimes teams have already re-signed their good players, which would preclude the use of the franchise tag. Remember, too: teams only tag players when they’re scheduled to become unrestricted free agents, which means you’re only talking about a small percentage of team’s players. This is not to say the Jaguars have a strong enough roster. They do not, and they certainly need more good players. But the lack of anyone in consideration right now for the franchise tag isn’t what makes that the case.
Brandon from Atlanta, GA:
Word on the street is this year’s draft class of tight ends is the best it has been in a while. Can that play into the Jaguars’ decisions such as releasing a player or not pursuing a player in free agency? I remember a similar topic coming up last year relating to defensive linemen and how that pushed the free-agent market down. Here’s hoping we find a tight-end gem in the mid- to-late rounds.
John: Strength of a draft class most certainly plays into a team’s offseason decision-making. It’s not the only factor, and it’s best not to depend on rookies to play a role you consider critical to the team’s success or failure. But if one position group is particularly strong, it’s certainly more reasonable to release a player at that position and be confident you can address it with youth and potential at a cheaper price.
John from Jacksonville:
Last year I watched the games, and I felt this team had to get much more production from both left tackle as well as right tackle play. What do you think?
John: I think the Jaguars are seriously addressing the offensive line this offseason, so I sure don’t think you’re alone in your opinion.
Suni from Jacksonville:
I agree with you that a .500 record should be the higher end of the expectations for 2017. But don’t you see that this is the problem? We are hoping for .500 football and will probably still not get it. We have NOT had a home playoff game in 17 (going on 18) years! We haven’t even been close to making the playoffs in 10 years. So when the fans sound frustrated with everything this organization is doing to “try and produce a winner,” it should be understandable. I haven’t seen less excitement in this fan base in a long time. I just don’t know how to feel about the Jags anymore … deep sigh.
John: Suni, I can’t control how the fan base feels, and I can’t make people excited. Only winning can do that. Of course it’s understandable that the fan base is frustrated. Of course offseason excitement is down a bit. That’s logical. When the Jaguars start winning again, the excitement will return. That’s the only answer. That’s what it will take.
Ric from Jacksonville:
So with the change at left tackle, it got me thinking – which is always a little disconcerting in itself. … Kelvin Beachum wasn’t a bad tackle. He will probably start somewhere next season. With him being released, it really wouldn’t surprise me if we will have a completely new offensive line next year outside of the center. Would that surprise you or do you feel there is a good chance for more than just Linder as a hold over?
John: I wouldn’t be surprised to see A.J. Cann start at guard. In fact, I’d be a little surprised if he doesn’t start at guard next season. Beyond that, we’ll see …
James from Green Cove Springs, FL:
Zone, do players typically say there is a greater jump in speed, strength, and overall competition from high school to college, or college to the NFL? There are about 1,088,000 high school players each year, roughly 11,000 Division I scholarships each season, and about 2,000 guys collecting NFL checks annually. Statistically, it would appear the jump from high school to D-I would be much more difficult. However, those that receive scholarships are typically already big and fast enough to play college ball. Thus, curious what NFL players say about the comparative difficulty transitioning from high school to college, versus college to the NFL?
John: The jump in speed, strength and overall competition is extreme anytime you ascend in levels in football because you’re in situations where every player at your new level is as good as the best player at your former level. It’s a bigger increase from college to the NFL because you’re suddenly playing against the biggest, strongest fastest football players in the world – and you’re suddenly playing against mature, grown 27-to-28-year-old men. That’s different from playing against 21- and 22-year-olds at the collegiate level.
Thomas from Williamsburg, VA:
Do you think Dante Fowler Jr. can already be considered a bad pick? I don’t think you can call someone a bust after just one year, but then again it seems like a given that the Jags will bring in someone to line up opposite Ngakuoe (JPP or Allen). If that’s the case, Fowler becomes a rotational player and you don’t spend the No. 3 overall selection on a rotational defensive lineman.
John: If Dante Fowler never plays better than he did last season he obviously was over-drafted at No. 3. If J.J. Watt never had played better than he did as a rookie he would have been over-drafted. If Khalil Mack never had played better than he did as a rookie he would have been over-drafted. I don’t know how Fowler’s career will play out. He has to mature on the field as a pass rusher, and he has to make better on-field decisions. A lot of his play didn’t inspire confidence last season. And I do think the Jaguars need a veteran pass rusher. But that need doesn’t have as much to do with Fowler as it has to do with the fact that having three players who can pressure the passer is better than having two players. Having four would be awesome, too. You can never have enough.
Dave from Orlando, FL:
Mr. O … Why do you always joke about your life being a disappointment? Sure, you weren’t blessed with good looks and much of a personality, but hey, being the senior writer to an NFL team is a pretty sweat gig. Am I wrong?
John: #sweatgig … I can’t make things like this up. I’m not that good.
O-Zone: Plurality
John Oehser Senior writer jaguars.com Follow John on twitter Like The O-Zone on facebook
JACKSONVILLE – Let’s get to it …
Aiden from Long Island, NY:
Do you think it’s time to move on from Yeldon and draft Fournette?
John: This question is going to be at the heart of a lot of Jaguars-oriented speculation in the weeks leading to the 2017 NFL Draft, and that’s how it should be because the answer will tell a lot about the franchise’s direction moving forward. I agree with NFL Network analyst Mike Mayock’s thoughts during an appearance on Jaguars.com LIVE this week that taking a running back such as Leonard Fournette of LSU requires a major commitment from the organization because you’re basically saying you’re going to shape your entire approach around the player’s skills. It’s a commitment to the running game, and a commitment to playing good defense to support that running game, and a commitment to gearing your passing offense to take advantage of that running game. I’m not a huge fan philosophically of building an organization around the running game. It’s more ideal to build around a franchise quarterback because that typically means giving yourself an extended opportunity to be a contending team. But the Jaguars’ reality right now is it’s uncertain if Blake Bortles is a franchise quarterback and there’s no obvious franchise-type quarterback available in the draft, free agency or any other avenue. But there do appear to be offensive linemen available in free agency – and perhaps in Fournette or Dalvin Cook of Florida State there is an elite running back available. That gives the Jaguars an opportunity to reshape their team and perhaps find a way to be effective offensively. It may not be an avenue to get deep into the postseason immediately, but it absolutely could be an avenue toward real improvement. Right now, that’s the Jaguars’ first step: to improve and to get out of the abyss of double-digit loss seasons. Could reshaping the offense and building around the running game allow them to take that first step? Sure, so yes – drafting Fournette and taking that route makes a lot of sense.
Melinda from Mandarin, FL:
Zone, I get the whole Support-Your-Quarterback-Until-He’s-No Longer-Your-Quarterback thing, but I’m hoping the next time you interview David Caldwell you’ll ask him if he still believes Bortles is the best prospect from either the ’14 or ’15 draft classes. You know … better than Carr, Winston, Mariota, Bridgewater, Garoppolo, or even Tom Savage based on our game against him in Houston? I’d say seventh best from those two classes, how ’bout you?
John: I wouldn’t rank Bortles dead last among that group because Garoppolo and Savage haven’t had enough time to show if they are better or worse than Bortles. There’s no reason to ask Caldwell about this, though. He remains a believer that Bortles will be a franchise quarterback and that he can lead this team to a lot of success for a long time.
Dwayne from Jacksonville:
John, any chance Jerell is your wife’s pen name?
John: No, my wife’s pen name is “John, why did you ruin my life and sentence me to years of misery?” Wait, that’s not a pen name.
Ralph from Jacksonville:
John, I too find it strange people are upset with the current regime and the direction of the franchise. While I think Caldwell did a decent job, he allowed players like Red Bryant and Chris Clemons to remain on the roster too long. Tom Coughlin has demonstrated he will identify and jettison players that haven’t proved their worth or don’t appear likely to fulfill expectations. Julius Thomas and Jared Odrick are prime examples. While it is too early to see how this will culminate, I am excited for the direction in which the leadership has the Jags headed. I need a question I guess. How about: Agreed?
John: I agree with part of your point, but not the whole thing. I agree that Coughlin has no problem moving on from players, but it’s incorrect to say that Caldwell doesn’t do the same thing – particularly when it comes to free agents. When the Jaguars signed free agents such as Bryant and Clemons – and even players such as Zane Beadles, Toby Gerhart, etc. – they did so knowing there was a very high probability that they were short-term fixes at best. That’s why their contracts were structured to pay them in the first two seasons and allow them to be released after that. And while the perception may be that Caldwell allowed those players to stay too long, Bryant was with the Jaguars only one season and Clemons was on the roster for two seasons. In the case of Clemons, he was ineffective in 2015 but he actually had been very effective the season before, so it’s difficult to blame the team for bringing back a player who to that point had been an effective pass rusher. I need an answer, I guess. How about: yes, Coughlin will move on from players, but when it comes to ineffective free agents, Caldwell will, too.
Troy from York, PA:
Hey, O: I’m disappointed in the front office re-signing Chad Henne back to the roster when there were way better options that would be out in free agency. They talk about quarterback competition but resigning Henne is more or less handing the job to Bortles. Why not go out and sign a guy like a Matt Moore or Nick Foles?
John: Troy, I understand disappointment. My life is full of it. But re-signing Henne does not hand the job to Bortles – and it does not in any way preclude the Jaguars from signing a veteran quarterback to compete with Bortles. I don’t know yet whether the Jaguars will do that, but signing Henne doesn’t prevent it.
Joe from Woodbridge:
John, don’t get me wrong. I understand the importance of pass rush. But the No. 1 defensive team in the Houston Texans last season lost probably the most dominant defensive player in the NFL when healthy in J.J. Watt. Watt missed about 14 games and the Texans still remained the best defense in the league. Do you think the league has put too much stock into the importance of the position? Fans are clamoring for the likes of Jonathan Allen and Solomon Thomas after we just drafted Dante Fowler Jr. two years ago as a Top 5 pick. So, why use another Top 5 pick on the position when you drafted Yannick Ngakoue and he has so much promise? How many teams that were in the playoffs that had defenses that you actually feared, including the Texans who you see two times I feel the league is moving in a different direction what your thoughts?
John: Maybe I’m getting you wrong, but I’m not sure you really do understand the importance of a pass rush.
Jerell from Columbia, SC:
Mike Mayock liked the Gus and Dave setup when it came around, so what’s different now??? I can tell you what’s the same: Blake “Pick Magnet” Bortles and he is very skilled at getting coaches canned.
John: Ladies and gentleman … Jerell!!
Mark from College Park, MD:
Is Dave Caldwell a lame duck now?
John: No. Caldwell received an extension early this offseason to match the lengths of the contracts for Executive Vice President of Football Operations Tom Coughlin and Head Coach Doug Marrone. A lame duck means someone in the final period of office after a successor has been determined. So, while Caldwell no longer has final say over football decisions – and while now he and Marrone both report to Coughlin – he is not a lame duck.
Paul from Temecula, CA:
Part of an article from Mike DiRocco regarding the release of Jared Odrick and trade of Julius Thomas really struck a chord with something I’ve been thinking lately: “The Jaguars haven’t hit many home runs in free agency over the past four years, and two of their top signees in that period are gone — with nearly $50 million in their pockets and the Jaguars no better than when they arrived.” Dave Caldwell has swung and missed more than he has hit in free agency, although most agree the talent level is far better than it was when he was hired. I’ve always been a fan of Dave and what he could do for the franchise. But these free-agent signings are taking a toll. When Dave began, I realize the process began with mid-level ascending players to develop culture, but it’s time to start hitting on free agents.
John: I’m not sure who in the heck Mike DiRocco is, but if you can’t handle overspending and even missing on high-profile, expensive free agents then you better not sign high-profile, expensive free agents. You may hit some, and Malik Jackson for example certainly qualified as a hit last season, but generally speaking there are a lot of misses out there, too. And why wouldn’t there be? If these players were can’t miss their former teams in many cases would be re-signing them.
Dave from Atlantic Beach, FL:
John, “Y’all” is singular. The plural of y’all is “all y’all”.
John: You’re damned right it is.
O-Zone: Valuable minutes
John Oehser Senior writer jaguars.com Follow John on twitter Like The O-Zone on facebook
JACKSONVILLE – Let’s get to it …
Bob from Hilliard, FL:
This team has no idea what it is doing. The O-Zone is starting to resemble a White House press conference.
John: I’m getting more than a few emails to this effect and I admit I find it a bit strange people seem upset with the franchise’s direction. The Jaguars appear to be trying to upgrade the offensive line, and they’re getting rid of a few high-priced free agents who didn’t work out as planned. I wouldn’t be surprised if Julius Thomas has success elsewhere. I also wouldn’t be surprised if Kelvin Beachum starts for a long time somewhere in the NFL. I don’t know that I feel as strongly about Jared Odrick making a huge impact elsewhere – in part because of the nature of his position. But to think that their departures will hurt the Jaguars significantly, or that their departures mean the team “has no idea what it is doing” … nah, I wouldn’t say that. Now, it may be that people don’t like what the team is doing, or that they don’t yet understand what the team is doing. That’s actually quite possible – and in fact, there’s little question the team is being closer to the vest when it comes to explaining offseason moves. But you know what? That’s not against the rules. And it’s not all that unusual. This is a different organization with Tom Coughlin and Doug Marrone in charge. They may not share quite as much with the public quite as quickly as the previous leadership. But that doesn’t matter as much as what the team does on the field next season. That’s when the plan needs to be clear and that’s when it needs to work. Will it? I suppose we’ll have a better idea of that as the plan becomes more apparent.
Jeremy from Gosnell, AR:
How likely is it that Beachum be retained to play right tackle?
John: Eddie. If I woke up with my head sewn to the carpet I wouldn’t be more surprised.
Carlos from Richmond, VA:
With all of the $$$ we have, who are some of the big-name free agents we will possibly be trying to bring in? #GoJags
John: From the “speculation-only” files, let’s go with New York Giants defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul, Houston Texans cornerback A.J. Bouye and Detroit Lions guard Larry Warford or Cincinnati Bengals guard Kevin Zeilter. All are currently projected to become free agents, and there seems a better-than-decent chance they actually will hit free agency. I like the idea of any of those players because they appear to be relative free-agent rarities – i.e., available players who actually are playing at a high level and appear to be worth signing. Now, any of those players still will come with the inherent free-agent risks, but all would have a better-than-decent chance of making a significant difference immediately.
Dave from Duval:
I think what concerns me so much about Blake Bortles is his situational football IQ is not where it should have been going into your third year as a starter. A good example is the sack he took holding onto the ball against Baltimore when we had no timeouts essentially clinched the game for them.
John: I’ve said often that the area of biggest concern for Bortles is football sense/decision-making. That area is as important – if not more so – than the accuracy issues many people focused upon last season. If Bortles can make strides in field awareness, pocket presence, pre-snap reads, decision-making, etc., he is accurate enough to be an effective quarterback. If he doesn’t make strides in those areas his accuracy won’t matter all that much.
Bradley from South Lake Tahoe:
I always thought John Madden was overrated as a commentator and underrated as a coach. He always said give me an elite offensive line and defensive secondary and I will be in the Super Bowl neighborhood every year. I say we grab Jamal Adams with the fourth pick and we have our elite secondary for the next decade. We need some sort of cornerstone to build out from.
John: I thought Madden was an otherworldly commentator, though – like many commentators – he probably wasn’t as strong late in his career than he was early. When he first began on CBS, his ability to educate and entertain in the voice of “every man” was unmatched and he made games more interesting, which is something not all commentators can do. As far as his coaching, I don’t know where he’s rated but he unquestionably was one of the best of all-time. His record speaks for itself. I can’t quite go with you on the offensive line/secondary thing, though. Elite players are valuable whatever the position group, but give me an elite defensive line/pass rush and elite quarterback and I’ll figure out a way to win games. (Well, not me, but someone smarter than me, anyway). Offensive line would be next, though. I agree there.
Jeremy from Wise, VA:
Correct me if I am wrong, but did the Jags already have Steve Beuerlein on the roster when they traded for Mark Brunell? And was Steve expected to be the starter because he had more experience since Mark hadn’t seen any regular-season snaps or limited snaps. See the parallels with trading for Jimmy G. AFC title game here we come! To quote the Nature Boy, ” WOOOOOOO!”
John: You’re not wrong, and there are some parallels – although to be completely accurate everything was new and unknown around the Jaguars in the 1995 expansion season to which you refer. As far as trading for a veteran quarterback this offseason, I still wouldn’t rule it out. Perhaps we’ll get a bit more insight into this when Tom Coughlin speaks to the media Friday. Actually, I don’t expect to get much insight into this when Coughlin speaks Friday because him sharing insight into that would be counterproductive, but I still wouldn’t completely rule the veteran quarterback thing out. Oh, yeah … “Woo.”
Steve from Hudson, FL:
We need to draft mean Badgers … Ryan Ramczyk at No. 4. How would the mailbox look after that?
John: Familiar.
Scott from Chelsea, NY:
Why release Jared Odrick before we re-sign Tyson Alualu?
John: Because the Jaguars were ready to not have Odrick on the team. Whether or not they re-signed Alualu wasn’t going to change that.
Aaron from White Hall, AR:
So, say two teams have a trade set up before it can be official like the one with the Jaguars and Dolphins and one of the teams back out of the trade and ends up trading with someone else. What would happen to that team?
John: They wouldn’t get to sit at the cool table at the next owner’s meetings, that’s for sure.
Scott from Aurora, IL:
I’m not even excited for free agency or the draft this year. I’m too accustomed to the moves the Jags make not making any difference in the all-important “win” column. Did I use that hyphen correctly? Grammar is important.
John: I’m getting a lot of that sentiment, and you know what? That sentiment is OK and it’s perfectly understandable. Heck, it might even be healthy. The last few offseasons – particularly last offseason – have been filled with giddy anticipation, often of the breathless variety. Many last offseason predicted lofty, heady things – playoff-oriented things – for a group that really hadn’t done all that much the season before to merit those things. Now, because of the disastrous feel of 3-13 last season, few are predicting much. I think the Jaguars will be improved next season, which means I think they’ll have a really good chance to get to around .500. I think that because I think a lot of the young talent that wasn’t quite ready to perform like core talent will be more ready for that role, and I think that because I think these players will believe in Marrone and the vision after gradually ceasing to believe in the vision of Head Coach Gus Bradley last season. Losing eroded that belief, and after a while the erosion had ill-effects that caused 3-13. When I say the Jaguars will be improved this season, I don’t mean they’ll make the postseason. I have hard time seeing them there yet, but I do think that they will be improved. But I don’t expect me writing that to make fans who feel burned by the last few seasons suddenly excited. No, this team has lost enough that it must earn excitement by winning on the field. Free agency moves and draft selections will be important and they could yield positive results, but they understandably won’t generate as much excitement as they have in recent offseasons. But yes, you used the hyphen correctly.
Glen from Orange Park, FL:
I just read an article titled “Could Jaguars make a run at Jimmy Garoppolo?” How am I ever going to get back that five minutes of my life?
John: If you regretted that five minutes, I can’t imagine how you must feel now.
O-Zone: Confidentially speaking
John Oehser Senior writer jaguars.com Follow John on twitter Like The O-Zone on facebook
JACKSONVILLE – Let’s get to it …
Travis from Boynton Beach, FL:
Does the potential of a new starting left tackle indicate our beloved Jags may actually draft running back at No. 4 overall in the upcoming draft? If so, which running back best fits our team?
John: The potential acquisition of Branden Albert as the Jaguars’ starting left tackle represents what the team clearly believes is an upgrade to the left side of the offensive line. I don’t know that it’s as much an indication about what the Jaguars will do at No. 4 as it is an indication that the Jaguars want to improve the offensive line. Still, though I wouldn’t call running back at No. 4 a probability, I do think circumstances entering the draft could make it a distinct possibility. Either Dalvin Cook of Florida State or Leonard Fournette of Louisiana State make sense if you’re taking a running back that early, because both have game-changing, No. 1-running back ability. The guess here is that Jaguars Executive Vice President of Football Operations Tom Coughlin will favor Fournette’s size, power and speed.
Mark from Orange Park, FL:
O-Man, in a perfect world you want a line that can pass block and run block equally well. If a line can run block well, does it normally mean they should and can pass block well? This past season has indicated that a team can give good pass protection but not run well. Final question … which do you think should be the higher priority: a good run-blocking or pass-blocking line?
John: I wouldn’t say the Jaguars run-blocked or pass-blocked at anything close to a championship level last season, though they pass-blocked well enough to give quarterback Blake Bortles time to be effective. The priority depends on what style you want to play, but teams can get by these days passing and not being able to run well. Few teams can succeed even a little if they’re getting their quarterback hit on every play.
Jeremy from Bossier City, LA:
I’m a huge Coughlin fan, but the initial offseason moves have not made this team better. So far, football operations are the still weakest part of the Jags’ organization. That’s not a good thing!
John: It doesn’t sound as if your premise is correct.
Jeremy from Bossier City, LA:
Albert is five years older and not an upgrade over Kelvin Beachum. Beachum is a solid guy on and off the field. What exactly are we doing here?
John: This has not been discussed publicly by the team, but it’s safe to interpret from the Jaguars’ actions that they do not agree with the second part of your premise.
Jonathan from Wherever the Army Needs Me:
I always agree with every opinion you have, and have never questioned at times the VERACITY of your statements. With that said, I would like to say that if Julius Thomas, Odrick, and Beachum were worth keeping, then we probably would not have gone 3-13. We will get better with change. As long as the 2014 and 2016 classes are here, I’m good. We have to keep throwing money at free agents until we find the right ones. It’s the nature of FA. Ol’ Tom is gonna fix the O Line, Blake is gonna be his old 2015 self minus the turnovers, and we will take the best available players in the draft. We will be better! In the words of the late great Wham frontman, “You gotta have faith a faith a faith….. BABY!!!!! Schmidty out.
John: #DTWD
Glenn from Orange Park, FL:
Josh Wells has the measurables. What would you consider his ceiling to be. Are he and Tyler Shatley still growing and getting better or they are what they’re going to be?
John: I consider both Wells and Shatley backups who are capable of starting in a pinch. That’s what they have been thus far in their NFL careers, and that’s what they are until they prove differently.
Otto from Ponte Vedra Beach, FL:
John, I have been watching the NFL for 40-plus years. My opinion of what’s a team’s long-term outlook has been shrunk to one-to-two years. In this age of free agency it’s difficult to keep a unit together. I really think an organization needs to concentrate on a year-to-year basis. To a certain extent “the future is now.” Deal with what is rather than what the “plan” is, in theory. Without too much analysis of age, we need players that can help us now. The 2017 season is the most important in Jaguar history. Then the 2018 season will be the most important and so on. Look at the Patriots. They seem to overhaul their team almost every year.
John: The Patriots indeed have a tendency to churn a lot of their roster on an annual basis, and they have been known for a couple of decades for being able to release perceived front-line players while staying among the NFL elite. One thing they haven’t churned in the last decade and a half is their elite quarterback, Tom Brady. Not churning that guy allows a lot of churning elsewhere.
Sam from Ponte Vedra, FL:
John, do you remember the statements you posted on here five years ago? For example (paraphrasing), “Rebuilding from the ground up by drafting and developing is the ONLY way to truly build a sustainable winning franchise.” And, “We HAVE to ignore free-agency in 2013 in order to establish a culture,” allowing for zero Zone-speak or debate of acquiring Carson Palmer, Alex Smith, Cliff Avril, Sean Smith, Greg Jennings, Wes Welker or any of the players that could have really helped us. But, we’re not the experts here, so assessing hindsight as it relates to our unquenched thirst for “sustainable winning,” please tell us again why you think we’re better off today for Dave having used the 2013 free-agency period to decorate his new office as opposed to actually bringing in players that could make the team better?
John: I trimmed a lot of your email because it went on and on for a long, long (long, long) time about the details of what I did and didn’t say regarding the 2013 free-agency class. I honestly don’t know if I said drafting and developing is the ONLY way to build a sustainable winning franchise, though I almost certainly said it’s the best way to build a sustainable franchise. That’s because drafting and developing is the best way to build a sustainable franchise. I also don’t know that I said the Jaguars “HAVE” to ignore free agency to build a sustainable culture, though I’m sure I did say that that was the right approach at the time. That’s because it was the best approach at the time. The Jaguars at the time had lost so much and were at such a low point that it was going to be difficult to make any discernable improvement through free agency partly because it would have been difficult to lure free agents to Jacksonville. That has become less of an issue in recent seasons. Now, it’s true that the free agents that have been lured have yet to produce winning, but the team certainly has been able to lure better free agents than was the case if 2012 or that likely would have been the case in 2013. I remain unconvinced that free agency philosophically is a great way to build a team and the results of the more ballyhooed 2015 free agency class are examples of why I believe that. I honestly don’t know if the Jaguars are better off today than they would have been in the unlikely event that they had been able to sign Cliff Avril or Wes Welker in 2013, but I do believe the Jaguars have a better foundation and therefore a better opportunity to improve quickly than they did four years ago. We’ll see if I’m right. If not, I’m sure I’ll get a really long email again in 2021.
Wayne from Atlantic Beach, FL:
Johnny O, you wrote recently, “The reason the Jaguars took the approach they did on the offensive line was they wanted the center position to be as strong as possible because it’s the most important interior-line position…” My question is two-fold: Has that always been your position on the most important position on the line and if so, why? What about the left tackle, which has historically been one of the highest-paid positions in the NFL second to quarterback? I’m not saying you are wrong (yet); however, I am interested to hear your analysis to support this contention. Finally – I read your articles every day and I know I speak for a lot of fans when I say we really appreciate what you do despite whatever Jerell or your wife think.
John: My offensive-line analysis is at least partly based on left tackle not being an interior-line positon. As far as Jerell goes, I consider him a close friend – nay, a confidant – and I assume he feels the same. As for my wife …
O-Zone: All good
John Oehser Senior writer jaguars.com Follow John on twitter Like The O-Zone on facebook
JACKSONVILLE – Let’s get to it …
Bill from Danville, NY:
It’s jaguars.com policy to not post things on this site until they are official. There, just helping you out, Zone.
John: True that – and thanks for the help. It indeed is jaguars.com policy that we do not publish news regarding trades, releases or player signings until such things are official. That’s why we published a story Monday on defensive end Jared Odrick being released and it’s why we haven’t published speculative stories on potential trades involving Jaguars tight end Julius Thomas and/or Miami Dolphins left tackle Brandon Albert. Now, what we can do is discuss the potential for such trades here in the O-Zone. And so we shall. According to reports on Monday, the Jaguars traded a seventh-round selection in the 2018 NFL Draft to the Dolphins for Albert, who reportedly visited EverBank Field Monday and who reportedly is warm to playing for the Jaguars. That solidifies the left-tackle position that was made uncertain when the Jaguars opted to not exercise Kelvin Beachum’s four-year option last week. The Jaguars also in a separate deal reportedly traded Thomas to the Dolphins for a seventh-round selection in the 2017 NFL Draft. That means that in one day the Jaguars parted ways with the two highest-profile players from the 2015 unrestricted free agency class – Thomas and Odrick. If there is a move in recent days that’s surprising, I suppose it was acquiring Albert and not taking Beachum’s option. That’s a risky move because of Albert’s age (32), but the Jaguars felt Albert was enough of an upgrade to be worth the risk. As far as the decisions to move on from Thomas and Odrick, it frankly felt as if those moves were coming since last season. While an argument could be made to keep both, and while both are talented players, neither flourished in Jacksonville. It felt in both cases like time for both sides to move on.
Logan from Wichita, KS:
I don’t like these moves. Albert is on the back end of his career and has injury history, Thomas could be used better and he would make up for the last two years easy and Odrick was very productive – and VERY passionate about winning. Beachum will be healthier and he is young, so his best years are in front of him. We are getting worse every day. Great. …
John: The moves indeed carry some risk. Beachum, Odrick and Thomas are talented, and all could contribute quickly for other teams. I imagine Beachum will be an NFL starting left tackle for a long time, and there’s a good chance he will be pretty good. The Jaguars need to get quality left-tackle play from Albert immediately or that will look like a bad move. I also imagine Thomas will be productive somewhere and it’s a shame for the Jaguars that somewhere couldn’t be Jacksonville. As far as Odrick, yes … he was productive in 2015 before injuries kept that from being the case. Was he passionate about winning? I suppose so, but on-field theatrics and carrying-on aside, I didn’t find him more passionate about winning than any other Jaguars player. Will all these moves look silly if all of these players flourish elsewhere? Sure. But a 3-13 team is making changs in the offseason. This isn’t a shock.
Aaron from White Hall, AR:
So, do you think the reason the Jaguars are trying to bring in Branden Albert is because this is considered a weak draft class for offensive linemen and they could just be using this as a stopgap solution for at least a year or until the next strong draft class within a year or two?
John: I think if the Jaguars are exploring acquiring Albert it’s because they’re trying to upgrade the offensive line, and yeah … the fact that there appear to be no offensive tackles worth selecting at No. 4 overall means it will be difficult to draft 2017’s starting left tackle. Is Albert a stopgap? Perhaps. He’s 32, so he logically can play a couple of more seasons – but probably not, say, five more seasons. But remember: the idea for the Jaguars is to accelerate the building process and win more games immediately. This is a bit less about a long-term build and a bit more about trying to win now. Acquiring Albert makes sense in that vein.
Dave from Duval:
That sums up where we are perfectly as a franchise. In the Top 10 plays of 2016, Jalen Ramsey‘s pick-six was the number one play of the year. Admittedly it is nice to see a pick-six go our way every dozen or so the opponent gets.
John: OK.
Bruce from Gotham, NY:
Mr. Coughlin always has believed in the mantra of it all starts up front. He has a keen eye for talent when it comes to the big guys on both sides of the ball as he has shown with both the Jags and Giants. I know this will be a big area of focus for him [especially the offensive line] and expect both lines to be an area of strength in two years. Once that is done, if it is needed to draft a quarterback [which I believe it will], it will put that person in a better situation to succeed. Do you feel that to be a reasonable expectation, Mr. O?
John: I do believe Coughlin will focus on building the offensive line, and I don’t think there’s any question Coughlin understands well the importance of a dominant pass rush. Will those areas be strengths? That absolutely will be the objective. But if there’s an undercurrent in your question that Coughlin is thinking it’s OK to wait and get quality quarterback play in 2019, I don’t think that’s his timeframe. I can’t imagine Coughlin waiting until 2019 to try to improve any part of this roster.
Dylan from Yukon:
Why is no one talking about Cyprien? He’s our best potential free agent and it’s like everyone forgot about him. He had a great season and will demand big bucks, but we have the big bucks to sign for a long-term deal. We’re not going to get Eric Berry and Tony Jefferson is probably the next best safety and he’s a step down from either of those two. So let’s do this deal and re-sign Cyp!!!
John: Hey, one fer Cyp!!
Keith from Palatka, FL:
I may not agree with every opinion you have, and have even questioned at times the veracity of your statements. What I have learned in setting my own record of reading every O-Zone ever published is that you are if nothing else brutally honest. It may not be what we want to hear, but you always give an honest response. That is integrity, sir, and I admire that.
John: I appreciate your veracity regarding my veracity. Honestly.
Jamie from Santa Rosa Beach, FL:
Quick question, O-Man: Do you think the Jags may be interested in Le’Veon Bell if he becomes available? That way they could turn their attention to something other than running back at No. 4 in the draft.
John: If Bell becomes available this offseason, yeah … I think the Jaguars could well be interested. Here’s what is known as an insider tip, and I say this with great veracity: if Le’Veon Bell is available as a free agent there’s just a smidge of an inkling of the slightest chance they might not be alone in that regard.
Travis from St. Louis, MO:
I was listening to John Clayton talk the other day about how only one of the 12 teams in the postseason last year made it with a running back selected in the first round. So, wouldn’t it make more sense to draft the best player available at a position of need? Or at least shore up our offensive line?
John: Yes.
Travis from High Springs, FL:
Hi, John. Everyone is saying that Leonard Fournette and Dalvin Cook are the two best running backs in this year’s draft. Would you say that either of these two have a running style similar to Fred Taylor?
John: No. Fournette appears more of a straight-ahead, power back who has a rare combination of size, power and speed. Cook appears to be more magically elusive with elite breakaway speed. Taylor was all of the above.
Enuff from Banner Elk, NC:
What the what???? We traded the $46 million man, Julius Thomas, for a seventh-round pick! Are you kidding me? And to add insult to injury, we are going to give up a pick and increase the salary of a washed-up left tackle that the Dolphins were going to cut anyway! The Jags literally created leverage for Brandon Albert! C’mon TC you’re better than this!!! Isn’t he?????
John: I suppose I’m a bit surprised at the tremors and shockwaves over these moves. The Jaguars went 3-13 last season and brought in Tom Coughlin to run the football operations with final say. Did people think that final say was going to stand idly by and say, “It’s all good; let’s stand pat?” The Jaguars are moving on from some players they don’t feel will help enough to merit keeping them. It’s what teams that go 3-13 and change leadership do.