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O-Zone: Dominant performance

John Oehser Senior writer jaguars.com Follow John on twitter Like The O-Zone on facebook

JACKSONVILLE – Let’s get to it …

Mark from CP, MD:

What reasons do you believe that this team will be relevant unlike the five or six years?

John: I don’t know that I’ve said or written that I absolutely believe the Jaguars will be relevant next season – at least if by relevant you mean playing in the playoffs. I have written that I believe the Jaguars have a chance to get to around .500 next season. I believe that because I believe the defense is good and can get better. I also believe the players next season will believe in the direction under Head Coach Doug Marrone, and I believe Marrone is a capable head coach who can get the most out of a team if players buy in. The reasons I’m not banging the table that this will be a playoff team are the same reasons I didn’t bang the table that this was a playoff team entering last season: the offense has yet to show it can be consistent and productive in crucial situations, and the pass rush has yet to show it can pressure quarterbacks consistently in crucial situations. The offense is the most important area, and it begins with the quarterback – and or whoever is playing quarterback must play at a higher level for the Jaguars to reach playoff-level relevance.

John from Nowheresville:

Hey O! I have heard several different things related to ‘ contract. Did a deadline pass for the $3 million Friday? Or, is the $3 million at the beginning of the year? And, do you think he’ll be back next year? Thank you! #DTWD Go Jags!

John: There is $3 million in guaranteed money in Thomas’ contract that kicks in if he is on the roster on March 9, which is the start of the new league year. I think it makes sense to bring Thomas back because I think he’s a talented player, but if I had to lean right now I’d lean toward him not returning.

Frankie from London, UK:

Mr. O, it appears to make more sense to me to establish the potential for a strong running game by improving the offensive line and getting more productivity out of both and T.J.Yeldon before drafting a running back. Does it make sense to get a first-round-worthy running back if you can’t run the ball effectively?

John: That indeed is the dilemma. I’m a believer that most running backs depend on the effectiveness of the offensive line, so I’m not a big running-back-in-the-Top-10 guy. We’ll see if the Jaguars go the other direction.

Fred from Jacksonville:

Trade Thomas and a pick for Jimmy G. Can you imagine Brady with Gronk and Thomas? What kind of pick would it take to do the deal?

John: In Madden or, like, for real?

Bruce from Green Cove Springs, FL:

Blake Bortles over the past two seasons: completed 58.7 percent of his passes for 8,333 yards with 58 touchdowns and 34 interceptions. His 2016 quarterback rating was 49.2. Kirk Cousins over the past two seasons: completed 68.9 percent of his passes for 9,083 yards with 54 touchdowns and 23 interceptions. His 2016 quarterback rating was 71.7. I know that statistics don’t tell the whole story, but shouldn’t statistics at least prompt some interest in Cousins as an unrestricted free agent?

John: Those are awesome statistics, and I agree that Cousins would be worth pursuing as an unrestricted free agent. I wasn’t sure a few years back, but he has played well enough to merit consideration. But there’s a long way to go before free agency, and I would be surprised if Cousins isn’t under contract with the Washington Redskins by the March 9 start of the new league year.

Scott from Jacksonville:

I’ve hated those clock rules. They’re designed to keep the clock running except near end of halves and games. Fewer plays run per game always felt like a rip off to me.

John: OK.

James from Duval:

Goodbye, JT. It wasn’t fun and too damned expensive. With the free-agent market slim on tight ends, do you think we will draft one in the higher rounds and who stands out as a good pick?

John: I doubt the Jaguars will select a tight end early in the draft, but we’ll see. As far as Thomas … yes, he has been expensive and hasn’t met expectations, but Thomas did catch nine touchdown passes in two seasons, so there have been worse free-agent signings in NFL history. It turned out Thomas hasn’t been a core player and he hasn’t been what the Jaguars hoped when they paid a wild amount of money to lure him from Denver, so … hey! Welcome to NFL free agency!

Jeremy from Dodge City, KS:

O, what are your thoughts on the Jags drafting Jamal Adams at No. 4? I think he is another play maker that will help make our defense elite!

John: If the Jaguars look at Jamal Adams and believe he is a player who can be a core player and a foundation of the franchise, then by all means they should take him. That matters more at No. 4 than position.

Edward from Los Angeles, CA:

Tupac or Biggie?

John: Sexton.

Mark from Archer, FL:

Once more the media bias against Jacksonville shows itself. The All-Rookie team is listed and is not in the defensive linemen. Only one of the rookie defensive linemen I can agree being over him, and that was Joey Bosa. Yannick played better and put up more numbers than the other three. Why do we get no love? It can’t just be about winning because they had rookies from other teams that were horrible this year. Dang it when a player plays really well he deserves recognition.

John: I can’t get passionate about the lack of postseason recognition for players from a 3-13 team. Yannick Ngakoue made the Pro Football Writers Association All-Rookie team. He didn’t make the one that you saw. OK.

Wallace from Jacksonville:

O, Man, would it shock you if the Jags drafted a quarterback in the first round of upcoming draft? It is possible you know …

John: Yes, as of of right now it would shock me if the Jaguars selected a quarterback at No. 4 overall in the 2017 NFL Draft. But I’ve been shocked before and I don’t mind it all that much.

Baguar from Jacksonville:

“but people were projecting Bortles at the top of the draft …” Who, exactly? Bortles was a reach.

John: Some analysts had him early and some had him anywhere from Top 10-to-20. In the days before the draft, many people around the NFL projected him in the Top 10 or Top 5. Jaguars General Manager David Caldwell believed there were teams interested in taking Bortles in the Top 10, so he believed he needed to take Bortles at No. 3 to get the player he believed would be the Jaguars’ franchise quarterback. It’s always difficult to know what’s real in the draft and what isn’t, but that’s why Bortles went as early as he did. If you believe in a quarterback you take him when he’s there and don’t risk losing him.

Don from Ponte Vedra Beach, FL:

The draft of 1997 might be a good indication of what Tom Coughlin might look at. He wanted Curtis Enis and he got Fred Taylor. He got that pick from the Rob Johnson trade. If you have to pick that special player in the draft it has to be Leonard Fournette. He has the speed, the size, the hands, he keeps his pads low and has that vision and can take it to the house on any play just like Fred! You never know but Fournette looks to be one of those gifted players. Go Jaguars!

John: Hey, one fer Leonard!

Cameron from Kearney:

Hi John. In response to Paul from SoCal reference Boselli, I remember watching Tony at games and I was present at Alltell Stadium on January 15, 2000. In the most lopsided playoff game in NFL history, who was that lining up for the Dolphins at right defensive end? That player did not line up on the left side to take advantage of Brunell’s blind side, and he did not record a single sack. One NFL playoff game does not make a Hall of Fame career, but it goes a long way when you look at the players Tony faced one-on-one, don’t ya think?

John: Boselli indeed fared very well against Taylor when the two played, and Taylor recently said as much publicly. But while the Jaguars’ 62-7 victory over the Dolphins on January 15, 2000, indeed was the most lopsided playoff game in NFL history, it says nothing about Boselli’s dominance as a player. He missed that game with a torn anterior cruciate ligament.

Pages: 12

O-Zone: No contest

John Oehser Senior writer jaguars.com Follow John on twitter Like The O-Zone on facebook

JACKSONVILLE – Let’s get to it …

Matt from Union City, TN:

In your opinion is there a particular position that has a better chance of success in free agency – like offensive linemen tend to do better than wide receivers? Or is the whole thing really the luck of the draw?

John: Much about free agency indeed is luck of the draw, but as often as not the problem with free agency revolves around teams convincing themselves that their eyes and minds are wrong. Football people universally agree that free agency is a less-than-ideal way of acquiring players. You pay premium prices for players deemed unworthy of long-term deals by their original teams. No matter how many lists clog the internet, that’s the great truth of free agency. There are occasions such as with the Jaguars last season where a front-line player indeed hits the market and performs at a high level for his new team. It’s far more common for an unrestricted free agent to not be elite and to reveal the reasons for his availability very quickly upon signing with their new teams. That’s why I’m never particularly surprised when free agents struggle and have limited careers with new teams. As for your question – and yes, I remember that you asked one – I’ve always thought offensive linemen and defensive tackles were perhaps the safest free-agent bets, but even with those positions the key is teams asking themselves whether the player indeed is worth the contract – and most importantly, being honest with the answer.

Derrick from Jacksonville:

John, I just want to make one comment about the Super Bowl. Many people focused on the Falcons’ play-calling at the end of the game as to why they lost. In a sense, I would agree. However, I said when the Falcons went up 13-0 that they should go for two because they had momentum. I also told everyone at the party that not going for two would come back and haunt them later. And it surely did.

John: Did they cut you off at that point or was it when you were lip-synching and simul-dancing Gaga at halftime?

Jeremy from Bossier City, LA:

Can we please keep politics out of jaguars.com? ESPN is not what it was years ago. They waste too much time on opinion and controversy and not enough on the sports. I’d like to have at least one place where I can simply read about sports. Thank you!

John: I’ll assume you’re referring to a question included in a recent O-Zone in which a reader expressed pride in Jaguars Owner Shad Khan speaking about a hot-button national issue. I don’t anticipate jaguars.com spending extensive time discussing the issue, but this is a Jaguars site and if a reader wants to express a thought on the owner’s thoughts in a reasonable manner I’d say there’s a place for that here.

Jammie from Foley, AL:

Will the Jaguars go offensive line in the first round of the draft?

John: I doubt it. The Jaguars hold the No. 4 overall selection in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft. While much can change between early February and the late April draft, there is not currently an offensive lineman projected to be selected that early.

Darren from Arlington, TX:

What are the chances converts to strong safety? He’s a little undersized for a typical linebacker, and is known for his above-average coverage skills and athleticism. What are your thoughts, O?

John: Myles Jack is not actually all that undersized for a middle linebacker in this era of the NFL. Luke Kuechly plays middle linebacker at 6-feet-3, 238 pounds; Jack plays at 6-1, 245 pounds, so there’s no reason Jack’s size should keep him from playing in the middle.

Jerell from Columbia, SC:

Just saw the Shad Khan interview. What in the world has Blake done to garner the type of support that Dave Caldwell and Khan seem to have in him??? It can’t be performance-based, so please: what is it????

John: You support your quarterback in the NFL until he’s not your quarterback. Neither Caldwell nor Khan are so dim to believe has played to the level of a franchise quarterback or to the level of a No. 3 overall selection in the draft. But right now Bortles is the Jaguars’ starting quarterback and there’s every chance he will be the starting quarterback next season. The last part is true because it’s extremely unlikely that the Jaguars sign or draft a quarterback who is clearly a better option. That means he will at the very least enter the 2017 offseason with a very real chance to start. For that reason, Khan and Caldwell and the Jaguars will support him because that’s that you do. Do they believe he is the answer? They certainly hope so.

Daniel from Duval:

Just think what Garoppolo could do with the Jags receivers. I think it’s worth it.

John: It’s intriguing. It’s very, very intriguing. Please note that by “intriguing,” I do not mean “I believe the Jaguars will trade for Jimmy Garoppolo this offseason.” But I do mean it’s intriguing.

Mike from Navarre, OH:

What are your thoughts on the Jaguars’ impending free-agent decision on ? I have a gut feeling he could be the latest in a slew of players the Jaguars have let go and go on to be Pro Bowl-caliber players for other teams (see Reggie Nelson). Obviously, if the Jaguars switch the scheme and go to a two-high safety look this wouldn’t work well with Cyprien’s strengths of being a hard-nosed guy that plays well close to the line; however, keeping the same type of scheme makes it seem like a no-brainer to keep Cyprien with his recent improvements in tackling and coverage. What do you say, O?

John: I say you’ve got the parameters of this decision pretty well worked out. I expect there to be a price that the Jaguars will be willing to pay to keep Cyprien, and at this point I’m skeptical that that price will be high enough to meet what he will command on the open market. Cyprien strikes me right now as a player whose value will be higher to a team that hasn’t seen him play for four seasons. That’s good for him because such players usually fare very, very well in free agency.

Rob from Palm Bay, FL:

Here’s the issue I see with getting a quarterback in free agency. No quarterback worth paying free-agency prices for is going to want to come to Jacksonville as “competition.” They are going to go somewhere where they are guaranteed to start. #DTWD

John: You’re correct and to carry your point a step further, you have to wonder if the Jaguars will pay starter money for a quarterback who isn’t pretty much assured of being better than Bortles. Starter-quarterback money is a lot to pay for a player you don’t fully believe can be a starter.

Mason from Palm Bay, FL:

Not sure if you have answered this since the season, but I can’t remember reading about him. How is progressing? Could he be viewed as a starter moving forward, or did he have a bad season/need competition?

John: Cann didn’t play as well in his second season as many projected he would play based on his rookie season. But he didn’t have a bad season and I’d project him starting next season.

Robert from Lexington, KY:

A second-round running back, a top 10-paid free-agent running back and a running back at No. 4 overall. If that happens in back-to-back-to-back years it just might be the worst allocation of resources to what is probably the easiest position to adequately fill on the cheap in recent history.

John: I don’t know if I’d say “worst in recent history,” but no, it wouldn’t be great.

Otto from Ponte Vedra Beach, FL:

John, I hear a lot of talk about Jimmy Garoppolo being traded for a first-round draft Pick. What am I missing? Why would he be worth that much?

John: Because Garroppolo has shown enough in limited action with the New England Patriots to look like he might be good, and in a league where good quarterbacks are very, very hard to find that’s enough to get people excited enough to maybe give up a premium draft choice. I don’t know if Garropolo is a franchise quarterback, but I do know teams need one enough to make him very enticing.

Scott from Jacksonville:

So booing Roger Goodell is in poor taste? How about booing the O-Zone?

John: There are times I’m not sure why Goodell is getting booed, and sometimes I think fans are doing it just for something to do. When fans boo the O-Zone, I tend to think of it more as an exercise in pointing out the obvious.

Tom from Section 141 and the Mean Streets of Nocatee:

So, I guess we know who won that weightlifting contest between you and Shadrick, huh?

John: Sometimes in life there are no winners.

Pages: 12

O-Zone: Matter of taste

John Oehser Senior writer jaguars.com Follow John on twitter Like The O-Zone on facebook

JACKSONVILLE – Let’s get to it …

Bo from Dresden, NC:

John, the draft is right around the corner … with your best guess, who do you think we will take?

John: Ah, the mysterious, marvelous calendar … which always seems to feel different to different people. To some, “right around the corner” might mean tomorrow, while to others it might mean two-and-a-half months away. Because the 2017 NFL Draft is in fact two-and-a-half months away and therefore perhaps not in fact “right around the corner” my best guess is probably a lousy guess. But right now I’d guess the Jaguars in the first round select defensive lineman Jonathan Allen of Alabama because it appears he might be the best available player at No. 4. But remember, my good friend: much can change very quickly when it comes to the NFL draft – whatever the calendar may say.

John from Jacksonville:

Can you clarify the rules about penalties and the game clock? There were two occasions [in the Super Bowl] that I noticed the clock starting after a penalty and before the ball was snapped for the next play. One example was with a delay of game at the end of the third quarter with a few seconds left before a punt. Instead of the punt happening after the penalty, the clock started and the quarter ended. I thought the clock stops after a penalty until the next play starts. In the example on the punt play, the offense was able to drain extra clock time. There was a holding penalty in the fourth quarter with the same result.

John: According to NFL rules, if the game clock is stopped after a down in which there was a penalty, the clock will restart after the penalty is enforced or declined except in the final two minutes of the first half, in the final five minutes of the game or if a specific rule states otherwise.

Ed from Ponte Vedra, FL:

Please explain to me why on earth mock-draft experts think we will draft a running back at No. 4. Even if he is BPA, it does not make any sense to me.

John: Running back at No. 4 for the Jaguars actually makes sense from a mock-drafter’s perspective. There’s a perception nationwide that the Jaguars need to improve the running game, and this also is a year with two running backs – Leonard Fournette and Dalvin Cook – who potentially could go in the Top 10. Add to that the perception that Jaguars Head Coach Doug Marrone, offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett and Executive Vice President of Football Operations Tom Coughlin all value a strong running game and you have a perfect formula for mock drafters mocking running back to the Jaguars. Now, none of that means that the Jaguars will actually select one of those players at No. 4, but is it logical for some to mock the position there? Certainly.

Paul from Southern Cal:

Hey John, with all of the talk about Tony Boselli the past few weeks, being that Tony played left tackle with a southpaw quarterback, does that not diminish his perceived dominance? Also, the fact that Mark Brunell was very mobile and escaped out of the pocket quite often. What I mean is, how does one determine value or greatness in a tackle when one is watching the blind side of the quarterback, and one is not? Is there that much difference between the two tackle positions to declare one more important than the other based on which side of the quarterback they play? If so, doesn’t this diminish Tony’s appeal? Thanks O.

John: No, the fact that Brunell was left-handed doesn’t diminish Boselli’s “appeal.” No matter what hand a quarterback uses to throw, the left tackle position is the premier position on the line because most teams line up their best pass rusher on the right side of the defensive line. That was even truer when Boselli played than it is now. As far as how to determine Boselli’s dominance … I don’t know … maybe listen to coaches who coached then, or players who played then? Or maybe watch tape of Boselli? All tell the same story of a guy who was as good as anybody in that era and pretty much any other.

Frank from Jacksonville:

What are the chances we see the Jags shuffle Poz to the strong-side linebacker, getting more playing time at middle linebacker? Poz is surely stout enough at the point of attack to play the SAM and it would better utilize Jack’s speed and coverage ability, especially if the defense shows more two high-safety looks next year. Seems like a win-win and it gets your best 11 on the field, so to speak.

John: This is something worth exploring, and it’s an idea that makes sense. One factor to consider is just how much pass rush you’re going to want from the strong-side linebacker position. That’s because while has been effective as a blitzer at times with the Jaguars, he’s probably not a player you’re going to ask to put his hand on the ground and get after the passer on every play. Not that Myles Jack is that player either, but it’s still a question you must ask before settling on your defensive approach.

Daniel from Honolulu, HI:

Hey John, what is the rule on overtime in the Super Bowl? What happens if the time expires in overtime? How the winner is determined?

John: The overtime rule in the Super Bowl is the same as it is in the rest of the postseason – that is, they keep playing until a winner is determined. The regular-season rule is that a game still tied after the first overtime period ends in a tie.

Chris from Mandarin:

The problem with and Jay Cutler is that they are essentially the same player. They’re both pretty streaky players, going hot or cold for significant stretches, with high-yardage totals and a metric ton of interceptions.

John: This may be true statistically, but Cutler also has one of the strongest arms in the NFL – if not the best. And when Cutler is “on,” he is a very, very good quarterback capable of winning from the pocket and winning a lot of games. Bortles has yet to prove he is that. Now, it’s just as true that the downside of Cutler has the potential to be very down with a lot of costly interceptions. But I have trouble classifying Bortles and Cutler as “essentially the same player.”

Ryan from Dearborn, MI:

John, Jimmy Garropolo has two Super Bowl rings while Blake has none. Obviously, we should make a trade with New England.

John: I’ll pass this along.

Paul from Temecula, CA:

“Pass rush is not more important than quarterback, but it is the second-most important element to winning in the NFL.” I’ve also heard “You win by running the football and stopping the run.” These theories on winning in the NFL are so confusing.

John: You can’t win if you can’t stop the run. That’s one truth of the NFL, but there are a lot of truths. The biggest is that if you’re going to contend consistently for the Super Bowl, it sure is easier to do with an elite, franchise quarterback.

Aaron from Jacksonville:

I must say that I have been very impressed with Shad. He’s been incredibly patient with the team as well as empathetic toward us fans who have been suffering through a decade of perpetual losing. But what makes me even more proud of my owner is his recent statement about the immigration ban and how our country was virtually built on inclusion and immigration. And he’s been the only owner to date to denounce it and speak up. Never been prouder!!! #SKTWD

John: #SKTWD

Jaguar Pete from Tallahassee, FL:

I wonder what the possibility is of Tom Coughlin and Doug Marrone instilling a two-back set with a fullback as our running attack. A fullback was very helpful when we ran Fred and MJD. If that possibility exists, or even if it doesn’t, Dalvin Cook looks too good to pass up. The kid will be good.

John: The Fullback Issue isn’t something I’ve seen Jaguars offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett discuss publicly yet, but I would be surprised if the Jaguars don’t carry a fullback next season. Hackett used one in Buffalo and there’s little question Hackett and Marrone will want to emphasize the run. Does that mean Dalvin Cook at No. 4? I don’t have a great feel for that yet, but I wouldn’t rule it out.

Tim from Jacksonville:

How did booing Roger Goodell become a thing? Is he a terrible person? If so, how did he get his job? I don’t see any reason for all the hate, other than it being an NFL tradition. If it’s just a tradition it seems to me to be in poor taste.

John: Poor taste unfortunately is no longer a deterrent to the action of the masses. If indeed it ever was.

Pages: 12

O-Zone: More to come

John Oehser Senior writer jaguars.com Follow John on twitter Like The O-Zone on facebook

JACKSONVILLE – Let’s get to it …

Royce from Jacksonville:

Mr. O, with the Jags having to make a decision on next week, what is your feel that he will be on the team after not having the success that he had in Denver? My opinion is Blake could not make the throws that Thomas was getting at Denver and the Jags should look at that closely.

John: The Jaguars actually don’t need to make a decision regarding Thomas’ future this week. As for whether they will retain him moving forward, that remains to be seen. He thrived in Denver in large part because he runs quick, timing routes very well – and because Peyton Manning was as good as any quarterback at making those throws. Those throws haven’t yet proven to be ’ strengths, and there’s no doubt that has limited Thomas’ productivity. What should the Jaguars to with Thomas in the coming weeks? The thought here is that they should consider keep him on the roster and figure a way to better utilize him. He is a talented player, and talent isn’t that easy to find. Will it happen? I’d call it a coin flip. We’ll see.

Aaron from White Hall, AR:

So, on a local sports radio show here, they were talking about one running back you could have from the past to pick for your team. They said either Emmitt Smith or Marshall Faulk. I said either Jim Brown or Walter Payton. Now, I’m only 25 and have only read or seen highlights from their careers, but my thing was could you imagine either of those guys in a modern-era training facility and what they could do? Who would be your pick?

John: I’d select Jim Brown, O.J. Simpson, Marshall Faulk, Barry Sanders or Walter Payton. I’d select Brown because he was Jim Brown, Simpson because he was as dynamic and dangerous a runner as I’ve ever seen, Faulk because in his prime he was the best double-threat receiver runner in NFL history, Sanders because he had the ability to make something from nothing and Payton because he was as versatile a player as has ever played the position. And you know what? I’d have Fred Taylor pretty high on my list, because he and LaDainian Tomlinson are the only backs I’ve seen to compare to Simpson in terms of consistent, long-term big-play ability.

DUVAL DOOM from Section 218:

They may do “their very best” to ensure the right players get in, but they screwed up last weekend – and I’m not talking about Tony Boselli. There is absolutely no scenario where a kicker deserved to go in and T.O. didn’t. They don’t like him because he was difficult to deal with, so they snubbed him. Going to multiple teams and putting up the numbers he did just proves how great he is. It’s ridiculous.

John: The soundness of your theory that Owens is being snubbed by Hall voters because he was difficult to deal with depends on the identity of “they.” While Owens had a dicey relationship with media, my experience is that the vast majority of reporters don’t hold grudges against players for being difficult with the media. Remember, too, there are 48 Hall-of-Fame selectors, and the vast majority of those never dealt with Owens consistently enough to hold a grudge. Now, if by “they” you mean NFL types – former coaches, general managers, players, etc. … yeah, being difficult to deal with on that front throughout his career and not being a good locker-room guy or a good teammate indeed could have a lot to do with his being snubbed.

Jim from Pahrump, NV:

John: I too am disappointed in Boselli not being selected, and also agree with the assessment of Jason Taylor in ahead of many people. My question revolves around Don Coryell. Frankly, I thought he was already in. I know he won zero Super Bowls, but goodness did he ever have a huge impact on the game. Is lack of Super Bowls worthy of keeping someone like Coryell from the “Hall?”

John: Many eventual Hall-of-Fame inductees get passed over for a long time before being selected. Coryell’s exclusion for many years did likely stem from him never having coached a team to the Super Bowl. With the passing of time, and with his passing principles becoming part of the very fabric of the NFL, Coryell has become more and more acknowledged as a coach with an extraordinary impact on the game. He’s Hall-of-Fame worthy. But so are most of the finalists every year.

Stuart from Chinley, United Kingdom:

John, what are your thoughts on the overtime rules? I watched the game Sunday and thought how it ruined what was essentially a fantastic game. I don’t understand at all why both teams don’t get a shot at scoring. The team that wins the toss has a greater chance of winning in my eyes. Games like this should not have an element of chance attached to them.

John: I like the overtime rule, and I actually didn’t mind the old overtime rule. I get why people say both teams should have a chance to score. But the Falcons had a chance to stop the Patriots, force a field goal and get the ball back. Defense counts in the NFL and defenses are allowed to make a play to stop the opponent. I think most NFL coaches would tell you that if you can’t keep a team from scoring a touchdown on the first drive of overtime then you can’t begrudge the opponent the victory.

Jason from North Pole, AK:

Hear me out for a second. The Cowboys received three first-round picks and two of each second- and third-round picks for Herschel Walker. Not to mention the players and late-round picks they received as well. I believe that Tom Brady is the greatest of all-time. I also believe he has two-to-three years left of elite production at best. So, if the Patriots believe that Jimmy G is a franchise quarterback and a team offers them that amount of draft picks for Brady, you don’t think that is worth considering? The Patriots having that kind of draft equity to invest in the next decade of players scares me. They made a living off of getting rid of guys a year early instead of year too late. Why is it so crazy to do it now when Brady could hit an age wall very soon and you’d get nothing?

John: Don’t let the notion of the Patriots trading Tom Brady scare you. It won’t happen. Keeping Brady gives the Patriots a real chance to win the Super Bowl for the next two or three years. Those chances diminish with Garoppolo. When you have a real chance to win a championship you don’t diminish it.

Craig from Auburn, IN:

You don’t blame the approach? You are all right with throwing the ball late in the game, with a slim lead and the momentum clearly with the Patriots, not once but three times? You also left out the holding call on the following play and the incomplete pass on the next play. Clearly I am not a coach, and obviously you aren’t either. How much time could two more run plays have taken off the clock? Plus an 11-point lead at that stage would have given the Falcons some breathing room and forced the Pats into a real sense of urgency.

John: Yes, I’m all right with throwing there, because what the Falcons were trying to do was put the ball in the hands of their best player and the NFL’s Most Valuable Player – Matt Ryan – with the season on the line. The Patriots indeed had the momentum and the game felt as if it was getting away. A pass for a first down there – and an ensuing touchdown – probably ends the game. A field goal? Perhaps, but it’s no guarantee – even with an 11-point lead. I get that I’m “obviously” not a coach, and I probably would have run in that situation, but the NFL is a passing league and the way the Falcons had been passing the ball this season it’s not as if a pass is a low-percentage play. It didn’t work. Ryan should have gotten rid of the ball but didn’t. Not every loss in the NFL is always about coaching. Sometimes it’s up to players to make plays.

David from Orlando, FL:

On defense, it seems that some guys are always in the pile, while others are standing around it. For example, loves to hit and is always in the pile. On the other hand, there are some guys that always seem to be standing by the piling rather than being in it. We have a small sample size, but so far, appears to be one of those players standing by the pile. Everybody is talking about “how can we get Myles Jack more playing time?” Well, other than having a really cool name, what has he done to deserve it? Thoughts?

John: Jack did more than stand around the pile. He hasn’t done as much yet for the Jaguars as he will, but that’s hardly unusual for an NFL rookie, particularly one that plays a limited number of snaps. Jack has talent, and he made plays with that talent as a rookie. My guess is he’ll make a lot more next season.

Pages: 12

O-Zone: No-trade clause

John Oehser Senior writer jaguars.com Follow John on twitter Like The O-Zone on facebook

JACKSONVILLE – Let’s get to it …

Brian from Gainesville, FL:

Big O, with a position like left tackle the analysis of the quality of a player is largely about the eye test for fans. What about professional analysts, coaches, general managers, etc.? What do they look for in a great left tackle? More specifically, what is it about Tony Boselli that allows us to say he was the best or among the best?

John: With a position such as left tackle, analysis indeed is mostly about the eye test – even for general managers, coaches, etc. That’s because there are few statistics for left tackles, and those that exist are rarely discussed. But in reality, most of the NFL is about the eye test because statistics in the sport often deceive and often don’t reflect the effectiveness of a player. In the case of Boselli, the eye test was perfect, because he looked the same to the untrained and trained eye: dominant and elite. General managers look for size, agility, strength and leverage in a prototype left tackle and Boselli was as prototypical as any left tackle to play in the last 30 years – perhaps ever. He also was as good or better than any left tackle over the same period. I heard an “analyst” earlier this week state that Orlando Pace – a Hall-of-Fame left tackle for the Rams – was better than Boselli. The analyst stated this confidently and as fact. This was a case of someone’s confidence far overshadowing his knowledge, because there has not been a left tackle since Anthony Munoz who is matter-of-factly better than Boselli, and a strong argument can be made that in his prime Boselli was the best ever. What allows us to say he was the best or among the best? Watching him, talking with coaches about him, talking with opponents about him … oh, and it helps when you give up fewer than 20 sacks in a seven-year career and never allow more than one in a game.

Chris from Houston, TX:

Who is the best tight end in Jaguars history? Kyle Brady? ?

John: I’d give a slight edge to Brady here, though I wouldn’t bang the table over it.

Steve from North Haven, CT:

Can we address the final play of the Super Bowl? I saw one or two clear holds in the running lane – and a running back who didn’t cross the plane before his knee was down. I’m by no means a hater and was enthralled to watch a game where so many Super Bowl records were broken, but seriously: for a team with as many scandals and negative reviews [the Patriots], how can they just end the biggest game of the season in such a fashion? I turned to my father and said, “Let’s wait for the official review because that was close and on the biggest play of the biggest game of the year … they definitely will review it.” Well, I was wrong.

John: I was a little surprised there wasn’t more issue made over the last play not being reviewed, but in replays I’ve seen, it looked like Patriots running back James White crossed the plane with the ball – either that, or it looked inconclusive. I certainly never saw any replay that showed White clearly was down before the ball crossed the plane. I’ve gotten some emails this week to the effect that the NFL slanted things to ensure the Patriots would win, or that they let the final play go for the same reason. The idea that the NFL might have conspired to favor the Patriots probably comes as an amusing surprise to the Patriots fans booing and lampooning NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell this week, but whatever.

Steve from North Haven, CT:

Oh, I forgot to add: How absurd it is that the biggest news after the Super Bowl isn’t about the final touchdown that wasn’t reviewed and looked well short, but where Tom Brady’s jersey is … wow.

John: I suppose Tom Brady’s jersey is big news because the story of a Super Bowl Most Valuable Player’s jersey going missing minutes after the game is an interesting story that extends beyond your common football fans. That’s usually what qualifies as “big news.”

Glen from Orange Park, FL:

If the goal is to win now then why not bring Jay Cutler in with a one-year contract to begin the season as a backup and give a short leash? If Bortles proves himself, then he gets paid and Cutler walks. If Bortles flops, then lock up Cutler and we have a few years to find the long-term future. Either way, we have our franchise quarterback for 2018 – 2021 (Cutler is 33). It’s about winning football games, not popularity contests.

John: I like the idea of at least exploring this. As I have said often, the questions about Cutler and any veteran quarterback will involve availability and price. Cutler is not yet available, though it seems likely he will be released by Chicago and become a free agent. The next question is price. Cutler remains a starting-level quarterback, and he almost certainly will command starting-level money – even to compete. This is true of most quarterbacks being discussed as competition possibilities for Bortles. How much will the Jaguars want to pay to create competition? That remains to be seen.

Joe M. from San Francisco, CA:

I’m still not convinced Brady is the GOAT.

John: That may be. But while you, sir, belong in the conversation, Tom Brady is correctly at the heart of the conversation right now.

Jeff from Jacksonville:

That Super Bowl was a case study for why a dominant and deep pass rush is important. The Falcons were getting terrific pressure from their front four in the first half and had Brady off his timing. In the second half, their starters got tired and they didn’t have enough horses in the stable to make up for it, which resulted in Brady doing what he does to all teams who can’t get front-four pressure. Should we get a pass rusher in the draft or free agency? How about both!

John: Both would be fine. Both would be good. You can’t have too many pass rushers.

Mark from Section 213:

John, we all agree that the two most important things a team needs is a quarterback and someone that can disrupt the quarterback, but the disparity in value between the two doesn’t justify passing on the guy every pundit knew had the talent to quickly become Associated Press Defensive Player of the Year for what would become the 28th-rated passer during that same time. You always say you think Dave Caldwell has done a great job of building the roster, but you have yet to offer even one example of where he has earned these accolades. Aside from the 2016 draft where we were incredibly fortunate with the players that fell in our lap, please tell us where else you believe Caldwell has succeeded?

John: I don’t recall saying Caldwell has done a “great” job building the roster. I do recall saying that I believe Caldwell has improved the talent level and done a good job rebuilding the roster to the point where it is better than before – and yes, I think the core of this roster is to the point where solid quarterback play will start resulting in victories. I also never said Caldwell had done a perfect job. As far as selecting Bortles over Khalil Mack … yeah, right now that indeed looks like a decision most general managers would want back. But let’s not paint it like Mack was a no-brainer pick. Yes, many believed he had the talent to become a star, but people were projecting Bortles at the top of the draft and there were questions about Mack, too. And when you’re looking for a quarterback, you value that position over most others and you take risks. It’s pretty close to unavoidable. The draft is not a science and no general manager is perfect. As far as examples of good selections, there are plenty: , , , , … Has Caldwell hit home runs every time? No. But Caldwell certainly has had his share of draft-day successes and the roster is in better shape than when he took over.

Logan from Wichita:

The absolute only way we can rationalize drafting a running back at No. 4 is if we get key free agents on the offensive line. If we don’t address the line, the running back – no matter how good – will be a wasted pick.

John: I tend to agree and I would be surprised if the Jaguars don’t address offensive line in free agency.

Jason from North Pole, AK:

Do you think the Patriots could find a team to give them enough draft picks to trade Tom Brady? It seems it would make more sense to keep Jimmy G. if he is the quarterback of the future and make a blockbuster trade to surround him with talent.

John: Are you serious, Clark?

Pages: 12

O-Zone: It ain’t easy

John Oehser Senior writer jaguars.com Follow John on twitter Like The O-Zone on facebook

JACKSONVILLE – Let’s get to it …

Mike from Atlanta, GA:

What does Sunday’s Super Bowl win do for the Patriots’ legacy? Five Super Bowls and they were in seven Super Bowls – that’s an accomplishment. I think you have to put them at or near the top in all conversations about the greatest teams, greatest coaches and greatest quarterbacks. That said, I still have to fault the Falcons for blowing what should have been an insurmountable lead.

John: Sunday’s Super Bowl victory essentially cements the Patriots’ legacy as the greatest single-head coach, single-quarterback dynasty of the Super Bowl era. The 49ers of the Bill Walsh/George Seifert/Joe Montana/Steve Young era also won five Super Bowls and that group indeed was dominant for a long time. But that 49ers team “only” made five Super Bowls and they did it with two coaches and two quarterbacks. Belichick/Brady have done it over a 16-year period, and perhaps what’s most remarkable is even during the seasons in which they didn’t win they always seemed like the team to beat or one of the three or four best teams. Their place in history is secure and with one more Super Bowl title they would have to be considered the best dynasty in NFL history. As far as the Falcons’ blowing the lead Sunday … yeah, there were two or three plays that they blew and they mishandled two or three fourth-quarter situations. But the game was more about the Patriots winning than the Falcons losing. When a team takes a huge lead in the first two or two-and-a-half quarters in a game there are more often than not multiple opportunities and scenarios for the trailing team to get back in the game. It’s up to the trailing team to be poised and good enough to take advantage of the opportunities. The Patriots are the most poised team in the NFL and have been for years. Hence, their status among the all-time franchises.

Jerry from Hero, FL:

John, I just saw an interview Brent Martineau did with Terry Bradshaw about . I grew up just outside of Pittsburgh. When Bradshaw got drafted by the Steelers, he was anything but a sure thing when he started playing. There were definitely questions about his ability and he didn’t immediately replace the incumbent Terry Hanratty. If my memory serves me correctly, which it seldom does, there were even people who thought Joe Gilliam was a better choice. Bradshaw thinks Bortles can do well with the right people around him – both players and coaches – and uses himself as the example of someone who didn’t start off on the best foot. Maybe the best comparison I’ve heard. What are your thoughts on this?

John: Who is Brent Martineau?

Roy from Chagrin Falls, OH:

Zone, if the Jaguars still need to improve the pass rush by draft time – and if they view Myles Garrett to be the elite player and top talent as projected by many analysts – what would likely be the cost to move up from No. 4 to No. 1 to get him? I’m still worried about the pass rush being a weak spot next year.

John: My guess is it might take a future first-round selection or a combination of a second- and third-round selection in some combination of years to move up from No. 4 to No. 1. I doubt that happens.

Jarret from Crosby, ND:

“Boselli not getting in the Hall had nothing to do with market size…” Come on, John. It has a little to do with market size. Boselli was the starting left tackle on the NFL’s 1990s All Decade team (and the only starter still not in the Hall, by the way). Left tackle is the most important and difficult position on the offensive line. Therefore, Boselli was the best offensive lineman of the 90s. There’s a little more to it than simply being a case of only having five slots available. You wouldn’t snub the best lineman of the decade and one of the best all-time based on that alone.

John: Of course not. Boselli’s major road block has been longevity. That’s why the selection of Terrell Davis this past weekend will help Boselli’s case. Davis got in because he turned in four dominant seasons and was a key to two Super Bowl championships. The voters struggled with his longevity, but the Super Bowl success and playoff success eventually tilted the floor in his favor. The voters have struggled with Boselli’s length of career as well, but now that Davis is in, the guess here is that Boselli’s status as one of the best linemen of the 1990s – and one of the best of all-time – tilts the floor in his favor relatively soon.

Marcus from Jacksonville:

You’ve made your thoughts clear on Boselli’s Hall-of-Fame snub. What I’d like to hear is your thoughts on the HOF nomination and voting process. Do you think it works? No offense to you media types, but I tend to think that the voting committee needs more players and coaches, not just media members. What do you think?

John: I think the Hall process is very imperfect and by its very nature leads to deserving players not making the Hall. But I also think any process would be imperfect because any process involves the human element. I’m not offended when people think the voting committee needs more players and coaches, and I wouldn’t be averse to having a few more ex-coaches and ex-players on the committee. In fact, I believe adding five-to-10 former executives and former coaches could help the process. The issue on that front, of course, would be bias. A former coach or executive likely would naturally favor a player of his over another. While such bias perhaps exists to some degree in the current process, my sense is most voters take it out of the equation as much as possible. Overall, I do think the process works and I think it’s the best possible process. I know how seriously voters take the process. I’ve seen the research, thought and discussion they put into the process each year. They do their absolute best to select every deserving player – and for the most part, the committee does a very difficult task extremely well.

Brian from Atlanta, GA:

When do you think we will get a statement from Jaguars defensive coordinator Todd Wash about scheme? I feel like it probably won’t be too different, but if it doesn’t involve a nose tackle – and if last season was any indication – I expect to see more pre-snap movement and disguised blitzes as they showed up more. Are there any things you expect or hope to see?

John: I’m not sure when we’ll get a “statement” from Wash or anyone about the defensive scheme, though I suspect we’ll get a decent idea about the direction of the defense over the next couple of months – i.e., between now and the draft. Part of the reason this topic has been relatively quiet is the Jaguars finalized the 2017 coaching staff just last week, and the coaches need time to meet and determine direction. I, too, get the idea that the defensive scheme will be pretty similar to last season’s scheme, with the big remaining mysteries being whether or not to go lighter at end at times to get and on the field at the same time – and how to better utilize linebacker . I do wonder if a way to get Jack on the field is to put him at middle linebacker and play at strong-side linebacker. Would there be a possibility of standing up Fowler Jr. more? Will the secondary players be allowed to play a bit more aggressively? Those are some things I wouldn’t mind seeing. And I also wouldn’t mind seeing the first time Wash talks to Fowler, and when the offseason program begins. I imagine the meeting will go fine, but I’d still like to see it.

Tommy from Jacksonville:

I am struggling to find hope, O. The Super Bowl is over so now, so it’s time to look forward to the draft. It doesn’t even matter if Dave Caldwell would pick a quarterback high: Mitch Trubisky and DeShone Kizer are gone like the wind. As you and me both know, Blake is not the answer. Free agency will be very limited. And … well, I guess we have to hope Dave doesn’t pass on another late-round Dak Prescott. Cheers to another offseason.

John: Quarterback indeed is the Jaguars’ key issue entering the offseason – and, really, “key” doesn’t remotely describe it. The Jaguars’ hopes for the immediate future hinge either on Bortles developing or on finding a legitimate upgrade in the draft or free agency. That’s a daunting task. The Jaguars’ hope for the long-term future hinge on either Bortles developing or on finding a legitimate upgrade in the draft or free agency. That’s a daunting task. Heck, let’s face it: it’s all daunting. Finding a front-line, winning quarterback is the hardest thing to do in the NFL. Franchises and careers hinge on it. It ain’t supposed to be easy.

Pages: 12

O-Zone: Snubbed? Yeah, a little

John Oehser Senior writer jaguars.com Follow John on twitter Like The O-Zone on facebook

JACKSONVILLE – Let’s get to it …

Richard from Jacksonville:

The Falcons lost because of the same reasons the Jaguars have lost for the last few years. Too arrogant to take the field goal when you have been granted the opportunity. Take a knee on second and third down while in field goal range and the game is yours. The Falcons started a plan to kill the clock and were unable to fully commit. When you start a plan you can’t become wishy-washy in it.

John: The Falcons were an elite offense this year. Their quarterback, Matt Ryan, was the NFL’s Most Valuable Player. They put the game in his hands. He shouldn’t have taken the sack in that situation. Its inexcusable. But to blame the approach? Nah. You have to get rid of the ball, and you can’t hold on the ensuing play. But mostly, you can’t take the sack on second down.

Andy from Jacksonville:

After watching the Super Bowl, I am OK if the Jags draft multiple quarterbacks each year in hopes to find the next Tom Brady.

John: There’s a chance you could draft every quarterback in the draft for the next five years and not find him, but sure …

Mike from Vero Beach, FL:

Watching the Super Bowl, there was no doubt the NFL is about real as WWF. In a season that saw a drop in ratings and slow Super Bowl sales, they needed a super game and between a good play here and there it was too obvious the officials were there to ensure a close game and Falcons played really soft in the fourth. It is a sad thought but one that is growing among fans.

John: Stop. You need to stop.

Daniel from Honolulu, HI:

Wow, Zone: was this the biggest choking performance in the history of the NFL by the Falcons or was it a statement about the legacy of Brady and Belichick? The Falcons will never come back from this.

John: It’s far more of a statement about Belichick, Brady and the Patriots than it is about the Falcons. The big, big error by Ryan and the Falcons obviously was not getting three points in the above-mentioned situation, but aside from that Sunday’s game was about New England and not the Patriots. As far as the Falcons coming back from this … yeah, that will be tough. I don’t know how they’ll do it.

Bill from Hawthorn Woods, IL:

Life isn’t fair.

John: True that.

Pradeep from Bangalore, India:

Hi John, why does the NFL Network give no any attention to Jags? Second year in a row during Super Bowl halftime show when they were covering all teams in a video clip lasting approximately 10 mins, there was not even a single frame belonging to Jaguars. Other teams were covered minimum of three clips. The 49ers got good attention too. Aren’t we better team than 49ers? This sucks …

John: Yeah, the Jaguars need to win more before I invest energy in worrying about how many highlights they get on NFL Network.

Michael from Middleburg, FL:

I thought you had to be out of football for so many years to get into the Hall of Fame (Jerry Jones). And getting beat out by an owner and a kicker … that doesn’t say much for Tony Boselli.

John: Your first thought is incorrect. Players indeed must be retired for five years before being eligible for the Hall of Fame. But there is a separate category for contributors, for whom there is no such waiting period. Jones, the Cowboys’ owner, was selected to the Hall Saturday as a contributor. As for Morten Andersen making the Hall and Boselli not making it … yeah, that surprised me. Still, Andersen making it in no way says anything about Boselli. Andersen is the NFL’s all-time leading scorer and got selected this year. Boselli was one of the best left tackles in NFL history and he appears likely to get into the Hall sometime soon. One player’s honor says nothing about the career of another player.

Jaginator from Section 124:

Terrell Davis’s induction “should” greatly strengthen Boselli’s case. The huge knock against Boselli’s career is the relatively small number of seasons/games he played. But Boselli played in 91 games and Davis only played in 78. Of course, I know that this isn’t an apples-to-apples comparison. But I really don’t want to hear any complaints about Tony’s supposedly-too-brief career after they elected Davis this year.

John: Davis’ selection to the Hall Saturday indeed will increase Boselli’s chances. The selection of former Seattle Seahawks safety Kenny Easley won’t hurt, either. All three players likely would have been first-ballot Hall-of-Famers had their careers not been shortened by injury. With Easley and Davis in, here’s guessing the longevity argument starts to carry less and less weight when discussing Boselli.

Jeremy from Bossier City, LA:

Kenny Easley?

John: Easley without question deserves to be in the Hall. One thing for Jaguars fans to remember: Easley was selected as a senior candidate, which means he was separate from the five-modern era candidates. That means his selection had no effect on whether or not Boselli was selected. But Easley absolutely was Hall of Fame worthy. He was the 1981 NFL Rookie of the Year and 1983 Defensive Player of the Year, and was an elite-level player. Kidney issues cut his career short, but when he played he was on a par with defensive backs such as Ronnie Lott. He belongs in the Hall.

Chris from Houston, TX:

A kicker over Tony Boselli, the most dominant offensive lineman of the 1990s? I’m getting tired of the small-market bias (seems to affect the calls the Jaguars get or don’t get, as well as the individual recognition of the players).

John: Boselli not getting in the Hall had nothing to do with market size and everything to do with there being 15 qualified candidates for five slots. The Hall selection committee is well aware of Boselli’s credentials. The Hall selection committee members know how good he was. There is no issue of people not respecting Boselli, and the fact that he played for the Jaguars isn’t really a topic when discussing his Hall chances with voters. I spoke with at least 10 Hall voters during Super Bowl week. All believe Boselli is very worthy and most believe he will get in soon. Every player has a case. Not all can get in every year. That’s the main issue here.

Nathan from St. Augustine, FL:

Was honestly surprised Boselli didn’t make the Hall of Fame. Was very surprised that Jason Taylor did. Next year’s class includes Ray Lewis, Brian Urlacher, Randy Moss. And Jeff Saturday. Tough class for any era. What’s your feeling for Boselli’s chances next year?

John: I was a little surprised on Saturday when Taylor got in, too – and I was particularly surprised that so many observers considered Taylor a lock. His seemed to be a case of the numbers perhaps being slightly more impressive than the player. As far as next year, it indeed is a more star-studded class. I wouldn’t want to see Jeff Saturday in before Boselli. I covered Saturday with Indianapolis for 10 years and like him very much. I think he should get serious Hall consideration as time moves forward, and I do think eventually could get in. But he should not get in over Boselli. As for next year’s class, give me Lewis, Urlacher, Moss, Boselli and Brian Dawkins. And yeah, that means I don’t see Terrell Owens getting in. That will cause the annual T.O. February Outcry – and I would lean toward putting Owens in – but my understanding is it would be surprising if it happens soon.

Ray from Orange Park, FL:

No T.O? What a joke. Typical media grudge-holding …

John: This is a common view of fans when it comes to Owens not being in the Hall, but I don’t get the feeling from voters that his Hall exclusion has very much to do with his often-difficult relationship with the media. What comes up far more often among voters when discussing Owens is the fact that multiple teams opted to not retain him when he was in the prime of his career. Teams don’t typically willingly let Hall of Fame players out of their buildings. That factor is weighing heavily against Owens, and I don’t sense much of a change on the horizon.

Chance from Windsor:

is not the Defensive Rookie of the Year even though he played four more games than Joey Bosa – and Tony doesn’t get into the Hall? Did the Jags get snubbed?

John: Boselli did get a little snubbed, but we’ve covered the reasons for that already. Did Ramsey get snubbed by not being Defensive Rookie of the Year? Yeah, perhaps. If Ramsey had had another two-or-three-game stretch somewhere during the season to match his four-game finishing flourish, I think he would have been the DROY. As it was, Bosa had double-digit sacks and that statistic usually is going to trump interceptions and pass breakups – unless the interceptions really, really stand out. The positive here for the Jaguars is Ramsey was second in DROY voting and I have a feeling he’s going to easily play to and above the level of his rookie season pretty routinely. My guess is there will be plenty of awards and honors for Ramsey to more than make up for the one he didn’t receive Saturday night.

Pages: 12

O-Zone: Coming soon

John Oehser Senior writer jaguars.com Follow John on twitter Like The O-Zone on facebook

HOUSTON, Texas – Let’s get to it …

Keith from Palatka, FL:

How does the best tackle to ever play the game not make the Hall of Fame? What intellectual midgets would vote a kicker in before Tony Boselli? I am sick of the NFL and NFL media’s bias against Jacksonville. I hate the rest of the NFL. I hate all of the other 31 teams. I hate New England most of all. “There is no joy in Mudville. Mighty Casey just struck out.”

John: Tony Boselli indeed was not selected for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2017, and I absolutely agree with many Jaguars fans – and many voters, for that matter – that Boselli should have been selected. But let’s not paint this incorrectly: this was not media bias and it had nothing to do with Boselli playing in Jacksonville. This had everything to do with there being 15 Hall modern-era finalists and only five modern-era players selected. I agree that Boselli should have gotten in before Jason Taylor. And Morten Andersen. And yeah … my ears particularly perked up when I heard Andersen because kickers are a really tough sell with so many position players up for selection. But remember: every voter represents a market that has legitimate Hall-of-Fame candidates and every finalist had a memorable career that made him a legitimate candidate. I understand disappointment over Boselli not getting in this season, and I share that disappointment. But the Hall process is an incredibly difficult, taxing responsibility and the difficult reality is not every worthy candidate gets selected every year.

Justin from Jacksonville and Section 237:

I understand it’s believed that the quarterback is the most important and crucial position to ensure sustained realistic chances to compete for Super Bowl titles. But, the only two times that Brady/Belichick were defeated in the Super Bowl were when Tom Coughlin’s dominant defensive line was able to consistently get to Tom Brady and disrupt his “Brady-ness.” So, my questions to you are: Does that make “pass rush” more valuable/important than quarterback (at least on some level)? Second, do you think it puts Coughlin anywhere near Bill Belichick’s level since the two times they met head-to-head when the championship was on the line Tom came out on top because he ultimately took away the effectiveness of possibly the greatest to ever line up under center? #DTWD #TCTWD #GoJags!

John: Pass rush is not more important than quarterback, but it is the second-most important element to winning in the NFL. To paraphrase the late, great Paul Brown: the two most important things in the NFL are quarterback and a guy who can disrupt the quarterback. If you can keep a pass rush off of an elite quarterback – and if you have a pass rush that can disrupt the opposing offense – that’s the best formula for year-in, year-out success. As far as where Coughlin ranks compared to Belichick, I have no idea. I don’t spend a lot of time ranking coaches because they by nature are so often dependent on quarterbacks for success. I put former Washington Redskins Joe Gibbs as the best coach of the modern era, because he won Super Bowls with three different non-Hall-of-Fame quarterbacks – and I don’t think that ever will be accomplished again. After Gibbs, you have a lot of coaches who have won multiple Super Bowls with the same – often elite – quarterback. You have to rank Belichick very high because he won so many Super Bowls over so long a period of time – and because his teams have won with a defense-dominated team and an offense-minded team. To win Super Bowls in different ways isn’t easy. That’s why Chuck Noll is one of the all-time greats; he won two Super Bowls with the Steelers in the early 1970s and won two more after the league changed rules to emphasize passing. Is Coughlin close to Belichick because he beat Belichick twice head to head? Sure, and I think that’s a major reason Coughlin someday will be in the Hall of Fame.

Bo from Dresden, NC:

John, can I put in for your job? You seem to have it made.

John: Yeah, it’s awesome.

J Hooks from Orange Park, FL:

Yo John, does every team owner attend the Super Bowl – and is it a requirement? Stupid question, but what else is going on this weekend?

John: Most team owners do attend the Super Bowl, and Jaguars Owner Shad Khan has attended every year since he owned the team. It’s not required that owners attend, but generally speaking, going to the Super Bowl when you have much money at your disposal is cool. NFL owners seem to like it. I think I would.

Richard from Lincoln, RI:

Now, I’m seeing articles about how the Patriots have the “EDGE” over Atlanta because of experience. In the two Super Bowls against the Giants they had experience, too. How did that turn out for them?

John: The Patriots’ edge in Sunday’s game is they have Tom Brady at quarterback. He is experienced because he has played in six Super Bowls – and yes, that’s an advantage. It’s the reason I think the Patriots will win. It doesn’t make them a dead-solid lock, but it’s an edge.

Michael from Cassidy:

Will the decision on whether or not to keep Johnathon Cyprien tell us what scheme the defense will use –specifically, if they will play single high safety or Cover 2? I wouldn’t keep Cyprien if I wanted to play Cover 2, but you probably aren’t going to find an upgrade at strong safety this offseason if you are playing Cover 3/Cover 1.

John: I think we’ll have a pretty good idea about the Jaguars’ scheme before we learn about the Jaguars’ direction on Johnathan Cyprien. Free agency begins in early March, and my guess is we’ll have at least a general idea about the Jaguars’ scheme well before that. As far as the specifics of that scheme, I’m thinking it’s going to be pretty similar to what was run before, and I don’t know that we’re going to see the massive scheme overhaul that many observers expect. I’m guessing the scheme will be pretty similar to what was run in the past, and that could mean a lot of the single-high safety packages that have been run. Would that favor Cyprien’s return? It absolutely could.

Brad from Mansfield, OH:

By no means am I saying Zeke would have played here as he did in Dallas for sure, but when I even threw out there last year about drafting that beast, I got a lot of “only because you’re a Buckeye fan,” hometown lover, blah blah blah … It doesn’t really look like it would have been a bad choice had he even been available when our turn came, although I am very pleased with who we chose. That said, what do you think the chances either of the top two backs are still available when our time comes to draft – and if so, anyone you think that’s behind us would want to move up to get them?

John: I wouldn’t have been a fan of the Jaguars drafting Ezekiel Elliott at No. 5 last year had Dallas passed on him at No. 5. The Jaguars’ needs were too great last year to go running back, and the offensive line was not at a level that would allow Elliott to produce last year in Jacksonville as he did in Dallas. Running backs far more often than not depend on their offensive line for success – and that’s true even of elite running backs. As for this year’s backs, I don’t see either Leonard Fournette or Dalvin Cook being gone when the Jaguars select at No. 4. They are very good backs, but many analysts don’t seem to believe they’re on par with Elliott. I also don’t believe a team will trade up past the Jaguars to get either player; there doesn’t seem to be a buzz for that. Now, will the Jaguars take either player? Looking at it from this far out, my guess would be, “No.” That’s because right now I would guess that the Jaguars will go defense with that selection. That could change as the draft approaches. We’ll see.

Sam from Orange Park, FL:

Sigh. Will Tony ever make the Hall of Fame?

John: I believe he will. The overwhelming feeling I got from talking to many voters this week was that Boselli has a very good chance to get in the Hall of Fame sometime in the next few years. The momentum he has built in recent seasons is significant. He went in three years from not being among the 25 semifinalists to being among the 25 semifinalists to being one of the Top 10. That’s a rapid ascension of credibility to the voters and it bodes well for Boselli’s chances in the coming years. I got a sense by Saturday that this would not be Boselli’s year, but I got a real sense that momentum was building. I think Boselli’s time is coming soon – in the next year or so. We’ll see.

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O-Zone: Pride

John Oehser Senior writer jaguars.com Follow John on twitter Like The O-Zone on facebook

HOUSTON, Texas – It’s Hall-of-Fame Day in Houston. Tony Boselli will find out by sundown if he is a member of the 2017 Pro Football Hall of Fame class.

Here’s hoping he makes it. He deserves it.

Let’s get to it …

Tom from Jacksonville Beach, FL:

So, Zone … you’ve been at the Super Bowl all week. What’s your gut? Does Tony make the Hall?

John: We at jaguars.com indeed have been at Super Bowl LI most of the week talking about Tony Boselli and his chances to be in the ’17 Hall of Fame class. The storylines are clear. Voters generally believe Boselli is very much worthy – and they generally realize if he had played a few more seasons he would be a lock. They realize that he was as good or better than other left tackles of his era already in the Hall: Willie Roaf, Orlando Pace, Jonathan Ogden and Walter Jones. The only concern of many voters is the fact that Boselli played just seven seasons. The other issue: there are 15 modern-era finalists and just five slots for modern-era players. That means 10 qualified candidates will not make it. I believe there’s a 50-50 chance Boselli gets in Saturday and I believe from talking with voters there’s an extremely good chance he gets in sometime in the next few years. That’s a major step forward from two years ago, when I honestly didn’t know if he ever would make it this far. My gut tells me it’s not this year. I hope I’m wrong. We’ll see.

Nicholas from Fort Hood:

I am not an engineer, but has Shad thought about all the renovations that will have to be done if Tony Boselli is inducted into the Hall of Fame? Every doorway will need to be bigger to make room for his inflated head.

John: I’m scheduled to meet with Shad late Saturday morning. I’ll bring it up.

Troy from Indianapolis, IN:

Is it just me or does it seem like every new coach has a tie to Doug Marrone or Tom Coughlin? So, no other coach out there was worthy? Or is it friends helping out friends?

John: Most NFL coaching staffs have a heavy percentage of people with strong ties to someone within the organization – usually the head coach. Head coaches often surround themselves with people whom they have worked closely for the simple reason that they know that person’s beliefs, philosophies, principles, work ethic, etc. Marrone obviously trusts and believes in Nathaniel Hackett as offensive coordinator, and he developed a strong bond with/belief in defensive coordinator Todd Wash over the last two seasons. Coughlin obviously trusts line coach Pat Flaherty, secondary coach Perry Fewell and wide receivers coach Keenan McCardell. The track records of Fewell and Flaherty are strong and McCardell has the makings of a good coach at the position. At the same time, Joe DeCamillis has no ties to either Coughlin or Marrone – and he also has a reputation as one of the NFL’s top special teams coordinators. Hiring a staff isn’t easy. Many qualified coaches are under contract with teams and coaches must piece together the best staff from what’s available. This Jaguars staff seems like a professional, capable staff with a lot of the normal ties and paths to this job. We’ll see how it plays out, but there’s not a whole lot unusual about this staff’s assembly.

Kevin from Jacksonville:

I can understand Diamond Dave thinking, “Alex Mack will be old by the time we get good, and we’ll have to replace him anyway.” But I think we’d be better off with Beachum, Cann, Mack, Linder and Parnell.

John: Yeah, probably.

Chris from Mandarin:

In a year where the talent in the draft is generally considered lower than other years, a running back at four really isn’t a bad idea. This isn’t done in a vacuum. Concrete philosophies don’t necessarily hold.

John: I agree. The Jaguars have the No. 4 overall selection in the 2017 NFL Draft. If there is a worthy quarterback, pass rusher, offensive lineman or cornerback – the positions usually considered worthy of Top 5 selections –then one of those positions would make sense at No. 4. If one of the elite defensive linemen available – Jonathan Allen of Alabama, for example – is there at No. 4, that would make sense because you can’t have enough elite defensive linemen. Still, with nearly three months remaining before the draft, it feels like a year when normal Top 5 positions may not be Top 5-worthy. In that scenario, a running back such as Dalvin Cook or Leonard Fournette would make sense. Stay tuned.

Z from Gainesville, FL:

O-man, can you give us an idea of our primary position needs going into free agency and the draft? I would say SS, OG, OT and DT. Question two: do you have any feel on how the organization feels about AJ Cann?

John: Your list differs from my list. Strong safety will depend on whether or not the team re-signs . I get the idea that may happen, primarily because I don’t know that the defensive scheme is going to change dramatically – and Cyprien showed last season he is functional as a strong safety in this scheme. I don’t see defensive tackle as a need at all because and both played at a high level last season with Sen’Derrick Marks and still in the mix. Left guard is a need and right tackle could be a position the Jaguars seek to upgrade, too. One position that remains a need is pass rusher. The Jaguars couldn’t land a veteran edge rusher last offseason. While and to a lesser degree showed signs last season, you can’t have enough pass rushers – and the Jaguars could particularly use a veteran in that role. As far as Cann, the Jaguars like him. He needs to play better than he did last season, but that’s true of many players.

Tyler from Dundee:

I just read an article, on NFL.com, about Dan Quinn and his success in Atlanta. The funny thing is he sounds awfully similar to Gus Bradley. The only real difference is Quinn is successful and Bradley was not. Are you sure it’s all about the head coach? I’m starting to think players have a little part in the success of a team. Who knew?

John: No, Tyler. No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no because it’s always about coaching in the NFL.

Joe from Morgan Hill, CA:

Do the Jags ever have open tryouts? If so when and where?

John: For what?

Gabe from Washington, DC:

Drafting Justin Blackmon absolutely set us back, but so did drafting Blaine Gabbert, Derrick Harvey and Quentin Groves. We gave up draft picks for all four of those players, and they all amounted to nothing for the team. That’s how you decimate a roster and a franchise for a decade.

John: Whenever a team misses on a player in the first round it by definition sets the team back. It’s extremely hard to make up for one first-round player missed because ideally you are hoping that player is a no-worries starter for at least a half decade. When he doesn’t work out at all, you have to draft over the position or sign to make up for the miss. You only have so many draft selections and there are only so many quality free agents available, so the resources for making up for a missed first-rounder are exceedingly slim. When you package trades to move up for misses … well, that’s just a lot worse.

Ed from Danvers, MS:

Regarding the conspiracy theory of paying a player “under the table,” it’s already been done – as you know. The Denver Broncos were proven guilty of paying John Elway and Terrell Davis $30 million under the table in order to circumvent the salary cap during their Super Bowl years. They were fined $1 million dollars and a third-round pick. The unproven “deflategate” cost the Patriots a million dollars, a first-round pick and a four-game suspension of their superstar quarterback. Huh?

John: Yes, the Broncos have been penalized for this. My guess is considering the Patriots’ recent history – i.e., Spygate, DeflateGate, etc. – their ramifications in such a scandal might be a touch more severe and costly than otherwise might be the case.

John from Ponte Vedra Beach, FL:

Please don’t, like, encourage writing how young people speak. It’s, you know, a bit distracting. Right? And, um, kinda encourages bad habits.

John: I’ll probably keep doing it the way I’ve been, you know, doing it.

Dan from Fort Dodge:

I hope come Saturday night the first ever Pride inductee becomes a Hall Of Fame inductee. He was an amazing left tackle and seems to be a even better person for the community. My very first jersey was a Tony Boselli jersey, and thanks to that I have been a Jags fan since the beginning. Here is to hoping we see him inducted Sunday night.

John: Indeed.

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O-Zone: Setting in

John Oehser Senior writer jaguars.com Follow John on twitter Like The O-Zone on facebook

HOUSTON, Texas – Let’s get to it …

Tommy from Pensacola, FL:

John, how does the upcoming draft compare to years past in terms of talent? If I recall correctly, 2013 was thought to be one of the worst talent-related drafts in the modern era. And looking back, that seems justified. What are your thoughts on the depth of this year’s class?

John: The 2013 NFL Draft indeed was considered weak overall – though it is true that there is talent in every draft if you find the right players and right fit. The ‘13 draft was a particularly difficult spot for the Jaguars because they held the No. 2 overall selection and there were few players – if any – worthy of being selected so high. This year’s draft is considered outstanding at the top, with defensive end Myles Garrett of Texas A&M and defensive end Jonathan Allen of Alabama considered by many the clear top two players available – with an apparent drop-off after that. But I haven’t heard people saying this year’s draft is as weak as ‘13. That one was pretty historic.

Jason from North Pole, AK:

You’ve mentioned that the Jaguars could/should upgrade the right-tackle position. Did I miss something? I thought played well— or at least it wasn’t the turnstile that we had prior to his arrival. What are your thoughts on his play? It would seem other positions such as pass rusher and guard would be a higher priority.

John: I do believe veteran pass rusher and guard are probably the Jaguars’ top offseason priority – after, of course, determining for certain what level of competition to create for at quarterback. Parnell has played well enough at times that the Jaguars don’t necessarily have to upgrade the spot, but is it a spot that the Jaguars could upgrade if said upgrade was available? Sure.

Wild Bill from Riverside:

O, in response to an unnamed player, how do you win without following a process?

John: I’m honestly pretty close to being over this topic, but people seem at least somewhat interested. There indeed has been much talk since the end of this past season about former Head Coach Gus Bradley emphasizing the “process” instead of talking about winning, and – because the Jaguars went 15-47 under Bradley – it is now vogue to believe the Jaguars lost that much because Bradley talked about the process too much. This is not only wrong and silly, it’s categorically absurd. The Jaguars lost enough that Bradley was fired with two games remaining this past season. Doug Marrone was hired as head coach, and because he and Jaguars Executive Vice President of Football Operations Tom Coughlin both talked about winning in memorable fashion at their introductory press conference, their “emphasis on winning” is now a topic. And that’s fine. I like the approach of Coughlin and Marrone. I like their disciplined, no-nonsense approach and believe it will be a welcome change and a positive direction. I believe the players will be on board with it – and if the Jaguars can win games, then I think players will stay behind the duo’s approach and success can follow. I hope that happens. It would be awesome for this team and fan base. But it won’t mean that the approach of the last four years was horrendous or that the idea of talking about a process is stupid. It’s not stupid and “following a process” is an approach taken often in sports. It just happened to not work here in recent seasons.

Jeremy from Bossier City, LA:

Albeit at a reduced role, why was Mike Mallory retained? Special teams have been generally bad under his watch. He should have been fired at least two seasons ago.

John: The Jaguars’ special teams actually were generally OK under Mallory’s watch. The units really struggled this past season, but the reason he is on staff is because he’s a good, capable coach. But if you’re worried about there not being a change, don’t worry. Joe DeCamillis will be running the special teams. It will be his show.

Daniel Since Day One from Jacksonville:

Go Bo!!

John: #Gobo

Travis from High Springs, FL:

Hi John, Wayne Weaver was a great owner. If not for him, we probably wouldn’t even have a team. Shad Khan since taking over seems just as dedicated to the franchise and community. But if the team can’t start getting wins soon and being able to sustain itself, is there any chance that we’re getting used to a new owner in the next five to ten years? I don’t get the feeling that professional sports franchises change owners that often. I guess I’m just wondering, because the only team that I’ve really followed since I was young just did it recently.

John: I wouldn’t sweat this too much. Weaver as you mentioned was the perfect owner for the Jaguars at the time he owned the team and the Jaguars and Jacksonville are fortunate that Khan fits that description as well. His work to improve the business and off-field aspects of the operation goes well beyond what anyone reasonably could have expected when he purchased the team in 2011. As far as Khan’s commitment to the Jaguars and Jacksonville, let’s put it this way: I’m 50 years old and I will be very surprised if I live to see the Jaguars not owned by the Khan family – and equally surprised if I live to see the franchise not in Jacksonville.

Aaron from White Hall, AR:

So, with the Raiders possibly moving to Las Vegas, I have seen where they would have to pay a $550 million relocation fee. I know the NFL probably has this in place to keep teams from moving all the time, but what do they do with that money?

John: They buy a lot of silly hats.

Mason from Palm Bay, FL:

Hey, Zone: Sorry, I just got done laughing at David Caldwell’s comments about “Bortles winning a Super Bowl.” Whew, that was a knee slapper. Has he ever even beaten a team over .500? I know you won’t answer this, so I might as well keep going. Did you see that article Big Cat Country posted recently that showed the roster we would have if Kiper/McShay made the picks over Caldwell? Lol @ this franchise.

John: What’s “Big Cat Country?”

Matt from Easton, PA:

One thought keeps surfacing while contemplating the reason why the Jags have been bad for so long, and that thought is that the Justin Blackmon situation severely handcuffed the team, which has yet to overcome it. He looked like a stud wide receiver, which would have lessened the need for drafting the position for years to come, and the selections could have been used on important depth and overall roster quality. It’s not the only reason, but it’s quite a big one in my opinion. Do you agree?

John: Nah. Not really. Blackmon’s situation hasn’t helped because it always hurts when a Top 5 or Top 10 selection doesn’t work out. That’s because you not only don’t get production from that player, you also usually have to draft it again, so instead of a Pro Bowl talent you have another young, unknown trying to develop. But the biggest reason the Jaguars have struggled is they haven’t gotten good enough play consistently at the quarterback position. That’s the biggie.

Aaron from White Hall, AR:

So, I know this could be considered a conspiracy theory, but could you see where the Patriots drop off a duffel bag full of money at Tom Brady’s house? The reason I say this is because of his contract compared to other quarterbacks and it helps the team with their salary cap. I know they would be fined and loss of multiple draft picks, but if anyone could keep that secret from getting out it’s the Patriots and Brady.

John: I don’t believe the Patriots pay Brady “under the table.” The reason I don’t believe this is to do so would require people aside from Brady and Patriots Owner Robert Kraft knowing. That means there would be risk of it getting discovered. And if something like that would ever get discovered … well, if you think the fallout from SpyGate and DeflateGate was bad …

Saif from Washington, DC:

You’re saying that the organization’s focus will be more on the short term. While I want to win just as bad as everyone, do you think management will make sure not to mortgage the future too much for the sake of immediate wins?

John: I think that’s the daily/monthly/weekly balance every NFL team seeks. A case can be made that the Jaguars focused too much on the short term in the 1990s and a similar case can be made that they focused too much on the long term in recent seasons. A case also can be made that there is a place somewhere between the extremes.

Ed fom Ponte Vedra, FL:

Since I’m football bored for the next few months I’m going to make a wild prediction. Marrone and Coughlin will go at each other throwing punches by the third game next season.

John: Wow. You are bored.

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