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.
O-Zone: Band of elves
John Oehser Senior writer jaguars.com Follow John on twitter Like The O-Zone on facebook
JACKSONVILLE – Let’s get to it …
Brandon from Duval:
John, after some reflection on last season, the bitter taste has started to dissipate. We were soooo close late in the fourth quarter in so many games last year. With even a slightly improved Blake Bortles and running game, we could’ve easily been 8-8. Add some maturity to our young guys, a couple of free-agent signings, and another solid draft, and I think we can easily make the playoffs. I have high hopes, but I guess this is the time of year I always do. Tell me it is not in vain this year … once again.
John: I never in the past six seasons have written that I believed the Jaguars could “easily” make the postseason, and I won’t write that this offseason for a couple of reasons. One is that making the postseason is hard for any NFL team. Another is that the Jaguars haven’t made the postseason for a long time, and getting back to the postseason after a long drought also is hard. And remember: the Jaguars went 3-13 last season, so getting to the postseason probably would mean a six- or seven-game improvement. That’s a big leap. So, what to expect from the Jaguars next season? Well, considering free agency is a few weeks away and the draft is a couple of months away, there’s a long way to go. But I look at the Jaguars entering 2017 in much the same way as I looked at them entering last season. I believe the defense will at least be pretty good, and I think it can be really good if it can generate pass rush in key situations. As was the case last offseason, I still believe the key for the Jaguars will be the offense and quarterback Blake Bortles’ ability to function in key situations. The unit for much of the past two seasons has not been able to generate points early in games, and it has not been good enough converting third downs. The unit this past season also struggled woefully in the fourth quarter with games on the line. If the offense and in particular Bortles can find a way to improve in those areas, then your optimism perhaps won’t be in vain. If not …
Jags Fan 818 from Jacksonville:
OK Zone, I’m seriously confused. How is Bortles going to have serious competition by re-signing Chad Henne??? Henne didn’t play well when he was with the Dolphins. His poor play caused Bortles to come in sooner than the coaches wanted. So, tell me, Zone: what can Henne teach Bortles that will help him since Henne’s own days were miserable??? Are the Jags going to let Brandon Allen go and then get another quarterback for competition? It’ll be interesting to see what the Big 3 (Coughlin, Marrone and Caldwell) do now.
John: Don’t let Henne’s presence add to your confusion. He won’t provide competition for Bortles, and the Jaguars didn’t re-sign him thinking he will push for a starting role. He will be a reserve if he makes the team. And his re-signing doesn’t mean the Jaguars are done addressing quarterback this offseason. There remains the possibility of drafting or signing a free agent to provide some level of competition for Bortles. I have said since the offseason began that I believe Bortles will start next season because finding a quarterback clearly better than Bortles in this offseason’s market will be difficult. Either way, Henne’s presence on the roster has no bearing on the situation.
Job from Trinidad and Tobago:
I wasn’t a fan of not picking up the option on Beachum before I read the deal and saw it included $18 million guaranteed. That’s a lot for someone that is coming off injury. It makes sense they would decline and look into cheaper options. … thoughts?
John: My thoughts are that the Jaguars believe they need to upgrade the offensive line and they’re trying to figure the best way to do that. Exercising Beachum’s option essentially would have locked him in as the starting left tackle for 2017 and 2018, and that obviously wasn’t something the Jaguars wanted to do at a guaranteed cost of $18 million.
Michael from Tucker, GA:
Before the new league year officially starts, a reflection on the 2016 season. Did you see the breakout year for Johnathan Cyprien coming? What happened to Dante Fowler Jr. not being blockable in the preseason? If A.J. Cann is a natural left guard and Bradon Linder was a dominant right guard and Luke Bowanko was our starting center before injury, why did all of them play out of position last year with Luke not even playing even when healthy?
John: Wow … many questions. I’ll attempt to wow you with some succinct answers. I don’t know if Cyprien had a breakout season in 2016 as much as he played well in a role for which he was suited, but yeah … I figured he would play OK if he mainly stayed in the box and focused on the run. That’s where his strengths lie. As far as what happened to Fowler being unblockable, that was during organized team activities and early in training camp. Once things went live, Fowler struggled; he needs to develop more technique to be an effective NFL pass rusher. Finally, 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, so they put the player they consider their best interior lineman there. That’s Brandon Linder.
Cody from Stedman, NC:
With the Jaguars cutting Kelvin Beachum and the Branden Albert trade being rumors, what is the likelihood of Luke Joeckel getting re-signed? And did Joeckel show enough growth in 2016 to get his shot at the starting left tackle job again?
John: I sense a dismissiveness in your first sentence toward the idea of either Beachum or Albert playing for the Jaguars that may be premature, and it’s certainly too early to dismiss the idea of Albert. The Jaguars didn’t release Beachum; they opted not to pick up his option and the Jaguars technically could still negotiate with him and re-sign him. As for Albert, this one feels a lot more like a “report” than a “rumor,” with the difference being a report is something that has a real chance to happen whereas a trade rumor often is more about people speculating, wishing and hoping than a real possibility. I’d definitely give the Albert trade a chance of happening. Finally, Joeckel’s future very much remains to be seen. Because of his injury last season he seems unlikely to get a big deal on the open market. Could he return to the Jaguars with the idea of staying healthy for a season and getting a chance to hit the open market again next offseason? Yeah, I could see that scenario. I doubt he returns as the starting left tackle, though. It’s not inconceivable that he could start at left tackle again someday, but I can’t see it being for the Jaguars next season.
Jason from St. Augustine, FL:
Hi John, could the Jags keep Beachum and Albert? It may be a lot of money but with substituting and Beachum’s injury and Albert’s age, wouldn’t it make sense? The Jags always keep too few offensive line guys and usually get injuries. Also the trade seems rather unbalanced in value. Am I missing something?
John: Both Beachum and Albert are left tackles. I know Beachum considers himself a starting left tackle, and I’m pretty certain Albert feels just as strongly. For that reason, they’re not going to be playing on the same team. As for the trade’s value, I have no earthly idea about the balance because I have no idea about who the Jaguars might trade – if they indeed trade. The only thing that’s been reported about a possible trade between the Dolphins and the Jaguars are that the Jaguars are interested in acquiring Albert from the Dolphins. Any compensation that I’ve seen has been speculation.
Ed from Winston-Salem, NC:
What four potential free agents would you sign to the Jags and who would you release?
John: I’ll assume you’re referring to safety Johnathan Cyprien, cornerback Prince Amukamara, defensive end/tackle Tyson Alualu and Luke Joeckel. A lot of the answer depends on what the players will be commanding on the open market, and what the Jaguars plan to do in terms of other players. I like Cyprien and Amukamara in their roles last season, but I expect them to command more on the market than the Jaguars believe they’re worth. For that reason, I don’t expect the Jaguars to retain them and I can see the Jaguars drafting a strong safety and signing a free-agent cornerback. There’s a decent chance they retain Alualu. As for Joeckel, I’d call it a coin flip.
Abe from Mobile, AL:
About how many questions do y’all get a day?
John: Is there some mysterious band of elves answering questions I don’t know about around here?
O-Zone: All-time great
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:
Why are people upset that Tom Coughlin is finally going to fix the most important unit on the team – the offensive line? Kelvin Beachum is a nice guy, but can’t run block to save his life. A.J. Cann was consistently shoved into the backfield whether he was on the left side or right side. Both players are great interviews and not very good at run-blocking. If we are ever going to run the ball well, we need offensive linemen who can not only pass protect, but run block as well. The only offensive lineman currently on the roster who is good at both is Brandon Linder. Look for a massive overhaul of our offensive line (thank goodness!). A powerful and fast runner, like Leonard Fournette, would be nice, too.
John: This indeed is curious. I have gotten many, many emails in recent seasons wondering why the Jaguars struggle to run and wondering why the team doesn’t address offensive line. Now, the Jaguars appear to be addressing offensive line in a big way and there is a hue and cry about how it’s being done. Fans gonna fan, I suppose, but offensive line no doubt will be intriguing to watch this offseason. While I don’t know that four starters will be replaced, it certainly appears Coughlin won’t be satisfied with the status quo and that he will look to get into situations where personnel can be upgraded – either this offseason or soon thereafter. And yeah … there seems little question that run-blocking is going to be a much sought-after trait. It’s apparent that you better be able to run block if you want to play on this line. That appears likely to be a theme moving forward.
Rob from the Duuuu:
Can the Jags pass up on an elite running back after Zeke’s performance this year? Also, do you think A-Rob can be as productive as two years ago ever again? Who is our top pass rusher by the end of the year and who is top receiver? Do you think there is any chance the Jags roll out Henne as the starter on Day One? (I ask because Bortles is terrible) Is the plan to keep three quarterbacks? Is there a record for most pick-sixes per games played? Who has it and where does Bortles rank? (I ask because he throws an extraordinary amount of pick sixes) Moodachay. And Moo-on-from-Bortles. Seriously
John: Wow. Many, many questions; I’ll answer quickly as best I can. While I don’t know what they will do at No. 4, the Jaguars – and many teams, for that matter – indeed can pass on an elite running back so early because many teams believe the top half of the first round is simply too high to take the position; that’s because of the position’s dependence on the offensive line and because there are so many productive backs found in later rounds. I don’t know that Allen Robinson will consistently be a 14-touchdown,1,400-yard reception guy as he was in 2015 because those are lofty numbers, but he can be consistently productive. Yannick Ngakoue will be the Jaguars’ most productive pass rusher next season and Robinson will be the most productive receiver. Chad Henne will not start at quarterback for the Jaguars in 2017. Yeah, I think the Jaguars will keep three quarterbacks in 2017. I’ve never seen the record for pick-sixes per game played, but if there is one, Bortles certainly ranks too high on the list.
Kent from Jacksonville:
They don’t pick up the option for Kelvin Beachum, then I hear on Midday Chalk today that the Jags are rumored to be interested in trading for a broken-down 32-year-old tackle from Miami that can’t stay healthy. How would that be an improvement from Beachum? Beachum played very well in my opinion, and is five years younger than the ugly rumor. What is Tom thinking?
John: If the Jaguars indeed are attempting to acquire Branden Albert from the Miami Dolphins – as it appears quite likely they are – then it means Coughlin and the Jaguars’ decision-makers are thinking that Albert is an upgrade over Beachum. Considering Albert’s age, this likely wouldn’t be a long-term solution. But part of what Coughlin will bring to the franchise is more an eye on the now than on the long-term future, and Albert’s acquisition would certainly fit that.
Abe from Mobile, AL:
Do you think there is a sort of Rich Gannon out there right now that could be our guy? You know, the late-in-his-years journeyman that has not been highly touted but knows the game and on the right team ignites, explodes for yards, and even gets an MVP season and Super Bowl appearance. Who do you think are the closest to being a Gannon?
John: (Silence)
Alex from Fairfax, VA:
If you could pinpoint one thing that has kept this franchise from a Super Bowl berth what would it be, and at what point in the franchise’s history would it be? I’m asking this question because I recently watched the 1999 AFC Championship game on YouTube. It just seems so crazy how unfortunate things have been for this franchise since then. Other than the Pittsburgh playoff victory in 2007 (which I attended), it seems like this franchise has been doomed. Whether it’s early draft-pick busts or expensive free-agent busts, nothing seems to capitalize. Last summer I submitted a question to you asking if I should expect a home playoff game within the next three years. Your response was, “absolutely.” I’m not submitting this question to call you out on that. I just want to watch a playoff game at EverBank Field so bad. Do you still think that expectation is realistic in the next two seasons?
John: There’s never any one thing that keeps a franchise from a Super Bowl berth, but the best way to build a team – and therefore, the best way to make the Super Bowl – is to draft a Most Valuable Player-level quarterback, then to draft well and develop around that player. The Jaguars haven’t found the quarterback and they haven’t drafted/developed well enough over the past decade or so. Perhaps the results of the coming season will change that narrative, but for now that’s the Jaguars’ story. As for a home playoff game at EverBank Field, sure it’s possible. You get one if you win the division and the AFC South is not so daunting that the Jaguars can’t win it in the next two seasons.
Dave from Orlando, FL:
Mr. O, I used to trust your opinion until it recently came to my attention that you sit on a throne of lies! How do you sleep at night belonging to such a dishonest profession?
John: On my right side, with a long pillow between my knees.
Ray from Jacksonville:
John: The reason people like the idea of signing Cutler — or McCarron, or any other free agent quarterback – is that the one the Jaguars have is absolutely awful. Your analysis of Bortles has changed over time to the point you point out his many shortcomings. I wish the young general manager had already done so.
John: My analysis of Bortles always has been based on what I see, and it actually has changed little since the end of the 2015 season. I thought at the time he needed to make dramatic improvements in a lot of important areas for the Jaguars to be competitive, and I wrote that quite often throughout last offseason. Is that pointing out shortcomings? Perhaps. But it doesn’t represent much of a change on my part.
Mark from College Park, MD:
As a fan who knows nothing, the notion that we are allowing Kelvin Beachum to become a scheduled free agent fuels the thought the Jags have been very “unlucky” in free agency again … Gerhart, Thomas, Beadles, Brown, Bryant, Clemons… I can go on, O-Man, but I think you are intelligent enough to understand our free-agency resume the last four years has a direct correlation with the poor record. #CoughlinSaveTheJags
John: I don’t know how intelligent I am, but I have been covering the NFL long enough to know very few teams that depend heavily on free agency to build rosters have a very impressive resume in the area. You know the term “fool’s gold?” Free agency pretty much defines it in the NFL. That’s not to say the Jaguars shouldn’t partake this offseason. They should and they must. But don’t expect free agents acquired to be the core of a long-term successful franchise. It’s just rare that it works that way.
Sam from Orlando, FL:
Enough Jags questions for a minute. I wanna see if you can be trusted. Are you a Seinfeld fan? Next, who is your favorite secondary character? I have a tough time deciding between Uncle Leo and David Puddy. Bob Sacamano is close as well.
John: Kenny Bania is probably my favorite secondary Seinfeld character. I’m a bigger Curb Your Enthusiasm fan than Seinfeld, I suppose, partly because of the greatest secondary character in television history: Marty Funkhouser.
O-Zone: Stat guy
John Oehser Senior writer jaguars.com Follow John on twitter Like The O-Zone on facebook
JACKSONVILLE – Let’s get to it …
Patrick from Orlando, FL:
Branden Albert to the Jaguars? Is this real? Will it happen?
John: This question is about a report, and until there’s something official, a report is just a report. But the report in this case is an intriguing one, with Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald reporting that the Jaguars are interested in trading with the Miami Dolphins to acquire offensive tackle Branden Albert. Salguero speculated in the article that the Dolphins might want Jaguars tight end Julius Thomas in return. The deal on the surface makes a lot of sense because Albert is a two-time Pro Bowl selection – and because the Jaguars this week opted against exercising left tackle Kelvin Beachum’s four-year option. That means the Jaguars absolutely must address the position. So, your question: is this real? Will it happen? There are many times when trade “rumors” are just that – rumors. In this case, Salguero is a good reporter and this deal does make sense, so … stay tuned.
Jim from Nocatee, FL:
Yes, Blake Bortles had a horrible year, one that I never saw coming; but it’s interesting to hear AFTER the season that not only was his shoulder injured, but also tendinitis of his right wrist. I work in the world of physical therapy; that to me was the reason most of his passes fluttered, or were overthrown and just plain ugly. Here’s to an offseason of treatment and rest and a return to old Blake.
John: It’s inaccurate to say inaccuracy (see what I did there?) is the only area Bortles must improve. He must grow in many key areas, including and perhaps most notably field vision and decision-making. It’s also probably a reach to say all of his inaccuracy was caused by injury because he never has been among the league’s most accurate passers. Still, it’s also fair to say the injuries Bortles played through were significant, and it’s very fair to say the Jaguars would like nothing better than for an offseason of rest to produce an improved Bortles. Is that a realistic hope? We’ll see.
Tom from Charleston, SC:
Please explain what will be gained by acquiring Branden Albert while letting Kelvin Beachum leave? Albert can have no more than a couple of years left on his body. His physicality is depleted to where he is no better than average. I believe that his salary would be slightly more than Beachum. Kelvin is younger and has more upside potential. Wouldn’t Beachum be a better option even if he only played marginally better than last year? So far, it appears that our new management team has placed a lot of names on a spinning roulette wheel and is throwing darts hoping to hit on the “savior.”
John: I got a few of these emails Friday, and truest answer is the obvious answer: if the Jaguars indeed are interested in Albert and letting Beachum go, it’s because they believe Albert is a better option. It’s too early to tell yet if a trade for Albert will happen, but remember: the Jaguars’ offensive line as a whole was improved this past season but not anything close to dominant. It appears the front office is exploring ways to try to make that area better, and it appears the Jaguars are not standing pat. Is that surprising considered the new management of which you speak took over a team that went 3-13 last season?
Ryan from Fremont:
With you being in the building, have you noticed a culture change since all the staff positions have been filled, or is it just business as usual around The ‘Bank until things start picking up more?
John: I’m not quite sure how to define “culture change,” but there is a different feel. That’s always going to be the case when a new head coach brings in a lot of new assistants, and there certainly is a feeling of newness when passing coaches in the hallway. There are also is an obvious change of energy with Tom Coughlin in the building as executive vice president of football operations. That’s primarily because there’s automatically going to be a different energy with a personality as forceful as Coughlin’s in the building. Right now, coaches and personnel officials are largely “bunkered up” preparing for the offseason program, the draft and the 2017 season – and comparatively few players are in the building. Once players return in March, and particularly once coaches can begin interacting with players the following month, the culture change will be much more obvious. It’s a calm-before-the-storm feel right now. The storm will burst in a couple of months.
Hugo from Albuquerque, NM:
O-dude, the Vikings and Sam Bradford pretty much showed the caliber of quarterback available outside of drafting and developing. Nobody can argue against Bortles’ need for competition and improvement, but mortgaging the future for just a guy? I say nah.
John: Hey, one not fer just a guy!
Nathan from St. Augustine, FL:
So if you would draft Garoppolo with the No. 4 pick if he was in this year’s draft, do you call up the New England Patriots and offer the No. 4 pick in the draft for him? I don’t see how they could turn that down.
John: This question references a recent O-Zone answer in which I said I would draft Jimmy Garoppolo No. 4 if he was available – so yeah, when answering that I meant I probably trade the No. 4 overall selection for him. That’s my answer based on the limited amount I have seen from him – and it’s based on the idea that acquiring a quarterback always is a risk, so why not take that risk on the player many consider the best young quarterback available? Here’s the thing to remember: My answer and opinion is comparatively cavalier, and it’s easy for me to say I’d spent a premium draft choice on a quarterback. It’s not my selection and I didn’t scout Garoppolo in college. If I had, perhaps my answer would different.
Brian from Orlando, FL:
After seeing Leonard Fournette highlights I hope the Jags get him so losing will be fun again!
John: I’m actually torn on Fournette. I’m intrigued by his speed and power, but I’m a little concerned about his ability to make people m … oh, I get it. Clever, Brian … very, very clever.
Steven from Charlotte, NC:
If Bortles was immediately cut tomorrow, do you think another team would sign him with the idea that he would immediately be their starting QB? I kinda doubt this, which essentially tells me we have the worst starting quarterback in the NFL.
John: Nah, he’s not the worst, and he would get signed. But the problem is he’s not in the top 20 or so, and if you’re not in the top 20 or so you better get there or you won’t be starting long.
Mason from Palm Bay, FL:
Secretly, Jerell has a poster of Bortles hanging above his bed. Welp, I guess it’s no longer secret.
John: I’ve suspected this all along.
Andrea from Magenta, Italy:
Don’t you think that the argument against picking a running back in the first round, based on the poor run blocking of the offensive line, is a bit of a weak argument? If you think that the guy is as talented as to be selected No. 4 overall playing a position that is not generally drafted that high, then you are missing on a sensational player just because other players on your team aren’t good enough to support him: you’re letting your current roster situation dictate your future roster situation. I think that a team should instead reverse the situation: pick the guy and then build around him a line that can allow him to be as successful as he can be. Not picking him is a bit like (over-stretching my argument here, I know) not picking the next Tom Brady because you don’t have a line that can keep him upright. Right? Have a nice day, O.
John: The argument against picking a running back No. 4 or in the first round is many-fold, and it mainly centers on the fact that the runner better be a once-in-a-decade-type player because it’s too easy to find productivity at the position in the later rounds. If you don’t have a quality offensive line there’s often little point in drafting the running back because you’re not going to get front-line production from him. It then follows that if you need so many good players around a player for that player to be effective then perhaps you shouldn’t take him so early. And that continues to be the argument against running backs in the Top 10.
Glen from Orange Park, FL:
I’ve noticed questions I’ve submitted with a lot of stats don’t make the cut nor do I see a lot of stats in other questions. Is that a coincidence or are you not much of a stat guy?
John: I love statistics, but only 64.4 percent of the time. I rank 17th among senior writers in that category.
O-Zone: Fully engaged
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:
Does the re-signing of Chad Henne pretty much assure us that the Jaguars will not bring in a quarterback to legitimately challenge Blake Bortles for the starting quarterback position?
John: Bortles and the quarterback position unquestionably represent the Jaguars’ No. 1 2017 offseason issues, but re-signing Henne doesn’t change that dynamic one way or the other. The issue with bringing in competition for Bortles remains what it has been all along: how realistic is it that the Jaguars can truly bring in a legitimate upgrade for Bortles? Is there someone in the draft that makes sense? Is it worth trading for a quarterback or signing a free agent for what essentially is starter money to compete? Those are questions that will be debated hotly in the coming weeks among Jaguars fans. Some believe it is necessary to sign some veteran quarterback – any veteran quarterback – at any cost because they believe Bortles is truly terrible. Others don’t see anyone available in the draft or by trade/free agency that’s a truly dazzling upgrade. It’s a legitimate argument and we probably won’t know how the Jaguars truly feel until we see their approach beginning in March. But whatever they do, the re-signing of Henne won’t preclude them from making a move.
Jonathan from Jacksonville, FL:
So, O. Is it make or break then for Bortles if he is the starter this year?
John: Yes.
Chris from Orlando, FL:
In regards to Glen’s email about signing Jay Cutler to a one-year deal … while I understand it’s hogwash, I do not understand why everyone wants Cutler. He has not shown the ability to lead the team to the playoffs since his Denver days. Why not try to pick up A.J McCarron? We already see what Cutler can do. McCarron has not really had a shot, but he looked better than Cutler to me when he did get starts.
John: The reason many people like Jay Cutler is simple, and it’s not ability to lead a team to the playoffs. He never did lead the Broncos to the postseason during three seasons in Denver, and he led the Bears to the playoffs just once – in 2010, when they won the AFC North. People like Cutler because he has arm talent. Arm talent is cool, and it’s really cool when it’s exceptional – as is the case with Cutler. When he is “on,” he can make throws few other quarterbacks can make. McCarron isn’t a talent on Cutler’s level. That doesn’t necessarily make McCarron a lesser option, but it’s the reason some prefer the idea of Cutler.
I’m the real Jerell from Columbia, SC:
I know you will look at this question because I lied and put my name as Jerell. It’s actually Matt from the Mattcave. Now that I have your attention, what players do you see the Jags targeting in free agency?
John: Whoever you are, I’m so confused now that I’m not sure I can answer your question.
Chris from Mandarin:
Dave is right, John. You’re too close to the team to see Bortles for what he really is … on his way to becoming a career backup somewhere.
John: Yep, if Bortles doesn’t get better he’s not always going to be an NFL starter. I suppose I should have pointed that out at some point over the last 12 months.
Steve from Nashville, TN:
What are the Jaguars strengths going into this season?
John: Interior defensive line, linebacker, cornerback.
Bryan from Yulee, FL:
In all seriousness, the Jaguars could sign two of the three top guards on the free-agent market and have this line fixed once and for all. Draft Leonard Fournette or Dalvin Cook with the fourth pick and this team is going to be in the playoffs every year for a while. I’m living in fantasy land, aren’t I?
John: If by “fantasy land” you mean there’s no way the Jaguars take the approach you mention … no, I don’t think that’s fantasy land. I actually think there’s a relatively good chance the Jaguars take an all-in approach to improving the running game this offseason, though of course it might not look exactly like the approach you champion. If by “fantasy land” you mean that taking such an all-in approach will guarantee year-in, year-out postseason appearances, then yeah … that’s probably fantasyland. Making the postseason every year is tough. It probably will take more than an offseason move or two to do it.
Billy from Orange Park, FL:
Zone, how come we don’t make fun of Shadrick on here anymore?
John: Give it time, Billy.
Zane from Washington, DC:
Zone, it would be ludicrous to think Tom hasn’t requested your expert opinion, and while we understand he made you promise not to reveal anything about his board, we’re wondering if you can tell us whether you agree with his rankings; or if you had to set him straight on a few things?
John: Coughlin hasn’t requested my opinion yet. He did look me up and down and “hrumphed” as he passed me in the rubber hallway the other day. I’m assuming the part where he requests my opinion is the next step.
Steve from Nashville, TN:
Last year I remember you telling your readers that you did not think Chad Henne would be back with the team in 2017. What changed?
John: I admit I was surprised when the Jaguars restructured Henne. I figured the route would be to sign a veteran to compete with Bortles and have the loser of the competition as the backup. But remember: the 2017 season hasn’t started yet, and there’s no guarantee Henne will be on the team. When the Jaguars signed Henne for 2016 the contract was structured in such a way that it was very unlikely he would be released before the season. I don’t yet know the exact details of this restructuring, but it’s set up in such a way that makes releasing Henne far more feasible.
Ron from Orlando, FL:
Making the deal for Garoppolo is a no-brainer. Giving up a second-round pick for a surefire franchise quarterback is a steal and far less risky than taking a quarterback with either a first- or second-round pick. These opportunities are exceedingly rare and the front office would be foolish to not be sprinting to the phone right now. Why hasn’t this happened yet? And please no “well we need more time to evaluate Bortles” blah, blah nonsense.” We don’t and all of us know it. CMON, JOHNNY!
John: If Jimmy Garoppolo was a sure-fire franchise quarterback who could be acquired for a second-round draft selection I have no doubt the Jaguars and multiple other teams would have long since sprinted to the phone.
Rob from Jacksonville:
You said you believe the Jags would not trade for Garoppolo. Many teams pick a quarterback in the Top 5 with no insight in regards to performance. We have a snapshot of his NFL ability. With that being considered, if he was in this year’s draft … would ya pick him at four?
John: Yeah, I probably would even though I think he’s a huge risk. Here’s the reason: While he indeed is a huge risk because of his limited NFL repetitions, the reality is a high percentage of all “starting-quarterback acquisitions” are huge risks. If you’re acquiring a quarterback to start, you’re almost always either drafting a quarterback or signing a relatively unknown/unproven entity from another team. Seeing that it’s almost impossible to acquire a quarterback without some element of risk, then by definition teams must accept that risk as part of the equation when trying to find the league’s most important position. Am I confident that Garoppolo would be worth the risk to trade the No. 4 overall selection for him? No. I am not confident of that. But at some point you’re going to have to take the risk and he certainly seems as good a bet as any among the options – be it rookie or veteran – this offseason.
Glen from Orange Park, FL:
How many of these submissions do you read every day and how do you choose what makes the cut?
John: I almost always read all O-Zone submissions every day. The only exceptions to that are some days during season when the sheer numbers simply do not permit me to read all in the same day. When that happens, I do eventually read every submission – ideally within the next day or so. I do this because I truly value the time and effort readers put into their questions, and I truly believe if a reader cares enough to take the time to ask a question then I have the obligation to – nay, the privilege to – answer their question with as much passion, insight, effort and thoughtful consideration as I can possibly muster. The sanctity of this forum deserves no less, and to be any less than fully committed, fully engaged and fully driven in this endeavor is cheating the reader – and indeed, myself – to the core of my soul. As far as how I choose which of these sacred submissions makes the cut … I don’t know … I tend not to give it much thought.
O-Zone: Making the call
John Oehser Senior writer jaguars.com Follow John on twitter Like The O-Zone on facebook
JACKSONVILLE – Let’s get to it …
Tom from Jacksonville:
Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait … we didn’t pick up Beachum’s contract? He was the only O-line player not named Linder that played decent for us all year. How does this make sense? Now we have one good lineman and seven trash players that wouldn’t make it as bench warmers on the Browns. This is stupid!
John: Let’s clarify something before we begin: The Jaguars indeed declined to exercise their four-year option on offensive tackle Kelvin Beachum, the deadline for which was Wednesday. That means Beachum now is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent on March 9. But being “scheduled” to become a free agent is not the same as “becoming” a free agent. The thought here is the Jaguars didn’t want to commit to Beachum for four seasons, but that they could – and should – try to commit to a shorter deal with him. The reason is they still need to see just what they have in him. He pass-blocked well last season, but didn’t fare as well run-blocking. It’s very possible the run-blocking issue had much to do with the aftereffects of the torn anterior cruciate ligament he sustained with Pittsburgh in the 2015 season. The knee theoretically should be stronger in 2017. That means he very well could improve as a run-blocker next season, and it means he could improve overall. It makes sense to see if that happens before committing to four more seasons.
Stephen from Jacksonville:
I love the Abry Jones signing … great guy, great with the fans and always a smile on his face. One fer Abry!
John: Defensive tackle Abry Jones re-signed a long-term deal with the Jaguars Wednesday, and yeah … one fer Abry!
Chris from Goodnight, TX:
The Jaguars are signing Chad Henne to an extension? Nothing against Henne, but that is a little disheartening, since it suggests that the quarterback room is going to remain the same (which means that there won’t be any real camp competition for Bortles, and no bona fide starting-quality quarterback to step in if Bortles falters early on in the season). It seems that, again, this team will rise or fall with Bortles. That’s concerning.
John: The Jaguars indeed re-signed Henne on Wednesday, which understandably led to much speculation about what it meant for the Jaguars’ overall quarterback situation. So, what does it mean? Perhaps not as much as many believe. Henne re-signing does not mean he automatically will be the backup next season. It does not even mean he automatically will be on the roster next season – and in fact, he likely will have to play his way onto the team. Because of that, signing Henne does not preclude the Jaguars from acquiring another quarterback to compete with Blake Bortles and Brandon Allen. That can happen now just as much as it could before. Henne’s presence gives the Jaguars a viable option as a backup should they opt not to acquire competition for Bortles, but his contract does not mean they are tied to keeping him. In that sense, Wednesday’s move really doesn’t say much about who will start at quarterback for the Jaguars next season at all.
Daniel from Jacksonville:
I am a believer most teams have a three-to-four season “window” to compete for a championship before the core stars become too expensive to keep (with the exception being that having an elite quarterback can make that window much bigger). While all the talk seems to be that the Jags have a great young nucleus of players and their window is on the verge of opening, we might actually waste the window altogether. If Bortles doesn’t pan out and we draft a quarterback next year that takes another three-to-four years to develop, we will miss our chance because that core group of young players will leave in free agency. As much as I usually believe in drafting and developing for the future, wouldn’t it make some sense to pull the trigger on even a moderately decent quarterback, even if it meant overpaying, so that we maximize our chances to get to the playoffs in the next few years while we still have our core young guys? We’ve been waiting for the future for a long time. While most of us have gotten used to it, it would be a disaster if we had to do a third rebuild in a row.
John: A couple of thoughts here. First, while the Jaguars’ core players indeed have potential, as a group they remain a ways away from “great.” Telvin Smith, Allen Robinson, Brandon Linder, Allen Hurns, Malik Jackson, Jalen Ramsey, Myles Jack, Yannick Ngakoue, Dante Fowler Jr. have flashed, but none has consistently been elite on a year-in, year-out level. If a large percentage of that group indeed can reach that level, then this is a great core. If not, it was a potentially great core that never reached potential. As for pulling the trigger on a “moderately decent quarterback,” it still all depends on what you’re trying to acquire. Will overpaying for A.J. McCarron or Jay Cutler or Ryan Fitzpatrick maximize the Jaguars’ chances to get to the playoffs the next few years? If it did, I have no doubt the Jaguars would be willing to overpay. It’s understandable to be skeptical that those players actually will do much maximizing, but therein is the great Jaguars debate of the coming weeks.
Dave from Duval:
Blake did not “struggle” at times last year. He was an absolute dumpster fire that helped the other team win at times more than their own quarterback. Some of his passes at times made him look like he shouldn’t be a QB on a competitive high school team. Your downplaying of just how bad he was and has been at times during his first three years does not help appease this fan base.
John: Thank you for the help, Dave. I watched Bortles last season, and in fact I have watched every one of Bortles’ regular-season games. I know how he played. I also have made it pretty clear for the last several months that I believe Bortles’ struggles were a primary reason for the Jaguars’ struggles last season. I have written often that he needs to improve, and I have detailed many areas where he thus far has fallen short. I also last offseason consistently wrote that Bortles was not yet the franchise quarterback many believed him to be, and that there were major areas he needed to improve in 2016 for the team to be competitive. I mention this not to pat myself on the back but to point out that I hardly have downplayed the impact that his level of play had on the team in 2016. At the same time, I strive to be as accurate as possible and it’s not accurate to say that he was horrendous all of the time last season. He indeed had moments that made you wonder what in the world was going on and he had moments where he wasn’t nearly that bad. He wasn’t great. He wasn’t close to great. He was bad at times and that has been noted a lot here in the O-Zone. I can’t control what affect me writing that has on the fan base, but that indeed is what has been written.
Bo from Dresden, NC:
Are there any rules for the coaches and player personnel staff to abide by this time of the year? Are they allowed to get together and watch film to evaluate players on the roster and on other rosters?
John: The Collective Bargaining Agreement stipulates that players and coaches cannot meet and discuss football matters until April. Coaches and staff can meet during this time.
Jason from the North Pole, AK:
Do you think the Jaguars will address running back this offseason? It seems a lot of fans are clamoring for investing a high pick at the position. Do you think Chris Ivory/TJ Yeldon can be effective with better offensive-line play? I felt like whenever Ivory got going, he would fumble. Would you bring in a new running back or invest that equity in the o-line?
John: There’s no question Ivory and/or Yeldon will be better with improved offensive line play. That’s true of pretty much any running back and Ivory/Yeldon – like most running backs – go as their offensive line goes. I would emphasize improving the run-blocking this offseason more than I would emphasize running back because I’m a big believer that the running game is a function of line play. That doesn’t mean the Jaguars won’t take running back in the first round. Given the players available in the draft, and given the Jaguars’ current roster, running back at No. 4 wouldn’t shock me. I wouldn’t love it, but it wouldn’t shock me.
Jerell from Columbia, SC:
Do you think Blake is the type of quarterback that needs everything to be perfect around him to make a huge jump to 6-10??
John: Ladies and gentlemen … Jerell!!!
Teddy from Andalusia, AL:
I think Bortles is a franchise quarterback. What do you think?
John: Hold on. I have a call in to Jerell on this.
O-Zone: Awesome deal
John Oehser Senior writer jaguars.com Follow John on twitter Like The O-Zone on facebook
JACKSONVILLE – Let’s get to it …
Steve from Hudson, FL:
In your opinion, what seems to be a better free-agent signing: an ascending 26-year old or a proven 32-year old? Or would the position we are trying to fill be a bigger factor?
John: This answer depends not only on position, but what you expect from the player. If you’re trying to add a core player who will help you for the long term and you’re paying that player a lot of guaranteed money for more than two years, then you want the 26-year-old ascending player. That’s where free agency gets tricky, because 26-year-old ascending free agents usually are expensive in terms of cash and salary cap space. Because their own teams also covet ascending players, you also must ask yourself, “If this player is so ‘ascending,’ then why isn’t he being re-signed by his own team?” That’s the ultimate question in free agency and it must be answered honestly. The answer changes if you’re expecting a player who can help you for a season or two. In that scenario, it’s OK to sign a 32-year-old player because it’s conceivable that player can be productive for the short-term on a shorter contract. This answer also varies a bit based on position. A 26-year-old running back, for example, is different than a 26-year-old left tackle because the back might have a year or so left in his prime years while a tackle might have four or five. But for the most part, the NFL ideal free-agency equation is to sign 26- or 27-year-old ascending players who are potential core players and who finishing their rookie contracts. Those players are entering their primes and theoretically have three or four good seasons left in those primes. If you can find such players in free agency and you truly believed they are elite, then sign them. Good luck. It’s easier said than done.
Bruce from Gotham:
Mr. O, I don’t understand fans who are upset with Julius Thomas. Yes, he didn’t put up numbers, but it is not exactly like the Jags had an offense that highlighted the tight end. When he signed, we heard from the offensive coordinator at the time about all these great two tight-end sets and how both would be heavily used in the passing game. That never happened and in reality, the coaching staff never really took advantage of the mismatch that he creates with linebackers. Do you feel Thomas could have done much better considering the offensive-coordinator turnover and other circumstances? Also, if he is released we all know he will end up a Patriot, where he can replace the most likely departing Martellus Bennett, right? Him with Tom Brady would be scary.
John: Thomas actually is a difficult free-agent signing to assess. While he certainly hasn’t been as productive in the last two seasons as the team hoped, it wasn’t as if he was completely unproductive. He did catch nine touchdown passes over 21 games, which would be considered pretty good if he hadn’t signed a huge contract in the 2015 offseason – and if he hadn’t caught 24 touchdown passes over the previous two seasons with Denver. It’s hard to say how much of Thomas’ issue has been that he was used incorrectly, or if his style just didn’t mesh with Bortles’ strengths or if injuries just kept him from being as productive as otherwise would have been the case. My sense is it’s some combination of all three and then some.
Hippy from Fleming Island:
Freddy T had the stats, the comeback from early injuries, the freakish strength/speed combo and character of a Hall of Famer. How does the Jaguar moniker factor into this ridiculous travesty?
John: I don’t think it’s as much the “Jaguar” moniker as the fact that Taylor never won a rushing title, never played in a Super Bowl, never made the Associated Press All-Pro team and only made one Pro Bowl. He also during his career never for a single season was considered the best running back in the NFL. Some may argue that the “Jaguar moniker” played into how people perceived him, but my thought always has been that Taylor’s lack of recognition had more to do with the presence of players such as Edgerrin James, Ladainian Tomlinson, Jamal Lewis, Priest Holmes and so on. Of that group I’d only consider Tomlinson a better player than Taylor, but other backs for short periods had a higher profile than Taylor. That doesn’t make Taylor inferior, but it has prevented him getting what I consider his due recognition as one of the best running backs of the last two decades. The lack of that due recognition will make it difficult for Taylor to get into the Hall conversation, even though many who really study his statistics and on-field performance often believe he deserves consideration.
Mike from Atlanta, GA:
If there is no upgrade available in free agency, and you aren’t going to draft a tight end early, and you know you probably won’t get an immediate contributor as a pass-catcher in the later rounds, why would you let Julius Thomas walk? You would be knowingly downgrading your roster. I’m not following the logic. If you can upgrade, by all means go ahead, but it doesn’t sound like a better option will be available. I don’t think I see the cost-benefit analysis on that unless they think very poorly of Thomas who has 33 touchdowns in his career. He’s an asset in the red zone and on third downs.
John: I tend to agree. The only reason to let Julius Thomas go is if the Jaguars’ decision-makers are convinced that he cannot help the team win. That may be the case, or it may not. There have been few hints, official or otherwise, on this front. Stay tuned.
Keith from Palatka, FL:
Jared Odrick averages five sacks a season and Tyson Alualu averages 2.5 sacks a season. The Jaguars need to put more pressure on the quarterback. Do you think that Tom Coughlin will try to convince Todd Wash to use a more traditional 4-3 big end with more pass-rush potential (e.g. Jason Pierre-Paul) and perhaps a rookie protégé (e.g.Tanoh Kpassagnon)?
John: I think if there’s a pass rusher available that can help the Jaguars better pressure the quarterback the Jaguars will pursue him. If that player is a bigger end, fine.
Rob from Jacksonville:
How many years later and you torment me with your callous disregard for the Oxford comma. You’re not even saving ink anymore, John. At least your journalistic integrity is unquestionable. Keep up the good work, but take some time off.
John: Nah.
Jeff from Jacksonville:
How do you feel about Myles Garrett pleading for the Cowboys to trade up and draft him? Would this give you reason to pause thinking he might take his first opportunity to leave or is this no big deal?
John: It sort of defines “no big deal.”
Kyan from Le Mars:
Free-agency focus for the Jaguars should be Eric Berry and T.J. Lang. Both could still sign with their current teams, but I have read that it looks like both might not get signed. If they don’t, and the Jags get their hands on them, that would be huge! What do you think the chances that they don’t sign with their current teams and the Jags sign them instead?
John: My thoughts on free agency are as follows and rarely change: I always assume really good players will re-sign with their former teams until someone credible says that absolutely won’t be the case – and even then I sort of expect really good players to re-sign with their former teams. That’s because teams generally value really good players and figure out ways to keep them. That’s even more true if you’re discussing franchise-shaping, difference-making really good players. For that reason, I assume the Chiefs will figure out a way to keep Eric Berry, who is one of the best safeties in the NFL. T.J. Lang is an interior lineman for Green Bay. Because Green Bay has a history of letting good players hit free agency, I figure there’s a better chance of Lang being available. I do expect the Jaguars to heavily pursue an offensive guard, whether that’s Lang or Kevin Zeitler of Cincinnati or Larry Warford of Detroit. It’s one of the deeper groups in free agency, and it looks as if those players will hit the market. It’s also a position of need for the Jaguars … so there you have it.
Glen from Orange Park, FL:
Our best chance to win the division next year is to sign Jay Cutler to a one-year deal with a team option for four more years. Bortles is still in his rookie deal, so we can afford to pay starting-quarterback money. Blake starts, but is on a short leash. We not only ensure we have a franchise quarterback for the next three-to-four years and get the huge bonus of Houston not signing Cutler. Win/win/win!!
John: Wow, that sounds like an awesome deal. I’m sure Cutler would be all over it.