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O-Zone: Bold prediction

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

JACKSONVILLE – Let’s get to it …

Scott from Gilbert, AZ:

John: “Block better” … is really the answer? How ’bout, “Two third-rounders, two free agents that were undrafted out of college, and a guy coming off an ACL on a prove-it-deal is just never gonna give you what you need up front in this league?” You’ve always said a team would be much better off with a stud offensive line and average running backs, so why can’t you just tell it like it is? Using a second-round pick, in conjunction with giving a guy $32.5 million over five years to tote the rock – and spending so little to actually create space for them to do so – is unacceptable.

John: I’m not sure when I said this was a great offensive line, but I’ll check. Look, the line could be better – no question. It’s not yet a team strength. The question is what could the team have done differently? How much more equity could the Jaguars have used on the area in recent offseasons? And at what expense to building the rest of the roster? The Jaguars could have used their first- and second-round selections in each of the last four drafts on the line, but then you wouldn’t have Blake Bortles, Allen Robinson, Marqise Lee, Dante Fowler Jr., T.J. Yeldon, Jalen Ramsey or Myles Jack. A lot of those players are good; people like them. As for unrestricted free agency, the Jaguars spent big money three times in recent offseasons on the offensive line – Kelvin Beachum, Jermey Parnell and Zane Beadles. That’s not a Pro Bowl Trio, but teams aren’t lining up to allow Pro Bowl offensive linemen to sign elsewhere in free agency. My point is not to say that the Jaguars’ offensive line is great. I in fact believe there’s a good possibility they will address a spot or two next offseason. That could be left guard if Luke Joeckel isn’t re-signed, and it could be other positions – right tackle, perhaps – if the positions remain inconsistent. But the Jaguars haven’t left the line unaddressed. It’s tough if not impossible to adequately address every position on the roster – yes, even in four offseasons – and offensive line may be a spot where a piece or two still remains to be added.

Logan from Wichita, KS:

Stealing Bortles’ glasses, Zone? Come on, man! Just because you miss Scobee now Bortles has to be the goat? Why, Zone … why?

John: Shh.

Greg from Section 122 and Jacksonville:

Have watched the Jags since the first game. Something that is really getting old is that ever since Tom Coughlin left it seems we always have one area of the team that is severely needing improvement. Just an example is last year the offense was looking up and seemed to be a strength on our team and defense needed serious work. Now this year, we drafted and invested a lot on defense and it is becoming the strength of our team, yet the offense – with little-to-almost no loss of talent – has now begun to become a weak spot. Is it too much to ask to just have all three phases be satisfactory? They don’t even need to be great, but something that is not considered a weakness? You would think after four years of roster improvements and free agency we would be further along than this.

John: There has been much surprise expressed about the Jaguars’ offense being an issue early in the season, and equal surprise about the defense being a team strength. Frankly, I’m not all that surprised with either outcome. Yes, the defense is a little ahead of where I thought it would be so early, but I wrote throughout the offseason that I believed there was no way this defense wouldn’t be improved enough to at least get into the Top 20 or so and give the team a chance. I was far more concerned about the offense. That’s because while the unit statistically was good last season it did not often play winning football. It was not consistent and did not usually play well early in games. It had too many long stretches in which it wasn’t productive – long, long stretches of three-and-out possessions – and the running game struggled all season. I also believed quarterback Blake Bortles needed to improve in some key areas in terms of efficiency and decision-making – and though I thought he would make those improvements, I didn’t think they would be easy. The Jaguars’ offense this season actually is strikingly similar to last season. The exception is that deep balls to wide receiver Allen Robinson were very effective last season and they have been not so effective this season. As far as your question, the special teams and defense have been pretty strong for the most part this season, so that’s two of three. If the running game and quarterback can be more consistent then you’ll have your Holy Trinity. Stay tuned.

Jerell from Columbia, SC:

Do you feel the Jags are inferior to the Raiders?

John: No, but I’m sure you do, Jerell.

Jerry longtime fan:

The run game starts at center so why did we let Stefen Wisniewski go and experiment with a lineman who is usually hurt in Brandon Linder?

John: There are a few reasons for this. One: the run game wasn’t very good last season and the Jaguars believed they needed to upgrade from Wisniewski. Another: when they made the decision Linder had played two seasons, missing most of one with a shoulder injury; that’s not “usually hurt” as much as a guy having had an injury and missing much of one season. The biggest reason the Jaguars made the change is that Linder isn’t an “experiment; he’s good and was the best option available to play center. That’s usually why teams make moves such as that.

DJ from Charleston, SC:

Do you think the comment by Gus Bradley when he said doesn’t see “urgency or speed” from the offensive line will motivate them or irritate them? Brandon Linder was quoted saying he had no idea what Bradley meant. Do you think the other players feel the same as Linder? Basically, what I’m asking is will they take that as motivation to get better or will they become bitter towards Gus because of his comments?

John: I got the idea from listening to Bradley this week he was trying to say that the offensive line and running game as a whole needed to play with the same tempo and – and at the same level – as it did early in the preseason. I got the idea listening to Linder that he wasn’t sure what “urgency” meant, exactly, but that he also felt the running game needed to get back to the same level of play as early in the preseason. Did Bradley’s comments about the running game irritate players? Perhaps. They probably didn’t love them. But the Jaguars have rushed for less than 75 yards in four of five games this season. If I’m the head coach I’m starting to not care too much if I’m irritating the players involved in the run game.

Jan from Fairfield, CT:

Imagine that the Patriots have enough of losing all those games and decide to get rid of their inept coaching staff. Imagine also that they have identified another head coach (let’s say, Gus Bradley) as the solution to their problems. Can they start negotiating with their target right now, or how does that work?

John: Teams can’t negotiate with coaches who are under contract with other teams because contracts.

Bobby from Draper, UT:

Hey, O-Dude. Have Gus and the team thought about bringing in a fullback to start helping with the run? They need to try anything and everything to get this run game going. I have seen a few plays the last couple weeks where having a fullback would have done wonders (T.J. Yeldon was a shoelace tackle away from breaking that 90-yard run against the Colts). Do you think they will bring one in or starting having either Tyson Alualu or a tight end play it more?

John: This is an idea that has gotten a lot of run in the O-Zone this week and it’s understandable that Jaguars fans would want a fullback because of the success the team had when Greg Jones played the position here. The theory more and more these days in the NFL is that having a fullback in the game tips the defense to the team’s intent to run, negating the advantage of having the fullback in the game. That’s a reason the Jaguars don’t carry a fullback and I don’t see them changing that approach midseason.

John from Jacksonville and Section 202:

Curiosity question: do West Coast teams struggle coming east as much as the reverse? Or is it a Jaguar thing with travel?

John: Conventional NFL wisdom is that West Coast teams traveling to the East Coast – particularly those playing 1 p.m. Sunday games – struggle more than teams going the opposite direction.

Matt from Jacksonville:

Remember when folks thought Ramsey was going to be a safety? I’m gonna go out on a limb and predict that he could be a pretty solid corner.

John: You may be right. I’ll Google this.

Pages: 12

O-Zone: True professionals

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

JACKSONVILLE – Let’s get to it …

John from Jacksonville:

Why do you have to run to open up the passing game? Why can’t you pass to open up the run game? I notice with the Jags when we pass and get a couple of completions – then run the ball – the run goes for at least five every time! Tom Brady is excellent at this! Every running back that plays behind Brady is successful. I feel like we can definitely be like this! With a slinger like and the receiving corps, that can top the league!

John: Your enthusiasm oozes through each sentence; perhaps it’s the exclamation points!!!! Whatever, this indeed seems to be an approach the Jaguars need to try – and I do believe there’s a chance they will start trying it soon. It’s apparent what they have tried thus far this season hasn’t worked nearly consistently enough. Remember, though: there are inherent risks in the approach. Opening up the run game with the pass is difficult when your quarterback is playing inconsistently. That’s because the pass needs to work if it is to set up the run. An argument could be made that Bortles hasn’t been consistent this season. Another argument could be made that he’s more consistent when playing up-tempo and passing first. I get the idea we’ll get a chance soon to figure out which argument is correct.

Scott from Fernandina Beach, FL:

Hi, John. I read that Gus, in searching for the reasons we’re having trouble running the ball, mentioned “too complicated.” I’ve kinda wondered the same thing. If the talent level is there, then is it the “scheme?” If that’s it, can they realistically make the changes or is that too hard/too much to accomplish before Sunday?

John: The Jaguars’ offensive coaches’ task this week is to answer this question. I expect the Jaguars indeed will simplify the running offense – blocking schemes, plays, etc. Simplifying is often the most effective means for an NFL team to “fix” issues midseason: scale back the amount of things you’re doing, scale back whatever complexity is there – and thereby allow players to play as hard, fast and efficiently as possible. It’s not so much changing a scheme as making what you do within your scheme as simple to execute as possible.

David from Ormond Beach, FL:

I know fans will fan, but we are 2-3 with a chance to pull even at home against a West Coast team flying cross country. I know there is a lot to correct, especially on offense, but who would have thought we would have this opportunity three weeks ago? I guess I am a glass-half-full kind of guy, which means I live on a lonely island by myself.

John: That’s the most striking thing about this week – that the Jaguars with a victory can cast an entirely new light on this season. Their current two-game winning streak almost doesn’t feel like a winning streak – mostly because of how poorly the offense played until the fourth quarter of the Bears game. The Raiders are 4-2 and in first place in the AFC West. They’re a good team. The Jaguars haven’t beaten a team as good as the Raiders in a long while. Here’s guessing that if the Jaguars win Sunday the three-game winning streak will feel like … a three-game winning streak.

Nicholas from Jacksonville:

When a team is trying to run the clock out like Jacksonville did last week, would it be fair to expect a quarterback or running back to deliberately lose significant yardage if it ensured enough time ran out to avoid having to do an additional run play? I rather take two knees and one running play versus two running plays where a tackle is involved. Or are stats too important?

John: Yes, teams would gladly take the loss of yardage to drain the clock. You almost always would ask the quarterback to do it – not so much because of statistics, but because you don’t want to risk a fumble on the hand-off.

Marc from US Assure Club:

How involved is Gus Bradley regarding offensive play-calling? Does he leave it to Greg Olson 100 percent, or delegate some to Doug Marrone because he is the assistant head coach offense – or does he help with the game plan and occasionally pull Oley aside during a game to say, “Let’s pass it here on first down?”

John: Greg Olson calls the plays on Sundays, with Bradley and the offensive coaching staff having input regarding the game plan throughout the week. During games, Bradley often will let Olson know essentially what he wants in a given situation – run, deep pass, etc. – after which Olson calls the specific play.

Taylor from Maryland:

I’m sure you have gotten plenty of questions regarding Greg Olson and his mediocrity as an offensive coordinator this season, but honestly what can we expect when Gus fired the 31st-ranked offensive coordinator in Jedd Fisch and hired the 32nd-ranked offensive coordinator in Olson? Derek Carr had a decent season with Olson and they still fired him. The Raiders saw something that Gus missed – namely that Olson is and has always been a bad offensive coordinator. You can’t stop being a mediocre team if you have mediocre coaches. Knowing that Gus is a defensive-minded coach, we should have had accomplished, veteran offensive coordinators all throughout Gus’ tenure. That is a failure on Gus’ part and on David Caldwell’s to be honest.

John: I’ve gotten a lot of questions about Olson this season because the Jaguars are struggling offensively. I didn’t get a lot of questions about this last year when the Jaguars’ offense wasn’t struggling nearly as much. Olson was the coordinator both seasons. I Googled it.

Bob from St. Augustine, FL:

Offensive line. This has been a big problem, yet Doug Marrone is supposed to be an ace in this area so why is he not effective?

John: Because coaching never has solved everything and never will. As far as Marrone, the offensive line has struggled to run block, but has pass-protected far better than it did last season. I’m fine with criticizing coaching since it seems from perusing this inbox that it is to blame for everything that ever has gone wrong within the Jacksonville city limits, but if we’re going to blame Marrone for the run blocking, then let’s credit him for the pass protection, too.

Scott from Aurora, IL:

It’s mathematically possibly for a 3-13 team to make the playoffs over a 13-3 team.

John: Yes.

Adrian from El Paso, TX:

I remember reading in Gus’ first couple of years that he wants to simplify the defense. I feel like that was for a giant reason that doesn’t make sense anymore in Year 3: They knew the rebuild was going to be tough so bringing in rookies and free agents was already going to be tough without a complicated scheme on both sides of the ball. Am I close on this line of thinking? Is that normal for teams doing a massive overhaul? But mainly, is this “simplicity” something that’s a permanent thing? I don’t remember Seattle’s defense under Gus being so predictable is why I ask. You da best!

John: The Jaguars’ defensive scheme is at its core relatively simple; you ideally want to pressure with four and play coverage with seven behind it. At the same time, remember: while Bradley indeed is in his fourth season as head coach, this defense was dramatically rebuilt in the offseason with three key unrestricted free agents and five first-year players playing major roles. If it’s a little simpler than the scheme Seattle plays, then that newness is a legitimate reason.

Joseph from Sacramento, CA:

Yes this offense has more weapons but I don’t think that’s necessarily a good thing because it seems Bortles is struggling trying to use all of his weapons. It’s just funny how the offense was somewhat better when it was mostly Hurns and Robinson as the focal points.

John: The Jaguars have a lot of talented offensive skill players. They do not have “too many” good offensive skill players. This is not a “thing.”

Damian from Appleton, WI:

What is your opinion on the defense so far? I would say they have been good enough to keep the Jags in games, they are just not turnover machines yet.

John: You’re correct, and that’s partly because while the pass rush has been improved it isn’t yet a dominant force. The better the pass rush the more turnovers a team typically creates because that’s where disruption, fumbles and tipped/errant passes originate.

Jerell from Columbia, SC:

If you had to start a franchise who would you pick, Bortles or Carr?

John: I’ve watched Bortles far more than Carr. Ask me after Sunday.

Andrew from Appleton, WI:

After watching Odell Beckham Jr. this past season, how would you rate the professionalism of Sully’s WR corps?

John: Off the charts. That answer has nothing to do with Odell Beckham Jr. and everything to do with the professionalism of the Jaguars’ receiving corps, which – particularly considering the youth of the group – is extraordinarily high.

Pages: 12

O-Zone: The wonder of it all

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

JACKSONVILLE – Look-ahead Wednesday.

Let’s get to it …

Donny from Savannah, GA:

is the franchise quarterback of the Jaguars. The first drive against the Bears proved that. His placement of the football on almost every throw was incredible, and Jaguars fans should have his back through the entire process.

John: There’s little question that for the most part Jaguars fans absolutely support and believe in Bortles. There’s also no question the franchise supports and believes in Bortles. He indeed is the franchise quarterback, and you’re absolutely right that drives such as the game-opener against Chicago show why he absolutely can be the guy moving forward. He looked good on that drive: precise, quick, accurate. He looked good late in the game – very good, actually. He made multiple throws and multiple plays during that game that looked like front-line, elite-level quarterbacking. He again showed a knack for the clutch play and for playing well late in games, something he has shown since he became the Jaguars’ starter. What Bortles has lacked so far this season is consistency in important areas, and he has been shaky in too many areas in too many situations. If the offense is going to be productive and if this team is going to be a playoff contender he must be more reliable and consistent through entire games and not just in clutch time.

DJ from Charleston, SC:

Before this season started I thought for sure the Jags would be lighting up the scoreboard. I think we all know the Allen Bros. are legit but is everyone else just not as good as we thought? What do you think is the reason the Jags seem to be having such a hard time scoring points?

John: The Jaguars are struggling to run and the quarterback has been inconsistent.

Paul from Jupiter, FL:

Sure would be nice to give JDR a thumping on his return to the ‘Bank, wouldn’t it?

John: Many fans indeed would enjoy that – just as Raiders Head Coach Jack Del Rio would enjoy winning his return to EverBank Field Sunday. But for the Jaguars, this game is about playing a good team. If they win it, they will have a three-game winning streak that will put them even at .500 for the season. They also will have a victory over a team two games over .500 for the first time in five seasons. They also would be firmly in the AFC South chase. It’s safe to say everyone associated with the Jaguars would savor those last few feelings far more than the feeling of beating Del Rio.

Jaginator from Section 124:

We’re at the point where we can retire the “they’re-a-play-or-two-from-being-better” phrase. These things have a way of balancing themselves out over the course of the season – and it already seems to have happened with the Jags. Yes, a few positive plays against Green Bay and Baltimore and they could have won those games. But a few negative plays against Indianapolis and Chicago and they very easily could’ve lost those games. So the Jags are 2-3 at this point – which seems to be just about the record they deserve.

John: I was thinking much the same thing in the wake of the victory over Chicago. This was a game in which for most of the game the Jaguars played poorly enough to lose – just as they played well enough to win for most of the Baltimore game. Right now, the Jaguars are 2-3 with several games that could have gone either way. That’s how it is in the NFL and the Jaguars are probably about where they ought to be. But you know what? If they had just not turned the ball over that time in the fourth quarter against the Ravens …

Genuinejag13 from Jacksonville:

Coach Bradley doesn’t seem to have any answers as to why the run game is not working. As a first time head coach, is he on the same learning curve as the young players on the team?

John: It’s not that Bradley doesn’t have the answers. It’s that right now the answers are pretty short and pretty frustrating. After all, when the answers are “block better” and “run better,” there’s only so much a coach can really say.

Josh from South, TX:

Didn’t I tell you the no-huddle was also needed with the moving of the pocket? Got to play to where Bortles feels comfortable. Why can’t we play with our own style of play, being trendsetters in the NFL? Especially if it works. It’ll be like giving them a left, left, right hook … TKO!

John: I think you’ll probably see the Jaguars go up-tempo, no-huddle a bit more in the coming weeks. The offense has struggled this season to the point where something is needed, and that has worked. But I absolutely don’t you think you will see it from start to finish in games – nor should you see it from start to finish. An up-tempo, no-huddle offense when it fails puts a great deal of strain on a defense. People are weary of hearing this, but it’s true. This defense has been a reason this team has had a chance to win in recent weeks. The last thing you need to do is weaken that strength.

Derek from St. Augustine, FL:

Oh Zone, did you ever find out what “#DTWD” means? If you haven’t, it’s “Duval Till We Die.”

John: No, I don’t think that’s it.

Tommy from Jacksonville:

Everybody wants to pile the offensive woes on Blake Bortles. Is it fair? Is he the reason the run game stinks? Without the threat of a decent run game, play action is useless, the defense is in the throwing lanes and taking away quick hitters. Yes, I get that he has to cut down on the turnovers, but I think it will all come up the running game takes over. What are your thoughts??

John: There’s no question there are other issues offensively aside from Bortles’ difficulties. The line has not blocked well for the run, and you’re right that that has hurt the ability of Bortles and the wide receivers to hit explosive plays. But the issues with which Bortles has struggled most often this season – accuracy, decision-making, turnovers and pocket presence – aren’t run-oriented issues. Those are areas he must improve no matter what happens with the running game.

Zane from Neptune Beach, FL:

Predict: By the end of the season will have officially moved into elite corner status and into the top five active corners.

John: I wouldn’t bet against it.

Cathy from Jacksonville Beach, FL:

John, why in the world is our running game so horrible? I thought Yeldon and Ivory were good backs. Is it all on the offensive line, or are our backs partly to blame?

John: When a team struggles doing something in the NFL it’s rarely all on anything in particular. There are too many interdependent factors. In the case of the running game, there are certainly many factors going wrong, but it’s usually true with the running game that the offensive line is far more of a factor for success or failure than the back.

Julio from Hesperia, CA:

O, have you always been a dork? Or did it start when you got hired by the Jaguars? Just kidding. Keep up the good work.

John: Hold on … people think I’m a dork?

Cole from Springfield, OH:

John, if a team has already used all three timeouts, what happens if a player gets injured inside two minutes? Is this a penalty?

John: In this scenario the team with the injured player is charged a fourth timeout; if time is in and the clock is supposed to be running, there is a 10-second runoff – that is, if the opposing team chooses to accept the runoff. If the scenario happens again there is a five-yard penalty for each occurrence.

Robert from Jacksonville:

If this moribund offense scored 51 points at home against Indy last year, there is no reason it can’t do it Sunday.

John: OK.

Trae from Jacksonville:

John, I fanned this past weekend. I fanned hard.

John: I’m not surprised, Trae. The way this team is playing right now can be maddening. Fans fan in the best of times. In maddening times … well, it’s not always pretty Trae, now is it?

Chris from Mandarin:

If you run up tempo only when you get a first down, wouldn’t that kill two birds with one stone? Keep the opposing defense on its heels and give the Jags’ defense a breather if it’s not working.

John: Yes.

Nathan from York, PA:

Why do Pete Prisco and Tony Boselli dislike each other so much? I feel like this question may not have an answer.

John: I’ve known Pete Prisco for nearly 30 years and I’ve known Tony Boselli for more than 20. The wonder, I assure you, is not why they dislike either so much. The wonder is that how anyone tolerates either of them at all.

Pages: 12

O-Zone: Solo shot

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

JACKSONVILLE – One more day until Look-Ahead Wednesday.

Let’s get to it …

Scott from Section 137:

Why do we insist on always trying to run on first down, which puts us in second and long? Even the announcers on television said the Jaguars need to try something else – and only when we were way behind in the fourth quarter did we change. Can we continue to win without improving his accuracy and missing open targets? Once again, the television announcers noted that this continues to be a problem for Blake Bortles. Thanks.

John: Although I care little-to-nothing about what television announcers say about the Jaguars, in this case they touched on a couple of hot-button topics. First off, the Jaguars do need to throw on first down a bit more than they did Sunday. They Jaguars ran 10 first-down run plays and 15 first-down pass plays, but ran on six of eight first downs when the offense bogged down in the second and third quarters. This team can’t win being pass-only or even-pass-80-percent but the Jaguars probably need to throw on first down closer to half the time. Still, make no mistake: as frustrating as the run may be for this team right now, it must keep working to establish it. It’s not a team that can win passing 50 times a game. As far as Bortles’ accuracy and missing targets … it’s undoubtedly going to be tough to win if that continues. He missed some very make-able throws Sunday and you can’t win consistently in the NFL when your quarterback is doing that.

Michael from Virginia Beach, VA:

Thank God for the win, but I feel our team plays distinctively different for away games than home games. Our record drops significantly further if we go to the West Coast. Do you think we would perform better on road games if we were to leave a day earlier to get accustomed to either the weather or time zone?

John: The Jaguars already leave on Fridays for West Coast games. That’s about the norm.

Logan from Wichita, KS:

I’m telling you: this coordinator staff is absolutely the second worst in the NFL – if not the worst. Terrible on defense: playing not to lose is a terrible and worthless strategy. Horrible, horrible, horrible on offense. I consider myself a fan, so when I can predict every single play call I can only imagine how easy it is for an NFL coach to know what is coming. Greg Olson needs to pull his playbook together, burn it and go to clue school. We need to PRESSURE THE QUARTERBACK with more than four linemen on defense and DO THE SMART THING on offense. Enough said.

John: I understand the inclination to criticize coaching. Believe me, I read enough here to have a lot of angles covered – and the way the Jaguars’ offense has performed this season it has left itself open to criticism. But I do find it amusing when fans criticize Todd Wash and the Jaguars’ defensive staff. This is a unit, after all, that is clearly improving. It is a unit that has made a huge defensive stop at a critical time in four of five games this season. It’s a unit that has performed well this season. I don’t know that Wash and Co. are geniuses, but to say the performance has been terrible … well, that lacks rationality.

Jason from Jacksonville:

I’m glad the Jags were more patient with than I was. He’s been good.

John: Yes. That’s why most teams are reluctant to release good, talented players. They often end up playing like good, talented players – and you can’t have too many of them.

James from Vancouver:

Maybe the problem with our running game is we seem to do the same run out of the same formation. All out of shotgun, all seemingly up the middle … maybe this no-fullback approach isn’t working?

John: I agree some of the issue with the run game may be constantly running out of the shotgun, but the no-fullback approach isn’t a big deal. Fullbacks are usually only used on short yardage and aren’t a huge part of most NFL offenses these days. Most of the problem with the running game is run blocking. That’s usually the case when a run game struggles, and that has a lot to do with this team’s issues this season.

Terry from Jacksonville:

Can you tell me why Bortles rolled out on the last play of the game instead of taking a knee? Why would you take a chance of fumbling?

John: The Jaguars needed to extend the final play to get the game clock lower than the play clock. The idea was to get to a situation where they did not need to punt before the end of the game. It worked.

Michael from Middleburg, FL:

“It’s hard in NFL to run up tempo/no huddle the entire game … if it doesn’t work you put the strain on your defense …” What’s the difference from going three-and-out four, five or six times in a row? At least we score on occasion up-tempo.

John: The difference is if you’re playing up-tempo and go three-and-out then your defense is back on the field within a minute or two. That’s extremely difficult on a defense. This defense is playing very well and giving you a chance to win. You don’t want to do things to weaken it.

John from Clearwater, FL:

So glad for the win – and the defense is looking like it’s finding ways to stay in the game without a pass rush, which is impressive. My question is what is the identity of the offense? I think answering that after three seasons needs to happen. We want to run the ball but can’t. We want Bortles to roll out but no one buys play action when you can’t run and Bortles isn’t polished enough yet to run five wide and throw 40 times a game. So what is this offense?

John: The Jaguars are a team that is struggling to run block and that has a quarterback who is inconsistent week to week. It’s also difficult right now to pinpoint one thing this offense does really, really well. It’s extraordinarily difficult to identify a team’s identity when you don’t do anything well enough to rely on it week to week.

Ken from Jacksonville:

I hate to be a Debbie Downer, but that game Sunday was yet another example of Gus not having this team ready to play. Yes, we got the win, but that was against a 1-4 team with a backup quarterback. We had two weeks to prepare for a dreadful team and that’s all we could do. I hope this is the start of a turnaround for the team, but I’m not holding my breath.

John: These are fair points because the Jaguars needed to come back from 13 points down in the fourth quarter Sunday. But I honestly didn’t see not having the team “ready to play” as nearly as much of an issue as the way the Jaguars sort of went away for two quarters after Bortles’ first-quarter interception. They had started very good offensively and defensively – and the first drive actually was as good as the offense had looked all season. One unfortunate bounce shouldn’t have sapped that much momentum.

Otto from Ponte Vedra Beach, FL:

John, oh my: BB has to shorten that windup. He looks like Juan Marichal sometimes. C’mon, Blake.

John: Yeah, I can’t disagree.

Mike from Jacksonville:

John, a lot of people keep bringing up statistics from Gus Bradley’s first couple of years here where they gutted a roster. Personally, I am not even looking at the win-loss column other than for this season, of which there are 12 games left. Anything prior is just not fair to look into there was nothing there.

John: Fair enough.

Rob from Brunswick, GA:

Hi John, what do you think of the pros and cons of firing a coach midseason? Since you can’t bring in a new coach until the following year, the players don’t get any extra time in the new system. If anything they have to adjust to another new coach (the interim) and then start over completely from scratch the next year. It seems to hold no particular advantage. So, assuming Khan at some point makes the decision to let Gus go, why do it before the season is over?

John: First, I’m not sure the assumption is correct. Second, there aren’t many pros to changing coaches at midseason – and history shows there’s usually very little benefit. That’s a huge reason Khan has said often he’s not prone to making a midseason NFL coaching change.

Glen from Riverside:

O, going into the fourth quarter 13-0 but inside the five-yard line why did I have a calm feeling the Jags were going to win? I got a little nervous when the Bears kicked the field goal but still felt there was plenty of time and we would prevail. Strange? Or did others feel the same?

John: I think you may have been flying solo there, Glen.

Pages: 12

O-Zone: Hope alive

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

JACKSONVILLE – Let’s get to it …

Mike from Jacksonville:

Win and move on. Ugliest bleeping game I’ve ever watched, but win and move on.

John: This pretty much sums up Sunday. That was among the most-perplexing games I’ve covered in 22 seasons covering the NFL – and I honestly had little idea how to analyze it. The Jaguars indeed played horribly offensively for three quarters – and this offense continues to raise legitimate concerns about the team’s ability to win. At the same time, the defense played well after a rocky second-quarter stretch and continues to look like a potential strength moving forward. The offense also has to be given credit for a fourth quarter that not only was productive, but was remarkably clutch given the circumstances. Are the Jaguars good? Not yet. Not from what they’ve shown this season. But they’re 2-3 and are a play or two from being better than that. The bottom line from Sunday, I suppose, is they survived and got a much-needed road victory. You take those when you can get them in the NFL. It keeps them in a situation where if they continue to improve they can still save the season. That’s not the best situation, but it’s a lot better than the situation they were facing late in the third quarter Sunday.

Jerell from Columbia, SC:

How many interceptions must throw before the organization realizes this guy is not the answer at quarterback?

John: Jerell, Jerell, Jerell … I’ve written often in recent weeks that Bortles must improve, and I’ve written often that the Jaguars’ 0-3 start was largely because of his turnovers in those first three games. But fair’s fair, and if you’re being fair, it’s awfully hard to put that first-half interception Sunday on Bortles.

Eric from Duval:

Please explain to me the prevent defense call on third-and -7. Are they serious? Poz can’t cover side-to-side crossing receivers. Let’s concede an easier field goal attempt at 0-0. Why?

John: I thought the defense was too soft on that third-down play late in the first half, too. The coaches felt yielding yardage there was better than playing tight and increasing the chances of a touchdown. I would have rather seen a bit more aggressiveness, but that was why.

Adam from Bryan, TX:

John, please tell me why is dropping into coverage on a key third down in the red zone? That was way too easy for Hoyer. What is going on with these defensive calls? Wasn’t Jackson brought in to pressure the quarterback – not cover receivers?

John: I get some version of this whenever a wide receiver catches a pass with a defensive lineman in coverage. I understand the frustration, and I have written before I’m not fundamentally a fan of dropping linemen into coverage. It by definition takes a player out of what he does best and puts him into a situation where he’s doing what he doesn’t do well. The situations usually occur when a defense has blitzed a linebacker or a secondary player and the linemen drops to cover an area. If the pressure doesn’t get home quickly enough then the lineman and coordinator are going to look bad on the play. More often than not, it’s not as much a case of the scheme being ridiculous as of the blitz not getting home quickly enough. Still, it’s a bad look when it doesn’t work. No doubt about that.

Logan from Wichita, KS:

Penalties, turnovers, penalties, turnovers, penalties. Why do we even bother to play?

John: Because.

Michael from Tucker, GA:

I really hate complaining after a much-needed win, but I’m beginning to think the experts were right about Ramsey. This guy can’t catch a cold. My question, can you be an elite corner with no hands?

John: This is one of the more amazing emails I’ve received in a long time, because unless I’m reading it wrong, you’re criticizing for not making an interception on the Bears’ final play. Ramsey on Sunday turned in a remarkable performance. He got beat regularly by Alshon Jeffery in the first half, but he recovered to hold Jeffery to one reception for three yards in the second half. His first half would have hurt the confidence of many players, yet he recovered to be a key reason for the Jaguars’ victory. The play he made to end the game was a big-time, elite play – breaking in front of Jeffery with remarkable quickness and suddenness to give the pass literally no chance of being caught. So, he didn’t make the interception? That’s the last job of a cornerback – an extra, if you will. He kept the ball from being caught. He made the play and ended the game. Finally, to answer your final question: Yes, a cornerback absolutely can be elite if his hands aren’t great. And speaking of elite, if the first five games of the season have shown us anything it’s that Ramsey is well on his way to that status.

Jason from Da ‘Hass:

Yo O: here’s the analysis: Ramsey is the man! He’s cool and I like him!

John: Hey, one fer Ramsey! – no matter what Michael may think.

Jason from Salem, OR:

What do you think should be done to make more Jacksonville scores on the opening drives or earlier in the game, when the Jags are not trailing in the game? It seems that the Jags are consistently battling back into the game when they are losing, after some bad offensive possessions. They have started games notoriously bad for a while and they seem as frustrated early on as most Jags fan seem to be.

John: Early-game struggles indeed have defined the offense in recent seasons. I think the Jaguars must start looking to go up-tempo earlier in games, and I think they’re at the point where they will do that. I don’t think they can do it the whole game, but I think they have to start finding a way to mix that into the offense. But if you’re convinced that the early-game issues are all on the coaching or the offensive coordinator – and if you think all that ails the Jaguars’ offense will be solved by an up-tempo approach, remember: the Jaguars turned in one of their best drives of the season on their first possession Sunday. They drove 89 yards methodically and efficiently. The ball was in Robinson’s arms and popped out. That wasn’t an issue of tempo or coaching.

Andrew from Fort Collins, CO:

Wow. That went from terrible to comeback fast. Won in a must-win situation and showed heart. Ramsey also showed why he was No. 5. Hope going forward.

John: This email was received a few minutes after Sunday’s game. It was not reflective of the tone of the inbox to that point, but yes – the Jaguars’ victory was what mattered Sunday. It was not pretty. The Jaguars probably won’t win a lot playing that poor offensively going forward, but they made some big plays when it mattered. That counts for something. It actually counts for a lot.

The Voice of the Fans fom DisappointmentLand:

Nobody should feel good about that win. We squeaked one out against a bad team. Without previously proving ourselves, that makes us a bad team. No matter what the score says, the Jags need to treat this as a L.

John: The Jaguars were 1-3 entering Sunday’s game. They are 2-3 this morning. They will not treat this game as a loss, nor should they.

Bill from Hawthorn Woods, IL:

Oh, O … so good to get a W. In the end, that is what matters. The bad news is that this does not look like a team building on momentum coming out of the Colts game. That was ugly for most of the game. The good news is they didn’t give up and found a way in the end. But Bortles has to get better or the stretch ahead is going to be tough and frustrating. Thoughts?

John: My thoughts are Bortles has to get better or the stretch ahead is going to be tough and frustrating.

Josh from Eyota, MN:

Will we ever see the offense that won the game today throughout an entire game? Bortles does look so much better when he goes no-huddle.

John: It’s very difficult in the NFL to run tempo and no-huddle the entire game – primarily because if it doesn’t work, you put your defense at an enormous disadvantage. At the same time, this Jaguars’ offense for the past two-plus seasons has been playing much better when playing no-huddle. You don’t want to do it all the time, but it stands to reason it needs to be done more.

Thomas from Williamsburg, VA:

Second-and-goal from the one-foot line and you throw a fade route. Are you serious? Just when I thought Greg Olson couldn’t do anything more stupid …

John: Loyal readers – and both of them know who they are – know I’m not a big question-the-play-call guy because usually a good play is the one that works and bad play is the one that doesn’t. But yeah, on that one …

Barbara from Springville, VA:

Thanks for the WIN, Jacksonville Jaguars! Hope is alive!!!

John: #DTWD, Barb. #DTWD.

Pages: 12

O-Zone: Money is cool

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

CHICAGO – Let’s get to it …

Mike from Navarre, OH:

Why do we suck?

John: I nearly bypassed this question. I reconsidered because the Jaguars over the past several seasons have made it a legitimate topic. The truth is the Jaguars indeed were bad without much hope of being better in 2013 and 2014. That happened because the talent level was low enough that it was nearly impossible to realistically compete with a lot of teams. They were a bit better in 2015, but not good consistently enough on offense or good enough at all on defense to make the push for .500 many fans expected. They weren’t good enough last season on offense largely because of youth and they weren’t good enough on defense largely because Jaguars General Manager David Caldwell hadn’t had time to build that side of the ball adequately. That brings us to this season. The Jaguars are 1-3 through the first month largely because of a horrible game in San Diego and two missed opportunities at home against Green Bay and Baltimore. That 0-3 start is haunting the team and the Jaguars need to win in October to recover from it. If they continue to improve defensively and they get more consistent play from the quarterback position, then I think the Jaguars can win two or three of their next four games. If that happens, perhaps the perception that the Jaguars “suck” will change. Stay tuned.

Roy from Orange Park, FL:

I’m not questioning the move, but, why over ? I’m just curious?

John: He has experience starting in the NFL at guard. He also played well given the opportunity in London. He earned the opportunity to see if he can continue playing well.

Tyler from Jacksonville:

What tools does Shad Khan use to evaluate the effectiveness of his coaching staff? Does he have someone that knows game situations evaluate Gus’s decisions, schemes, and game plans to provide him a score? If not, this is something he severely needs. If so, he needs to fire that person and get someone better in the position.

John: Khan like any NFL owner has people who advise him on such things, and Khan is smart enough that I trust he is wise in choosing the people to whom he listens. As far as analyzing the ins and outs of every scheme, decision and game plan … look, this has become an issue almost like politics. Those who support Jaguars Head Coach Gus Bradley aren’t likely to be swayed and those who don’t support him are likely equally unswayable. We understandably have reached a stage where there are people who assume all that ails the Jaguars is the head coach. The “understandably” part stems from people being tired of losing. The only thing that will change minds is winning, and that’s fine because coaches are always judged that way in the NFL. If the Jaguars don’t progress this season in a manner Khan finds acceptable I’m sure Bradley will not return as coach. If they do, I’m sure he will.

John from Ramsey, NJ:

Although he never played up to expectations as a Jaguar, you never want to see bad news about our players. I read the headlines just now that Quentin Groves passed away in his sleep due to cardiac arrest. My thoughts and prayers go out to his wife and children. May God comfort them in their sorrow and may Quentin rest in peace.

John: Agreed. I never knew or covered Groves, but 32 is too young. May he rest in peace.

Evan from Honolulu, HI:

Hey O, with both Greene and Grant being questionable for this weekend’s game, who do you foresee replacing them as our kick and punt returners?? And if you were able to only have one ready to play, who would it be and why? Go Jags!

John: will return punts Sunday if Rashad Greene can’t play and it remains to be seen who will return kickoffs. The latter is a role has played in the past, but Bradley when asked on Friday declined to specify who would return kicks. If I had to choose between Greene and Grant, I would choose Greene. He also plays a role as a reserve receiver and he has made more big plays at his respective return position.

Alton from Orlando, FL:

What in the heck does DTWD mean? I hear and see everyone using it but me … thanks, John.

John: This is actually good question. I have been saying and writing it for nearly five years simply because everyone else does. Following the crowd blindly without regard for the ramifications of my actions has gotten me this far in life, so why stop now?

Jerry from Italia, FL:

Zone, just voted for the Pro Bowl and noticed some things on the ballot. Who places players on the ballot – the team, the NFL or you?

John: The NFL does it, but blame me. Everyone else does.

Bruce from Green Cove Springs, FL:

What exactly does it mean – if anything – when a commentator says a particular head coach was “out-coached?” Is it that one team’s coach better evaluates another team’s strengths and weaknesses, and plans accordingly? In your opinion, John, have there been games when it appeared that Gus Bradley was out-coached?

John: I am asked this often, and the truth is there are absolutely times any head coach is out-coached.” It’s just as true there are times when players are outplayed. The problem is defining which is which in a sport with so many interdependent parts. It is vogue to say Bradley and the Jaguars’ coaching staff has been out-coached this year, and many point to the fourth quarter of the Baltimore and Green Bay games as examples. The Jaguars had possession three times inside the 50 against Baltimore and scored three points. Many cite the late-game play-calling in that game and Green Bay as examples of poor coaching. And you know what? Maybe the staff was out-coached. I understand that stance. I also wonder if the offense had converted a fourth-and-1 against Green Bay and if the offense had converted its opportunities against Baltimore if anyone would be questioning coaching. If those conversions had been made, the Jaguars quite possibly would be 3-1 and it’s quite likely people would be talking about the wonderful job the coaches are doing. This is not to say the Jaguars’ coaches are flawless. They’re not. It’s merely to point out that while it’s easy to blame coaching for all that ails a football team there are often many factors that play into it – and the difference in perception on this issue often is determined by less clear-cut factors than many believe.

John from Jacksonville:

I think an increase of leaving the pocket and folding in some fast-tempo offense (the offense seems to excel at both) will have a winning formula going forward. Do you think we’ll see more fast-tempo, no-huddle offense?

John: I think the Jaguars are to the point they have to try it.

Otto from Ponte Vedra Beach, FL:

John, after the Denver “D” did such a great job last year and Wade Phillips was named Defensive Coach of the Year, he said he adapts the system to the players. Gus and Todd seem to be wed to the Leo/Otto system regardless of the personnel. Is this not counter-intuitive to good coaching?

John: The Jaguars’ defense appears to be playing well for the most part so far this season. I suppose we should see if that continues before we call what they’re doing on that side of the ball counter-intuitive to good coaching.

Rob from Jacksonville:

But I thought Jack didn’t have the skill set to play Otto …

John: This is a good point. He really doesn’t. He’s a little small for what the Jaguars typically want from the position. Instead, the Jaguars’ coaching staff is showing some flexibility and trying to get their best players on the field. That should help a defense that already is starting to show good progress play even better. We’ll see.

Rob from Orange Park, FL:

I have not heard Sen’Derrick’s name much during games. How do you think he has been performing this year?

John: Good – at times, very good.

Roger from Jacksonville:

Note to the NFL: Please, PLEASE just stop with the “Color Rush” nonsense. Just. STOP. Every one of these monochromatic abominations has been a hideous assault on the eyes and an insult to the dignity of professional football. For the love of everything sacred to fans of this magnificent game, please just stop.

John: I liked the Chargers’ uniforms Thursday. I liked the Jaguars’ gold uniforms last season, too. And however you and I feel about the Color Rush uniforms, I fear your memo will go unheeded. Enough people like enough of the colors that they will buy merchandise with the colors and their team logos on them. That means making money. NFL teams think that’s cool. They like it.

Pages: 12

O-Zone: Any day is a good day

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

JACKSONVILLE – Let’s get to it …

Ed from Jacksonville and Section 205:

Please help me here, Zone. We seem to be basing our feeling for improvement with the Jags this year on a belief that the defense is going to be much improved. Last year after four games we had given up 110 points (and that included a 51-point game against the Pats). After four games this year we have given up 111 points. Not sure why I should feel improvement this year will be based upon our improved defense. Yeah, we seem to have more talent, BUT we also seem to have OVERALL more talent now than in Gus’ first year but with no real change in results. Seems to me it all points to coaching. So why should we really be encouraged?

John: The optimism over the Jaguars’ defense right now indeed has more to do with the eye test and projection than the hard, cold statistics. It also appears to be trending in the right direction because the unit has played better the last two weeks than it did the first two games. There were significant stretches during those games it played winning football. The same was true of a lot of the Green Bay game. Another positive is the Jaguars are doing it largely with young players and a slew of players who never had played with one another before this season. It has the look and feel of a defense that can improve. There’s no way to know until it happens. So, why be encouraged? I don’t know … if you watch the defense and believe it looks better, be encouraged. If you don’t like what you see, don’t be encouraged. Either way, we’ll find out in the coming weeks and months if this defense indeed is improved. If it is, then this team has a chance.

Tyler from Jacksonville:

I am tired of people being tired of people wanting to fire the coaching staff. If Sunday is an “L,” Gus Bradley has got to go. Chargers fans were calling for Mike McCoy to be fired and he was beating Gus 35-0. Four years with one win in September. Four years with one win in September. Four years with one win in September. Four years with one win in September.

John: I think I’m just tired of being tired.

Reinie from Glendale, AZ:

Do I have reason to be concerned that has played less than 15 percent of all the defensive snaps so far? When will this number increase?

John: I have neither the information nor inclination to tell you what needs to concern you. I’m good, but I’m not that good. I can tell you that Myles Jack now is starting at Otto linebacker, so I imagine that percentage will rise.

David from Broward County, FL:

O-Man, did you realize that in Bradley’s tenure, the Jags are 5-20 on the road – and three of those road wins came in 2013 with the worst roster? The last two years and one road game – with much better talent – the Jags are 1-16. They haven’t won a road game in over a year. This is damning. Regardless of roster talent level, that alone would get any such coach fired. They are playing the 1-4 Bears on the road. Must win can’t really even describe this game. Your thoughts?

John: I think the Jaguars really need to win Sunday. I think I’ve been saying and writing that much of the week.

Nathan from St. Augustine, FL:

You know with everything going on with Hurricane Matthew and the bye week it just now really hit me that if the Jags win Sunday we are right back in this thing. I said before the season if the Jags can get to midseason still in it, they should be a much better team the second half of the year. What say you?

John: I think that’s the overriding theme for the Jaguars entering Sunday’s game. If they can win, it indeed casts the next month – and perhaps the rest of the season – in a strikingly different light. In that respect, it’s like a lot of games last season when the Jaguars had a chance to get in the playoff chase with a victory. They never could quite do it last season for a variety of reasons – mostly because they simply weren’t good enough on defense or experienced/good enough on offense to take advantage of the opportunities. This situation feels the same with the important difference that the team feels more ready to take advantage of it. The defense looks better. The overall talent is better. There is a bit more experience on offense. Bottom line: it just feels like time. It felt like that a couple of other times earlier in the season and the Jaguars squandered opportunities. It’s time for the squandering to end.

Eli from Orlando and Rio de Janeiro:

John, I think you are the man! I enjoy your humor and agree with most of what you write. But please, please, please do not compare Gus Bradley to John Fox and Bill Belichick. Fox is a proven head coach. This Bears team has a bad roster with many key injuries. They are losing despite of coaching. Bill was not an idiot in Cleveland. He was building something long-term there. The problem he faced was that the year when he finally he had his roster/players in place, the move to BLT was announced which deflated the team. Last year and especially this year, young players or not, this is at the very least a .500 team talentwise. Now considering how last year shaped out with how bad the division was, and how many second string QBs we faced, we should have had more wins. We lost to Hasselbeck twice! Twice! We made Brian Hoyer look like an All-Pro. If this team cannot win games, Gus should be fired. Anyway, good luck Sunday and enjoy your trip to Chi-town!

John: The Jaguars beat Matt Hasselbeck’s Colts team 51-16 last season at EverBank Field last season.

David from Oviedo, FL:

O-man, as healthy as it feels the Jags have been, it surprised me to see that seven Jags are currently on injured reserve: , Jeff Linkenbach, , , , and . Do you think there’s anybody on this list that the Jags are high on, that could make a significant impact next year?

John: It wouldn’t be surprising if six of those players – Joeckel, Bowanko, Sample, Bennett, Wells and Woodard – are on the team next year, and it wouldn’t be surprising if at least Woodard and Joeckel are starting.

Frank from Fleming Island, FL:

If we can score more points than the Bears on Sunday we are definitely going to win.

John: I googled this. I’m almost sure you’re right.

Bob from Sumter, SC:

I’ve kind of revised my expectations of . I see him as having the potential to be an effective Andy Dalton-type quarterback who can win with a good team around him and have success. Third season and still having some of the issues you’ve mentioned tells me the elite level talent isn’t there. I hope he proves me wrong. But being a good solid quarterback is not a bad thing at all.

John: I think we’ll know a lot more about Bortles’ direction and career at the end of this season, and maybe even after the next month or so.

Gamble from Brasilia, Brazil:

If we break the remainder of the Jags’ 2016 season into quarters – Tony Dungy-style – then this staff needs to go 7-5 or 6-6 the rest of the way to prove that this team is on the rise. Shad Khan has never given an exact demand for wins, but doesn’t a rising 7-9 or 8-8 seem reasonable?

John: Yes.

Jimmy P from London:

I’ve been dazed and confused for so long, is it true? There’s a lot of people talking and I think they just don’t know. I don’t know where we’re going, but I know where we’ve been. I have a Whole Lotta Love for this team. We don’t need any more Communication Breakdowns in No Quarters. I Want us to Ramble On John, Zone, Hey, Hey, What can I do?

John: I think you can go Over the Hills and Far Away and realize if the Jaguars don’t win Sunday then you’re probably going to feel like a Fool in the Rain.

Tudor from St. Augustine, FL:

I’ve got a bet going at work with a Bears fan. If the Jags win, he wears custom-made lobster bib designed by me all work day; if the Bears win, I wear a teal full body snuggie all workday. It’s gonna be 85 degrees in Denver on Monday … please don’t make me have to wear that snuggie, Jags!

John: I think your friend will be wearing a bib Monday. If not, always remember: Any day is a good day for a snuggie.

Pages: 12

O-Zone: Bringing down the house

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

JACKSONVILLE – Let’s get to it …

Mike from Navarre, OH:

Usually at this point in the season I’d have my pitchfork out and be ready to join the crowds of angry fans. Something about this defense and the potential of all these young players keeps me from giving up too soon on this team. Who is the biggest surprise to you so far this season and who is the biggest upset based on your expectations for this team?

John: I’m surprised has been as effective as he has been through four games. I’m not surprised he has shown ability, but I expect rookie pass rushers to have a long acclimation process – and Ngakoue appears strikingly well-adapted at this stage of his rookie season. That plays into my biggest overall surprise: the effectiveness of the Jaguars’ rookie class. If you consider part of that class, you have five players – cornerback , linebacker , Fowler, Ngakoue and defensive tackle – who are showing the potential to form the core of the defense. That’s an unreal amount of production from five players who never had played an NFL snap before this season. I’m also surprised struggled to the extent he did in Weeks 2 and 3. I wrote often throughout the offseason that I believed Bortles had some significant steps to take this season, so I wasn’t surprised there were struggles. I was surprised they were so pronounced and so damaging to the Jaguars’ chances to win those two games.

Chris from Section 437:

I know turnovers are a big concern with Blake Bortles moving forward. One guy that turned the ball over a lot during his career was Brett Favre. A lot of his turnovers were deep balls, however, and he was able to still win a lot by continuing to go downfield. I would like to see this with Bortles: even if he turns it over deep, keep throwing long. What do you think?

John: There’s no question Bortles needs to take shots deep. The Jaguars want him to do this when the time is appropriate – and I’ve never sensed any concern around the Jaguars that Bortles will become too cautious. That’s not his nature. The biggest concern with Bortles’ interceptions this season came from forcing plays too early in games. It’s not so much the long, chance throws down the field that hurt quarterbacks; it’s the sack/fumbles and the interceptions that give opponents possession in plus territory. Those are the tougher turnovers to overcome.

Don from Ponte Vedra Beach, FL:

The last win against the Colts was without question a must-win game. That’s the difference between this year and seasons past. They had to have it and so did the Colts – and the Jags won. They know they can do it now and I think they will and win the division.

John: OK.

Johnathan from Virginia:

I am tired of reading, “Fire the coaching staff.” Excluding interim coaches, all of the Jaguars’ previous head coaches went on to be head coaches for other NFL teams. Two are still in the league and we get to play against them, while one retired with some rings. Can we move away from this topic until Bill Cowher wants to coach again?

John: The easiest thing to do when teams lose is to blame coaching, and coaching does matter in the NFL. It’s just almost never the only reason a team is struggling. It’s often not even the primary reason, and there are plenty of situations in which perfectly capable coaches are in a situation beyond their control. John Fox has coached in Super Bowls with two different teams. He’s 1-4 with the Bears this season. I suppose it’s possible that he suddenly became a horrible coach just as I suppose it’s possible Bill Belichick was an idiot in Cleveland and suddenly a genius in Foxboro, Massachusetts. But while I suppose those things are possible I also suppose that’s probably not the case.

Brian from Dunwoody, GA:

I told you this when we signed him, and I’ll say it again: [Patrick] Omameh is going to play well and be deserving of his starting spot.

John: OK.

Dave from Orlando, FL:

Johnny-O, after four games, Yannick Ngakoue has three sacks, Dante Fowler Jr. has two. Olivier Vernon has one. So far, that’s $17 million a sack for the Giants. A few months ago, not signing Olivier Vernon was a major fail; now, thanks to Ngakoue and Fowler, we are better off.

John: Ngakoue and Fowler appear on their way to being high-level defensive ends. They also appear to have a chance to be part of a young, ascending defense. That’s what matters far more than Vernon’s average earnings per sack.

Bill from Hammock, FL:

O, there has been a lot of discussion of an ascending defense with the statistical information confirming this. It seems to me that this is even more evident based on the exceptional quarterbacks faced in the first four games. Do you believe this is true?

John: The Jaguars for the most part played well defensively through the first four games of the season. That’s tougher to do against elite quarterbacks, so that’s a good thing. The key for this “ascending” defense is to continue the “ascending” part. While there have been good signs and improved statistics on that side of the ball, there also have been too many points allowed – and the performances have not yet been dominant. If that side of the ball does not improve from this point then the Jaguars won’t be much better off than they are right now. If that side of the ball does improve and fulfill the potential it’s showing … well, from that sort of stuff long-term sustained success often is built.

James from Socorro, NM:

EVERY team in the NFL is one or two plays away from a couple of more wins. That’s life in the NFL, and it’s disingenuous to say the Jaguars could be 3-1. For example, all of the Chargers (1-4) losses have been by less than a touchdown (a team that blew out the Jaguars, by the way). What separates good teams from mediocre teams is winning games in the fourth quarter, and the Jaguars have not shown themselves to be anything other than mediocre.

John: You are correct. That’s why pass rush, quarterback play and the ability to run are so important. With most games decided by one or two plays, the quarterback must minimize mistakes and maximize impact plays. With most games decided by one or two plays, the pass rush must pressure the passer in late-game situations. With most games decided by one or two plays, the running game must be effective late. The Jaguars this season haven’t had enough of all of those things operating at a high level enough to win more games. That needs to change.

Richard from Myrtle Beach, FL:

I’m a huge Jaguars fan and love Bortles. My concern is that in interviews he is constantly scratching, fidgety and moving his jaw. Is he really that nervous or is there any other issue going on?

John: You’re overthinking this one, Richard.

John from Nowheresville:

I am really beginning to question whether Gus is the man. You stated that the first two years shouldn’t count toward his record due to the absence of quality players, which I can agree with. So, last year he ended the year at 5-11 in a year that we should have won more games based on our schedule and the quarterback issues in Indy and Houston. This year, we are 1-3 so far. I have serious doubts about his ability to put the team in a position to win each week. Not playing Myles Jack the first couple of weeks really makes no sense, not adjusting scheme to have the right players on the field is coaching. What say you? Go Jaguars! DTWD

John: We can discuss all we want about who should be blamed for what records in what seasons. I’m not sure the Jaguars underachieved all that much a year ago – mainly because you had a young offense and a defense that in retrospect was not strong … but whatever. So far this season the Jaguars’ season has been defined by an awful overall game and struggling quarterback play in two others. Throw penalties in there and trouble running the ball and you have a 1-3 record. Some of that is on coaching and some of that is on players. If the Jaguars turn this season around and push toward .500 I think Bradley and this coaching staff will have done a good job. If that doesn’t happen then I doubt they return. We’ll see.

Limo Bob from Neptune Beach, FL:

Just got back from London trip and wanted all your readers to know what a fantastic trip it was. One of the highlights was the Jag Party at the Finery Tavern. The dance you, J.P. and Lageman did with the Roar was fantastic; when the three of you took your shirts off it brought the house down! Where would you like me to send the pictures?

John: Just send it to this email. I’ll print them out and put them in the room where I have the TV that’s playing the video of the night in a constant loop.

O-Zone: Ro Ro Rosey

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

JACKSONVILLE – Let’s get to it …

DUVAL DOOM from Section 217:

I’m in a really weird place, Zone. I want this team to win. I NEED this team to win, but for the first time ever I find myself doubting that they will win. Not specifically against the Bears, but in general. I don’t like this feeling. I want to go back to being delusional the other way. Please just win, Jaguars. Please.

John: This is a fair feeling in the wake of the first month of the 2016 season. The Jaguars for the most part during that month didn’t play well enough to earn the blind confidence of fans. Quarterback in particular struggled far too much and the offense as a whole struggled along with him. So, you ask: what possible reason is there to believe the 1-3 Jaguars can get the season going in the right direction? Well, there is a reason and it’s a better reason – one more based in reality – than you might think. This is starting to look like a defense that legitimately could be good. I don’t see it being great yet, but it very definitely can be good – with a chance for greatness as it continues to develop. There are signs of a legitimate pass rush and there is playmaking speed on the back end. If the signs we saw in Week 3 and 4 are real, then that’s a side of the ball that can win games. As far as offense, there are playmakers there. There is ability. Production largely depends on the quarterback. He struggled in Weeks 1-3 and while he played better against Indianapolis in Week 4, he also missed some opportunities. Still, Bortles against Indianapolis showed the ability to play turnover free and not hurt the team. Within those things are some real positives and a potential winning formula. Building on that formula would seem to be a way this team can find success – and restore your faith.

Al from Fruit Cove, FL:

Mr. O, can you give us the back story? On Sunday afternoon, when the Bears took an early lead on the Colts with a field goal, the Indy mascot was standing behind the goal line with a sign reading, “Jaxson is the greatest mascot in the world.” No disagreement here, of course. Just curious as to why the sudden awareness in Indianapolis.

John: Jaxson won a bet based on the game in London. Good for him. He’s a cool mascot. People like him.

Bryant from White Plains, NY:

The tough part about starting 0-3 is it feels like every game after that is a must win. Two weeks ago was a must win in London. This is a must win in Chicago, especially with a tough Oakland matchup the week after that. Let’s keep building this momentum up. #DTWD

John: That indeed is the tough part about starting 0-3: every ensuing loss for a while feels like the end of the season – and indeed, every ensuing loss could well be the end of the season. This is the situation the Jaguars created for themselves. They have no one else to blame. Thus, their current scenario: If they beat the Bears Sunday, they get the chance to breathe – with an additional chance to have a very good outlook if they can follow it with a victory over Oakland. If they don’t beat the Bears … ugh.

Alex from VA:

Do you see moving back to guard this year and us drafting a center or signing a free agent? Or will he stay at center?

John: Linder will stay at center. He’s very good at it. There is no inclination to move him.

Scott from Fernandina Beach, FL:

The Jags we saw in London – run blocking, pressuring the opposing quarterback and Nortman and Myers and Blake being good – can compete in every game. Get rid of the untimely penalties and we can win most of those games. Gotta take it off the paper and put it on the field.

John: So, if the Jaguars run well, minimize mistakes, pressure the opposing quarterback, get quality special teams play and have their quarterback play well they can be in every game. That’s pretty much every team’s winning formula. Is that all they need to do?

Brandon from Athens, GA:

Hey John, do you know what sucks? Knowing that many of the great quarterbacks of the past 15 years are nearing the end (Brady, Brees, Rivers, etc.) and we don’t have the elite quarterback on our team to take their place. I like Bortles, but he’s not elite.

John: The jury indeed remains out. We shall see.

John from Cape May, NJ:

John, for four years I’ve seen in this column and others like it fans bashing the Jaguars’ coaching staff for issues like player personnel, play calling, and time management – just to name a few. So after a 13-39 start and having seen the regression the team has made through the first four weeks of the season do you see/have any faith that this coaching group can turn things around and find success?

John: As has been noted fairly often, it in many respects is short-sighted and unfair to sum up the entire Gus Bradley regime simply by stating the record during that span. The talent level during the first two years of that regime was not such that a significantly better record during those two was realistic. But the record is how coaches are judged, so … fine. As for the team regressing in the first four weeks of the season … I suppose I would have to disagree. While 1-3 is not what anyone expected, the Jaguars are a play or two from 2-2 or 3-1 and the defense is playing significantly better than it did last season. I’ve said often that I thought we would have a clearer idea about Gus Bradley and this coaching staff by the end of this season. I still believe that to be the case.

Karri from Sandy, UT:

So O, I have to ask because it’s been so long since you’ve been asked … still sticking it to the man?

John: Patience, Karri. Patience.

Jon from Chicago, IL:

I’ve lived in Jax my entire life except for the past couple years and am now living in Chicago. I’m pumped to go to the game on Sunday. My bold but realistic prediction: Jags win six of their next seven games with the only loss going to the Raiders.

John: #DTWD

Rob from Jacksonville:

An answer to a question about got me thinking: Does being inactive on game days have any effect (or affect) on a game check? And since you’re here, is it effect or affect? That one has always been difficult for me. Thanks, O.

John: No, being inactive does not affect a player’s game check – and it’s “affect” because there was no squiggly line under it after I wrote it.

John from Boynton Beach, FL:

Even if looked great in the preseason, so did the offense. That hasn’t seemed to translate yet, so I am holding my breath on Colvin being outstanding this season. Every year we forget that the preseason never seems to be a good prediction of the regular season.

John: OK.

Kenny from Rochester, NY:

A lot of people want our two young pass-rushers to start and play most of our plays on defense, but when I watched the Giants play they said JPP and Olivier Vernon play too many plays and that is why they can’t take over games. What’s the deal, O-Zone? Make this clear cut for me.

John: I can’t speak to the ideal number of plays for Jason Pierre-Paul and Olivier Vernon. I can say that the Jaguars ideally want a situation in which they’re heavily rotating eight or so defensive linemen. Under that scenario you essentially can have two defensive lines, which enables the linemen to be fresh and “play in waves.” As far as having and both starting, it’s really not much of an issue. Both players are going to play a lot and both will be on the field the vast majority of the time in passing situations. That’s about as much as you want young pass rushers playing.

Ed from Danvers, MA:

On a pass interference call, why not subtract 27.34 percent of the yards gained on the play? If the call is egregious enough, take 27.34 percent of the yards gained and multiply it by pi (3.14). This will balance the field by adding a math booth on the opposite side from the replay booth and attract engineers and math majors to the game.

John: I’ll pass this along.

Preston from Oakville, CT:

O-Man, Chicago is reeling. They have a quarterback controversy brewing and have shown all sorts of problems on the field. After a bye week and a win, and given how the division looks right now, is Sunday’s game a “must-win?” A loss at this time to that team would be devastating.

John: Yes, the Jaguars must win Sunday. If they do, the season suddenly looks a lot rosier. If they don’t, then it suddenly looks just like it did after Baltimore. Things did not look rosy after Baltimore.

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O-Zone: Worried no more

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

JACKSONVILLE – Let’s get to it …

Jay from Gainesville, FL:

I’m starting to think ’ stats last year were overrated. Most of his yards and touchdowns were when games were out of reach. A-Rob is going to be a legit Top 5 wide receiver. I think he made Bortles look good because of his jump-ball ability and his catch radius. This year, Bortles has three good wide receivers, two good tight ends and a receiving back. You can’t teach accuracy. You either have it or you don’t. I’m not saying we should get rid of him, but I think we have to realize we have to load up on D because he is going to have a lot of turnovers! Am I overreacting, O??

John: It’s very possible you’re overreacting; if so, you’re far from alone. There’s no question Bortles isn’t playing as well as he did last season. Part of that is because teams are doing more to negate the deep pass to – and yes, Robinson indeed helped Bortles greatly last season. I’ve said since the end of last season that Bortles’ statistics last season didn’t matter nearly as much as how he improved this season – and that the improvement he needed to make this season was going to be more difficult than the one he made from his rookie season to his second season. He didn’t make it in the first three games, but while he wasn’t perfect against Indianapolis in Week 4 he did some good things in terms of pocket presence and eliminating turnovers. Those last two things are the key. If he can continue in that vein in the coming weeks and start hitting more big plays when opportunities arise, the narrative surrounding him could change in a hurry. Either way, the defense absolutely will be a key. The unit is beginning to look like a strength – and considering how that side of the ball is built, it appears to be a strength that could get a lot stronger as time goes on.

Stephen from Jacksonville:

has played fairly well these past two weeks in place of the injured . With Odrick likely to return this week at Chicago, will Alualu again likely be placed on the pregame inactives list? Is there any chance Alualu could be named to the game-day roster over someone like , who hasn’t appeared to yet make as much of an impact this season as Alualu?

John: Game-day actives and inactives are sometimes more a function of numbers and roster management than an indictment on how well a player is playing. That was surely the case with Alualu being inactive in the first two games of the regular season. Jones was active instead of Alualu in the first two games because Jones is the closest thing the Jaguars have to a true backup nose tackle and players such as , Jones and Sen’Derrick Marks can theoretically kick outside to strong-side end if Odrick is unavailable. That doesn’t make those players better options as starters than Alualu, but it did make them better options to be active on game day if Odrick is healthy. Will Alualu be inactive Sunday? We’ll see, but he certainly played well enough that it would make sense if the Jaguars’ coaches rethought some things.

Lavoris from Jacksonville:

Hello, John. With the Jaguars’ running game nonexistent over the past four weeks, how can they be an effective running team going forward with so many injuries on the offensive line? This spells disaster for Blake and the wide receivers – especially when the offensive coordinator is not calling plays that get Bortles out of the pocket.

John: If the Jaguars had played just three games your email would be spot on, but the Jaguars ran very effectively against Indianapolis in Week 4 – and offensive coordinator Greg Olson did a nice job in that game of getting Bortles out of the pocket. The Jaguars’ ability to carry those things forward –the ability to run effectively in particular – will be crucial going forward. I don’t know that they’ll match the 136 yards rushing versus Indianapolis every week, but I think they can show improvement.

Steve from Jacksonville:

Has there ever been a serious discussion about having two types of pass-interference penalties like there used to be for face mask? I don’t like the NFL rule because a ticky-tack pass interference can result in a 50-yard penalty, whereas in college a defensive back literally tackling a receiver who’s about to catch a long touchdown pass only is penalized 15 yards. Thoughts, O-Man?

John: I think we can discuss this all we want, but I never have sensed real momentum for changing this rule. First, the NFL almost certainly is not going to do anything to reduce scoring – and implementing anything to shorten pass-interference penalties by definition would accomplish that. Second, the general direction of the NFL’s Competition Committee is to implement rules that take judgment as much out of the officiating equation as possible. That was why the league removed the “force-out” rule in the middle of the last decade and it’s why the league eliminated the different face-mask penalties. To install a second pass-interference penalty certainly would fly in the face of that trend.

Jay from Gainesville, FL:

I honestly feel like we should put our best players on the field – no matter who makes the most! We should run a 3-4. Marks is a beast! Malik, Roy, and Marks on the line. Dante, Yannick, Telvin and Jack at linebacker. And take Roy out on passing downs. As much as I like Odrick and his emotion, he has to come off the bench. I think a 3-4 would be a better fit for the players we have. I could be wrong, but am I, John??

John: The glaring thing wrong with your email is you talked about having the team’s best defensive players on the field and listed eight players – then you didn’t have among the eight. The reason he is in the starting lineup has nothing to do with money and everything to do with him being the best middle linebacker on the team right now. You also have at inside linebacker, a position that would be an extremely tough fit at his size. I have no fundamental problem with a 3-4 defense and the Jaguars probably could make it work, but realistically it’s not a huge issue. The Jaguars happen to be playing pretty good defense right now – and defenses are in nickel so much that a team’s formation in its base defenses is less important than it was 20 years ago.

Andrew from Sampson, FL:

If the Jaguars were to win all of their division games but have fewer overall wins than Houston, how is the division winner decided in that case? Has anything like that ever happened?

John: Division winners in the NFL are the team with the best overall record. How many games a team wins within its division only comes into play in the event of a season-ending tie.

Beau from Delta:

Do you think we are still a playoff-caliber team even with Blake Bortles’ struggles early? Loving the defense this year, though I just wish we could put together a complete game where the offense and defense can both play good.

John: “Complete” games in the NFL are difficult to achieve – primarily because every NFL team has highly-paid, talented players on both sides of the ball trying to play their own version of a complete game. As far as the Jaguars’ being a playoff-caliber team … no, they certainly are not that if Bortles plays as he did in Weeks 2 and 3. If he plays the final 12 games as well or better than he did in Week 4 against the Colts … well, we’ll see.

Adrian from El Paso, TX:

Eighteen hundred straight O-Zones are impressive given how hard it can be to face the dreaded mailbag after particular game days and things like those pesky hurricanes. I’ve always been curious, and maybe you’ve answered this in a previous O-Zone, but what exactly is your process? How many emails do you receive/wade through for the upcoming O-Zone? Are you particular about choosing an email that’s a day or two old – or is everything fair game? Finally, what are your preferences in choosing an email? There’s really seems to be no pattern I can pinpoint in the 1800 days I’ve read the ozone. Keep on keepin’ on.

John: The number of emails I receive on a daily basis varies widely. On some summer weekends the number per day can dwindle to 10 or 15 whereas it can reach well above 500 in a 24-hour period after particularly difficult-to-accept losses. There’s no real process and no real pattern. I answer questions that I believe interesting and I try to vary the mix of on and off the field based on the time of year, day of the week and my mood on a given day. If a question strikes me as one to which I can provide a comparatively informative or entertaining answer, I answer it. If not, I don’t. Some people seem to like the mix and others don’t. The ones that dislike the mix are sometimes more vocal than those who like it, and that’s fine. There was a time I worried about pleasing everyone and worried about my flaws. Once I waded deep enough into marriage to receive the requisite itemized oral list of said flaws on a regular basis … well, let’s just say that eased the pressure a bit.

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