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John: Coaching indeed has an influence, and there’s no question it’s the coaches’ decision to play Dan Skuta at Otto linebacker in run situations. I’m not a huge fan of that because it’s probably time to see the rookie full-time. Still, considering the Jaguars’ defense has played at a pretty high level it’s hard to argue vehemently against the decision. The approach being taken offensively is trickier. I absolutely think that at some point you have to let Blake Bortles and this offense try to make plays downfield. He can’t be a big-time NFL quarterback with such an obvious emphasis on the screen pass and back-shoulder throws. At the same time, you’re talking about a quarterback who has struggled with interceptions fairly significantly. It’s not hard to see why coaches would scheme to avoid that.

John: Sure, why not?

John: I didn’t write that I believe Bortles is destined to be a franchise quarterback. The results of his first three seasons don’t suggest that. But there is a limited pool of potential franchise quarterbacks, and the vast majority of those players are the property of other teams. Bortles has some attributes that still give him a chance to be a franchise quarterback – and he did some things in 2015 that also made it appear he could be that. The reason you continue to start him through this season is there is still a belief in the building that could happen. At some point very soon there will be conversations with head-coaching candidates on the matter – and the person who is selected will have input into Bortles’ role and future with the Jaguars. That’s when the Jaguars’ approach with Bortles could change. But I don’t see it changing in the next two weeks.

John: Thank you for the input, Chris. I’ll go ahead and keep answering questions in the O-Zone to the best of my ability, and I’ll keep appreciating and incorporating your input when appropriate. I’ll also laud someone for being a good man pretty much when I see fit – though I can check with you on that front if necessary. As far as the tone in the locker room, let’s just say the Jaguars’ players didn’t consider Bradley dead weight – and whatever their issues have been this season, inspiration or effort hasn’t been among them.

John: This is an idea that’s getting floated a lot, and I have nothing philosophically against a 3-4 defensive scheme. The overriding problem with the idea for the Jaguars is it really doesn’t solve their issue of how to get linebackers Paul Posluszny, Myles Jack and Telvin Smith on the field at the same time. While Dante Fowler Jr. indeed would fit into a 3-4 scheme as an outside linebacker, Jack, Posluszny and Smith are more inside linebackers in that scheme.

John: We’re not there yet.

John: Your facts are correct about how Jack and Skuta are being used, and I think that putting Jack on the field in nickel situations is something that will be done in the future. For now, the thought among the coaches is that Paul Posluszny is playing at such a high level that they don’t want to take him out of the nickel package.

John: This is true. Bradley handled the aftermath of his dismissal Sunday as he handled his entire Jaguars tenure – with dignity and class. He had no problem flying on the charter because he knew he had approached his job the right way, and he knew there was no shame in that. Was it the most enjoyable experience of his life? Surely not. But it was one he could handle. I wasn’t surprised Bradley chose to speak with the media Monday, although he was under no obligation to do so. He chose to do so because he always believed his mission with the Jaguars was about more than just winning. He believed it was about conducting himself in a certain way, shaping players on and off the field and helping to build the Jaguars into a team of which the city and area would be proud. He accomplished the first two. Some would say he didn’t accomplish the latter because the team didn’t win. That’s fine. People can remember and judge Bradley how they choose – and there’s little doubt that the time had come where a move had to be made. But that doesn’t change what he gave to this team and this community. He did handle himself with grace and class, and I think a lot of people will remember him that way.

John: This appears to be developing into more and more of an issue in the last couple of weeks. It seemed against Minnesota last week that the Jaguars were reluctant to have quarterback Blake Bortles throw downfield and to take many chance throws. It felt that way again on Sunday against Houston, and Bortles talked extensively after the game about the need to stay aggressive offensively. He likened the offense in the second half to a basketball team passing the ball around and until the shot clock runs down, then heaving a three-pointer. It’s pretty clear from that statement that Bortles wants to go downfield – and yes, he must be able to do that if he’s going to be an effective NFL quarterback. Can he do that effectively? Can the Jaguars figure out a way for him to do effectively? I’d like to see them attempt it in the last two games.

John: Yep.

John: My guess is it would probably take a first-round selection to acquire Jimmy Garappolo – though the Jaguars will be selecting early enough in the draft that perhaps a second-round selection would be enough. There also is the school of thought that the past performances of many high-profile quarterbacks with little starting experience following trades – Brock Osweiler, for instance – could make general managers wary of such a move. There also is the possibility that all of this is moot, and that the Patriots might not want to Garappolo. While it appears Tom Brady could play forever, that’s unlikely to actually happen – and that could make the Patriots want to retain Garappolo. We’ll see.

John: Most coaches can have success with good quarterback play – and in that sense, there’s no question Bortles’ play this season hurt a lot of things around the Jaguars. Can Bortles find success under another coach? I think there’s a very good chance we’re going to find out.

John: With Bradley now gone, there are two primary issues facing the team: Who will be the next head coach? And what will that mean for Bortles? It’s hard to say which is more important, though I would lean toward quarterback being the more pressing issue. I have written often that I believe better quarterback play would have meant a better record this season. Would better coaching have meant the same thing? Perhaps, but it’s my experience that quarterback in the NFL is a more important factor than coaching. That’s not me saying “Bortles must go.” It’s not easy to find a franchise quarterback, and you don’t want to give up on one until you’re sure he’s not one. Whatever your opinion on that topic, the Jaguars still believe Bortles can be that guy. He obviously must improve greatly and whoever is coaching this team next year obviously needs to believe in Bortles on some level if the franchise is going to move forward with Bortles and the new head coach. Stay tuned.

John: Tom Coughlin absolutely makes sense as the Jaguars’ head coach. That doesn’t mean he would match the success he had here from 1996-1999. Past success is no guarantee of future success in the NFL, and – as is the case with any head coach – a lot would have to go right for Coughlin to succeed. But what you want out of a head coach is someone capable of setting the tone for an organization and capable of creating an environment in which players can succeed. Coughlin can do those things. I’d like to see a coach with head-coaching experience, because I think that would be a positive for what is still a young team. Because of those things … yeah, I’d like to see Coughlin as the head coach. That doesn’t mean he’s the only candidate or the best candidate, but I think he’s a darned good candidate.

John: I always smile when people assume there are questions I “don’t want to answer.” I think Bortles is better than Tebow – largely based on Bortles’ play at times in the 2015 season. Honestly, because of Tebow’s appearance in the playoffs, Bortles’ career to date hasn’t been all that much better than Tebow’s. But I do think overall he still has a lot more upside than Tebow. Now, if you look at this season … well, there have been some games for Bortles that have been a real struggle. The important question is whether Bortles’ career will be significantly better than that of Tebow. Right now, it’s close. If he’s going to be “that much better” than Tebow, he has a lot of improving to do in a hurry.

John: There’s not any real mystery here. The coaches are playing Dan Skuta when they think the opponent is going to be in heavy or run-oriented looks. They expected the Texans to be heavy run on Sunday, so Skuta played 31 snaps and Jack played eight. Whether or not you agree with that approach, that’s why it’s happening.

John: This was one of seemingly countless emails Sunday evening and Monday morning on the obvious topic of the firing of Jaguars Head Coach Gus Bradley – and as might be expected, the emails ran a range of reaction and emotions. Relief. Disappointment. Hope. There were also the expected I-told-you-soers who have wanted Bradley fired for a long time and were ecstatic it “finally” happened. All of that’s fine. It’s part of being a fan, and firing an NFL head coach understandably brings a slew of reaction. The bottom line: however you feel about Bradley as a head coach, it was going to be difficult if not impossible to bring him back after this season. It had simply reached an end. I have written often and will continue to write that Bradley was overly criticized and that to blame him entirely for the 14-48 record over four seasons is to ignore that for the first two and perhaps three seasons it would have been difficult for any coach to have had a better record than he did. But when Bradley received a contract extension late last season, it became obvious the Jaguars were going to need to at least get pretty close to a winning record for Bradley to continue as head coach. That didn’t happen. While Bradley made mistakes and while the Jaguars showed a disturbing lack of discipline at times this season, I don’t believe that Bradley was remotely all that ailed the Jaguars this season. Had quarterback Blake Bortles played marginally better, the Jaguars could have won four or five more games – and if that had happened, the conversation around Bradley would have been much different. But whatever the reason, it was clear it was time for a change. You can only lose so long in the NFL as a head coach before a change is going to be made and it was clearly going to happen in the coming weeks. As it was, it happened Sunday. Does that mean starting over? In one sense, yes, because the direction will be new. But there is talent on this roster and this doesn’t have to be a massive “rebuild” on the scale of 2013. Will a change provide a spark? Will a new direction be the answer? That’s the hope. Jaguars General Manager David Caldwell will speak to the media at 2 p.m. Monday. We’ll start finding out more about that direction then.

John: Everyone involved in the decision hopes that the future of the franchise indeed is brighter than the recent past – Bradley absolutely included. I have no doubt that will be the case, and the time indeed had come where a move was inevitable. Will change bring results? That’s the hope. Was Bradley chiefly responsible for what was going wrong with the organization? I have my doubts, but perhaps the shakeup and redirection that a coaching change brings will have the desired results. As you say, stay tuned.

John: This day isn’t remotely about me. Am I sorry that a good man lost his job and didn’t find success despite complete and total heartfelt commitment to that cause? Of course. To feel otherwise would lack a certain amount of decency and compassion, I think. But don’t feel for me. Feel for Bradley, and the families of coaches whose lives will be affected by this. That’s real-life stuff, and not something to celebrate.

John: Indeed.

John: I actually haven’t heard that theory a whole lot and I don’t know how much different the last four seasons would have been had Bradley brought players from Seattle. Unless, of course, those players were named Earl Thomas, Richard Sherman, Russell Wilson, Marshawn Lynch, Kam …

John: Perhaps. Niceness doesn’t really have anything to do with anything either way, but if you want a mean guy … who knows … maybe Shad Khan and David Caldwell will shoot that to the top of the list.

John: I think there’s still a lot to be said for the way the Jaguars tried to rebuild the culture of the organization. And there’s little question that you must try to rebuild primarily through the draft. I would say in retrospect that the main issue that hurt the Jaguars the last couple of seasons was an overall lack of experienced core players at key spots in the roster. This remains a young team at some critical spots without core players who have been with the Jaguars since the beginning of their careers. It’s difficult to have such players when you draft poorly and that was part of the dilemma General Manager David Caldwell faced when he took over the roster. It takes time to draft and develop your own core guys into six- and-seven-year veterans. That’s what this team really, really lacks—that, of course, and reliable play at quarterback.

John: I doubt that happens this season.

John: OK.

John: It would have been easy before the announcement of Bradley’s dismissal to answer every question in O-Zone Late Night about Jalen Ramsey – his game Sunday was that memorable and his performance was that spectacular. He made at least six momentum-turning, highlight plays – and his best play may not even have been the 25-yard interception return that set up a first-half field goal. He also broke up a fade pass to wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins in the second quarter to cap a key goal-line stand, and he leveled Hopkins to break up a potential first-down converting pass. This was a battle all day between two big-time players and both players got their share of victories in one-on-one battles. But Ramsey is destined to be a big-time, All-Pro cornerback in the NFL – and Sunday was a vivid example of why.

John: You’re right. Andy Reid has been successful in Kansas City. And John Fox has struggled mightily with the Chicago Bears after coaching in Super Bowls in Carolina and Denver. If you hired the right coach and put him in the right situation, it usually will yield results whether or not the guy has experience. If you hire the wrong coach and put him in the wrong situation, it won’t. I have nothing against hiring an experienced head coach with a record of NFL success. In fact, I’d prefer it. But let’s not pretend it’s a fail-safe formula. There’s no such thing as a fail-safe formula for hiring a head coach. If one existed, every team would use it and every team would win Super Bowls.

John: Gus Bradley was just fired Sunday night, so the answer obviously is that the Jaguars don’t yet know exactly where they will go from here. Caldwell will speak to the media Monday afternoon, and I don’t imagine the criteria for the search for the next coach will be provided any particular detail. My personal belief is the specifics – defensive/offensive, players coach/disciplinarian, experienced/inexperienced – don’t matter all that much. I don’t even really care all that much if a guy has head coaching experience, though my guess is that will be a priority in this search. Find a head coach you believe in, and go from there. A wise man once said that there’s no fail-safe formula because if there was everyone would use it. I wish I could remember who that guy was. I really thought he was cool.

John: I guess I’m never sure what “getting a pass” means when it comes to coaches or general managers. Jaguars General Manager David Caldwell has come under plenty of criticism from fans and media this season, and when Owner Shad Khan evaluates what’s going on with the Jaguars I’m quite certain he asks Caldwell questions and evaluates his performance. Does getting a pass mean not getting fired? If so, then yes … Caldwell might “get a pass.” I hope that’s the case, because despite not accomplishing the impossible task hitting on every free agent and draft selection over a four-year period he has put a structure in place and is building a foundation that can lead to this team to competitiveness and beyond. I don’t know if Khan agrees with that. We’ll see. Look, I get that people are talking a lot right now about who will “get a pass” and who won’t. The argument right now against Caldwell seems to be he “missed” on quarterback Blake Bortles. I don’t know that that’s written in stone yet, and I don’t know that missing on a quarterback must be grounds for firing – public perception notwithstanding. Overall I think Caldwell returning is the right move – because while the timetable may feel too long, the organization’s course in terms of young talent and potential moving forward remains strong. I don’t yet know what will happen on this front. I don’t know that many outside Khan do. Stay tuned.

John: Fans can do what they want. I try not to let their actions dictate my emotions. I’ve learned it’s better that way.

John: You indeed are in the minority. I don’t know what will happen after the season. I wish I did. As I have said often in recent weeks … while I favor continuity in the NFL on a philosophical level, considering the expectations entering this season, continuity in this instance would be an exceedingly difficult path.

John: Not actually, no.

John: Not particularly, no. We won’t know for several seasons if Brandon Allen was a waste of a roster spot. If he never is the Jaguars’ primary backup quarterback and/or if the Jaguars never acquire anything for him in a trade, then perhaps he was a waste. If not, not.

John: OK.

John: If I ever am tempted to do such a thing I look in the mirror and remember my readers have the ability to shake their heads, too.

John: I would be cautious with injured players in the sense that I wouldn’t play a player if an injury had them more at risk for further injury than otherwise would be the case. Aside from that … nah.

John: To the best of my recollection I have worked the day after the NFL regular-season finale for each of the last 21 years. I see no reason why this season should be any different.

John: I have no idea what you’re talking about.

John: I don’t get worked up about midseason coaching changes one way or the other. That’s because they historically have no real lasting benefit, and at the same time, there’s no real benefit or loss to whatever decision gets made. The interim coach usually is largely forgotten by the time a new coach is hired in January, and the mood/culture at that point within the building is dominated by the new coach and the changes that have taken place. Change coaches midseason, don’t change coaches midseason … whatever … the decision pales in comparison to what’s coming in a few weeks/months.

John: OK.

John: The Jaguars’ good, young players are under contract through at least the 2017 season. There is no reason the Jaguars can’t re-sign the core players they want to keep before they hit the open market.

John: Welcome back, Scott.

John: Sometimes those arm-chair quarterbacks are right. And a lot of times they’re wrong. Sometimes the media know-it-alls are right, too. A lot of times they’re wrong. That’s what makes it exciting and fun.

John: I don’t know that there’s any one huge difference between Bortles this year and last year. I think there unquestionably was a stretch this season when he was less accurate than last season – and he was really struggling in a lot of areas around midseason. But I honestly don’t know if there’s as mammoth a difference between Bortles this season and last season as many believe. He struggled at the start of games last season, and he also struggled with interceptions. The offense often was inefficient, and his decision-making often was a reason. As has been noted, some of his statistics last season came at the end of games with the Jaguars trailing. The Jaguars have been in closer games for the most part this season, so perhaps some so-called “mop-up” touchdowns and yards haven’t come as easily. I basically feel about Bortles as a quarterback similarly to how I did this time last year. He’s a guy with a lot of potential, and one who has shown he can produce in the NFL. He also remains a player who has to take a step forward in terms of decision-making, accuracy and game awareness. I think the accuracy stuff can improve in the offseason because he took steps in that area between Year 1 and 2. Can the decision-making progress? We’ll see.

John: I know.

John: Decision-making and game sense have been issues for Bortles during each of his three seasons. They’re not issues all the time, but they’re issues often enough that they’re well … issues.

John: That’s not out of the question. With the Jaguars at 2-11 and in the midst of a terrifically disappointing season in which they in no way came close to expectations, I’m not going to spend a great deal of time banging the table about how close this team is to being competitive. At the same time, I expected this team to be about 7-9 to 9-7 this season and the Jaguars realistically are a few key plays from being at that level. So, is it possible that with slightly better play at quarterback — and with a year for these young players to grow – that the Jaguars could improve dramatically next season? Sure, it’s possible.

John: Not right now, no. If it stays that way, then Caldwell missed big-time. Right now, it looks as if he did miss on Bortles. Sometimes, perceptions and career arcs change in the NFL. We’ll see if this one does.

John: The overwhelming reason is there are a bunch of reasons – just as there are almost always a bunch of reasons when things go bad in the NFL. A huge reason for the overall record over the last four seasons is that the Jaguars were in a major rebuilding mode for the first few seasons, and it would have been hard for any head coach to have coached the Jaguars to a significantly better record than the Jaguars had in 2013, 2014 and perhaps even 2015. A primary reason that the Jaguars have struggled this season is that they didn’t get the needed/expected improvement from their offense; a lot of that is because Bortles didn’t make the necessary/needed improvement, but that’s not the only reason the offense didn’t improve. The defense also still lacks a slam-the-door pass rusher, and the combination of lack of pass rush and struggling quarterback play has contributed to a minus-17 turnover ratio that remains the critical stat in this disappointing season. The team also remains a little young at pass rusher and quarterback; that’s not to make an “excuse,” but it is reality that there aren’t reliable, core veterans in those areas. So, who’s at fault for this? Many will “blame” David Caldwell and still others will blame Bradley. Maybe it’s Bortles for not improving enough. More than likely it’s a combination of the above.

John: I’ve never been big on seeking a certain Type of Head Coach as in, “We Must Hire an Offensive Coach Because the Last Coach Was a Defensive Coach,” or, “We Must Hire a Disciplinarian Because the Last Coach Was a Players’ Coach,” or “We Must Hire an Experienced Coach Because the Last Coach Was a Younger Coach.” Hire the coach you think is the best one for the job. If he’s good, he’ll be good. If he’s not, it won’t matter if he’s a disciplinarian or a defensive guy or experienced or whatever.

John: Well, they still would be blaming it – it just wouldn’t be as dramatic.

John: #DTWD