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O-Zone: No time for laughs

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

JACKSONVILLE – Let’s get to it …

Justin from Jacksonville:

John, tearing up at the end of Sunday’s game gives me hope for the future of our team. The pain of losing a regular-season game – even during a hopeless season – was written all over his face. If every player on our team were that emotionally invested every week we would be great. Thank you Jalen for giving us fans something to brag about this season. #RamseyIsland

John: Jaguars rookie cornerback Jalen Ramsey without question is a player around whom this franchise can build. I have no doubt he is on his way to being a core player, a franchise player, a foundation piece – and a lot of other things this and any other NFL franchise very much needs. His ability/level of play are part of that, but his passion and dedication appear also to be off the charts – and that indeed is a big part of what makes him a foundation piece as well. I don’t think for a minute that Ramsey is alone on this team in his desire to win. Losing hurts many of these guys – and many players who play with passion don’t necessarily show it in the way Ramsey does. But could the Jaguars use a lot more players with Ramsey’s mental makeup? Certainly.

Noel from St. Augustine, FL:

Hey O! … I’m so sick and tired of being sick and tired of!

John: I hear you.

Otto from Ponte Vedra Beach, FL:

John, Shad Khan has done a lot of great things for the Jags and Jacksonville in general. However, he is not a “football guy.” It seems to me we are in need of a President of Football Operations – a conduit between general manager, coach and owner. A knowledgeable NFL person who Mr. Khan can go to and trust completely about football decisions. Many teams have such a person. Whether it be Coughlin or someone else we should have somebody with years of experience in that position. What are your thoughts?

John: I’m not philosophically opposed to such a move, but with a few exceptions most NFL owners are not “football guys” – and NFL front offices operate at various levels of success using various structures. Some teams have presidents who are also general managers. Others have general managers who don’t have the title of president, but who essentially oversee all football operations. At some point most owners must trust football decisions to someone – whatever title that person may hold.

Jason from Jacksonville:

Nobody was a bigger fan of than I, but O – it’s time to admit it’s bad at quarterback. What would our record be with just decent play at quarterback? I would debate that there are 25 or more in the league that would have helped us to at least a 5-5 record. Actually, I can name 15 that we would be 7-3 if we had them leading our offense. Time to find a new quarterback. We have a ton of talent, just need a decent quarterback.

John: I’m not debating the Jaguars would be better this season with better quarterback play. I’ve written and said as much many, many times in recent weeks – and actually have written and said as much since San Diego in Week 2. I have written this because I am a huge believer that quarterback play in the NFL often is the great un-equalizer, meaning most teams are relatively equal and quarterback play shifts the needle one way or the other over the course of a season. At the same time, none of that means the Jaguars need to give up on Blake Bortles. They must analyze him and determine if he can improve. There is every possibility that they will need to bring in competition for him in the offseason. And if they do that, that competition needs to real. But he has shown enough and done enough good things that he should have a chance to make the offseason improvement the team believes he can make.

Steve from Hudson, FL:

Will the loss of force us to use an extra tackle on short yardage? We are going to miss Lewis blocking.

John: Perhaps. Yes.

Herbert from MidState Office Supply Accountz Receevablez:

Is there anything Gus Bradley could do to lose his job before the end of the season? Anything at all??

John: While I have said repeatedly I don’t believe Jaguars Owner Shad Khan wants to make a midseason coaching change, I did wonder after the loss to Tennessee if he might change his mind. That was the sort of loss that theoretically could cause an owner to change an approach. If he didn’t make a midseason change after that game, I don’t see a scenario in which he would.

Steve from Denver, CO:

O, you seem to downplay how valuable a good coach is. How about the new coaches in Philly and Miami? Not to mention the improvement of San Francisco 49ers by Jim Harbaugh a few years ago. Why has Singletary not been hired as a head coach since he left his heart in San Francisco?

John: I have been accused of underplaying the value of a head coach, and it is true I generally lean toward players mattering far more than coaches. I also generally believe a head coach’s job is far more about establishing a culture and being a chief executive officer than the details – and in many, many cases I think the head coach is blamed for way, way too many things. There are exceptions and Harbaugh seems to be one. Are Adam Gase of Miami and Doug Pederson such exceptions? We’re 10 games into their NFL careers. I’ll wait and see. My thoughts when it comes to Gus Bradley never have been that he’s a great head coach. He has not proven that to be the case. I have said that the circumstances he has faced here, particularly in the first three years of his tenure, were such that it would have been difficult for any head coach to be successful.

David from Broward County:

O-Man, there are many problems/issues hurting the Jags this year. Poor quarterback play is at the top of the list. Very big is the so-called culture of the Gus Bradley-led coaching staff, an undisciplined losing culture that in effect says losing is OK as long as there is improvement. This culture has been a very big negative for this team. There is another issue that really hasn’t been discussed at all and that is the failure of Dave Caldwell to deliver a strong offensive line and running game to his young quarterback. Overall, Caldwell has done a good job upgrading talent, but the lack of a strong running game and top-notch offensive line is a big failure. Bortles would be much better off now, regression or not, if the offensive line and running game was better. What do you think?

John: I think to say that Bradley and the coaching staff ever have taught that losing is OK is to misunderstand Bradley’s approach, but that’s fine: the Jaguars have lost enough that people are understandably going to see it that way. That’s the narrative, and losing has solidified it. As far as the offensive line … no, it hasn’t been a dominant run-blocking unit – although it has improved as a pass-blocking unit this season. The Jaguars would be better off if it was a better run-blocking unit. It’s not. Is it fair to blame Caldwell for that? He’s the general manager, so yes. At the same time, the Jaguars had a mammoth rebuild four years ago. Caldwell has hit on a lot. It’s difficult to hit on everything.

Louie from Jacksonville:

This is several years now that the Jags have been horrible. This year is the worst, by far. The Jags spent a lot of money on players this year. Are they worth what we paid? I don’t think so. and were great in Denver; they come here and do very little. As a longtime fan, I think we need to clean house. We need a quarterback and a better offensive line. What do you think?

John: I think Bortles needs to play a lot better than he has to date, and I think I can’t say for sure if that will happen – but I think he has to be given a chance because he did enough last season to merit that. I think you have a point that Julius Thomas has not been productive enough this season and I think you’re far from alone in being way, way off the mark about Malik Jackson. As far being worth what they were paid … I guess I think people may as well stop thinking this way. If you want your team to participate in high-profile, front-line free agency you’re going to experience disappointment far more often than not. With rare, rare exceptions they can’t and won’t “be worth what they’re paid.” It has been the nature of free agency for more than two decades and I doubt it will change.

Rob from Section 122:

Playoffs? Playoffs? Hahhahahhah! All I do now is laugh during games. It’s all I can do. Sure can’t enjoy it, but being upset hurts. So, I just laughed throughout the game. … Hahaha. …

John: I didn’t laugh Sunday.

Pages: 12

O-Zone: Always a chance

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

JACKSONVILLE – One more day to Look-Ahead Wednesday. And so on and so on and so on …

Let’s get to it …

Mikey from Jacksonville:

While there hasn’t been much to write home about this season, I will admit has impressed me. Early in his career, it seemed he couldn’t get on the field due to injuries – and I was done thinking about him. I’m glad the team wasn’t as impatient as I would have been.

John: The Jaguars were never going to release Marqise Lee. While many people – Lee most prominent among them – were frustrated during the past two seasons by his inability to stay healthy, there was no reason to question his desire or talent. It was the talent, of course, that made keeping him easy. Lee is a phenomenally gifted receiver. We have seen that in recent weeks, and we saw it again Sunday as he made two highlight-reel catches of rare athleticism and body control. When you have that sort of talent on the roster, keeping it is a very easy decision.

Paulo from Salvadore, Brazil:

Hi O, love your work. The worst thing about being fan of a struggling team is that I don´t cheer anymore. I know the team will find a way to lose. Even in the victories, I didn’t cheer because I expected some mistakes that will cost the game. The victories only happen because the time expired first. Does this feeling happen to the players during the game? Can we get some winning to change that perception?

John: Your feelings are natural and stem from being a human being. When you watch a team lose as much as the Jaguars have lost in recent seasons, it’s natural to wonder what’s coming next. And yes … because they are human beings, players feel those feelings, too. I have sensed for the most part this season that the Jaguars have played through those feelings and stayed motivated, but it would be natural for it to be an issue with hopes of a winning record now extinguished so early in the season. As far as winning changing the perception … yes, winning cures all. It’s better than losing – a lot better, actually.

Benjamin from Jacksonville:

A lot of fans are grumbling about Gus Bradley and calling for him to be fired, which is completely understandable. What concerns me is the clamor for Dave Caldwell to be fired as well. While it is true that he appears to have missed on the two highest-profile personnel decisions in the head coach and quarterback, the rest of the roster has talent all over. In your opinion, are those two “sins” so egregious as to warrant losing his job or do you believe he has added enough talent to the roster as a whole to get another shot with another head coach and quarterback?

John: I don’t know how Shad Khan feels about the future of General Manager David Caldwell – just as I don’t know how he feels about the future of Head Coach Gus Bradley. The reason I don’t know these things is very few people if any outside of Khan knows how he feels about these things, and Khan may not yet have made decisions in either area. Six games remain in this season. That’s enough games that it would be reasonable for Khan to still be watching/evaluating. I have said often and I still believe that Caldwell should be retained. I believe he has improved the roster, and I believe the talent for the most part is enough to win. Quarterback is an exception right now, because right now is not playing well enough for the Jaguars to win. That doesn’t mean he can’t improve enough to win, but it does mean it’s not happening right now. What all of that will mean at the end of the season I don’t know.

Bryan from Tampa, FL:

Do you think this team is in danger of entering quarterback purgatory? The defense is extremely young, but already playing well. The wide receivers are in place and the running game may be a player or two away. Special-teams play tends to fluctuate from year to year. By purgatory, I mean building a roster strong enough to win six-to-eight games with poor quarterback play that prevents you from drafting high enough to take an elite quarterback prospect. Teams like the Rams, Bills and Texans are recent examples.

John: The Jaguars are 2-8, so they have to do some pretty significant winning the rest of the season to reach your definition of purgatory. As far as purgatory, I guess I have a tough time defining it. I do think teams that have poor quarterback play do whatever they can to get better quarterback play, and teams that have good quarterback play thank the heavens for their good fortune.

Tony from Jacksonville:

I’ve always felt that good teams find ways to win, and bad teams find ways to lose. By that definition, we are a consistently bad team. When you have the talent, and many games you are actually outperforming the opponent, could it be that simple? Make plays, not mistakes, when the game is on the line. Is there such a thing as a “winning mindset” – and if so, how does a team develop it?

John: Win.

JT from Jacksonville:

It’s getting to the point that we can expect Blake Bortles to throw a ridiculous interception each game. This is not the sign of a good starting quarterback in the NFL.

John: I was going to answer this with a simple, “That’s right,” but it deserves more than that. This indeed is the bottom line on Bortles tight now. He is doing enough good things to move the Jaguars’ offense at times. His play on two touchdown drives Sunday was good – and he has had other such moments. He is completing a good percentage of his passes and he is throwing for a good amount of yards. But as you say, there are too many games when one mistake turns the game. He has 16 turnovers this season and has thrown two interceptions that have been returned for touchdowns in the last two weeks. Those sorts of plays lose games – as evidenced by the results of the last two games.

Sebastian from Mexico:

MJ could play nickel. Why not put him there when was injured in place of ?

John: is a rookie linebacker who has learned all three linebacker roles this season. His coverage skills are very, very good for a rookie linebacker, but to ask him to play nickel would be a big, big ask.

Robert from Fort Bliss:

We have to draft a new quarterback. The sooner we realize this, the better. Blake Bortles will never lead us to the Promised Land. The line gave him plenty of time and good throwing lanes. He plain and simple can’t get it done.

John: There are more than a few fans who feel this way, and Bortles has struggled enough this season that the sentiment is understandable. I don’t know the direction after the season when it comes to quarterback because I don’t yet know the direction the franchise will go in a lot of areas. There remains a belief that Bortles can right this ship. How long he will have to do that I do not know.

Diegus from Duval:

Do you see any chance of the Jaguars exporting a trade for a quarterback such as Tony Romo or someone of his caliber? Also, needs to go: he has fumbled the ball too much! Offense should be our main focus in the draft: not more defensive players. We need a Leonard Fournette-type of playmaker and we should draft an offensive lineman in the second round.

John: Wow. Many takes and questions in a few sentences. I’ll swing at a few. One, I don’t know how many quarterbacks the caliber of Tony Romo will be available in the offseason, but I’m guessing not many and I think it’s doubtful he will be traded to Jacksonville – if the Jaguars would seek such a trade at all. Two, yeah … Chris Ivory’s fumble was costly Sunday – and I think offensive line will be a focus in the draft. As far as Leonard Fournette … while it’s too early to get deep into draft talk, I’ll be surprised if the Jaguars go running back in the first round – but that’s only because I’m always surprised these days when teams go running back in the first round.

Bill from Folkston, GA:

Hey, John: I was just looking at the remaining schedule and have a question for you. In all honesty, without a major improvement in many areas, do you think we have a chance of winning any more games this season?

John: Absolutely. The Jaguars have lost three consecutive games to contending teams with winning records. They have had a legitimate chance to win all three of those games. I see no reason they should have a legitimate chance to win all of their remaining six games. Whether they will indeed win any of them I frankly haven’t the foggiest idea.

Pages: 12

O-Zone: The plain truth

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

JACKSONVILLE – Another week, another …

Well, you get the idea.

Let’s get to it …

David from Duval:

There’s just one thing holding this team back from being really good. We give up non-offensive touchdowns and never get any.

John: The Jaguars at 2-8 are making enough mistakes that it would be disingenuous to say that it’s one thing keeping them from winning. They’re making too many mistakes in too many areas, and quarterback is still too far from efficient. Those things make winning difficult. But the non-offensive-touchdowns part? The special-teams part? The fact that the Jaguars don’t get big plays from their own defense and special teams? None of those things help. They actually hurt. A lot.

Steve from Hudson, FL:

I can see the effort. How long before we see wins?

John: At least six more days.

Cole from Jacksonville:

Blake Bortles is not the answer. I’ll be watching Deshaun Watson more closely the next few games because it looks like we will have a good chance to draft who we want at No. 1 or No. 2 in the draft. The defense looks good, though; playing with a lot of heart. That’s all.

John: I have no idea if the Jaguars will seek a quarterback in the offseason. There are a lot of moving parts in that equation, and with six weeks remaining in the season, I expect the parts to keep moving for a few more weeks. As far as the defense … yes, the unit has played pretty well for a lot of the season. The entire team actually played with a lot of heart Sunday. But the Jaguars made too many mistakes and did too many of the same things they have done too often this season. As a result, they lost a fifth consecutive game. When that happens, no one wants to talk about heart – nor should they.

Cody from Boston, MA:

Do you think we will see Bortles be more of a mobile quarterback? Make him run some running-back drills in practice and make him into a watered-down Cam Newton. He is a big guy and he can run. Plus, that will give another thing the opposing teams must worry about. High risk, high reward?

John: I do not think the Jaguars will turn Blake Bortles into a watered-down Cam Newton. I also do not think Blake Bortles will be participating in running-back drills any time soon.

Todd from Oklahoma City, OK:

I wouldn’t describe blowing a fourth-quarter lead as gutsy on the Jaguars’ behalf.

John: OK. Agree to disagree.

Dave from Duval:

I know Gus has to be the most frustrated. These guys just won’t play smart, sound football for him. It’s almost as if they are trying to get him gone.

John: Nah, they’re not trying to get him gone. But the way they’re playing, the odds grow by the week that that will be the end result. I honestly don’t know how to judge the lack of discipline the Jaguars are showing this season. It’s surprising because while the Jaguars struggled in Bradley’s first three seasons, they weren’t a highly-penalized team for the most part – and they didn’t have the absolutely inexcusable, mind-blowing mistakes they’re committing this season. Some of that’s coaching because discipline falls on coaching. Some of it is players, because NFL players should know how to avoid most of the mistakes the Jaguars keep making. Whatever it is, it has become one of the themes defining the Jaguars’ season – and having your season defined by a lack of discipline is not good thing in the NFL.

Andy from Whimple, England:

Words fail me as far as the team and results. But respect, admiration and prayers to . You deserved more from today.

John: True that.

Jake Town from Jacksonville:

I see the frustration on the face of our defense and it makes me worry that next year they won’t care. They know the team sucks, so why bother playing? We are stuck as the second-worst team in the NFL forever.

John: Nah. It is indeed bad now. No one would tell you different – and when you’re in the midst of a bad season, it seems as if it will never end. But this, too, shall pass. It’s taking a lot longer than it should, but it shall pass.

Tim from Dejaview Land:

Have we seen the script of this game before? Yes, pretty much every week except the blowout weeks. Offsides!!!! Sheesh!

John: The Jaguars are 2-8, and five of the losses indeed are strikingly, numbingly, frustratingly similar. The Jaguars could have and perhaps should have won five games this season – Green Bay, Baltimore, Kansas City, Houston and Detroit. Sloppy, undisciplined play and struggles at the quarterback position largely have caused that not to happen. That’s a formula for losing in the NFL – and the Jaguars have that formula down far too well.

Richard from Nottingham, UK:

Can we bench him yet? He has directly cost us the last two games. There has got to be another way, Zone … there’s just gotta!

John: I guess a concerning thing is that while I sort of think you’re talking about Blake Bortles I don’t know for sure.

Daniel since Day One from Jax:

Bradley’s philosophy of “get better every day and the wins will come” sounds good but has failed. It always reminds me of the participation trophies. It just seems there’s not enough emphasis on competition with the other team. Then, when the players lose with the pressure on, they can’t handle it and start self-destructing. How many penalties with the ball not even in play? Way too many to be considered a well-coached team.

John: Bradley’s not the only coach who preaches the philosophy of get-better-every-day-and-the-victories-will-come … but because of the record, I understand fans’ irritation. I don’t believe Bradley’s get-better-every-day philosophy is a bad one, but something isn’t working in a big way with this team. When that’s the case, the head coach is the first one blamed.

Jerell from Columbia, SC:

Why do the Jags run out of the gun so much? I hate that!!!

John: You’re not going to believe this, Jerell, but … I agree.

Marco from Lima, Peru:

We do have a defense for the future. We just need a lower/mid-tier guy playing at quarterback to have a decent production on the field. Can’t we just trade for that?

John: Is the solution that simple? No. Do the Jaguars need to get better play at quarterback – be it Blake Bortles improving or some other avenue? Yeah.

Tres from Lake Butler, FL:

Players are breaking emotionally at this point. This is atrocious at this point. What is there to be positive about anymore? There are no moral victories.

John: No, it’s not a good situation.

Sen’Derrick from the Defensive Line Room:

I guess that’ll teach ’em to cut my playing time. Go Jags!

John: I’m reasonably sure this isn’t really from Marks. Either way, Marks didn’t jump offside Sunday on purpose. None of the mistakes getting made are happening on purpose. But too many of them are avoidable, and Marks’ offsides penalty with 2:34 remaining in the fourth quarter Sunday was an absolute killer. Maybe the Jaguars get the stop there or maybe they don’t. Maybe they go score after getting the stop or maybe they don’t. But offside on fourth-and-2 from the Jaguars 46 was up there with the most damaging mistakes of the season. Way up there.

CC from Duval:

Do you know how I know it’s Sunday around 4:30 p.m? Because I have that empty feeling inside that once again a player made a boneheaded play at a crucial time in the game that cost the opportunity to win a game. Sorry for the rant. Rooting for the Jags is really hurting me as you can tell.

John: I get it.

Rob from Pittsburgh, PA:

I blame the beard, but seriously – don’t really care week-to-week anymore. All of us fans are #DTWD but the emotional investment is done for a while. I still follow the games and results but don’t even get bothered any more since about the sixth loss. The only daily Jags I do anymore is the O-Zone … so thanks for at least keeping THAT going for us. It helps the fans whether you – or us – realize or not.

John: Thanks for reading – and your feelings are understandable. This has been a brutal season. Expectations not only haven’t been met – they haven’t been close to being met. The Jaguars have found creative, maddening ways to lose so often that many readers are indeed disinterested. And you know what? I get it. It’s not the fans’ job to be emotionally invested. It’s the team’s job to make certain fans are emotionally invested. Right now the team – the players, the coaching staff and so on – isn’t doing enough to make that happen. That stinks, but that’s true.

Roger from Jacksonville:

You just can’t make so many stupid mistakes and expect to win in the NFL.

John: No, you cannot.

Pages: 12

O-Zone: Needs improvement

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

DETROIT, Michigan – Motor City O-Zone.

Let’s get to it …

Bruce from Green Cove Springs, FL:

I think it’s great that Tony Boselli is being considered for the Hall of Fame. In his (all-too-short) career, he was dominant. But I just can’t understand why Fred Taylor isn’t even in the conversation: 17th all-time leading rusher. More rushing yards than John Riggins and O.J. Simpson – who, by the way, are both in the Hall of Fame. Will Fred ever get his due?

John: I believe Fred Taylor eventually has a chance to get into the Hall-of-Fame conversation, meaning I believe he eventually can at least receive serious consideration as a semifinalist. He was one of the most dynamic runners of the last 20 or 30 years and he absolutely deserves to be in the discussion. As was the case with Boselli, I anticipate it will take time and some serious study/reconsideration from the voters to give him his due. I’m not big on criticizing the selection process because I’ve seen first-hand the commitment and dedication many voters have for the process. It’s not a perfect system, but it’s usually a good one. That being said, Taylor was not among the 96 players nominated this year for the 2017 Pro Football Hall of Fame class. That is categorically absurd.

Jason from North Pole, AK:

After being a fan since ’95, I will finally be attending my first Jags game in Jacksonville on December 11. I wish the team was better, but I am super pumped! #DTWD

John: #DTWD

Mike from Atlanta, GA:

The Jaguars’ best receiver is who? How much of a talent difference is there between their best receiver and their third-best receiver? Will they be able to keep all three for the long-term?

John: . Not much. Yes, if they so choose.

Tim from Orange Park, FL:

There is no difference between 2-14, 3-13 or even 7-9 at this point. The team is not performing at the level it should be and the coaches’ records show they are not perducing. It’s now on the owner to identify if the general manager is also part of the problem. We now will have to suffer until the season ends and the cards are revealed. The biggest challenge for the Jaguars is next year’s ticket sales.

John: I can’t predict the difficulty of season-ticket sales next year. I do know if the Jaguars can’t perduce we got us some real issues.

Jeff from Keystone Heights, FL:

I can’t fathom the number of balls thrown by during his offseason workouts, minicamps, spring training, practices, warmups – in front of his bathroom mirror, quite possibly – and there’s still the mechanics concern? There’s no way I’m buying that a few more dozen repetitions will train his arm and body to perform differently than the tens of thousands of prior motions. No way. It ain’t happenin’.

John: Bortles’ mechanics weren’t great during the 2015 season, but they were functional. This followed a 2015 offseason of pretty intense focus on the area. Those mechanics were just as functional during the 2016 offseason and much of the 2016 preseason. Will he ever be the textbook definition of an NFL passer? Probably not. Can he reach a point where he can pass effectively enough to be a very productive quarterback? Absolutely.

Dave from Duval:

The curse of Marino … that’s it. Yes, I stabbed a regulation NFL football and lit it on fire because the football gods like the sound air leaving a ball and the smell of burnt pigskin. We’ll see what happens.

John: Good work. I think you’re on the scent.

Keith from Jacksonville and Section 436:

Binge reading the O-Zone to catch up the last few days. On Look-Ahead Wednesday, you answered David from Duval, who criticized Gus for saying we’re making a second-half run and you answered what would you have him say. How about the truth? We know the team sucks and it kind of offends our sense of honesty and trust to hear the same garbage coming from his mouth week after week when we know what’s going to happen against the next opponent. I’d rather him just admit the team sucks. Players know, fans know it. He needs to preach to the choir.

John: It’s fair to criticize Gus Bradley for many things. He certainly is not without responsibility for the Jaguars’ struggles, particularly over the last couple of seasons. But to expect him to believe that the Jaguars are incapable of winning is silly and insulting. The results haven’t been there, but Bradley’s belief and passion never has waned.

Robert from Lexington:

With all due respect, should have been given your half-season Offensive Most Valuable Player Award. Only 10 pressures allowed in 410 pass blocks is elite.

John: OK.

Donald from Jacksonville:

Unfulfilled expectations is not the theme for the season. It’s fundamentally undisciplined football.

John: OK.

Kyle from Duval:

A new head coach is coming next year, regardless of what you may think. That being said, as a new head coach, the talent that may exist on the roster isn’t a concern to you. Your job is to recruit new, better talent since the previous talent played a large hand in the last coaches firing. Thus, we are again playing meaningless football.

John: Seven games remain in the season. Whoever may or may not be coaching the team next year is going to care more than a little about how players perform in those games.

Dave from LA:

“When I watch this disintegration of Blake Bortles, it bothers me because I know how the kid played a few years ago. I know the talent he has. He’s clearly been underachieving in Jacksonville.” – Ron Jaworski, who believes Bortles’ talent is being squandered by his coaching staff. Thoughts?

John: I think Jaworski is a really good analyst who seems as befuddled by Bortles’ lack of progress as most people. I also think to blame the coaching staff solely for his struggles is a bit dim.

Donnie from Ponte Vedra, FL:

Mighty O, why does the NFL make it so hard to watch games? I apologize for asking you, but for the life of me I can’t find an actual contact form on the NFL website. Surely you can pass on a message to the Commissioner? I paid money to stream the NFL Network on my PlayStation; the quality is excellent and I love it. But Thursday’s game isn’t available, because it’s streaming on Twitter. So, now I can choose to watch it on my small computer screen, or use my AppleTV to put it on my TV. Except that makes the game laggy and unenjoyable. It cheapens the product, and annoys consumers when they can’t use the service they literally paid the NFL for. I wonder why ratings are down???

John: I’ll bring this up in my weekly conference call with Roger … but yeah … streaming NFL games isn’t always as user-friendly as would be ideal. Contrary to my image as a crotchety-old-behind-the-times-ink-stained-sad-pathetic-antiquated senior writer, most of my television viewing now is streamed. It’s indeed sometimes difficult to locate games on streaming devices, and sometimes I do find myself watching Bea, Betty and the gang on Golden Girls at 8:45 on a Thursday night. Granted, I might watch Bea, Betty and the gang if streaming the NFL was easier, but making it tricky doesn’t help.

Donny from Heathrow and Section 132:

You give enough space in this forum for the Gus Bradley haters to rant so how about a different point of view? I feel bad for the coach. The dude takes the head job with a team that undergoes a complete rebuild rarely seen in the NFL. His first season in 2013 his team is significantly deficient talent-wise against every team it played, with a guy named Blaine Gabbert at quarterback – and he still managed to win four games. In 2014, it was a similar situation being under talented with a rookie named Blake Bortles at QB. Last season, with a more talented team, the defense and Bortles were improved leading to five wins. Multiple turnovers in several games by the quarterback cost the Jags another couple of wins. Finally, this season – No. 4 – arrives with fair expectations to win and contend, with a good defense and playmakers on offense and … the quarterback’s play drastically regresses! If the Jags just had the 2015 Bortles who was hitting the deep passes they would be 4-5, possibly 5-4. If they had an improved Bortles or an above average quarterback they’d be at least 5-4 – possibly 6-3 – and leading the division. While I understand and accept that the head coach is ultimately held accountable for the team’s record, Bortles bad mechanics and poor decision making are not directly Bradley’s fault; that’s 100 percent on the player, which sucks for Gus who by all accounts is a really good dude. Just saying.

John: Bradley is a good dude, which of course has nothing to do with whether he should be the head coach. There is an awful lot of truth in your email. That doesn’t mean Bradley isn’t at least somewhat responsible for the 2-7 record, because the head coach has to be responsible for some of the discipline and careless mistakes we’ve seen. But would the conversation about Bradley and the coaching staff be as loud if the quarterback had played better? No, it would not.

Mike from Atlanta, GA:

When are you going to answer some Bortles questions John? #Avoidance

John: I’ll try to do better.

Pages: 12

O-Zone: Good times

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:

First, I am so tired of hearing and reading about ‘ “mechanics” in every article and during every game. OK – just had to say that. I’m confident Bortles will be a franchise quarterback but am growing more concerned as each game goes by that it will be too late to prove it here and he will be sent packing only to become elite somewhere else. Also, just want to mention that we should win this weekend because the odds are in our favor due to losing so much. Could this be the start of a streak?

John: First, while I understand people being weary of the “Mechanics Issue,” it involves the starting quarterback – so it will be an issue until it’s not. As far as Sunday’s game, I do believe the Jaguars have a chance to win, though I don’t think the recent losing streak gives them an edge. I actually think that works against them because they’ve lost enough that there may be a feeling of “Here We Go Again …” when something goes wrong. No, I believe the Jaguars have a chance to win because the Lions’ defense isn’t dominant – which could give the Jaguars’ offense a chance to be productive and finish drives. The Lions also have forced just seven turnovers, which is the second-fewest in the NFL behind only the Jaguars’ five. They’ve trailed in every game this season and have come from behind in the fourth quarter to win five times. So, is this the week the Jaguars start a streak? Who knows? But it’s not as if winning is an impossible dream.

Steve from Hudson, FL:

Would a four-touchdown, 300-plus-yard, zero-interception game and a win get some of the heat off Bortles?

John: It sure wouldn’t hurt.

Terry from Jacksonville:

John Madden always said that games are won and lost in the trenches. My question is why the Jags have not really addressed their offensive line in the last four years.

John: The Jaguars have used a first-round draft selection (left tackle ) and two third-round selections (guard and center ) on the offensive line in the last four years. They also during that span have signed a left tackle () in free agency, as well as a right tackle () and a guard (Zane Beadles). They have done this while essentially drafting and/or signing and/or tearing down and rebuilding the entire 53-man roster during that same time. While the line has pass blocked well this season, it’s perhaps correct to say that the Jaguars’ offensive line could and perhaps should be better. It’s not correct to say the Jaguars haven’t addressed the offensive line in the last four years.

Logan from Wichita, KS:

Losing sucks. Can we stop doing that already? That would be nice.

John: Wouldn’t it, though?

Bill from Orange Park, FL and Section 104:

Best owner in the NFL?!?!?! Certainly not based on win/loss record or keeping home games at home. This franchise has seen all-time lows since Shad Khan took over. Please enlighten us as to why the fans of teams like the Patriots, Seahawks, Broncos, Cowboys, etc. are jealous they don’t have Khan.

John: Khan is the owner of the Jaguars. He is not the owner of the Patriots, Seahawks, Broncos or Cowboys. As such, he faces challenges in one of the NFL’s smallest markets that owners of those teams in larger markets don’t face. Since taking over the team, he has dramatically transformed the business side of the franchise and has taken dramatic measures to stabilize the franchise in Jacksonville. I frankly am not sure if the Jaguars would be in Jacksonville if not for Khan, and I certainly don’t think the franchise’s future would be as stable in the city if not for him. Having a game each year in London is a big part of that stability because it has helped local revenue in a huge way that was sorely needed. Are the Jaguars as good on the field as would be ideal? No, but that’s an area Khan can’t control. In the areas that he can control he indeed has been an exemplary owner – and yes, Jaguars fans indeed should be glad he owns the team.

Mike from Mandarin, FL:

O-man, I know I have been somewhat harsh on my emails to you, but that’s only because I’m passionate and have been going to the games since the beginning. But all I want to do now is cry, and move on from this season. Can I cry now, or is it still too early in the season?

John: I cry often – not very much over the Jaguars, but certainly in my daily Moments of Self-Assessment. So, yes, Mike, if it helps … Cry on, Good Man. Cry on.

Travis from Melbourne, FL:

I guess this isn’t as much of a question as it is a vent. The biggest problem I have so far this year is that we essentially have “wasted” a full year of all of our young “talent” by giving Gus another year to prove he is equally as bad at coaching as he was the last few years, The door is closing on utilizing this talent and he is gonna be the one to slam it shut. Oh well, there’s always next year.

John: Yes, it’s all coaching. It’s always all coaching in the National Football League.

Nick from London, England:

The Thursday night games appear to consistently lack quality, probably due to the short preparation time – and not just this season. Do you think the NFL should extend the regular season by one week, give every team a bye before their Thursday game, making two byes each in total? It allows the league to make more revenue by having an extra week of games on television, means there’s more time to extend the International Series if that’s what they want to do – and most importantly, it should help to improve the quality of the product on the field on Thursday nights.

John: I’m not a fan of anything that adds another bye week. While I am all about time off and take as much of it on a daily basis as I can get away with, the NFL tried the two-bye-week thing once. This was in 1993, and the extra bye week extended the season so much – and caused it to feel disjointed enough – that the concept was immediately scratched. Contrary to my own personal feelings on the matter, it turns out there is such a thing as too much rest.

Sam from Jacksonville:

O … I don’t feel sorry for you because you’ve got a great job. I’ve never called you a homer … BUT your recent article on Blake Bortles is like putting lipstick on a pig. The season is lost … the franchise is losing fans and support by the day. Bortles should be released ASAP and the Jags should offer anything short of a first-rounder to the Cowboys for Romo in the offseason.

John: The Jaguars aren’t going to release Bortles ASAP.

Jason from Jacksonville:

John, you consistently say that the Jags need to stick with Blake Bortles the rest of the season to find out what they have. OK, let’s say they do that and nothing improves. Then what? I’ve heard you and Ryan O’Halloran say that Blake is still going to be on the team next year and still part of this offense. If that’s the case, then what difference does it make if they let him play out the season or try to win with someone else if he’s still going to be part of this team next year regardless of the outcome this year? This thought process seems to negate the argument for letting him play the season out no matter what happens.

John: The arguments for benching Blake Bortles center around the Jaguars theoretically believing Bortles is not the best quarterback on the roster and that he is not going to be the Jaguars’ quarterback in the future. That’s not the belief within the building.

Lou from Uzbekistan:

Mazzy Star or Hoodoo Gurus?

John: Hoodoo Gurus because Bittersweet.

Glen from Section 408:

I know you have to protect Blake and suppress certain things that show him in poor light. I feel the need to continue shining that light on him. I know you won’t post it but I’ll continue sending it. First quarter passer rating 37.8. Passer rating when game is tied (e.g. 0-0) 39.3. He can only compete against soft secondaries.

John: Glen, come over here and sit in the truth chair. Comfortable? Good. Here’s the truth: I don’t post every email I receive in the O-Zone every day. I get many, many emails on a given day. I answer some. I don’t answer others. I also certainly don’t “Protect Blake,” nor would I be in a position to do so if I so desired. Only he can do that by playing better.

Ryan from Jacksonville:

One day we will win a Super Bowl. For all the fans that have stuck around during these years, it will be a great day.

John: True that.

Pages: 12

O-Zone: Peering into his soul

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

JACKSONVILLE – Let’s get to it …

Mickey from Ocala, FL:

Tony Boselli, Hall of Fame … at last. Is this the year?

John: Tony Boselli indeed was named a Pro Football Hall of Fame semifinalist for a second consecutive year on Wednesday evening. That means the former Jaguars offensive tackle is one of 26 candidates in the running to make the Hall next year. The list will be reduced to 15 in January with the 2017 class announced February 4 – the night before Super Bowl LI. Writing on Wednesday evening, Gil Brandt of NFL Media ranked Boselli sixth of the 26 semifinalists – and while that guarantees nothing, it’s not insignificant. I sensed legitimate momentum for Boselli late last year when voters really started digging into and studying his career. While he didn’t make the hall last year, I had a far better feeling about his chances than I ever had had before. I’ve always firmly believed Boselli deserves to be in the Hall, though I wondered about his chances because of his career longevity and because people for a long time seemed to overlook his accomplishments. Boselli was a five-time Pro Bowl selection and a member of the NFL 1990s All-Decade team. He was perhaps the best left tackle in the NFL during a Golden Age for the position. That has been overlooked by voters for far too long. I’m sensing a significant sea change on that front over the last year or so – and I now believe Boselli indeed will get in at some point. It’s hard to predict if this is the year it happens or not, although it’s not remotely out of the realm of possibility.

Aaron from Milroy, PA:

You say it’s not Bradley’s fault that Blake is missing open receivers, but it is. He did not coach Blake properly and did not continue to work on his mechanics during the offseason.

John: LOL. OK.

Scott from Fernandina Beach, FL:

Hi John, something tells me Blake will have to compete to be the starting quarterback next year. With every pass being like “a box of chocolates,” I hope he spends significant time with his quarterback guru – or whoever – this offseason or he’s not going to win that competition.

John: I agree that there’s a chance will have to compete in a significant way for the Jaguars’ starting quarterback position next season. That doesn’t mean he won’t be the starter, but it does mean it may not be guaranteed. And I agree that there’s a really good chance he will spend a lot of time with his quarterbacks guru (Adam Dedeaux) this offseason.

Sebastian from Mexico:

MJ play weak side this game?

John: If does not play Sunday, then yes – will play weak-side linebacker. My guess is Smith will play.

Roger from Jacksonville:

On January 15, 2000, the Jaguars humiliated the Miami Dolphins 62-7 in what would be Hall-of-Fame quarterback Dan Marino’s last NFL game. Clearly, the football gods were deeply offended by this upstart franchise’s impertinence, and placed a curse on the Jaguars. Nothing good has happened to this franchise in the nearly 17 years since that fateful day (starting with the third loss of the season to the Titans a week later). How long must we endure the curse of the Marino? What sacrifice must be made to appease the football gods, and persuade them to grant us mercy?

John: Nah, that ain’t it.

Clif from Washington, DC:

“First, I don’t believe the Jaguars will be 2-12 …” Haven’t you been wrong on just about everything regarding this season?

John: Yes and no. I thought the Jaguars would be better than 2-7 at this point, but I had serious doubts about whether they would be the playoff-contending team many observers projected. I also said often during the offseason that I believed the offense and Blake Bortles would be the major storylines this season, and that their ability to improve – particularly Bortles’ ability to do so – would be what decided success or failure. I also said I believed while the Jaguars’ defense wouldn’t be great, it would be improved enough to keep the team competitive. So, while I am often wrong – and while I am indeed comfortable drowning daily in a rampaging sea of wrongness, I actually have not been wrong about “just about everything regarding this season.”

Jack from Jacksonville:

Well, that wasn’t much of a look-ahead Wednesday; it was the same old complaints!

John: What else ya got?

Richard from Orange Park, FL:

This is a tough question to ask as a fan. I suppose as a writer it actually won’t be as tough to answer. Is the real reason you stick with Blake this season, and I suppose in a lesser degree Gus, so when you move on from them next year you can do so knowing you gave them every chance? We want to be the franchise that when we sign a player or hire a coach his agent can look to him and say, ‘You are getting fair-market value and you are going to get every chance to be a star. It is up to you now.’ Do we have the best owner in the league if they were to be ranked top to bottom?

John: You stick with Blake Bortles as the starting quarterback this season for a few reasons – that you believe he is the best quarterback on the roster, that you believe he will work his way through his issues and that you must find out if he is the franchise quarterback going forward. You stick with Bradley because you believe that midseason coaching changes don’t yield positive results and because you want to be a stable franchise – and of course because you still believe him coaching is the best chance to win games. I indeed would rank Jaguars Owner Shad Khan at the top of the list of NFL owners. That’s perhaps a bit skewed because I have seen first-hand his approach with this team on and off the field. I don’t have such first-hand experience with every NFL team, but within the context of what I do know I can honestly say … yes, I believe he’s one of the best owners in the NFL.

Kyan from Fort Myers, FL:

Last game the announcers were saying that was a Top 10 safety in the league?? Am I missing that the other 22 strong safeties in the league have been struggling that bad or am I not realizing that he is playing at a high level? Maybe I am just used to his missed tackles and horrible coverage that I haven’t noticed he has changed …

John: Cyprien indeed has played better this season than he did the past three seasons. He appears very definitely to have benefitted from ’s presence at free safety. The team’s hope in the offseason was the addition of Gipson would allow Cyprien to concentrate on playing in the box, where he typically had played OK in the past. He has been able to do that and his play has improved. I wouldn’t put him among the Top 10 strong safeties in the NFL, and he still has struggled at times against the pass. Still, he has improved overall – and definitely has improved against the run.

Howard from Loveland, CO:

It may not always be management’s fault, but it is difficult to imagine the Denver Broncos having three years like the last three in Jacksonville. Same with the New England Patriots. Don’t you feel that coaches and general managers who have a knack for getting the most out of their talent rise to the top?

John: Sometimes yes – and sometimes no. The Patriots and the Broncos are in the middle of remarkable runs of success. There are many reasons for this, and there’s no question that Bill Belichick is a remarkable head coach and that John Elway has done a very good job running the Broncos. But I would say the same is true of, say, the Baltimore Ravens – and they had a down year last season. The Green Bay Packers also have outstanding coaching and management – and they are struggling right now. When a franchise goes into a long-time downturn – which the Jaguars certainly have done – it’s extremely difficult to escape, although escape indeed does happen. The Cincinnati Bengals, Indianapolis Colts, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and other teams in recent decades have gone through long droughts. They eventually broke that cycle with runs of success. That will happen with the Jaguars. I can’t predict when, but it will happen.

Chuck from Ponte Vedra Beach, FL:

A TV commentator on Sunday speculated that Bortles has never been benched in his high school, college or pro careers, thus lacks the motivation to fix his mechanics. Any truth to this?

John: I lack the ability to peer into Bortles’ soul and know his motivations. I do know he worked hard to fix his mechanics in the 2015 offseason, and I do know that those mechanics seemed to be fine until early this preseason. I don’t know how much his high school-playing time had to do with whatever happened in late August, but who knows? Maybe it played a role.

Pages: 12

O-Zone: Path to hope

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

JACKSONVILLE – Let’s get to it …

Marc from US Sad Club:

Hi John, I know this is a difficult question, but given your experience with the league – along with what you have seen so far – what do you think is Blake Bortles’ ceiling?

John: The question indeed is difficult because Bortles’ ceiling largely depends on his ability to fix his mechanics issues – and on his ability to improve his decision-making. He made real progress in the mechanics area between his rookie season and second season, and he seems to have regressed there this season. The odd part is the mechanics seemed OK during the offseason and early in preseason – and then they seemed to go away in a hurry. Can they be fixed? Considering his improvement from Year 1 to Year 2, you would think so. As far as his decision-making, that’s tougher – and in my opinion it has been the bigger concern this season. The area has been a real issue throughout his career – not all of the time, but at a lot of crucial times. Time and experience can be major factors in improving decision-making and ability to read/see the field. Some quarterbacks eventually get it. Some don’t. If Bortles improves these two areas, his ceiling is very high. He is gutsy, confident and a very good leader. He has shown he can make winning plays. He can lead a productive offense. If you can do those things, you can win in this league. If he doesn’t improve these things, then the ceiling is what you’re seeing now – and that ceiling clearly isn’t good enough.

Art from Drexel Hill:

At this point in the season what do you see as our biggest need – besides wins?

John: I’ll assume you’re not asking about quarterback because goodness knows we’ve discussed the position enough. Beyond that? Dominant run blocking. The offensive line has pass blocked well this season. It generally speaking has not run-blocked nearly as well.

Christian from Titusville, FL:

Hi John, I know you dismissed the question today about Philip Rivers, but if Dallas does keep Dak Prescott and Tony Romo doesn’t want to remain a backup, what do you think in terms of draft picks, etc. it would take to get him? I realize that might not be the Jags’ line of thinking for the future, but could you humor me?

John: I would guess it would take a second- or third-round selection to trade for Romo. One issue is that the Cowboys theoretically could – out of respect for him – allow Romo to have input into where he wants to be traded, which would then get into the question of whether he wanted to go to the Jaguars or go to a team he perceived to be closer to contending.

Scott from Daytona Beach, FL:

Geez, let’s give BB5 a little break here. I know he’s struggling; you can see it in every game. But everyone on that side of the ball is struggling – dropped passes, no running game and poor play-calling. It’s on everyone— not just the quarterback.

John: You’re right. Quarterback is magnified because it typically has far more influence on the game than any other position, but there’s no question that Blake Bortles is far from the only part of the Jaguars struggling right now.

Jason from Jacksonville:

John, on the O & O show Tuesday night, you seemed inclined to agree with the thought that if the Jags are 2-12, why not put Brandon Allen in for the last two weeks to find out what we have in him and to see how the team responds to him as the quarterback? Is this the only scenario, outside of injury, you could see Allen getting a chance to start this season? Would 3-11 be reason enough to give him a chance?

John: I’ll clarify this: While I indeed said on 1010XL Tuesday that I agreed that putting Brandon Allen in in the final two weeks or so of the season might make sense, I did not mean to imply that I believed that would happen. First, I don’t believe the Jaguars will be 2-12 at that point – and I tend to believe that Bortles will play well enough in the next few weeks that this won’t be quite the hot-fire issue in a month that it is now. Either way, I’ll be surprised if it happens. I’m not sensing any leaning toward starting Brandon Allen at any point this season. We’ll see if that changes.

Jay from Duval:

Will having losing records year after year have an impact on keeping key free agents such as Telvin, A-Rob and Linder?

John: It won’t help, but it’s hard to accurately predict that until after the season. Once players and agents know the direction a franchise is taking, it’s a lot easier to get an idea how negotiations may go.

Mason from Palm Bay, FL:

Gus made a comment about the ideal passes Blake throws a game being less than 30. Could we see Nathaniel Hackett looking to run the ball more in unconventional situations, such as second- and third- and long? I don’t know how we could cut 20 passes off Blake’s total Sunday if we didn’t try that.

John: The more sought-after scenario is for the Jaguars to be in fewer second- and third-and-long situations. That would go a long way toward accomplishing the objective.

David from Broward County:

O-Man, earlier in the season when Bortles’ struggles began, I suggested to you that Bortles didn’t work hard enough in the offseason on his footwork/mechanics. You said you didn’t think that was the case. Now it has been reported that in the offseason before the 2015 season, Bortles spent six weeks training with the private quarterbacks coach. He made great strides of improvement in these areas in 2015. It was also reported that in the offseason before the 2016 season, Bortles spent less than a week, maybe two or three days with the private quarterback coach. In 2016 he has regressed big league. He has not taken his footwork/mechanics issues seriously enough. We still have seven games to go and see if he can right the ship, but clearly Bortles needs to dedicate himself to fixing these issues in the next offseason (maybe more than six weeks with quarterbacks coach) or he may not even have a future as a backup quarterback. He will have to do this the rest of his career as well to keep these issues at bay. What do you think about this now?

John: I think I’d be surprised if Bortles didn’t spend a lot of time this offseason working with his quarterbacks coach, Adam Dedeaux.

Matt from Fernandina Beach and Section 132:

Being realistic, barring a miracle this is going to be another losing season and changes are coming. John, for those of us who have been through at least two unsuccessful rebuilds now, what is a realistic expectation after this season? Are we talking another four years, or are there enough pieces in place to make it quicker? Do we draft a quarterback or try and sign one to skip the line? Do you think Khan goes with an established winner at head coach if there is a change? We have put in a lot of time, and I am tired. I am curious what your thoughts are if you were to speculate.

John: I don’t yet know what the end of the season will bring, and I don’t know what Jaguars Owner Shad Khan’s thoughts will be at that point. I’ve never much cared about the “established-winner” thing as a head coach, because there’s no guarantee that past success will dictate future success – or that past struggles mean a coach won’t succeed. What do the Jaguars do at quarterback? You decide whether or not you believe Bortles is the guy. If you believe he is, you get to work on fixing the ongoing, well-chronicled issues. If you don’t, you get to work figuring out what’s available in the draft, free-agency or trade and get to work upgrading the spot as much as possible. As far as realistic expectations for the future? No, I don’t think we’re talking four more years until this team contends, and that’s true no matter what occurs at season’s end.

Gabe from Washington, DC:

Blake did not spend as much time with Tom House this past offseason as he did the previous offseason. If he spends even MORE time this coming offseason working on his mechanics than he did in 2015, he could see a lot of improvement. That does not even account for the steady improvement that he could accomplish by continuing to put in as much time in all future offseasons. Pair his measured improvement with any significant upgrade to the running game and the pass rush, and we start to look WAYYYY better. I’m not saying I believe this will happen (I don’t), but there is a path to success with Bortles, and it’s not that far-fetched. One fer hope!

John: Absolutely. Hope is cool. People like it.

Pages: 12

O-Zone: Walk in the woods

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

JACKSONVILLE – All right! New week!! Look-ahead Wednesday. All is right in the world.

Let’s get to it …

David from Duval:

Please explain why the responsibility for this fiasco should not be on the shoulders of one Gus Bradley, and why the media tiptoes around this.

John: The responsibility for the Jaguars’ current situation indeed is on Gus Bradley because he is the head coach – and in big-time sports, it always eventually ends up being “about the head coach.” I can’t speak for “the media” and how they approach this issue. I can speak to how I approach it – and when I discuss the topic of head coaching, I rarely say losing or winning is All the Head Coach because it’s my experience that that’s rarely the case. Bradley this season certainly is at least partially responsible for the 2-7 record, but is he totally responsible? Is it his “fault” the offense couldn’t take advantage of multiple opportunities against Baltimore? Did he fumble three times against Kansas City? Has he missed open receivers? Yes, the head coach is going to bear the brunt as he is ultimately responsible for what goes on, but to say a head coach is entirely at fault … nah. While that may be conventional wisdom, and while Bradley may or may not retained after this season, you’re not likely to read me saying “it’s all on the head coach.” That may be easy writing and satisfying reading on some level, but it’s not reality.

Gerry from Arlington:

Did Gus Bradley really say “I don’t see anything in the future that shows is not our guy?” Really? What’s he seeing? More importantly, is this how the Jaguars really see this?

John: Bradley indeed said that, and he indeed expressed confidence Monday in Bortles as the Jaguars’ franchise quarterback. And yes, that’s the belief within the building. Bortles certainly has struggled this season in comparison to last season, and he could be making better decisions with more accuracy on some key throws. No one inside the building disagrees with that. But the team also believes Bortles will get through this rough stretch and that he is doing some positive things – and that he remains the guy for now and for the future.

John from Cape May, NJ:

This may be a farfetched, longshot scenario, but the season’s lost, so I’m gonna throw it out there, anyway. The Jags in the offseason should trade for Philip Rivers. The Jags have a solid nucleus of talent, but obviously the quarterback position is holding us back. The Chargers look like they will be moving, and Rivers has publicly stated he does not want to move with the team. The Jags could offer their first-round pick, which will be a Top 5 pick, to the Chargers. It seems like a win-win scenario for both teams. We would get a top-tier quarterback who could play for three-to-five more years, while the Chargers get a chance to draft a new franchise quarterback if they wish. The only downside is we would be giving up on the chance of drafting a guy like Garrett, Allen, Peppers, or Adams – all of whom would look real good on the Jags’ defense – but the quarterback position takes precedent over all that. It’s a scenario that the new regime should at least consider.

John: I’m all for it, but only if the Jaguars also trade their second-rounder for Aaron Rodgers. You must not neglect the backup quarterback position.

Clif from Washington, DC:

You just listed a punter as a “bright spot” on the team. That should show everyone just how bad this season has actually been.

John: has been good. He has been one of the bright spots on the team. But if you needed to read that to understand how bad this season has gone, you haven’t been paying attention.

Gabe from Washington, DC:

How could you forget to include Tinker on the list of pretty consistent bright spots this season? The man is Pro Bowl-bound; maybe even Canton.

John: You’re right. My bad.

Logan from Wichita, KS:

You know what is starting to concern me? Bradley seems like the kind of guy that when we lose and someone like Fowler makes a huge mistake, he acts like the players are five-year olds playing in the backyard. He needs to open up a can of whoop @$$ and shut that down not say “aww, that’s OK little guy we will do better next time because I know you tried and that’s all that matters, here is your juice box.” Players need to be held responsible and based on our record and the repeat offenders I don’t think Gus is actually holding anyone accountable. Prove me wrong … 14-44 says you can’t.

John: is not starting. His playing time is down over the last month of the season compared to the first part of the season. He has been pulled from the game after his last two 15-yard penalties. Bradley’s overall record, as much as Jaguars fans understandably use it in every anti-Gus Bradley argument, isn’t really the issue here. The issue is that the coaches have tried to discipline this out of Fowler. So far, it hasn’t worked. It’s an issue, but it’s not as if it hasn’t been addressed.

Chris from Mandarin:

John, let’s be realistic here. There are seven more games to figure out whether Gus Bradley or Blake Bortles are worth giving another year. There have been flashes of brilliance from Bortles, tucked somewhere in between innumerable stretches of dumbfounding play. Gus Bradley has been consistently bad. What could realistically happen between now and the end of the season to make Shad Khan and/or Dave Caldwell think these two are the answer going forward?

John: The Jaguars could win many games and lose very few.

Josh from Green Bay, WI:

After Game One of this season, I had high hopes of a season of 8-8 or better. After the first nine games, I think I expect a 2-14 finish, a coaching change in the offseason, another Top 5 pick, and a five-win season next year. This has truly been the hardest season for me.

John: You’re not alone. This season seems to have been the more difficult for many fans to accept than previous losing seasons – with the obvious reason being so much more was expected. I didn’t expect the playoffs, necessarily, but even my tempered, cynical expectations expected the Jaguars to hover around .500 with a chance to push for better if things went right. I don’t know yet what the next seven games or the season’s immediate aftermath will hold. It’s far from unreasonable to think this team could be looking at yet another Top 10 selection. So, I agree with you on many fronts. But I don’t agree with your outlook for the future. What’s separating this team from contending? Turnovers and missed opportunities. A lot of that stems from the quarterback position. Will Blake Bortles be the one to fix that issue? Will it be someone else? We don’t yet know the answer. But whatever the answer, a correct one will help a lot. It won’t correct all the things going wrong, but it would make a lot of what’s going wrong a lot more fixable.

David from Duval:

So you’re saying Gus believes they can make second-half run? A run at what? The first pick in the draft? A run at hot dogs after the game if they go an entire quarter without a turnover, personal foul or special teams blunder? But seriously, though: Gus’ perception of reality is way off.

John: What would you have him believe? What do you expect him to say?

James from Yulee, FL:

I am going to sound like a ol’ timer (I’m 37). Sometimes a young man needs a swift kick in the rear end. God knows, a lot of young men don’t get that enough these days. Bortles needs it. He’s freakin’ begging for it. I understand not all will respond to it. I get it. It’s worth the shot.

John: OK, so you bench Blake Bortles for a game, or yell at him … is that going to cause him to throw more accurately when is running open? Is it going to cause him to see a linebacker in Kansas City? It’s not that Borles isn’t caring, or preparing, or trying. Maybe he’s capable of playing better or maybe he isn’t, but kicking him in the rear end isn’t the cure all.

Louie from Jacksonville:

As much as I want Gus and Dave fired, it’s the players, too. It has been hard to see how bad Blake is playing this year. Do you see the Jags making a quarterback change when the season is over??

John: This is impossible to answer without knowing the future. I don’t get the idea the Jaguars right now are ready to move on from Blake Bortles. How he plays in the final seven games and what – if any changes – occur after that could change that idea.

TJ from Orlando, FL:

Just got back from a relaxing weekend in the woods. I assume nothing’s changed.

John: Nope.

Pages: 12

O-Zone: Labor of love

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

JACKSONVILLE – One more day to Look-Ahead Wednesday.

Let’s get to it …

Keith from Palatka, FL:

‘s brother dying transcends football. Our heartfelt sympathy and prayers go out to the young man. God bless you, Telvin.

John: Indeed.

TC from Kingsland, GA and Section 114:

I am already past this week. I want to be the first email for next week. These guys suck, Bortles can’t play, a minus-14 turnover ratio and no pass rush. What do we have to do to fix this?

John: Get better quarterback play, reduce giveaways, force more takeaways and rush the passer better … yeah, pretty much all of the above. That’s the easy answer – and on a serious note, a lot of the issues holding the Jaguars back right now feel interrelated. Bortles’ struggles have contributed to the turnover ratio, and the turnovers combined with Bortles’ struggles have caused the Jaguars to seemingly always be behind early and playing from behind throughout games. That has hurt the Jaguars’ ability to run and to rush the passer – and it’s hard to win when those things are consistently bad. It’s not that the Jaguars would be great in these areas under normal circumstances, but constantly playing from behind strangles both sides of the ball. How to fix it? Play better early in games. Get faster starts. Get a lead. Rush the passer given the opportunity. It’s a simple formula – and a lot of it comes down to playing better early in games.

Alex from Waco, TX:

Hey O-Zone, can Blake throw a spiral? An actual spiral? Dead serious: I’ve never seen a pro quarterback throw an uglier ball in my life.

John: This is a legitimate question, and no doubt the ball comes out of Bortles’ hands in a … well, unorthodox way. That doesn’t mean he can’t be effective. There have been plenty of successful quarterbacks who have thrown an “ugly ball” with plenty of effectiveness. The issue is when it routinely affects accuracy. I don’t know if Bortles’ spiral is what negatively affects his accuracy or if the two issues are coincidental. It does seem his throws are often very off the mark and that they’re at least a little off the mark a lot more often than that. Bortles on Sunday completed a lot of passes, but receivers also had to dive for a lot of passes, which makes the process more difficult than necessary and lowers the percentages of success. It also doesn’t help the receivers’ ability to run after the catch. To answer your question, though: yes, Bortles can throw a spiral. He just hasn’t done it much lately.

Aaron from Chantilly:

John, I hope Bortles can go mistake-free for the next seven games … this quarterback thing is really draining.

John: It’s not realistic to think Bortles will be mistake-free for the final seven games. Can he make enough big plays and be consistent enough to negate some of his mistakes? That is the bigger question that he must answer.

Paul from Jacksonville:

Who would have guessed at the end of last season that would be the lone bright spot this season?

John: It’s incorrect to call Myers the only bright spot. Telvin Smith. . . . . . All have been pretty consistently bright this season … but yeah, Myers has played well, too.

Nathan from Broomfield, CO:

I don’t get it, John. Blake looks like a Pro Bowler sometimes and other times he looks … well, just sad. I hope he figures out his mistakes or we are in for another quarterback hunt!

John: True.

Brian from Gainesville, FL:

Big O, Dave Caldwell has done a good job of assembling a nice group of talent. I’ll leave the subject of why that talent cannot seem to find ways to win to another conversation. My question: how at risk is this team of losing its quality players at the first chance those players have a chance to go? How unlikely is it that other quality players will want to come here?

John: When you’re losing and you’ve lost for a long time it does increase the risk that players will leave and that free agents won’t want to sign with the team. You combat that by winning and creating a strong culture where players want to play. That culture seemed very strong for three years under Head Coach Gus Bradley. With frustration mounting at 2-7, I don’t know that it feels as strong now. Will that feel differently after the season? Will it take a change to make that feeling happen again? We’ll see.

Darius from New Milford, NJ:

Week by week, the light on Bortles’ inefficiencies shines brighter and brighter. After Sunday’s game it’s blinding, John. How much longer?

John: A while.

Jessie from Kissimmee, FL:

John, we are getting close to December and the games are close to becoming meaningless. If the team does not win in November, do you see the Jags letting Gus go and seeing what they have with Doug Marrone?

John: No.

Aaron from Milroy, PA:

Why can’t it be time to give up on Bortles? I guarantee you if or started since the beginning of the season we would be 5-4 right now. That’s saying something. Give up now and move on from the scrub and see what we got in Allen. 2015 was a fluke. Garbage time stats made us believers.

John: I understand the sentiment for removing from the lineup. I don’t agree with it and I don’t believe it’s going to happen, but considering the Jaguars are 2-7 with Bortles making a lot of key mistakes it’s not a ridiculous notion. Where I would take issue with your email is your guarantee. While Bortles is indeed struggling I think it’s a reach to think that Henne or Allen over nine games is absolutely, without-question a more viable option. I don’t think that’s remotely the case.

Tommy from Jacksonville:

Johnny, just when I thought your O-Zone would always keep me around I have to give up at this point and move on. I’m ending this chapter now – and until Gus and Bortles are gone, I won’t be starting another. I hope the O-Zone is still going strong when that day comes. Cheers.

John: I’m responding, but will he read it? If he does read it, will he ever forgive himself? Ah, life’s eternal questions …

Dalton from UCF:

, a linebacker, outran Lamar Miller – one of the best running backs in the NFL – to save a touchdown. WOW!

John: Myles Jack is fast. His future appears bright.

Brent from Gainesville, FL:

There is definitely talent on this team. When we “rebuild,” it won’t be anywhere close to the complete gutting we did a few years back. Whoever takes the team over next year will have work to do but they’ll have some nice pieces to work with.

John: I don’t know what the direction of the team will be in the offseason, but you’re right and I’ve said it often this season: this is a far better roster now than four years ago. I don’t know how long it will take until the Jaguars win consistently, but it doesn’t have to take three or four years.

Brad from Sanford, FL:

Given the preseason expectations set out by Shad Khan, is there a chance he makes a coaching change following next week’s loss to the Lions, which would guarantee another season without a winning record?

John: I learned a long time ago never to say “there’s no chance.” Khan’s a human being, and human beings have minds that can change. That said, Khan long has stated that he doesn’t believe in midseason NFL coaching changes. He reiterated that stance after the Jaguars’ loss to Tennessee two weeks ago. Given the ugly nature of that loss – and it was among the uglier losses I have witnessed in 22 seasons covering the NFL – if Khan didn’t alter his stance on midseason coaching changes after that game, I can’t imagine a scenario under which he would alter it.

Tim from Jacksonville:

Please, John. Please, please, please make it stop. It’s gotten way too painful to care about this team anymore. Will it ever turn around?

John: Yes.

David from Jacksonville:

What does, “We believe in these guys” mean, Johnny? Belief that – despite all evidence to this point – that these guys are going to play disciplined, well-coached football for an entire game?

John: Yes, that’s what Jaguars Head Coach Gus Bradley means when he says he believes in the players. He also means that he believes this team is capable of a second-half run.

Michael from Jacksonville:

Yes to all the frustration. Nothing will change until the offseason. I am a rookie season-ticket holder and may not renew. BUT WHAT ABOUT YOU? You, The Great Satirist, have trudged through the mire of fans’ crap; you have gone on air sounding like a 70’s era classic rock DJ whilst fighting a flu/pneumonia/plague! You labor for us, St. Zone, and for that I am grateful! ONE FER ST. ZONE! And? #DTWD

John: Nah on sainthood, but as far as #DTWD? Yeah. No doubt.

Pages: 12

O-Zone: Let it out

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

JACKSONVILLE – Quick disclaimer:

The astute reader may find this morning’s answers lacking – yes, even more so than usual. And not for the first time in recent weeks, I don’t know how much new there is to say.

The Jaguars have lost four consecutive games – and Sunday’s loss to the Houston Texans at EverBank Field felt like it happened for much the same reason as last week’s loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in Kansas City.

It felt that way Sunday when I was answering questions for O-Zone Late Night and it still feels that way as I push through the inbox for the Monday O-Zone.

Quarterback Blake Bortles is struggling with accuracy. The special teams are struggling with coverage and ball security. The defense is playing well but not forcing turnovers. The offense isn’t playing well enough early to get a lead and it’s also committing turnovers.

The Jaguars are playing well enough overall to keep games close and lose games late – and in the NFL that’s pretty much the same thing as not playing well at all. That’s because keeping games close and losing is still losing. Losing still stinks and that’s where we are.

I’ll do the best I can to have something new to say. We’ll see how that goes.

Let’s get to it …

Mark from College Park, MD:

Is there still hope?

John: For what?

JT from Jacksonville:

I’m so sick of this playing from behind and losing John. I’m sick of it!

John: In your understandably frustrated email is a very key point. The Jaguars have played from behind an extraordinary amount this season. They haven’t led in the last four games and the only time they have led in the last five games is when they took the lead against Chicago with 2:49 remaining. With the exception of a victory over Indianapolis in London in which they led the entire game, the Jaguars basically have led for about one quarter this season. Playing from behind not only taxes an offense that must throw into the teeth of a defense playing to rush the passer, it also strains a defense that rarely gets to play an opponent in obvious passing situations. You are in essence playing uphill the entire game, which means even the slightest of mistakes often put you in insurmountable situations. That scenario is caused largely by an offense that has started notoriously slow over the last two seasons. I don’t have answers, but I do know the situation makes everything difficult every week.

John from Jacksonville and Section 202:

Furious that Fowler is still getting flagged for stupid fouls. Can we bench him for a game?

John: I doubt that happens. But considering he has eight penalties this season – and considering he has two really bad unsportsmanlike personal fouls in the last three games – I wouldn’t call the idea ridiculous. I have said often that Fowler’s season has been more defined by penalties than production. That was true before, and it’s even truer in recent weeks.

Travis from Boynton Beach, FL:

Only way to sum this game up is with explicate words. $&#- #+%* jags

John: Well put.

Trae from Jacksonville:

John, I watched the Jags game and I wasn’t entertained. I’m currently watching Fletch for the first time; this is entertainment.

John: Well, I’m not even sure that’s a crime anymore. There have been a lot of changes in the law.

John from 227 Duval:

Did not expect anything different, but somehow knew that Bortles will throw a pick-six, defense will not be able to rush and Fowler will remain an IDIOT! Dare you to post it, Johnny.

John: OK.

John from Thornton:

The Titans are in Year Two of their rebuild and already they are a million light years ahead of us. We are the worst team in the NFL. What did we the fans do to earn this terrible a team?

John: Nothing. This isn’t the fans’ fault.

Nick from Panama City Beach, FL:

This is the most undisciplined, unprepared team in the league. I get that firing Gus Bradley may not accomplish anything this season, but keeping him isn’t accomplishing anything, either.

John: I don’t expect Jaguars Owner Shad Khan to make a midseason coaching change. His philosophy is clearly that he doesn’t believe in them in the NFL. If he didn’t do it after Tennessee, I don’t think he will change his mind.

Tommy from Corona, CA:

I am so exhausted. … It’s maddening. Defense playing well and we get bad quarterback play, bad special teams play. Another observation: This scheme constantly leaves the defense susceptible to the tight end. Seattle has the same problem. Too much talent for these results. Nathaniel Hackett has done a nice job but this quarterback is killing us and the kick coverage has been brutal all year. I don’t believe we are losing to more talented teams. I feel sorry for Gus. I like the guy but they just aren’t getting the message. Sorry. … I just needed to vent.

John: No need to apologize. This 2-7 record stinks. It should have been better. There are a lot of reasons for it, and the reasons keep showing themselves each week. This team is minus-24 in turnovers over the last two seasons. You lose a lot of games when you play that way. The team also is struggling with accuracy at the quarterback position. You make a lot of turnovers and miss a lot of big plays when that’s the case. Both of those things make it hard to win in the NFL.

Tommy from Jacksonville:

John, can we sit him yet?

John: You’re asking about benching Blake Bortles. I understand the question, but I get zero sense that the Jaguars are anywhere remotely close to even remotely considering benching Blake Bortles.

Jacob from NC:

Another loss … what more can be said. At this point do you just copy and paste previous articles? Or has that been going on for a while?

John: That’s not what I do, but I understand the confusion. This loss looked a lot like last week and when you’ve lost seven of nine games a whole lot starts to read and look the same.

Tony from Fedup:

I can only imagine how all the other players on the team feel knowing they have a good team but can’t win because the team has to see if No. 5 is the guy. Every play is an adventure. The receivers get open but either it’s a pick, overthrow or they have to dive for the ball with no chance to run. I think only reason why fans still come to this deplorable website is to see how you try and spin this dumpster fire or what will be the teams talking point for the week.

John: Yes, it’s the website’s fault.

Josh from Eyotam, MN:

Every week special teams does something to put the game out of reach. I’d like to see the punt team abolished. Seriously, this team just kills itself over and over.

John: Yes, it does.

Tony from Atlanta, GA:

Is ‘ willingness to complain publicly about his playing time a sign that the locker room is in turmoil? He seems like a stand-up guy, and it can’t be a good sign that he’d be that open about his frustrations.

John: I wasn’t around when Marks said what he said, so I don’t know the exact context. I know Marks is an honest guy who says what’s on his mind, so if he was bothered by not playing more I’m not surprised he said it. It’s never a good thing when things like that make headlines, but it’s not a shocking thing considering the frustration that goes along with a season of unmet expectations.

Ronnie P. from Jax Beach, FL:

Considering Bradley has gone through coordinators like diapers, how does Mike Mallory still call himself special teams coordinator? The unit is playing just horribly.

John: Three lost fumbles in four weeks, two long punt returns … no, it hasn’t been good. A long punt return is roughly equivalent to a turnover and the 57-yarder that set up the short touchdown in the third quarter Sunday … well, it was a killer. No doubt.

Mark from Basildon, England:

Dear John, apart from ’ kicking I’m finding it increasingly hard to draw any positives from another disappointing result. It’s painful being a Jags fan right now!

John: I know.

Miguel from Section 144 and Duuuvall!!:

Another infuriating game. With four turnovers last week, two this week and still in the game with two minutes left? What if they didn’t turn the ball over???!!!! This team could be contending for the division. DON’T TURN THE BALL OVER!!! AAAARRRRGH!!!

John: Your frustration is well-placed. I’ve said it so much in recent weeks that I’m sick of hearing myself say it, but for all that is wrong with this team right now – lack of pass rush, struggling quarterback, etc., etc., etc. – the minus-14 turnover ratio is the most glaring statistic of all. The Jaguars have committed six turnovers in the last two weeks and forced none. They haven’t created a turnover in the last five games. They are minus-24 turnovers in the last two seasons. Cut away everything else and that’s the overriding reason for the 7-18 record during that span. Aaaarrghh? Yes, Miguel. Aaaarrggh.

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