{"id":5845,"date":"2019-02-22T12:55:44","date_gmt":"2019-02-22T12:55:44","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/jags4life.com\/?p=5845"},"modified":"2019-02-22T13:01:43","modified_gmt":"2019-02-22T13:01:43","slug":"o-zone-people-are-people-2-2-2-2-3-2-3-3-3-2-2-2-7-3-2-2-2-3-3-3-2-2-2-3-2-2-2-2-4-2-2-2-2-3-3-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jags4life.com\/index.php\/2019\/02\/22\/o-zone-people-are-people-2-2-2-2-3-2-3-3-3-2-2-2-7-3-2-2-2-3-3-3-2-2-2-3-2-2-2-2-4-2-2-2-2-3-3-2\/","title":{"rendered":"O-Zone: Picturesque"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n

JACKSONVILLE \u2013 Let\u2019s get to it \u2026<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Gabe from Chapel Hill, NC<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

I know the defense has ranked well over the last few years, but I attribute that much more to personnel. Obviously, I\u2019m not privy to all the ins and outs of what Wash does, but from the outside it looks like it\u2019s mostly the same zone concepts. Not a lot of creative coverages or blitzes. Maybe that\u2019s the best approach. Maybe Wash has excellent ideas but is being \u201ckept in a cage.\u201d But it seems like he\u2019s a pretty mediocre to average coordinator. And if the defense ends up ranked 5-to-10 this year, it will not be good enough. They need to be a Top 3 unit to carry the offense, barring some shockingly dramatic improvements on that side of the ball.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Mediocre indeed means average, so it\u2019s evident you believe Jaguars defensive coordinator Todd Wash is pretty \u2026 average. That\u2019s fine for that to be your belief, but I always am at a loss for how people judge coaching in the NFL. I mean\u2026 of course<\/em> it\u2019s about personnel. Without good players, a coach\u2019s \u201cbrilliance\u201d doesn\u2019t matter. And while people attribute blitzing to \u201ccreative\u201d and brilliant coaching, blitzing is by no means a measure of a good coordinator. It\u2019s just as often the measure of a desperate one because a blitz often means the coordinator is saddled with a pass rush that can\u2019t pressure quarterbacks in base personnel. And blitzing often hurts far more than it helps \u2013 particularly when done just because a coach has no other answers. Wash has done a good job with this defense; it has been ranked in the top six three consecutive seasons, and it has played very well far more often than it has not \u2013 though he admittedly isn\u2019t a huge believer in blitzing. Now, just because Wash has done a good job doesn\u2019t mean he won\u2019t eventually get fired. It\u2019s quite likely he will \u2013 because the norm in the NFL these days is to fire coordinators and head coaches with little reason or cause. But I also think Wash is going to be a capable coordinator \u2013 and perhaps eventually a head coach \u2013 in the NFL for a long time. Being criticized \u2013 or even fired \u2013 doesn\u2019t preclude that from being true.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Jeff from Jacksonville<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Mock drafts are the Power Rankings of the offseason.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Fair.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Shawn from the Mean Streets of Arlington<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n

How about if a player gets injured and lost for the season say, by Game 9. Can their current contract can optionally be extended another season, thus enabling the team to retain the player with less cap cost? Or would the NFLPA hate such an idea? I dunno…something like that…<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

A player placed on injured reserve for the season accrues a season toward free agency. The reason the rule is in place is to prevent just the scenario you put forth \u2013 i.e., for a team to place a player on injured reserve with the idea of extending his contract. And yes \u2026 The NFL Players Association absolutely would hate teams being able to do what you suggest.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Unhipcat from Mas Fina Cantina<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Hi, John. What are your thoughts on Le\u2019Veon Bell? Is he a consideration in the running back room or a problem child we don\u2019t need? What are the financial considerations?<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Bell is a really good running back, and I don\u2019t know him well enough to call him a \u201cproblem child.\u201d I do know that considering the Jaguars\u2019 salary-cap situation I would be surprised\u00a0\u2013 nay, stunned \u2013 if the Jaguars invested Le\u2019Veon Bell money in a veteran running back.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Ethan from Fort Walton Beach, FL<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

I know you say that it is time to move on from Blake, but is there any chance that they are considering keeping him as a veteran bridge or a backup next year?<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Anything\u2019s possible as long as quarterback Blake Bortles is on the Jaguars\u2019 roster, but I would be surprised \u2013 nay, stunned \u2013 if he is with the team next season.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n

Ryan from Jacksonville<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

So far this offseason, I have heard many rumors about the Jaguars releasing running back Leonard Fournette. If this is solely based on this past season where his production dropped because of injuries and how he had some on field behavioral issues, I don\u2019t think it\u2019s right to simply cut someone after ONE season of poor production and behavior. If it continues to be a theme, then yes \u2026 by all means send him walking. We kept Bortles all this time even though his performance was inconsistent throughout his time here. Who\u2019s to say that Fournette won\u2019t have a great five-year stretch where he is a Top 5 or Top 10 back each year?<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

My sense is that you can relax because I don\u2019t see the Jaguars releasing Fournette this offseason \u2013 and I doubt a team will offer enough in trade for the Jaguars to go that route. But the reason parting ways with Fournette has been a topic are legitimate \u2013 and they go beyond one season. He has had discipline and durability issues in both of his seasons with the Jaguars \u2013 and while he was far more productive as a rookie than he was in Year 2, he has yet to show the consistency needed from an elite running back. Yes, it\u2019s still possible that he has a five-year stretch of being a Top 5 or Top 10 back, but he hasn\u2019t been that yet and he must play much better for a long period for that to happen.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Hulk from Las Vegas, NV<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Draft possibilities!!! I don’t THINK the Jags are willing or even in position to foot the inevitable bill for Foles. It feels financially irresponsible to dump that kinda scratch into him with all the glaring needs on offense and I imagine the front office would agree. And it\u2019s no secret that \u2013 BB5 aside \u2013 the offense lacks severely on playmakers. Would it be a bad idea to draft say T.J. Hockenson Iowa at No. 7? Do you get the feel that the front office would make that kinda of call? Would it be better to trade out of the top ten and grab him if he\u2019s available and a quarterback in the second? What would you do if this was up to you?<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

I\u2019m \u201cmeh\u201d on drafting quarterback in the second round. It\u2019s possible, but your percentages of success go way down outside the Top 10. I would lean toward drafting the best quarterback available at No. 7 and developing him behind a bridge free-agent quarterback. I\u2019m conservative with a long-term approach by nature and that\u2019s the best percentage, long-term approach for finding a franchise quarterback. But here\u2019s what I think is a real possibility for the Jaguars: signing Foles as a free agent and selecting Hockenson No. 7 overall. As time goes on, that feels more and more likely.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Neil from Cheltenham, UK<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Dear Sir. I remain fascinated by ‘mock drafts’ even though I now know they have absolutely no validity whatsoever. My question is as to why they are so incredibly inaccurate?<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n

Mock drafts are inaccurate because one mistake at an early spot causes everything after it to change, therefore causing more mistakes. And because no one really knows what teams are thinking. And because teams put out misinformation. And because a lot of analysts are guessing. And \u2026<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Laz from London, UK<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

I wonder how many more times will people ask about your opinion on acquiring Foles and drafting or not a quarterback …<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

More than a few, less than infinity. Or maybe it will be more than infinity. Anything\u2019s possible at this point.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Paul from Ponte Vedra, FL<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Mr. Aut”O”matic \u2026 Why is everyone is putting so much stock into just a couple (two or three) possible draft picks this season at quarterback? The combine is not for a bit … and each and every year, inevitably players will lose value or raise value \u2013 sometimes drastically. Shouldn’t all the hype wait until we have all the needed data? AND … should this be a pause in the $20 million decision for Foles?? Just wondering.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Hype waits for no man \u2013 or woman \u2013 and that\u2019s particularly true when it comes to quarterbacks and the NFL Draft. But remember: While stock sometimes rises and falls a bit based on the combine, a players\u2019 draft status usually doesn\u2019t \u2013 or at least shouldn\u2019t \u2013 change dramatically based on results there. The combine is a part of the pre-draft process, but it\u2019s best viewed as a piece of the puzzle. As far as the combine serving as pause in the $20 million decision for Foles \u2026 again, the combine will be a part of the puzzle. But I don\u2019t imagine anything that will happen in Indianapolis next week dramatically changing the Jaguars\u2019 approach at quarterback. If they want Foles, they\u2019ll pursue him no matter how quarterbacks fare there. If they don\u2019t want him, Indianapolis also won\u2019t change that.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Keith from Palatka, FL<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n

Are you sure you don’t have a photogenic memory?<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

You\u2019re thinking of my face and upper torso.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n

 <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n

 <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n
\n
\n
<\/div>\n
\n

 <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n