{"id":5868,"date":"2019-03-02T13:33:57","date_gmt":"2019-03-02T13:33:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/jags4life.com\/?p=5868"},"modified":"2019-03-02T13:33:57","modified_gmt":"2019-03-02T13:33:57","slug":"o-zone-people-are-people-2-2-2-2-3-2-3-3-3-2-2-2-7-3-2-2-2-3-3-3-2-2-2-3-2-2-2-2-4-2-2-2-2-3-3-3-3-2-2-2-2-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jags4life.com\/index.php\/2019\/03\/02\/o-zone-people-are-people-2-2-2-2-3-2-3-3-3-2-2-2-7-3-2-2-2-3-3-3-2-2-2-3-2-2-2-2-4-2-2-2-2-3-3-3-3-2-2-2-2-2\/","title":{"rendered":"O-Zone: Coming home to roast"},"content":{"rendered":"
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INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. \u2013 Let\u2019s get to it \u2026<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Geoffrey from Orlando, FL<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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After four years of trying to \u201cfix\u201d Bortles\u2019 accuracy issues, sign me up for the most accurate passer in the draft. That would seem to be Kyler Murray. Dude drops dimes. He\u2019s up to 207 pounds; that shows he is willing to craft his body into an NFL player. After success of shorter-than-average Baker Mayfield \u2013 and of course, Russell Wilson and Drew Brees \u2013 where do you see Murray falling in the draft?<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Oklahoma quarterback Kyler Murray has become The One and Only Story of the 2019 NFL Scouting Combine \u2013 and he is in that sense one of the most fascinating pre-draft stories in recent memory. As far as your question \u2026 my first thought is I hesitate to compare anyone with Brees. He\u2019s an all-time great and it\u2019s dangerous to think you can replicate greatness based on comparables such as size. My second thought is I liked what Jaguars Head Coach Doug Marrone had to say about this topic Wednesday. Marrone essentially said that his experience in the NFL \u2013 and when recruiting as a college coach \u2013 was that while there were exceptions to all rules, he had learned over time that straying from normal measurables with players got you burned more often than not. Marrone quickly added that there are times when a player is so good that straying from the measurables can get you a great player. As far as your question, it\u2019s not so much a matter of Murray\u2019s willingness to \u201ccraft\u201d himself into an NFL player as much as whether he can succeed in the NFL playing his style. He used athleticism and quickness to excel outside the pocket in college, and without having to read NFL-level defenses and without having to face players with NFL speed. Also: The NFL exposes players to more physical punishment, and Murray\u2019s style will expose him to more than if he were a pocket passer. There\u2019s no way around it. Wilson indeed has excelled playing that way. Time will tell if Mayfield will as well. I can\u2019t really say that Brees does it, because Brees has learned over time to excel in the pocket despite his size. I don\u2019t know if Murray can do the same. I sense that some team will believe in him enough to take him in the Top 10. I absolutely don\u2019t sense that team will be the Jaguars.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Scott from Fernandina Beach, FL<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Hi John, Come on free agency! I\u2019m dying for some action!<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Baby needs a new pair of shoes!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Jason from Da\u2019Hass<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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John, I’ve been behind in the O-Zone action for the past few days, but just got caught up. #HaskinsOrBust. Do what you gotta do to get to No. 1. Nick Foles at $20 million-to-$22 million per year is absolute insanity and will put the franchise back years, so of course Foles will suit up for the Jags next year. Compensatory pick formula a mystery you say? Someone on the Patriots staff figured it out as they, once again, have a treasure trove of draft picks this year.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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A few thoughts on your thoughts. One is that while Ohio State quarterback Dwayne Haskins seems to have become something of an afterthought in the consciousness of Jaguars observers this week, I don\u2019t sense he\u2019s at all out of the picture for the team. Another thought is that while many around the combine have completely bought into the story that Foles will be the quarterback of the Jaguars next season, I don\u2019t sense that\u2019s a done deal. Also: the compensatory process isn\u2019t on its surface a mystery. If you lose more than you gain in free agency one offseason you will receive compensatory selections the following year. But the specifics of the formula are indeed a mystery as the NFL doesn\u2019t announce the details \u2013 even to teams.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Robert from Oneota, NY<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Thought I\u2019d mess up the trend and not talk about quarterbacks \u2026 well not directly. I understand it is time to move on from Blake. It\u2019s inevitable, c\u2019est la vie. Your comment about Bortles not stepping up during the injuries is part of the reason he is leaving. OK, I get that, too. What I do not understand, if the above premise is true, why is Marrone still here? What did he do to step up his game, besides throw others under the bus? He gets another chance? Why? The light from the 2017 season still blinding people? As much as I like the Jags, ever consider 2017 was a fluke \u2013 an aberration in the time\/space continuum of the NFL? The Jags beat some good teams in that run, but they also lost to the Jets, 49ers, Cardinals and twice to the Titans. I understand the decision has been made. I also know that \u201cfair\u201d is someplace you buy a pig \u2026 and \u2026 no, coaching is not everything in the NFL, but this Marrone fellow needed to go along with Blake and offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett. Save the 2019 season from the drama of replacing the HC. Get on the road to stability. Go Jags!<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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So, if I\u2019m reading this right \u2026 one not fer Marrone.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Mark from Prescott, AZ<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Hi John, and Happy Combine! Do you think it’s possible that what Caldwell meant by “big picture” is that they’re thinking of going after Nick Foles for the here and now AND drafting a QB at No. 7 for the future?<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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I don\u2019t think that\u2019s what he meant, and I don\u2019t think that\u2019s what the Jaguars will do. I wouldn\u2019t rule it out, and I think it\u2019s something they should consider, but I don\u2019t at this point think it\u2019s something they will do.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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

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I always noticed an uptick in the quality of your work around early to mid-November. When do you truly activate \u201cPlayoff Zone\u201d and is that before or after Eugene (Gene) \u201cPlayoffs\u201d Frenette is in full swing?<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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There wasn\u2019t an uptick in the quality of my work. You got that wrong.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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

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Mighty O, Last year many fans were concerned about offensive-line depth and the way the season played out it\u2019s hard to argue with them. Given the number of offensive linemen with contracts expiring, I\u2019m extremely nervous at the moment, am I missing some grand plan??<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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I\u2019m sorry you\u2019re nervous. Having problems with nerves can be \u2026 nerve-racking. Fans will always be concerned about offensive-line depth for the simple reason that NFL teams will hardly ever have it. There simply aren\u2019t enough good linemen for all teams to have good starters; much less good depth. Yes, the Jaguars have a lot of lineman becoming free agents. I expect they will re-sign one or two, perhaps acquire one as a free agent and almost certainly acquire at least one in the 2019 NFL Draft.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Chase from Hilliard, FL<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Is it possible that even if the Jags sign a free agent quarterback such as Foles, that they still take a QB at No. 7 in the draft as well?<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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It\u2019s possible. I doubt it will happen.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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

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John, I’m confused by the sentiment that Bortles didn’t “elevate the play” of those around him. You have said this often, but I have heard it other places as well. My question is how is one expected to elevate the play of replacement level players (on the offensive line, wide receiver\/tight end corps, and backfield)? This is not an email in support of Bortles because I agree it is time to move on. I\u2019m just curious as to what that would look like to you. And what is it about Nick Foles that suggests he would have been any different given that he struggled in very similar situations (thinking about his first stint in Philly and his time in St. Louis?)<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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You\u2019re right that Bortles wasn\u2019t in a \u201cfair\u201d situation this past season. The best answer for why the Jaguars are moving on is probably less about one specific game or stretch of games and more about being able to see after five seasons that the Jaguars just generally need to improve at the position. They tried it with Bortles. They stuck with it. And while there were moments of success, the feeling is that there weren\u2019t enough and that it\u2019s time to go another direction. As far as Foles \u2026 no, the Jaguars aren\u2019t getting an elite quarterback if they sign him. They\u2019re getting a player who has struggled at times. What the Jaguars would be getting is a player they believe is better enough to squeeze a bit more out of this offense and turn some close losses into victories. That sort of improvement at the position can mean a lot.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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John from Priest River, Idaho<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Those quarterbacks are already \u201cseasoned\u201d veterans. Why not leave them on the roaster?<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Because sometimes, it\u2019s time to move on. And because sometimes, it\u2019s time to get a guy off the roaster lest he \u2026 well \u2026 roast.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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