JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …
John from Sad Town, FL
Please tell me we're closer than I think we are, that we have a semblance of hope going against the Bills and Texans the next two weeks.
The Jaguars absolutely have hope in the next two weeks against the Buffalo Bills and Houston Texans, though I understand the perception among some observers and fans is quite the opposite. The reason for this perception is the Jaguars have had some ugly moments in losing their first two 2024 regular-season games, which logically makes some people think they have no chance against the Bills in Orchard Park, N.Y., Monday or against the Texans in Houston the following Sunday. This perception overlooks that the Jaguars could have won either of their first two games – a last-play 20-17 loss at the Miami Dolphins in Week 1 and a last-play 18-13 loss to the Cleveland Browns this past week. The outplayed the Dolphins for much of the first three quarters, and they could have beaten the Browns despite one of their odder – and clunkier – offensive performances in recent memory. Remember, too: Those teams are good, with the Dolphins' offense one of the NFL's best and Browns' defensive one of the NFL's best. What's the Jaguars' best hope for Monday? That they play cleaner and perform better on key plays than they did the first two games. I understand that this analysis rings hollow considering the start to the season and the finish to the 2023 season. But the question was about a semblance of hope. That's the semblance.
Brendan from The Moral High Ground
KOAF! The assertion that the players win the games over play-calling is wrong. When I see a play where every wide receiver runs a damn curl route against zone coverage with an ETN flat, that is definitely poor play-calling. Change my mind.
Experience tells me when people ask questions that end with "change my mind," their minds are made up to the point there's usually no changing. If people believe play-calling and coaching are more important than players, then they're going to believe it. And that's fine. People have the right to believe what they like.
Josh from Avondale
Why is Jaguars Head Coach Doug Pederson so determined to go down with the ship? Why won't he make sane staff changes? Is he incapable? Unwilling?
It's Week 3.
Jeff from Renton, WA
We can do deep analysis about why we lost this past week. We can breakdown what caused the collapse last year. We can investigate why the Jags have struggled so much over the past 30 years. At some point, can we just say that we are cursed? Once a decade, we get a season that gives us hope, just so the Jaguars can turn around and crush our spirits.
The Jaguars aren't cursed. Such things are fun to discuss and easy to say after losses. But it's silliness.
SCOTT from Daytona Beach
I get rotating in fresh guys on the defensive line but your best player only plays 74 percent of the plays. Thats CRAZY. Max Crosby the Raiders best player played 100 period of the snaps. Your best players need to be on the field period.
This is the sort of assertive, definitive statement that sounds and reads good – and has little basis in reality. There's absolutely nothing wrong with rotating defensive linemen in the NFL. It's not close to crazy. Browns defensive end Myles Garrett might be the best defensive end in the NFL. He played 68 percent of the Browns' defensive snaps Sunday.
Sal from Austin, TX
Maybe the offense is doing too much. It's like they're trying to play chess, when maybe they should be playing checkers.
The offense isn't doing too much, and complexity is not an issue.
Joseph from Fleming Island
Coach Pederson needs to let the fans know whom to praise or to blame for the play-calling, confusion and delay of game penalties. Play-calling by committee isn't working in my opinion and confusion is noticeable.
Some people believe this. Pederson is not among those people.
Jeremy from Gilbert, AZ
Let's be clear, leaders publicly own failure (by themselves) and praise others. They criticize and make improvements in private. Trevor calling everyone out publicly is not leadership, it's whining.
Let's be clear: Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence called out everyone following Sunday's loss to the Dolphins, including himself. He wasn't whining. He was leading.
David from Oviedo, FL
Zone - Do you think it's too early to start resting players for the playoffs?
Yes.
Shawn from the Mean streets of Arlington
Has anyone brought to your attention, this team sucks?
Lawrence mentioned this extensively in his postgame media availability following the loss to the Dolphins Sunday. No one's mentioned it in this forum, where everyone seems pretty level-headed and content.
Paul from Columbus
If this team goes 0-6, do you think it's time for Mr. Khan to start looking for a new head coach?
An 0-6 record is a long way from 0-2.
ShanghaiStevie from Jacksonville
There's no point here to point to suggest the issue is the coaches or the play-calling. You've made yourself very clear to the regular reader (he knows who he is) how you feel about that. So, I guess General Manager Trent Baalke picked/signed the wrong players - like all of them except 23 and 7. My question is what you think Shad will do seeing as he is expecting "win now," and we have a 9-11% chance of making the playoffs.
The coaches haven't done a great job so far this season just as the players haven't done a great job. Who the hell has done a great job when you're 0-2? And to reiterate, it has never been stated here in the O-Zone that coaching or play-calling doesn't matter. It has been stated repeatedly that fans/observers overemphasize coaching and playcalling far too often when a team is struggling. As for what Khan will "do," I expect he will support Pederson as head coach.
Jeremy from Gilbert, AZ
Vince Lombardi and other great coaches acknowledged the importance of perfect practice leading to great execution in games. Why are people worried about the team/players being uptight? There are less than 1,700 jobs on the planet for NFL players. If the men on the Jags' roster can't handle pressure, then find another career. It's starting to be more and more clear that the Jags franchise and the roster of players are simply not the same pedigree of championship caliber teams. Let's see how the season plays out, but the excuses are wearing thin in my opinion.
My Scooby sense – not my Scobee sense – tells me you're upset about … well, something about practice or pressure or excuses. And I think you're saying the Jaguars aren't as good as championship-caliber teams. Well, they haven't won a championship, so I suppose that's true. I guess. Maybe. We'll see.
Chris from Jax
Mac Jones time?
No.
James from Destin
John, when the captain of a ship (Pederson) says he's at a loss isn't a good sign. If he's at a loss he's not involved enough or completely stupid on what's going on with this team. I believe we have the talent to be good however it seems nobody on this team plays like they care.
These are not the only options when a coach says he's at a loss. A coach can also be at a loss when players don't make plays at key moments and don't make plays when they're capable of doing it. Also: The Jaguars indeed did play inexplicably flat and lifeless early Sunday, but that's not a trend for this bunch.
Gerry from Jacksonville
Went back, watched the game and came out with a much different impression than what I had at the stadium. The failure today was not coaching. It was players missing their assignments or making dumb mistakes. Especially OL players. They need to focus and play better, or sit and let someone else do it.
OK.
Tommy from Fernandina Beach
Sir, how can the Jaguars send the same five starting offensive linemen out to start again next week? They were thought to be the weak link of the team and have proven it so far. I think it's time to sit or cut left tackle Cam Robinson. If offensive line coach Phil Rauscher can watch the film and honestly say he thinks Cam is playing at a high level than he needs to be gone too! That's how you hold people accountable.
Accountability in the NFL doesn't always mean firing coaches and releasing players. That's not necessarily the way in professional football. I do wonder if there could be a change or two on the offensive line. I wouldn't rule it out.
JACK PARSONS JR from Bronx
When will the JAGGS invest in a real confident OFFSIVE LINE?
Hopefully sometime soon. After all, if you're offsive line isn't confident you have no chance.
