JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …
Phil from Jacksonville
So … Coen, Graham and Saleh now? OK, I guess.
The Jaguars indeed announced early Monday evening that they have scheduled second interviews with Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Liam Coen, Las Vegas Raiders defensive coordinator Patrick Graham and former New York Jets Head Coach Robert Saleh for their head-coaching vacancy. They previously interviewed 10 candidates: Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator Joe Brady, Coen, Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores, Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, Graham, Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken, Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator Kellen Moore, Saleh and Kansas City Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo. Johnson on Monday was hired as the Chicago Bears' head coach – so that, as they say, is where we're at with this. This is accelerating quicky. We shall see what it means for timing. Stay tuned.
Marcus from Jacksonville
No matter who the Jags hire as head coach, and no matter what the real reasons were for Ben Johnson choosing Chicago, the perception for the fans will always be that they missed out on their first choice because of General Manager Trent Baalke. That may not be true, but that's how it will be perceived.
That has been reported. That will be the perception. That is unquestionably a narrative. I don't know that to be true. I don't know that Johnson was the Jaguars' first choice. I also don't know that it's remotely true that he is a better candidate that Coen, Saleh or Graham. But will that be the perception? And will it make some Jaguars fans mad? Sure.
Rhino from Jax
No question, just here to say that I'm done with this team until Shad sells. It's clear he does not have this team's best interest at heart. Keeping Baalke and losing out on Ben Johnson was the last straw. Go Falcons or some other team.
Many O-Zone readers wanted Johnson as the head coach. This is because he was perceived as the "hot candidate" of this coaching cycle. I don't doubt Johnson has a chance to be a good head coach and I thought there was a decent chance he would be the Jaguars' head coach. I strongly doubt being the hot candidate has much to do with whether he or anyone else will be a good head coach. I absolutely know Khan's not selling the Jaguars and that he has the team's best interest at heart.
Art from Glassboro, NJ
If the coach we hire ends up being successful, it's because we fell ass backwards into it.
One fer skepticism and bitterness, I suppose.
Mike from Azores
Hey, John. Watching all of the playoff games this week gives me concern that TL might not be the guy! All four winning teams are built around a very good and often-used running quarterback. It seems much more difficult for defenses to stop the third-or-fourth-and-short plays by the offense when you have to account for the quarterback. Patrick Mahomes (Kansas City Chiefs), Jayden Daniels (Washington Commanders), Jalen Hurts (Philadelphia Eagles) and Josh Allen (Buffalo Bills) all have a level of mobility well beyond TL. Do you really think the Jags can reach and win the Super Bowl with a more traditional pocket passer in today's NFL?
This is a fair concern, and it will be interesting to see if this very clear current trend continues this clearly. I'm a pocket-passer, old-school guy and continue to believe winning from the pocket is essential for a quarterback. My thought is Mahomes is the ideal version of this because – while absolutely mobile and a threat to run when necessary – his greatness is still based primarily on reading defenses and making the right throws. But the game undoubtedly is changing, and mobility is key. As for Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence, he's mobile enough to run effectively when necessary. His primary task from this view is learning how to better protect himself when out of the pocket. If he doesn't learn to do that better, he may not be healthy enough for much else to matter.
Howard from Homestead, FL
The team that defended the attempted decapitation of Lawrence is whining about the refs protecting Mahomes in their playoff loss. Somebody call the waaaambulance!
One not fer the Houston Texans, apparently.
Tom from Mandarin
"Don't believe everything you read on the internet and hear on talk radio." King of Bunk, why should we believe you? Most of your writings are jokes and suppositions.
People ask questions. I answer based on what I know from three decades experience covering the NFL and from being around the Jaguars organization pretty much daily for the last 14 years. I'm not always right. I always try to explain what's happening around the Jaguars based on those two factors. Believe what you like. I can't control what you believe and have no inclination to try.
J.Hooks from Orange Park, FL
I believe you wrote these virtual coaching interviews take up to three hours. That seems like an incredible pain in the keister if you're an offensive coordinator/defensive coordinator trying to game plan for the playoffs and a Super Bowl run. It's basically like saying "Yeah, hold tight, Andy Reid. I'll get you that game plan. I just gotta run an errand real quick." All jokes aside, how can these guys do a solid interview knowing they're in the playoffs?
This indeed is less than ideal and it's a situation coaches have faced for decades. Assistants who are prospective head coaches handle this as best they can, preparing the game plan early in the week and working a regular schedule throughout the week while interviewing either in the evenings or later in the week at a time when game-planning and preparation is essentially finished. They essentially do the best they can to be as focused as possible on their current position while putting their best effort into interviews that often represent a real chance at a dream position for which they have worked their entire careers. Is it possible for these candidates to give both parties their best? Perhaps not, but teams with vacancies need coaches and assistant coaches in the postseason are usually the "hot candidates" – and the NFL year-round schedule means teams won't wait after the postseason to start the process. No, it isn't ideal. Not even close.
Jeremy from Gilbert, AZ
You said the NFL is not scripted TV? Tell that to the refs that gave the Chiefs a free pass to the AFC Championship Game. You'd like to think the NFL cares about the fairness and purity of the sport but I'm confident they just care about ratings and money.
It's always officiating in the NFL.
Fred from Naples, FL
Yeah … everyone wanted Ben Johnson. Everyone wanted Josh McDaniels a few years ago as well. How did that turn out?
Not all that great.
Bradley from Sparks, NV
When the Jags won 16 out of 22 over two seasons (8-6 against playoff teams) with a core of young,, ascending players, then isn't that called proof of concept? The Lions compiled a similar record over that same period and that is when their coaching staff really went to work while the Jags staff seemed caught off-guard when adversity stuck her head up and not only could not stop a slow rotating death spiral but exponentially increased its velocity with sheer incompetence. This is why Baalke is planning the draft and former Jaguars Head Coach Doug Pederson is planning a trip to Patagonia.
Your question suggests that the Jaguars' coaches after winning an AFC South title in 2022 and taking a two-game lead in the division with five games remaining in the 2023 season suddenly careened out of control and became a cast of blithering fools. This actually makes sense because it's always coaching in the NFL. Nothing else matters. Ever, ever, ever.
Andrew from Mattoon, IL
John: I have not had a request to interview me for head coach position. Could you check that they received my resume? Much appreciated.
They received it.
Daniel from Johnston, IA
Is it wrong that I'm not really excited by any of the potential HC candidates? Pederson was the first HC hire in a decade that I felt some optimism about and he sorta delivered. I kinda feel none of those 10 or so seems like an upgrade over him?
Pederson was a good head coach. Are any of the 10 candidates the Jaguars interviewed better? There's no guarantee. There's no guarantee they're not better, either. Khan will hire the candidates he believes the best fit. That candidate will go to work. If that candidate can get players believing in him, establish a sound structure and get high-end quarterback play, then he and the Jaguars will have a chance to win. He will get a lot of credit if the Jaguars win and a lot of blame if they lose. And so it goes. And so it goes.
