JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …
Will from Middleburg, FL
I have initiated and echoed many Duuuuvalll cheers over the past few years. I hate to be a Debbie Downer or party pooper, but I think it's time to retire the popular cheer. When you have a battle cry but continually lose battle after battle, it's time for a change. It's embarrassing to yell out chants when you lose all the time. Unfortunately, I don't have any clever replacement cheers. Who cares, right?
I well understand that Jaguars fans are frustrated and disappointed. And why not? The Jaguars are 2-9 entering a Week 12 bye when much, much more was expected from the 2024 season. But calling for cheers to be retired and traditions to be ended is perhaps a bit misguided and short-sighted. The Jaguars have lost way too much over the last decade, but it's incorrect to say the team loses all the time. The team went 9-8 each of the past two seasons. It won the 2022 AFC South title and came within a loss in the regular-season finale from winning it again last season. The Duuuval cheer was presumably fun during those good times and it will be fun again. Don't throw the cool stuff out with the bad times. And don't let the team's struggles spoil the fans' fun.
Peter from Ponte Vedra Beach, FL
I like the fact that Shad has not fired Doug P. or Trent B. at this point. Both are equally responsible for this disaster and why pay them to sit around and spend the holidays with their families? No, make them endure the rest of the season like the rest of us and clean house in January.
Difficult times call for vengeful measures, I suppose. Jaguars Owner Shad Khan isn't retaining Head Coach Doug Pederson and General Manager Trent Baalke as a form of punishment. He's retaining them because he doesn't feel it's the right time to make a change.
Kelton from Three Forks
No secret why this team sucks. Since the 2021 draft with quarterback Trevor Lawrence, we have drafted only four offensive linemen. Compared to five linebackers and eight defensive backs. Of the four linemen we did draft, two probably don't belong in the NFL. Can we please hire a general manager that knows the game is won up front? Can someone please take every player that is not an offensive or defensive lineman off the draft board for the next two years?
One fer takin' a whole lotta big 'uns.
Steve at the Beach from JACKSONVILLE
Tom Coughlin 1995-2002, James "Shack" Harris 2003-2008, Gene Smith 2009-2012 David Caldwell 2013-2020, Trent Baalke 2021-present. Is it fair to say that one out of five ain't so great? I know that without exception everyone has "misses," but some of their picks are in the all-time terrible discussions. I won't list them as we all know who they are, but my question is do you think we break this curse next time around (assuming it's imminent)? Maybe find a ripe and ready assistant from a proven "tree?"
The Jaguars have had some big misses in personnel acquisition, as would be expected for a franchise that has spent a lot of time in the NFL abyss. I don't know what the future holds for Baalke in Jacksonville. I do know that simply picking a ripe-and-ready assistant from a "tree" sounds terrific. But you have to find the right person, not necessarily the right employment history. That's what makes hiring tough in any field – and in the NFL, too.
Bradley from Sparks, NV
Khan has tried every angle. He hired the hot coordinator, the interim coach, the narcissistic college coach, the coach with a ring and the coach whose last name is slang for feces. He just can't get it right, but he will if he lives long enough. I am certain of that. Law of averages and all ... but if it was me, I would just pay Ozzie Newsome $2.5 million to tell me who to hire and I would hire that guy and then grab a nap.
Fair.
Brian from Gainesville, FL
Big O, the Jaguars have a good quarterback, soon-to-be-great receiver, OK running back, and four or five good pieces on defense. But otherwise, it's a rebuild at this point, right? Multiple seasons of hope they can draft and develop before we fans can expect anything good. You agree?
It's probably multiple seasons before the Jaguars feel as if they're at the level of the NFL's elite teams such as Detroit Lions, Kansas City Chiefs or Buffalo Bills. It doesn't have to be multiple seasons before they're competitive.
Holden from Callahan, FL
Given his production over the past three seasons, would you extend defensive end Travon Walker this offseason? If so, what would a realistic deal look like? Keep up the good work.
Absolutely. Very close to top of the market.
Tim from Virginia Beach, VA
I keep reading in your articles and answers that the Jaguars don't have enough good players to win close games. Doesn't that failure fall at the feet of Trent Baalke? Based on your commentary, there can be no justification on allowing him to cause further damage. He ruined San Fransisco and now he has destroyed the Jaguar roster.
I wouldn't at all say Baalke has "destroyed" the Jaguars' roster. He took over a depleted roster in 2020 and – in difficult circumstances – has by any measure increased the talent level. The Jaguars were awful in 2020-2021 and were talented enough to be competitive in 2022 and 2023 – and to win an AFC South title in 2022. It hasn't been good enough at the high end this season.
Jim from Middleburg, FL
Dear, John. The fans used to complain that the media ignored the Jaguars and they were unfairly underrepresented. Guess everybody is happy now that we are in the media ... a lot ... but sadly as someone else's highlight reel!! Duvaaall
OK.
Daniel from Johnston, IA
Jerry Jones recently commented that he has regretted firing coaches midseason, particularly Chan Gailey and Wade Phillips. Do you think his comments affect Shad Khan right now? Lastly, what do you think the chances are of Doug Pederson being the HC next year?
I have no idea if Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones' comments would directly influence Khan's thinking. I do think many owners who have dismissed coaches during the season have realized in retrospect that the firings didn't do all that much to change the course of the franchise. The thought here is that anytime a team is 2-9 with expectations being as high as they were before this season there's probably going to be a lot of change, head coach included. I don't have any feel for Khan's thinking specific to this situation.
Roger from Heidelberg, Germany
Robert Saleh was sacked after a 2-3 start. Dougie is still the Jags coach after 2-9 going into the bye week? What the heck? Hello, hello, anybody home? Hey, think McKhan think.
Just because the New York Jets or any other organization does something is not a reason to do something.
Fred from Naples, FL
It looks as if Woody Johnson just pulled in front of Shad Khan in the new GM hire sweepstakes!
Jets Owner Woody Johnson indeed parted ways with General Manager Joe Douglas this week. Just because the Jets or any other organization does something is not a reason to do something.
Dave from Coach-ella, CA
Based on consensus pre-draft potential alone, it seems to me that rookie Trevor Lawrence would still be drafted before Jayden Daniels, CJ Stroud, Bo Nix, etc. However, that pre-draft potential has not led to excellence. Okay, sure, maybe he'll be a late bloomer. What really bothers me is seeing Sean Payton take Bo Nix, allegedly an inferior product, and making him a winner as a rookie. I sit back and ponder what Lawrence's early career could have been had he landed in a similar environment. I know it's not always coaching in the NFL, but how else do you explain a middling prospect playing like a star and a star prospect playing like a middling prospect?
The NFL is dramatically different than college football. They are in many ways entirely different spots in terms of size, speed and complexity. That means players transition at different speeds and it means level of prospect often matters very little.
Howard from Homestead, FL
In a rare bit of good news for Jags fans, the Jaguar motor corporation has ditched their growler logo. This is the one they said was too similar to the original Jacksonville Jaguars logo, forcing them to ditch it. Since the team is facing another rebuild, along with a new stadium, why not make all things new and bring the original logo back? It's hard to imagine the car company waging a legal battle (they'd likely lose) over a brand they no longer want. And it would rejuvenate the fan base, which needs this and deserves it. What say you, KOAF?
Meh.
