JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …
Wade from Westside
The years may change, but it's still the same old Jaguars.
I get versions of this question whenever the Jaguars lose. It has merit after an 18-13 loss to the Cleveland Browns in a Week 2 game at EverBank Stadium Sunday. The Jaguars talked all offseason about not being last year's team, a team that lost five of its last six games because of injuries – and because key players weren't making key plays in big moments. They have been that team twice in two games this season and they are therefore 0-2. They don't believe they're last year's team. They must prove they're not and now they must do it pretty darned quick.
Dave from Jacksonville
I know I'm just an ignorant fan, but can you explain to me why the local media treats the quarterback with such kid gloves? Why do the fans that question whether he is the second coming get treated with disdain and condescension? I think it's a legitimate point to say a quarterback should play elite before he is ordained as elite.
I can't speak for why the "local media" says or doesn't say a particular thing, and I have no proof you're an ignorant fan. I have repeatedly said and written Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence is not elite and must improve in some specific, important areas before he is elite. I never have heard local media "ordain" him as elite, but I don't listen to everything said by local media. I have other, far more important things to do. I'm sure someday I'll figure out what those things are.
Mike from Middleburg
So …. Trevor has lost his last how many starts?
The Jaguars have lost seven consecutive games in which Lawrence has started.
Levi from Huntsville AL
How many games to we give our QB to get it going? 2? 4?
Lawrence is the Jaguars' starting quarterback. There is not a number of games for him "to get it going." He is not on a "short leash."
Stephen from Melbourne, FL
Should have named the stadium NeverBank.
- I laughed at this.
Eddie from Jacksonville
How about a whole bunch for Buster Brown?
Jaguars third-year cornerback Montaric "Buster" Brown appeared to play very well Sunday starting for injured Tyson Campbell. He was active, played fast and made plays. One fer Brown? Sure? A whole bunch? Why not?
Tim from Jax
"Better than most observers believe", hopefully you're getting 50 thousand emails with this quote.
I did get that many emails, but it was because I'm "awesome" and phenomenally popular with various groups of people. Not because of any quote.
Jordan from Mandarin
I know there's a lot more games to play. I get it. But this ain't it, John. For Trevor's sake, it's time for change at the season's end.
It's Week 2. I get that it has been bad. But we don't yet know if "this ain't it."
Bill from Jacksonville, FL
Coming into the Jaguars 2024 season, Shad Khan was clear his expectation is to win now. He was clear he wanted Pederson to call plays. Pederson has been annoyed/coy with the media about who's calling plays. The Offense has been putrid through 2 games. The Jaguars are 0-2, staring 0-4 in the face. Did I miss anything, John?
Being "coy" doesn't mean Pederson is calling plays. It doesn't mean he's not calling plays. It means we don't know for certain who is calling plays.
Paul from Lake City
When is the last time we saw the Jaguars' offensive line consistently win in short yardage? It feels like it's been a while. A long while.
Yes, it does.
Jonathan from Formerly of Jax
You and your brethren should read the postgame questions the UF beat writers asked Napier and follow suit with the Jags. They ask tough questions that fans want the answers to. What a concept. Also, Ramsey still sucks.
I can't speak for my "brethren," whoever those fortunate folks may be. I expect I'll continue to ask questions as I see fit and as my experience in the profession dictates. That has served me OK so far. I'll probably ride that horse until the rodeo stops.
Dan from Greer
So, in a post regarding grumbling, rainy days and Mondays, you gave a really eloquent answer. It was the end of that post that has me wondering. I believe you wrote that if they lose, you don't want talk about it. So, does that mean we'll sweep this disastrous week 2 under the rug and move on to week 3?
Not until Wednesday.
Haney from Little Elm, TX
I'd like to say I'm amazed but I really can't. Year in and year out, this team can't score consistently from inside the 5. This can't be a defensive issue and it can't be lack of practice time. It never changes. How can a team be so bad every year at the same thing?
The NFL is hard. When you're not good at something you're not going to get good results. The Jaguars haven't been good in short-yardage in the last season or so. This showed up again late in the first half Sunday.
Jeff from Atlantic Beach, FL
You always say to "Be nice!" So, with that in mind. Hmm, that new stadium is gonna be pretty cool huh?
Well done.
Chance from Tecumseh
I am at a loss for words. I live in Canada and the Jags will be in Detroit mid-November. I question if I want to spend money to go watch that effort? This has to be on the coaching more than the players? Also - what is wrong with No. 13?
Why is it on coaching more than the players? I'm not being facetious. I'm not even saying, "It's always coaching in the NFL." I've just never remotely understood why so many fans default to this thinking.
Bass form Pieszyce
What is the advantage in trying to hike the ball with one second or less every play? Are we trying to play as few possessions as possible? I get it when you get a nice lead but the Jags kill themselves with this. Gives them very few snaps and they waste crucial timeouts saving delay of games because of this? I don't get the strategy and it results in a panic, wasted timeouts, flags and bad timing. Just get organized and play. Maddening to watch on every play.
It is maddening. It's not a strategy.
Shawn from Jacksonville
Very pitiful. Trevor looked lost. With the game on the line an elite quarterback would not get sacked in the end zone for a safety. You have to get the ball out of your hand no matter what the O-line is doing. I am a big Trevor fan but he is losing me fast.
You're referencing a late-game safety that pretty much decided the Jaguars' loss Sunday. Browns defensive end Alex Wright beat Jaguars guard Ezra Cleveland and center Mitch Morse and sacked Lawrence for a two-yard loss that gave the Browns an 18-13 lead with 1:44 remaining. I agree that Lawrence must get rid of the ball there. It also seems from watching the play that Wright got to Lawrence really quickly and it would have been a really good play to have gotten the ball out.
Larry from Duncan, OK
Great and powerful O, I believe, after all the excuses for him, Jacksonville needs to look at finding a new quarterback. Trevor was basically gifted the starting job and Gardner Minshew II was shown the door. The huge paycheck given him is too big to put into dead money but there needs to be a real quarterback competition for the starting job.
That's not going to happen. Nor should it.
Pedal Bin from Farnborough, Hampshire, UK
Oh Mighty 'O' / King of all Funk, looks like this team does not have that "bounce-back ability" after all. We really could be 0-4 at the end of September.
Sure, they could. They also could be 1-3 or 2-2. They can't be 3-1 or 4-0. Those are pretty much out the ol' window.
GP from Savannah, GA
Our vaunted offense is nowhere close to being competitive. Once again we have been duped by preseason hype and fantasy.
Yep. Gotta be better.
JohnnyD from Cedar Rapids, IA
I would have rather taken the loss had they gone for it on fourth and goal. The one time I was rooting for him to go for it. What say you?
You're referencing a fourth-and-goal play from the Browns 7 midway through the fourth quarter. The Jaguars trailed 16-10 at the time. Pederson opted to kick a field goal and make it a three-point game. It absolutely was the right decision.
Larry from Wattsburg(h), PA
How delightful is it that my favorite NFL team is making it so easy for me to finally give up this "sport?" If only their writer would follow suit.
What just a minute.
