JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …
Joe from Jacksonville
Were you a fan of former coach Jim Mora? He was before my time, but I loved his sound bites, and am a big fan of watching highlights of his Dome Patrol with the Saints. Any good Mora stories?
I absolutely was a fan of Jim Mora. I followed him when I was an NFL fan while in college and when he was the head coach of the New Orleans Saints, then I was fortunate to cover him one season when I was working for the Indianapolis Colts. This was 2001, his final season with the Colts and an eventful season that ended with his firing after a disappointing 6-10 finish. That season, like many final seasons of head-coaching tenures, had plenty of drama – most notably the infamous "playoffs" press conference following a late-November loss to the San Francisco 49ers. That press conference has been replayed and referenced so often that Mora may never be forgotten by NFL observers. Still, part of me is sorry he is SO remembered for that and other press conferences. He was a successful NFL head coach by any measure and should be remembered as such. While I only covered Mora one season, I enjoyed getting to know him and had great respect for him. I found him to be of great honesty and integrity, and I also thought he was a damned good coach. I have no "great" story about Mora, but I absolutely remember him fondly.
Marcus from Jax
You said that cornerback Tyson Campbell didn't struggle with man coverage as much as he struggled with locating the football when it was in the air. Isn't that one of the most significant differences between man coverage and zone coverage? In zone, your eyes are toward the line of scrimmage so you can see everything unfolding. In man, your back is to the line, so you have to get your head around, locate the ball and make a play. I know there are other differences, for sure, but isn't saying he struggled with locating the ball the same as saying he struggled in man coverage?
No, saying a player struggled locating the ball is saying he struggled locating the ball. It's not the same as saying he struggled in man coverage. If I wanted to say a player struggled in man coverage, I would say he struggled in man coverage.
Brian from ROUND ROCK, TX
The "prowlers" look great. They are THE Jags uniform. I think it's the best uniform in the league. Why were they ever dropped and how can we get them back as the primary?
You're referencing the Prowler Throwbacks the Jaguars unveiled Thursday and that they will debut against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 5 of the 2024 season. These are based on the Jaguars' original 1995-2008 uniforms, and you're not alone in thinking they're the Jaguars' best uniform. Many fans and observers feel the same way. I wasn't covering the Jaguars in 2008, so I can't speak with much authority on why they were dropped. I do know many teams change uniforms for the sake of changing uniforms. There are certainly cases where NFL teams have returned to vintage uniforms as primary uniforms, so such a move isn't unprecedented. How do you do it? You wait five years from the time you last changed uniforms and contact the league about making the change. I don't have a feel yet for the chances that that would happen. Let's let the team wear them once as throwbacks before we move too far and too fast in this direction.
Adam from Brooklet
With all the throwbacks, I went back to watch the videos of the All-25 Jags team and wonder how it may be different just five years later. I would think edge defender Josh Hines-Allen now has his name cemented in there somewhere, and would probably already have quarterback Trevor Lawrene in over David Garrard but would get the debate. Tight end Evan Engram may already have a place too. What are your thoughts on current Jaguars' chances/placement on the next go round this list is made?
I would have a tough time keeping the three players you mention off a list of the Top 25 Jaguars players. I don't sense a need for another list yet, though – even considering this is the 30th season for the team. If you do one every five years, you end up diluting the honor.
Deadhead Brian from Shakedown Street Nocatee
Going to my first Jags practice next week. What should I bring and what should I look for?
Had this been three or four years ago, I would have told you to bring sunscreen and bucket hats, but the Miller Electric Center means the weather isn't neeeeearly as brutal at Jaguars training camps as previously was the case. These days I would tell you to bring yourself. As for what you should look for … next week's practices are without pads so watch the skill guys. There's not all that much to see from the running game and linemen in non-padded work, but you can get a feel for speed, quickness and athleticism of running backs, wide receivers and the defensive back seven.
Jim from Jacksonville
Third time's a charm? Since the Dead Zone is almost over, I thought I'd try this question one more time: Could you please tell us a little about the color-coded play cards the coaches use on the sidelines during games?
I'm not sure where you're sending questions, but this is the first question I've received in recent months about color-coded play cards. What are color-coded play cards? They're cards with colors on them that the coaches use to call and distribute plays to players.
Chad from Denver North Carolina
Just went to Iceland and thought of you. Not because you're so chill and cool, but because the first eating establishment I saw at the airport was Sbarro! How much more incentive do you need? SBARRO and the magic of Iceland PRICELESS!
Translation: "Zone, I went to Iceland and you didn't go to Iceland." Well done, Chad. Well done.
Shawn from Moore County, NC
With the offseason being so slow I decided this year to start reading books. It got me curious if Mr. O likes reading books. What is the last good book that you read? Do you have any recommendations? I recommend the book Chaos.
I mentioned recently that earlier this offseason I read books by Philip Roth and Norm MacDonald. Both were great if you like McDonald and Roth. I currently am trying to get started on several novels by Graham Greene. I don't read as much these days as I would like. It's true that I'm not proud of this. It's equally true that I'm less proud of many, many other things.
David from Orlando, FL
Ozone – I watched a video online of a Houston Texans blogger who was reviewing the Jaguars roster. His condescending tone was smack-worthy, but he did make a point that stuck with me. It was his observation that the Jaguars use a basic run scheme that made it easy for defenses to diagnose. We've been focusing much of our attention on the offensive lineman not getting the job done, but could a predictable run scheme be contributing to our run game woes?
It's hard for me to imagine caring less about anything than I care about what a Houston Texans blogger says about the Jaguars' running game. I 'm sure such things exist. I just can't imagine it.
Hilarious from Funnytown
Wait. You mean to tell me R.E.M. made music before Automatic for the People?
There is nothing wrong with Automatic for the People. I count it among my favorite R.E.M. albums. I count five or six others, too. I've had many bands that mattered to me in my life. I don't know that any mattered as much for as long at a time in life when music mattered than R.E.M. Or something like that.
JK from NY & Fernandina Beach, FL
Hey Now, John! Now that we are reaching the end of the "Dead Zone", what say you (if anything) about the Grateful Dead?
I love that the Grateful Dead existed. I love the passion their fans feel about the Grateful Dead. I love the idea of the Grateful Dead. They're just not my thing.
Nick from Virginia Beach, VA
The Jags finally did the thing to release the throwbacks. Now it's the time to make them permanent and keep it that way. If we say it loud enough, do you think Jaguars Owner Shad Khan will hear us?
I guarantee nothing. I don't have this kind of power.
Scott from Atlantic Beach, FL
We could gather throw a fist?
I think it's "fit." The beauty of early Stipe is we don't really know, neither does he and it really doesn't matter either way.
