JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …
Michael from Orange Park, FL
No updates? Give us something, Zone.
I'll assume you're referencing the Jaguars' head-coaching search, and there indeed haven't been significant updates in the last day or so. Remember: There's a stop-and-start nature to these searches, with a few days of relative "dead air" between initial requestions and interviews beginning. The Jaguars have requested interviews with the following 10 candidates: Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator Joe Brady, Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Liam Coen, Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores, Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, Las Vegas Raiders defensive coordinator Patrick Graham, Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken, Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator Kellen Moore, former New York Jets Head Coach Robert Saleh and Kansas City Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo. The Jaguars interviewed Spagnuolo virtually Friday night with virtual interviews scheduled with Glenn, Graham and Johnson Saturday. As this process moves into next week, there will be updates. For now, we wait.
Scott from Atlantic Beach, FL
The owner is the biggest problem? If you're not, "a company man." It's pretty obvious at the his point. He's had a lot of tries and not gotten it right. Jaguars General Manager Trent Baalke's free agent class this year should be enough for dismissal. I'm sure you get plenty of questions along this lines. Is it printable? Is the owner the problem?
I don't understand the first two sentences. I don't doubt you tried your personal best. I just don't understand them. This column runs on the internet. There is no printing involved. Jaguars Owner Shad Khan hires football people as football leadership, gets out of their way and supports them. He has tried for 13ish years to find a combination that will bring success. He is not the problem. It's his job to keep trying to find the solution and that is what he's doing now. Stay tuned.
Bo from Winter Springs, FL
Strange needs to work on route-running this offseason because if he can get open and get the ball more … the dude trucks!
One fer Jaguars tight end Brenton Strange and one fer trucks. I think.
Christopher from Chicago, IL
I had the privilege of closely working for Mr. Shad Khan while I was in college. And while it's perfectly fair to criticize his football decisions, to anyone that thinks he is "clueless" or that Trent Baalke is in charge and in some way outsmarting and manipulating him, let me tell you right now, Mr. Khan is not one to be manipulated.
Good eye.
David from The Island
Your Bud on the radio in Orlando was floating idea of Boselli taking a job like VP of Football Operations. Any thoughts on his thoughts?
I think Tony Boselli is very qualified for such a position. I think Khan said Monday he is open to the idea of adding and restructuring leadership. I don't have any thoughts beyond that.
Don from Marshall, NC
Poor Trent Baalke he makes the best pick in the draft last year and has a bunch of picks this year and his former drafts are starting to come along. He has the salary cap in good shape. He has a potential star QB. I never hear him speak unprofessionally and he seems to have the fire for a championship. What am I missing here? Why does everyone hate him so much? Specifically why is he a bad GM? His side of the house seems to be running great! Could it be that we have Charlie Brown as the GM? I just don't see him as doing a bad job. Go Jaguars!
When it comes to trying to be as fair as possible regarding Baalke, Dom remains reasonably and level-headedly "all in."
Greg from Section 122, Jacksonville, FL
Wow. That was over the top even for you. "People will judge as they see fit?" They were talking stats and facts John, Come on. Even YOU can't be that far into denial. It's not a perspective, it's called truth. We have the worst winning record in 13 under Shad of any team. In a league whose goal is two things! WINNING and hoisting that Lombardi Trophy. NEITHER has happened under Shad and we really haven't come close. Yeah, we got to the dance twice but choked hard in each instance. Yes fans going to fan, but Shad might be a billionaire cart part mogul. He knows little about football. I am sorry to say I get the sense he is more interested in making money than our team winning. He literally couldn't be bothered to fly here and talk to Doug face to face OR be bothered to face the press, fans, and customers face to face. He knows his fan base is angry and he seems to be avoiding it. I suppose if you have billions and another 30-year contract you can do that. Winning? Meh, who needs winning. (And for the record when the fan base gets apathetic and you see the new stadium 75 percent full of away team fans, well you know why.)
No one ever has said the Jaguars' results under Khan have been good enough. He wouldn't tell you they have been good enough. But if the question is whether Khan wants to win, the answer is yes. Does he care about money? Of course. Every NFL owner cares about money because if they don't care about money, the franchise can't function and the league can't function. But to say he cares more about money suggests that he doesn't put necessary resources into winning. There is nothing factual about such a suggestion.
Bob from St Augustine, FL
This doesn't look like cleaning house. I have seen cleaning house and this is not it. As a season-ticketholder, I am disappointed.
OK.
David from The Island
I know you're not a big uniform guy, but the older uniforms for the Denver Broncos, Atlanta Falcons and New England Patriots look better than their new stuff. The folks in Kansas City, Green Bay, Chicago, Indianapolis, Las Vegas and New Orleans haven't messed up their classic uniforms. I think the old Jags uniform is a classic too. Any chance we see some new unis in Jax especially with a new coach?
Your thoughts on this issue have merit. I don't expect the Jaguars to change uniforms in the next two or three seasons.
Tony from Johns Creek, GA
O, do NFL teams analyze past drafts to understand hits and misses? If so, do they analyze other team's drafts as well?
Yes. Yes.
Alon from Malibu, CA
Do you think Jarrian Jones is the future opposite Tyson Campbell at corner spot? Do you think the Jags will use their No. 5 overall selection in first round on Will Johnson or sign a top free agent corner>
Jones is capable of starting at outside corner opposite Campbell. The thought here, though, is Jones' skill set as a nickel corner is high end. Nickels must have very high football IQ, tackling ability, pass-rushing ability and coverage ability. Jones has all those things at a remarkably high level for a young player. I don't know who the Jaguars will select No. 5 overall. I start studying the draft in a big way after the regular season ends. The regular season ended for the Jaguars on Sunday. There has been "some stuff" happening in the days since. I do hope the Jaguars avoid signing "top free agents" in the future. "Top free agents" are the best players their teams don't want.
Andrew from Halifax
Give ya a break from the "OMG why not Baalke too" chatter and say: Rookie wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. jawing with Miami Dolphins cornerback Jalen Ramsey in Week 1 after sonning him is my highlight of the year. What is yours?
That's up there. The pickings are comparatively slim.
Howard from Homestead
There are rumblings in Pittsburgh about Mike Tomlin. If the Steelers would trade him in exchange for our fifth pick in the draft, would you do it? The last time we saw a team trade for another team's coach, it brought Tampa Bay its first Super Bowl title.
Rumblings about Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin aren't unusual. Steelers fans, like all fans, fan. It's what they do. The difference between Pittsburgh and most teams is they don't listen to rumblings about coaches who never have losing seasons. There are indeed some rumblings that Tomlin could step away. Considering he has been a head coach for 18 seasons, that's not absurd. Would I trade the No. 5 overall selection in the 2024 NFL Draft? I'd sure consider it. My thought always has been that there isn't a huge difference between a lot of head coaches – but that there are some coaches who are special in terms of ability to set organizational tone. Tomlin is in the latter group.
RAF from PVB
How dare you throw common sense into my emotional fanning!!
I am the King of all Funk.
