JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …

JT from Palm Coast, FL

If we don't get help quickly in our secondary, we are going to keep getting carved up. That game should have never been that close. Sending out an SOS for secondary help. How quickly are we expected to get healthier? That seems to be the only help on the way or am I wrong?

The Jaguars' secondary play was rooooooough in a 37-34 victory over the Indianapolis Colts at EverBank Stadium Sunday. Veteran Colts quarterback Joe Flacco threw for three touchdowns, two in the fourth quarter and the Colts scored 24 points largely on deep and intermediate passes from Flacco. Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce seemed to be playing by himself on a few plays. It's significant to remember here that the Jaguars' defense has played pretty well in three games. It's just as significant that there have been two really rough games – Sunday and a 47-10 loss to the Buffalo Bills in Week 3. What to do? Have fewer breakdowns. There's little else to do. Midseason SOSs in the NFL tend to go unanswered, though starting cornerback Tyson Campbell (hamstring) and safety Andrew Wingard (knee) are expected to return to practice over the next few weeks. Either way, the players on the roster must play better. A lot better.

Frank from Erith

If I'm Jaguars Head Coach Doug Pederson, then I bench Gabe Davis for the rest of the season or try and trade him. That guy is gonna get him fired!

I don't expect Jaguars wide receiver Gabe Davis to get benched or traded this season. I do expect he needs to be more consistent with fewer drops and missed opportunities than he has had the last two weeks.

Jeremy from Gilbert, AZ

Are you talking about the same Bob Sanders that Fred Taylor ran over after running straight up the middle of the defense on his way to a touchdown?

I was talking about former Indianapolis Colts safety Bob Sanders in a recent O-Zone answer. I believe you're referencing former Jaguars running back Fred Taylor running over Colts safety Mike Doss in a 2003 Jaguars victory at EverBank Stadium. Doss was not Sanders. Few who saw them play confused them.

Kyan from LeMars, IA

A bright spot for me has been Ventrell Miller. The dude just plays so hard. Fun to watch.

Jaguars second-year linebacker Ventrell Miller is good. He makes a lot of plays. He brings real energy. He started last week and played as a reserve Sunday. It's fair to wonder if he will start again soon.

DJ from Grass Valley, CA

I'm a little surprised at how hard everyone is going on Jaguars Head Coach Doug Pederson. While there have certainly been a few questionable decisions/play calls, he's not wrong. Coaches don't fumble at the four-yard line. Coaches don't drop passes. Coaches don't overthrow receivers. I don't believe it's time for a reset. That would probably do more harm than good. It's just time for everyone to pull their collective heads out of their collective rears. We have the quarterback. We have the weapons. We have the defense. We have the Coaches. Just put it together. What say you, Oh mighty O?

I say the growing emphasis on coaching in recent decades when analyzing the NFL seems from this view largely a media phenomenon. We have infinitely more analysts than we did 40, 30 and even 20 years ago. These analysts need something to say so they discuss coaching ad nauseum and sometimes forget that it's a players' game – and that coaches are on the sideline. The NFL now is insanely coach-saturated league, with passing and running game coordinators and seemingly every position coach now having an assistant. These factors have helped heap a perceived importance on coaching that is perhaps greater than the reality of its importance. Coaches matter. No question. But players must make the play. Great teams typically have players who do great, clutch things at big moments. Coaches can't control that greatness. They can put those players in position to do great things. Then, the players are on their own.

DJ from Grass Valley, CA

Can everyday be Trevor's birthday?

I laughed at this.

Jonathan from formerly of Jax Beach

Yes, I'm still reading even though I disagree with almost everything you write. Good job me. In response to Alan, fans and sportswriters have no bearing at all on outcomes of games in the NFL. If they did, I'd be the GM, we would have drafted Patrick Mahomes, Kyle Hamilton or Aiden Hutchinson, Grady Jarrett, Sam Laporta, a defensive tackle every year in the first two rounds until we get it right, offensive guards with a mean streak and I would not waste money on 10-year veterans here to play golf.

Such a shame you missed your calling. Pity the people of the world. They know not what beauty and excellence they missed.

Tommy from Fernandina Beach

Hey O, Travon had an awesome game against the Colts. I thought he played a lot like Tony Brackens used to play. He came up with big plays(sacks) when the team really needed him. Do you see him progressing in that direction?

Jaguars defensive end Travon Walker has progressed developed steadily and impressively since he has been in the NFL. He had 3.5 sacks as a rookie with 10 in his second season and five in five games this season. It's hard to interpret his performance as anything but steady progress.

Marcus from Jacksonville

Is Jaguars running back Travis Etienne Jr. still a little banged up, or are we beginning to see the transition from Etienne to Tank Bigsby as the primary ball carrier in this offense? Tank got 13 carries to Travis' six Sunday, but Travis caught six passes to Tank's one. To me, it looks like a natural transition to Tank being the primary runner and Travis being the third-down back who catches the ball out of the backfield. What do you think?

I think Etienne missed some plays late Sunday because of a lingering shoulder issue, and I think balancing carries and opportunities for two really good running backs always is a challenge. Etienne Jr. really matters to this offense because he's a really good runner and receiver. Bigsby is an explosive, powerful runner who clearly needs to be involved. I think Jaguars coaches will continue to need to use both players, but I don't think you will see Etienne phased out of the offense.

Jeff from Atlantic Beach, FL

We have what looks to be a very reliable kicker. Can we just take the points on 4th down?

I do not expect Pederson to be significantly less aggressive in fourth-down situations.

Limo Bob from Neptune Beach, FL

First five possessions against Buffalo, five touchdown for Buffalo. Colts score 28 points in 4th quarter Sunday. We haven't seen this kind of bad defense in awhile?

The Jaguars' defense has played good enough to win three times and played poorly in two other games. I'm not saying the defense was good Sunday. I'm saying it is perhaps better described as inconsistent this season than awful.

Chevin from Jacksonville, FL

Zero sacks and zero quarterback hits on Lawrence and he has a fantastic day quarterbacking. It's almost as if having great offensive line play sets the table, right?

Go figure.

Dave from Grafton, VA and Section 115

On Trevor's interception, how could the officiating crew possibly have missed E.J. Speed's hold on Kirk that was visible from space?

Much happens on all plays. There are sometimes missed calls and the right call gets made far more often than not.

Sam from Orlando, FL

You aren't looking for good when drafting number 1 O-Man. You are looking for elite.

My theory is that there are Jaguars fans who will criticize Walker no matter what he does. He had three sacks Sunday and five for the season through five games.

Glenn from Tampa

John- you're right. Hitting send in the first quarter sometimes bites you. I did it. But who could blame a fan for here for watching that first drive and saying, "Here we go again?" No fan could be blamed for reacting negatively to the way the defense played early and late.

The NFL is a league of dramatic highs and dramatic lows. It also is a league where games are only played once a week. These factors combine to make it a league of dramatic, week-to-week overreaction. The Jaguars' defense – particularly the secondary – struggled Sunday and has struggled at times this season. The unit overall through five games has played good more than it has played bad and we're early in the season. I certainly don't "blame" fans for reacting negatively to anything. Fans fan. It's what they do and it's what they're supposed to do.

Josh from St. Johns, FL

You ended a question about the defense with "I don't know that this is at the top of the list." What is at the top of the list for you?

After Sunday, the secondary.