JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …

Todd from San Marco

ZONE, Thankfully we are playing five out of the next six games against teams with losing records. New York Jets, Tennessee Titans (twice) and Las Vegas Raiders are also pathetic and we are all in the race for the first pick in the draft. What are the chances we actually win a couple of these? Maybe we end up 4-13? Maybe we should recommend they play FLAG Football for the remainder of the season while enrolling them into some emotional support groups? With all of this talent, I have never been more disappointed in this team's lack of effort and quitting attitude.

I expect the Jaguars will win multiple games the rest of the season, with six regular-season games remaining following this week's Week 12 bye. I don't know what they will mean for the final record. I don't expect they will play flag football and the Jaguars have team psychologists on staff. Either way, I don't know that the widespread thought that the Jaguars have "all of this talent" is particularly correct. It strikes me that while there are some good players who are solid starters in the NFL, there's not a lot of "special" in this group. As for the effort and quitting attitude, that's a fair conclusion to draw from the loss to the Detroit Lions this past weekend. It was ugly and inexcusable. I don't know that it's a fair brush with which to paint the entire 2024 Jaguars season.

Bradford from Orange Park, FL

I feel as though my comment will result in exclusion from a posting and response. But did Doug Pederson really stand at a postgame podium - after as historic of pathetic performance as his team just displayed - on a NFL head coaches salary, speaking of players on NFL salaries ... and legitimately say that "they don't feel very good?" I'm sorry. That's ... that's just something I would more envision my kids saying when they were five - or their kindergarten teacher saying - about a "tummy ache," or something. Is it just me? Am I the only one flabbergasted by how utterly embarrassing this is at this point? That dude and his players get millions of dollars for their trouble(s). And "they don't feel very good?" Bro. Is this some kind of weaponized demoralization PSYOP to break Jaguars fans' spirits? I am sincerely not convinced it isn't after hearing that.

I got the feeling when Jaguars Head Coach Doug Pederson said that in the postgame press conference Sunday that he was trying to be as honest in his assessment as possible. He looked at the Jaguars against the Lions and saw a team that had little fight and seemed to wilt quickly against a very good team. This was a team that had played with fight and desire the previous three weeks, which from this view led Pederson to say it was tired, fatigued team. I don't think he's wrong on that front. It did play that way. The problem from this view indeed is that this is professional football. Many, many teams in the last five decades have been tired and fatigued. Comparatively few have turned in a performance like that. If any. And you're right that fans don't want to hear about tired and fatigued professional athletes. Why should they?

Pete from Daytona Beach, FL

Dear Funk, when the Jaguars pick first in the 2025 draft and pick Travis Hunter, do you think they'll play him at wide receiver, cornerback or both?

It's November 22. That means it is not mid-January.

JT from Palm Coast, FL

John, I am asking you an honest question. Isn't it better to fire Baalke sooner rather than later? If Shad Khan waits until the season is over, doesn't that mean our future general manager is already behind the curve? The longer we go into the season and Baalke remains, isn't it more likely that he remains in his position? I am starting to get a sick feeling that somehow, someway Trent freaking Baalke is going to remain our general manager next year. I am genuinely curious about your opinion on my questions asked.

I don't know the fate of Jaguars General Manager Trent Baalke or Pederson. Jaguars Owner Shad Khan waiting to make a change – if he makes a change – doesn't necessarily delay the process. It's more important to hire the right person than the first person. Just because a change hasn't been made on November 22 in no way indicates whether or not a change will be made after the season. Absolutely and positively not.

Bradley from Jax

How do I update my phone number on the app? The number listed is not mine.

Alas, it has come to this.

Roger from Houston, TX

Hi John. How about a non-Jaguars football question? You watched Hall of Fame defensive end Dwight Freeney play most of his career, so you are familiar with his distinctive spin move, which was wickedly effective against so many offensive tackles. My question is, why don't more defensive ends (or tackles, for that matter) use that move? When I watch line play, I almost invariably see defensive linemen trying to push their way into the backfield, the old "bull-rush" technique, which only occasionally works against talented offensive linemen. Is the spin move Freeney perfected just too difficult for most defensive ends to try? Is the technique too athletic for most defensive ends?

Freeney was a special blend of speed and athleticism with enough power to complement those traits, and his spin move was so natural – and effective – that you do wonder why more defensive ends don't use it.

Gary from St. Augustine, FL

Even on a bye week, you still suck.

Go Jaguars.

CJ from Fernandina

This past week was awful all around but at least most of the season the defense has been somewhat alright. At least played well enough to give us a shot to win games. The offense is where the Jags seem to be underperforming fairly significantly. After seeing backup quarterback Mac Jones the past couple weeks I've heard the discussions on the site here that it shows that starting quarterback Trevor Lawrence may have been doing more than people realized for this offense. I'm just trying to understand truly what is going on with them. My first thought is what most people have had concerns with is the line. People talked about how the Lions line would just displace the Jags consistently. And the Jags' concerns on offense start with just not being able to run the ball consistently enough at all, especially considering I feel that they have a good amount of talent in etn and tank. My thought is that mostly starts with the line.

First: The Jaguars' defense has had a few games this season in which it played well enough to win, but I would have to say it has been a bit below "somewhat alright" most of the season. It has been decidedly awful against the pass in long-yardage situations. The Jaguars' offensive problems from this perspective are two-fold. One is that while the line is decent-to-good in pass protection, the Jaguars indeed can't run consistently – particularly in short yardage. When opponents know a team can't run consistently, it allows them to lean toward defending the pass more. The second issue is the Jaguars' receivers and tight ends – outside rookie Brian Thomas Jr. – are anywhere from good to just OK. Except for one reception by tight end Evan Engram against the Green Bay Packers, the only player making above the Xs and Os plays in big situations has been Thomas. The thought here is the Jaguars need to run more consistently and get more "special" on the outside. That combination has been crippling this offense for a while – even before this season.

Sam from Orlando, FL

Trevor has to have a limit for the amount of incompetence he will put up with from the organization. At what point is he going to try to force himself out of town?

I don't expect that to happen.

Michael from Orange Park, FL

You keep saying Travon Walker is good. I don't see it.

It's my experience on this topic that people who don't think Walker is good either are stubborn or don't believe a player who does everything well as opposed to just rushing the passer can be good. I have come to realize that people who fit either of those categories aren't going to change their minds. Here's what I do know: Walker's good. If the Jaguars were to let him hit unrestricted free agency, he would he in outrageously high demand. Here's hoping that doesn't happen.

Nicholas from Fort Cavazos, Texas

KOAF: I am boycotting the Jaguars. I refuse to watch them play next Sunday. Then like the fanatical I am I will watch them play next week and cry all over again.

Fans fan. It's what they do, even when it's frustrating and a little hard to explain. Thank goodness they do. Life would be a little more intolerable otherwise.