JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …

Michael from Orange Park, FL

Please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, O-Zone … tell me why I should care.

I'll assume you're asking why as a fan/observer you should care about the Jaguars right now, and I'll reiterate what I've said in recent weeks that this is a legitimate question considering the phenomenally disappointing 2-9 record as we head into the final six weeks of the 2024 regular-season. Far more was expected – and even if those expectations were in retrospect too high, the team still by any measure has underperformed. So, why should you care about these final six games? Because it's regular-season NFL football, I suppose – and we have a looooooong offseason ahead of us at the end of the season before we have more regular-season football. There's also the matter of watching promising young players such as running back Tank Bigsby, wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. and linebacker Ventrell Miller continue to develop. Defensive end Travon Walker is having a very good season. We also have the added storyline of quarterback Trevor Lawrence possibly returning this week, which would add interest and importance to an end-of-season stretch that admittedly lacks the urgency and fun that was generally expected. This isn't a great list, I know. It hasn't been a great season. I'm doing my personal best here.

Bradley from Sparks, NV

John Madden used to say that if you gave him an elite O-line and secondary that he could fill in the gaps and produce a winner, but if you gave him a poor O-line and secondary that it wouldn't matter who the other players are … that would be a losing team. Do you think this year's Jags are covered by that wise Madden sentiment?

I think I would rather have an elite defensive line than an elite secondary, but who am I to argue with Madden? I also think the Jaguars' offensive line is OK when protecting the passer but its struggles in short-yardage and "must-run" situations is a defining characteristic in this team's offensive struggles in recent seasons. I think the Jaguars have had far too many breakdowns on deep passes this season, with those struggles particularly noteworthy at the safety position.

Lan from Ellington, CT

Fans are frustrated – and myself as well – but looking back has there ever been a team that fired their coach midseason and magically turned it around? I don't see the point of resetting midseason.

It's rare, and you're right – there's typically not much point.

Brian from Round Rock, Texas

Doug's contempt for everyone was on full display during his press conference. Who's calling plays now? Oh, you don't know. Why? Because no one asked? Why? Because you're all a bunch of doormats?

Jaguars Head Coach Doug Pederson hasn't had a great season when it comes to media availabilities. He could be better in that situation. This bothers a lot of people, apparently. There are things that bother me a lot more than people who aren't perfect in front of the media. I don't see 10 or 15 minutes a few times a week as glimpses into the soul and character of a man. I understand that some do. It's just not how I see it.

Sam from Orlando, FL

It's not just coaching. It's not just players. It's the inability to have a professional level front office. Winning organizations are winners in the front office, in EVERY facet before a player even plays a snap. We have nothing like that. And we haven't since Wayne Weaver. We will continue to be an inept franchise until Shad hires someone to run this team properly, fairly and professionally. Frankly, Don deserves better than this. And I'm tired of pretending like Don being let down every week is something we should all keep accepting.

OK.

KT from Jacksonville

I vote that Ventrell Miller be included in the "special" players list.

Miller indeed is having an impressive season in his first season playing in the NFL. He is trending toward being a very important player for this team for a while. I won't argue with your vote.

Jack from Southside

You dismissed a pretty reasonable assessment of Trevor Lawrence's dismal record in Jacksonville thus far with a comment that the record is not his fault. However, when Lawrence struggled last year and we were 8-3 you dismissed any criticism by pointing to the Jags record. Seems like you want to have it both ways. Why is so hard to admit he is mediocre and you were wrong about him being generational?

I looked through this email for a sarcasm font. I then checked for cameras to see if I was being punked. Seeing neither of these, I can only assume you're a new reader. Loyal O-Zone readers – and he knows who he is – well know I have written and said often that Lawrence is not yet elite. And I don't know if he will be elite. He indeed was considered by draft analysts to be a generational talent and a potential franchise quarterback. He hasn't been that yet. He is a developing quarterback who has shown plenty of good signs and needs to show plenty more growth. I would put Lawrence in a large group of quarterbacks playing right now who are legitimate starters who still need to develop before reaching elite status. The quarterbacks above this group are Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs, Joe Burrow of the Cincinnati Bengals, Josh Allen of the Buffalo Bills, Lamar Jackson of the Baltimore Ravens and perhaps Justin Herbert of the Kansas City Chiefs. Beyond that …

Ken from Jacksonville

Please tell me again how the head coach or general manager are still employed.

This answer remains the same and it will remain the same until a change is made at general manager or head coach: Khan doesn't believe the time is right for a change. And because changing something midseason rarely yields significant results. What will happen at season's end? We'll learn that at season's end, I suppose.

Steve from Hilton Head, SC

John, in watching many NFL games, it seems like the simple crossing pattern is difficult to defend no matter what coverage is used. All teams are vulnerable to this, not just the Jaguars. It seems like all you can do is stop it for less than a long gain?

Crossing routes undoubtedly are effective, particularly against soft man-to-man and some zone coverages. But no route in the NFL is impossible to defend. If it was, every team would run it on all plays. How to defend it? You can play bump-and-run coverage, pressing receivers to disrupt the timing of the routes. You also can drop linebackers and confuse the quarterback. One key is the same key as defending most passing plays: You get pressure on the passer. It's amazing how few offensive plays work all that well against a disruptive pass rush.

Bruce from Saint Simons Island, GA

O, Look on the bright side – the Jags did not lose in Week 12! But seriously, I watched the Philadelphia Eagles/Los Angeles Rams game Sunday night and what stood out to me was the outstanding Eagles' offensive and defensive lines. Injuries happen, but the Eagles have done an excellent job in building their lines. The big guys on the line make all the difference. Do you agree and how long do you think it would take the Jags to build excellent lines?

I absolutely agree. The Jaguars' defensive line has solid pieces in defensive ends Josh Hines-Allen and Travon Walker, but must be much stouter overall – particularly on the interior. The offensive line is OK, particularly in pass protection, but is not a dominant or physical unit on the level of, say, the Eagles or the Detroit Lions. How long will it take to build excellent lines? More than one offseason, most likely, but you can start working toward it very quicky.

Michael from Orange Park, FL

When are you going to realize the readers are smarter than you – and know more about football than you?

Every day, Michael. Every day.

Robert

The answers are in the footage. If coaches looking at the footage still cannot find an answer, then replace the coaches. All the writers, including you, are afraid to name names. Until this is done, Jacksonville will be the embarrassment to the rest of the football nation. Coaches should go, many of the players should go. If we have a problem and no one is willing to even suggest a solution, then we will continue this embarrassment. No one in this organization has the guts to deal with this.

Congratulations on your courage. And thank you for your honesty. Now that I see this, I am willing to look at this without the fear that has paralyzed me all these years. Where once this was blind, now I see – and what I see is you're right, that it's always coaching in the NFL. Fire everyone. Yes, I said it. Fire everyone. Cursed my longstanding foolishness. The truth hath set me free.