JACKSONVILLE – Look-ahead Wednesday.

Let's get to it …

Steve from Yulee

How much longer are we going to have to wait for Shad Khan to fire the circus we refer to as the coach and general manager? The New York Jets are already interviewing for their GM job or is it just a rumor they interviewed Louis Riddick?

Another day, another week, another question about the future of General Manager Trent Baalke and Head Coach Doug Pederson. With the Jaguars 3-11 entering a road game against the Las Vegas Raiders Sunday, we not unexpectedly get a slew of such questions daily here. The answer remains essentially the same – that we'll know more on this front when Jaguars Owner Shad Khan makes a decision. And I expect that decision to become known after the regular season. And while many observers assume they know what will happen, I don't know that such assumptions are safe. Maybe Pederson and/or Baalke are "safe." Maybe not. Either way, I wouldn't get too short of breath about timing on these things. If – and it's very much an if – Khan opts to make changes, there's time after the season to start and complete a thorough process. And remember: This isn't a race. An owner isn't "falling" behind if he's not starting now. You can only officially interview candidates who are out of the league before the end of the regular season. Breathe, Steve, breathe. This will play out over the coming weeks. Then we shall see.

Royce from Jax Northside

Why do so many busts happen on the Jags' defense week after week?

Because they're not a very good defense – and bad defenses have busts. Specifically, the Jaguars have a secondary that makes far too many mental mistakes. They also make too many inexcusable, befuddling mental errors. Is this coaching? Is it players? When it happens this often, it's everything – and it's defining the Jaguars 2024 season.

Rosa from Barranquilla, Colombia

JO, has anyone ever told you that you are a very handsome man with bigger biceps than Cam Little?

No, nor should they.

Randy from Way Up North

Clean house or expect an empty stadium and no national broadcast games next year.

The Jaguars certainly will have some convincin' to do on a lot of levels if all decision-makers, coaches, etc., return next season. I don't know what will happen on this front, but there certainly would be some convincin' to do.

Matt from Jacksonville

When will they learn? Black pants = win. It ain't rocket surgery!

Or is it?

Sal from Austin, TX

Any media guy, sportscaster etc. that thinks losing in any way is a good thing, I wish he would stuff his big stupid mouth – and the only guys I wish they bring in here to play, or GM, or coach, are the guys that hate losing more than they like winning, and if I hear Doug Pederson one more time saying he wants his players out there "having fun," I hope he's fired the next day. Start winning and I promise, his players will start having fun, the fans will start having a little fun, and the owner and all his buddies will have fun.

I haven't noticed Pederson talking all that much abut having fun, though there is something to be said for players relaxing and playing without thinking so much. As for the Jaguars' season in general … well, no, it hasn't been all that fun. It hasn't been fun at all.

Brian from Round Rock, TX

Do you remember when Doug took us to the AFC Championship game with Blake Bortles at quarterback. That guy can coach!

I thought former Head Coach Doug Marrone was a pretty good NFL head coach.

Larry from Wattsburg(h), PA

Can a team choose never to invest in free agents? What if a team only built from the draft and then used cap money to actually retain players with performance-based contracts? This does not seem like rocket science but a decent measure of patience. I for one cannot see how that plan would be much worse than the Jaguars have mustered over the last 20 seasons or so. Respectfully yours, Apathetic 'Till We Die.

It's difficult for a team to build entirely without free agents. There are situations when you must supplement areas and there are situations where there are good fits with the right sort of player. But the Jaguars from this view absolutely must figure a way to lean far more toward drafting and developing and to have free agency be more the exception to the rule. This takes commitment and courage because you must stand tall amid the inevitable hue and cry when you're not spending on all those "high-quality" free agents every offseason. As for building with "performance-based contracts" it's a fine idea. The problem is players – even your own drafted-and-developed players – won't sign them. Because why should they?

Dave from Jax Beach

Has Jaguars defensive end Arik Armstead done anything positive this year, other than his charity work? Watching him play left end is painful. He looked like he was rushing in quicksand. Certainly Coach Pederson can see that, too. Is there nobody else on this roster that we can roll out there?

Not really, no.

Eric from Jax Beach

If you told me in September that the Jags would only lose by a touchdown to the Jets and we wouldn't have quarterback Trevor Lawrence, tight end Evan Engram, wide receiver Christian Kirk and wide receiver Gabe Davis, I would have been pretty happy with that. I know the Jets aren't the Jets we thought, but shout out to the fight and resolve of this team fighting down almost all the starting skill players coming into the season.

The Jaguars have shown impressive resolve in recent weeks and months. They seem to be playing together, playing with professionalism and pride. That's better than the alternative. I admit I'm weary of talking about professionalism and pride because I've talked about these things too often late in too many disappointing seasons. And if I've wearied of talking about these things, one can only imagine the weariness felt by fans.

Justin from Raleigh

Definitely agreed with the opinions on BTJ and Cam Little being our MVPs, but man, Logan Cooke deserves his flowers. 51 yards per punt and 46.1 Net with only three touchbacks! Hope an All-Pro awaits him. #PuntersArePeopleToo

One fer Cooke.

KC from Titusville

What are your thoughts on Brenton Strange? To me, he has had a really good second year. Can he be a TE1 type of player? Or is his ceiling more of a TE2? With Evan Engram having only one, non guaranteed year left on his contract, could we see Strange as the starter next season?

I absolutely think Jaguars tight end Brenton Strange can be a really good NFL starter. I don't know if he ever will be recognized as being high end because he might always be a better blocker than a receiver – and people don't like to recognize really good blocking. It's possible Strange could be the Jaguars' "starting tight end" next season. There's a lot to work through on this front in the offseason.

Brendan from Yulee

Does the Jags coaching staff truly believe Arik Armstead to be a better run defender as a "DE" on first and second down over Travon Walker? (The guy usually taken out to sub in A.A)

The Jaguars' coaches believe in rotating personnel. They are committed to this approach and I do not expect the approach to change.

Troy from Dover, PA

I'm a little worried this week our offensive line having trouble stopping K'Lavon Chaisson. He always got so much hype in training camp going against them. Do you think we will be able to contain the sack artist known as Swiper from adding to his season-high three sacks?

Troy's got (long) jokes.

Brian from Round Rock, TX

This type of season is devastating to a franchise. Players are learning to be losers right now. Fans are learning to not care. Bad coaches are playing golf instead of grinding over game plans. This is why owners should fire coaches midseason, right?

I'm not big on firing head coaches midseason. I don't know that players learn that much losing under interim head coaches than they do losing under permanent ones.

Howard from Homestead

Pastor here. In response to Shad from Washougal's question about God hating Jags fans, it's quite the opposite. Because the Jags lose so much, we are forced to be more patient and forgiving. If they won all the time, we'd probably be arrogant jerks like Chiefs fans. It's because God loves us and knows what is best for us that He made us fans of a horrible team that repeatedly squashes any trace of pride we might have. We are actually better people because the Jaguars stink. One day, when we are sufficiently humble and holy, God may allow us to taste from the cup of championship glory. So everybody hurry up and repent because I'm tired of this! (Merry Christmas!)

(Merry Krimma).