Skip to main content
Advertising

Jaguars News | Jacksonville Jaguars - jaguars.com

O-Zone: Full up

JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …

Chris from Tampa, FL

Really, Khan painted himself in a corner with that "best roster" statement. If he fired Baalke, he'd have to admit he was wrong. Since in his mind the roster was awesome, it had to be the coaching. This really isn't that hard to figure out, is it? I'm sure the roster will be even more awesome next year.

While I understand the need to look back, perhaps it's time to look to the future and the accompanying next steps. Jaguars Owner Shad Khan dismissed Head Coach Doug Pederson Monday. Consider that the first, most-public, next step in determining the Jaguars' football leadership. That process continued Friday night when the Jaguars interviewed Kansas City Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo for the head-coaching position and continued Saturday when the team interviewed Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and Las Vegas Raiders Patrick Graham for the same position. They also have requested interviews with Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator Joe Brady, Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Liam Coen, Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores, Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken, Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator Kellen Moore and former New York Jets Head Coach Robert Saleh. I understand the compulsion to dissect Khan's words from last offseason. I understand the focus on Khan not dismissing General Manager Trent Baalke Monday. The interview process is playing out. The next steps are playing out.

Marcus from Jacksonville

I'm sure you're right that the Jags will be able to find a quality head coach. Will they be able to land the coach at the top of their wish list? There are only so many head coaching vacancies, so someone with a good resume is going to take the job, but the top-tier coaches who have a buffet of choices and can be more selective are the ones I worry about declining. If you don't think the general manager is going to give you the best chance to succeed, and if you know that you may only get one chance at coaching at the highest level, it makes sense to consider whether you can succeed with him, especially if you have other choices. The narrative is there for a reason, and it may cause us to miss out on the top two or three guys in this coaching cycle.

There is no real reason the Jaguars can't or won't hire the head coach they covet in the coming weeks. Anything to the contrary is incorrect.

Nick from Annapolis, MD

Why can't it be a positive for some coaches that you have a general manager that has shown an ability to put together at least a decent roster and decent drafts? Don't coaches in the NFL know not everyone will be good in the general manager role, and hiring a new general manager has its own risks that are probably just as risky if not more risky than keeping a general manager?

Sure, that can be a positive.

Ben from Santa Rosa Beach on the Gulf of America

With Pederson gone, what is the status of his coaching staff?

Jaguars assistant coaches remain under contract. NFL assistant coaches typically aren't fired at the same time as head coaches because you want to ensure the new head coach has the option to retain those assistant coaches upon his hiring.

Matthew from Townsville, Tropical Australia

Hi, O. I was greatly encouraged by Shad Khan's comments on the coaching search. Both by his flexibility on organizational structure moving forward, and particularly by his view that the plays need to be "unpredictable." He clearly pays close attention to the dynamics of the actual football and had a very precise reason for moving on from Doug, beyond just the fact that the team were losing. Would it also seem that if becoming "unpredictable" is a priority, that Ben Johnson and Liam Coen are at the top of Shad's wish list?

Very possibly.

Alex from Iowa

How is it that Jaguars wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. is an alternate Pro Bowler when I think he's better than Zay Flowers of the Baltimore Ravens and Jerry Jeudy of the Cleveland Browns? The other question is how we are going to get the coach Khan wants if they don't want to be here because of general manager and he only has one year left? Won't that cause coaches to not want to come because they think they're there for a one-year tryout Antonio Pierce with the Las Vegas Raiders or Jerod Mayo of the New England Patriots.

Thomas didn't make the Pro Bowl because he's a rookie and playing in a small market on a bad team – and he therefore doesn't have quite the name recognition among players, fans and coaches of Flowers and Jeudy. The Jaguars will get the coach they want because the coach will see during the interview process that this is a situation in which they can win – and that the situation won't be a one-year tryout.

Bruce from St. Simons Island

O, My two cents: The new Jags' coach should have a track record in developing quarterbacks. Lawrence has not yet developed into what I think he can be. For now, congratulations to Lawrence and his wife on their newborn girl! They now officially have no free time!

Maximizing quarterback Trevor Lawrence will be a major topic in the interview process for any head coaching candidate, and a major priority for the next head coach. That doesn't by definition have to be the head coach. But the system put into place must maximize him.

Jim from Jagsonville

When Trevor says, "We have to take our part of it, too, because we're the ones out there on the field playing," do you think no one told him that it's always coaching in the NFL?

Some see things one way. Others see things other ways.

Sean from Oakleaf, FL

We draw the AFC West and NFC West next year but only visit the Pacific Ocean once with a trip to San Francisco (Denver, Las Vegas, Phoenix).

OK.

Josh from Las Vegas, NV

John, I don't share the same disgust of most fans when it comes to keeping Baalke. While I'm not a Trent apologist, most pundits before the season has this roster as playoff-worthy. Coaching was far more predictable and problematic, from my perspective. Doug's refusal to let go of offensive coordinator Press Taylor was his ultimate downfall. The offense was stale, unimaginative and predictable except for the bubble screens and behind the line of scrimmage throws on third down. Do you share any of the same sentiments, John?

Not particularly. I've seen a lot of predictable NFL offenses. The trait most share is they're not good enough to do the basics. It's very hard to be creative if you can't do the elementary stuff well. Here's what Lawrence said about this this week: "We weren't able to run the ball consistently, effectively, the last few years and I think that really gave us trouble. It's hard to get everything else going when that's struggling, so I think that's where you maybe can see the predictability is when that's not working, and you have to lean on pushing the ball downfield or getting the ball in the perimeter. I think that's where you can kind of see maybe some predictability." I thought Lawrence's answer was perfect, to be honest.

SteveC from Cardiff,UK

So, the three home teams in London in 2025 have a combined 12-39 record in the season just finished. We won't know the "aways" for weeks, but that's hardly the greatest advert for the game. It could get worse if we play the Jets at Wembley Stadium so they get to try out the back-to-back games too. Now before anyone jumps on my case about losing a game in Duval, I accept we could have no games so I guess we should be grateful, but I guess the league thinks any old games will sell out??

The NFL wants a compelling schedule for London games. In 2023, for example, the Jaguars and Buffalo Bills – division champions the previous season – hosted games in London. Some years, you eat the bear. Some years, the bear eats you.

Brian from Round Rock

Pederson was the anti-Caughlin. Could we get another Caughlin?

What's a "Caughlin?"

Sascha from Cologne

Hey, John. Do you think the offseason will be about spending big in free agency again or do you think the front office is confident in this team and will add only via draft and some second- and third-stringers?

It's difficult to know the offseason approach until we know the identity of the head coach and the decision-making structure. The hope here is that the Jaguars will minimize high-priced free agency as much as possible and lean toward developing players through the draft. Measured, select participation in free agency? Yes. Spending-spree free agency followed by multi-player introductory press conferences? No, thank you, ma'am. I've seen enough. I've had my fill.

Advertising