JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …
Dave from Jacksonville
Zone, has the decision been made not to make Trevor the focus of the franchise? When was that decision made? Did anyone run it by Mr. Khan? Am I or the coaches overthinking this because our No. 1 overall draft pick was held to the fewest passing attempts in the whole NFL? That would appear to be a whole different direction than the fan base was led to believe we were headed, don't you think?
The Jaguars had 50 offensive plays in their Week 1 loss to the Miami Dolphins. They were running well through three quarters Sunday and felt they were controlling the momentum of a close game. That was why they ran a lot in the second half on Sunday. There has not been a decision to not make Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence the focus of the franchise. Trying to win games is the focus of the franchise.
Scooter from St. Augustine, FL
Seems like interior offensive linemen are limited to certain uniform numbers: 60s and 70s. Any other players can have any number. Are any other positions limited in their choices?
Yes. Kickers may wear numbers from one to 19. Defensive backs may wear numbers from one to 49. Running backs, fullbacks, tight ends and wide receivers may wear numbers from one to 49 and 80 to 89. Offensive guards and tackles may wear numbers from 50 to 79. Defensive linemen may wear numbers from 50 to 79 to 90 to 99. Linebackers may wear numbers from 1 to 59 and 90 to 99.
Daniel from The Southside
Mr. O, Some media have said they believe Doug's coaching seat may be getting warm. Do you agree?
Not yet. Not soon.
Josh from Atlanta, GA
Twenty-two illegal formations Week One this year, 10 last. Is the game that drastically different? In a normal world, 220 percent increase in anything YoY is cause for pause. I dread more consistent yellow laundry.
The NFL often emphasizes or reemphasizes certain rules early in seasons. Illegal formation is being emphasized early this season. Teams usually adjust by "bucklin' up 'n 'gettin' in line."
Jason from North Pole, AK
Has Tyson Campbell been put on the four-week IR yet? If not, isn't that a good sign?
Jaguars cornerback Tyson Campbell, who sustained a hamstring injury Sunday, has not yet been placed on the short-term injured reserve. Head Coach Doug Pederson on Wednesday said that remained a possibility. I expect we'll know more on this in the next few days.
G Money II from Port Orange, FL
Trevor looks like Greek Statue with his build and added muscle this offseason. Why is he not being allowed to use his legs and big body on third-and-1?
My Scooby Sense – not my Scobee sense – tells me you're asking why the Jaguars don't call more quarterback sneaks with quarterback Trevor Lawrence. This hasn't been his strength. Perhaps that will change moving forward.
Sam from Orlando, FL
I don't stand for much. But I stand with Don.
When it comes to standing with Don, who may or may not remain "all in," Sam from Orlando remains "all in."
Mike from Omaha, NE
Hi John. This might fit under the category of letting off steam but: We won the division by one game two years ago and lost it by one game last year. The reaction to the Dolphins loss seems to be "it's only the first game, don't worry about it." Am I missing something? Does the first game count for less in the NFL? Thanks John and Go Jags!
All games count the same in the NFL. How were the Jaguars supposed to react to losing the opener? Screaming? Yelling? Guaranteeing a victory in Week 2? It's Week 1. There are 16 more games. Go back to work. That's what there is to do.
Joe from East Sheboygan, WI
During Pederson's first season with the Jags, his fourth-down conversion rate was 53.33 percent. Last season, it was 44.83 percent, or sixth-worst in the league. Which of course means for every ten times we go for it on fourth, we give the ball back to the opponent more than half the time. At what point does it go from, "Going for it all the time on fourth down is just who the coach is," to "The coach is an idiot?"
We shall see.
Marc from Oceanway
OK, John. I'm looking ahead and ready to follow in your footsteps. I'm tired of being distraught when the Jaguars lose. How did you do it? How did you evolve so as to no longer be bothered when your team loses?
It's incorrect to say I'm not bothered when the Jaguars lose. I am bothered. I am bothered because a lot of people I know, like and respect work very hard and have their lives invested on the outcome of games. I am not emotional when the Jaguars lose and I stay relatively detached because I am not a fan. This is my profession and I can't do the job if I am upset, screaming and angry when the Jaguars lose or giddy and doing cartwheels when they win.
JK from NY & Fernandina Beach, FL
John, Jaguars Owner Shad Kahn set the objective to "win now." Trevor was given a big new contract and the Jags invested money and draft picks upgrading the rest of the offense. The failure to engineer a fourth-quarter drive against Miami showed that investments alone do not win NFL games. There was discussion in the Zone this summer about whether Trevor is "elite." The consensus was not yet. The same take can be said for the offense as a unit. How does the offense need to improve to win close big games?
Get better on third down.
Mike from Jacksonville, FL
Crazy, I know but how about stealing from Da Bears and Fridge-Can we use a big offensive or defensive lineman to get 1-to-3 yards for a first down?
Blocking matters far more in short-yardage situations than the size or power of the back. The strongest, biggest runner in the world isn't going to convert third and short very often if the offensive line is getting pushed back to his feet.
Stephen from 113 from Jacksonville via Pennsauken NJ
John, while 1-0 would have been much better than our current 0-1, it's not the end of the world (or season). I think the loss had more to do with it being week 1 on the road than anything else. Running back Travis Etienne Jr. doesn't fumble a lot, wide receiver Christian Kirk usually catches everything, tight end Evan Engram seemed to have been forgotten and right tackle Anton Harrison plays better than he did on Sunday. Clean that stuff up, and we should be fine. It's too early to call a Week Two game a must win, but statistically 0-2 is a very, bad way to start the season.
Yes, it is.
Fred from Naples, FL
I think it is safe to say that Tyson Campbell will be out this week. Who do you believe will take his place?
Yes, Campbell will be out Sunday. I expect Montaric Brown to start.
Tim from Jax
Got a new motto for the rest of the season. Quit talking it and start playing it.
Yes. The Jaguars need to win. But if they lose and are asked about it, I would guess they will discuss it. To do otherwise would be rude.
Aaron from Duuuuuval
Do NFL teams do anything specific to work on mental toughness or that aspect of the game? Or is it just up to the players to develop that mentality on their own?
NFL teams play NFL games every week. It's a league of close games, huge moments, huge pressure and big plays. You develop mental toughness by going through that and finding out if you're mentally tough enough to excel or not. Maybe there's a class for it. Probably there's a seminar with a website and some sort of panel discussion. Mostly it's about doing it when it matters.
Deane from Sands of Daytona
Yo, O-Zone! It was an honor to be mentioned in the same sentence as the iconic and above legendary Eugene P. "Gene" Frenette; even though it was misplaced. I'll take it! Thoughts about Week 1 and the rest of the season, I take to a quote used by a football coach that my son played for: "So goes the line. So goes the game." This is true for both lines. Both lines were brilliant until after that dime dropped to Hill. "So goes the line. So goes the game, for 16 more of them. What says you, O-Zone???
I say there was a lot to like about both Jaguars lines through the first three quarters Sunday. That's significant because both of those areas needed to improve in 2024. If the Jaguars can build on the line's play through the first three quarters, they'll have a very real chance to win a lot of games.
