JACKSONVILLE – Jaguars 2024 Training Camp began Wednesday at the Miller Electric Center.
The offseason is behind us. The real stuff is at hand. That means the dead zone is over, unofficially and officially. Whoo.
Let's get to it …
Scott from Gilbert, AZ
Zone, I would think passing on quarterback Patrick Mahomes so we could spend the fourth overall pick on the ninth-best running back in that draft, then doubling down by extending quarterback Blake Bortles and taking defensive tackle Taven Bryan over quarterback Lamar Jackson would have you feeling Tom Coughlin's presence throughout the building years later as well...?
You're referencing a recent O-Zone answer about whether former Head Coach Tom Coughlin should be in the Pride of the Jaguars. I have written and said often that Coughlin absolutely and unquestionably deserves the honor. This is true for many reasons, mostly that he led the franchise to by far its most successful stretch of seasons in franchise history in the late 1990s – and that he was by far the franchise's most dominant personality during that era. Many also have understandably referenced the unsuccessful end of his first tenure with the team and a second tenure that proved unsuccessful. Would Coughlin be in the Pride of the Jaguars based on a second tenure that ended awfully? Of course not. Does he deserve to be in based on his first tenure? Unquestionably.
Cliff from Everywhere with helicopter
Thanks for your response to questions about Tom Coughlin's induction into the Pride of The Jaguars. Frankly, I'm disappointed it took this long for his inclusion. I can only believe that those questioning his suitability weren't around in the early years or just weren't fans back then. Those who haven't seen it should view NFL Network's *"A Football Life"* on Coach Coughlin to see the man beyond the coach.
Coughlin indeed is a good man – as the Football Life episode attests. He deserves to be in the Pride of the Jaguars based on the team's success in his first tenure with the team and his importance to the organization.
Brad from The Avenues
John, I get now that he wouldn't have been a good fit, that his style of coaching no longer had a place in today's NFL. But my first thought at the time of Gus Bradley's firing was that we should hang a banner covering one entire side of the tallest building in Jax reading in all caps, "TOM, WE'RE SORRY, WE WERE WRONG, PLEASE COME HOME."
You weren't alone.
Jason from North Pole, AK
I was looking back at the expansion draft rules from 1995 and wondering your thoughts on it. I've heard that the Carolina Panthers' and Jaguars' early success was largely attributed to the expansion structure highly benefitting both teams. The Jaguars absolutely nailed the Tony Boselli rookie draft pick second overall, but who are some of the veteran players we got off of other rosters that you remember being core contributors moving forward? I didn't recognize any of the names I went through. Have the expansion rules since changed? Side note, the Panthers traded the first overall pick in that draft to the Cincinnati Bengals, who took running back Ki-Jana Carter before Boselli. Yikes.
The Jaguars and Panthers indeed benefitted from the 1995 expansion rules, but not because of the expansion draft. That expansion draft was essentially what it always has been – a way for an expansion team to fill the mid-to-bottom part of their rosters with players other franchises deem expendable. Though multiple players from the 1995 expansion draft made the '95 Jaguars roster, few if any developed into "core contributors." Where the expansion rules most helped the Panthers and Jaguars was the draft. The Panthers and Jaguars both were granted two selections in all rounds of the 1995 NFL Draft and two selections in Rounds 3-5 in 1996 along with three selections in Rounds 6-7 in 1996. The Panthers and Jaguars also benefitted from a "clean" salary cap in 1995 and 1996 to spend big in free agency, with the rules allowing both franchises to make their respective conference championship games following the 1996 season.
Sean from Oakleaf, FL
Why on Jaguars.com All News landing page does the article description for the photo and link have "experts" in quotation marks but not in the text of the actual article? This disclaimer is needed because of J.P. Shadrick?
The answer to the first question is one of life's mysteries. The answer to the second is that disclaimer is one thing you can't blame on Shadrick.
Tom from Sanford
Offensive coordinator Press Taylor didn't have to call plays in the first half of games in 2022. There must have been some advantage in planning the second-half strategy when he could be able to watch the results and think about what to do when it was his turn to call the plays, rather than deal with the immediate need to decide on the next play.
OK.
John from Ponte Vedra Beach, FL
Will Tyson Campbell follow in the footsteps of a former cornerback of the Jaguars and have a significant back injury and force a trade before he fulfills the full term of his contract?
I can't in good consciousness say that Jaguars cornerback Tyson Campbell yet is an elite cornerback on the level of former Jaguars cornerback Jalen Ramsey. I can in good consciousness say that it's grossly unfair and ill-informed to compare Campbell's approach to career-altering back injuries with Ramsey's approach to similar issues.
Brian from Round Rock, TX
Is the point in the year where people get in a frenzy about how great the team looks running around in shorts, particularly young players destined to be cut?
Yep.
Neil from Gilbert, AZ
What do you mean, "No one deserves that?" Josh Scobee should be in the Pride of the Jaguars.
Josh Scobee – the former Jaguars kicker, not current Jaguars scout Josh Scobey – knows where to find me.
Jeff from Atlantic Beach, FL
Remember when the Jags played the Seahawks and Josh Scobey returned kicks from Josh Scobee?
I do now.
John from Jacksonville
Hi KOAGF - In the new stadium, we all know where the end zone seats will be. What about the O-Zone seats? Will there be an exclusive section reserved for those responsible for making 50 percent of your daily O-Zone? Will there be Culligan water girl dopplegangers serving Sbarro and Bullet Bobs?
My sense is O-Zone readers – or any faction of Jaguars fans – will be able to carve out a spot in any section of the stadium if they keep their credit card in hand. As for Culligan Girl dopplegangers … I have no idea what you're talking about.
Nick from Virginia Beach
I bet John who doesn't like the throwbacks is a lot of fun at parties. Why does John hate fun?
We all do.
Sean from Oakleaf, FL
I thought there is no such thing as a contract extension, only old contracts and new contracts? I know LA Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford just had his contract "adjusted" which may be a new category?
Contract adjustments aren't new. They're renegotiations that change the timing and means by which players get paid. And there absolutely are contract extensions. If a player in the fourth year of a five-year deal gets a new deal that keeps him under contract for longer than he was under contract before, that's an extension.
Steve from Nashville, TN
I saw a stat for new Jaguars defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen's stint with the Atlanta Falcons where he doubled their sack total from 21 in the 2022 season to 42 last year. Twenty-one sacks was good for second worst in the league in 2022 and 42 is just middle of the pack. Still the turnaround is dramatic. Do you find this particular accomplishment impressive and do you believe he will improve on the Jaguars' 40 sacks last season this year?
Doubling a sacks total from 21 one season to 42 the next season is impressive. I recoil a bit that Nielsen – or any coordinator – doubled anything just as I recoil when people say a coordinator was first or last in the NFL in rushing. Then I remember that it's always coaching in the NFL. The Jaguars have a very good chance to be at least marginally better sacking the quarterback. The addition of lineman Arik Armstead, return to health of defensive tackle DaVon Hamilton and expected improvement of edge Travon Walker are the biggest reason I think that's true.
Jesse from Texas
In the unlikely event that Mac Jones outplays Trevor in the preseason, is it possible that he could be the starter Week One? Or does Trevor's new contract obligate the coaches to start him, no matter how well he performs in the preseason?
C'mon.
Deane from Daytona Beach, FL
Yo O-Zone!!! To paraphrase lyrics from that amazing group R.E.M. "It's the end of the Dead Zone and I feel fine!" What says you O-Zone?
To paraphrase lyrics from that amazing group The Smiths, "I was looking for a job and then I found a job, and heaven knows I'm miserable now."
