JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …

Greg from Jacksonville

It just feels different around here, Zone. Different than before, I mean. Am I reading too much into this feeling? It is disconcerting and I don't like being … well, disconcerted.

My Scooby Sense – and not my Scobee or Spidey Sense – tells me you like what you see and hear around the Jaguars these days, and it's sort of understandable that that would be an uneasy feeling for Jaguars fans. This franchise has disappointed fans, observers and people within the organization often enough in the last two-and-a-half decades that skepticism entering most seasons makes sense. The team also has followed enough successful seasons with disappointing ones that it makes sense to combine optimism with caution even following last season's 13-4 AFC South Championship. At the same time, you're absolutely correct that the feeling entering 2026 Training Camp is different than past training camps – even past training camps after successful seasons. One reason is quarterback Trevor Lawrence, who had a season good enough last season that it's hard to imagine him not at the very least being very good moving forward. Another reason is Head Coach Liam Coen, who not only is a high-end offensive mind and play-caller, but who is also a high-end head coach in the sense of leading a team – and relating to the modern NFL player. The organization as a whole also is doing things the right way in terms of short- and long-term personnel decisions and directions and the leadership regime of Coen, General Manager James Gladstone and Executive Vice President of Football Operations Tony Boselli is in lockstep. None of this means the Jaguars are perfect. Nor does any of this guarantee short- or long-term success. The NFL is an ultracompetitive league, and the Jaguars are far from the only team with a good quarterback and head coach that is doing things right. But having those elements in place gives a team a chance to succeed moving forward – and having them in place absolutely is reason for optimism entering 2026.

Tym from Southside

We finally made it through the dead zone and most of the offseason, Zone. I don't want to jinx it, but it was nice having a relatively quiet one. Nobody's groceries ended up at the bottom of a lake, nobody's vehicle ended up at the bottom of a lake and nobody recorded themself doing pass-rush drills that faintly resemble someone swatting bees on the sand bank of a lake.

NFL offseasons with few – if any – off-field incidents are good. And the Jaguars offseason that just ended in that sense absolutely was good. What also was good about this past Jaguars offseason free agency was relatively quiet, and that the draft wasn't about desperately trying to Make Immediate Headlines and instead it was about adding players in intelligent fashion. The most important storylines for good teams happen from September through February. The Jaguars are operating like a good team these days.

Paul from St. Augustine, FL

The best-looking Jaguar has to be the Culligan Girl.

I have no idea what you're talking about.

James from Titusville, NJ

I remember DaVon Hamilton's impact last year. Football games so often come down to making a play here or a play there. If not for his big paw, the Jaguars would have undoubtedly lost to the Raiders on the final play of that game last year. He batted down a ball that was heading right towards tight end Brock Bowers, who was running wide open in the back of the end zone. Jags fans like to lament the loss to the Cincinnati Bengals where we truly got robbed, but often fail to consider those narrow escapes that probably should have gone the other way. If not for Hamilton's play, the Jaguars would not have won their division. He is a valuable player. Plus, have you seen him kick an extra point? He is a man of many talents.

Hamilton's pass breakup to secure an overtime road victory over the Las Vegas Raiders was undoubtedly his most memorable play last season. His game-to-game impact against the run was less high profile and far more significant over the course of the season. I never have seen him kick an extra point. I do know he is one of the Jaguars' most important defensive players.

Fred from Naples, FL

Wide receiver Chris Olave's four-year/$132 million contract with the New Orleans Saints with $90 million guaranteed certainly does not help the Jaguars in signing Parker Washington to a new contract. The longer this goes, on the more it looks like Parker is going to bet on himself. I wish him well this year. Good dude.

The Jaguars love wide receiver Parker Washington, and I expect they will sign him before he becomes an unrestricted free agent following the 2026 season. Because Washington has played like a prime-level receiver for a relatively short time instead of an extended time, finding the right money to pay him is tricky. But I expect the Jaguars will sign Washington before he becomes an unrestricted free agent following the 2026 season.

Ian from Jacksonville

Two days in, but I have a "Dead Zone" question inspired by Thursday's press conference. Do you find it hard not to chuckle when Josh says "Doo Doo," and you are standing right there, notebook in hand??? Also: One for DaVon Hamilton (great question, Zone)

I confess I didn't hear Jaguars defensive end Josh Hines-Allen say "doo doo" in his media availability Thursday, though I commend you for noticing and would have laughed had I noticed. Here's what Hines-Allen had to say about Hamilton Thursday: "You just got to watch the film. When you turn on the tape and watch DaVon Hamilton, he is the best nose in the game. I have never seen him get driven off the ball. He is always playing with consistent knock back. Nobody runs in his gap. He is working on the things that he needs to improve on from last year. We have a whole bunch of guys like that. We play for each other, man. That's the gist of us."

Kenneth from Jacksonville

Who is the best player in Jaguars history to don No. 89?

Possibilities here include tight end Marcedes Lewis (2006-2017), tight end Luke Farrell (2021-2024) and wide receiver Curtis Marsh (1995-1996). Lewis is the easy and only choice here. Ninety down, ten remaining.

Jim from Jacksonville

What's up?

Not much.

Scott from Jax, FL

I have never been much of an autograph hound, but my wife would buy me signed photos as gifts because she couldn't think of anything else to get me. One year she gets me an autographed tight end Damon Jones photo. I talked my wife into telling me how much it cost, and when she said just three bucks, it instantly became one of my favorites. Wide receiver Allen Hurns may have been a better football player, but Damon Jones had the best nickname. "Big Sofa" for the win!

Indeed.

Thrill from The 'Ville

You wrote: "But there is a point that a quarterback who 'can't make the throws' is enough of a detriment that his knowledge of the offense isn't enough." One for Minshew.

Most quarterbacks who have played in the NFL "can't make all the throws." It's what makes the ones who can so valuable.

Nathan from Duval then, Sacramento now

Regarding arm strength and how it relates to the quarterbacking position, I read a quote from a guy born in Duval who was named after a famous hotdog maker. The quote reads like this: "Arm strength is like cab fare (or for the modern man, Uber or Lyft funds). When you're at the bar, if you don't have enough, then you can't get home and you HAVE to get home. If you have too much, then you're probably going to do something to get you in trouble. Or something like that.

I don't know if I'll refer to your guy's quotes all that often.

Dale from St. Augustine, FL

Zone. I am pumped for the pads to come on Monday. Outside of the joint practices, would you expect any live periods with tackling to the ground? What are the pros and cons of live tackling in training camp?

I expect few if any "live periods of tackling to the ground" in the sense of players playing all-out, no-holds-barred, game-speed during any Jaguars 2026 Training Camp practice. This is because the norm in the NFL these days – even in "full-contact, full-speed" practices – is to try to control the environment and minimize risk of injury. This includes joint practices. The pros of live tackling in training camp are that you get closer to game situations and it is therefore better for everything – preparation, evaluation, etc. The cons are that you risk injury. The cons these days almost always outweigh the pros.

Willie from Tallahassee, FL

Will we have a good season?

That's the expectation.