JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …

Kevin from Saint Augustine, FL

Hey, O. I saw that our punter, Logan Cooke, got selected to the Pro Bowl. He has been a very good punter for the Jags and is always on top of his game. Long snapper Ross Matiscik also got selected for the second year in a row. One fer special teams.

Jaguars punter Logan Cooke and long snapper Ross Matiscik indeed were named to the 2025 Pro Bowl Games Thursday, with Cooke named for the first time and Matiscik named for a second consecutive season. This was a feel-good story in what has been a decidedly feel-bad season as Sunday's regular-season finale against the Indianapolis Colts approaches. Cooke has been one of the NFL's best punters for a while. Matiscik has been the consensus best long snapper for two seasons. It was cool to see them honored as such. Cool stuff.

JG from Maryland

Hi, John. Do you think it is totally clear that the Jaguars roster in 2024 is better than it was in 2020-2021? In 2021, the Jaguars had three wins. They beat an eventual playoff team (Buffalo Bills), and two teams with winning records for the season (Miami Dolphins and Indianapolis Colts). This year they have four wins, three against the other two worst teams in the NFL, and one against the Colts missing their best players due to injury. Or, if you do think the 2024 roster is better, why are the results nearly indistinguishable now?

Yes, the Jaguars' roster is better in 2024 than it was in 2020-2021. Quarterback Trevor Lawrence is more mature and therefore better than he was in his rookie season of 2021. They have two high-level defensive ends in defensive ends Josh Hines-Allen and Travon Walker – and wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. is developing into an elite receiver. Right tackle Anton Harrison is a very good starter, and rookie defensive tackle Maason Smith and rookie cornerback Jarrian Jones are showing signs of being front-line starters. The Jaguars are also from this view better at running back, at least one cornerback and kicker than they were in 2020-2021. Why aren't the results better? Because the NFL is a weird league and not everything makes sense. The bad news is that doesn't make this season very fun. The good news is there's a lot of stuff in place that doesn't need to be replaced.

Anita from Springfield

Good for Ross and Logan. I tell everyone we have the GOAT punter and it's nice that the last few weeks have seen several national authors talking about how good he is. When will Jags.com have the Logan Cooke highlight video? I'd also love a reel of Ross making clutch tackles down field. Dude's a stud. Go Jags!

Another fer Cooke and Matiscik.

Greg from Section 122, Jacksonville

My season ticket renewal came in this week. Wife asked me again, "Why do you keep renewing those tickets when they just keep losing? This team sucks and won't change." I had a very tough time disputing her point. When you talk about the team possibly keeping the current front office in place because you can't run a team based on fan sentiment, you also can't fill a stadium without fan support. Another hard truth that should be acknowledged. On behalf of challenged husbands everywhere, tell me what I say to my wife to convince her that getting season tickets is a great idea this year? For the record, I have been as season ticket hold for over 25 years now, and I told the front office I would be waiting until the end of the season to decide how I move forward. So please master sage, give me a good selling point to tell my wife why I should keep DUUUVALing.

I never wrote that the Jaguars will keep the front office and coaching staff in place following this weekend. I don't know the fate of Head Coach Doug Pederson or General Manager Trent Baalke. I do know owners can't make football decisions based solely on fan sentiment. That doesn't mean fans won't get what they want. It means that can't be the reason for decisions. As for whether to buy season tickets, that's not my area. This is football. It's fandom. Logic doesn't particularly apply.

Scooter from St. Augustine, FL

With nine drafted rookies in 2024, three of which are linemen, what haven't we seen more of them? Anton Harrison became a starter as a rookie as did Travon Walker. Thoughts?

Harrison and Walker indeed started as rookies. They were first-round selections. Thomas, this year's first-round selection, has started as a rookie. The Jaguars' 2024 rookie class overall has made significant contributions, with Thomas starting and Jarrian Jones essentially a starter at nickel corner. Kicker Cam Little also has had an outstanding rookie season. Others such as defensive linemen Maason Smith and Jordan Jefferson are beginning to play more late in the season, with Smith talking recently about it taking a while to completely understand what it takes off the field to perform at the professional level. Javon Foster has been inactive – not unusual for a mid-round offensive tackle. The one rookie who played less than expected was Smith, who was inactive for six games. Aside from that, the progress of the Jaguars' '24 rookie class has been at least as good as – and perhaps better than – "normal."

Robert from Middleburg, FL

BTJ got screwed. Who picks the Pro Bowl teams? He had a better season than all the AFC receivers other than Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase.

Fans, players and coaches all vote for the Pro Bowl with each group's vote counting one-third toward selection. Yes, Thomas should have been named to the event and had a better statistical season than all AFC receivers except Chase.

Mike from Jacksonville

John, do you agree over the offseason that Job No. 1 should be to acquire big, aggressive offensive and defensive linemen? Remember how difficult it has been this year for the Jags to run and stop the run.

Pretty much, yes.

Paul from Lake City, FL

I hope Shad Khan listens to fans who feel like I do: I turned down free tickets to the last home game even before I knew what the weather forecast would be. I would turn down free season tickets for next year. After years of "In Gene we trust" and "Trust the process" and having faith that Shad's success on the business side would eventually carry over to the football side, I've run out of patience. I'm tired, boss.

Jaguars Owner Shad Khan understands the mood of Jaguars fans. It's his role as an owner to understand that – and at the same time, to make decisions that are best for the long-term interest of the franchise. Sometimes that means making decisions fans like in the short-term and sometimes it means making decisions fans dislike in the short-term. As for your implied apathy … those feelings are fair. The Jaguars had a miserable 2024 regular season after an offseason of high expectations. Apathy in that scenario is to be expected. Whatever decisions Khan makes in the coming days, it's up to the Jaguars to perform well enough to change that apathetic feeling. That's it. That's the task.

TC from San Marco

Zone – I am a fan of Khan. He has been a great to our city. He has sunk a ton of $$$ into the team and our future. I sincerely believe he cares about the Jags and Jacksonville. When I look around at the league's owners, it is clear why under Daniel Snyder the Washington Commanders s were dysfunctional, why Mark Davis' Las Vegas Raiders are a mess, why Carolina Panthers Owner David Peppers coaching carousel has not worked, etc. But seems to invests in people, players, facility and seems like the type of owner who would win more than not yet here we are AGAIN as one of the worst teams in the NFL. It just does not seem to add up. What is Khan lacking that other owners have to achieve greatness (or more winning records)? What do the NFL experts (other than the great O) think about him?

Khan lacks nothing that it takes to be a great NFL owners. In fact, h has the traits of front-line owners – i.e., patience, willingness to allow football people to do their jobs without undue interference and willingness to support those decisions financially. Why haven't the Jaguars had success? The people making football decisions haven't gotten it right enough consistently enough. And because the NFL is a hard league.

EJ from Jacksonville

Mr. O. I realize that uniforms don't make a difference in play-calling or player performance but it does help create identity. You can immediately recognize some teams by their classic colors and uniforms. The Jags should wear teal jerseys/white pants at home and all whites on the road. Ditch the black and white/black and teal/black and black/teal and teal. Then we will know who we are.

It's always the uniforms in the NFL.