JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …
Rob from Jacksonville Beach, FL
Who ya like for GM, Zone? Give us the KOAF's gut feeling.
The Jaguars are continuing Round 2 of interviews for their vacant general manager position this week, with interviews conducted Wednesday with Chicago Bears Assistant General Manager Ian Cunningham and San Francisco 49ers Director/Scouting and Football Operations Josh Williams. The Jaguars also have interviews scheduled with Los Angeles Rams Director of Scouting Strategy James Gladstone, Green Bay Packers Vice President of Player Personnel Jon-Eric Sullivan and Jaguars Interim General Manager Ethan Waugh. Either way, there's no real "gut" here. The Jaguars like all five candidates, and I expect the final decision to come down to feel and fit as much as anything. I still expect nothing to be official until Friday afternoon at least and a decision very soon afterward. We'll see. Stay tuned.
Charles from Riverside
Hello, John. Part of the reason new Head Coach Liam Coen is here is to be a "mentor" to quarterback Trevor Lawrence. I was wondering back during your time in Indy if there was this kind of synergy between Head Coach Tony Dungy and quarterback Peyton Manning? Of course, Manning goes down as one of the all-time best. I'm curious if Dungy or any of his head coaches could have been considered a "mentor" and helped him step up in his career?
I can't speak for Manning about which of his head coaches he most considered a mentor. I do know from conversations with him during his time in Indy – and from what he has said on the topic publicly – that he valued his relationship with all his head coaches. He valued these enough that he contacted each before announcing his retirement. He also valued his relationship with Colts offensive coordinator Tom Moore, and I expect he would consider all the aforementioned coaches to have been mentors in some respect. A motivated, aware, driven quarterback will draw from all head coaches/coordinators/influences and grow from them. Sort of like motivated, aware, driven people in all fields draw from people who have influenced them.
Jim from Middleburg, FL
Hi, John. Tony Boselli is the Jaguars' all-time best offensive lineman without a doubt. When he left, we missed him, but the Jags found another. Without a doubt we need a great left tackle to protect our quarterback. The next best offensive lineman is definitely a more versatile football player. Fourteen years, he played here on every damned position on the line and got paid squat. He was always there to play any spot you needed. By the way, he was a walk-on our scouts never spotted. All Hail Nate (I can do it ) Shately!! Fat chance of finding another. Look around!
You're passionate. No one can take that away from you. No one would want to.
Tom from The Mean Streets of Nocatee
This franchise needs the BOAT like Blue Oyster Cult needed the cowbell. MORE.
Former Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles understandably and permanently endeared himself to fans like few other players in franchise history. More BOAT? One fer the BOAT? Absolutely. More, please.
Al from Orange Park, FL
Who cares about the stinkin' uniforms? Just win some games …
Fair.
Tom from Charlottesville, VA
Truly great athletes have called Jacksonville home. It seems the discussion has centered around football, but how about Artis Gilmore or Chipper Jones who were great in their sports.
Artis Gilmore was a great basketball player for Jacksonville University. Chipper Jones was a great baseball player for The Bolles School. Though undoubtedly great, they were not originally from Jacksonville.
Fred from Naples, FL
Your continued persistence and being "all-in" on Don from Marshall, NC's stupid commentary is becoming annoying.
When it comes to enjoying being annoying – like really enjoying it – O-Zone remains "all in."
Howard from Homestead, FL
I know you're not a fan, but is Liam Coen a fan of the Oklahoma drill? The answer to that question tells me a lot about his philosophy and what to expect from this team.
I have no idea if Coen is a fan of the Oklahoma Drill. It doesn't matter either way because the NFL has banned the drill from training camp practice for safety reasons. It was a move that was overdue.
Dwayne from Jacksonville
Any reason this wouldn't work? Poll O-Zone readers (whoever he is) who should be the Jags' first-round draft pick. Only tell Jaguars Owner Shad Khan the winner. Then he asks every general manager candidate who they would pick. The first one that agrees with O-Zone readers - BOOM - offer him a contract! Brilliant, right?
Shad Khan … hire this man!
Ray from Vernon
Mighty O, would it make sense that considering Interim General Manager Ethan Waugh and Coach Coen have been together for a couple weeks now that they have talked football enough to pretty much know if they can work together. Considering that, does Waugh have a better chance? As a fan from afar, I thought our last general manager gave us some darn good draft picks and free agents. It was coaching. always is. LOL Thanks for your daily read.
Waugh being in the building and working in an interim role is an advantage in the sense that he knows and has worked with Coen and Boselli – and others. Is he a fit? Do the Jaguars feel comfortable with Waugh's process and approach? Do they like these things more than these traits in the other candidates? Those will be the questions.
Matt from Jacksonville
Lot of changes in the Jaguars' organization. Time will tell whether it will propel the Jaguars into greatness or just another big bump in the road. Best thing ever is that finally, finally, finally Press Taylor is GONE!
It's always the offensive coordinator in the NFL.
Mason from Palm Bay, FL
O-Zone. Do you think there's any chance we take an offensive tackle at No. 5 this year? I know you are of the belief "you don't draft a player for the upcoming season." and if he's the best player available you should take him. I mostly agree, but you have to take other factors into consideration. We signed left tackle Walker Little to an extension, and right tackle Anton Harrison has played well enough - and the assumption is that he will keep ascending. It's mock draft season, and the mocks that have us taking an offensive tackle don't seem very logical.
Yes, I believe there's a chance the Jaguars select an offensive tackle at No. 5 overall in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Sean from Oakleaf, FL
Since the Jaguars have been in existence, they have had 10 head coaches (including interim). Of the ten, only Tom Coughlin has a winning record. The Pittsburgh Steelers have had two head coaches over that same time frame. It is hard to comprehend that sustained level of stability and success.
It's even more impressive that the Steelers have had three coaches since 1969. They're a model organization. They have an identity and don't make decisions based on the short-term or the yearly whims of the masses. It's hard to get there, but that's the model.
Nicholas from Fort Cavazos, Texas
KOAF: When the Jaguars win a Super Bowl will your finger be extended and measured for a ring?
It will be extended.
Woody from Dunlap
KOAF: I had two sports idols growing up: Roberto Clemente in baseball and Bob Hayes in football. At the age of 11, I watched Bob Hayes win the 100 meter and 4x100 meter gold metals on our black and white TV in 1964. After that, I followed his NFL career in the newspaper, Sporting News, and whenever the Dallas Cowboys were on TV. Decided I wanted to be a really fast wide receiver like Bob Hayes. I started wearing ankle weights to school every day and practicing sprints daily on our country road. I played high school football from 1967 through 1970 as a wide receiver, defensive back and punt/kick returner, all the time trying to mimic Bob Hayes. Small college football and some semi-pro post college in the late 1970's followed. I loved playing the game and remain a devoted football fan even today at age 71. I sincerely doubt anyone will ever again win two Olympic gold medals and a Super Bowl. I think I picked two pretty good sports idols. Do you concur?
One fer Bullet Bob.
Doug from Jacksonville
The prowlers are ugly. Get over it. Put your acid washed jeans in the trash, cut your mullet and get into 2025. The prowlers are ugly and thank goodness gone except for some random weekend they choose to throw the people still sporting members only jackets a bone.
I like the Prowlers. I'm far from alone. I expect there's a chance some version of the Prowlers could be permanent in the future. That's a guess. It's only a guess. I had a Members Only jacket – in the eighties, not the nineties. It wasn't particularly cool. I liked it for a time. So did the ladies. Obviously.
