JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …

GP from Savannah, GA

As much as I wanted Ben Johnson to be our head coach, after watching the interview Monday, I am hoping for the best with Coach Coen. I think he has won over many an ambivalent opinion and wish him the best. Now, let's do the same for general manager.

Jaguars fans are still absorbing new Head Coach Liam Coen's Monday introductory press conference, and this unsurprisingly is the consensus reaction – because Coen unquestionably was impressive in that environment. He outlined his approach and vision in detail, doing so enthusiastically and clearly – and it was therefore easy to understand why Jaguars fans liked what they saw and heard. Coen clearly wants to build strong lines on both sides of the ball. He clearly wants to run well and to stop the run. He clearly believes in quarterback Trevor Lawrence and understands that Lawrence must succeed for anything else to matter all that much around this franchise in the coming seasons. Coen's excitement, vision and ability to communicate indeed all were on display Monday. And it's therefore unsurprising he won over many ambivalent opinions. That was a good start, and it was a welcome/necessary start considering the gut-punch disappointment of this past season. It's not always easy to "win" the first press conference. Credit to Coen. Now, the hard part. All the rest.

John from Jax

Hi, KOAGF. I know that confusion can be confusing, but I'm confused. A lot of fans wanted an overhaul by moving on from our prior general manager and head coach. Now that we are in the middle of it, the fans are calling it a mess. More proof why the owner needs to tune out the noise when making these decisions. Also, anyone who doubts the owner doesn't care about the fans or about winning just needs to see clips of him watching a game with the sour look on his face when losing.

This is a pretty fair "take" regarding Jaguars Owner Shad Khan. He made pretty clear during a media availability the day after the 2024 regular season discussing Head Coach Doug Pederson's dismissal that he was willing to consider an executive vice president of football operations if he found the right person. He also made clear that day he was open to other organizational change, saying so in response to a question about then-General Manager Trent Baalke. The Jaguars then interviewed 10 candidates for the vacant head-coaching position, at which time Khan said it was time to reexamine the structure. It was at this time that the Jaguars and Baalke parted ways. Was this Khan firing Baalke? Or Baalke resigning? Was it something in between? Did Khan have an idea he needed to make a change to convince Coen to take the head-coaching position? Was this expressed by Coen? We may never know the specifics of the situation. What we do know is that Khan said he was open to change and determined through the process that change was necessary. He then made a change with more seemingly to come. Pretty much just what he said he was going to do. Go figure.

Rob from The duuuuuuuu

Are we all just going to gloss over the worst Duval in history? He gave us a high-pitched and over-emphasized vaaaaaal! It's not Duvaaaaael…. It's a low-pitched duuuuuuuuuuuuvaaaaal! Tell Tony Boselli to coach him up before the next press conference. If I were Khan I would have stopped the press conference and corrected him. Jags fans deserve better!

Coen's Duuuval wasn't great. Cut him some slack. He's from out of town.

J.Hooks from Orange Park, FL

No football related discussions until April? So Liam technically wouldn't be allowed to ask Trevor what players he likes or what passes he likes to throw, or simply a good play he had during last season? There's no way the league can control that!

Coen can't technically discuss football-related matters with players until the start of the offseason program. A conversation or two realistically is going to take place in the offseason, particularly with a new head coach. The spirit of the rule is to stop coaches and players from meeting extensively throughout the offseason.

Stokes from Orange Park, FL

(Reading your opening response to the first submission in the January 28 O-Zone edition) ... Please allow me to be the first to suggest that from this point forward around these parts that free agents be deemed as "those we DO NOT... until ... EVER - as far as it concerns me. Yeah. "No, thank you."

Completely eschewing free agency will be difficult, particularly immediately. The further the Jaguars can lean away from dependence on the area the better. The faster the better, too.

Zac from Austin, Tejas

As a journalist, I'd like to know your take on Cam Newton's recent defense of Baltimore Ravens tight end Mark Andrews not wishing to speak to the media post "the drop." I don't believe sports journalism is as bad a paparazzi, but at the same time it's the players choice (not obligation) in how much to engage with media. That's my opinion, but I'm genuinely interested in yours. The sports journalism game has changed in 50 years.

There are players who generally and genuinely don't like speaking to the media, aren't particularly good in that situation and therefore rarely do it. Some of these players are stars and some aren't. Either way, I have little problem with a player taking that approach if that's his nature. If a player typically speaks to the media, I do have a problem with him declining to speak after a difficult play or game. And for clarification: It's really not the player's choice whether to engage with the media. According to the NFL's Media policy, they must be available to the media after every game.

Scott from Gilbert, AZ

KOAF, the Chiefs' senior writer has to be bored out of his mind getting to only ever write about success and winning year after year after year. He probably really does need to take naps under his desk with a sixer of craft just to endure the monotony, and I would have to think he is incredibly envious of you getting to cover the ineptitude and daily chaos at 1 TIAA Bank Field Drive because of the endless opportunities for discussions surrounding loss, fear, dysfunction and disappointment associated with real journalism.

I don't know much about what the Kansas City Chiefs' senior writer does or doesn't do, or even if they have a senior writer – or the equivalent of the position. I know a lot about this team and this website. I also know fans ask questions and I answer them. Daily. What's going on with the team changes the nature of the questions and answers. It doesn't particularly change the nature of the position.

James from Reno, NV

Almighty O: I have not asked a question in probably 12 years, but was curious why Interim General Manager Ethan Waugh and Director of Player Personnel Regis Eller never get mentioned in roster assessment. The Director of Player Personnel is usually very involved in this aspect of roster development. Former Jaguars General Manager Trent Baalke was the ultimate decision-maker (second only to Owner Shad Khan), but surely these two played a vital role. Thank you.

Welcome back. Waugh and Eller indeed played a role in roster decisions in recent seasons, being as they were in the two major support positions to Baalke. Why did Baalke get mentioned in roster assessment while Waugh and Eller generally did not? Because Baalke was the main guy, and the main guy gets the credit and blame – though it's fair in Baalke's case to note that he received a lot more of the latter than he did of the former.

Jeff from Atlantic Beach, FL

I see why Bucs fans are crying themselves to sleep. Looks like they might've let a good one get away.

Coen, who spent last season as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' offensive coordinator, appears to be a good coach. I see no reason he won't be a good head coach. I expect Buccaneers fans to get over his loss soon enough. Most teams get over the loss of coordinators soon enough.

Andrew from the 904

People judging Coen aren't thinking about this from a logical standpoint. Regardless of any monetary raise/gain involved, why would he turn down his dream job he's been working toward his entire life because he pinky promised another team to stay in his current role?

He wouldn't. So he didn't. Few would.

Ed from Ponte Vedra Beach, FL

Has the defensive coordinator been fired already?

Jaguars defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen hasn't yet been fired. He won't be the Jaguars' defensive coordinator moving forward. This will be officially official soon enough.

Travis from Ormond Beach, FL

Hey O-Zone, aren't you a little worried that given yours and Boselli's long-standing rivalry and his upcoming placement in the organization that he indeed will "know where to find you?"

Boselli knows where to find me.