JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …
Bryan from Tampa, FL
The narrative that the Jags are a team that loses because they fail to make big plays in big moments feels disingenuous. The Jaguars are 25th in the league in offense and dead last in defense. Dead last. The Jaguars' defense hasn't failed once or twice a game when it matters most, they have failed consistently throughout most games. If you are a few plays away from being a few games away from being in contention, you are just bad.
I guess I'm not sure what "narrative" or "disingenuous" means in the context of your question. The Jaguars entering Sunday's game against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field in Detroit, Mich., have lost six games this season by five or fewer points, with a play or two late in all those games deciding the outcome of the game. That they have lost because they fail to make big plays in big moments isn't narrative. Nor is it disingenuous. It's not opinion. It's fact. This doesn't at all mean the Jaguars are good. It doesn't mean they're close to being good. Good teams in the NFL win close games. But the Jaguars unquestionably are bad this season because they fail to make big plays in crucial moments.
David from Maplewood, NJ
John. The economics of the NFL dictate that Trevor will be the No. 1 quarterback for the Jaguars next year and the year after. Whether that's a good thing is sort of not the point. As the season stands, considering he will be QB1 next year if he needs surgery why wouldn't they do that now? If he plays again this year and then has surgery after the season, wouldn't that be organizational malpractice? Even if he were ready for Week 1, it would almost certainly impact what he could do in the offseason program, no?
This figures to be an issue to watch in the coming weeks. First, we don't know officially the seriousness of quarterback Trevor Lawrence's injury left shoulder. But IF it's serious enough to require surgery, then timing does become an issue. It makes sense for Lawrence to try to play through the injury so long as the Jaguars have even the remotest postseason hopes for 2024. Once that possibility is eliminated, if Lawrence absolutely is going to need surgery, then having the surgery soon should be considered rather than having him face a lengthy rehabilitation that limits his participation in the offseason program more than necessary. Stay tuned.
Jim from Middleburg, FL
Hey, John. No question here. I would like to say that besides catching a football, Evan Engram is an asset blocking, too. Watch him on plays where the ball goes to someone else. He took out a linebacker inside the Jaguar backfired that sprung a great run by running back Tank Bigsby. Wow.
Engram's a good player who is committed to winning. He does things right. He's a pro.
Roy from The Bloody Dirt Roads of Ridgewood
"He has made changes in the direction of the franchise." I guess I'm Stoopid, but I don't know what that means.
I suppose I'll try again. You're referencing a recent O-Zone discussion of Jaguars Owner Shad Khan. I referenced Khan hiring multiple general managers and coaches during his tenure as owner. I then said Khan has made changes in the direction of the franchise. Changing general managers and coaches changes the direction of the franchise. Almost always.
Kei from Kitakyushu, Japan
Has Shad Khan mentally, emotionally, and spiritually checked out on the Jaguars franchise once and for all, now that he got the stadium deal that he'd been seeking?
Absolutely not. Why in the world would he?
Art from Mario from West Kelowna, BC
Kudos to you, John. I don't know how you do it. I wish I had one quarter of the patience you have. You answered it with class and answered it by being nice. Trevor might not be an elite quarterback, maybe not even great or good (right now). But the one thing he is is tough.
Your referencing a recent email that questioned whether Lawrence is tough. I noted that this was a silly notion. It's a silly enough notion that it's probably not worth mentioning that much anymore.
Robert from Weaverville
What do you make of the Trevor Lawrence surgery chatter?
That he might need surgery, I suppose.
Tim from Disappointmentville
Two and eight, with all the free-agent money and draft equity of the past few years this is reaching historically bad.
It's bad. But I don't know about historically bad. Many teams that spend big in free agency have that spending go really bad. You can't build great rosters with players other teams didn't want. Teams don't let great leave the building.
Chris from Southside
I
(Philosophy major.)
Khalin from Duvvval
Why are we still here just to suffer?
Ask Chris.
Dan from Sofia
Zone, what's wrong with this organization? How do we never get lucky and end up with someone like Mike Tomlin coaching the Jags for 10-to-15 years and be successful?
The Steelers didn't get lucky with Head Coach Mike Tomlin. They have an organizational identity and believe in committing to a head coach for the long-term – even through what might be perceived as difficult times. That's not easy. The Jaguars aren't alone in not being able to do it. Most teams can't.
Art from Glassboro NJ
With all of the early picks and all of the money that has been used on free agents, how are we still this bad? Our determination to be a bad team/organization would be impressive if it wasn't so depressing.
The Jaguars don't want to be bad. They're just not good enough at being good.
Limo Bob from Neptune Beach
Is there a new head coach on this staff? I don't think this team needs a total rebuild but maybe just replace Pederson. This team is competitive unlike some of our previous bad teams. Having the first pick would really help going into next year.
I have no idea if Pederson will be the Jaguars' head coach next season. I would be stunned if anyone currently on the staff other than Pederson is the Jaguars' head coach next season.
Frank from St. Augustine, FL
Johnny. We all had grand visions of this team before the year kicked off. Now, regardless of which ranking you look at, we're one of the four worst teams in the NFL. This year is a total abomination and embarrassment for the city, the fans, and the team. All I can look forward to is the draft. The fan base has been more than loyal and patient.
Obviously.
Andrew from Argyle
John, the gameplan felt more conservative with the backup quarterback in there. I guess I expected more out of Mac Jones as a former first-round pick and starter. I understand there's a reason Trevor Lawrence is the starter. But there has to be a reason we traded draft compensation for Mac Jones to be the backup over C.J. Beathard. I didn't see it against the Vikings.
The Jaguars' game plan indeed felt more conservative against the Vikings, emphasizing short and safer passes. Why? Because he was making his first start with a new team, because the Jaguars' offense hasn't been great this season even when healthy, because the Vikings are a really good and aggressive defense, because Jones even as his best needs a running game and defense to be effective. The Jaguars traded with the New England Patriots this past offseason for Jones with the idea that he would be a backup, which means they expected him to be able to get them through a short stretch of games around .500. They didn't expect him to be elite or even close.
Jose' from Old El Paso
"What he meant was it was the best Jaguars roster of his tenure." Wrong again, John. He said it and he meant it. Shahid Khan never said anything to the contrary.
I've been wrong a lot. I wasn't then.
Tom from Mandarin
"Lawrence isn't yet elite. Time will tell if he ever will be elite." How many seasons do you recommend that we give him before realizing that he hasn't got what it takes to be elite? Don't you think that giving a "might be elite someday" quarterback $275 million is putting the cart ahead of the horse?
I don't know how many seasons Lawrence will be a starter in the NFL. Yes, the Jaguars paid Lawrence this offseason projecting he eventually can be elite. This is not an entirely unique approach in an era in which teams must make decisions on quarterbacks relatively early in their careers.
Jose from Miami, TX
Mr. O, probably a long shot but if the Jags beat the Texans, Colts and sweep the Titans do the Jags win the division?
Not unless the Texans do a lot of losing.
