JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …

Alejandro from Duval- Mexico

Left tackle Walker Little and left guard Ezra Cleveland are re-signed, right tackle Anton Harrison is under rookie contract. Center Mitch Morse and right guard Brandon Scherff are top 10 in their position by Pro Football Focus. Everything looks fine except the total performance of the offensive line. How do you expect an improvement for next season under this circumstance?

This is an absolutely fair question – and from this view, it's a serious dilemma facing the Jaguars moving forward. The offensive line is OK. It has protected the quarterback fine this season for the most part. But this team for three seasons – and longer – has struggled too much in must-run situations. The short-yardage failures from this view have crippled the offense in multiple ways. And you're right that it appears at least 80 percent of the line will return. So, there you have it.

DMiz from 904ville

Yo, KOAF. I own a business, and I can honestly say that when clients are overly rude to my staff, I back my staff 10000 percent because I know the daily grind and top-level service my team provides. As such, I am totally flabbergasted how laidback Pederson has handled this ridiculous hit on Trevor. I hear all about Doug being a players' coach and well-respected, but if my No. 1 guy was hit like that, I would be all about backing my player and not "letting the league handle this." I've always (mostly) respected Pederson, but he has totally lost my faith in his leadership. It's shameful. If I am Trevor (and I'm not) and if DP isn't fired after this season, I would absolutely do everything to transfer to another team (not that it's possible with these contracts). This Jags team is as horrific and depressing as any I can ever remember because of this latest PR debacle.

This remains a huge topic in the O-Zone and among Jaguars fans, which makes sense because of the violent nature of Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair's hit on quarterback Trevor Lawrence this past Sunday. And it's true that Head Coach Doug Pederson has not pounded the podium or demanded punishment from the league. He also didn't mandate that players take vengeance of the Texans following the hit. We live in an age when fans and observers overanalyze all things said on podiums. Pederson isn't fiery. He's not going to shout. Would fans have liked it more had Pederson behaved differently? Sure. But it wouldn't have been him and a coach above all else must be true to himself. As for Lawrence wanting to leave if Pederson stays, this is a weird question I get from time to time – and more lately. I get no feeling that it's a thing. I do get a feeling that fans and observers think it's a thing. But that's not the same thing as it being a thing.

Rob from Longtime Season Ticket Holder until 2025

Zone, in the preseason, Tony Boselli assured listeners the Jags would either be a two or four seed. I can only assume he misspoke and actually meant second or fourth overall pick, as nobody that gets paid to speak into a microphone could possibly be that wrong... could they? Hoping you can ask him to clarify.

Pretty much anyone who has analyzed the NFL has been wrong as often as not. It's how it is.

Kerry from Millersville, Md

John, I think those defending Houston Texans linebacker Al-Shaair are missing a significant point. Some, including the Texans coach and GM, have played on the idea of "too much protection" for the quarterback (or a late slide). While those factors may have played a role in the length of the suspension, leaving one's feet (i.e. launching) to deliver a forearm shiver to the head and neck of a player (let alone a defenseless player) is always a penalty and when done to the extent displayed on that play would likely always result in significant disciplinary action. Vontaze Burfict is the most-cited example but there are others and most are for hits on non-quarterbacks. A cheap shot is a cheap shot and should be called out. Especially disappointed that as a former player. DeMeco Ryans would attempt to downplay the hit.

I expect we'll move on from this topic thusly – or at least relatively thusly – but I absolutely agree that this has been somewhat lost in the discussion about the hit by Al-Shaair that concussed Lawrence last Sunday. The discussion at times has emphasized how soon Lawrence slid. While there is a legitimate discussion to be had in NFL circles about the difficulty defenders face when determining whether to hit a quarterback who appears to be running out of bounds or starting a slide, such discussion does not apply to this situation. This is because Al-Shaair hit Lawrence in the face of the helmet with a forearm. This would have been a penalizable and suspend-able act regardless of whether Lawrence was a quarterback and regardless of whether he had been sliding. You can't hit a player in the helmet with a forearm. Period.

Easy Ed from Jax now Palm Coast

Implications by Tom Brady and DeMeco Ryans that Trevor slid too late are off base. And the apology by Al-Shaair saying it was a bang-bang play and he didn't mean to do it is ridiculous. Whether Trevor slid or not makes no difference whatsoever. When you launch yourself and plant a forearm to the face of a quarterback you are in the wrong. The ejection, suspension and fines are absolutely warranted. People are getting lost in the sliding. Play football. You don't need to be an assassin to be good unless you do. What say you, Mr. O?

I say former players and current head coaches aren't always correct.

Bradley from Sparks, NV

There isn't much I can add on the cheap shot on Lawrence other than to say that he seems as respected and popular amongst his teammates as any quarterback in the league and that it has been my suspicion that Pederson did lose the locker room earlier in the season but that Lawrence and couple others kept the team from totally collapsing with their leadership.

The Jaguars have some good leaders in the locker room, with Lawrence among them. There is nothing in the Jaguars' performance to suggest that Pederson has lost the locker room, particularly not early in the season. Could we see some fragmented play or lack of motivation moving forward? With five games remaining in a lost season, it's fair to watch for such things. But just because a team is bad enough to lose a lot of games doesn't mean a lost locker room.

Bradford from Orange Park, FL

"It's always pants in the NFL". Dammit, John. Don't make me laugh. I'm still, ENTIRELY, "ticked" off. Not a time for jokes.

I am the king of all pants.

Joshua from Callahan, FL

Is there any quarterback in NFL history that you can think of, that has played as poorly as Trevor their first four years and turned out to be generational or even special?

This suggests Lawrence never has played well in four seasons and it also requires a definition of generational and special. I will say this: You're seeing a trend of quarterbacks develop into really good players deeper into their careers after having a lot of criticism early in their careers. Players such as Jared Goff, Sam Darnold and Baker Mayfield come to mind. It's taking a while these days for early-drafted quarterbacks to reach their potential.

Don from Marshall, NC

Well we had an opposing running back leaping backwards over the defender and kept going. Just another great history making replay. Go Jaguars!

When it comes to being a little late on the uptake, Don remains "all in."

Adam from Allentown, PA

I don't need a coach to yell and scream on the podium. But what I do need is a coach who will get up there and say that it was a dirty hit. Should not be allowed, the suspension didn't go far enough and the fact that he is a captain absolutely says something about the Texans and their coaching staff. He doesn't even need to be angry about it. Just say it.

Pederson was angry about the hit. He's just not necessarily going to show his emotions when speaking to the media. I understand the frustration fans feel about this. But that's his way.

Rob from San Antonio, TX

KOAF, while the season has certainly sucked, I don't get all the "this is the worst I've ever felt about the team" sentiment floating around. The entire Gus Bradley era felt much worse than this season.

The latest feeling always seems like the worst or best feeling.

Bob from St. Augustine

If it is so apparent that we need bigger and stronger linemen, why have we had no general managers follow this strategy?

They try, Bob. They try.