JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …
David from Chuluota, FL
KOAF: New defensive lineman Arik Armstead had his best statistical years with the San Francisco 49ers from 2018-2021. In the last two seasons, his production was less than that of our returning defensive tackle Roy Robertson-Harris. With both players over 30 years old, is the plan to split the playing time? Is it reasonable to think the plan is to use RRH more on running downs and AA more in passing situations?
It's tricky to answer this with authority for a couple of reasons. One: With Armstead yet to practice during 2024 Training Camp because of a knee issue, and with Robertson-Harris just working into practice the last few days, we don't have specific idea of the role of either player. Also: New defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen repeatedly has made clear he hasn't yet determined depth charts or specific roles within the four-lineman, hybrid scheme he's introducing in his first season with the organization. My sense is most of the Jaguars' front-line defensive linemen are going to play different positions depending on the situation. The exceptions might be nose tackle DaVon Hamilton and defensive end Josh Allen, with those two players specifically playing the interior and edge, respectively. While Robertson-Harris will play mostly inside, he has some versatility along the front. And while Armstead has been discussed by Jaguars observers mostly as an interior player, I absolutely expect him to move around the front and play significant snaps at defensive end. As for specifically how Armstead will be used, that's particularly tough to project. He remains on the physically unable to perform list as he returns from meniscus surgery.
Johnny B from Howey In The Hills
Mr. O: Rob from Jax had an interesting comment on two-way players. I agree Travon Walker could be a tight end with his size and agility. However, two others – Patrick Murtaugh and Miles Coles – are physical specimens and could go offense or defense as well. I look forward to the week in pads this week. Go Jagggggs...!!!!
Jaguars tight end Patrick Murtaugh and defensive end Miles Cole indeed are impressive physically. It's easy to think, "Maybe they could play more than one position." Then you remember neither has played in an NFL regular season game and think, "Maybe we should see if they can play one position before wondering if they can play two."
Ray from Jax
John: I wonder if Allen Iverson ever committed a turnover in practice.
Why?
Deane from Daytona Beach, FL
Yo O-Zone!!! The pads come on! Let the Big Cats Eat! Who will be the hunted and who is hunting for a spot? Which side of the ball is hungrier ? I guess stay tuned. What says you O-Zone???
The Jaguars indeed are moving into their first week of padded practice during 2024 Training Camp. The offense had its best day Tuesday on the first day in pads. I expect there will be a lot of back-and-forth on this front. Training camp is usually about such ebb and flow.
Larry from Wattsburg(h),PA
How cool is it to reach out and touch fanatics on a daily basis?
Not as cool as it might seem.
Fred from Naples, FL
Why would the Jaguars release kicker Riley Patterson so early in the preseason? I get it that his leg is not as strong as Cam Little's and that Little was a draft pick with a booming leg. Couldn't we have waited until cut down days are hear and then try and trade him for some draft equity?
NFL teams release players early in preseason before cut dates because they have seen enough of that player to know he doesn't fit into their plans. They release such players without trying to trade them for draft equity when their sense is that they won't be able to trade that player for draft equity.
David from Orlando, FL
In the past, we've had some defenses that allowed receivers to get wide open in the secondary, and it would happen over and over like it was a blind spot in the defense. So far, have you seen any breakdowns in practices where the defense looked confused or a receiver was left unattended?
Yes, there have been plays during '24 camp on which the defense looked confused. There also have been plays when the offense looked funky and sloppy. I expect this to happen on occasion for the next few weeks because: training camp.
Tony from Johns Creek, GA
O, yuo caled me out fer spellang Kahn's name whrong. I sew whumiliated. Go Jagwires!
No wurries.
Scott from Atlantic Beach, FL
Is it too late for one more dead zone question? Did you ever get to see The Replacements play live?
No.
Paul from Prescott, Az
Dear Mr. O, In response to the early upset of how the offense may look, let me explain. Man for man the better overall athlete plays defense. Why? Because the offense knows the route they are running, the block scheme, etc., that has been called. Defensive players must read and react. So early in camp it is not a surprise the defense has the upper hand. As the regular season moves forward, offenses will get better. One can only hope.
Also: Defenses usually are ahead of offenses early in training camp because offenses usually are installing the scheme and not scheming to beat defenses early. Offenses game plan in the NFL for a reason. Because it's very hard to simply line up and run basic plays against professional football players with much success. It's why straight ahead runs into the line often fail whereas schemed runs with blocking strategies have a better chance of success.
Bradley from Sparks, NV
I think you and others have stated over and over that even the first regular season game isn't a reliable indicator of how the season will play out, much less any preseason game, joint practice, scrimmage, full padded practice, or any practice at all. A fake training camp TD conspiracy theory? Did I read that correctly?
I have stated over and over that anything without pads is a very poor indicator of the long-term in the NFL – and it's equally true that preseason or even practice fails to tell us that much. The regular-season opener can be misleading because teams have yet to develop patterns and tendencies. Once you get into the first few weeks of a season, you get a better feel – with a decent idea of overall strengths and weaknesses of a team generally seen around Week 5 or 6. And yes … someone wrote about the Jaguars maybe staging a touchdown in training camp for some reason or the other. Really.
Robert from Elkton
With the tightness of the new kick formation, and the limits of when kicking teams can move, it would seem reaction times for defensive players to commit to direction will be even shorter. Do you think we might see way more receiving teams trying reverses and throwbacks to catch aggressive defenders out of position?
I expect special teams coordinators will experiment with multiple approaches, formations and trickery a lot this season.
Greg from Section 122, Jacksonville, FL
First thing, the nod to David Lamm was really awesome. Man, we have lost some great ones recently. The statement more than a question: God people RELAX. It's training camp. This is PRACTICE it is where we iron out the kinks. My wife asked me a question which I didn't have a great answer. She wondered at what point during the season, if Trevor is seriously struggling, do you put in Matt Jones? I can only imagine now that he is here and having a good camp this could be a storyline during the season if Trevor gets injured or is not 100 percent.
It's hard to imagine a healthy Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence struggling enough to be replaced by Jones. The Jaguars have paid Lawrence to be the franchise quarterback, and he has bene the starting quarterback for three seasons. Is it absolutely, positively out of the question that Lawrence struggle that much? No, but only in the sense that anything is "sort" of possible.
Steve from Nashville, TN
Will the first-team offense and its No. 1 quarterback play in the first preseason game versus Kansas City?
Head Coach Doug Pederson said early in training camp he expects to play starters in preseason games in which the teams do not practice against one another the previous week. The Jaguars' only joint practices this season are against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, so yes … look for the starters to start and play Preseason Week 1 against the Kansas City Chiefs.
Tom from The Mean Streets of Nocatee
Buy the sky and sell the sky and lift your arms up to the sky And ask the sky and ask the sky Don't fall on me.
There's something here I find hard to ignore.
