JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …
Rob from the duuuuuuuuu
Is there an advantage to our coaches' inexperience? Nothing gave me more confidence than former Jaguars Head Coach Tom Coughlin coming back as executive vice president of football operations in 2017, because I knew we had someone who knew everything and had seen and done it all before. Same with former Jaguars Head Coach Doug Pederson. It turned out Coughlin was perhaps stuck in his own ways and living in the past. (Evidenced by his harsh discipline of players and drafting a running back at No. 4 overall). Perhaps Pederson was stuck in old ways to a certain extent. Is there something to the youth and inexperience of some coaches as all they know is "today's NFL?" I am a little wary of our youth and inexperience, but I'm hoping this can be a reason it ends up working.
Jaguars Head Coach Liam Coen appears close to completing his coaching staff, and inexperience indeed likely will be a topic. Not only is Coen young at 39, defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile is 42 and whoever the choice at offensive coordinator – Minnesota Vikings assistant quarterbacks coach Grant Udinski (28), Los Angeles Rams offensive assistant/passing-game specialist Nate Scheelhause (34) or Washington Commanders quarterbacks coach Tavita Pritchard (37) for the position – will be young. Does this give me a bit of pause? Sure. There is comfort at first glance to reading double-digit years of experience in a prospective coach's website biography. It's easy to associate a gray hair or two with wisdom and knowhow. But coaching is leadership, people and belief. If a staff has ability there, players will work in one direction and a team has a chance. If a staff doesn't have that ability, a team has little chance. All indications are this staff knows football. Coen certainly does. If you know football and can lead, all else will fall in place whatever the staff's experience level.
Ray from Jacksonville
John: Mount Rushmore of Jaguar coaches? How about Darrell Bevell (four games), Mel Tucker (five games), Urban Meyer (13 games) and Mike Mularkey (16 games). This is a bad franchise.
A couple of thoughts. One: Bevell and Tucker were interim head coaches, so using their tenures in for some "power take" is at best as misguided and at worst misinformed. Two: Sure, the Jaguars haven't been good enough for most of their existence. I'm not sure we're plowing new ground here.
Andy from Daysland, Alberta
Do you think Coen is struggling to find the right OC because they know that they'll strictly be game-planning and not calling plays on game day? For many of the supporting role coaches already interviewed and ones Coen has targeted but not yet interviewed, one would think this would still be a good opportunity. There are good pieces here and I would think this a good way to promote but with slightly less pressure not having to call plays; other than the game's first scripted 15-20 plays of course. Why the OC hiring delay do you think?
Coen isn't struggling to find an offensive coordinator. Remember: Just because something doesn't happen at a fast pace – or the expected pace – doesn't mean it's happening at the wrong pace.
Frank from St Augustine, FL
Johnny … thoughts on the prolonged journey of finding an offensive coordinator. You think the reason is that these up-and-coming OCs believe that Trevor has hit his ceiling? Would you trade Trevor for Myles Garrett straight up?
This "prolonged-journey-of-finding-an-OC" thing is a weird "thing" because it's not a "thing." No, I don't think up-and-coming offensive coordinators believe Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence has hit his ceiling. I would not trade Lawrence for Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett.
Jimsure from DBS
With all the new head coaches this year, we appear to be either slow rolling or having problems assembling a set of coaches.
This isn't the case.
Josh from Johnson City, TN
Love the new role for Tony. Selfishly, I have to ask, though. Does this mean the end of the Monday Happy Hour show during the season? I love the back and forth between Tony and Pete and will miss it if it is gone.
I expect new Executive Vice President of Football Operations Tony Boselli and Pete Prisco of CBS Sports to be involved in Jaguars shows next season. But Boselli won't be in the same vein as the Monday Happy Hour Show. It was a terrific show. I enjoyed it because I was listening to two good friends who I have known for decades continue the banter that began when we were all young and didn't know what we didn't know about football – and life. But Boselli has a new role now, and his role on that show doesn't fit his current role.
Lane from Winter Garden, FL
O man, In the article regarding the hiring of Tony Boselli, it says he will also be responsible for player engagement, football technology, football travel and logistics, equipment, sports performance, team security and football communications. Can you elaborate on some of these responsibilities? What exactly does he do in these areas? I'm excited about the hire and I think he'll be a great addition to the front office but I was just curious about some of these responsibilities.
Player engagement includes player appearances and support. Football technology includes video, IT and the like. Travel and logistics seem self-explanatory, as does equipment and team security. Sports performance includes training staff, medical support and nutrition – and football communications includes media relations. Boselli will oversee these areas, which means he will ensure these areas run efficiently and are in line with the overall vision and approach of the organization. I expect he will be very good at ensuring these things.
Darren from Fort Worth, TX
You could probably say that the Jaguars have had an emphasis on the offensive line in years past. In the past you've pointed towards the additions of Cam Robinson, Anton Harrison, and Walker Little in the draft, as well as Brandon Scherff and Mitch Morse in free agency. Those additions were fine, but none were great additions to the offensive line. Harrison is still developing so maybe he'll prove me wrong. My question, though: Do you think with Boselli as the new Executive VP the Jags will do a better job identifying talent along the offensive line?
I don't expect Boselli to be the main voice in "identifying talent." I do expect him to have input and to ensure the team is emphasizing the right attributes. It can't hurt.
Nicholas from Fort Cavazos, TX
KOAF: If picking a SVP was based lover for the organization than we got our man, if it is based on passion for the game in general we got our man, if it was based on a player who believes we have the quarterback needed to win the Lombardi Trophy then we got our man, if it was based on a man who can understand and analyze multiple positions and explain why certain concepts are and are not working than we got our man. The only downside I see is that the radio broadcast will be diminished. Jeff Lageman and Boselli provided the perfect combination of banter and analyses in what was otherwise a disastrous decade save for a few seasons. Any idea who will be replacing him on the radio?
Stay tuned.
Pedal Bin from Farnborough, Hampshire, UK
Oh Mighty 'O' / King Of All Funk, you keep saying "Boselli knows where to find me". However, now he is Executive Vice President of Football Operations surely he will just send one of his many minions to come find you on his behalf to summon you to his presence?
The EVP knows where to find me.
Brad from The Avenues
To paraphrase William Shakespeare, Some men are born great AND achieve greatness AND have greatness thrust upon them. Congrats to new EVP Tony Boselli. Now let's do this thing.
One fer Boselli …
JT from Palm Coast
Congrats to Big Bo on his EVP role. I think most fans have confidence in his ability to do the job. Glad the Khans did the right thing.
… and another fer Boselli.
Fred from Naples, FL
This is a "feel good" time to be a Jacksonville Jaguar fan. The only thing that could top all of this would be seeing Freddy T. getting elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame!
Former Jaguars running back Fred Taylor is one of 15 modern-era finalists for the 2025 Pro Football Hall of Fame class. The '25 class will be announced Thursday. Here's hoping.
Howard from Homestead
Did the guy you have repeatedly challenged to a fight just become your boss?
I've never challenged Boselli to a fight. As foreshadowed in the previous answer, I have noted on multiple occasions that he knows where to find me – a statement very much in line with my penchant for meaningless, unwarranted and indefensible bravado.
