JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …
Michael from Orange Park, FL
I ask you yet again … what is the exact point of these pre-draft media availabilities? A whole lotta nuthin, Zone. Hell … a whole lotta less than nuthin.
Breathe, Michael. Breathe. The Jaguars on Tuesday afternoon held their pre-2025 NFL Draft media availability, and Head Coach Liam Coen and General Manager James Gladstone indeed navigated the 20-ish-minute session admirably saying little of note and therefore revealing nothing of substance regarding said 2025 NFL draft. But while your email suggests notable frustration – perhaps bordering on anger – I wonder at this intense emotion. Pre-draft availabilities aren't supposed to reveal anything. They're about parading the head coach and general manager in front of the local media, with the general manager speaking far more than the head coach and neither giving any real information about who they like or what they seek. This is because the NFL is a place of Great and Important Secrets – particularly as those Great and Important Secrets relate to the draft – and a general manager saying he likes a Cornerback From Seesaw Valley State will get breathlessly reported on expensive flat television screens throughout multimillion-dollar facilities throughout our great land. Would that information be real? Or just so much fluff? More than likely the latter. Either way, it's OK to accept these media availabilities for what they are: A chance for the fans to hear a few vague words from their favorite team's decision-makers before those decision-makers disappear for another week or so before the draft, during which their actions will speak louder than words. Then the real analyzing and criticizing can begin.
Jeff from Atlantic Beach, FL
We have reached the point where player "X" (in this case Mason Graham) has been mocked to the Jaguars so often that the "experts" are bored and now are trying to convince themselves that he is not good, he's going to be a bust. I have heard comparisons to former Jaguars defensive tackle Taven Bryan! Of course, just a month ago he was a great fit and no-brainer. The draft can't get here soon enough.
It's true we have reached the point of paralysis by analysis when it comes to the 2025 NFL Draft – and when it comes to University of Michigan defensive tackle Mason Graham. There's no reason to compare Graham to Bryan – and I've heard nothing to indicate that people within the NFL are worried about Graham being a bust. Probably the best way to assess Graham and the Jaguars a week(ish) before the draft is this: While many analysts long have projected him to the Jaguars at No. 5 overall, that's in no way the "guarantee" that that outside consensus might indicate. That doesn't mean the Jaguars don't like him. It doesn't mean they won't select him at No. 5. It doesn't mean he won't be a very good player. It just means it's not a guarantee with eight days remaining before the draft.
P Funk from Murray Hill
Penn State edge Abdul Carter and Colorado wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter are picked second and third in whichever order. Team "X" picks player "Y" with the fourth pick. Team "X" says after the draft, "Player 'Y' was the number one player on our board." Do you believe them? Who narrates the Jags to Riches audiobook?
No. Ron Swanson.
James from Destin
John, seeing Brokeback Ramsey is looking at trade options and he was with the Los Angeles Rams a few years, any chance James Gladstone brings him in?
James, if I woke up tomorrow with my head sewn to the carpet I wouldn't be more surprised. This won't happen.
Fred from Naples, FL
I understand that cornerback Jalen Ramsey is on the trading block as the Miami Dolphins' front brass have announced. The cute thing to ask you would be if his back is healthy would the Jaguars' new front office engage in such conversations with the Dolphins. However, don't forget that James Gladstone has a background with Jalen and I heard he left on very good terms with the Rams before he left for Miami. I also believe that Jaguars Executive Vice President of Football Operations Tony Boselli has a completely different view of Jalen than James Gladstone does. The big wild card for me would be what would Owner Shad Khan think of such a trade? What if we sent the Dolphins a fourth-rounder for him and he agreed to re-do his deal for a new three-year extension that would be cap friendly for us? I am probably in the minority here, but I would love to see him back. What are your thoughts?
This won't happen.
Spanky from Jacksonville
John, congrats on the 5,000 O-Zones. Given such a huge milestone, I'd like to take the opportunity to provide an O-Zone Primer, if you will, to educate the prospective and elusive new O-Zone reader just in case he exists. Here goes: 1.) If you see "Don from Marshall, NC," SKIP THE ENTIRE QUESTION AND ANSWER; John's just going to say, "When it comes to…," repeat what Don said, and end with, "Don remains all in." It's apparently really funny, because John posts every inane question that Don sends him in this fashion. 2.) The instant you first see "Eugene Frenette" or "Gene" in the question, IMMEDIATELY ABANDON THE REST OF THE QUESTION AND THE ENSUING ANSWER. It's just going to be some stupid joke about Gene Frenette similar to Chuck Norris jokes 20 years ago. The difference between the two, of course, is that people generally stopped telling Chuck Norris jokes because they ran their course. With Gene Frenette, it just keeps going and going and going. 3.) If, in your scanning, you see that John has simply replied "OK" to a question, you can save time and SKIP THE ENTIRE QUESTION, because it's probably stupid (or at least John thinks it is. I'm now sitting back and waiting for your 'OK' response to this one if you post it to prove my point.)
You go, girl.
Nicholas from Fort Cavazos, Texas
KOAF: Why is it so hard to pin down when your O-Zone streak started? Can't you ask the IT server guys to look at the archives and determine when you started, or, do you enjoy the mystique of not knowing exactly when your greatness started?
While I like a little mystique as much as the next guy, I fear the mystery here is more one of laziness and of few people caring enough for me to keep a running tab on the answer. After a bit of research – read: a google search or two – I can report that the O-Zone "streak" began August 8, 2011. It was a Monday, a day like any other day. I did not leave a small town for the Apple in Decay. But I did on that day – or shortly thereafter – commit to writing this column daily. This makes this O-Zone Day 5,001. Officially. Oh boy.
James from Titusville, NJ
In honor of today (04/15), there are only three guarantees in life: death, taxes, and the O-Zone. Congrats on Day 5,001 (04/16).
Onward ho.
Travis from Jacksonville
Do you believe South Carolina safety Nick Emmanwori would fall to us in Round 2? Is that part of the draft board strategy, targeting players per round and positioning during the draft to still acquire them? We could use a ballhawk with outstanding speed on the back end of the defense based on the number of times offenses got behind ours!
Emmanwori has been projected as early as No. 23, which means he could conceivably slip out of Round 1 – though it's unlikely. Yes, part of draft strategy is projecting where players might be projected – as is projecting where you might be able to draft a certain position. Teams spend much of the pre-draft process projecting such projections.
Gavin from Halifax, NS, -the Sovereign Country of Canada
We often discuss the importance of being nice. "If I'm reading this correctly – and I believe I am – you believe teams should hire experienced people with an eye for talent and have those experienced eyes evaluate players, then rank them. Perhaps teams could really go crazy and give these people a wild, wacky title such as 'general manager' and even create a department dedicated to this task. The teams could name this department 'scouting' or "personnel." This made me laugh A LOT, though.
I am the king of all funk.
Woody from Dunlap
KOAF: True to my word, I have continued to search for possible competitors to your historic 5,000-consecutive-day streak. I found one blogger type who quit after about 9.5 years and one language learning fanatic with around 4,500 days (on closer inspection this site allows for someone to take a day off now and again and not lose their streak.....am not sure how that can still be considered a streak?) All information points to what you have accomplished as being something truly special. This record is something even Gene the Machine might not equal (although he does hold a record for the longest continuous tennis match, or something like that). Congratulations!!!!
Onward ho.
