JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …
Michael from Orange Park, FL
Grant Udinski?
The Jaguars indeed on Wednesday announced they had agreed to terms with Minnesota Vikings assistant offensive coordinator/assistant quarterbacks coach Grant Udinski to be the new offensive coordinator. Udinski was well-respected as a key member of the Vikings' staff. He had also interviewed this offseason for offensive coordinator positions with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Houston Texans and Seattle Seahawks. At 29, he is young. Really young. He's also considered a rising star in NFL circles with Vikings Head Coach Kevin O'Connell saying in November: "It would not surprise me if he's on a pretty skyrocketed timeline." His fast rise now continues.
Eddie from Jacksonville
I was just thinking about the glory days back when people wondered why it was taking so long to hire a head coach. Do you miss them as much as I do?
I do remember those days, with what many Jaguars fans considered a loooooong process to hire Doug Pederson as head coach occurring just three years ago. The Jaguars' search this offseason for Head Coach Liam Coen ended comparatively quickly, and Coen less than two weeks later has filled his defensive coordinator position with Anthony Campanile and filled the offensive coordinator position with Udinski on Wednesday night. There was consternation in the O-Zone in recent days that the offensive coordinator search took too long – with an overtone that somehow this was a crisis. Why the consternation? Because we now live in a 24/7, Twitter-oriented world in which all eyes refresh phones all day seeking the latest news NOW! This can make even the remotest "delay" seem like a crisis. Do I miss days gone by? A bit, I suppose. Either way, Udinski is now the offensive coordinator. He will now set about helping Coen coordinate the offense and we'll worry about something else taking too long or not going precisely as we expect or hope. Then we'll complain about that.
Josh from Lakewood
Who's the executive president of football operations?
The Jaguars don't have an executive president of football operations. Front-office structures vary in the NFL from team to team. The Jaguars have an owner (Shad Khan) and a president (Mark Lamping). They also now have an executive vice president of football operations in Tony Boselli, who oversees most football departments outside coaching and personnel. Remember: What's done in the jobs matter. Titles matter to many people, but I'd rather work with someone concerned about the work.
JT from Palm Coast, FL
For the first time in a WHILE, I am excited about the future of our team. Boselli is the perfect person to have in that role. It finally feels like we have the right structure in place to succeed. Cheers to the future and to Big Bo. Do the damn thang!!
One fer Boselli.
Bradley from Sparks, NV
Hey, now that Boselli and Coen are in place, how about a nerdy, analytical type like a Philadelphia Eagles Executive Vice President Howie Roseman or Minnesota Vikings General Manager Kwesi Adofo Adofo-Mensah type at general manager to form an all-equal trinity of leadership?
I'm not sure it's fair to refer to those executives as nerdy, and I doubt "cool" will play a role in deciding the Jaguars' next general manager. Your question also suggests Boselli is cool. I would quibble with that suggestion.
Steve from Nashville, TN
I see several NFL teams do not currently have a viable or proven starting quarterback under contract for the upcoming season. It is nice to say at least we have that covered.
Indeed.
Ray from Newport News, VA
As the search for a new general manager continues, what's the future look like for the scouting department? I understand there is no exact science to this as there are a lot of variables. When a new general manager takes over, do you project we will have a significant amount of turnover in the scouting department? Are scouts under long-term contracts?
With the Jaguars parting ways last month with General Manager Trent Baalke, it would be a little surprising if there wasn't some turnover among high-level decision-makers of the front office. That's often where you see turnover following a general-manager change, because that's the level that sets the direction of the personnel department. It wouldn't be surprising if there was very little turnover among area and other "lower-level" personnel. That group is more about gathering and processing information than making decisions and therefore often remains in place when there are changes at the top.
Ed from Danvers, MA
Are head coaches and coordinators who come to Jacksonville to interview reimbursed for their travel costs and lodging? Are any of them paid to come interview? How does all that side of it work?
The costs are covered. They aren't paid to interview.
Boxcutter Bill from Mass
O Man sir, I was wondering which defensive front you prefer more, 3-4 or 4-3. Me personally I would prefer a 4-3 front. I feel like we have personnel that fits that scheme more, and with a couple more pieces – hopefully from the draft – could really impact opposing offenses. I know in today's NFL defenses play a lot of nickel and dime looks but having four solid guys up front with some specialists on the bench is my favorite.
I discussed something along these lines with new Jaguars defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile the other day. I asked him to be as specific as he could about what scheme the Jaguars would employ. While he wanted to answer, he correctly said that the idea of talking about a 4-3 or 3-4 defense these days was more than a bit antiquated. Not only do teams play more nickel than base defense, just about every scheme – be it 3-4 or 4-3 based – is so hybrid that it's hard to tell if a scheme is a 3-4 or 4-3. We're probably close to the time when we can just assume all schemes are multiple with ways to get into a four- or three-lineman look based on specific situations.
Bruce from St. Simons Island, GA
- One of the articles on the Jags site is titled, "media experts" comment on Coen's press conference. Is the term "media experts" a slight exaggeration? Seriously, in my opinion, Coen's number one task is to develop Lawrence. Does the "media expert" agree?
Sure.
Ray from Jacksonville
John: Including two interim coaches in Mount Rushmore of Jaguar coaches is neither misguided nor misinformed. They were interim coaches because the head coach was fired during the season. Most objective observers would agree that – coupled with Urban Meyer being axed in less than a season – is a sign of an awful franchise.
Most objective observers would be wrong. Most NFL teams have had an interim head coach or two over an extended period of seasons. The Jaguars haven't been good enough often enough, but tenures of interim head coaches aren't an indicator of this.
John from Jacksonville
Did you get any letters to the O-Zone opposing the hiring of Tony Boselli? Or is that something to look for in the "comments" section?
What's a "comments section?"
Don from Marshall NC
Tony Boselli is level-headed but hard-headed at the same time. He has been wrong about a lot of things, as we all have been. The thing about Tony was he opened a can whup ass when he played, and he came back home when he retired and he has been committed 100 percent. He is the Jaguars' biggest fan, the team's greatest player. He doesn't have to prove how much he loves the team. Just to be out and about watching making sure everyone is committed is really a good role for him. The Jaguars have reached a milestone moment, I think, and they have an exciting future ahead of them. We know that attitude can sometimes overcome your shortcomings. Go Jaguars!
When it comes to being "all in" on Boselli as executive vice president of football operations, Don remains "all in."
Chris from Fleming Island
KOAF: Coach Coen knows about Duuvaaal, but who's going to explain moodachay to him?
Coen knows where to find me. Actually, he might not yet, but eventually. Maybe.
Mike from St. Augustine, FL
Hey, My love of football started back in the 70s, and I don't remember former Dallas Cowboys and Pro Football Hall of Fame Head Coach Tom Landry having a passing-game coordinator on the staff. When did this position gain traction? What does this person do? Does every team need it?
Landry and other coaches from past eras most certainly did not have passing-game coordinators. Or defensive run-game coordinators. They also didn't feel the need for an assistant offensive line coach or an assistant to the assistant to the assistant backup wide receivers coach. I expect coaches from that era would have smiled at team photographs in which collared shirts outnumber jerseys. I often have the urge to smile when I see them. I then suppress this smile, walk outside and shout at clouds. It makes me feel better.
