JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …
Boxcutter Bill from Mass
I hear people talking about tanking. Normally for a quarterback I could stomach losing a little more, but we have one, and we have guys on this team that I want to continue to watch developing. I don't care about next year's head coach or general manager or coordinator. I want to see our core players and second-year players grow, make plays and hopefully steal a win or two. That said, we shouldn't be in the running for a quarterback, right?
The subject of "tanking" – losing games on purpose for draft position – invariably arises when teams have really disappointing seasons. And make no mistake: With a 2-8 record entering Sunday's game against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field in Detroit, Mich., this Jaguars season is nothing if not really disappointing. But to reiterate what has been said in this space in other disappointing Jaguars seasons, I've never seen an NFL team tank. I don't know how it would happen. Players and coaches have no incentive to lose on purpose. The only way I can imagine this happening is for a team to bench healthy players, and I've never been around that. The Jaguars through 10 games are clearly playing hard. They're clearly trying, as evidenced by the results of the last three weeks. I don't expect that to change. If the Jaguars select No. 1 in the NFL Draft – and I don't expect that to happen – they'll do it the old-fashioned way. By being bad enough to earn the selection. As for your final question … no, the Jaguars will not be selecting a quarterback in Round 1 of the 2025 NFL Draft. That's true no matter where in Round 1 they're selecting.
Tim from Virginia Beach, VA
When it comes to Khan, you seem to be afraid to criticize him. We keep seeing you write about all the things that Khan has done to deliver a winning football team to Jacksonville. Put simply, he hasn't done enough. If this is the best he can do, he needs to hire someone that knows what they are doing.
I get versions of this email from time to time. All I can do here is answer as I typically do when discussing Khan's tenure as owners – and that's to point out that Khan as an NFL owner does what most NFL owners do. He hires football people, and he supports those football people financially. When owners get this right, they typically win. When they don't, they lose. Has Khan done enough to get it right? Not often enough. What will he do to improve this if the season continues as it has gone so far? I expect he will again do what NFL owners are supposed to in that situation, which is to address the people running the football operations and keep trying.
John from Jax
Hi, KOAGF. My heart stopped when I saw a headline that the Jags are currently at the No. 1 draft spot for 2025. I knew it was bad, but not that bad. At least we are showing as still having a one percent chance for the playoffs. Not eliminated yet ... wait ... the Lions on Sunday? Ouch.
It's a tough matchup.
Bruce from Saint Simons Island, GA
O, Should we close our eyes and turn off the sound this weekend when the Jags play the Lions?
The Lions from this writer's view are the NFL's best team and will be the toughest opponent the Jaguars play this season. The Lions on paper are the far better team. The far better team doesn't always dominate or even win in the NFL.
Nick from London, England
Do good teams win close games, or do the winners of a lot of close games get called good?
Winners of a lot of close NFL games are good.
Jonathan from St Augustine, FL
The Jaguars started the season with high expectations and have quickly become more than bad but irrelevant. The question is, how much does this have to do with Head Coach Doug Pederson thinking he knows everything?
About as much as the Jaguars winning the AFC South in 2022 and barely losing the division in 2022 had to do with whatever that means.
Webster from NE, FL
How does the NFL define a defensed pass? If the ball hits the defender in the back or head, does it still go in the stat sheet as a PD?
A defense is a pass defended by the defense. Yes, a ball hitting the defender in the back or back of the head is "defensed."
Eric from Portsmouth, VA
Can someone PLEASE tell Shad Khan that if we end up picking No. 1, it will be the THIRD time in FIVE friggin years?!?! If this happens, we will be THE ONLY team that has ever shamefully achieved this! Baalke simply has to go! Being a Jags fan is simply embarrassing. It's a sad day to say this, but I'm currently ashamed to call myself a Jags fan...
Khan's well aware of the Jaguars' RECORD each season. I don't expect the Jaguars to select No. 1 overall in the 2025 NFL Draft. If that happens, I would be SURPRISED if the people making football decisions now are making football decisions after the season.
James from Socorro, NM
In 2022, the Jaguars drafted first and the Lions drafted second. That season, both teams finished with a 9-8 record. Last year, the Jaguars missed the playoffs while the Detroit Lions made the NFC Championship game. This year, the teams have vastly different trajectories. Why do you think the Lions have been more successful despite starting from roughly the same point two years ago?
They have better players. That's always the best place to start in professional football.
Zach from Loveland, CO
How come Doug Pederson is still our coach? He continues to break the wrong kind of records and doesn't seem to show any ability to get better.
One not fer Pederson, it appears …
John from Merritt Island
Of all the coaches out there, who would some of these people rather have? Pederson took us to back-to-back 9-8 seasons. Granted, this season is a disaster but would you really rather get rid of him than give him another season? To me, that is crazy. Also, Trevor Lawrence is a very good quarterback and has proven it. Do some people really think it would be better to try our hand in the draft? What is the success rate of quarterbacks drafted in the first round? This season may as well be gone but why throw away next season as well if we select a new head coach and new quarterback? To me, that is crazy.
… and one fer Pederson.
Jordan from Mandarin
Coaching matters but not nearly as much as player acquisition. It's a player's league. That's why General Manager Trent Baalke should be on the hottest seat.
And one not fer Baalke.
Colin from Sanford
Hey John, I loved the most recent Mic'd up with Jaguars defensive end Josh Hines-Allen. He has the energy, enthusiasm and intelligence of a player that you want on your team for years and I'm so glad the Jags rewarded him last offseason. I hope that many, many years from now after his playing days are over he fills a Fred Taylor/Jeff Lageman/Tony Boselli-like role and remains an ambassador of the organization.
Hines-Allen indeed is a franchise, cover-of-the-media-guide player. I won't be surprised at all if he's connected with the organization in a positive way for a long time following his career.
Josh from Atlanta
I know it is wayyyy to early for you to talk draft. You can leave it to us, because where we sit today has us well within reach of the No. 11 pick. Thinking back to my offseason outlook, this seems unthinkable, but here we are!! Joy. If you were looking at this team from a positional standpoint, what 3 positions if upgraded would provide the most impact?
Interior defensive line, safety and offensive line – with a nod to wide receiver.
Brian from Round Rock, TX
Even most bad franchises are competent enough to develop a basic identity based on a color scheme. But not the Jags. The Jags are so dysfunctional that they don't wear their colors most of the time. Could you tell me how many games this year that Teal was the color of either the pants or jersey? This is basic stuff. It makes you realize that this organization is totally and completely incompetent.
I don't know this. I could search for some pictures on google and find out, but I don't feel like doing that.
Jorge from Edmonton
It's pretty clear Trevor raises this godawful offense. It is a completely dysfunctional and unwatchable offense. At what point does keeping the coaching staff intact through the season actually hurt this team beyond this year?
It doesn't.
