JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …
Sean from Oakleaf, FL
Can you get into the weeds for your reader on the specific challenges for our defensive players adjusting to new Jaguars defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen's 4-3 scheme?
Weed-deep reading can be a bit tedious, but I'll put a toe on the non-mowed part of the lawn. Nielsen's four-three scheme – like most NFL defensive schemes these days – has a lot of hybrid elements, particularly for the front seven. His defense also emphasizes man-to-man, press coverage rather than the zone-heavy scheme used in the Jaguars' recent past. Jaguars safeties and corners therefore must adjust to playing more "press man coverage" with safety help over the top than they did in recent seasons – though the reality is all NFL teams switch between zone and man quite a bit. This is by necessity because NFL quarterbacks and offenses are too good for defenses to repeatedly run the same coverages and looks. Along the front, edge defenders such as Josh Allen and Travon Walker must adjust to playing end rather than standup linebacker. This means they likely will drop into pass coverage muuuuch less than the past two seasons. While that's an adjustment, my sense is it will be one both players enjoy. Linebacker Devin Lloyd also will adjust to playing outside linebacker after two seasons inside in Caldwell's 3-4 scheme. There are those who believe this could help Lloyd be more of an attack linebacker and to play more instinctively. Those who believe that could be on to something.
Scott from Aruba
It seems that every year there's a sizeable battle for that last wide receiver spot. Does it feel that way because it is one of the easier camp battles to watch and track? Is this just the Jags or were the Indianapolis Colts that way, too?
It's mostly because it's easy to watch and track. Media and fans are like cats: They're easily distracted by light, shiny objects and things that move quickly. When watching a training camp practice or preseason game, it's easy to look at a player catching a pass and say, "That guy should make the team and look at his statistics." Most NFL preseasons I have covered – both in Indianapolis and Jacksonville – feature a young Flavor of the Month wide receiver with gaudy preseason statistics who either doesn't make the team or who plays sparingly in the regular season. The reality is the No. 6 and 7 wide receiver, while an interesting training camp story, usually isn't the difference between winning and losing or being a good and bad team. Sometimes, yes. Usually, no.
Rick from Who cares
O, your response to David from Oviedo, FL's question regarding former Jaguars quarterback Gardner Minshew was worthless and weak. Legit question, pathetic response. Be better.
My team is on the floor.
Darren from Fort Worth, TX
Fun fact, in Peyton Manning's fourth season, he threw 26 touchdowns with 23 interceptions and led the Indianapolis Colts to a 6-10 record. Wow, he was such a bust, am I right?!? ... Or, maybe we should let guys develop before we judge? I dunno.
Fun fact. I covered that season. This was 2001, my first season covering the Colts. Manning had had success the previous two seasons, with the Colts qualifying for the postseason in 1999 and 2000 – and with Manning beginning to approach elite status. But he wasn't there yet. The Colts started well in 2001, but running back Edgerrin James sustained a season-ending torn anterior cruciate ligament injury in October. That, coupled with a struggling defense, forced Manning to "carry the team." He wasn't "there" yet, and the result was he took too many risks and threw too many interceptions. So how did he magically become a five-time Most Valuable Player after that. He continued to grow and develop because that's what young quarterbacks – even ones destined for greatness – do.
Nicholas from Fort Cavazos, Texas
KOAF, Recently there was a question on the "down by contact rules" from the past. I found a video that highlights the 1955 NFL rules that stated a player not only had to be knocked down by a defender but also "in the grasp" of the defender. This meant the ball carrier could get knocked down and then roll forward until a defender grabs him while on the ground. This lead to too much subjectivity and is a reason why the rule changed to what we see today. HERE is the link to the video for more information.
Good stuff.
Jerry from Italia, FL
John, It surprised me that only one of the seven "experts" mentioned Cam Little in the article about most impactful rookie. Don't we hope he has a significant impact as kickers are normally a team's leading scorer?
You're referencing a recent entry in our annual Final Analysis series, in which Jaguars "experts" are breaking down various aspects of the team as 2024 Jaguars Training Camp approaches. This latest entry wasn't as much about the "most impactful" rookie as assessing the 2024 rookie class overall. Most analysts focused on Round 1 wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr., Round 2 defensive tackle Maason Smith and Round 3 cornerback Jarrian Jones. This approach is understandable because analysts/experts typically focus on the early rounds of the draft – and experts/analysts typically focus more on defense/offense than special teams. It's overall not surprising that rookie kicker Cam Little was largely overlooked in this Final Analysis entry. Kickers generally get overlooked if they do well and overcriticized when they fail. Such is a kicker's life.
P Funk from Murray Hill
Will the new stadium have the original Pride of the Jaguars as it is or have a re-signed version?
When you're preparing to renovate a stadium into state-of-the-art status to the tune of $1.4 billion, there are certain things yet to be determined. This seems to fall into that category. I'll keep checking. Or something like that.
Brad from The Avenues
The recent talk about each city's signature dish has gotten me reminiscing about growing up in Cincinnati. Particularly, Cincinnati style chili at the Price Hill Chili Parlor. Not that other chain that everyone seems to think is so great. If you've never had it, you should try it next time you're up there.
OK.
Don from Marshall, NC
Maybe the fans don't have all the details about how plays are called but they know what did not work. It's about time Trevor Lawrence started to call his own plays. The time that the coach has with the QB on the radio should be information he needs to help him call a play. That would be ideal. Maybe Trevor cannot do it? Maybe it's easier to just focus on running the plays called for him. I think Head Coach Doug Pederson knows it has to be a collective effort so the title of who calls the plays might be important to him. He is trying to build something here so it takes time. As fans all we can do is blame them all if it's not working. If the Jaguars win it won't be an issue. Go Jaguars!
When it comes to not realizing that Lawrence does what most young quarterbacks do in this area – which is to say he changes plays when necessary and has the approval of coaches to do so – Don remains "all in."
DJ from Grass Valley, CA
OK, John... Being the dead zone, we can entertain such conundrums, but WHAT?!? Josh Hines Allen is not a better edge than Hutchinson?!? It occurs to me that he may have had the most sacks in NFL history had he not been beat there by Walker 10 times. I just dont get it.... I j
I'm assuming you're referencing some list of top edge rushers. I'm assuming this list had Detroit Lions defensive end Aidan Hutchinson ranked over Jaguars edge Josh Hines-Allen. I don't know how to make fans feel better about offseason lists except to say they mean absolutely nothing, are completely irrelevant and matter not a whit. There are probably other ways to call something pointless, meritless and unworthy of worry. Maybe I'll think of some more and write them in a day or two.
Trey from Franklin, TN
Hey John! Who is this Don character, and how funky is he?
He's Don from Marshall, NC, and he's Oh So Funky.
Brian from Round Rock, TX
Do you think we have some good promising young offensive lineman being developed to eventually replace some of the older vets. I'm hoping maybe there's a jar on the shelf at center.
The two best candidates for this would be second-year interior offensive lineman Cooper Hodgers and rookie offensive tackle Javon Foster. Can they be jars on the shelf? Sure. Neither has played a regular-season NFL snap. Their NFL stories are just beginning.
Scott from Jacksonville
You actually like Sbarro? I thought it was a joke.
If loving Sbarro is wrong, I don't want to be right.
