JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …
Jesse from Texas
Why does the NFL seem to get its players almost exclusively from college players? How does an extremely athletic guy that didn't go to college make an NFL team? Do the Jaguars ever have tryout practices open to the general public?
I get more versions of these questions than perhaps is logical. Why does the NFL get its players mostly from college? Where else is the league supposed to get them? Wrestling? Basketball? It gets them from colleges because that's the second-highest level of the sport. What of an extremely athletic player who didn't play in college? A local "combine" or "pro day" attended by NFL scouts perhaps, though that road is sparsely traveled. Finally: The Jaguars don't have "tryout practices" open to the general public, though they do invite tryout players to participate in the rookie minicamp following each year's draft.
Greg from Section 122, THE BANK, Jacksonville, FL
My grandson will be six when the new stadium opens. I took my daughter to Jaguar games when she was six and already promised her that he will go to his first game there. I am excited about that day. Are they going to re-design or re-do the Pride in the new stadium? Your one O-Zone reader (who is sending you this question) hopes one day we get our favorite Senior Writer on that Pride someday. Seriously would love to see the name Oehser up there. You are as much an integral part of this team as anyone else.
I expect details on the Pride of the Jaguars' presentation in the Stadium of the Future as the stadium's opening draws nearer. Remember: We're four years from the opening and therefore a ways from breaking any sort of ground, so there's time for these details to be finalized. As for seeing "Oehser" in the Pride, there's a looong list of Pride-worthy contributors and that name is nowhere near even "honorable mention." Nor should it be. Besides, they probably would probably put the "S" in front of the "H." That actually would be sort of fitting.
Larry from Wattsburg(h), PA
When the Jags put in the plastic and pellets, will we still be free to shout get off my lawn? Not sure why it is a debate, business being business there will be no grass. (Unless perhaps players are to be compensated in perpetuity for injuries caused by said plastic abomination?)
You can always shout "Get off my lawn." It's for all occasions.
Blaine from Prescott, AZ
Dear Mr. O. My wife and I read the mailbag every morning. Nearly every one includes a discussion on what defensive scheme will be deployed by new Defensive Coordinator Ryan Nielsen. I am going to provide clarity on the subject. Assuming the defense is not facing a hurry-up offense, the Jaguars' defensive scheme will be a hybrid, starting with a base of 4-2-5. Travon Walker and Josh Hines-Allen technically are now defensive ends. Devin Lloyd and Foye Oluokun are now the two linebackers. Darnell Savage and Antonio Johnson, or Andre Cisco will have the ability to move up into the box. A 3-3-5 is also not out of the question; but whatever defense is called will be based on down and distance. Will this settle the question?
The description is good. Will it stop people from wondering about the scheme? Likely no. When people hear "four down linemen," their minds immediately jump to 4-3 base scheme with four down linemen and three linebackers. It doesn't matter that this often doesn't reflect the reality of the modern NFL.
Lane from Winter Garden, FL
Zone, Let Crickets from Melbourne know that the name and number of his TL jersey wouldn't fade if he stopped throwing it in the dryer. Hang it up and let it air dry after washing it and the integrity of the jersey will remain indefinitely. Let me save you the trouble: Jaguars training camp begins on Wednesday, July 24.
Indeed it does.
Bill from Jacksonville
John, before we know it the regular season will be upon us. On Sundays at 1 p.m., I'll be able to watch the Jags and maybe one other game while more than a dozen games are being played. Why are fans limited to these options? Why is it on Saturdays I can turn my television on and find half a dozen games throughout the day, but on Sundays I can watch one or two at most?
Because the NFL has contracts with the networks and those networks – and the league – only want one or two games at a time shown in specific markets. Conferences negotiate and sign their own television contracts in college, which means many games airing simultaneously on typical college-football Saturdays.
Steve from Nashville, TN
I love the animated four-color swiping Jaguar on the upper sleeve of the new Prowler jersey. The only other "Cat" team to have a full body animated logo is the Detroit Lions and it is a blue monochrome silhouette only on their helmets - boring. The Cincinnati Bengals are in denial that they are a feline-based name exampled by their mascot's question for a name "Who Dey?" The Carolina Panthers only have a head shot logo with oddly overemphasized whiskers, but they do put it on the jersey sleeve and helmet.
Go, Cats, Go.
Matt from Jacksonville
Did you know that the 2006 cinematic masterpiece "Idiocracy" was filmed in Round Rock, TX? The more you know…
… the more you realize – or remember – that you don't care all that much?
Sean from Oakleaf, FL
Can you confirm that putting Arik Armstead on the Active/Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list is just a wink/wink way of getting a grizzled accomplished veteran with zero to prove out of the grind of training camp for a few weeks?
The Jaguars have many grizzled veterans. Armstead is the only Jaguars player on the PUP entering 2024 Training Camp.
Jonathan from Formerly of Jax Beach
I'll say this again for some readers. Tom Coughlin was never responsible for the cap mismanagement. That responsibility fell to Michael Huyghue, who was so bad at it he went to the dark side and became an agent instead. Coughlin hit many, many home runs and only missed a few. He brought in wide receiver Jimmy Smith, wide receiver Keenan McCardell, safety Carnell Lake and quarterback Mark Brunell among many others. He drafted linebacker Kevin Hardy, defensive end Tony Brackens, running back Fred Taylor, cornerback Aaron Beasley, defensive tackle John Henderson, defensive tackle Marcus Stroud and many others. He missed on wide receiver R. Jay Soward and linebacker Bryce Paup. That's a pretty amazing percentage of success, not to mention two AFC Championship games in the first 5 seasons. Pride? Hell, yes. HOF. Just as deserving.
Coughlin absolutely deserves to be in the Pride of the Jaguars for all the reasons you cite. But Coughlin ran the football side of the organization – the entire football side. He was responsible for all success and all issues that led to the eventual decline.
Nathan from Duval then, Sacramento now
Good morning 'Zone. Regarding Tom Coughlin, I'm old and cranky enough that when I think of him, the first thought in my head is "twice." As in, he left us (the team, even though I'm not officially a part) in shambles TWICE. But then I think about the wise words I read once; they go "if we don't remember the past, we are doomed to repeat it". Or something like that. Just so you know that this Fan, who grew up on the Westside, who knows about that Burger King on 103rd and Firestone, who watched the Landing get built, believes that Coughlin belongs on the Wall. This is not to say that Coughlin was perfect, or that he never made mistakes, because he did. But the Jaguars story cannot be told without him. Moodachay, bro.
Correct.
Paul from Lake City
As we get further removed from the Jaguars' early years, I see more and more posts by people who seem to lack a healthy perspective on those teams' early accomplishments. Tom Coughlin's time at the helm had impacts that lasted well beyond his tenure. The way his second stint in team leadership ended has probably contributed to some of this via "recency bias." Until Coughlin started reaching for wide receivers to replace Jimmy Smith and Keenan McCardell, his draft picks formed the foundation of some of the best teams ever to play here. To anyone thinking he doesn't deserve a spot in the Pride, I'd ask "then who does?"
Fair.
Richard from Funkytown, USA
Did the King of all Funk see the King of Pop in Jax in 1984 or anywhere? Did you inhale in college? Go Jags. You can edit out the inhale part if you want.
Two questions, two answers. One: No, I never saw Michael Jackson – on the Victory Tour or any other tour. Two: Inhale what?
