JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …
Michael from Orange Park, FL
Zone, this is weird. Do I sense optimism from you? And if so, why?
My Scooby Sense – and not my Scobee sense – tells me you're wondering how it's possible to be optimistic about the Jaguars entering Sunday's Week 2 game against the Cleveland Browns at EverBank Stadium. And while I don't know that I'm giddy to the point of dancing in the streets, there was enough to like about the Jaguars' performance in a Week 1 loss to Miami to see a scenario in which they play well and win moving forward. The offensive and defensive lines showed strong signs for three quarters. Rookie wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. looks like a star. Defensive end Travon Walker looks like a player who will be very good consistently. Running back Tank Bigsby looks like he will contribute in a huge way. Those elements weren't enough to win against Miami, but they're signs of a team gaining strength and putting together winning pieces. The key now? Making plays in critical moments. Showing better resilience in adversity. Easier said than done.
Andy from Halifax
Hey O, are we there yet? Is this week a must win????
The Jaguars are 0-1 entering their game Sunday. The season's not over at 0-2 because 15 games remain after that. But considering the difficulty of the Jaguars' early-season schedule, and considering the team lost five of the last six games last season … well, it's at least very important. Very, very important.
Rob from Northside
Hey, Zone. I learned something here recently. It was about James Earl Jones, but I still learned it. RIP.
It indeed was cool this week reminiscing about the video James Earl Jones narrated in the early 1990s: Jacksonville … A City of Dreams. It brought back a lot of cool memories from three decades before. RIP, James Earl Jones. Absolutely.
Jeremy from Gilbert, AZ
Let's pretend running back Travis Etienne Jr. had scored. Seven points in a half often isn't going to win many games in the modern NFL. Also, a quarterback you paid elite franchise quarterback money has to start finding ways to lead the offense to scores when needed late in the game. If those two things don't change, it won't matter what this team "believes" because they'll never be a championship caliber team.
No doubt. The Jaguars must execute better, particularly on third down, if they expect to win consistently and contend for the AFC South title.
Bradley from Sparks, NV
The Miami loss was extremely tough but coupling it with a loss at home to this Browns team with two tough road games to follow feels like it would be crippling. Am I overreacting?
Not by much.
Anita from Springfield
Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence talked this week about building home-field advantage, and alluded to having felt it in the past. I imagine that's late 2022 he's referencing. But, I'm curious for two things from your perspective. When is the best single game atmosphere you've felt at home? What was the best stretch of time for home game atmospheres that you've witnessed?
The Jaguars played many home games in the 1990s with great atmosphere. I confess it has been so long – and I have aged so poorly – that I don't remember the details of those games enough to compare them to recent games. When discussing the last decade or so, I'll go with the victory over the Tennessee Titans in the 2022 regular-season final or the victory over the Los Angeles Chargers in the playoffs a week later. The enthusiasm at EverBank Stadium seemed to build weekly that season, peaking in those unbelievable back-to-back victories.
Rob from Jax
I see you believe Montaric Brown will start for Tyson Campbell at cornerback Sunday. I thought Jarrion Jones was pushing for a starting role and possibly even on the outside early in camp. Has something changed there? I only remember him being in on a few plays Week 1 but I thought he covered well on a route by Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill. Just curious as to why he wouldn't get a look outside. Thanks O.
Rookie Jarrian Jones might get a look outside. I said I believed Brown will start because Head Coach Doug Pederson on Wednesday talked mostly about Brown when discussing options to replace Campbell. The reason you would start Brown is he is experienced there and has been playing outside. Jones is a rookie and you don't want to make him do multiple roles before he masters one.
Jerry from Italia, FL
Zone, I see Tyson Campbell was put on the Reserved/Injured list and not the Reserved/Injured; Designated for Return List. Does this mean he is out for the year? Thanks!
Campbell is eligible to return after four games.
Deane from Sands of Daytona
Yo O-Zone!!! I think Trevor Lawrence hit on something on Wednesday that provides a little foreshadowing about possible future success. He mentioned that Miami started to adjust coverage on Thomas Jr. as the game progressed. With the WRs and TEs we have I believe that defenses will have to choose their poison- wide receiver Christian Kirk, tight end Evan Engram, wide receiver Gabe Davis, wide receiver Parker Washington, etc. Oh, worried about our receivers? Jags then hit them with running backs Travis Etienne Jr. and Tank Bigsby. Lawrence is onto something if BTJ continues to improve and make plays. What says you O-Zone???
Rookie wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. appears well on his way to being a player teams must defend and scheme to take away. If so, that gives the Jaguars at least four legitimate options in the passing game – Kirk, Engram, Thomas and Davis – and it's tough to double-team four receivers at once.
Rog from STA
So, as defined below, there are different types of fumbles. It seems protecting the football tends to be the highest priority behind scoring. So, is a player's fumble graded any less when it is "forced" versus a "regular" fumble? Or is a fumble a fumble, no matter? *Fumble. When a player loses possession of the ball, whether it was due to direct contact from a defensive player. A fumble can be recovered by the offense or defense. *Forced fumble. When a defensive player causes the ball to come loose from the ball carrier's possession. *Unforced Fumble. When a ball carrier loses possession of the ball without direct contact from a defensive player.
It depends on who's doing the grading.
Nick from Palm Coast, FL
It seems like Pederson's attitude has changed since the loss. He seemed a little testy and somewhat condescending towards the reporters at his last two news conferences. Are the losses starting to wear on him?
I wouldn't necessarily read what a coach says during a media availability as his mood for the entire week. Remember: That media availability is 10 minutes of a coach's work week. While it's the 10 minutes the world sees, it's not necessarily reflective of his entire outlook on life.
JK from NY & Fernandina Beach, FL
John - For perspective, 96 percent of regular season games still have not been played. If the season is a marathon, the Jags have run a little more than one mile of a 26-mile race. We are all not happy how last season ended and the Miami game finished. But we have nearly a full season to go. Anything can still happen this year - bad or good. It is not yet time to panic or throw the players, coaches, management and ownership under the bus. Let's enjoy the home opener and watch the Jacksonville Jaguars beat the Cleveland Browns. Sound like a plan?
Yes.
Josh from Atlanta, GA
It may not be a lingering injury, but cornerback Tyson Campbell has had injury issues since his time at UGA. He's a great player, but availability is king. He's been paid too much money to be questionable or out for 50-plus percent of a season. As a diehard UGA guy, we are going to regret that one. Go Jags.
You're correct that availability matters – and that it has been an issue for Campbell in the NFL. A hamstring injury defined his 2023 season. He's now out for at least four weeks with another hamstring injury. That doesn't mean he never will be healthy again. It means it's now the overriding storyline around him.
Brian from Round Rock, TX
Listening to Pederson and offensive coordinator Press Taylor, even I'm getting tense and uptight. Somehow they think that football has to be played perfectly and no one can make any mistakes to win a game. Really? This is a talented team. I think they can win games if they weren't so stressed out about playing perfect. Does this team really need to play perfect to win?
The Jaguars don't have to play perfect to win. They do have to make fewer mistakes and make more big plays in critical situations.
