JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …
Bradford from Orange Park, FL
Loved to hear Liam Coen heap (what I assume to be justified off the field and what was apparent on it) praise on his previous quarterback in Tampa. I'll resist the notion to take post-shots here, but let's just say ... I didn't get that same vibe from our previous head coach about his then-starting QB1 last season. To put it, very, lightly.
I see we're stepping back a bit instead of forward here, and that we're therefore regurgitating some old storylines regarding Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawence and former Jaguars Head Coach Doug Pederson. Current Jaguars Head Coach Liam Coen earlier this week at the NFL Annual Meeting at The Palm Beach Breakers indeed praised Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield's play last season when Coen served as the Buccaneers' offensive coordinator. Coen praised Mayfield for his development last season, speaking fondly of the relationship the two shared. This made sense because Mayfield's development and the offensive season the Buccaneers produced last season played a big role in Coen's career – and a big role in his getting the Jaguars' head coaching position. But while I understand Jaguars fans' tendency to criticize Pederson, and while his supposed lack of support for Lawrence was a storyline last season, I never thought this was a fair assessment and I'm not going to change that view now. Pederson wasn't necessarily given to gushing about Lawrence – or that many other players, for that matter. When asked about players, Pederson usually tried to give fair assessments that sometimes included a degree of criticism. Perhaps he leaned more in this direction toward quarterbacks because Pederson played quarterback. But the reality is Lawrence has deserved some criticism at times in his NFL career. He hasn't been perfect and must improve. I expect most Jaguars would agree with that. But the storyline to which you refer often has veered toward believing that Pederson not gushing over Lawrence publicly somehow contributed to Lawrence's struggles (when he struggled) and was somehow a flaw of Pederson as a coach. C'mon. Are we that soft?
Kevin from Jacksonville
It's good to know you're intangibly curious. At least you're not a complete tool.
This seems either extreme or extremely accurate – and if it's neither of those things, it's perhaps just a bit mean. Either way, I suppose, I'm all in – and it's true that Jaguars General Manager James Gladstone this week suggested that I was intangibly curious when I interviewed him during the 2025 NFL Annual Meeting. This suggestion was a response to me asking Gladstone about a phrase he likes to use regarding players. That phrase is "intangibly curious." Gladstone, who has been the Jaguars' general manager for a little than a month, is many things. He's intelligent. And he's a good communicator. He also is apparently very self-aware and he's therefore aware that some of his "unique" buzzwords such as ecosystem and intangibly rich have become a tongue-in-cheek talking point among Jaguars observers. The buzzwords are interesting, but what's important is that Gladstone's words communicate his message – and anyone who has been around him gushes about his communication and organizational ability. I'll say this about Gladstone. I've only known him a little more a month. I've been around him in multiple settings and spoken with him a few times. I'm as impressed with him as I've ever been with a young general manager. I would be very surprised if he fails in this role. This will be an intriguing storyline to follow. Game on, as someone once said. I wish I could remember who.
Tim from Jacksonville
What did you say?
Nothing.
Bradley from Sparks, NV
It seems Coen is one of the foremost advocates of including his backs in the passing game. Do you think that might make running back Travis Etienne Jr. the lead back and reduce Tank Bigsby to a short-yardage specialist?
I think the 2025 NFL Draft may play a big role in determining the Jaguars' running back rotation next season. It wouldn't be surprising to see the Jaguars select a running back early enough to be a very important part of what could be more of a rotation at the position than was the case last season.
Travis from High Springs
In a recent answer you said that you expect Tank Bigsby to be the starter. I was just curious as to why you believe he had passed Travis ETN on the depth chart when ETN was drafted higher and been the starter here for a few seasons? Not saying that you're wrong, just wondering why you thought that. Do you believe that it'll be a 1a 1b type situation to where they both get around the same amount of snaps?
I did say write/stay this recently – and this indeed could be the case. I wrote that I expect Bigsby to be the starter next season because Bigsby and Etienne are the two most experienced backs on the roster – and because Bigsby last season mostly outperformed Etienne. If those two are the choices, my thought is Bigsby has a really good chance to start.
Stokes from Orange Park, FL
On the DAWG front, hard not to be fired up about Jourdan Lewis, right? Dude's had a slew of picks and consistent balls knocked loose. I get he's no spring chicken, any longer ... but he's got a nose for the ball with what I'm seeing. I'm with it.
Cornerback Jourdan Lewis, who signed with the Jaguars as an unrestricted free agent from the Dallas Cowboys last month, is considered one of the NFL's top nickel corners. He indeed at 29 is older than is ideal for a free agent, but he is playing at the highest level of his career. Because the idea is to sign free agents for immediate needs, this is not a terribly damaging signing if Lewis plays a season or two at a high level. You hope over time to reduce the number of older veterans signed from other teams as expensive free agents, but is it OK to be fired up over Lewis for the short term? Sure.
Bruce from ST. SIMONS IS
O, As far as the draft goes, isn't this the season for teams to throw "smoke bombs" as to which player they may pick? The mock drafts are hilarious!
Mock drafts season indeed is the silliest and most hilarious of all NFL seasons, partly because it falls during pre-draft season – which is pretty darned silly at times, too. Teams are speculating in a big way about very young players, and history tells us that a high percentage of even the most highly rated players won't fulfill the sometimes-monstrous expectations of the silly pre-draft buildup. Also: As you note, teams spend so much time talking out pretty much every side of their mouths in the weeks leading to the draft that it's impossible to have any idea what's real when reading a mock draft. There are usually some projections in the Top 5 that are accurate, and each year brings a handful of accurate projections later in Round 1. Beyond that, mock drafts are mostly darts at a board. Some guesses hit the bullseye, most don't. And some put a tiny hole in the drywall that you have to spackle and paint when you move.
Willis from Jax
I know you're an IRS-era guy but you gotta listen to Half a World Away. It's so romantic.
The IRS years are what I consider "my R.E.M." years. I'm familiar with most of what they did after those years. A lot of it was great. A lot of it was probably better than "my years." But my years are my years.
J.Hooks from Orange Park, FL
I remember when Josh HINES Allen fell to us in the draft. We were projected to take a tight end. Friermouthin or hausen or hosen. We got Josh. In retrospect, did you think that was a poor move?
The Jaguars indeed selected defensive end Josh Hines-Allen from Kentucky No. 7 overall in the 2019 NFL Draft and they almost certainly would have selected tight end T.J. Hockenson from Iowa there had Allen not surprisingly slipped in the draft. I don't recall Friermouthin or Hausen of Hosen being considered by the Jaguars that offseason, but my mind has been known to fail me. It absolutely wasn't a poor move to select Hines-Allen over a tight end. Both Hockenson and Hines-Allen are very good players and you always take a good, disruptive defensive end over good tight end.
JayPee from The Vortex
I've really enjoyed all the humor in the zone lately. Good work team!
This is no place for jokes.
JK from NY & Fernandina Beach, FL
John - I am intangibly curious whether "Uniquely Intentional" is the Jags' new primary collocation of choice? Thanks y'all.
Two animals are eating a comedian. One of them says to the other, "Do you taste something funny?"
