JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …
Michael from Orange Park, FL
Busted! Copy/paster, copy/paster, copy/paster!!!
You're referencing in oddly taunting fashion a Thursday O-Zone answer discussing why I have listed the Jaguars' head-coach candidates in the first O-Zone answer in recent days. So, at the risk of (again) being repetitive: As of Friday morning the Jaguars have interviewed for their vacant head-coaching position the following seven candidates: Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken, Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, Kansas City Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, former New York Jets Head Coach Robert Saleh, Las Vegas Raiders defensive coordinator Patrick Graham and Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Liam Coen. They also are still expected to interview Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores, Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator Joe Brady and Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator Kellen Moore. To reiterate, I repeat these daily because not all fans follow all stories with equal attention and – really, really weirdly – not all fans read the O-Zone daily. There's indeed some copy/pasting in this answer. This is in part out of laziness and in part because it seems to irritate certain readers. It's the little things that bring this guy joy.
Jacob from NY & Fernandina Beach, FL
John – Most of the head coach candidates under consideration are the flavor of the month. There is one candidate flying under the radar that may be a very good fit. The Jaguars need to develop more toughness, creativity and desire, all hallmarks of this candidate's approach. He has a long-term and demonstrated record of championship-level success. He is accountable, professional, mature and a leader of men. He knows what it takes to win and is a player's coach and fan favorite wherever he goes. He also has an underrated connection to Jax through Coach Coughlin, which could be the ultimate endorsement. Spags for the Jags!
Discerning a coach that is "Flavor of the Month" versus a coach who is a bright, young mind and the right choice to lead a franchise is an annual challenge for NFL owners seeking a head coach. The problem is one often looks like the other, and it is easy for owners to get lured by gawdy rankings, crisp haircuts and trendy facial hair. There's a part of me that leans toward a coach with a touch of gray and a few lines around the eyes because I like a coach who has seen enough to know what he's seeing. My sense is the Jaguars will lean the other direction for this hire and go younger. And that's fine. There's no magic formula here. If there were, everyone would use it.
Matt from Jacksonville
Saleh, a verifiable loser of a coach, will be the next head of the Jags. That's because none of the other candidates want to touch the dumpster fire this franchise has become under General Manager Trent Baalke and Jaguars Owner Shad Khan. I just hope we don't have to wait as long as the Detroit Lions did to return to glory and victory!
I always admire confidence and boldness. My admiration for these things has little – if not nothing – to do whether they are warranted. I really admire this email.
Jami from Claxton, GA
What's the worst possible thing that can happen regarding the current hunt for a new head coach? Figure that out and we'll have Doug's replacement. In all fairness, I'm not a fan of the current general manager.
We may need to review our O-Zone policies regarding being nice. To reiterate, it's important here in the O-Zone to be nice. This email was not nice.
Mark from Richmond, VA
Let's say you can only have one outstanding trait in a head coach, either a great innovator or a great motivator? Which one are you taking? I feel like the job is either or. Either it's some young football genius who will call the plays and develop this big coaching tree, or a guy that might be defensive minded but really gets the most out of all his players. It's hard to have both. Take care, Big Dawg.
If "great motivator" means leader and/or tone-setter, then motivator. I personally wouldn't spend much time looking for an innovator were I looking for a head coach and I'd spent a lot of time ensuring they could set a tone and lead. Plenty of head coaches have won without being innovators. Comparatively few have won with any sort of consistency without leading or setting the right tone.
Tim from Fernandina Beach, FL
John, All things being equal, would you opt for a young hot coordinator or one with prior head coaching experience? That assumes both equally impressed you.
All things being equal, give me experience. All things are never equal.
Will from Alamogordo
With Mike McCarthy now available, will the Jags pursue another head coach that has won a Super Bowl.
I doubt the Jaguars will pursue former Dallas Cowboys and Green Bay Packers Head Coach Mike McCarthy in this coaching cycle.
Brian from Round Rock, TX
Maybe being a good head coach is about the team respecting and believing you are leading them competently and fairly. Maybe not being a good coach is the opposite. It's a hard job to do. It is also critical. A bad coach will only ever produce a bad team, no matter the talent. Agree?
Not at all.
Jeremy from Gilbert, AZ
The Jags' rushing yards per attempt ranked slightly better than their passing yards per attempt when looking at their rushing/passing stats against all teams. So, we draft a generational talent as the quarterback then ultimately fire a coach and whine that the rushing game is the problem? Great quarterbacks don't blame the rushing game in a league with the most quarterback-friendly rules ever. Our franchise is broken and disconnected from reality.
Many areas of this franchise must improve significantly. Quarterback Trevor Lawrence is one of those areas. Saying the Jaguars need to run better – particularly in important situations – is in no way a disconnection from reality.
Art from Glassboro, NJ
At some point perception becomes reality. If I read reviews about a restaurant and the all say the food stinks, I'm not going to go there to find out for myself. At what point will that happen with coaches when it comes to our general manager? And why would you risk that happening is the biggest question.
The Jaguars have requested interviews with 10 coaches and are interviewing/have interviewed all 10 of those coaches.
Sean from Oakleaf, FL
If the Jaguars hire Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson as their next head coach does Lions quarterbacks coach and Jaguar Ring of Honor member Mark Brunell come with him?
We shall see.
David from The Island
Do you have any insights on how these head-coaching interviews go? Standard questions for everyone and expanded from there? Do you think all candidates get the same consideration for getting the job? Seems like some interviews could be 30 minutes and more serious candidates get a lot longer. Do most candidates leave the interview believing they are a long shot to get the job? Is it likely that the agents work out all the details with the team for accepting the job after one interview?
Most first interviews with head coaches these days occur virtually and typically last about three(ish) hours. All coaches in that first round ideally get the same consideration, though it's unrealistic to think an owner isn't going to have at least some preconceived notion about how a search might play out. In terms of time and process, all first-round interviews should be given the same focus and attention. I expect most coaches leave an interview with an idea about how it went – similar to how a lot of interviews go. Agents and owners work out details once an owner decides he wants to hire a head coach. It would be premature to work out details before then.
Holden from Callahan, FL
With all the rumors surrounding potential changes to the front office structure, Shad Khan's comments the day after the regular season indicate he's open to make changes, and none of the top candidates declining interviews, it tells me that there's something going on behind the scenes that we don't know. Are you hearing anything similar about this?
A coaching search is sort of the definition of behind the scenes. If there was a lot of information known, it would be in front of the scenes.
Bradley from Sparks, NV
Ben Johnson seems cut in the mold of Los Angeles Rams Head Coach Sean McVay, who I think is a fantastic coach, so he is my first choice and think his odds of flipping the team his first year are very good, much like McVay did with the Rams.
One fer Johnson.
Scott from Aruba
You are 60? it seems like only yesterday …
I'm not 60. I'm pushing 60. It's like when you're a kid and say you're seven and a half – only a lot crappier than that.
