JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …
Josh from Atlanta, GA
Do you think the offensive line will be good enough in 2024? If healthy, of course.
This is a tricky question because there may be as many definitions of "good enough" as there are O-Zone readers, which means upwards of at least four or five definitions. A pretty similar group was good enough to help the Jaguars to 8-3 and first place in the AFC South last season before December injuries to quarterback Trevor Lawrence and a few other key areas helped waylay the season. This group is presumably better with the offseason addition of center Mitch Morse. So yeah … in that respect, the offensive line absolutely can be good enough to contend for the postseason.
Bloos from Zurich, Switzerland
Reading your roster breakdown, every group seems like a revamped and improved position. I took a few minutes to read last year's roster breakdown — things can mislead in the preseason it seems.
I don't recall the 2023 preseason roster breakdown. I doubt all that much seemed improved and revamped because the Jaguars didn't make as many offseason changes in 2023 as they did in 2024. I expect the roster breakdown was relatively optimistic. This optimism, in retrospect, was warranted. The Jaguars, remember, were 8-3 through 11 games and led the AFC South by two games before injuries to key players dismantled the season. I'm relatively optimistic about the Jaguars in 2024. If Lawrence isn't healthy for the last six games, and if wide receiver Christian Kirk is out for essentially the same span, I will be decidedly less optimistic.
Marco from Lima, Peru
Is it Moodachay time already? Please confirm.
The Jaguars open the 2024 regular season against the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla., September 8.
Armand from Jacksonville
John, not wishing injury on anybody but who would be the quarterback if Lawrence and Mac Jones got hurt in the same game and does he get any practice time?
Right now? Punter Logan Cooke. I expect the Jaguars will acquire a third quarterback to at least be on the practice squad and therefore be eligible to be the third quarterback on game days. Cooke as the current emergency quarterback gets little-to-any practice time. You're facing such a desperate situation at that point that you don't waste time practicing it.
Bill from Bostwick
WHEW! I was 99 percent sure Blake Hance was good enough to be claimed and placed on another NFL roster after being cut by Jacksonville. Glad to see him back in the fold for the Jaguars. Of course, I know he still could be poached, just as guard Ben Bartch was last year. Still, glad Hance made it through the waiver wire dance and remains a Jaguar. After all, Job O is keeping the franchise quarterback upright and linemen get hurt during the season. And Hance is a good man to have on hand if "Next Man Up!" is called for the Jags IOL.
Offensive lineman Blake Hance absolutely is good enough to sign to another NFL roster. Remember: All teams have players in training camps good enough to be signed to multiple NFL rosters. The question teams face around "cutdown" day is whether a player from another team is good enough to merit releasing/parting ways with a player they have been around and developed who knows that team's system. This is what makes post-cutdown roster claims comparatively rare. The Jaguars absolutely like Hance. They believe he can play. They also believed there was a good chance they could get him back on the practice squad.
Cameron from St Johns, FL
With the Jags valuation being stated as $4.8 billion, that is a 15 percent rise over the previous year. So Jaguars Owner Shad Khan gains an extra $650 million. Then the old TV deal paid $374 million last season. I know there are expenses (with salary being $250 million, but please explain why we HAVE to give up a local home game to London annually for this franchise to be viable? It feels like choosing greed over the fans when there is already plenty of money being made.
The Jaguars play in London to expand the team's brand and market there. They also play there because it significantly raises their local revenue, and the NFL wants teams to maximize local revenue. Remember, too: A team's value is like a home's value. Your home can be worth $1 million, but you don't get the cash unless you sell it. Until then, it's just numbers on a website.
Sean from Oakleaf, FL
I think it is important to remember Trevor Lawrence is still a relatively young quarterback starting his fourth season. Eighth youngest of the 32 NFL starting quarterbacks and just a few months older than 2024 first-round pick Bo Nix, the Denver Broncos' starting rookie quarterback.
Yep.
Keith from Saint Augustine, FL
When Marcus wrote we were "hanging on" to the good years Trevor Lawerence had in reference to the early part of 2023, he does realize that's the most recent season played, right?
Marcus by all accounts is a fine, loyal O-Zone reader. We shall not besmirch him here because no one wants to be besmirched. I get emails from time to time wondering why I point to the final five games of 2022 season and the first 11 games when discussing why the Jaguars believe Lawrence can be a franchise quarterback. The reason I point to that stretch is it was the last extended stretch in which Lawrence was healthy. That he played well during that stretch and not so well after that when playing through injuries seems pertinent. Perhaps it's not. I've been wrong before. I'll be wrong again.
Hermun from formerly off St John's Bluff
O, Koaf. You know all of football is scripted. Just look at the opening opponents for the Jags and the Gators. Coincidence? I think not.
OK.
Michael from Rösrath
Tell us about LRZ, plz.
You're referencing Louis Rees-Zammit, a wide receiver who signed to the Jaguars' practice squad on Thursday. He is a member of the NFL's International Player Pathway (IPP) Program, which enables the Jaguars to have 17 practice squad players instead of 16. Rees-Zammit is something of a star in the United Kingdon. He played for Gloucester of Premiership Rugby, England's top rugby division, from 2018-24 and totaled 210 points in 77 club appearances. Internationally, Rees-Zammit represented Wales (2019-23) and the British & Irish Lions (2021). He recorded 105 points in 41 international appearances and became the youngest player since 1959 to be selected to the British & Irish Lions squad. Rees-Zammit spent 2024 training camp with the Kansas City Chiefs.
Brian from Greenwood, IN
Are teams allowed to pay practice players more than the minimum?
Rookies and second-year players earn a minimum $12,500 per week on the practice squad. Veterans with at least three years NFL experience earn a minimum $16,800 per week on the practice squad. The maximum practice squad salary for 2024 is $23,800 per week.
Larry from Wattsburg(h), PA
Do you mind if I use a Matt Foley impression for your recent spate of quote usage? I find this keeps me returning to this "forum?"
Sometimes I don't know what's going on.
Shawn from the mean streets of Arlington
With the 53 set, what's not is what you thought you knew? Jp ice-cream. Good day?
The Jaguars open the 2024 regular season against the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla., September 8.
Nick from Annapolis, MD
Am I making it up that we feel stronger against the run in what appears to be a more natural 4-3 set up? I get not much had actually changed. But something about Yasir Abdullah being a linebacker and Armstead listed at an end just makes this feel like a beefier team.
The Jaguars do appear stouter against the run. I don't know if that has as much to do with scheme change as personnel. They added defensive lineman Arik Armstead as a free agent in the offseason and nose tackle DaVon Hamilton appears back to full strength after a back issue hampered him last season. Those two factors should make the Jaguars better against the run.
Don from Marshall NC
Tua Tagovailoa is such a good QB but don't you get concerned about him taking a hit? He has gotten bigger and stronger and he is accurate with a quick release but man he cannot handle a solid hit. If one of the Jaguars defenders hurts him they better not come blaming our team. What are the players supposed to do play nice? My advice to Tua is if you hear what sounds like two giant bears running at you from each side just drop and remain still. Go Jaguars!
When it comes to playing nice with Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, Don is very decidedly and somewhat aggressively not "all in."
