JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …

DMiz from Sacksonville

KOAF. I realize it's the last preseason game. However, those first few drives were incredible! I also noticed a specific offensive coordinator who had been blasted these past few seasons calling all plays Friday (and did a great job). If this is our product, we have a great opportunity to do some very special things. Especially if we have more depth, which appears to be the case. GO JAGS!!!

The Jaguars indeed were impressive Friday in a 31-0 victory over the Atlanta Falcons in the 2024 preseason finale. Still, I can't in good conscience make too much out of this victory. While the Jaguars looked very good, they were also playing against essentially the Falcons' third-team offense and defense, which meant they also were playing against players who won't be in the NFL this season. The bottom line in these situations is a team can't control its opponent. You must play as well as you can given the circumstances, and the Jaguars turned in a solid game Friday. Perhaps they built some momentum and confidence for the regular season. Starting quarterback Trevor Lawrence looked good, and so did backup Mac Jones. The starting offensive line played together the first time and looked fine. The first defense did not allow a touchdown in two preseason games. A lot of boxes, as they say, were checked in the preseason. They didn't lose. They looked good for the most part. They had some young players flash. What does it all mean? We'll find out in September.

Long from RVA

My grandfather was a longtime diehard fan of the Washington Football Team and always believed the better their record during the preseason, the worse they would be in the regular season. And vice-versa. Weird superstition. Or what say you, O?

I think Jaguars Head Coach Doug Pederson's thoughts on this matter probably sum up my thoughts here. I asked him after Friday night's game if it mattered to him that the Jaguars were 6-0 over the past two preseason. "No," he said.

Roger from Houston, TX

My observations of the first half: Stout line play on both sides of the ball. crisp route-running by the receivers, spot-on accuracy by the quarterbacks and a dominating run game. All good, but of course the main reason for the lopsided score was the Falcons' offensive coordinator calling plays from the booth, rather than being on the field.

I would have missed this angle if not for this email. One fer the readers, I guess.

Deane from Daytona Beach, FL

Yo, O-Zone!!! I am really liking how our defense as a whole is shaping up! I have always liked the idea of keeping defensive players fresh, so Defensive Coordinator Ryan Nielsen's emphasis on rotation is superb! My question regarding the defense is beyond Christian Braswell and maybe Jarrian Jones, who else is playing nickel corner? What says you, O-Zone???

The Jaguars likely will rotate defensive backs quite a bit in Nielsen's scheme in 2024, with some nickel safety looks here, too. I would look for Darnell Savage in this role in addition to Braswell and Jones.

P Funk from Murray Hill

Do any of the offensive linemen contribute on special teams? If so, what role?

Yes. As blockers on field-goal and extra-point attempts.

Charles from Riverside

Hello, John. Interesting question this week as to why our local media "doesn't ask the tough questions." Being a resident and sports fan in the area for 30 years, I can attest that when things are not doing well or very bad, the local media doesn't spare the criticism. But it is different here. That criticism comes with analytics and possible solutions. We aren't a big market where sports reporting professionals in print, local TV, radio and the internet are viciously competing for market share. Unfortunately, these larger markets have drifted into entertainment versus subjective sports reporting. I don't think that's the case here in Northeast Florida. Here, sports reporting is regarded as a professional and analytical approach to the latest and most relevant news. When you go to the Zone or the Times-Union to ask a football-(or sports) related question instead of Google, we all begin to understand the high level of reporting we enjoy here in Jacksonville. Thank you!

I confess I often stay away from this conversation. This is because it's a topic on which you're rarely going to find agreement or much satisfaction. When teams lose, there are going to be fans who expect media to stand on chairs, yell at head coaches and coordinators, and tell them what they're doing wrong. While there are media in some markets who take this sort of approach, and while it gives the impression that they are "tough" and "taking no guff," in reality such grandstanding is unnecessary and a self-serving approach. The media in Jacksonville asks necessary, pertinent questions and analyzes/discusses the topics pertinent to this team in depth. It's a good, professional bunch – present company obviously excluded.

Bill from Bostwick

Is the "dead zone" related to the "O-Zone," by chance?

Distantly.

Larry from Wattsburg(h), PA

Who do you feel may be our toughest opponent in the division this year? Thank you for your eloquent retorts as well, I know one reason I still follow this game!

I expect the Houston Texans to be the Jaguars' toughest AFC South opponent in 2024, with a hat tip to the Indianapolis Colts. Remember, too: These sorts of preseason prognostications are sort of meaningless. I don't know that anyone predicted the Jaguars to win the AFC South in 2022 or the Texans to win it in 2023. I mainly expect it to be a difficult division in 2024 that comes down to early January 2025.

Johnny Sumara from Westside repeat question side

Aside from injury (which can happen preseason, at practice, during OTAs, on a motorcycle, etc.), why is it a bad idea to play one's starting lineup against an opponent's backups? It's the equivalent of a full-speed practice, against (probably) inferior opponents. It's not "iron sharpening iron" (which is a stupid saying anyway), but would provide "real" tackling practice, route running, etc. Also, we are ignoring the bubble players needing playing time.

It's not a bad idea to play starters against backups.

Steve from Nashville, TN

I notice there are four seemingly randomly scheduled Monday Night Football doubleheaders this season. The Jaguars participate in one of them in Week 3 versus the Buffalo Bills. Weeks 4, 7 and 15 are the other three. I do not recall this many MNF doubleheaders before in a season (although there were thee last year). Do you have insight as to why this is and does it not reduce the luster from MNF's Prime Time status?

The NFL has added the Monday Night Football doubleheaders because fans like them and they draw viewership. It doesn't reduce Monday Night Football's prime-time status because the games are on prime-time television. Whether it reduces prestige is personal opinion. The reality is the NBC Sunday Night Football game is the "prestige" game most NFL weekends, so I don't think playing two MNF games a few weeks a season hurts the importance of Mondays.

Lane from Winter Garden, FL

Uh, it's Alan Funt, not Alan Funk.

Which made him the King of All Funt.

Kevin from Jacksonville Beach, Fl

Hi, John. I'm sure you've received many comments on the hardship of being cut/released. I, like many others, do not see this as a hardship for players. They can still try to catch on with another team and if that doesn't happen, they can still go find a regular job making $20 per hour like everyone else. Then if they lose THAT job, then it's a real hardship. Practice squad players make more money than many could ever dream of making in a week. This is a subject where everyone will have to agree to disagree on the true impact of being cut/released.

Or maybe we can relax a bit. Any question about hardship obviously is relative. A person with a $20/per-hour job is better off than someone without one. A person without a $20/per-hour job is better off than someone getting beaten badly with a stick. I'm sure the person getting beaten with a stick is better off than someone, though we're digressing a bit. Within the context of our discussions here in the O-Zone, a young player who is released and therefore perhaps at the end of his football life is facing a degree of hardship. If we want to talk "real hardships," we can watch the History channel. There are lots of shows documenting hardships throughout history there. A lot are available on Hulu.

Bradford from Orange Park, FL

When I first started playing fantasy football, I quickly realized if you wanted to win you couldn't let fan bias dictate your selection of (Jaguars) players. I feel confident to say, that's a now diminished concept. Here we go, Jaguars.

Here we go.