JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …

Deane from Daytona Beach, FL

Yo, O-Zone!!! The head coach and coordinators are praising their respective staff on the fundamentals being taught. I have been watching the videos of training camp on the Jags' website and from the catches I see from the offensive skill personnel, it seems they are doing a much better job catching with their hands and not their bodies; as well as high-pointing the ball. This is something that I saw in the past with our ball-catchers on too-regular of a basis. What says you O-Zone???

I can't say I've noticed a marked improvement in this area, though it's also true that it hasn't been among my areas of focus early in Jaguars 2024 Training Camp. Chad Hall is entering his second season as the Jaguars' wide receivers coach. He is an enthusiastic, high-energy teacher who seems to relate to players well and who warms up with players before practice. Hall emphasizes fundamentals the same as other Jaguars assistant coaches. Is he emphasizing them more this season to the point that it's noticeable in practice? I don't know that I would go to that extreme.

Dallas from Sioux Falls, SD

Jamal St. Cyr posted a video on X showing Jaguars tight end Patrick Murtagh working with kicker Cam Little on what looked like a kickoff. Someone mentioned something to this effect before the Dead Zone started, that there could be a better chance of the returner making it past the two lines of people so the kicker needs to be able to tackle AND run. A former rugby player is all of that and more. This seems like a good backup or call by special teams coordinator Heath Farwell. Did anyone ask about this in media time to either Farwell or Head Coach Doug Pederson? You don't want to let the cat out of the bag, but you'd think someone would ask about it in some fashion.

This hasn't been a topic in any special teams coordinator Heath Farwell '24 camp media availabilities to date. Farwell, like all special teams coordinators, is exploring as many possibilities around the NFL's new kickoff rules as possible. It's one of the most extreme rule changes in recent NFL memory and with no one truly knowing how all teams will approach it – or how live game play will look – smart coaches are trying to prepare for everything. I expect we will see many different types of kicks and many approaches on returns until we get some feel for "best practices" in this area. And multiple coaches indeed are exploring the idea of having a position player kick off. That would prevent an injury to kickers and give the coverage team one more quality tackler. The other side of that is kicking accuracy and distance is important under the new rules, so you're probably giving up something significant if you have a less-skilled kicker handling kickoffs. The guess here is that most teams will have kickers kick – and that injuries to kickers will be less of an issue than people expect. Remember, too: Kickers were involved in coverage for years before recent rules de-emphasized kickoff returns. I don't expect many more kickers to sustain injuries under the new rules than they did under the old ones.

D from RVA

O, I don't think there is any chance in any world Matt Jones replaces Trevor this year ... you slippin'?

I am the king of all old funk.

Johnny B from Howey In The Hills

Mr. O: Kind of mixed feelings on the kicker situation. Riley Patterson is a great guy off the field. Kudos to the Jags for releasing him early to give him the most opportunity to get on with another team. On the positive side, I watched Cam Little the past couple of years and he kept Arkansas in a number of games with huge kicks and from what I recall, he did not miss an extra point his entire college career. I hope the Jags have "found their guy." Great draft pick and with many games dependent on field goals and extra pts, hopefully he will make a difference. Go Jaggggs..!! I'm all in , Mr. O..

Wow. Big day for kickers and special teams in the O-Zone. Patterson indeed seems like a good kid and I expect he will continue to have opportunities to become a "permanent kicker" for an NFL team – whatever "permanent" means in the NFL. Little's "huge" leg indeed has impressed early in '24 camp, and he has a chance to be the "guy" at kicker for this team. For Little, the key moving forward is the same as it is for most NFL kickers – can he handle pressure consistently in big moments? That's mental stuff. You don't know about that until it matters. Stay tuned.

Jonathan from Formerly of Jax Beach

Our base defense is actually a 4-2-5 which is why Devin Lloyd has been tabbed a Mike along with Foye Oluokun. On early downs, expect a Sam for more of a traditional four-three and that is why he's designated as a Mike. For those who are still confused, even though it doesn't matter at all. Excited to be more of an attacking defense however and that's what fans should know, not Mike, Sam or Will. Doesn't matter.

Yep.

Brian from Round Rock, TX

Is Josh Pederson still pretending to be an NFL player? When are first cuts?

Jaguars tight end Josh Pederson is among 90 players on the Jaguars' active preseason roster. NFL teams must trim their rosters to 53 by August 27 at 4 p.m.

Shawn from the mean streets of Arlington, TX

If I tap you on your right shoulder and pop up on your left, you wouldn't fall for that, would you?

Probably, but I'm not the brightest fish in the school.

Robert from Elkton

Zone, I get all the reasons for changing the kickoff rule. But it got rid of a fan's last hope desperation play of onside kick. Want to add that hope back to keep losing team's fans engaged? Add the spot pass to the rules. That would be a desperation play to replace the onside kick, and be even more exciting - and give fans some hope of miracle comebacks.

Coaches and officials within the NFL have been discussing this amongst themselves in recent years. I expect those discussions to continue and for the league to eventually experiment with an alternative to the onside kick. That seems inevitable. But it's a rule that's tricky to define --and it's critical the league get it right. You don't want a clunky rule making it too easy for teams to come from behind. While the league has changed a lot of rules to favor scoring, you still want to be careful in that area and not make end of games a complete joke.

Johnny from Howey In The Hills

Mr. O: A couple of comments: First, Riley Patterson was picked up by Washington. So glad he was picked up quickly. Second, great article on cornerback D'Andre Prince. So good to see young guys so focused and mature. Great to see a smalltown guy doing well with some solid links to his family. I continue to see what a good job the Jags' front office and Coach Pederson have done drafting not only solid players but solid citizens and high character individuals. They have a great base from the past two-to-three drafts and I know it's having an impact on the team composition and locker room. Go Jaggggggs!!

One fer a bunch of things.

Sean from Oakleaf, FL

When the Jaguars visit Buffalo in Week 3, does center Mitch Morse – who played the last five years there – provide any insights to defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen as to the Bills' offensive tendencies, sets and groupings, or is that really not a thing?

This is a "thing" for commentators and observers. The reality is there's not that much players can tell a new team about an old team that the new team can't already see on video.

JK from NY & Fernandina Beach. FL

John - The Jags apparently have settled on Cam Little for the very important kicker position. After spending a draft pick - that was likely inevitable. But sorry to see Riley Patterson leave Duval. He will be long remembered for icing the great playoff comeback against the Chargers. Best of luck and Thanks to Riley!

One fer Patterson.

Ron from Tallahassee, FL

I heard the offense won practice Tuesday. Who will be held responsible for the defense taking a step back?? Is Ryan Nielsen on the hot seat?? #Getoffthelawn

The offense has looked good in practice all three days this week. I would assume there has been no internal action taken on this matter with regard to Jaguars defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen.

Shawn from The Mean Streets of Arlington

How is your lawn these days?

Overpopulated.