JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …
Michael from Port Orange, FL
Whose job did the new female reporter fill?
You're referencing Kainani "Kai" Stevens, who started this week in her role as Jaguars Team Reporter/Producer. Stevens is a veteran journalist with 10 years experience in local television in New England. She covered news and sports over the years, including the Patriots beat from 2016-2018. She most recently worked for the FOX affiliate in Connecticut as a sports anchor and reporter. During her time there she primarily covered the University of Connecticut men's and women's basketball teams. I anticipate Jaguars fans and observers will quickly come to appreciate her experience and professionalism. She replaces Ashlyn Sullivan, who left in November.
_Scott from Jacksonville _
Evan Engram isn't currently under contract. I wouldn't risk injury at "voluntary" workouts without a signed contract, either. Would you? Would anybody?
Jaguars tight end Evan Engram, who received the franchise tag from the Jaguars in March, has not signed the tender offer associated with the tag. You're correct that that means he's not currently under contract. No, I would not attend voluntary workouts in that scenario. Engram does have the option of signing the tag and attending workouts, though I also would not do that in his situation.
Ray from Newport News, VA
KOAF, you did it to me twice in the last seven days. I asked a question and you answered two days later. I was first disappointed that I did not make the cut only to make the cut the next day. Thank you for answering.
My apologies. I meant to not answer.
Andrew from Duuuval
It's incredible that people who supposedly watch the NFL regularly still write players off after one season. Almost every year a highly drafted rookie doesn't hit the ground running and people call them a bust just for the player to start playing to their potential the next season. It literally just happened with Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence and people are calling Jaguars outside linebacker Travon Walker a bust. Even if Walker doesn't follow the same trajectory, calling players a bust after one season is moronic.
Memories are short – and it's easier to draw a quick-trigger conclusion than to employ logic, evident and perspective. This is universally true. Why shouldn't it be true of people when discussing NFL players?
CaptObvious from Jax
Claybrooks, does this mean we are going to need another CB? The good national press had to end. Training camp can't get here soon enough to occupy player's emotions.
Jaguars cornerback Chris Claybrooks indeed reportedly was arrested in Nashville last weekend following an incident with an ex-girlfriend. The team has issued a statement that it's aware of the incident. Claybrooks reportedly "ripped" a cellphone from the woman's hand and destroyed it by throwing it to the ground. The woman reportedly had abrasions and bruises on the hand. Claybrooks was charged with two misdemeanors in the incident. I mention this in this detail mainly to ensure readers don't think we're ignoring the incident here in the O-Zone. I don't have a real feel for the incident's seriousness from these "reports." I don't know that it will have much affect on the Jaguars' recent "good national press."
Evan from Cocoa
Was Myles Jack down? If he wasn't, we would have beaten Doug's Eagles. Agree or no? Love Dougie P.
Former Jaguars linebacker Myles Jack wasn't down on a would-be fumble return for a touchdown against the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship Game following the 2017 season. At least he wasn't in this reporter's view. And had officials not incorrectly ruled the play dead, Jack indeed likely would have returned a fourth-quarter fumble for a touchdown that would have all-but clinched the franchise's first trip to the Super Bowl. And the Jaguars indeed in that game would have played a Philadelphia Eagles team coached by current Jaguars Head Coach Doug Pederson. I don't know if the Jaguars would have won that game. The Eagles certainly had an offense good enough to score against a Jaguars defense that was one of the NFL's best in recent memory. I expect it would have been decided late in the fourth quarter, just like that year's AFC Championship Game and Super Bowl.
Nathan from Utah, US
Zone, it's all about wins. Would you say 112 receptions, 1,115 yards and eight touchdowns would be Calvin Ridley doing his job to help the Jaguars win? With around 112 receptions available to him, I'm putting Ridley more around 1,450 yards and 11 touchdowns.
I don't really think in terms of statistical specifics with wide receivers and other skill players, though I understand the tendency. I expect wide receiver Calvin Ridley's addition to make the Jaguars more explosive in 2023. I expect his presence to strain defenses, to and open the middle of the field and draw double teams/shaded defenses away from wide receiver Christian Kirk and Zay Jones – as well as Engram. For those reasons, I absolutely believe Ridley will help the Jaguars win.
Sean from Oakleaf, FL
How much influence do teams have over setting their home schedule? For instance if the Buffalo Bills insisted on playing the Jaguars in Orchard Park in late December they could do that?
Teams can request home games on certain dates. The league has no obligation to honor these requests. Teams absolutely cannot dictate specifically when they play a particular opponent.
Steve from Nashville, TN
I have to assume effective positioning is very important to your success in the linebacker role (Lloyd). A Defensive tackle typically does not have to worry about where he puts his hand on the ground as much. Maybe safeties need to worry about positioning as well?
You're referencing a recent O-Zone question-answer about Jaguars linebacker Devin Lloyd, who struggled at times as a rookie in 2022 with where he needed to be on the field. This isn't unusual for rookies, and it often is a big part of adjusting from college to the NFL. It can be a factor for linebackers and safeties, and perhaps it's a bit less of an issue for cornerbacks – particularly for corners playing a lot of man-to-man coverage. Other positions have different rookie-year challenges. Linemen on both sides of the ball often need a year to adjust to size, strength and technique. Quarterback must adjust to advanced defenses. The NFL's a different game than college. It's usually a tough transition.
John from Live Oak, FL
O koaf. Looking redemption. Mistakenly read old practice squad headline. Tacos rul!
There's something admirable in putting absolutely no effort into a process and expecting results. You go, girl.
Nathan from Northside
I keep hearing about AR's amazing traits and that he will be drafted in the Top 10. Except when anyone talks about him that talk about his vertical leap and 40 time. What's the average 40 time of a Hall of Fame quarterback? What's the average vertical for a Hall of Fame quarterback? Now tell me what on Earth any of that matters?
I assume you're referencing University of Florida quarterback Anthony Richardson, who reportedly likely will be selected in the Top 10 of the 2023 NFL Draft. I confess I have spent comparatively little time analyzing or researching Richardson – mainly because I see no way he will be selected by the Jaguars in this draft. I did watch Richardson a bit at Florida, and this televised viewer's quick-trigger observation is he appears to lean heavily on athleticism and isn't advanced in terms of winning from the pocket. That makes him a risky selection, which is why a player of his obvious physical skills is projected as a possible Top 5 selection and not a lock in the top one or two.
Greg from Section 122, Jacksonville
Another former Jag that is a free agent currently: Marcedes Lewis. Would love to see the Jaguars bring him back if for nothing else to be a blocking tight end. He can still catch like crazy and is a giant compared to most corners or coverage defenders. I know I am fanning hard but would be nice to have some nostalgia in the 'Bank, you think he could be cheap enough or productive enough to warrant a roster spot?
I wouldn't expect any significant free-agent signings at this point of the offseason until after the draft, after which teams often reassess whether they need second- or third-wave free agents. I wouldn't rule out a player such as Lewis, but the Jaguars' decision-makers have changed since Lewis' time here. I therefore wouldn't expect his history here to influence the team's thoughts here.
Unhipcat from Carlsbad ca
Hi, John. Here's something you may not have heard before. Back in '89, Jacksonville traffic was plagued with toll booths at all the bridges and on J Turner Butler. It was mess. Something had to be done, and one man knew just what to do. Arden Key, his crane and his wrecking ball. A few quick swings, toll booths gone, traffic flowed smoothly, and continues to do so to this day. What was the question?
This was really not "nice," which means it flies directly in the face of our recent O-Zone initiative emphasizing being "nice." It was kind of funny, though. I grinned.
