JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …
Dave from Jacksonville
"Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence is not elite and must improve in some specific, important areas before he is elite." So why, in the name of Shad Khan, do you need to give a top of the market extension to him two years before you had to?!? Why not make sure he is elite before you pay him as elite?!? The extensions of TL and BB appear to be the worst decisions in the recent history of this franchise. Can you truly defend them?
I'm not interested in "defending" anything or ranking the Jaguars' recent decisions, though I understand the desire of observers and fans to do so. Extending quarterback Blake Bortles in the 2018 offseason in retrospect was a mistake, as was signing quarterback Nick Foles as an unrestricted free agent a year later. As for why the Jaguars signed Lawrence to an extension this past offseason even though he is not yet elite … because if you believe your quarterback is your franchise foundation in this era of the NFL, you establish that foundation by signing him to a long-term extension and you continue developing him. Is it always an easy, no-brainer decision? No. Is there risk involved? Yes. But with the NFL as quarterback-centric as is currently the case, you solidify the quarterback position. If you don't, you can spend years looking for another. It's how it is.
Jason from North Pole, AK
I'm a "players, not plays" guy when it comes to winning and losing. However, after watching quarterbacks like Derek Carr and Sam Darnold march up and down the field against two of the best teams in the league, I am getting frustrated with our coaching staff. It feels like we have enough talent. When guys can't get lined up right and everyone is taking turns blowing assignments, that feels like coaching. You said we are long ways from Jaguars Head Coach Doug Pederson being on the hot seat. Feels like we have got to be getting a little closer, doesn't it?
NFL coaches get closer to whatever the "hot seat" is with every loss. They get further from the hot seat with every victory. Fans love to blame players lining up incorrectly and missing assignments on coaching. I always wonder how a coach can control a grown man who is a professional from having a mental lapse. An additional thought specific to the Jaguars' loss to the Cleveland Browns this past Sunday: When a performance looks like that first half looked, it's not any one thing. It's a breakdown of both players and coaches. Such things happen, but it's a rough look when they do.
Mark from Orange Park, FL
One of my concerns going into the season is the offensive line. We seem to want to roll with the status quo. We have a 10-year veteran at center, a broken-down right guard, a second-year right tackle, a left guard (who might be the best lineman) then a left tackle who is on his last contract. Starting offensive linemen should have been the plan, through the draft and free agency. The team paid Trevor, it's vital that you protect him & give him time to throw the ball. That's not happening consistently
OK.
Shawn from The mean streets of Arlington
Is it possible they are putting too much pressure (the coaches, not the opposing D line) on Trevor not turning the ball over? He seems gun shy and holding the ball too long or missing reads.
This doesn't feel right from this view. Remember: Lawrence's turnover issues during his career have been more about avoidable fumbles than interceptions. Interceptions for the most part haven't been his defining problem.
- Keith from Saint Augustine, FL
Jaguars' players perform poorly with little if any ramifications. Our offense is struggling and upon review the right side of our offensive line is abysmal. Right tackle Anton Harrison currently has a 42.5 pff that includes 2 sacks and Brandon Scherff has a 49.4 pff. When are players going to be held accountable or is this just more coach speak?
I'm not sure what "coach speak" you mean. I am sure that this is the NFL and accountability in the NFL doesn't always mean firing coaches and releasing or benching players.
Jerry from Riverview
Do you think the coaches are rotating more players in September, so we have fresher players in December – and hopefully January – so we don't have a worn out team like we did last year?
I believe that's part of it. I also believe the Jaguars want to develop young players and ensure more players are ready in the event of injury.
Alex from Duval
I think if we can stop the Buffalo Bills running game and make quarterback Josh Allen test the perimeter passing game we have a strong chance next Monday. His weapons at wide receiver are untested for the most part, so I don't think it's all doom and gloom going into the Monday Night Football game.
OK.
Chuck from Ponte Vedra Beach, FL
Why keep trying to be something you're not? Jags are not a ball control team. They've proved that over the last 10 games. The run first, quarterback fakes handoffs, slow developing plays and passes behind the line of scrimmage require a much stronger offensive line. Our strengths are quarterback, receivers and tight end. They should have priority in game plans and play calling. While I dearly love the way running back Travis Etienne Jr. runs, much of what he does is without a lot of help. Continuing to force it won't make it so.
The Jaguars are averaging 5.4 yards per carry this season. A major issue for this team last season was that the offense ran so inconsistently that defenses could skew their scheme against the pass. Whatever ails the Jaguars' offense won't be cured by abandoning the run.
CD from Fleming Island, FL
Hey, John. I've always been a player-over-plays guy, and still remain so. That said, God help me, I have a question about play-calling. We seem to always have success when we feature play action in the passing game (the bomb to wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr., for example). I get that you can't rely on it all the time, and I think this team has done better than it has in the past getting yards on the ground on early downs. But even so, we've had trouble moving the chains with the remaining two. I'm always reminded of something my dad used to say: "You know what's better than converting on third down? Converting on first or second down." So, my question: do you personally think that this team could benefit from more play action?
Absolutely. Succeeding in play action is more difficult than calling play action. To succeed, you must run well to set up play action, block well to protect a deep-dropping quarterback on play action and complete the play-action pass. You also need to convert some third downs to get into a rhythm offensively. But yes … in a perfect world, the Jaguars would benefit from more successful play action.
Tony from The Land of Confusion
So, I think that barring a stunning turnaround in his play, left tackle Cam Robinson is likely playing his last year in Duval. He's already reached his ceiling, he isn't playing all that well so far this year, and he has an injury history. If we don't plan to re-sign him, and since left tackle Walker Little is also on the last year of his contract, is it all possible that at some point this season we see Walker take over the starting left tackle slot to see if there's enough there to give him an offer for 2025? I feel like the poor guy has never really gotten a fair shake here, what with all the different positions we've tried to stick him into, and seeing how he can perform in his natural spot against NFL starters before he walks out the door seems like a smart move if you determine that Cam isn't the future at the position anyway.
Jaguars fourth-year offensive tackle Walker Little has had a "fair shake." He has had opportunities to play and never quite forced his way into the lineup. I absolutely think we could see Little start somewhere this season, either because of injury or because coaches are looking to make a change. I don't know when that might happen.
Keith from Saint Augustine
Why isn't Walker Little starting?
Because Cam Robinson's starting.
Bill from Springfield, VA
What is status of Evan Engram and Christian Kirk? Thanks!
Jaguars tight end Evan Engram is considered week to week after missing this past Sunday's game with a hamstring injury sustained in pregame warmups. Kirk is fine.
Kevin from Jacksonville
Did you ever imagine you would enjoy a career as a psychologist as much as you seem to?
Define "enjoy."
