JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …

Brent from Jacksonville

So it turns out Dougie P wants his quarterbacks to take chances in training camp after all. Maybe, just maybe, that has something to do with Trevor's struggles?

First, let's clarify that Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence's much-discussed, overhyped "struggles" in 2024 camp were comparatively short-lived. He threw a few interceptions in the first few days of camp when the offense had few plays installed and when neither the offense nor the defense was game-planning to beat the opposing side of the ball. "Clunkiness" offensively is common in that situation and is an annual storyline around NFL training camps. Head Coach Doug Pederson also on Friday discussed in decent detail his approach with quarterbacks early in training camps, saying: "I challenge him (Lawrence) and all the quarterbacks, because this is how I was challenged in camp (as a player). 'See what you can get away with now. See what type of throws you can make. Can I make that tight-window throw?' If it gets knocked down, if it gets picked, 'OK, great. That's fine. Good for the defense.' It just reinforces certain things from a quarterback's perspective – maintaining aggressiveness with the ball in your hand, trying to make those types of throws. Not careless, not poor decisions, not throwing late down the middle – none of that kind of stuff – but on-time, rhythm throws. Let's see what he can do. So, we put him in those situations. There are a lot of things that go into it. With camp right now, these are the times really to kind of experiment a little bit with that kind of stuff. At the same time, you just don't want to be reckless or careless with the ball." There. Perhaps that will put an end forever to early-training-camp panic and angst. No, you're right. No way.

Josh from Atlanta, GA

Can you remind me how Super Bowl placement is handled? Theoretically could Jacksonville bid on hosting even if the stadium hasn't broken ground? Or would that be something the entire area needs revitalized before being considered, not just the stadium itself?

Cities bid on Super Bowls, with NFL Owners voting multiple years in advance to award the game to host cities. I wouldn't expect Jacksonville to bid on the game – theoretically or otherwise – in the foreseeable future. This isn't about the Stadium of the Future. The city's infrastructure – specifically the number of high-end hotels – doesn't support such an event.

Jonathan from Formerly of Jax Beach

Hey! We agreed on something, yay me!

I didn't mean what I said.

Michael from Orange Park, FL

We've had one week when T-Law was awful. We've had one week where he looked great. Will the real Trevor Lawrence please stand up?

I suppose this question is understandable, and perhaps the best way to address it is just to reiterate what has been pretty evident this week – that while much was made Lawrence's "struggles" in Week 1 of 2024 Training Camp, the reality was that those struggles were dramatically overplayed and misunderstood. It's just as true that his "great week" in Week 2 of Training Camp was just four days of practice and that none of this matters all that much until the regular season begins. The real Lawrence is having a fine camp. I expect he will continue to be mostly efficient with a few so-so days mixed in. That's pretty common in the grind of an NFL training camp.

Bradford from Orange Park, FL

(Watching Lawrence classily make light work of Baldinger): "THAT'S.MY.DAWG."

I hadn't seen the interview with Brian Baldinger of the NFL Network and Lawrence until I read your email. I watched it after I received it. It struck me as a decent conversation between Lawrence and a knowledgeable football guy who's also a decent guy. Did Lawrence make "light work" of him? I guess. Cool interview, though.

Larry from Wattsburg(h), PA

Did you get a good look at the kickoffs in the Hall of Fame game? Kickoffs!? #getoffthelawn

I watched Thursday's Hall of Fame Game – minimally. As Pederson said Friday, neither team got super-creative with the new kickoff rules in the game. I expect a little creativity in this area once the regular season begins. I expect it to be pretty plain for the most part in preseason games. Special teams coordinators understandably don't want to give away the game plan in meaningless games.

Phil from Orange Park, FL

Is it me, or is this camp kinda boring?

I never know how to answer questions about how things "feel" or "seem" to fans. I suppose people can see things however they please. If "exciting' camps and practices are defined by fights or "happenings," there have been one or two in this camp – though nothing of import. There have been some big plays by the offense and some big plays by the defense. I guess my answer would be, "How exciting do you want football practice to be?" They're working. They're preparing. They're not scrimmaging or going live contact much or keeping score. The excitement will happen in a month or so when the regular season begins. It's currently about getting through the heat and the grind – and being as prepared and healthy for the regular season as possible.

Mike from Jacksonville

Dr. O, please help me to understand. Knowing that NFL owners aren't idiots, why give any player a large money extension before the last year of their current contract? Since any individual players contract pay only relates to the percentage of the cap, why not mitigate the risk? As the cap increases, the contract amount is not important.

You're correct that many NFL owners aren't idiots, and Jaguars Owner Shad Khan certainly skews far, far from any form of idiocy. First, while contract amount – i.e., cash – may not matter to fans and media, it does matter to owners and general managers. Cash always matters. But the reason you give players large-money extensions before a final year of a contract is you want to secure that player for the long-term. The closer a player gets to free agency, the more chance that player will wait and test free agency rather than re-signing a long-term extension with his current team. The NFL isn't Madden. Relationships, good faith and treating players with respect can matter – and a timely long-term contract is the NFL version of officially treating a player with the respect that often matters most.

David from Chuluota, FL

KOAF – I feel one of the biggest question marks on this team is wide receiver Gabe Davis. He is roughly the same size and speed as former Jaguars wide receiver Laviska Shenault, Jr., who caught most of his passes around the line of scrimmage. Based on what you've seen, what can we expect from Gabe Davis this year?

This is a difficult question unless you've seen both Shenault and Davis play. Shenault indeed gets most of his catches around the line of scrimmage, as his 9.8-yards-per-reception career average indicates. Davis is significantly more productive as a deep threat and all-over-the-field receiver, as his 16.7 yards-per-reception career average indicates. Davis and Shenault may be of "similar speed" in some official capacity. On the field, Davis certainly has played faster.

Maurice from Ed White Commander

Will the Jags see a need to go after a veteran corner?

I'm not necessarily expecting this. The Jaguars like Ronald Darby, Tyson Campbell and rookie Jarrian Jones. Second-year veteran Christian Braswell has looked very good in camp early, and third-year veteran Montaric Brown has experience and appears to have been solid thus far in camp. There's still time in camp for others to emerge, and there's still some sorting to do as far as specific roles. And there's a chance injuries or performance could lead the Jaguars to see a need here. It currently doesn't feel like a priority.

Sam from Orlando, FL

Hey, you spelled Don's name wrong the other day. You called him Dom. I was just wondering if you had any last words?

Dom – er, Don – knows where to find me, which in retrospect may not bode well for yours truly.

David from Oviedo, FL

Zone – If he was willing to rework his contract, do we have the luxury of keeping C.J. Beathard as a third-string quarterback on the practice squad.

Yes. Practice squads allow teams to have six veterans of any length of service. This is why it has become common for teams to have multiple experienced veterans on practice squads.

Gator from Gainesville, FL

you didnt answer the question about when to yell get off my lawn! so I will yell it after every play. I think when the defense comes off the field on 4th down the shold all run back to the sideline acting like they are pushing lawn mowers. This would be the second best ever thing after of course the chomp.

The Jaguars open their 2024 preseason against the Kansas City Chiefs at home in EverBank Stadium next Saturday.