JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …

Jason from Suffolk, VA

One of the hottest names this year for coaching has agreed to interview with the Jags on Saturday. Rumor on the interwebs is he is only taking interviews for jobs he's seriously interested in. Rumors also on the interwebs is that he is looking to be aligned with the front office and that General Manager Trent Baalke would be willing to take on a different role within the organization. My question is what is the validation of these rumors and what potential role if not GM do you think Baalke takes?

The Jaguars' head-coaching search has begun, with the team requesting interviews with nine potential head coaches. The latest on this front is a request to interview Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores that came Wednesday night -- with reports indeed emerging that interviews will be happening in the coming days. As they begin, it does seem pertinent that Jaguars Owner Shad Khan on Monday said he will consider hiring an executive vice president of football operations if he finds the "right person" and added of structural front-office change: "My response would be how would you improve it and then if it is credible, you want to do it. How does the structure work? If it's a legit effort to get better, then everything should be on the table." Khan has been open in the past to structural change while searching for a head coach. It was during the search for a head coach in January 2017 that he restructured football operations by hiring Tom Coughlin as executive vice president of football operations, retaining David Caldwell as general manager and hiring Doug Marrone as head coach. If Khan finds the right combination, history tells us that a structure change during the process indeed is "on the table." As for what specific roles specific people would have, we're too early in the process to know much on that front. Stay tuned.

Tom from Virginia Beach, VA

There is a minority of three that think that Khan has made the right move for 2025: Khan himself, Baalke and you, John. Everyone else from the press to the players and other NFL executives view Khan's moves as not only wrong, but stupid as well. But, we have to say that it is really not surprising as it is typical Khan, made with no background or knowledge of what he is doing or how to do it. The question, John, is when will Shad man up and accept the truth that he is the problem? Don't feed us the garbage that he is a smart businessman because of his parts business. That would only be comparing apples to oranges. Admit it, John, Khan blew it, again.

We live in an age where people make judgements in real time, which is often the wrong time. We're in the middle of this story because we're in the middle of the hiring process. I suppose we'll know who blew what when the story plays out. I suppose any conclusion about what moves were right and what moves were wrong drawn before then is drawn too soon.

Colin from Sanford

Uh oh, John. Playing both western divisions next year and a trip to London seems like a lot of travel, and I'm not going to lie, it makes me pretty nervous. Could this be a storyline next year?

Yes.

Dave from Jacksonville

I have heard and read near universal condemnation of Shad Khan's decision to retain Trent Baalke as GM (both from Jaguar fans and NFL insiders nationally). This reaction is absurd. Shad Khan is a multi-billionaire, therefore his intelligence and decision-making acumen are automatically far superior to that of regular people. Of course. He should not consider the collective opinion of the fan base and 95 percent of all observers; he has a lot of money so that makes him better than the rest of us. We should continue to buy tickets and team merchandise, and understand the contempt he has for us and our inferior intellects. After all, in the entire NFL there are only 31 other owners who have a better winning percentage than he does! Let him cook!!

Khan having a lot of money does not make him better than anyone else. Having been around him on multiple occasions for nearly a decade and a half, my impression is he is not arrogant or dismissive of people at all – and that he carries himself with remarkable humility for someone of his wealth. Khan doesn't make decisions based on the collective opinions of observers and the fan base because he must make decisions based on his own instincts and information rather than those of outsiders. It's up to the team and those he hires to run the franchise to make those decisions sound. If the team does not do this, Khan must take the criticism and the consequences. That's life as an owner in professional sports.

Scott from Wichita, KS

Do you know if there was some sort of rift between former Head Coach Doug Pederson and quarterback Trevor Lawrence?

I do. There was not.

Rob from Orange Park, FL

Interesting comments from Shad. Predictability of the offense? I assume he has told the head coach this all season? Do you think the offensive players just couldn't handle a more creative offense or the coaches could not come up with one? Combined with a defense that couldn't cover receivers we are a mess!

I think when you're not good enough on offense to do the basics well it's hard to be creative and unpredictable. I think when your first-down play loses two yards instead of gaining three yards it's harder to be creative on second-and-12 than on second-and-7. I think the Jaguars were predictable on offense. I think circumstances dictated this more than ineptness on the part of the coaches.

Bryan from Rip City

Yo, Grizz! When did coaching candidates start refusing interviews and demanding their own general managers? Is this even a thing? This seems like a made-up narrative, no?

All's fair when it comes to the NFL coaching cycle.

Anita from Springfield

Does this at all increase the odds of Cisco sticking around?

A regime change – either coaching or general managing or both – always changes the dynamic for players, particularly free agents. I would be surprised if Jaguars safety Andre Cisco returns next season. That could change if the new coaching staff feels differently.

Hermun from Formerly of the mean streets of southside

Silver lining. When it crashes and burns, there's no more excuses for the general manager. And congrats to Trevor and his wife!

OK.

Reuben from Pikesville MD

Follow the money. Baalke is on the last year of his contract. He's on the clock and he will be easy to jettison if the new coach doesn't get along with him.

Baalke indeed is in the last year of his contract.

Don from Marshall, NC

Seems you have a lot fans that want to take their ball and go home. What a bunch of wimps! Go Jaguars!

When it comes to being funny and sometimes not being particularly "nice," Don remains blessedly "all in."

David from Orangedale, FL

In response to DMiz's question about one or two interviews, my interpretation of Baalke's comment was not one or two interviewees, but rather one or two interviews per candidate similar to when Doug was hired! Thanks for all you do for us fans!

Of course that's what he meant.

Travis from Jacksonville

Mike DiRocco posted an update. Three analysts said basically what I said to you earlier this year (and was not posted). We have a solid offense, possible exceptional (quarterback is key of course). The defense was injured and bad. Pederson might have been kept around had he gotten rid of offensive coordinator Press Taylor, he fell on his sword ($8.5 million sword) for Press, he just cannot admit he is wrong. Baalke had built a solid roster, mostly through the draft (the way he should). The naysayers have been looking for a reason to can Baalke for years. He has done a solid to great job based on the free-agent class of 2022 and the draft of defensive end Travon Walker and wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr., plus exceptional talent for the future like Strange, Tank etc. This draft should be about interior line (Def/Off), cornerback and safety.. See the 1995-1998 draft for the Jaguars, it takes time to build a roster.

I can't call this offense "possibly exceptional." I often have said Baalke has done at least a solid job lifting the Jaguars' roster from one of the worst in the league in 2020 and 2021 to at least a solid one. I can't in good conscience call the job he has done "great." And while they are good players, it's probably a stretch at this stage to call tight end Brenton Strange and running back Tank Bigsby "exceptional." Who's Mike DiRocco?