JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …

Steven from St. Johns, FL

John, when will you – along with the other optimists – realize that we are a "B level" team at best and the "A list coaches" and players aren't coming here? It will make the reality that hits us every season that much easier. I will cringe when you try to sell the C/D coaching hire as our "first choice." At some point we just have to realize it is what it is.

This is a curious and disheartening "take," though I suspect it stems more from anger and frustration than any connection to reality. An objective look at the Jaguars' situation reveals that it's one of the best head-coaching jobs currently open – with Owner Shad Khan's patience, support and willingness to not intrude on football officials doing their jobs chief among them – and many NFL observers have acknowledged this in recent weeks. The Jaguars through Wednesday morning have interviewed five head-coach candidates -- Kansas City Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, former New York Jets Head Coach Robert Saleh and Las Vegas Raiders defensive coordinator Patrick Graham. They are also expected to interview Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator Joe Brady, Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Liam Coen, Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores, Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken and Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator Kellen Moore. Included in that list are most of the coaches perceived to be this cycle's best head-coach candidates. We'll know in the coming weeks the identity of Jaguars' new head coach. I don't expect there to be cause for cringing, though I suppose anything's possible.

Kelly from Brentwood, TN

JO- Shad should announce he has reached an agreement with the Manning family. Archie and his three sons will be various parts of the Jags' ownership/management team. They will buy a very low single digit of the team. Based on team record in future years, the Manning family ownership percentage will increase up to a maximum of 10 percent. The Khan family could then know they have hired smart football people that have an incentive to build a team and organization the correct way. The Mannings would have an opportunity to build generational money with their smarts and work ethic. Any chance Shad's ego would let him admit he doesn't know enough about football and should give up some of the power?

This won't happen and it's not a matter of ego. Khan has tried to get these decisions right since purchasing the Jaguars and he will continue do to do so until he gets it right. To suggest that he's somehow arrogant or egotistical about the process is to project an opinion or thought into the situation that doesn't line up with reality.

Marcus from Jacksonville

Knowing what you know about the current candidates, if it were up to you, who would choose as the next head coach?

Johnson.

Al from Orange Park, FL

All of the blah, blah, blah about a dozen candidates. We won't have a final answer until the week after the Super Bowl, will we?

The Jaguars have 10 head-coaching candidates. Because the first round of interviews is still taking place this week, a head coach likely won't be in place before the weekend or early next week. How soon an announcement comes after that depends on multiple factors, not the least of which is how the teams of the top candidates fare in the postseason.

Allyn from Orange Park, FL

Unlike you, I was wrong once. One time, I thought that I was wrong, but I wasn't.

I never thought that. Why would anyone?

Nick from Virginia Beach, VA

New stadium opening, throwback uniforms permanently, is what I think you're saying. That would be cool. Not a lot of cool things happen for the Jags faithful.

I think there's a good chance the Jaguars will have new uniforms when the renovated, new stadium opens in 2028. I don't yet have a feel for how those uniforms will look.

Steve from Nashville, TN

How does it work for the rest of the current Jaguars' coaching staff. Are they still employed by the team and will be evaluated when the new head coach arrives in the building as to whether they are retained or not?

Yes, that is how it works.

KC from Orlando, FL

KOAF- looking at the All-Pro vs Pro Bowl lineups, they look similar with the same common denominator being the rookie got robbed! Do you think this was a case of a rookie on a bad team, or that the media just didn't give him the same respect heading into the draft as say Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers or Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. as they were drafted earlier?

Jaguars rookie wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. didn't make the Pro Bowl because he was a rookie playing in a small market on a bad team – and he therefore doesn't have quite the name recognition among players, fans and coaches as some receivers who were honored. Not having the pre-draft recognition of Bowers and Harrison likely didn't help, either.

Michael from Fruit Cove, FL

Did someone really say the Ravens' offense isn't innovative or unpredictable because they run a lot? Sure, they do run a lot. But their offense is probably the most innovative in the NFL. And their run game specifically is probably the most unpredictable run game in the league.

You're right. When you run well, you can be damned unpredictable.

Bro. B from Fernandina Beach, Fl

Seems the most important issue in hiring the coach is what kind of identity will he establish with the team. Hopefully it will be of a tough physical and mental style of play that never gives up. How do you see it, John?

"Identity" in the NFL is usually code for elite quarterback, suffocating defense or dominant offensive line. If you have greatness in any of those three areas, you usually have an identity. If you don't have greatness in any of those three areas, you usually don't have much of an identity. And you're usually not very good very consistently, either.

Ryan from Reality

Well-deserved congrats to punter Logan Cooke and long snapper Ross Matiscik on being named All-Pro this year. However, if my counting is correct, that makes them the fourth and fifth Jaguars special teams players (K, P, LS) to earn the honor. In the three-decade history of this franchise, we have only had three offensive skill position players named All-Pro, and none since running back Maurice Jones-Drew in 2011. YEahhhhh that sounds about right....

Yes, it does.

Richard from Orange Park, FL

So NFL.com has one of the biggest needs this offseason none other than quarterback – along with the secondary at all levels. Do people really think the Jags need a quarterback already?

"People" can think whatever they like, though there's sometimes a notable and important difference "people" and "educated people."

Joe from Jacksonville

Do you think that predictability is the same on offense as defense? It seems that everyone knows where the ball is going on third-and-5 when playing Kansas City, then No. 87 is wide open still. Is that not predictable. Thanks Zone.

Good players tend to make plays look very creative and unpredictable.

Bill from Springfield, VA

Can the contracts of tight end Evan Engram and wide receiver Christian Kirk be renegotiated to make them both more cap friendly?

Any NFL contract – like most contracts in any field – can be renegotiated. Renegotiated terms depend on the desires of both sides and the willingness of both sides to change the terms. The Jaguars would love Engram and Kirk – and presumably all players – to play for less than called for in their original contract. How willing would either player be to do this is hard to predict. While it's nice for fans and players to talk about this, players actually doing this is trickier. Their livelihood and financial futures are at stake. Taking significantly less money in a season or two in a comparatively short career is a big decision.

Tucker from Nashville

Hey, John. All I want is the offense to convert on third-and-short.

Good eye.

Mark from Green Bay, WI

How much say does a new coach have for drafting players? How many chefs are in the room making these decisions and who has the final say?

This is a general question with the answer depending on specifics. The situation at a particular team depends on how the owner decides to structure an organization. A coach can have final say. A general manager can have final say. An executive at a higher level than either coach or general manager can have final say. The best organizations have the decision-makers working well enough together that final say rarely becomes an issue because the decision-makers talk through the vast majority of issues and reach a consensus that feels right for all involved.