JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …
Deane from Daytona Beach, FL
Yo, O-Zone!!! Now with Minnesota's issue at quarterback with J.J. McCarthy out for the season, do you think they come calling for C.J. Beathard? What says you, O-Zone???
My sense is a team needing a potential starter in an emergency this season might look toward Jaguars quarterback Mac Jones before they looked at Beathard. This is because Jones started much of the past three seasons for the New England Patriots – and because Jones was the No. 15 overall selection in the 2021 NFL Draft. That sort of recent resume tends to resonate with teams.
Marc from Oceanway
Zone, All this talk about the GREAT Roger Staubach reminded me of when he and Craig Morton swapped starting quarterback duties from game to game through the first half of the 1971 football season. They even alternated plays in one game. I can't imagine anything like this happening today, let alone being tolerated by those involved. Has the sanctity of who starts at quarterback become more untouchable over time, or was Tom Landry's experiment deemed just as crazy then as it would be today?
The 1971 season was my first of any remote NFL memory, and I do remember the Dallas Cowboys beating the Miami Dolphins in the Super Bowl following that season. But my only knowledge of then-Cowboys Head Coach Tom Landry's quarterback rotation early that season is reading. My understanding is it was generally deemed as crazy. At the same time, Landry was one of NFL history's great innovators. He was responsible for bringing the shotgun and spread formation into the modern NFL, and he also implemented the flex defense among multiple other innovations. The rotating quarterback was a miss, but you have to miss a few to hit as often as he did.
Larry from Wattsburg(h), PA
Who wouldn't have an irrational hate for someone that embarrassed you a bit? I have found understanding comes with time and learning more about said individual. I feel we'll never live down '99 but have no remaining hate for McNair.
Hating someone because they played professional football is by definition irrational. It's also fun and harmless. Fans fan. It's what they do.
Blaine from Prescott, AZ
Dear Mr. O, So, the NFL officially goes to an 18-game schedule. Let's go down the rabbit hole. The Jaguars turn in 10-8, winning a Wild Card berth (Game 19). They win and go to the Divisional round (Game 20). They win and go to the Conference Championship (Game 21). Amazingly, we go to the Super Bowl! Winning, of course (Game 22). Is a 22-game schedule too long? What effect does that many games have on a 53-man roster that can only play 48? Bye weeks and how many players can dress and play as well as practice squads must be adjusted. What would you do? Last comment, also, I don't believe for a minute increasing to an 18-game schedule will mean more home games; it will result in more international games. Your thoughts on that?
A 16-game season was more than long enough and teams that played 20 games under that system were playing too many games. I don't know that extending the season will have as dramatic an effect on roster sizes and practice squads as many believe. The NFL extended practice squads to 16 players because of COVID-19 and left them there. That essentially makes the NFL regular-season roster 69 players. My sense is owners will see that as big enough, though perhaps they would expand the 53-man roster to 54 or so. What would I do? I'd reduce the number of regular-season games to 16 and make it so that six teams made the playoffs from both conferences. I might even move to 14. Lastly, I think expanding to 18 games would increase both home games and international games, though it's certainly true that the NFL is encouraging international games as much as possible.
Don from Marshall, NC
You have Travis Etienne in the backfield; play action will work. Jaguars have an explosive running attack; they just haven't shown to be a good short-yardage team. You have a veteran offensive line so you're not going see anything from them other than them staying off the ground. It's how they move and set up for the plays that you can see how polished they are. Go Jaguars!
When it comes to running back Travis Etienne Jr. and the Jaguars' offensive line/running game, Don remains "all in."
Charles from Riverside
A week or so ago, you mentioned Jaguars defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen having four down linemen in the box and two linebackers behind them as a basic defensive set. We see/hear the term "box" quite a bit in print, electronically and on broadcast media. So, I decided to search for a definitive description of the dimensions of the box. Well turns out it is quite subjective depending on the source. The depth of the box was all over the place, from the line of scrimmage on the defensive side out to three yards, or out to five and out to 10. The width of the box ranged from sideline to sideline down to only just outside the offensive tackles. Another actually had the box area total player dependent: the more players closer in to the line of scrimmage, the smaller the box? Is the Box a definitive dimension on most NFL teams, or does each team define it for their sets, and can it in be in fact totally dependent on the number of players in a particular set formation? Thanks.
The box is what analysts, players and coaches say when they mean close to the line of scrimmage on defense. It's like love, I guess. Or journalism in the 2020s. It's whatever you want it to be.
Wade from Westside
Every report I have read from the Bucs' scrimmage states the offensive line is weak. I guess the JAGS did not do enough to stop the bleeding - looks like this year will be more of the same…
We'll find out when the games matter and it's not practice.
Greg from Section 122, Jacksonville, FL
I don't get the hate for Peyton Manning. Yes, while he was playing I really disliked him. I remember one home game when Jack Del Rio was coach. During a timeout in the North End Zone, Jaxson was over near the huddle taunting Peyton mercilessly. It was so bad that Peyton lost his cool and walked over to the sideline screaming at Coach Del Rio, who simply shrugged and laughed. Yes, Manning got on my nerves but now, I love the guy. His MNF show is the best commentary on the game and his commercials just make me laugh. The best part is no matter what he never seems to take himself too seriously. Which is a great character trait, his like the guy you would want to have at a barbeque. Did you ever meet him and what was your impression of him as a person?
I covered Manning for 10 years and knew him as most writers know players they cover for an extended period – enough to know what players are like professionally, enough to have a surface idea of what they are like as people and enough to have conversations/interactions but not enough to truly know them as people. I liked covering Manning. You never doubted for a second his professionalism and his commitment to winning. You never doubted how much football mattered to him. You never doubted how much he cared about his legacy and place in history. For someone who grew up a fan of the game and its history, it was cool to cover someone who cared about the game and history.
Steve from San Marco
Whoever started the nickname Steezy Trev, can we take them out back and give them what's for.
Maybe. I don't know. Or maybe I just don't care.
Matthew from Townsville, Tropical Australia
Hi O, what's the best you have seen a quarterback play behind a weak o-line, and perhaps more importantly, how was it done?
I saw Manning play for a long time behind some offensive lines that many considered great but in truth were closer to OK. A great quarterback with great awareness and the ability to get rid of the ball at the right time – and to get the offense into the right play for the given situation – can make an offensive line look much, much better than otherwise might be the case.
Matt from Section 133
JOHN! I'm not sure if you've heard this, so please sit down before reading. The Sbarro's at Jacksonville International Airport – undoubtedly the most exclusive, poshest Sbarro's in Northeast Florida since you needed to have your giblets scanned to even get close to it – has closed forever because of new concourse construction. Are you going to be OK?
This is not good. It's just really not good.
