JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …

Bruce from Saint Simons Island, GA

O, Exciting and fun times! The Jags' first four games are brutal. To stay competitive, how many wins should the Jags have after those first four games? I have a "plan" ---- Hurricane comes near Miami right on time for our opener -- heavy rain and wind -- Miami offense is not able to use its speed and air game -- Jags put in their rugby player and win the scrum!

My thought is the Jaguars need to win at least two of those first four 2024 regular-season games – at Miami, home against Cleveland, at Buffalo and at Houston – to feel competitive at that point. There undoubtedly would be panic and people running wild in the streets (running, running) if they lose more than two of those four games. But is an NFL season over at 1-3? Of course not. The NFL season is 17 games, not four.

Marty from Jacksonville

Hey, John. I have another question about the practice squad. The maximum salary for a practice squad player is $23,800 per week, which is less than the minimum salary for the active roster. When a player gets called up to the active roster, does he have to sign a new contract, and is there any negotiation involved?

When players sign from the practice squad to the active roster, they sign for the minimum salary applicable to their years' experience in the NFL.

Brian from ROUND ROCK, TX

The season is nigh. Give us your prediction. We'll hold you to it. I predict a Super Bowl appearance and maybe a victory. Why? The other Pederson isn't on the roster and the general manager built a great roster.

I expect the Jaguars can win the AFC South and have a chance to win playoff games if their older players remain relatively healthy, if the offensive and defensive lines are at least marginally improved and if Lawrence can reduce his avoidable turnovers (fumbles lost) in big situations. The presence or lack of presence of tight end Josh Pederson on the practice squad has nothing whatsoever to do with this expectation. Remember: This team was one or two plays from the playoffs in 2023. There's a perception among many observers that they were atrocious last season and are therefore far from competing this season. Seeing it this way is ignoring reality.

Jonathan from Formerly of Jax Beach

Are the "football is scripted" folks also the flat-earthers? Worth a google.

Is it?

Bill from Bostwick

We have quarterback Trevor Lawrence in the role of Dan Fouts. We have tight end Evan Engram as Kellen Winslow, Sr. At receiver, Christian Kirk makes for a fine Charlie Joiner. We drafted wide receiver Brian Thomas, Jr. as our John Jefferson. In terms of a running back that is an above average rusher and receiver, Travis Etienne Jr. can fill the role of Chuck Muncie admirably. I can only imagine what then-San Diego Chargers Head Coach Don Coryell would've done with an additional pass-catcher the likes of Gabe Davis. To the O-Zone, I ask: Will Doug Pederson take a page out of the ol' Air Coryell playbook and finally give Jags fan a vertical air show over and over and over again this season instead of the constant horizontal sideline to sideline passing game displayed the past two seasons?

As was the case with the San Diego Chargers of the late 1970s and early 1980s, the Jaguars have some good players at most skill positions. I'll hold off on comparing Lawrence, Kirk and Engram to a trio of Hall of Famers. I expect Pederson this season will do as he should do – which is to coach this team and run the offense in a manner that gives the Jaguars the best chance to win. And while some observers – including many in this forum – like to question Pederson's "horizontal" offense, the basics and bones of this offense have won four Super Bowls since 2017. That's four in seven seasons. You can win in this offense.

Bill from Bostwick

Dear Elijah Cooks: Please hang out more with Engram and learn whatever he did to cure the dropsies on Game Day. It worked. He's become a true weapon for the offense. You can, too. Especially in the red zone. If Trevor can trust you to not drop the ball. Engram's routine works. He does it religiously. Learn it. Your bank account will thank you one day.

I like Jaguars rookie wide receiver Elijah Cooks a great deal and believe he can be a functional NFL receiver. Remember, thought: While Engram had some drops issues while with the New York Giants early in his NFL career, he also was a first-round talent who was productive from the start of his NFL career. Cooks signed with the Jaguars as a collegiate free agent following the 2023 NFL Draft, so it may take more than hanging with Engram for him to reach a Pro Bowl level.

Chevin from Jacksonville

Are practice squad players in the weekly meetings with the coaches and 53-man roster players during the regular season?

Yes.

Bob from Preston

It seems as though there are more rookies on the roster this year than I can remember. What do you attribute that to?

There are 10 rookies on the Jaguar' active roster. Most NFL teams I've been around have about eight, nine or 10 rookies and it doesn't feel as if the Jaguars have all that many more this season than normal. Why is this? Because teams usually draft seven(ish) players and retain a rookie free agent or two. You have to draft and develop, and developing means committing to having that many rookies on the roster.

Sam from Orlando, FL

Rumor has it Tua is in hiding since Don's decree (threat) recently.

Don is a rare breed – a visionary and intimidating enough that words aren't needed to make a point. And when it comes to sending messages to quarterbacks opposing the Jaguars, Don absolutely and unquestionably remains "all in."

Julio from Brazil

When you say $12,500 a week minimum for a rookie on the practice squad, do they make that year-round, or only for the parts of the year when teams practice?

Per game.

Adam from Round Here

I know a team can grab a player off another team's practice squad, and as a result need to elevate them to their active roster. Does that player have a right to stay with his current team (in spite of the money) if they think their opportunities will be better? Or can the team choose to elevate that player to prevent the claim?

A team signing a player from another team's practice squad must keep the player on the active roster for three games. A player can choose to remain with his current practice squad if he believes it's a better long-term fit, though the difference in salaries between the practice squad ($21,300 per week) and active roster ($46,700) makes that a difficult and rare decision. A player's current team can opt to elevate the practice squad player, though this is also rare because such a move usually means making a corresponding move to open a roster spot for the transaction.

Brendan from Yulee

Alright, you tickled my fancy. Is it the players or plays that wins the games?

Players.

SteveC from Cardiff, UK

Living about five miles from LRZ's listed home town of Penarth, I was delighted to see him get a second chance on a practice squad but the cynic in me wonders if it's all marketing and a way to sell more shirts locally for the London games. Do the rules allow him to be elevated to the main roster for either/both game(s) without someone dropping, effectively an extra man on the roster? Secondly: I have been "shot down" here before for welcoming the London games and I get that giving away one of just eight games must rankle in Duval. I am not sure how I would feel if the local soccer or cricket side played away, so if I have given offence in the past, I am sorry. We are just grateful for what we get. That said, London pretty much sells out every year and is usually the biggest crowd on a given Sunday, so that presumably helps the revenue numbers somewhere?

The Jaguars signed former Welsh rugby star Louis Rees-Zammit to the practice squad this past week part of the NFL's International Player Pathway program. Teams can use what is known as a "standard elevation" for up to two practice-squad players a game, but can do this with a particular player no more than three times a season. Safety Ayo Oyelola, the IPP player the past two seasons, was not activated for the London games and I don't know that there's any greater or lesser chance that "LRZ" would be elevated for either London game this season. As for the Jaguars' annual London home game … yes, it helps the Jaguars' local revenue numbers. That's among the reasons the Jaguars play the game annually.

Ed from Danvers, MA

We have talked a lot here in the O-Zone about the importance of being nice. What you said about Mr. DiRocco wasn't nice.

Who's Mike DiRocco?