JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …
Bradley from Sparks, NV
There is a certain fearless confidence and boundless energy that comes with being young and in charge for the first time – when not knowing what you don't know is an unequivocal plus. Executive Vice President of Football Operations Tony Boselli will prove to be invaluable, but this is now all about Head Coach Liam Coen, General Manager James Gladstone, quarterback Trevor Lawrence, wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr., defensive end Travon Walker and the yet-to-be-named defensive force they draft in April. The Jags are (finally) on the right track.
The Jaguars hired Gladstone as general manager Friday, a move that ended a franchise-altering six weeks for the organization. Boselli, Coen and Gladstone all were hired during that span, with the trio now forming the decision-making minds on the football side of the Jaguars – and I wouldn't discount Boselli's overall role and influence in the organization. Because Boselli (52), Gladstone (34), Coen (39), offensive coordinator Grant Udinski (29) and defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile (42) are all comparatively young and in the highest-responsibility roles of their NFL careers, experience and youth indeed will be Jaguars storylines moving forward. And yes … I do expect the "fearless confidence and boundless energy" to be positives. At the same time, there is much work to do. There are many reasons there's a new regime here, and one of those reasons is the roster needs improving and reshaping. That process begins in a big way at the NFL Scouting Combine this week. It has begun. The time is now.
Greg from Section 122, Jacksonville, FL
Glad the table is finally set. Don't know if we win or lose, just that Don will be all in. What way it goes is going to be spectacular to watch because we will fan like crazy. Just hope we have patience to do like Detroit and give it time to come together.
Within reason, there will be patience. Shad Khan has shown throughout his tenure as the Jaguars' owner that that will be the case.
JK from NY & Fernandina Beach, FL
John. The Jags have settled on a "Grand Experiment" strategy in rebuilding the football operations. Bright up-and-coming coaches and general manager paired with an eccentric franchise legend with no operational experience. Khan now owns this approach and will be praised if it all works out or vilified if we have seven more years of famine. It has certainly been a fun and interesting six weeks. Can't wait to see how it turns out.
There's nothing eccentric about Boselli in this role. I understand it only has been a few weeks and that much of what he does is behind the scenes. But the Boselli that operates as EVP is not the Boselli who argues with Pete Prisco on Happy Hour. Boselli is a qualified leader with years of high-end experience in the medical profession and he also has high-end football instincts. That's the Boselli coming to the Miller Electric Center every day.
John from Jax
Hi, KOAGF. I don't care if the GM and coaching staff are pre-schoolers or teenagers or cheerleaders or senior citizens or Bullet-Bob moodachayers as long as we finally get a consistent winning team/culture.
One fer winnin'.
Josh from Atlanta, GA
Consider me one of the ones you hinted at recently, one who is a concerned observer about the youth. Aside from Tony … oh my goodness the youth of this organizational structure. Is it bad to be young and bright? HECK NO!! It could be the greatest group ever assembled, and I pray that it is. But concern around the years of NFL experience this leadership has? It's there in spades. This could be glorious or a trainwreck of ineptitude. Buckle up, let's party!
Of course it's a concern. There's no way it's not a concern because youth and inexperience means unknown, and that means risk. Guess what? No hire in the NFL is without risk. There's no guaranteed formular for success. We know this because if there were a guaranteed formula, all teams would follow it. This group has youth, energy, synergy and ability. That's a good start whatever the level of experience.
Don from Marshall, NC
It really has been a whirlwind, hasn't it? It feels all brand new with new energy. Definitely exciting! Having Big Bo walking the stadium on game day is pretty darn cool! Go Jaguars!
When it comes to knowing what's cool and what's not – and to giving the O-Zone another chance to be amusingly annoying – Don remains "all in."
Doug from Jacksonville
Almighty O, I understand the uniform discussions wear thin and with a new GM and draft quickly approaching discussions will certainly be dominated with talk of both. One last note from a Jags fan from Day 1 concerning the ugly (not at the time, but now) Prowlers and the obsession with them. It's a glory days thing, I believe. Like the 23-year-old still wearing his letterman jacket or the 39-year-old talking about the four touchdowns he scored in high school against the rival school. There hasn't been much to celebrate since the old days, so you have to live in the past. I'm glad the two-tone helmets are gone, just like I'm glad Tommy Tutone's hit about Jenny's number isn't on the radio on repeat … even though I used to sing along to the radio to it 40 years ago. The Prowlers, much like 867-5309 aren't relative anymore. You need an area code to dial Jenny now.
The Prowlers are cool. Fans like them.
John from Lancaster, PA
- Will the new GM bring with him the top college scouts he has worked with? Same with our new head coach and scouts he likes from his former teams?
I expect Gladstone – and perhaps Coen – to hire a person or two with whom he has worked in scouting. This likely will happen over time. Such change usually doesn't happen immediately because NFL personnel people work under contracts.
Jeff from Atlantic Beach, FL
"What's taking so long?" Also, "Did we not do our due diligence?" fans are funny.
Yeah, they're a riot.
Jordan from Mandarin
I have a strong sense of self and belief. Well, until Zone answers my question with a simple "OK"
OK.
Adam from Round Here
Boselli is now in charge of transportation, does that mean he has to drive you to work? Do you think he will let you drive the team bus? That would be cool!
Boselli is in charge of many aspects of the Jaguars' football operation, transportation included. There's a rumor he's trying to hire someone to make sure the gold jacket gets to road games. I'm trying to confirm.
Dwayne from Jacksonville
Zone! I agree with you: All this talk about favorite uniforms is wasted breath. Whatever unis the Jags are wearing when they win the Super Bowl will be everyone's favorite uniform for all time.
Probably.
Rob from The duuuuu
Regarding Jaguars tight end Evan Engram, he had one of the most incredible plays in Jags history this year. It was forgotten because the defense let the Green Bay Packers win on the next drive, but he showed his ability. Two years ago, he almost broke the record for receptions as a tight end. I feel like he just had an incredible drop in targets last year through no fault of his own. It's not he or wide receiver Christian Kirk's fault we couldn't run the ball, get first downs and sustain drives. I think if Engram gets the targets, you will see the production. It was the lack of targets that were the issue. Thoughts?
Engram and Kirk unquestionably were hurt by the Jaguars' offense struggling overall last season. Neither were healthy enough last season, and neither were as productive when healthy as they had been in previous seasons. I think both would be valuable if retained. The next three weeks will determine if the Jaguars can make that happen.
Nascar Nate from Utah, US
Fred Taylor VS Edgerrin James.
I get this question a lot, having covered both running backs – Fred Taylor and Edgerrin James – extensively. My thought is Taylor was perhaps slightly "better" than James in terms of being a rare combination of speed and power. James was a rare combination of power and miss-ability and could go from gliding and making defenders miss to powering over a runner. Many Jaguars fans believe James underserving of his spot in the Pro Football Hall of Fame and that Taylor is better than James. I believe both should be in the Hall. It also must be noted that James had the better career statistically: More rushing touchdowns, more career yards, more 1,500-yard rushing seasons and two NFL rushing titles. While I probably would take Taylor, it's a hard argument that James doesn't belong in the Hall.
Scott from St. Johns
Hi John: If there was a combine for NFL sports writers what would the drills consist of?
Sadness.
