JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …
Sean from Oakleaf, FL
If Travon Walker has a stellar year in 2024 (15-plus sacks and 60-plus tackles), will that force the Jaguars to extend his contract next year or do you see the team "slow playing" this one in comparison to Trevor's contract?
I suppose such a year from edge Travon Walker could prompt the Jaguars to reach a contract extension with him next offseason, but I would lean toward a slower play. But how the Jaguars handled the contract of quarterback Trevor Lawrence this past offseason has little bearing on Walker's situation. Remember: Quarterback contracts are a different beast than contracts for any other position, with quarterback mega-contracts setting the foundation of a team's salary cap around which all other moves must be made. Also: There may not be much inherent urgency for the Jaguars to re-sign Walker next offseason. He is under contract with the Jaguars through the end of the 2025 season, with the team having the right to exercise a fifth-year option for the 2026 season. While the Jaguars under league rules could re-sign Walker next offseason, it wouldn't be surprising if they waited and re-signed him in the 2026 offseason with a year remaining on what would then be his five-year rookie contract. That's a standard timeline for non-quarterbacks if your scenario plays out. That's the theory. We'll see what happens.
Chuck from Ponte Vedra Beach, FL
What are the complexities of playing on the offensive line? I know they would benefit from chemistry and continuity, but is there more to understand about what would be essential to good play?
I don't know that I can cover all complexities of NFL offensive line play in one O-Zone answer. Chemistry and continuity matter. It's also important when analyzing offensive line play to know blocking assignments and specific play calls. To analyze without knowing these things often means incorrectly blaming players for missed assignments. Something to remember, too: Few fans like their own team's offensive line and offensive line play typically is the most unfairly criticized area of a team. This is because it's the only position in football where players are judged more for bad plays than good. If an offensive lineman has one bad play (a sack allowed), it matters more than 75 good plays in the same game. If a defensive lineman has one good play (a sack or a turnover forced) and 75 bad plays in the same game, he has had a good game. That's not fair. But life in the NFL isn't always fair.
John from Jacksonville
No matter what time of year it is, reading Gary from St. Augustine's comments still suck.
Fair.
Jeremy from Gilbert, AZ
I've been a fan since the beginning and only want the Jags to succeed. However, the lack of objectivity is becoming frustrating. Many keep citing the first half of last season as "great" evidence of Trevor's capabilities pre-injury. Can we be honest? The offense wasn't good. They had fits and starts and were sporadic at best with very few flashes. Many of us pointed out the "ugly wins" the team had and kept being told "it's hard to win in the NFL." Maybe injuries adversely affected the team, I'm sure they did. But to claim the offense (Trevor included) was great, or even good, last season before certain injuries is simply not true. They had shown to be very pedestrian by midseason.
There's some truth here. The Jaguars' offense struggled early last season – and really, throughout the season. And Lawrence indeed didn't play as well early last season as many expected. It's also true that over a 16-game period later in the 2022 season and ending later in the 2023 season Lawrence overall played at a winning level – a level much higher than he played in the final five games of the 2023 season when he was playing through injury. He also was beginning to play very well before he played through injuries in the last six games of the season. So where lies the truth? Where it usually does, I suppose: Somewhere in the middle of two extremes.
David from Maplewood, NJ
The noise around Head Coach Doug Pederson, Trevor and the team is sort of crazy to me. First back-to-back winning seasons in nearly 20 years and people are talking like he's on the hot seat or something. Do we not remember the Meyer embarrassment and back-to-back first overall picks and picking inside the top 10 almost every year for the last decade – or more? I mean I want him the team to win a Super Bowl as much as anyone, been onboard since Day One, Orange Park graduate 1989. Sports fandom is just crazy to me, count me as one who is thrilled to have a good competitive team that I can realistically believe can make the playoffs.
One fer perspective.
Brian from Round Rock, TX
Wait just one minute: Pederson was a failure at "managing the team, leading people and setting the organizational tone." Pederson admitted that the mindset was bad at the beginning of the year (press clipping gate), failed to rally at the end of the season, showing poor leadership and fired half the staff after the season. Even the owner accused the football operation of organizational failure. What am I missing?
Brian, meet David. David, meet Brian.
Marc from Oceanway
John, Which musical group would you most consider yourself an aficionado, and which album from said artist would you most recommend?
Different times of life, different acts. Middle school: Beatles. High school/college: R.E.M. (Chronic Town, Murmur, Reckoning, Fables of the Reconstruction), Elvis Costello (My Aim is True, This Year's Model, Armed Forces, Trust, Imperial Bedroom, Get Happy, King of America, Spike), Lloyd Cole and the Commotions (Rattlesnakes) and the Housemartins (London 0 Hull 4). Later life: Jason Isbell (Southeastern) and John Prine (John Prine, pretty much anything). There are more, of course, but those are ones about which I feel I can speak with at least marginal intelligence.
John from Jacksonville
Innovation takes place when necessity meets seemingly unrealistic expectations. Why not demand that the stadium of the future's dome allow the proper light spectrum through to allow for photosynthesis? Why not have it be able to produce electricity as well? Seems doable to me. Pass the idea on to someone way above my pay grade. I'm retired.
I was told there would be no science in this course. Is it too late to drop?
Jonathan from Formerly of Jacksonville Beach
Anyone who has played football for more than one coach will tell you not only do coaches matter, but also play-calling. You have access to many players. Just ask them.
Of course coaching matters. Of course play-calling matters. Loyal O-Zone readers – and he knows who he is – know I have written this often. It's just as true that neither is the end-all explanation/excuse for everything that happens in an NFL game – as many media and observers seem to believe.
San Marco from Steve
Hello Johnny O, what are the dates for training camp? There is nothing on Jaguars.com. on NFL.com it says rookies report Aug 19 and vets Aug 23. But I think I've read a couple times you are saying sometime end of July. And then typically when would full pads go on? Thanks
Jaguars 2024 Training Camp is scheduled to begin Wednesday, July 24, with quarterbacks and rookies reporting Friday, July 19. The first practice in pads typically is five days after the first day of camp, so in this case: Monday, July 29. Boy howdy.
Gator from Gainesville, FL
A googan is someone who wears their Gator Cam Newton jersey to the swamp. Wate for the Jags fans it would be someone wearing their Patriots Fred Taylor Jersey to the Jags game. I swer i have to be the smartest reeder this colum has.
Goodness gracious.
Keith from Saint Augustine, FL
Ok, I appreciate the point "Darren from Fort Worth, Tx" was making about Peyton Manning's fourth season in relevance to his long term development/success, but come on! Since this will be Trevor's fourth season, he's also implying, albeit not purposely, we could see a … well … the r word and such things should not be uttered around in these parts.
You're referencing a recent O-Zone email in which Darren from Fort Worth made a point that former Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning had a rough season in his fourth season – and that perhaps that meant quarterbacks shouldn't be written off as lousy if they're not at peak level early in their careers. I replied by offering some perspective on that season because I covered Manning that season for the Colts. The spirit of the exchange was that many quarterbacks – even ones destined for greatness – must develop before reaching an elite level. The first time I thought of it as meaning Lawrence might regress this season was when I read your email.
