JACKSONVILLE – It's Look-Ahead Wednesday.

Maybe we should have started Tuesday because the preseason opener was Saturday. Or not. Or whatever.

Let's get to it …

Brian from ROUND ROCK, TX

I keep hearing from the "play-calling-is-overblown" crowd that all the work happens during the week in some big elaborate process and then the game calls are basically already provided by this magical formula. Is that your understanding? Regarding the play-caller being up in the booth. It seems that person is going to overthink things if he's trying to see everything happening on the field and trying to make a decision based on that. I think it's better to be on the field and being involved in the game and that it's not some magic formula. The player-caller has to have a talent for it. I think you have that talent or you don't. I think we know who has the talent for it and who doesn't.

I confess I'm a bit worn out on PlaycallingGate. I may be worn out enough to end it as an O-Zone topic – temporarily, at least. Or maybe not. It's my column, so I'll probably decide on this tomorrow. Or the next day. Either way, the reality is I'm a tried-and-true member of the play-calling-is-overblown crowd and – while it's "awesome" to know what you think – I can't foresee joining another crowd on this topic anytime soon. Play-calling matters. It matters enough that offensive coaching staffs spend the week planning out what to call in what scenarios. It's just not the absolute, unquestioned Reason for Everything that it has become in these parts for the last year or so. As for what vantagepoint – booth of field – is better from which to call plays, there's no right or wrong answer. High-powered offenses have had offensive coordinators in both places. Super Bowl champions have had offensive coordinators in both places. The good news for the Jaguars is they have a head coach in Doug Pederson with not only a talent for it, but with the knowledge of the offense and the offensive coaching staff to make an informed decision about who will call plays. I would guess he will do what he believes gives the Jaguars the best chance to win without regard to outside theories and takes. Isn't that comforting?

Haney from Little Elm, TX

The play-calling griping is getting old. Offensive coordinator Press Taylor calls Doug's plays. Press isn't going to take over play calling unless Doug isn't happy with the calls he's making. He would certainly question Press if there was a problem. That's Doug's boy and he isn't going anywhere.

Is Little Elm close to Round Rock? Is there a place for coffee? Conversation?

DMiz from Sacksonville

Hey, Zone. Hope you, your family and your pup are well. In regards to practicing with Tampa this week, do all NFL teams have multi-team practices? If so, does the NFL plan these as part of the schedule or do coaches/owners/general managers have any say about these types of weeks in the preseason?

This is a team-by-team decision typically made by the head coach. Some head coaches like joint practices and find them valuable. Some don't. I covered the Indianapolis Colts for 10 years and the only time they practiced against another team was 2001, which was Jim Mora's final season as head coach and the only time from 2001-2010 they missed the playoffs. They were one of the NFL's most successful teams when they made the playoffs nine consecutive seasons from 2002-2010 and neither head coach during that period – Tony Dungy and Jim Caldwell – had the team practice against another team. Joint practices are not part of the official NFL preseason schedule. While teams can request preseason opponents, the NFL does not have to fulfill the request and often does not.

Cliff from Orange Park, FL

Eighteen games, one bye week with everyone on the day 53-man roster required to be inactive at least one week. I know you will hate it, but the strategies and timing of sitting starters would be intriguing. Just think what it would do to fantasy football and betting lines. How much do you hate it?

I neither hate it nor love it particularly. I just can't imagine why the NFL would want to implement such a rule. Force Patrick Mahomes to sit for a week? Trevor Lawrence? Nick Bosa? Christian McCaffrey? Lamar Jackson? Toward what end?

Bruce from St. Simons Island, GA

Cameron (I like the full name) Little looks like he is always in field goal range! Agree?

Jaguars rookie kicker Cam Little has remarkable leg strength and range. He has the look of a long-term solution at the position.

Ryan from Apopka, FL

What are your thoughts on the backup quarterback situation after the Kansas City game? Mac Jones looked solid but with the knowledge he was playing against third or fourth-string guys who most likely won't be on a roster. C.J. Beathard made a good throw in the face of pressure for the touchdown and threw up a 50/50 ball to rookie wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. Take away those two throws and he was five for 12 for 50ish yards versus mostly second stringers. Do you think Doug flips them this week and lets Mac play the 1st half and CJ 2nd (assuming Trevor sits after the joint practice this week)?

I think the Jaguars' backup quarterback situation will continue to play out, and I continue to believe Mac Jones likely will play that role. This not "inside information." It's just my thought after the Jaguars traded for Jones in the offseason. I absolutely believe Lawrence will not play against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Saturday. I expect Jones will play the first half Saturday with Beathard playing the second half, but that's not an overly confident guess.

Steve from Nocatee

Have you ever seen so much churning on a roster prior to the regular season? Mr. Baalke is trying his best to create a roster with a ton of depth. One fer Trent!

Yes, I have seen extensive roster churn prior to the regular season many times – particularly covering the Jaguars the last 14 seasons. And yes … Jaguars General Manager Trent Baalke is trying to create a roster with a ton of depth. One fer Trent? Absolutely.

Ray from Newport News, VA

Funk-meister, it is nice to see Tashuan Gibson back in TEAL, I must admit I am a little surprised by this signing. Yes, he is low-risk (low salary cap hit) high-reward possibility. My concern is he will start the season on a six-game suspension. When I first learned of his signing, I was excited, and we needed someone to cover in Dewey's absence. While not much is known about Dewey's injury, it seems like there will be a lot of overlap on both these players being out.

The Jaguars signed safety Tashaun Gipson Saturday. The signing is for depth, though not all that closely related to safety Andrew Wingard's knee injury. That injury is expected to keep Wingard out through the early part of the regular season. Considering Gipson is indeed out for the first six regular-season games because of a suspension, why sign him? Because Gipson is low-risk and will be ready for the second half of the season. Having that level of veteran experience ready if needed is an assuring feeling for a general manager.

Dave from Waunakee

I miss the annual Chaisson arguments ...

Do you?

Rob from Jax

I'm a few days late but did I read correctly that your grandfather was a big-deal editor? Can you tell us a little about what he did for a career? And if he had much to do with your career choice? Thanks O.

Though he would have laughed at being described as a "big deal," my grandfather, Paul Henry Oehser, was the Smithsonian Institution's Editorial and Publications Director in the 1950s and early 1960s – and served as an editor of scientific reports for the National Geographic upon retirement. He was on the Wilderness Society's Governing Counsel and served as president of the Cosmos Club. He also was president of the Washington Biologists' Field Club, was the sixth president of the Thoreau Society and authored two books of humorous verse. He also was a very good amateur tennis player but had little interest in sports of any other kind. He rather liked the idea of my writing for newspapers and was classy enough to offer little commentary on me focusing on something so frivolous as sports. Though not particularly religious, he adhered religiously to a rule that you never, ever drank before five o'clock p.m. In Christmas of 1972, my uncle gave him a clock with all fives that hung in my grandparents' McClean, Va., kitchen until they moved in the late 1980s. Two Paul Oehser stories that come to mind. Upon learning an acquaintance's wife had had an affair and moved to Baltimore, he offered, "Well, she'll get tired of Baltimore." He also once heard tell of a woman who had eaten cigarette butts from an ashtray as a child. "She made an ash of herself at an early age," he said.