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Jaguars News | Jacksonville Jaguars - jaguars.com

O-Zone: Sub-par example

JACKSONVILLE – And so it goes. And goes.

O-Zone questions are still not being received through the form on the app. We therefore continue to ask that you submit questions through the website form or by emailing at Joehser@gmail.com. Thanks much.

Let's get to it …

Steve from Nashville, TN

What would compel late first-round pick teams (Buffalo Bills, Kansas City Chiefs, Tampa Bay Buccaneers) to want to move out of the first round and into the early second and would the Jaguars be a team interested in moving up into the late first round with a different strategy and needs?

What compels teams to trade out of Round 1 usually is a combination of not loving any prospects late in Round 1 and liking the capital another team is offering enough to trade. I'd be a little surprised if the Jaguars gave up significant capital to move up from No. 33 (the first selection of Round 2) to the late 20s. Part of the reason this would be a little surprising is they already have the No. 25 overall selection in Round 1. That wouldn't preclude them from making a trade, but it would make it at least a bit more surprising than otherwise might be the case. Here's why I emphasized that I would be a little surprised if the Jaguars moved up from the No. 33, though: Jaguars General Manager Trent Baalke's reputation is that he likes to trade around in the draft to enhance value. Nothing in terms of a trade should come as a shock.

Daniel from Johnston, IA

Your answer about picking wide receiver versus offensive tackle got me wondering. If a quarterback is truly a pro, does he really need a pro wide receiver as much as he needs a pro offensive tackle? I think of Peyton Manning and Tom Brady. They had some great wide receiver talent, it seemed, but almost always as soon as those wide receivers went to other teams they immediately looked mediocre. Brady never had a great wide receiver except for Randy Moss, who the New England Patriots got for a song. Of course, you want the best possible players at every position, but it just seems like if you give great quarterbacks time, they'll make average wide receivers look like amazing wide receivers.

I recently answered a version of this question by saying I might go with the elite wide receiver over the elite offensive lineman because it felt as if the game was changing enough that the elite wide receiver might have an enormous impact over time. I also said I might feel differently on another day because it was so close between the two. Well … I feel differently today. Here's why: the reality is that more and more wide receivers every year are entering the NFL able to play at a high level and you can find effective players at that position far deeper into the draft than is the case with offensive linemen. Seen through that lens, it would be tricky to take an elite wide receiver over an elite tackle if all things were equal – i.e., team need, quarterback, comparative level of play of the two platers. Maybe I'll feel differently tomorrow. Probably. Almost certainly.

Marlin from Newberry, Fl

Hey, Zone. I love reading your draft coverage. Have you already written the story that will follow the first pick when T-Law joins the Jags?

Not yet. There's time.

Alan from Jacksonville

JO-Zone, which of these two statements is more correct: A great defensive line makes the secondary look good. A great secondary makes the defensive line look good. No hedging by saying something profound like, "a rising tide lifts all boats."

Your first statement is more correct, with a primary reason that the defensive line's job is a bit more controllable than the secondary's job. If the defensive line does its job, it often can affect the quarterback and disrupt a play in a matter of four-to-five seconds – sometimes more quickly. Even the best secondaries are hard-pressed to effectively cover for that long. A great defensive line can disrupt an offense so much that it doesn't matter how good the secondary covers. A secondary can cover as well as it wants, but if the defensive line can't get to the quarterback a receiver is eventually going to get open and a quarterback eventually will find the receiver open.

Aaron from Jacksonville

O, any news out of voluntary OTAs?

Not really, but that's not unusual. Remember: the early weeks of the NFL's offseason program are less newsy than the later weeks. On-field practices and the accompanying ramp up of media availabilities occur in the final four weeks – i.e., late May and early June. Phases 1 and 2 are more about meetings, player workouts and individual on-field work. Those things aren't unimportant, but they're lower profile than what goes on late next month.

Ed from Ponte Vedra Beach, FL

I am always confused about trading draft picks into the future. If a team trades their next year's first draft pick is that not telling the fans they don't expect to have a good season and therefore they will be picking in the Top 10 the following year? Why would a team give up real value unless is in the top 10?

It's usually not saying that. Remember: While fans and observers typically see the draft through the lens of immediate need, general managers and personnel people see it more through the lens of long-term value. Teams often want to trade for future selections because they believe the next year's draft is better than the current one, or because they don't feel they are drafting value in a given year compared to what they may be able to draft the following year.

Zac from Austin, Tejas

Do you hardcore fan about other sports teams, or does being a sportswriter really just take that away from you? Maybe you paint your face to watch Trailer Park Boys?

I really don't hardcore fan about any particular teams. I will watch Carolina basketball with interest when the Tar Heels are good (I'm that guy), and I will watch any tennis tournament involving Roger Federer with an irrational passion and nervousness. This is not to indicate that I don't follow other sports with interest. I typically watch college football when convenient and compelling and watch NFL whenever it's on and I'm not working. I also watch postseason baseball, basketball and hockey – particularly the NHL postseason, which is unquestionably the best postseason in professional sports. But I don't go full-court-press irrational passion about who wins and loses. Not that I've lost touch with that emotion. When I need full-court irrationality, I just read old emails from Logan from Wichita. It's never far away. And yes … I paint my face to watch Trailer Park Boys. Because why not?

Zac from Austin, Tejas

Can Boselli do that thing with the knife?

Better than many. Not as good as others.

Nicholas from Fort Hood, Texas

Can you explain the rise and fall of Minshew Magic in Jacksonville or across the nation? How does a late-round draft pick inspire people to get tattoos and cars painted with his image? How does a sub-par QB make a promo deal with a beer company for anyone who will draft him in the first round of their fantasy draft? Do you think there is enough substance for a "30 for 30" type documentary on the rise and fall of Minshew in popularity? If the defense had been enough to carry the team to victory would this be another "Tim Tebow" situation?

I doubt it will merit a 30-for-30. As for former Jaguars starting quarterback Gardner Minshew II's enormous popularity, it's not hard to explain. He's cool. He's embraceable. He's "every man." He's incredibly easy to like and support. He's a cultural phenomenon. Minshew Magic was really cool and fun while it lasted.

Noel from St. Augustine, FL

_Mr. O! What are the chances we hear "I fought the Law (and the Law won)" at TIAA Bank Field this season?         _

Good, I hope.

Greg from Section 122, Jacksonville

Alex Smith's comments about his visit to Jacksonville and the excitement at what Head Coach Urban Meyer is building here brings a lot of hope for our future. How does his decision to retire and not sign with us impact this roster? Backup quarterback is pretty important right now. Since it is an all-but-forgone conclusion Minshew will be traded, who then steps in at backup? Beathard doesn't really come off as a great insurance policy. Any other better options available?

Smith's decision doesn't really impact the roster much. The Jaguars signed C.J. Beathard as an unrestricted free agent. Barring something unforeseen, I expect him to be the backup quarterback next season.

Nick from Palatka, FL

So, you're going to wind up with Shad's money sipping margueritas at a luxury Caribbean resort (hope you like lots of salt).

I'm more likely to wind up in Adelaide, looking through the want ads sipping Foster's in the shade.

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