JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …

Michael from Orange Park, FL

I keep reading tealeaves about Boselli, but why do I have to read tealeaves? What gives, Zone?

This is a fair question – and it's a pertinent one as we get deeper into the 2025 Jaguars offseason. The Jaguars' leadership and decision-makers are coming into view, with Head Coach Liam Coen clearly the leader and Pride of the Jaguars member/Pro Football Hall of Famer Tony Boselli increasingly seeming likely to have a key role. Jaguars Owner Shad Khan as of this writing has said only that Boselli will have a role moving forward. He has not yet publicly defined that role. I expect we will know specifics on this front very soon, and I expect that news to be very positive and very significant.

Benjamin from Jacksonville, FL BWO Upstate SC

Looks like a lot of warm fuzzies going around, but I doubt it will last. History tells me it won't last. You want hope and faith? You won't find it here. "In Gene We Trust," "In Dave We Trust," "In Doug We Trust"... and the franchise winning percentage continues its downward spiral. You want hope? Give me a tangible reason.

Your skepticism is fair. And not unexpected. As happens when NFL organizations struggle for an extended period, the Jaguars in recent seasons have had a litany of "new eras" accompanied by enthusiastic introductions to those new eras. There have been plenty of warm fuzzies and good vibes during that time – and because those fuzzies and vibes have been followed by disappointment for much of the last decade and a half, it's understandable and expected that there now be some eye-rolling at new mottoes and positive talk. What tangible reason can I give you that it will be different? None that would resonate, most likely. The only tangible "reason" that will matter is winning. When the Jaguars do that, your skepticism will turn to enthusiasm. Not before. Winning is the Jaguars' task now. That's the mission.

Bill from Springfield, VA

Zone, Koaf. What is your professional assessment of our 2025 schedule?

That it hasn't been released yet.

Brian from Round Rock, TX

Apparently the general manager position has more responsibility than selecting good players and leading the front office. They need to be super kind, especially to the local reporters. They need to buy these guys flowers and tell them how great they are at filling space and air with repetitive, misinformed, knee jerk bs. Who is on your list as great talent evaluators who love to kiss up?

It seems you're "getting at" something, though I'm not sure exactly what. A general manager in the NFL these days certainly benefits to some extent from a functional working relationship with media – both local and national. Buying them flowers or praising them is not by any stretch remotely necessary.

Justin from NYC

I've read a lot about what the experts think our biggest needs are for the draft, but there is really only one expert that I listen to. What does the KOAF think the Jaguars biggest draft needs are?

Front-line players who can impact games at key moments.

Nicholas from Fort Cavazos, TX

KOAF: We talk about head coaches having to be leaders of men to be successful. I wonder if the fans are excited because Liam Coen APPEARS to bring in more energy and enthusiasm when compared to past coaches (Doug Pederson, Urban Meyer, Doug Marrone, Gus Bradley, Mike Mularkey, Jack Del Rio, Tom Coughlin). From a fan's point of view, it seems like the other coaches had the "speak quietly but carry a big stick" mentality and failed to produce results for the most part (except for Coughlin). With the new coach the energy upfront is what fans have been wanting to hear. Obviously, if Coen struggles fans will call for him to be fired but at least it doesn't seem like Coen will be "defeated" on post-game interviews like other coaches have been.

It seems from this view there's some recency bias here. While Coen indeed is enthusiastic, and while some past Jaguars head coaches have been comparatively low-key, other past head coaches have brought more than their share of early energy and enthusiasm. I'm not sure how any head coach, for example, could out-enthusiasm Bradley – even the decidedly enthusiastic Coen. I confess this doesn't concern me as much as it does many people. While many fans and observers seem to judge a head coach based on postgame press conferences, I'll write again a version of what I have written before on this subject – that a few minutes behind a podium after a game or on a Wednesday does not define a head coach.

Fred from Naples, FL

Can you tell us when Pete Prisco's mock draft comes out?

Closer to the draft.

Sean from Oakleaf, FL

After Tom Coughlin, who is on your Mount Rushmore of Jaguar Head Coaches?

This question suggests that there must be a Rushmore of Jaguars head coaches. This answer is not meant to be snide or cute. It's just that such a "Rushmore" is not yet warranted.

Henry K. from Jax

Whatever must happen ultimately should happen immediately.

A day without sunshine is like … night.

Alon from Westlake Village, CA

I hear that Armstead played out of position at defensive end not defensive tackle. Can you explain why the Jaguars did this? I thought Travon Walker and Hines-Allen played defensive end. Did he rotate with them?

Travon Walker and Josh Hines-Allen indeed played defensive end for the Jaguars last season. They were the two main players at the position. Arik Armstead, after playing defensive tackle much of his career, indeed played mostly at end in his first season with the Jaguars last season. He indeed rotated with Walker and Hines-Allen a lot. I cannot explain why the Jaguars did this.

TB from Tampa, FL

Can you please explain why teams are allowed to block interviews. especially if the season is over for both teams involved?

Because NFL assistant coaches are usually under contract for more than one season and the rules are designed to allow at least some level of continuity on staffs behind the head coach and coordinator levels.

Sean from Oakleaf, FL

During your time with the Jaguars can you recall a year, if any, we had a dominant Offensive Line?

Not really. No.

Keith from Saint Augustine, FL

Are the Jaguars worth our time, energy, and money? It seems like our investment in the aforementioned have hardly been reciprocated. Last season was devastating to our psyches. We expected to be good and were plunged back into the arena of futility. We are terribly jaded and have lapsed into apathy. We want to believe, but we also don't want to be disappointed anymore. If you expect little if anything, then you don't set yourself up for the pain when your hopes are crushed. Shad Khan has quite the dilemma on his hands. I know I'm not the only one who feels this way. Letting Baalke go was too little, to late. I think Shad Khan gets it now. I'm just afraid it's too late.

I wouldn't call this a dilemma. There's no dilemma. There's no uncertainty. There's no confusion about the mission. And it's not too late. The Jaguars have to win. That's the way back. There's no other path. If you build it, they will come. If you win, people will care. Period.

Robert from Elkton

MO, the last time Jags truly had defensive tackles that teams had to game plan for was Marcus Stroud/John Henderson. Many say Michigan defensive tackle Mason Graham is the most solid can't-miss player in the draft. If you knew he would be as good as those guys, would you pass him up for anyone else?

Not if there wasn't anyone better.

Zac from Austin, Tejas

Not to belabor the point, but I wanted to know about your opinion of Cam Newton's take specifically - where he implied if athletes should be expected to show up and talk when they don't want to, then so should notable sports journalists at major media outlets.

I didn't hear former Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton's "take" on this subject. I confess I don't make much of an effort to consume all Newton has to say on all matters – a stance that no doubt is to my detriment. But if Newton is wondering why athletes have to talk in certain situations, it's because their contracts mandate that they do so. If he's wondering why journalists don't have to do this, I suppose it's because journalists are usually only too happy to offer their opinion – sometimes, and even many times, when no one particularly asked for it.

Curtis from Shack Outside La Grange

John: Can you recall your impactful meeting with Craig from Ponte Vedra Beach. Seems he was quite impressed with the King of All Funk.

I don't recall it, actually. Go figure.