JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …

Chris from Tampa, FL

Getting back to introduction press conferences, I'd like to get back to three yards and a cloud of dust. Considering this team's inability to run the ball the last few years, I'll take third and four every day of the week – and a billion times on Sunday.

While I believe I understand – and even like – your premise, I can't hop completely on board. It's difficult if not impossible to play a pure three-yards-and-a-cloud-of-dust run game in the modern NFL – and it's damned hard to be an efficient, productive offense in this era if you're repeatedly facing third-and-4 situations. That said, your overarching point that the Jaguars must run better and more consistently moving forward is absolutely correct and critical. I would take more consistent running on early downs, more third-and-2 situations and more effective running on short yardage every day of the week. And a billions of times on Sunday? No doubt.

Graham from Reading, UK

Hi, John. What insightful and unique thought did you get from Urban?

This references me writing in a recent O-Zone answer that I have learned something insightful and unique from pretty much every head coach – and many assistants – and every personnel person I've covered in three decades. It might be expected that I would write something snide here about former Jaguars Head Coach Urban Meyer, but that wouldn't be fair. Considering Meyer's status as one of the all-time great college football head coaches, I have no doubt i could have learned something insightful during his tenure. But Meyer was very guarded while here and seemed uninterested in being too informative during media availabilities. He also was somewhat "less than interested" in developing anything resembling relationships except for a select few people. I don't say this as criticism. It was just his way. Either way, I'm not sure anyone learned all that much or gained much insight during his less-than-one-year stint as the Jaguars' head coach.

Benjamin from Jacksonville, FL BWO Upstate SC

Guilty as charged. I really don't watch any video production from Jaguars.com, so I missed your switch away from glasses. In my defense, your photo on the website and your cartoon avatar on the mailbag page both still have you in glasses. Either way, you appeared to me to be blinking and rubbing your eyes a lot, as well as having difficulty with the lights when forced to look directly into camera. If it was all in my head, my bad. Just mentioned it out of concern. I respect you, even if I rarely agree with you.

I can't hear you.

Kerry from Millersville, MD

O, ESPN NFL Draft Analyst Mike Tannenbaum's mock has the Jags taking Penn State edge Abdul Carter. Most mocks have him gone before we pick, but wondered what you think? My thoughts are that with Arik Armstead playing in his more natural defensive tackle slot, and wanting a better idea of the long-term prospects of nose tackle DaVon Hamilton and the two second year defensive tackles (Maason Smith and Jordan Jefferson), we are not as needy at defensive tackle as most people think based on last year's issues. We definitely need additional pass rushers and frankly the idea of a third-and-long (or protecting a late lead) front four of Josh Hines-Allen and Carter outside with Armstead and Travon Walker pushing the middle seems intriguing.

I think the Jaguars should think as little as possible about need – and therefore, the specifics you cite – when considering their direction early in the 2025 NFL Draft. A Top 5 selection should be a foundation piece that you just know is good – and you worry about the specifics of his role as time evolves. That means you take the best player available and the player who has the best chance to be special. Most analysts consider Colorado wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter and Carter the two players in this draft with the most "special." If that's true, and if Carter is available at No. 5, I would have a hard time passing on him.

Bruce from Green Cove Springs, FL

So we've had five head coaches in 10 years? With every new one we hear about how the franchise is headed in a better direction. With each new regime we hear they will draft better, acquire better free agents, and give us fans what we deserve. I will concede that our favorite senior writer doesn't always push the Cool-Aid, so give it to us straight. Do you see anything in our new leadership team that gives you any more hope of producing winning football than you had in past coaching (and general manager) changes?

Yes.

Sam from Orlando, FL

You go in the cage. Cage goes in the water. Gene is in the water. Our Gene. Farewell and Adieu to you my fair Spanish Ladies.

Longtime Florida Times-Union sports columnist and Northeast Florida cultural icon/thought leader Eugene P. "Gene" Frenette is more than "in the water." He is the water. He is all things. Always.

Charles from Riverside

Hello, John. I am now understanding your comment to Amy regarding mock drafts. You said "I say if you're reading mock drafts as anything more than amusement and a general guide for the top 10-to-20 players you're exerting way too much effort." Florida Times-Union mock draft has Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty as our No. 1 pick. In your article Deep Position Group: Best Running Backs Accessible in the 2025 NFL Draft you have the chances of the Jags picking a running back in the first round as "minimal". (BTW, great editorial, thanks!)

I would be very surprised if the Jaguars select a running back No. 5 overall in the 2025 NFL Draft.

Limo Bob from Neptune Beach

The O-Zone column is really funny with gummies!

Fair.

D from Richmond Hill, GA

Just read an article stating defensive line/edge pretty deep in draft. I keep seeing Michigan defensive tackle Mason Graham mentioned, but unless he's an Aaron Donald type, maybe offensive line or cornerback as they may not be as deep?

If special is available at No. 5, take special – whether that's Graham, Carter or someone else. Special is harder to find the longer you wait.

Sam from Orlando, FL

How many times did Gene Smith write in recently under a different name?

None, presumably.

CD from Fleming Island

Hey, John. I have a question about Robert Hainsey. There's a lot of information out there about his lack of performance with the Bucs, prompting them to draft a center. Statistically, with him at center, the Bucs offense wasn't great – and last season, while on the bench, the offense improved dramatically. I know he's just one player, so I am careful to overreact, and obviously General Manager James Gladstone and Head Coach Liam Coen see something in him. But are you aware of any conversations in which they've addressed the specifics of his situation in Tampa that may ease any fan concerns?

The Jaguars like Hainsey's physicality and believe he's a starting-level NFL center. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers indeed selected center Graham Barton No. 26 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft, which meant Hainsey was a backup last season after two seasons as a starter. That means the Buccaneers wanted to improve at center – and it means Hainsey didn't start over a first-round center. But remember: No. 26 overall is really early for a center, and it means Barton is expected to be one of the NFL's top players at the position for a long time. The Jaguars didn't sign Hainsey with the idea that he must be a Pro Bowl center. They signed him with the idea he would help improve the interior of the line. I'm unaware of specific conversations where the Jaguars' decision-makers discussed how the Buccaneers felt about Hainsey, and I wouldn't expect such conversations to be made public – if such conversations happened at all. A final thought on your question: It seems to suggest that Hainsey being out of the lineup was the sole reason the Buccaneers improved dramatically offensive last season. Figuring out reasons in the NFL is rarely so simple an if-then scenario.

Wayne from Jacksonville

John. In your opinion, what kind of a receiver/build do you believe would best complement second-year wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. (presumably our No .1) or that you would like to see the Jaguars draft? Someone like Arizona wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan who is 6-feet-4 or Texas receiver Matthew Golden at 5-feet-11 that runs a sub-4.3-second 40-yard dash.

If I had to lean one way or the other, I guess I would lean toward size. But here's the thing about Thomas. He's such a rare combination of size and speed that you have a deep threat and a player who can high point the ball in one person. Who should the Jaguars select? Don't worry so much about the traits. Worry about special. Take the better player of the two.