JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …
John from Jax
Hi, KOAGF - It seems odd that fans have to point out that they know other fans that feel the same as they do on being tired of the Jags and of losing. If you are a Jags fan, with the Jags organization, or even the owner, I would bet the sentiment is the same. The solution is complicated and not as easy as firing people. The artificial turf may not be greener on the other side. Do you think Khan has a good humorous comeback line to say about his unfortunate preseason prediction?
I don't know that fans writing the O-Zone reiterating that they are tired of losing and disappointed in this season is odd at all. Considering the Jaguars are 3-11 entering Sunday's road game against the Las Vegas Raiders, I don't know how anything else but weariness and disappointment could be expected. And you're correct that the solution is not as easy as "fire everyone." Owner Shad Khan must assess the current situation and figure how best to move forward. That may or may not mean replacing General Manager Trent Baalke and/or Head Coach Doug Pederson. I don't know at this point if we'll know anything either way before the end of the regular season. I expect we will know much more soon after that. As for Khan's preseason statement that this was the best roster in franchise history … yes, I expect Khan will be asked about that at some point. And I expect he will handle it with the same perspective and class with which he usually handles such things. Will his "comeback" have humor in it? If appropriate, perhaps. If not, then no.
David from Ada, OK
Enjoying any NBA lately? My Thunder are looking pretty good this season.
I once was a big NBA fan. Then the Seattle SuperSonics moved to Oklahoma City and the game – in my opinion – changed to something I didn't like as much. Many people like it fine now. It's just not particularly my thing anymore. And that's OK. People have different things.
Jeremy from Gilbert, AZ
Jaguars rookie wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. is probably the only player on the roster that catches your eye and is playing above reasonable expectations. Is it on the GM for this lack of talent? Or on the HC for a lack of development?
There are other Jaguars players who are very good. I understand people wanting to Blame One Person. Real life doesn't work that way. When you're 3-11, everyone has a role.
David from Maplewood, NJ
Recent headlines on this free website and/or app: "Explosive plays highlight Jags win over Titans" (10-6 win in which neither team exceeded 295 yds of offense), "Jags continue to show resilience" –and now the cherry on top – "Jags at full health after Friday injury report"! Is the Jags.com staff trolling fans or mind-numbingly tone deaf? There really isn't a third option.
The Jaguars had a couple of explosive plays in a victory over the Tennessee Titans. They have shown resilience all season. All players on the roster are expected to be healthy and available entering Sunday's game against the Raiders. I guess I don't understand the question.
Mike from Eagan, MN
O-Zone, let's give Baalke credit where credit is due. Travon Walker, who we smartly selected No. 1 overall in the 2022 NFL Draft, has more sacks than the supposed superstar, Aidan Hutchinson. Don't try to undersell it by being only one more than Aidan, or that Aidan hasn't played in weeks, or that Travon has the same number of sacks as Dante Fowler. Trent is a talent-assessing genius!
There are many, many flaws on this team and there many, many issues that must be fixed moving forward. Defensive end Travon Walker is not among those issues. Perhaps Aidan Hutchinson would have been a better selection. What I know is Walker is a high-end player around whom this team can build. I get the discussion. I just don't that that particular topic is the best example of something having gone wrong.
Holden from Callahan, FL
With a recent report from SI's Albert Breer mentioning rumors that Trent Baalke could retire at season's end, could we see something similar to how Dave Gettleman's time in New York ended and we let Baalke go out on his own terms?
I don't have a feel for whether Baalke could retire at season's end. This Jaguars season has been phenomenally disappointing, and sea-change decisions such as retirement/replacement/termination often occur at the end of disappointing seasons. Could Baalke retire? I suppose. He also could return. Ends of disappointing seasons can get weird and this has bene as disappointing as one can reasonable imagine.
Uncle Scrooge from Jacksonville
If it's fair to remember last year as a winning season, it's also fair to remember how badly and embarrassingly they collapsed to 9-8 after starting 8-3. I believe that the fairest assessment of the past three seasons is an oddball, improbable miracle run in 2022 that was otherwise surrounded by utter sewage. Like a feces sandwich, but the good stuff is the middle and the bread slices are the offal.
It's fair to remember the past few Jaguars seasons however you like. The Jaguars won 14 of 17 games during a stretch to end the 2022 season and start the 2023 season. They have fallen off miserably and disappointingly after that.
Brian from ROUND ROCK, TX
Three more games. This is too many games in a season, right? Who is happy with this?
Yes. The owners, one would assume.
Bradley from Sparks, NV
While I believe Pederson has a history of regression in his coaching and his confidence in Taylor is bewildering, I can't work up much professional dislike for Baalke. Do you feel like they are linked in job security or might they meet different fates?
Pederson's approach with offensive coordinator Press Taylor isn't bewildering at all. They are in lockstep philosophically and spend countless hours, days and weeks throughout the year game-planning. They are of like mind and approach. Pederson doesn't remotely believe Taylor is doing a bad job, so it runs counter to logic to fire him. I don't believe Baalke and Pederson are linked in job security.
Larry from Wattsburg(h), PA
Why do I have the feeling that you dislike the insanity line as much as I detest Cris Collinsworth and his New York Football Giants line? I can only respond with the St. Louis baseball Cardinals to point out his asinine and extremely outdated vernacular!
I sort of like saying, "New York Football Giants."
Robert from Moorpark, CA
How would you grade Anton Harrison's play this season? Is he the franchise guy at that position?
Jaguars second-year right tackle Anton Harrison struggled a bit early this season. He has been steady for the most part since. I've seen nothing to make me think he can't start at tackle for a long time in the NFL.
Nathan from Utah, US
Zone, my question is regarding Jacksonville's core unit. How those players play today, and what that feels like going into the next three to five seasons. And what that will look like - entertaining for example, my bakers-dozen Jaguars' core players: Andre Cisco, Tyson Campbell, Travon Walker, Josh Hines-Allen, Chad Muma, Devin Lloyd, Parker Washington, Brian Thomas Jr, Walker Little, Anton Harrison, Logan Cooke, Cam Little, Trevor Lawrence and Travis Etienne Jr, and perhaps Tank Bigsby, Luke Farrell, Luke Fortner, Jeremiah Ledbetter and Tyler Lacy. That's my twenty guys to build this team around. My question - is that a realistic group? One that with players, Evan Engram, Christian Kirk, Foyesade Oluokon, etc, and so forth. If I'm not mistaken this team has a peak three-to-five year window to make an honest run at this thing. I say - Keep the leaders: Head Coach Doug Pederson and General Manager Trent Baalke. Who better to build on what they'd already built than those already building it. Go Jaguars!!*
Your list of core players around whom you can build is muuuuuuuuch longer than mine.
Andrew from Panama City, FL
On the subject of defensive rotation, when a battlefield commander needs to take a specific objective, he sends his best unit. When the Jaguars' defense is facing a critical 3rd and long, they don't. I get that rotations keep players fresh, but wouldn't a high-level defensive end be more effective at 80 percent than a mediocre defensive end at 95 percent?
I'm not smart enough to know what battle commanders need, though I have watched most Ken Burns documentaries. I also was told there would be no math. I also know it's good to have Travon Walker and Josh Hines-Allen on the field on important plays.
John from Jax
Hi KOAGF - You say we are supposed to be nice on the O-Zone, but most posts lately aren't nice. Does that make you sad on krimma?
I'm the sad elf.
