JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …
Deane from Daytona Beach, FL
Yo, O-Zone! I like my fair share of March Madness. There has been chatter that North Carolina State's D.J. Burns might take a shot at the NFL as a tight end. I think of two Hall of Fame tight ends in Tony Gonzalez and Antonio Gates. Even Julius Peppers played for UNC basketball before having an amazing football career. Could you see the Jaguars picking Burns up as an undrafted free agent and bringing him into camp to see if he is a diamond in the rough? It wouldn't be expensive and if you see something, you could always put him on the practice squad and develop him. What says you O-Zone???
There undoubtedly is precedent for tight ends entering – and succeeding in – the NFL with little or no college experience at the position. While Gonzalez isn't an example of this having played football at California, and while Peppers – a Hall of Fame defensive end – was also a full-time football player in at North Carolina, Gates played basketball and not football at Kent State. Former Indianapolis Colts tight end Marcus Pollard, now the Jaguars' director of player development, also excelled in the NFL after playing basketball and not football at Bradley. I could see Burns following this path, though it's rare enough that I wouldn't begin to predict success or whether the Jaguars would provide such an opportunity. But who knows? It's worth watching. He's a likeable kid who you would like to see succeed and there would be worse uses of training-camp opportunities.
Bruce from St. Simons Island, GA
O, Second contract for Allen! Good for the Jags. Lawrence soon?
Outside linebacker Josh Allen re-signing a five-year contract extension this week indeed is good for the Jaguars on multiple fronts. He's a big-time player. He has been reliable in five NFL seasons. He is good as a pass rusher and he is good against the run. He plays big in big moments. He also is from what I know as top-notch a person as you could want as a core, long-term foundation of your franchise. Trevor Lawrence has many of these traits – and he is a quarterback. I think there's a good chance the Jaguars sign Lawrence to a long-term extension sometime this offseason. That's a guess. That is only a guess.
Bradley from Sparks, NV
I noticed in 2022 wide receiver/returner Devin Duvernay had 50 touches for 500 yards and four touchdowns but in 2023 he only was a return specialist. I'm guessing the main reason for that was the emergence of wide receiver Zay Flowers. Do you see him as a potential weapon in the Jags offense?
I expect the Jaguars will use Duvernay primarily as a return specialist while using him as something of a "Swiss Army" knife on offense.
Tim from Fernandina Beach, FL
John: I for one am glad the Jags re-signed the real Josh Allen. One thought, though. His two best sack years came with a very good end opposite him. Is he really good enough to take over a game?
This is hard to define. Most edge players produce more sacks if there are other good players on his team rushing the passer. I see Allen being worth his new contract because I have seen him be really good and really reliable for five seasons. I have seen him affect games even without putting up huge sacks numbers. That means offensive coordinators must account for him. Those are the things Allen can control. Is he going to have 20 sacks if offenses know he's the only player who can disrupt a game? Few players can do this.
Paul from Lake City, FL
Here's how I imagine KOAF asking Jaguars General Manager Trent Baalke for insight on the draft goes. KOAF: Trent, any inside information you can give me on the upcoming draft? TB: That's a pretty realistic looking team ID. How'd you get in here?
Fair.
Benjamin from Jacksonville by way of Upstate SC
What happened to Walker Little? Everywhere I look I see people talking about the Jaguars' starting left tackle position as if Little is no longer a viable candidate. Even you mentioned the only scenario for trading Cam Robinson is if a top tackle is available with the 17th overall pick. I feel like I missed something.
Little had an opportunity in 2023, playing left tackle and left guard with starts at both positions. He played well at times, but didn't quite seize the opportunity to establish himself as a starter. I expect he will enter the offseason as the swing tackle and I would expect Anton Harrison to be the Jaguars' left tackle for the long-term. That's how it feels now. As we saw in 2023, how things feel one offseason aren't always how they feel later.
Keith from Saint Augustine, FL
Why is it the Jaguars are the only team in the NFL who haven't "cracked the code?" We have holes in our roster, we don't win every offseason, we don't hit on every draft pick and we sometimes lose games. How come I don't see those circumstances in any other teams?
Good question.
William from Southside
In regard to the Jaguars trading Cam Robinson only if a highly rated tackle was available at pick 17 - I had gotten the sense that Walker Little had performed capably whenever pressed into service; even though he was never settled at one position. I had thought he might be played at right tackle, with Harrison moved to the left. Is playing as a backup in fact viewed as his ceiling?
Little for the moment is viewed as a swing tackle. This view can change if Little plays well this season. Such assessments can be fluid.
Al from Orange Park, FL
I know that coaches and players don't use injuries as an excuse. You even seem to shy away from it a bit. But, bottom line, last season got derailed by injuries, plain and simple. Why must so many fans try to blame Baalke & the coaches? Yeah, I know, fans gonna fan....
You indeed already know.
Scooter
If the Jaguars move to a 4-3 defense this year, who are the 4 and who are the 3?
I wouldn't look at this defense as a 4-3 as much as a four-lineman with multiple looks in the back. That's the direction of a lot of defenses these days and feel like that's the direction the Jaguars will move under new defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen. I would expect the four to be Allen and Travon Walker on the edge with Arik Armstead and DaVon Hamilton/Roy Robertson Harris on the inside depending on the down and distance. I expect Foye Oluokun and Devin Lloyd to be on the field at linebacker on most downs, with the Jaguars in many combinations of defensive backs behind them.
Marcus from Jacksonville
The NFL is focused on player safety, with head injuries at or near the top of that list. The NFL also seems to believe that the Guardian Caps used in training camp and practices reduce head injuries. Do you think we'll ever see those used in games, and if not, why not? The only reason I can see not using them is because the way they look (they do look ridiculous!) and because they obstruct the view of the most recognizable part of the team uniform. By not using them, are they basically prioritizing brand recognition (and therefore money) over the safety of the players?
Implementing a major change such as guardian caps takes approval of NFL ownership, which can (understandably) take time. Studies must be done to determine how the helmets will hold up – and feel for the players – in game, full-contact situations. I get a feeling it's absolutely possible that some version of these will be used in NFL regular-season games someday – and relatively soon. Remember, too: Helmet manufacturers and designers are working constantly to improve this equipment. I would expect elements that have been used in the guardian caps to increasingly be used in regular helmets. Bottom line: This is enough of a focus that helmets like will change in appearance – at least subtly – fairly quickly, and that's a positive trend.
Daniel from Johnston, IA
"So this by no means is – nor has it neem – an inexpensive roster. " I read and re-read it a couple of times. Can you use "neem" in another sentence so I can intuit its usage?
Can I mumbo dogface to the banana patch?
Don from Marshall NC
Projection of the draft looks like not many DL going in front of the Jaguars. The Jaguars are going to get their choice of several Top 10 talent types. I would like to see them trade up in the third round and get the player they want this time. Go Jaguars!
When it comes to trading up for a defensive lineman, Don remains passionately and strikingly persistently "all in."
