JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it … Mike from Mandarin, FL:
Hey, John … So, I guess now we have to listen and read how the Jags are going to move to St. Louis, right? Ohhhhhhh … the madness will never end.
John: I suppose the "madness" may not end, but anyone sane – anyone with an eye on the facts, actually – knows a move is not going to happen. To review: the Rams' pending move to Los Angeles became official Tuesday, not-at-all unexpectedly spawning a round of Jaguars-to-St.-Louis-because-Jaguars-Owner-Shad-Khan-really-likes-St. Louis tweets on Twitter. Khan later that evening told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and ESPN he had no interest in moving the Jaguars to St. Louis. This statement lines up with … well, it lines up with everything Khan has said or done since buying the Jaguars in 2011. The Jaguars and the city are about to break ground on a $90 million indoor-facility/club renovation – this after major upgrades to the locker room, training facility … and, oh, yes, the world's largest video boards and pools and on and on and on. These are not the actions of a man poised to leave. All Khan has done since buying the Jaguars is commit to making the Jaguars stronger in Jacksonville. The improvements to and around EverBank Field do that, and the international presence in London is designed with that in mind as well. The end result is he has dramatically solidified the franchise financially. The national speculation about moving won't stop because people won't bother to acknowledge facts, but the facts will continue to show that Khan is committed to this city, this team and his vision.
Frank from Jville:
How long do you think it will be before the rumor mills start talking about the Jags relocating to St. Louis now that the Rams are headed to L.A.?
John: It took about eight seconds on Twitter, by my count. Many people have theories and opinions. That doesn't make many people correct.
Chad from EverBank:
Greg Jones was a beast! If he played in an era where fullbacks weren't as relevant, he'd have perfected his craft at another position. The guy knew how to play football.
John: True.
DUVAL DOOM from Section 217:
Two incredibly disheartened fan bases out there Wednesday. I cannot say enough how lucky we are to have Shad Khan doing everything in his power to improve this team and city. One fer Shad! #DTWD
John: One fer Shad. #DTWD
Jerry from North Lauderdale:
Not a question – just wanted to tell Shad Khan, Thank You! If not for him I believe Tuesday would have been the worst day in Jacksonville history. People can say what they want about Jacksonville, but what it comes down to is we care as football fans for our Jaguar team and no one can take it from us!
John: Another fer Shad …
Jeff from Atlantic Beach, FL:
It's nice to be able to laugh at the people saying the Jags are moving to St. Louis. They have no idea what Mr. Khan has done here. One fer Shad Khan bringing stability to the franchise!
John: … and still another.
Anthony from Madison, WI:
You state you think Bortles' improvement in terms of the mental side of the game will come incrementally, but I would argue that his abilities improved drastically not just mechanically, but also mentally, between his first and second season. Sure, he threw a lot of interceptions this past season, but it must also be noted he was running the offense –, not throwing screens and short, scripted throws like he was more so in his rookie season. I expect being in the same offensive system for a year as well should help immensely. I would be surprised if Bortles doesn't take a fairly large step forward in the mental part of the game this offseason – and I think, like he did this season, he will surprise you and many others.
John: I think Bortles absolutely will take a step in the 2016 season. What I meant by incremental as much as anything is the results may not be quite so dramatic or obvious as they were from Year 1 to Year 2.
John from Jacksonville:
With free safety being discussed lately as a tough position at which to find top talent, who would you rate as a couple of top elites in that position across the league?
John: Earl Thomas, Tyrann Mathieu.
Keith from Palatka, FL:
In regards to Luke Joeckel being OK at left tackle and his last game being an outlier or anomaly ... I ain't buyin' it. I started to drink the Kool-Aid, but then thought, "How would I like to be the quarterback of the Jaguars with Luke Joeckel blocking and J.J. Watt against him at defensive end?" Unless you are a complete masochist, the idea is less than appealing. If you and Dave think Luke is okay, how would you like to be in the aforementioned scenario? If you had to play quarterback, like poor Blake does against Watt, would you spend the money on a left tackle in free agency?
John: If there was someone a lot better, sure – just as I would probably spend the money on pretty much any position if there were someone a lot better available in free agency.
Steven from Fernandina Beach, FL:
Let's jump ahead a year and life in Jaguarland is wonderful. The team suffered no injuries, and played to its potential. Based on this scenario, which would have had a bigger impact: The 2015 draft class, or 2015 free-agent class?
John: How many sacks did Dante Fowler Jr. have in your little fantasy?
Richard from Gainesville, FL:
What up, O? With all the free-safety talk, I have a question: would it be fair to say that a strong safety would be the more physical position and free safety would be more of a "skilled" position that also requires more speed – this making the free-safety spot a more difficult position to fill as Jaguars General Manager David Caldwell suggested? Now, if this is the case, why is this not a more coveted position in earlier rounds? Or have I just not recognized this correctly?
John: You are generally correct with your assessment of the positions, and the issue is not that free safety isn't coveted in earlier rounds. The issue is finding a player worth taking in the earlier rounds.
Aaron from Chantilly:
Exactly how cool is Sen? He is hilarious and a leader. As it turns out, he is a good football player, too. What a dude...
John: Jaguars defensive tackle Sen'Derrick Marks, who appeared as our guest on Jaguars.com LIVE Wednesday, is a remarkable example of a player who is exactly as cool off camera as on – and who pretty much is exactly the same person talking to fans as he is talking to teammates as he is talking to reporters as he is talking to cameras … whoever. He's as genuine a player as I've ever been around .. and yeah, he's cool. It's hard not to like him.
Joe from San Antonio, TX:
I was thinking about it, and I could only come up with one logical conclusion: anyone who does not want to see Tom Coughlin in the Pride of the Jaguars was not a fan of this team in the 90s. Sure, we had some good years under JDR, but the Coughlin era was indisputably the best time period for this team.
John: Yes, it was.
Marc from Section 239:
Hey John, can you explain how Alex Mack's contract works so that he can somehow be a Jaguar next year? Is it completely his choice? Would we have to compensate Cleveland if he does opt to join us?
John: Mack can opt out of his contract with the Browns this offseason. If he chooses to do so, he will be a free agent. No team would have to compensate the Browns at that point for signing Mack.
Ethan from Duvall:
Zone, do you think T.J. Yeldon can be a franchise back?
John: I think Yeldon can be a very productive starting running back, and I think for the most part that's what you want from running backs these days. I don't really believe you need franchise backs anymore, and I'm not sure there are a whole lot of them around anyway. There's Adrian Peterson and then there's …
Ivan from Hollywood:
I have no idea if Caldwell and Bradley will be back for Year Five. I do know if they are gone, having an owner that gave the prior regime time to execute their four-year plan will make the openings much more attractive to possible candidates.
John: Yes.
Dave from Oviedo, FL:
O-man … Arguably, the Jaguars' play of the year was Allen Hurns' diving catch against Buffalo in London. Do you think it would have been a travesty if the officials ruled him out?
John: I think if Hurns had been ruled out Gus Bradley might have said this, and I think he would have been spot on.