JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it…

Paul from Lake City, FL

I completely understand the fan frustration with Press Taylor and play calling. That said, I also think that the playbook might open up just a bit this coming season regardless of who's calling the plays if the Jaguars are able to improve the run blocking. I'm no expert, but it would seem that might help.

I, too, completely understand the fan frustration with Jaguars offensive coordinator Press Taylor during the 2023 season. That doesn't mean Taylor did a bad job last season, or that fans should have been frustrated with him. Rather, it means I understand why fans were frustrated. There were expectations for the Jaguars' offense in 2023, and the unit didn't fulfill them – and it's always coaching in the NFL. But while Taylor endured much criticism in 2023, the critics tend to overlook a couple of realities the critics. The most obvious: Taylor called plays in the second halves of games in 2022, and there was scant criticism as the Jaguars engineered multiple second-half comebacks in a remarkable run to the AFC South title. The other reality: The Jaguars' offense wasn't much different philosophically in 2023 than it was in 2022. The primary difference was that while the Jaguars were OK run-blocking in big situations in 2022, they were among the NFL's worst in that area in 2023. That affected the offensive negatively overall. So, yes … improving the run-blocking absolutely will help. Whoever is calling plays.

Chris from Tampa

Speaking of that 2001 season, I asked if you were there for the legendary "Playoffs??!?" bit, but now I ask, were you the one you corrected Mora when he said they threw four interceptions returned for touchdowns? "Five??!?" cracks me up more than the playoff bit.

I was there during former Indianapolis Colts Head Coach Jim Mora's famous/infamous "Playoffs!?!" press conference following a 2001 Week 11 loss to the San Francisco 49ers. I didn't correct Mora. Quarterback Peyton Manning also didn't have four interceptions returned for touchdowns in the game. He had one interception returned for a touchdown. The Colts did commit five turnovers that day, though. It wasn't pretty.

Brad from The Avenues

John, after reading Nicholas from Fort Cavasos, Texas submission from Friday's Ozone, I noticed that he left out a personal angst of mine. It's about that tiny little box that we have to type in our longer, drawn-out essays, dissertations and manifestos, which makes it more difficult and tedious to go back and reread our work before hitting submit form. It's almost as if it's intended to keep our questions and such as shor ... oh, wait ... I get it, never mind.

You're getting it.

Pedal Bin from Farnborough, Hampshire, UK

Oh Mighty 'O' / King of all Funk, I thought you were a fan of Suicidal Tendencies? They didn't make your "band list?

I liked Suicidal Tendencies in the mid-1980s, but I must be transparent and admit I liked mainly "Institutionalized" and "I Saw Your Mommy." And although I appreciated hard-core punk such as Suicidal, Black Flag, Fear, the Germs and Minor Threat, I can't pretend to have been an aficionado. There are many people I consider friends – some still with us, some not – far more knowledgeable of the genre, which is why no hard-core bands appear on my "band list." I liked a lot of the music, but did so from afar. The people who lived the life were the aficionados.

Sal from Austin, TX

The play of then-second-year center Luke Fortner was not a storyline going into the 2023 season, which would indicate the Jaguars felt good about him. Fast forward to now, and it looks like he's the primary backup with only a 32-year-old free agent ahead of him. Chances are, he's going back in at some point. What happened? Was it a Sophomore Slump? Did he underestimate what it took to prepare? Was it personal stuff? (I don't want to be nosey, but he should get a chance to share his side of it.) Did he come in more prepared for organized team activities, or is it an "it is what it is" situation at this point?

Fortner was a bit of a storyline entering the 2023 season. The storyline essentially was that while he had played well for the most part as a rookie in '22, he was not overly stout or strong at the point – and he needed to develop physically to be a strong starter. Because he was entering his second season, it was generally assumed that he would take a step forward in 2023. That didn't happen. I have no indication that he didn't prepare or that it was a slump. The Jaguars addressed the center position by signing veteran center Mitch Morse in the offseason. The Jaguars have spoken highly of Fortner in the offseason, and I would agree that he's the favorite to be the backup center entering 2024. It's not fair to write off a third-year player as "it is what it is" at this point. We'll see how Fortner plays in training camp. Stay tuned.

Marc from Oceanway

Zone, I'm a fan of Philip Roth, but I have not read ALL of his many books. Do you have a favorite?

Reading all Roth novels is a difficult task. He was as prolific as he was gifted. I liked Goodbye Columbus quite a bit and I don't know that I've ever not enjoyed a Roth novel. I also was intrigued by 1990's Deception, which was almost entirely dialogue. That's a tricky way to write an extended story. Roth, as might be expected, pulled it off brilliantly.

Artie from Buenos Aires

You often talk highly of Cooper Hodges, despite him having no NFL experience. What did you see in him that makes you speak so highly of him?

What I have written about Jaguars offensive lineman Cooper Hodges is that the Jaguars think very highly of him and believe he could develop into a starter and a very good player. They believe this because of his size, athleticism and his approach in practice and around the facility. I don't know if Hodges will be good or not because the only time I have seen him or been around him extensively has been in have seen him in a handful of 2023 Training Camp practices. I'm good. I'm not good enough to know if an offensive lineman can start in the NFL after seeing him at a handful of training camp practices.

Cliff from Orange Park, FL

Don't you think that the best pizza or beer is the one in front of you? Love the one you're with.

There's truth here. It's a little less true as I (poorly) age, but there's still truth.

Jay from So-Cal

John from Jacksonville had a couple good points in the O-Zone. First off, Gary is an evil being and let's get some better options than some heat reduction canopies or whatever and run some air conditioning seat side cold mist system, cooled seats and more cool things. Be more comfortable. Get on with your bad self.

Gary from St. Augustine, FL, is hardly evil. He's just an observer who makes some really good points. As for how the Stadium of the Future will be cooled, I remain in awe of the scientific/engineering expertise of O-Zone readers. Whoda thought this forum drew such elite minds?

Sam from Orlando, FL

Is it true that Eugene "the toolman" Frenette could of had the new stadium built by now but he just doesn't want to put a shirt on and drive?

When longtime Florida Times-Union sports columnist, Northeast Florida cultural icon and force of nature Eugene P. "Gene" Frenette" puts his mind to a construction project – be it a state-of-the-art stadium or just bein' handy 'round the abode – he indeed works at mind-bending pace. Cost overruns and delays are considered a given in both major and minor construction projects. Though Gene has been known to flirt with missing a deadline for state edition, he never, ever has missed a budget. He's a special guy.

Jerry from Italia, FL

So Zone, I did some extensive research, five minutes of googling, and found out the Jags are the only NFL team ever to have two quarterbacks selected in the first round of the same NFL draft who both led their college team to a National Championship. Pretty rarified air we are in, don't you think? Boy is this dead zone getting to me.

Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence and Jaguars backup quarterback Mac Jones indeed were selected in the same 2021 NFL Draft – Lawrence No. 1 overall by the Jaguars and Jones by the New England Patriots No. 16 overall. Lawrence quarterbacked Clemson to the national title following the 2018 season and Jones quarterbacked Alabama to the national title following the '20 season. It's interesting. It's trivia. Considering how little winning a college national title means when projecting NFL success for a quarterback, I don't know if the air is all that rarified.