JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …

Will from Jacksonville

KOAF, I'm finding it hard to be hopeful of any significant improvement on our offensive line. Can you help? Walker Little just got paid, Ezra Cleveland and Mitch Morse require dead-cap hits to move on from and it seems we'll stick with Anton Harrison at right tackle. The early draft talk expects us to go defense in Round 1. So realistically we're going to plug in Cooper Hodges (an unknown with a lengthy injury history), another free agent, or a mid-round rookie for Brandon Scherff and expect that to solve all our run-blocking woes? Is there any hope of a more significant shakeup? Please don't tell me coaching … coaching doesn't move a defensive tackle on fourth-and-1.

This a fair and pertinent concern. Four-fifths of the Jaguars' offensive line is indeed under contract at least through the 2025 next season – and it would be very surprising if right tackle Anton Harrison, left tackle Walker Little and left guard Ezra Cleveland weren't starting next season. There's also a decent chance that center Mitch Morse returns. This is a good thing in the sense that all of the aforementioned are good NFL players who could start capably for a lot of NFL teams. It's a disturbing thing in the sense that the Jaguars' line hasn't been dominant enough as a run-blocking unit in recent seasons. I would expect one interior spot to be addressed in a major way – possibly in free agency. I also would expect the Jaguars' overall attitude/approach to emphasize the importance of the offensive line. I expect the organization's expectations for the run game to be higher moving forward. Expectations – like coaching – can't improve a line by itself, but they can be part of why a line improves. Will the Jaguars' offensive line be dominant next season? I don't know. But will the organization's focus on the area improve it over time? That is absolutely the expectation.

Rich from Dacula, GA

What is our current status on amount of draft picks we have going into the draft?

The Jaguars currently hold 10 selections in the 2025 NFL Draft: One in Round 1 (No. 5), one in Round 2, two in Round 3, two in Round 4, one in Round 5, two in Round 6 and one in Round 7. The Rounds 1-2 selections are their own originally assigned selections, as are one of their selections in each of Rounds 3-7. One of their Round 3 selections is from the Minnesota Vikings in the trade for the No. 23 overall selection in the 2024 NFL Draft that the Jaguars used to select wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. and one of the Round 4 selections also was obtained in that trade. One of the Round 6 selections is from Seattle in the trade this past August for outside linebacker Trevis Gipson. Specific positions in later rounds will be determined when the NFL announces compensatory selections later in the offseason.

Dbsuperbiker from Ormond Beach, FL

What age was Don Shula when he coached the perfect season with the Miami Dolphins?

Forty-two.

Tom from Mandarin

I am concerned that Waugh may get elevated to general manager. He was hired by Baalke in San Francisco, then brought to Jax as Baalke's assistant. My issue is having been tutored by Baalke, don't you think that we would just be getting Baalke 2.0?

I have received multiple versions of this question. Ethan Waugh, the Jaguars' vice president of player personnel in recent seasons and currently the Jaguars' interim general manager, absolutely is a candidate for the Jaguars' vacant general manager position. A he should be. While he indeed was hired by former General Manager Trent Baalke, remember: Just because somebody worked for and with someone doesn't mean he IS that someone. And while Waugh worked with Baalke with the San Francisco 49ers and Jaguars, he also worked for the 49ers under President of Football Operations/General Manager John Lynch and is held in high regard by Lynch and others in the 49ers' organization. I don't know if Waugh will be the Jaguars' permanent general manager. If he is, it won't be because of a past association with Baalke. It will be because of his own merit.

Mike from Daytona Beach, FL

The Philadelphia Eagles might just have the best offensive and defensive lines in the NFL. The Jaguars' offensive and defensive lines rank much lower. Why? To partially explain the overall quality disparity, let's compare their last seven drafts. The Eagles typically picked after the Jaguars in each round. They also had fewer total picks than the Jags (49 versus 64) and fewer premium first- or second-round picks (14 to 17). However, the Eagles prioritized physically dominant players for the trenches. They used 22 of their 49 picks (45 percent) for the offensive or defensive line. Meanwhile, the Jaguars used only 19 of bountiful 64 picks (30 percent) on the lines. So, the Jags had insufficient line depth to fall back on when some of the higher-drafted linemen did not live up to expectations. What say you, John?

We were told there would be no math.

Rob from Pittsburgh, PA

Hey, John. How you do feel about the coaching staff Liam Coen put together?

It's young and seems to fit Jaguars Head Coach Liam Coen's approach. Offensive coordinator Grant Udinski is considered a bright young mind who was well-respected at his last stop – the Minnesota Vikings – and works well with young quarterbacks. Defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile is considered a bright young mind and helped install a strong scheme that helped the Green Bay Packers be one of the top defenses in the NFL last season. It seems like a fine staff.

Keith from Titusville

John, can you please explain the responsibilities between an offensive coordinator, pass-game coordinator and a pass-game specialist?

An offensive coordinator oversees game-planning and approach for the entire offense. A pass-game coordinator oversees the passing game and reports to the offensive coordinator. A pass-game specialist works with the passing game and reports to the pass-game coordinator and offensive coordinator.

Steve from Hilton Head, SC

John, after watching the Super Bowl, it was obvious how well the Eagles defensive line rushed. They were very disciplined, not allowing a mobile quarterback to escape and scramble, resulting in sacks. It reminded me of how the Seattle Seahawks rushed Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning in 2014. Same result. Four rushers with seven pass defenders. Manning had little or no time to throw much beyond five yards. A good rush fixes a lot of problems.

A great quarterback changes games. The one thing a great quarterback can't do is win when under constant pressure. The two Super Bowls the Kansas City Chiefs lost came when quarterback Patrick Mahomes was under constant pressure (Tampa Bay, following the 2020 season; Philadelphia, following this past season). Two of the Super Bowls the New England Patriots lost in their dynastic run came when quarterback Tom Brady was under constant pressure (New York Giants following the 2007 and 2011 seasons). So it was and so it shall be.

Brian from Gainesville, FL

Big O, why is it so hard to assemble a quality offensive line and why are a few teams at the college and NFL level particularly good at it long-term? Why don't all teams just do what the teams that are good at it do?

Some of it's organizational philosophy, meaning some teams are willing to commit to the position with premium selections on draft day. Some of it is circumstance, meaning a team might feel it's in good enough positions at other positions for a few drafts to focus heavily on offensive line. Some of it's good fortune, meaning the offensive linemen they select develop into long-term foundation pieces. Some of it is coaching, because while coaching can't make bad players great, a front-line offensive line coach can play a key role in keeping a capable group cohesive. Why don't all teams do what the good teams do? Because as is the case with most things, you can't just copy what other people do and make it work. Some people are better at some things than other people.

Jerry from Riverview

If I'm not mistaken, the last quality Interior offensive lineman drafted by the Jaguars was Brad Meester in 2000. Maybe this might be an area to invest some early round draft picks. My hope is that with Tony Boselli involved with the organization, we'll see better results.

The Jaguars have selected other quality offensive linemen since selecting center Brad Meester in the second round of the 2000 NFL Draft. Guard Vince Manuwai (Round 3, 2003) was a quality player. As was Uche Nwaneri (Round 5, 2007). But no … the Jaguars haven't drafted enough quality interior offensive linemen.

Steve from Nashville, TN

Is there an official or accepted definition of a "negative play" - obviously fumble and interception INT would be in there?

Different teams define negative play differently. Fumble, interception and any play that loses yardages … start there.