JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …
Michael from Orange Park, FL
Do I really have to watch this for six more games?
I assume you're referencing the Jaguars having six more regular-season games – and make no mistake: It's entirely understandable to be wary and even dreadful about watching this team in the next month and a half. But there's perhaps at least some recency bias in that statement, because while the Jaguars were beyond awful in a 52-6 loss to the Detroit Lions in their most recent game, they hadn't been that bad before. It's true that that's a low bar, because that Lions loss was pretty much as bad as it can be in professional football. But I digress. As for your question, I suppose the answer is "No" – that you do not have to watch the Jaguars' final six games. No one has to watch the Jaguars or any other sport. But perhaps look at it this way. We talk all offseason about the draft, about the tedium that is the offseason program, about the annual potential wasteland that is free agency and about the dreaded dead zone – all while eagerly anticipating the regular season. And that regular season lasts but 17 games. Perhaps enjoy the final six of those games, even if they don't have the meaning for which we all hoped.
Roscoe from Southside
Zone: Since the O-Line group normally carries nine players on game day, why wouldn't the decision makers be drafting at least one-to-two players per year to build this position group? It seems like that would be foundational to the team?
Many teams would do this if roster building were done in a vacuum, and I'm not arguing that there wouldn't be some validity in the approach. But NFL roster building isn't done in a vacuum, and when you're trying to build out of the abyss that the Jaguars were in during the 2020 and 2021 seasons, it's difficult to focus on just one area – even an area as important as the offensive line. Remember, too: The Jaguars recently have added multiple linemen each year through some avenue. They selected tackle Javon Foster in Round 4 of the NFL Draft and signed center Mitch Morse via free agency this past offseason. They selected guard Cooper Hodges in Round 7 of the 2023 NFL Draft and added guard Ezra Cleveland that season via trade with the Minnesota Vikings. It ideally would be better to acquire all players through the draft, and in the early rounds. That gives you a better chance of long-term, Pro Bowl-caliber players. But you only have so many draft selections and it's tough to acquire all in ideal fashion.
Trey from Jacksonville Beach, FL
Have you ever stopped to consider just what the hell you're doing?
All gas, no brakes.
Boxcutter Bill from Southbridge
There's still a chance ...
This email was of course written with at least part of a tongue at least somewhat firmly tucked in cheek – and few Jaguars observers have much faith that this 2-9 Jaguars team realistically can cobble together enough victories to make any sort of a postseason push. But because it's still early December, and because the Jaguars aren't yet mathematically eliminated, we'll dedicate (at least) one more O-Zone answer to playoff possibilities. The Jaguars realistically have little chance at a wild-card berth. That's the fate of a team with the worst record in the NFL through 11 games. Their AFC South chances are only slightly better, but here's why there's a chance at a division title: They play just one team with a winning record in the final six games – the Houston Texans (7-5) at EverBank Stadium on Sunday. The South-leading Texans, meanwhile, play the Miami Dolphins, Kansas City Chiefs and Baltimore Ravens following a Week 14 bye. IF the Jaguars win the rest of their games and the Texans lose the rest of their games, the Jaguars would win the division if the Indianapolis Colts (5-7) lose twice more. That's unlikely. It's not impossible. Will we still be discussing this Monday? Find out Sunday at the 'Bank.
Bill from Orange Park, FL
When are you going to stop defending Head Coach Doug Pederson and General Manager Trent Baalke?
People ask questions. I answer them. 'Tis been that way since I took over this forum on this free website and I suspect I will continue in that vein. How you wish to interpret these answers is somewhat – or perhaps entirely – up to you.
Karter from Sahuarita
Hello! I was wondering about what do owners discuss with their coaches when a season is going off the rails? Do they ask them to say why they think they're losing and don't use coach speak? Do coaches actually get to say if we had so and so instead of so and so or if we had X new thing in our training facility we would win more? I'm just curious how much transparency and honesty there is in those meetings. It's all fine and good and appropriate for coaches to take the blame to the media. But, I've been in those hard meetings when things are going wrong and we were actually trying to find root causes and knew we were going to have to call out people we wouldn't in public.
The tone and transparency of such meetings depend largely on the personality/approach of the owner and the head coach – and on their relationship. When and how often these meetings occur also depends on the people involve. Jaguars Owner Shad Khan and Head Coach Doug Pederson typically meet after all games, and they also speak during the week. The exact tone of these conversations is speculation for all who aren't in the meeting. But are Pederson and all head coaches generally more transparent and "real" with owners than they are with the media and public. Of course. To think otherwise would be naïve.
Rob from Orange Park, FL
I would guess that "losing the locker room" would pretty much end a head coach's stint with a team. So, is that true and how would Shad find out? Player interviews, interviews with the other coaches on the team or perhaps owners just know?
Having the belief of players – i.e., the locker room – indeed is key to being a successful head coach. It is from this the most important issue for a head coach and far outweighs play-calling, scheme, etc. If your players don't believe you're the right guy, you're not the right guy. Owners typically figure this out by talking to as many people with knowledge of a situation as possible, then making a decision based on information gathered.
Woody from Dunlap
KOAF: Using my higher math skills, as of December 1, 2024, you have penned 4,864 consecutive O-Zones. You have passed the Methuselah Bristlecone Pine Tree (4,856 years). Again, your streak is in days rather than years, but all the Methuselah Tree has done is stay alive. It has never written a single word in all those years. I did promise to locate your next target to exceed. Am trying. Even bought a Guinness Book of World Records and have been (yawn) going through it page by page. Have yet to identify a worthy target for you going forward. But do not give up hope! You will reach the amazing milestone of 5,000 on or about April 15, 2025! You are over 97% of the way there. Just do not deviate from your current rigorous training regime! By the way, what does your training regime consist of?
Training regime: Stretching an increasingly aging back daily, NordicTracking for as long as it takes not to feel guilty about NordicTracking more and mixing in an embarrassingly small number of pushups or an equally embarrassingly light dumbbell workout. I'm weaker than I look, but I make it up for it by not being particularly strong.
George from Savannah, GA
Regardless of the outcome on Sunday, this season has been a total disappointment. The worst outcome would be winning a few games in the final stretch and Khan retaining both Pederson and Baalke.
It remains to be seen what decisions Khan makes following the 2024 season. Whatever decisions get made likely will be made based on games played when the Jaguars still had postseason ramifications rater than games played afterward.
Rob from Orange Park, FL
"It makes it a roster that's not quite good enough yet to be great." At 2-9 more accurately, "Not good enough to be good."
Fair. The Jaguars aren't good. The thought here is the Jaguars' roster is good enough to be good or at least competitive – i.e., around .500 – had they won a winnable game here or there. They have had enough close games to make the case that they could have won one or two more of those games. It's harder to make the argument that they could have won all those close games because you usually don't win all your close games.
