Join jaguars.com senior editor Vic Ketchman as he tackles the fans' tough questions.
Shaun from Jacksonville
Are we gonna be stuck with that hack, Ryan, while you are vacationing?
Vic: Not now.
Jason from Franklin, NH
What wide receiver do you think will have the biggest impact with the Jags this season?
Vic: It’s supposed to be Jerry Porter and I have every reason to believe it will be but, I gotta tell you, I saw things from Troy Williamson the past couple of weeks I haven’t seen in a long time. Was this a tease? I really don’t know what to think. You see a guy play as he has and you wonder what went wrong with his former team. The Vikings aren’t stupid. What the heck happened there? The other candidate is Mike Walker, but I’m not gonna curse him with the same high expectations I had for him at this time last year. I’m gonna take it slow with Walker and I’m going to temper my expectations by always acknowledging that patience is required for Walker to make a full recovery from knee surgery.
Reginald from Jacksonville
I’d like to know what is going on with the naming rights to the stadium?
Vic: There’s nothing imminent at this time.
Andy from Jacksonville
In Thursday's article, you mentioned the OTA winners. In your opinion, were there any losers?
Vic: You can’t have losers in OTAs because whatever ground may have been lost can be made up very quickly in training camp. Training camp trumps OTAs, the preseason trumps training camp, the regular season trumps the preseason and the postseason is the ultimate proving ground.
Andy from Roswell, GA
Thanks for the OTA reporting. I appreciate the information. How is it possible for linemen to distinguish themselves during this period? How does someone like Collier take a position without blocking someone? Is it purely a message to the players, or can the coaches see something?
Vic: As I said, ground can be lost or made up very quickly once the pads go on. There are, however, ways to judge linemen in OTAs. You judge them on the way they move their feet, use their hands and execute their technique. Richard Collier’s use of feet, hands and technique in OTAs had obviously impressed head coach Jack Del Rio and line coach Andy Heck.
Jesper from Aarhus, Denmark
What did relying on the pass game do to the Patriots? They went 18-0 and lost a ridiculously close game. They set passing records and completed the finest regular season in history. What if they had lost that one game in week seven or eight and taken home the trophy? It could have gone either way. The Patriots pass as well as any team ever. Why change that? I still think the Pats would have beaten the Giants eight times out of 10.
Vic: What I was trying to convey was that the Patriots’ dominance began to wane in the second half of the season as they got away from the running game and became more one-dimensional. In my opinion, that’s what cost them the Super Bowl. They were very predictable, which allowed the Giants to pin back their ears and go after Tom Brady. The Patriots should’ve run the ball more. Bill Belichick made a major tactical error. He lost sight of the big picture. He lost patience.
Chris from Jacksonville Beach, FL
To simplify this internet vs. newspaper controversy, my mother summed it up best by asking: Do you believe everything you read?
Vic: I trust the outlets from which I acquire my news. They’ve proven to be trustworthy.
Gabe from Jacksonville
It seems as though we have a lot of talent and depth at wide receiver. How high do you think we rank at the position and how much, if at all, has it improved from last year.
Vic: Rank? I don’t know. Based on what I saw in spring practices, however, the improvement in the Jaguars’ wide receiving corps is significant. It has a chance to be the deepest wide receiver corps in this team’s history.
Casey from Richmond, VA
Did you know that an asteroid was recently named after Myron Cope?
Vic: I didn’t know that. Thanks for the news. I’m delighted to hear it. Myron was a great friend and I miss him. I’ll tell you a little story of my last visit with him. It was the day of the playoff game. I think fate had the Jaguars play in Pittsburgh for the playoffs so I could make that final visit. Anyhow, Myron was under heavy sedation in both of my final visits with him, while he was in the hospital. I would call his name but he didn’t hear me. I was about to leave when the doctor came into the room and said, “Talk to him. Make him hear you.” I thought about it for a few seconds and then I leaned forward and said: “Myron, you gotta wake up because the Steelers need you. They got a playoff game in a few hours and I think they’re gonna lose.” All of a sudden, and I have a witness, Myron opened his eyes. He looked right at me, gave me a slight smile and mouthed these words: “How are you?” I wasn’t sure at first what he was trying to say, but then it came to me. “I’m fine, Myron,” I said. He closed his eyes and went back to sleep. I feel blessed to have had that exchange.
Cole from Jacksonville
“The truth is the pure defense.” Is that a quote of your own creation? I can't find it anywhere else.
Vic: It’s from one of my first news reporting classes in journalism school. Nothing from my time in school ever made a greater impact on me. It’s the reporter’s creed. Do you have proof? If you do, go ahead and write it.
Alan from Jacksonville
I have seen a few articles about an NFL policy that might prohibit live blogging by even credentialed media members, such as yourself. Is this true and, if so, does it mean the end of game blogs? Say it ain't so!
Vic: Nothing can stop my gameday blog. I’ll go to jail in defense of my right to blog. I promise never to leave you blogless.
Dan from Ponte Vedra Beach, FL
I was just wondering what are your thoughts about soccer?
Vic: It’s a great sport. I truly mean that. Unfortunately, I was never exposed to it as a child, therefore, when I was fortunate enough to have attended what is considered to be one of the greatest soccer games ever played, I lacked the ability to enjoy it. I’m talking about a game in the 1976 Olympics between, I think, Brazil and Argentina. I think the final score was 1-0. The game was of monumental importance in South America and around the world. My world, however, tends to be a little smaller in scope. I barely paid attention and I left before it was over. I tried, Dan, I really tried. I am a Cretin.
Greg from Matthews, NC
In your summary of winners of the spring, you left yourself off the list. Personally, I thought you brought it and protected your house quite will these past few months.
Vic: I’m very happy that you and a lot of other Jaguars fans enjoyed the coverage. It means everything to me. I tease a lot about the paycheck being all I need, but knowing your stuff is being read and valued is a big part of the paycheck, too. The Jags had a real good spring. I enjoyed bringing it to the team’s fans. Give me a few weeks to visit friends and family and I’ll be ready to do it again.
Eugen from Wiesbaden, Germany
The Jaguars have tried all sorts of things to sell more tickets, but here's the simple truth: The NFL miscalculated when it put a team in Jacksonville. As long as they're in Jacksonville, the Jaguars just aren't going to be the kind of team that has a packed stadium and a season-ticket waiting list. Please comment.
Vic: I don’t agree. It’ll happen here. This franchise is going to be a monster some day. What we all need to do, and I include myself and my two tickets, is buy the time this town and this team need to deepen the roots of professional football in Jacksonville.
Brandon from Provo, UT
Which quarterback from the three-most recent drafts do you predict will have the greatest long-term success: Cutler, Russell, Quinn, Beck, Kolb, Ryan, Flacco?
Vic: I would favor Matt Ryan. I think the situation in Atlanta is tailor-made for him. He’s a bright guy with the discipline of personality and the lifestyle the Falcons need to package as the image of their team. He is, in short, the antithesis of Michael Vick, and I think the guy can play, too.
Jonny from Taylorville, IL
I haven't heard much about Reggie Nelson. How did his spring go and where will he be playing?
Vic: Clearly, the Jaguars intend to feature Nelson this season. I could see that by the way Gregg Williams used him this spring. I think I saw Nelson blitz more than any linebacker. Nelson had what I would call a “big spring.” What I mean by that is his role was expanded tremendously and the demands Williams’ defense put on him were intense. The Jags love his play-making ability. He could have a big year, but he’s got to get comfortable with the assignment demands of this new defense.