Vic: Conventionally speaking, there’s a difference between the requirements for playing the strongside position as compared to the middle and weakside linebacker spots. Strongside linebackers play over the tight end and need to be more adept at pass-coverage because they’re going to do a lot of it. Strongside guys need to be able to play in space. The middle and weakside guys need to be big enough, strong enough and tough enough to take on blocks, shed and make the tackle; they’re going to be involved quite often in the tight-quarters action in the middle of the field. You’d like the weakside guy to have the speed to chase down plays from behind because he is often coming from the backside. Jack Del Rio has talked a lot about mixing and matching his linebackers. Akin Ayodele has played strong and weak, Mike Peterson has played weak and middle and Daryl Smith was an inside guy in college. In most cases, however, players are fit to specific positions and roles.

Vic: They were reviewing for the tip. If there was a tip, there couldn’t be pass interference. If there hadn’t been a tip, they would not have reviewed to determine if the defender had, in fact, interfered with the receiver’s right to catch the ball. Penalties are not subject to review.

Vic: Wadda ya think of the shirts? I get a lot of teasing about the shirts. I found out a guy at work was getting teased one day because he was wearing a shirt that looked like something I would wear. I don’t understand what’s so bad about my shirts.

Vic: It also helps fill space with stuff I don’t have to think too much about.

Vic: The Jaguars attempted to make a draft-day trade with Chicago that would’ve allowed the Jaguars to draft Curtis Enis. He was the pounder Tom Coughlin wanted. The deal was almost done before it fell through. The Bears drafted Enis and, after a fast start, he sustained a major knee injury that had him out of football within a couple of years. The Jaguars made Taylor the second running back picked in the 1998 draft, four picks after the Bears took Enis. Two other running backs were selected in that year’s first round; Robert Edwards and John Avery. Edwards had a big rookie year before sustaining a catastrophic knee injury that ended his career; Avery was a bust. Robert Holcombe was the only back taken in the second round; he was never anything more than a “guy.” Ahman Green, taken in the third round, is the only other running back from that draft that turned into a star. Clearly, Fred Taylor was a plum pick.

Vic: Here’s a little factoid for you about “Inside a Minute.” It’s seldom inside a minute.

Vic: That’s correct, only two of a team’s 16 games are determined by the previous year’s standings. If the Jaguars finish in second place this year, they’ll play the second-place teams from the AFC North and AFC West next season. What that means is that, within the divisions, the schedules have been somewhat standardized to exclude much in the way of a difference in degree of difficulty. That standardization does not exist within the conferences, however, because one division could find itself playing another division that is especially weak. The AFC South is playing the NFC West this year and most people would regard the NFC West as being a weak division. The other thing that’s not standardized and can’t be standardized is the site of the games. Two teams may each have to play the Colts, but one will play them at home and the other one will have to play at the Colts. Where would you rather play the Colts? At home on a cold and windy day, or inside their noisy bandbox? The bottom line is that there can’t be a totally equitable formula. Some teams are going to get the breaks and some teams are going to have to overcome misfortune. It’s another reason pro football appeals to us. It’s a microcosm of life. Some of us have to try harder.

Vic: You’re probably right.