Join jaguars.com senior editor Vic Ketchman as he tackles the fans' tough questions.
Michael from London, UK
With the offseason upgrades at the receiver positions, do you think the Jaguars receiving corps now ranks within the top four in the league: Patriots, Browns, Colts and Jaguars?
Vic: Easy now, easy.
Jeremy from Jacksonville
I think we should get rid of these fan polls. At last check the Jaguars had an overwhelming lead over the Pats as number one.
Vic: All polls tell us something. So what is this one saying?
Rick from Jacksonville
Since we all seem to enjoy preseason polls, would you rank the following activities in order of what you enjoy the most personally and professionally? 1.) Writing the “Ask Vic” column. 2.) Blogging during a Jags game. 3.) Conducting postgame interviews. 4.) Doing the radio show with Jeff and Brian.
Vic: Two of those activities are connected with not-so-pleasant activities. When I blog a game, there comes a point toward the end of the game that I have to shut it down and get down to the locker room, and that can involve a crunch of reporters at the elevator if I have to wait until after the game is over. The same thing with postgame interviews; they involve a crunch of reporters. I would have to say that doing “Ask Vic” and the “Jaguars This Week” radio show probably rank a little higher on my enjoyment meter because I can do both leisurely. Now, if I could blog, for example, without having to go down to the locker room after the game, then blogging the game might be number one on my list. I really enjoy it, until the final few minutes of the game. Packing up and getting out of the press box is not fun.
Nen from Edcouch Elsa, TX
How does Mike Peterson look? Any lingering effects from that injury from last year?
Vic: Mike looks young. I see no effects of the broken hand. He’s all the way back and moving with the ease of a young man. In Tuesday’s practice, Mike covered a back into the flat and knocked the pass away with his right hand. That’s impressive for a middle linebacker. The thing that Mike has going for him is healthy legs. He’s broken his wrist and hand and those are injuries that can be fixed without losing a step. That’s what keeps a linebacker in the league; not losing a step and Mike doesn’t appear to have lost one.
Brett from Marks, MS
Do you have any information on the progress of Greg Estandia's recovery?
Vic: He’s fully recovered. He’s practicing.
Daniel from Jacksonville
So how does Matt Jones look in camp? Do you see any improvements?
Vic: He had a couple of impressive practices last week, but he must have a little touch of something this week because I didn’t see him participate in passing drills on Tuesday and I don’t remember him catching anything on Monday.
Kevin from Patrick AFB, FL
With the depth and talent we have at linebacker, do you think a transition to a 3-4 would work for our defense? As you say, it's players, not plays, and that configuration would seem to put the best players on the field.
Vic: No, it would not work. I don’t understand why I keep getting this question. The Jaguars’ personnel does not fit a 3-4. First of all, John Henderson would become a human chopping block if you played him at nose tackle. Secondly, Derrick Harvey and Quentin Groves would probably have to play linebacker. Ends in a 3-4 are two-gappers and Harvey and Groves are anything but two-gappers. The defensive backs would fit a 3-4 because 3-4 defensive backs have to play a lot of zone and I think the Jaguars’ defensive backs could do that nicely, but everything up front is all wrong. What becomes of Derek Landri? The only lineman who would seem to fit is Paul Spicer. I guess you could move Henderson out to end but how does that make you a stronger defense? This defense is built to play a 4-3. That doesn’t mean the Jaguars can’t change it up and play some 3-4 in special situations, but I can’t imagine making the 3-4 the Jaguars’ base defense.
David from Jacksonville
Gene Smith said Mike Walker has a “nice catching radius.” What is he describing?
Vic: He’s describing the extent of Walker’s ability to catch balls outside the framework of his body. Draw a stick man. Now draw a circle around his body that represents the zone in which your stick man is capable of catching a football. How high can he go? How low can he go? Can he go as far to his left as he can to his right? Now connect the dots. That’s your stick man’s catching radius. Walker has a good one.
Jude from Elizabeth, NJ
What do you think about all this hype about the Lakers and Celtics historic rematch? Do you think it can really live up to the one it’s being promoted for?
Vic: It probably won’t. Larry Bird and Magic Johnson are legendary players and their head-to-head confrontations go back to their college days. I don’t think the rematch can match the Bird-Johnson rivalry. I watched a replay of a game from the Bird-Johnson era on ESPN Classic on Tuesday and I was stunned by the body types in that game, and it had nothing to do with the length of their shorts. Those guys were stick men compared to today’s players. Improved nutrition, I guess. Funny, but I don’t remember going to bed hungry back then.
Roy from Gainesville, FL
Do you think Mike Walker can be a star in this league?
Vic: He has the hands of a star receiver. He has a powerful physique and straight-line speed and when he had strength in his knee last spring and early in training camp last summer, yes, I saw a player who could become a star. It’s all up to his knee. If it’ll allow him to express his talents fully, then, yes, Walker can be a star.