JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …
Josh from Atlanta, GA
Not to the point that I see Campanile being a hot topic in the coaching carousel in 2026, but the roster talent just truly feels better than the results last year, defensively. Putting players in the right spot alone should make them better, but a good scheme and the combination of both our players AND plays should absolutely bring this defense from the literal bottom to quite possibly the top one-third of the league. Overly optimistic? Maybe. I just really do like a lot of this defensive talent.
This continues a recent O-Zone thread regarding Jaguars defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile, with the thread's theme being that the defense could improve dramatically in his first season in the position. The underlying thread is that the talent was better than the admittedly abysmal season the unit had in 2024 – and it's not hard to see the reasoning behind this thread. Could this unit get much, much better this season? Yes. The players believe in Campanile and players believing in a coach is perhaps the No. 1 factor in the all-important area of coaching in the NFL.
Bryan from Rip City
Yo, Grizz! According to Jaguars color commentator and former player Jeffrey David Lageman, Travis Hunter can close the gap "like nobody's business." While I can infer that means he's fast, can he also "give them the business" on defense? And furthermore, will opposing defensive backs make "business decisions" covering him?
I think you're asking if Jaguars rookie wide receiver/defensive back Travis Hunter in addition to having high-end athleticism, speed, hands, quickness, anticipation and body control also can run over NFL defenders – and impress with physicality and power. No, I don't think that's Hunter's strength.
Michael from Mean Streets of Arlington
A lot of the highlights and commentary show/imply leaping catches more than I would expect. Is one of the knocks on quarterback Trevor Lawrence that he's not hitting receivers in stride?
No.
Scott from Aruba
I won't say who/where, but there's a debate taking place over who is the greatest left tackle in Jaguars history. Not a debate over who is No. 2. I think I should just stick to the comments section of the O-Zone. It's a safe place.
I'm assuming this email is serious, which may be a silly assumption – though not as silly as a debate over the best left tackle in Jaguars history. Or something like that. Current Executive Vice President of Football Operations Tony Boselli, the franchise's lone Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinee, is the greatest left tackle in franchise history. It's not close. Any other argument is absurd. Or at least silly. Also: What's a "comments section?"
Ken from Jacksonville
Based on what you have seen so far, how much further ahead is BTJ than Hunter - is there a wide margin?
I don't really look at Jaguars wide receivers Brian Thomas Jr. and Hunter to see which one's "ahead" of the other – mainly because their styles are very different. Thomas is a more traditional receiver, and a more polished route runner. Hunter has elite body control, quickness and hands. I would anticipate Thomas having more receptions and yards than Hunter this season; he might be slightly more consistent in terms of week-to-week production. I expect Hunter's strengths may be making slightly more eye-catching plays. I also would expect Hunter to work the middle of the field and in space more than Thomas, with Hunter using his explosives and ability in and out of breaks to get open. These are generalities and they don't mean that one player is not good at the other's strengths. They both look like they're going to be really good. Wide receiver Dyami Brown looks really good, too, which means the Jaguars' receivers have a chance to be special. And that's really what matters.
Homer from Springfield
I just watched the NFL Network's, "It was always the Jags." It feels like an eternity ago. Hopefully this year's squad can recreate some of that magic. No question, KOAF. Just overworked, under slept and eager for some football.
That 2022 AFC South title season indeed seems like a long time ago. Life comes at you fast in the NFL.
Fred from Naples, FL
Why is Arik Armstead not practicing? Is he hurt? I understand "veteran's days off" but a whole week? We have two other 31-year olds on the team and they are out there practicing every day!
Jaguars defensive tackle Arik Armstead is reported by the team to have a sore back and is considered day-to-day.
Matt from Whitehouse
Are defensive end Emmanuel Ogbah, safety Eric Murray, defensive end Dawuane Smoot and linebacker Foye Oluokun getting veteran days off? Armstead is Hugh Douglas, with a trophy and a podcast.
Armstead is day-to-day with a back injury and this email seems to be overlooking the fact that in the O-Zone it's important to be nice. This is not nice.
Steve
Are practice-squad players' salaries governed by a salary range just like drafted players or are they able to negotiate for a higher wage?
Practice-squad players with two seasons or less service in the NFL earn $13,000 a week. Practice-squad players with more than two seasons experience can negotiate salaries and earn between $17,500-$25,000 per week.
Alex from Kansas City, KS
As a Jaguars fan from Kansas City, much of the media around this time of year here is about how all of the new veterans find Chiefs Head Coach Andy Reid's training camp different and more intense than any others they've been to. Do you have any feelers from how people are viewing the training camp intensity/focus this early?
This Jaguars' first training camp under Head Coach Liam Coen seems to be reasonably intense by modern NFL standards. When they hit and are in full pads, the intensity and contact are notably high – a bit higher, from this view, than most camp practices in recent seasons under Head Coach Doug Pederson.
Dwight from Naples, FL
On the opening kickoff with a high-talented and scoring offense, it seems like I want them on the field as much as possible? Is there a statistic or goal kept for how many minutes of the game is split between offense and defense? It seems like over the last few years the defense is out there way too much?
Your first question is not a question because simply putting a question mark on the end of a statement does not make it a question. Your second question is a question and the answer is that there is a statistic like this called time of possession. Your third question is also not a question for the same reason your first question wasn't a question, but the Jaguars were last in the NFL in time of possession in 2024 and that means two things – that the defense was on the field too much and the offense wasn't on the field nearly enough.
Anita from Springfield
I'm biased towards fullbacks in general, but based on my teal-colored memory Greg Jones was the best fullback of his era. Am I misremembering? I feel like behind Greg Jones even I could gain some yards, and I'm not athletic.
Jones likely was as good as any fullback in the NFL when he played, though I confess I didn't follow all NFL fullbacks during his career to speak without hesitation on the matter. I imagine you not have gained yards behind Jones for many reasons.
Tim from Neptune Beach, FL
R.I.P. Loni Anderson. One fer Loni?
No doubt.
Lawrence from Blair, NE
I've been watching and reading a good bit about Jack Kiser lately. It sounds like he doesn't have any real "special" talents, he's just smart, sound and knows exactly how to work around his limitations. Sure sounds a lot like Poz, but we didn't get him as a rookie, so I was curious how you think the comparison *could* hold up over time? I know he's not there yet, to be certain. Also, props to Ray3's Dad joke, I liked it anyway. Someone had to. lol
I'll need to watch Jaguars rookie linebacker Jack Kiser in real time against real opponents to get feel for how he compares with other players – or if he indeed is any good at all. It's difficult to get any feel for linebackers in practice because so much of their game depends on shedding blocks and tackling – and it's tough to simulate those actions in practice. Either way, your assessment of former Jaguars linebacker Paul Posluszny is a bit unfair to the player. He was fast, strong, aggressive and instinctive. He indeed was smart, but he was a really good overall player – and not all that limited.
Brian from Round Rock, TX
Why should we expect anything from this preseason game? I expect that they will play and gain some valuable practice. I hope they learn from it. That's my expectation.
That's a reasonable expectation.
