JACKSONVILLE – Week 1. Go time. Game on. Go on. Game time. Whatever works.
Let's get to it …
Reese from Loyal Jaguar Fan in Va
What do you believe fans and observers alike will feel like come late afternoon? Go Jags!!!
The Jaguars play the Carolina Panthers in the 2025 regular-season opener at EverBank Field Sunday. I think the Jaguars should win and will win. I do not in any way think this is a given and I think there are legitimate reasons people following the Panthers believe they should win and will win. I don't know how winning will make Jaguars fans and observers feel. Logic would tell you it would make them feel good. Logic doesn't always apply in these discussions.
Robert from Jacksonville
Is it here? Is it really here?
Apparently.
Jesse from Texas
You have stated a few times recently that the new front office has changed 40 percent of the starting offensive line. But two of the previous starters retired, so 40 percent of the line would have been replaced no matter who was in charge.
I thought about this question several seconds before answering, meaning I doubled – and in some cases, tripled – my normal preparation time and effort in this forum. I guess the question's premise is that changing 40 percent of the Jaguars' offensive line isn't a big deal because it would have happened no matter who was running the Jaguars and making decisions. I don't know that it matters all that much who would have done what in what circumstance. And we don't know if center Mitch Morse and guard Brandon Scherff would have retired had the former regime remained. What matters in this discussion is the Jaguars indeed have two new starters on the offensive line – center Robert Hainsey and guard Patrick Mekari. They also had competition during 2025 Training Camp and feel good about reserves such Cole Van Lanen, rookie Wyatt Milum, Chuma Edoga and rookie Jonah Monheim behind a starting line that also includes returners Walker Little, Anton Harrison and Ezra Cleveland. The Jaguars believe they have good options, good depth, good competition and a good approach to the offensive line. They believe the unit will be better this season. Are they correct? Stay tuned.
Armand from Jacksonville
Of the nine offensive linemen, how many can play other positions on the line and where?
All nine Jaguars offensive linemen can play multiple positions. Little can play tackle or guard – as can Cleveland, Van Lanen, Milum and Edoga. Mekari can play all five positions, with Monheim and Hainsey capable of playing guard or center. Harrison can play both tackle positions, as can Little. Some of these players may be able to play more positions than listed, and some may be better at particular positions than others. But this is a versatile, deep group. That's a defining characteristic of this group.
John from Merritt Island, FL
Loved the "p" and "q" explanation. My lovely bride and I are meeting some friends from Georgia at Strings for Sunday's game. We may just have some Bullet Bob "p" and "q"'s.
Good plan.
Brian from Greenwood, IN
Did you happen to catch the halftime show during the game in Brazil? That was alright! Speaking of which, where is the Culligan girl?
I did not see the halftime show of the Kansas City Chiefs-Los Angeles Chargers game Friday night. I therefore don't know what you're talking about and my Scooby Sense – not my Scobee or Spidey Sense – tells me I don't want to know what you're talking about.
John from Jacksonville
As we embark on a new era of Jaguars, I'd like to give out shout out to Executive Vice President of Football Operations Tony Boselli and General Manager James Gladstone. They have been "filling in" for Head Coach Liam Coen on the coach's radio show on Thursdays at 5 p.m. They are often on air for most of the hour. The transparency is refreshing in comparison to previous seasons where the coach might spend ten minutes discussing last week's loss then be gone. To hear from the general manager never happened. This past Thursday, Boselli mentioned "The Liam Coen Show" will be a group effort to give the coach more time for his coaching duties. J.P. Shadrick said the show's new name will be "Jags HQ" or something to that effect. Just wow. To have just one of them, never mind all three, commenting on what transpired the previous week is exciting news.
One of this regime's notable traits indeed is a willingness to be transparent – and it's indeed a refreshing approach. The general operating philosophy of this trait is if it's not compromising a competitive advantage there's no reason not to allow fans to know what's happening around the organization – and why. My understanding is the "Liam Coen Show" indeed will be rebranded in the means and spirit your email indicates. It should be worth a listen.
Scott from St. Johns
Hey, John: It's uncommon to see an undrafted collegiate Division 2 player in the starting lineup of an NFL team as a linebacker. I'm looking forward to watching Dennis Gardeck on the field this Sunday. He obviously overcame long odds to get to this point in his career. I understand that he has a tattoo with a quote from William Ernest Henley's poem "Invictus." It's a poem that celebrates human resilience in the face of extreme adversity. I'll be cheering him on loudly this Sunday and hope he gets a sack or two!
One fer Gardeck, evidently. The Jaguars like him a lot and I expect him to matter significantly when they're rushing the passer.
Michael from Orange Park, FL
Do the Jaguars win Sunday or not?
I expect the Jaguars to win, I don't feel this overwhelmingly. I don't think the Panthers are weak. I think if the Jaguars are as physical as they want to be and run as well as they hope to run they will win. Stay tuned.
Kenneth from Jacksonville
It's here at last and I don't mean the Jaguars' regular-season opener. Sinner-Alcaraz … again. Who ya got?
Carlos Alcarez of Spain and Jannik Sinner of Italy indeed advanced to the U.S. Open men's final, which will be played Sunday afternoon. This was absolutely expected – with Sinner and Alcaraz having separated themselves from the men's field to a remarkable degree remarkably quickly. I like both players, and I believe both will rank among the all-time greats at the end of their careers. The thought here is that Sinner is the better of the two players on hard courts when both are at their best and that there's little difference between the two on grass other surfaces when both are at their best. I picked Sinner early in the tournament and believe he will win in four sets Sunday if both are at their best. Back to football.
Al from Orange Park, FL
One of the talking heads said recently that one of the reasons that we're seeing more longer field goals is that the rule on how much the kickers can "prep" the balls has changed. Is this really a thing? Can you explain? Would you please?
Yes, it's a thing. NFL kickers kick with what kicking balls or "K-Balls." In years past, kickers could only prepare – or "prep" – those balls for an hour before kickoff. The NFL changed that rule this past offseason to allow more time before game day to prepare the balls. This allows kickers to kick a softer, more-scuffed ball compared to kicking a ball "right out of the box." Does this help kickers? If it didn't, they wouldn't bother softening or scuffing the balls and would be OK with kicking balls "right out of the box."
Bradford from Orange Park, FL
Can we now term Travis Kelce as having run a "hospital" route on Xavier Worthy? Or, is that vernacular only primarily covered by national and reserved for running their unsubstantiated mouths about Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence? Here's looking at you "Bill Simmons." Maybe you could obtain some contact info since you're in the business? Make sure this guy knows I said it. That would be "nice." See what I did there?
I don't, really. Someone else might.
Adam from Round Here
Johnny, we have done it again! We survived the Postseason Blues, the Super Bowl woulda, coulda, shoulda, the Fire Everyone Postseason, the Hire Everyone Lottery, the Free Agency Frenzy, the Draft Board Rankings, the Learning of the Word Voluntary, the Hot Summer Mandatory, the Dead Zone, the here we gos, the does this really matter era, the final (but not so final) 53. Finding out "you suck" through all of it. We're here, Johnny. We're really here!
The Jaguars open the 2025 regular season against the Carolina Panthers at EverBank Stadium Sunday at 1 p.m.
Big Jags Fan from Jacksonville
GAME ON! LET'S GO! AAAAAHHHH!
The Jaguars open the 2025 regular season against the Carolina Panthers at EverBank Stadium Sunday at 1 p.m.
