JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …

Kenneth from Jacksonville

Aaaaaaaarrgghh!!!!!!? Panic? Rabble, rabble!!!!!

My Scooby Sense – not my Scobee Sense – tells me you attended Jaguars 2025 Training Camp practice Friday morning and are therefore anticipating some fan overreaction from what by any measure wasn't the most efficient offensive practice in franchise history. You're correct that angst was a post-practice storyline for some observers and media, and I indeed received some nervous feedback from those attending. Which means it's time for the annual reminder that while training camp practices are open to the media and therefore "reportable," and while many practices – including Friday's – are open to the public and therefore very "observable, this open status does not change the fact that camp practices are indeed … practices. Practices are not games. Practices do not count in standings. Coaches are not game-planning. They're not attacking perceived weaknesses. The players often have a decent idea what's coming from the opposing side of the ball from play to play. All of this means that training-camp practices often look nothing like real games. They more often are not a gauge of the quality of a team. None of this is written with the idea that fans and media will stop analyzing practice and breathlessly reacting. It is written to say that that analysis and reaction will be forgotten by the first week of the regular season. Probably sooner.

Michael from Orange Park, FL

What do you expect when the pads finally go on?

More intensity, more hitting and more meaningful play from both lines. There also is a difference in how practice looks when players begin wearing pads. There typically are one or a few "seven-on-seven" periods during an NFL training camp practice, with defensive backs/linebackers competing against offensive skill players. In a non-padded practice, this period features comparatively light "learning" work for offensive and defensive linemen. When padded practices begin, this period is usually a "pass-rush" period featuring one-on-one or other pass-rush situations between the offensive and defensive linemen. It's much more fun to watch than the learning stuff.

Sam from Orlando, FL

Travis Etienne Jr. had one truly good season. Did the Lisfranc injury take away some of his explosiveness? Or is this just kinda who he is? He looked much faster and explosive in college. There's no denying it.

Jaguars running back Travis Etienne Jr. in three healthy NFL seasons twice has rushed for more than 1,000 yards – once in 2022 and again in 2023. He was a key part of the 2023 AFC South Champions and scored 11 touchdowns in 2024. Those both qualify as "truly good" seasons from this perspective, but life is all about different perspectives. Those two seasons also came after he sustained a Lisfranc injury as a rookie in 2021. Etienne is fast, quick and elusive – and when playing in a functioning offense with a healthy starting quarterback in 2022 and 2023, he from this view absolutely has been "NFL explosive." It's quite likely he looked much faster and explosive in college. Players at that level aren't as good as the ones he's playing in the NFL. A lot of players look better at that level.

Josh from Atlanta, GA

Good start for your flagged guy Chandler Brayboy. Will be keeping an eye on him since you pointed him out before Practice No. 1. Thanks for the tip.

I am the king of all funk.

Fred from Naples, FL

Was the suit that MrMakersMark alluded to worn by Jack Del Rio a traditional suit or his new orange jump suit?

We talk often here in the O-Zone about the importance of being nice. Every now and then we need a reminder on that topic. We should be nice. This was not nice.

Paul from St. Augustine, FL

Any truth to the rumor that Gary from St. Augustine is actually your therapist?

I'm not sure I'm allowed to say.

Brendan from The Banana Patch

Do any of the undrafted players look like they might have a Corey Grant type impact? I like a good underdog story.

Not quite yet. Day 4 of Jaguars 2025 Training Camp is Sunday. There's a "ways to go."

Charles from Riverside

Hello, John. You pointed out last month how just a half-yard increase in the average rushing yards per attempt makes for a big difference in the total offensive output for a season. In 2024, the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles averaged 5.0 yards per rushing play (second in the league). The Jags were at 4.2 (No. 25 in the league). Interesting to note that the Eagles also had the most rushing attempts in the league in 2024 at 36.7 per game (number one in the league). The Jags were at 24.4 (No. 26 in the league). Philly's rushing percentage of plays per game was 56.3, also No. 1 in the NFL. Maybe Coen's on to something?

I don't recall making this point, but it's possible I'm so damned good at this that I make "awesome" points without even knowing I'm making them. I don't expect the Jaguars to be quite so dominant in the running game as the Eagles. They're one of the most impressive running teams I've seen in a while. I also don't expect the Jaguars to involve quarterback Trevor Lawrence in the run game as the Eagles do quarterback Jalen Hurts. But if the Jaguars significantly increase their rushing yards per carry and per game this season … that's never a bad thing. It would signal being better able to run when they need/want to run and not just when the opponent's scheme is allowing them to run. That would go a long way to fixing a lot of issues around here.

Bradley from Kansas City, MO

Is it important to have a leader on the offensive line? Do the Jaguars have a leader or potential leader on the offensive line?

Leaders matter at any position group. While they don't have the end-all importance that many observers believe, it's better to have them than not. I could see a player such as guard Patrick Mekari being a leader on this group. Stay tuned.

Clyde from Deltona, FL

John. Do you feel the same way Tony B., James G. and HC Coen feel that a real evaluation of the 2025 team starts on Monday (7/28/25) when the pads come on? This would especially apply to the big guys on the offensive and defensive lines regarding running the ball and stopping the run.

I absolutely agree with Executive Vice President of Football Operations Tony Boselli, General Manager James Gladstone and Coen that padded practices represent a far different level of evaluation than non-padded practices. I often joke/not joke that organized team activities and minicamps are worthless and a waste of time. What I mean by that isn't that they're not important for players and coaches; it's that observers and fans try to evaluate that period like it's a game when its true benefits are educational and preparatory for players. The same goes for the four-day, non-padded "ramp-up" period at the start of training camp. That period ends Sunday, with padded practices beginning Monday. That's when coaches can begin evaluating everything – particularly offensive and defensive line. You still must evaluate carefully during that period and remember that there's still a limit to practice evaluation. Games against real opponents are far more important than practice –which is after all just practice, padded or otherwise.

Deane from Hill AFB via Daytona Beach, FL

Yo, O-Zone!!! I was intrigued that T-Law and company had a test given to them at the onset of training camp. As Lawrence said, "It helped get everyone focused at the task at hand." One, who develops the test? Is it the head coach or the sum of all coaches? Secondly, do you expect that they are given the test during their bye week and at the end of the year to determine progress? Finally, would they take the wrong answers and make that a priority to iron out why they got it wrong? What says you, O-Zone???

You're referencing a test Jaguars coaches gave quarterbacks at the start of camp earlier this week. I don't know all that many details of the test, except that it was developed by coaches and that Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence's score of 85 was considered very good. I don't anticipate a midseason test to determine progress, which after all is fairly easily measurable by game situations during the season. Finally … yes … one would assume that quarterbacks and coaches will focus on continuing to learn anything they didn't know as the season continued. Keep getting better or you're getting worse, as they say.

Armand from Jacksonville

John, KOAF … thank you for all you do. Former Jaguars Head Coach Doug Pederson did the best he could with what he had. We have a new coach and organization let's give them time to show us what they can do. GO JAGS.

Movin' on!!!