JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …
Chris from Mandarin
A good record doesn't automatically make a team good … and it's safe to say that if Trevor was playing even marginally better, they would be 9-2 or 10-1.
This actually isn't safe to say at all – and if you're suggesting the Jaguars aren't good entering Sunday's game against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tenn., you're making a silly suggestion. The Jaguars are 7-4, with five victories over teams .500 or better – the Kansas City Chiefs, Houston Texans, Carolina Panthers, Los Angeles Chargers and San Francisco 49ers. They are a game behind the Indianapolis Colts in the AFC South and No. 6 in the AFC while navigating significant injuries and roster change. I'm not sure what else they must do to show they're good – and if they're not good in the AFC, who is? Specific to your point regarding quarterback Trevor Lawrence, consider the Jaguars' four losses. Lawrence played quite well by any measure against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 2, with dropped passes contributing mightily to a 31-27 loss. He didn't play his best games in Week 6 and 7 losses to the Seattle Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams, but I don't know that him playing marginally better would have resulted in beating either of those teams. That leaves a 36-29 loss to the Texans in which Lawrence didn't play great. The same can be true of a lot of quarterbacks when playing the Texans right now, with "a lot of quarterbacks" including the reigning NFL Most Valuable Player. Lawrence must continue to improve, but to say he's preventing the Jaguars from sitting atop the NFL isn't accurate.
Jonathan from Green Cove Springs, FL
Hey, O! More proof that our quarterback has some "intangibly rich qualities" that others don't? Quarterback Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens turned it over 4 times Thursday and got whooped by the Bengals. Is it time for the Ravens to move on and find another quarterback? Here's to having a quarterback that can forget the previous play and just make the next one! Go Jags!
A great man once said, "Fans react emotionally to their team and usually judge their own players far more harshly than they judge players from other teams. Jaguars fans often focus on quarterback Trevor Lawrence's shortcomings and maddening moments because they are emotionally invested in this team while forgetting that many other NFL quarterbacks also have shortcomings and maddening moments. They see only highlight moments of other quarterbacks while they see all the bad moments of Lawrence. They therefore also often focus only on Lawrence's shortcomings without acknowledging that he has had multiple stretches of leading this team to a lot of victories." I forget who said that. I'd like to meet that man and shake his hand, then punch him square in the teeth.
Johnny from Howey in the Hills
Dr. O: What a great pair of draftees in Parker Washington and Brenton Strange. I was more impressed with the Parker pickup but Strange is moving to the elite tight end stage. Between those 2 Penn State guys, the stats are off the chart – especially considering Parker didn't start at wide receiver until injuries hit and with just 4 games, Strange is a beast and he didn't miss a beat against the Arizona Cardinals. Parker has turned into the best returner in the NFL and will probably set some Jag records. Great draft pickups and I hope they are with the Jags for a long time. Let's go 8-4.
One fer Washington and another fer Strange, and there's a very good chance both will be with the Jaguars for the foreseeable future.
Boxcutter Bill from Mass
Listening to you and Bucky Brooks on the Huddle-Up podcast. You guys really broke down my exact feelings on Trevor. Turnovers are going to happen. The guys on defense get paid a lot of money, too. They're OK at football, too. Trevor is finally learning to be an NFL QB. I'm not sure if other fans watch other games but a lot of quarterbacks struggle in moments or games. They even have bad games with a bunch of turnovers. Trevor is our guy, and even if he's above average that's still good enough to win. What's the alternative? Start over? Does it look like this coaching staff can help Trevor ascend into the top ten quarterbacks consistently?
Yes, the alternative to Lawrence is starting over. Does it look like this coaching staff can help Lawrence ascend? Yes, from this view, it does. Stay tuned.
Tim from Fernandina Beach, FL
John: Brett Favre had only one full season with less than 13 interceptions and 4 times in his career he threw more than 20. Cut him, he's holding the Packers back.
OK.
David from Jacksonville
Pass rushers are at a severe disadvantage with the way roughing the passer is officiated nowadays. Have we reached the point where we should just have quarterbacks wear the red jersey and flags on game day because you give up 15 yards if you actually try to sack them ...?
We're not at that point. We are at a point where the NFL should figure how defensive players can hit quarterbacks within the flow of normal football and not get penalized. The main problem from this view is the relatively recent "body-weight" rule, under which defensive players can be penalized for landing on the quarterback with his body weight. While implementing this clause was understandable because of the risk of injury when a large person lands on top of a smaller person, it has created an unavoidable gray area. How much is too much body weight? How in the world can a defender in the middle of a sack always avoid landing with body weight? The NFL constantly pushes to remove gray areas from officiating, but the gray is unavoidable on this one. I don't expect red jerseys and flags, but it has reached the point of being unfair for pass rushers.
Rowdy Ron from J'ville
How can a quarterback that won almost every game he played from high school through college be called a generational talent, be paid over $50 million a year need so much work after 4 years starting in the NFL? Feet set wrong, holds the rock too long, too many errant shows, etc., etc.,etc. I would get my hair styled and do more commercials. Why work harder in the off season? After 4 years of not changing much, it makes me think he isn't putting enough effort into it. Seems like it would be a waste of time when I could take long walks on the beach I own. I wonder what his contract would be now if he had to renegotiate it now? Just saying ...
A quarterback can succeed in college football and need work in the NFL because professional football is infinitely harder than college football – different enough that it's almost an entirely different sport.
Johnny from Howey In The Hills
Dr. O: While free speech is always allowed, I tire of the noise about Trevor. How about this? Minnesota bet the house on quarterback J.J. McCarthy and probably let go the second-or third-best quarterback in the league. What about Justin Fields? Lots of not so good stories about promising young quarterbacks that don't pan out. Yes, TL is Jekyll and Hyde at times, but like one of the readers said, he's been performing when it counts. This year is probably the first time since he was drafted that he has an offensive line that is either good or above average. While he does make you nuts on some ill-placed throws, he's throwing much more confident and appears to not be trying not to make mistakes. Salary or not, we are 7-4 and probably would not be that without him. This team is probably as balanced as any Jags team since the Coughlin days. So few pro teams have it all, so let's enjoy the winning and let it ride. Go Jags and let's see 8-4 Sunday afternoon.
Go Jags.
Brian from Round Rock, TX
So, we're going anonymous this weekend, wearing the black and white "newspaper" unis. There is no more non-descript uniform in sports. I guess coach wants the team humble for this game. Makes sense, I guess. Isn't overconfidence the biggest risk this week?
I don't know that humility has much – if anything – to do with the Jaguars' uniform choice this weekend. I do know I don't expect overconfidence to be an issue. If the Jaguars win, it will be because they outplay the Titans. If they lose, it will be because the Titans have a good defense and are still playing hard – and because teams that keep playing hard in professional football are usually hard to beat, especially in their building.
Gary from St. Augustine, FL
Even with a lot to be thankful for, you still suck.
The Jaguars play the Titans at Nissan Stadium Sunday.
