NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Let's get to it …
Bradley from Death Valley, CA
In all the hoopla with signing a couple difference makers on defense, I hope they are not overlooking the Titans, who still play in the NFL, and gave the Bengals all they wanted in Cincinnati last week?
The AFC South-leading Jaguars (6-2) indeed play the Tennessee Titans (1-7) in a division game at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Sunday – and you're right that the Titans in recent weeks have played significantly better than their record suggests. But the Jaguars know this and have operated accordingly this week. Always remember: What qualifies as hoopla, hype and distraction to fans and observers is often just "outside noise" to players and coaches. Yes, acquiring defensive tackles Jordan Davis and Davon Godchaux this week were big moves for the Jaguars. So was acquiring safety Jessie Bates III. And those acquisitions – along with the team's status as division leaders – prompted a lot of Jaguars talk among people playing dress up and talking about football on television. But Jaguars players and coaches approached this past week as they always do. They practiced. They met. They planned. They left for Nashville Saturday afternoon and will play the Titans on Sunday. Which means whatever happens Sunday will be because of how the Jaguars and a very capable Titans team play in the game. What people are saying outside the building will have minimal effect, if any.
Howard from Homestead, FL
KOAF, while I do not think that the Jags are repeating the Tom Coughlin-era cap mistakes that turned the successful late-1990s Jags into twenty-year losers, I could really use some reassurance from someone else who was there. Please explain in layman's terms why this is not the same scenario and will not have the same result.
First, the Jaguars' 1990s cap mistakes set the team back a few seasons, not 20. They were competing at a "normal" level by 2004 and any subsequent "loser" seasons were the product of other eras and regimes. This is also a different NFL era with teams having more experience and knowledge of how to manage the cap than the Jaguars had in an era when the cap was still relatively new. Remember, too: Two of the three players acquired this week – Bates and Godchaux – are on "expiring" contracts. The third – Davis – has a relatively "cap-friendly" deal. Also: The Jaguars have a franchise quarterback in Trevor Lawrence. That's critical because it's much more possible to navigate the cap and structure/restructure the roster around that than when you don't have that.
Jordan from Mandarin
Do we have a left-tackle controversy brewing??? Walker Little has not just been a solid replacement, he has been the best offensive linemen we have had all season.
Little has played very well in three games starting at left tackle since Anton Harrison has been injured. There is a loooooooooong way to go before controversy.
J.Hooks from Mandarin
I firmly believe that hiring Tony Boselli was the best decision Shad ever made with the organization. What took so long? I believe that he has been the catalyst for the stability within this organization. From Day One, the ship started righting itself. I know you and the bighead smack talker had beef. Does he even know where to find you anymore? Seriously, though, how big of an impact was felt on Day One of his hiring?
Jaguars Owner Shad Khan hiring Tony Boselli as Executive Vice President of Football Operations indeed was a catalyst for stability, and I agree that it ranks with the best decisions Khan has made for the football operations of the franchise. And the impact was immediate and franchise-altering. He is about doing things right for the right reasons, and that matters. What took so long? When the timing is right, it's right – and the timing in this case was right. Boselli, from this perspective, was ready for the position with the right combination of football acumen, people skills, business experience, life and football perspective, etc., to excel in the role. He is, from this view, the franchise's "North star" and fans can absolutely trust that he always – read: ALWAYS – has the best interest of the Jaguars foremost in thought and action. None of this means our "beef" is in the past. And yes … he still knows where to find me.
John from Jax
Hi, KOAGF. Trevor Lawrence must be loving having so many weapons to choose from on the offense. It feels that there is so much more opportunity to showcase the talent even more as we move through the second half of the season. The biggest obstacle will be crowd noise with all the away games. I hope they give wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. a few long balls to rebound and regain confidence. This offense has to give defenses headaches and to keep them guessing because of the ability for Head Coach Liam Coen to plug and play two or three different feature players with each week's shifting game strategy. Do you think the players will have a problem continuing to share the spotlight from time to time as there aren't enough plays to go around for everyone?
The Jaguars' offense has been at its best the past season and a half when Lawrence has spread the ball around "organically" among pass catchers. This has enabled many players and the team to excel without issue so far. I've seen nothing to indicate it will be an issue moving forward.
Deadredpanda from Jacksonville
Hi, John. Hope all is well. Am I the only one completely over the national media using the phrase "this is what we envisioned when he was drafted" every time Trevor Lawrence breathes? It's the laziest trope in sports. It acts like his success last year and this season was an absolute guarantee from Clemson to MVP, completely ignoring the first-year Urban Meyer debacle, the system adjustments, and the injuries he played through in 2023 and 2024 that are never spoken of. Sorry for the vent.
This doesn't particularly annoy me, though as someone who gets annoyed by many things that don't always annoy others, I empathize.
Steve from Shreveport, LA
About this time of year, I like to take up the "fools errand" of seeing if any Jaguars games can be flexed to primetime. I thought the Week 13 game against the Jags would be perfect. Two great ascending teams, top records and in Chicago, but realized that, now that the Pittsburgh Steelers are playing well, it won't happen. In fact, one of the best matchups of the season may only be shown regionally. Do you agree and is there any other Jag games that could be flexed?
This indeed long has been a fool's errand, because there have been many seasons in the last decade and a half in which it would have been damned foolish for the NFL and its network partners to have flexed the Jaguars into a primetime game. That's no longer foolish and I expect the Jaguars in the coming seasons to be quite "flex-able." The Jaguars' game against the New York Giants next week was "flexed" from 1 p.m. to 4:25 p.m. Could other Jaguars games be flexed? This looks doubtful because a lot of the Jaguars' opponents the rest of the season are currently below .500 and the NFL usually tries to flex better-performing teams into late-season prime-time slots. But things change fast in the NFL. Stay tuned.
Gary from Centerville, Ohio
So, who will be available at Pick No. 32 of the third round of the 2027 NFL Draft?
Someone who can play football good.
John from Jax
Hi, KOAGF. A few things. It's a smart move to give Davis and Bates their bye week now. When is your bye week? Also, who is going to be our backup long snapper?
A few things in response. OK. What's a "bye week?" Tight end Nate Boerkircher is a possibility, as is linebacker Jahlani Tavai.
Bradley Death Valley, CA
Are many NFL front office personnel decisions based on what they speculate the salary cap will be in the coming years and how good is the decision to let Lloyd and Etienne walk looking?
Yes and very.
Marcus from Oklahoma City, OK
Do you think the Jaguars are going to.be the new title contenders in the AFC South for the next years to come?
The Jaguars have won two of the last four AFC South titles and missed winning the 2023 South title with a loss in the last game of the season. They won the division title last season. This is an admittedly long-winded way of saying they already have been AFC South title contenders and they therefore are not "new title" contenders. I expect they will be AFC South title contenders for the foreseeable future.
Aaron from White Hall, AR
This Sunday's game against the Tennessee Titans is the most important game in franchise history.
Damned right.
