JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …
Kevin from Jacksonville
Just listened to the EVP Podcast. Great work and great content. These guys really do seem to get along. Do you think it will last?
You're referencing the fourth and final 2025 offseason "EVPodcast," which we recorded on the final day of the 2025 offseason program with Executive Vice President of Football Operations Tony Boselli along with General Manager James Gladstone and Head Coach Liam Coen. We have discussed this episode a few times in this space in recent weeks – and the episode indeed showcased the camaraderie the trio share and the single vision with which they seem to have run the organization since their hirings earlier this offseason. From this view, there is a solidness of approach beneath the camaraderie that bodes well for the Jaguars for the long term – but your question is a legitimate one. There indeed is hope and good feeling around this organization right now – and while that's often the case in the offseason, there's a thought that the roster and the improvements made are enough to keep that feeling around into the offseason. Will the camaraderie of the decision-makers hold in the inevitable adversity ahead? The thought here is it will, and we will see this group working as one for a long while. Hopefully a long, long while.
A.J. from Montreal
Mr. Oehser, thanks for this daily column. A few dead zones ago you stated High Fidelity would be your desert island book. What four other books would round out your top five?
I'm more of a "favorite authors" guy than a favorite specific "favorite books" guy, but here's a Top Five: High Fidelity, The Sportswriter by Richard Ford, A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway, East of Eden by John Steinbeck and Nine Short Stories by J.D. Salinger. There are more I would take if I could, but that's a good five.
Younger brother from Not from Aruba
First, you post one-to-two questions a day from my brother, and I have to get daily updates about his question being answered. Now, he comes up with an alias talking about how "fantastic" his question is and you post that as your opener. What is this world coming to? Can we please put a stop on all questions from Scott from Aruba for the rest of the dead zone? For the sake of my family text group! Thank you!
Sounds like Scotty's in your kitchen.
Thomas from Charlottesville, VA
For a fun read: David Eddings has a series that starts with Pawn of Prophecy. Easier read than Tolkien.
A quick google retrieved the following: "At the core of Pawn of Prophecy is the quest to retrieve a precious (intentional) object of power before Evil rises once more and destroys the world. We follow Garion from being a babe on Faldor's farm, then as he emerges into manhood and joins the quest to retrieve Riva's Orb." I have gone this long in my life without subjecting myself to the Tolkien's Lord of the Rings. I expect I can go just as long without subjecting myself to Garion's quest for the orb. Or whatever.
Brendan from Yulee, Formerly of the Moral High Ground
When it comes to classical music, Gershwin has some bangers. Rhapsody in Blue being one of them, for the clarinet enjoyers out there! Go Jags!
One fer Gershwin – George, not Ira. Oh, what the hell … one fer Ira, too.
Robert from Elkton
John, several have noted that the physicality of NFL play may be what stops Travis Hunter from being a major contributor on both sides of the ball. And they've noted an injury to Hunter would be like losing two players. But I think the scenario of what happens if(when) another starting receiver or starting corner is injured ends up being a more likely issue. Attrition will happen. And that could result in Hunter being forced into more duty on that side and thereby affect his availability for the opposite side of the ball. So, it might not just be an injury to Hunter that affects lineups on both sides … every injury to any receiver or corner might now affect both position groups. I guess, as always, it's hope for the best and play next man up.
This is a fair concern because – as is the case with pretty much any NFL player – how rookie wide receiver/defensive back Travis Hunter is used in 2025 and beyond indeed likely will depend at least in part on what's happening around him. The Jaguars have a plan for how to use Hunter. That plan will be an organizational priority. Because of that, there will be a disciplined plan on how to play Hunter in the event there are injuries around him. I expect their goal will be to keep his repetitions essentially the same under various circumstances. We'll see how success they are doing that.
Josh from Lakewood
Do you have a favorite dinosaur?
Dino.
Gary from St. Augustine, FL
Wow, you really suck in the dead zone.
Let's go, Jaguars.
J.Hooks from Orange Park, FL
Yo, Zone! Tell Charles from Riverside that Greg Jones probably wouldn't appreciate being called a "Miss." Wouldn't want to run into him at Strings at Happy Hour!
You're referencing a decided recent O-Zone misstep by Charles from Riverside – and yeah, I wouldn't call former Jaguars running back/fullback Greg Jones "Miss," either. I suppose I would call him whatever he told me to call him.
Peter from Tallahassee
Can we end the debate?
Yes, I am the king of all funk.
Roscoe from Southside
O-Zone: Do you believe that Trevor's injuries over the last two years were primarily caused by poor protection from the offensive line? Maybe he "felt" the pressure and ran out of the pocket, or it collapsed around him? If so, do you believe the Jaguars have done enough in free agency and the draft to protect their most valuable asset? Many readers, and he knows who he is, are skeptical that the line will be improved.
It's vogue to take a wide brush to this issue and say the Jaguars' offensive line struggles in recent seasons caused quarterback Trevor Lawrence's injuries the last two seasons. But the reality is that the line's pass-blocking in recent seasons has been at least OK, with the "issues" more in the area of run-blocking – particularly in short-yardage situations. Lawrence's injuries in 2023 sometimes happened when he put himself at risk by running – a rollout against the Indianapolis Colts, running unnecessarily late in a blowout loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. His two injuries in 2024 – a shoulder injury that eventually needed offseason surgery and a concussion that helped end his season – also occurred outside the pocket. The Jaguars' offensive line can be better. Lawrence also must protect himself against these situations as well.
Brian from Wheeling
I would like to take minute to give you a special thanks for taking time to answer us fans questions all the time. It's nice being able to conversate with someone inside the building. Thank you again for all the work you put in for our entertainment and keep up the great work O. One for John, everybody!
Nah.
Thomas from Charlottesville, VA
Saw that Cam Robinson signed with Houston. In your opinion from watching our defensive ends go against him in years past, who will have the advantage when we face Houston?
Cam Robinson, who played left tackle for the Jaguars from 2017-2024 before finishing the season with the Minnesota Vikings, indeed signed as an unrestricted free agent with Houston Texans this offseason. Robinson is a good, starting-level NFL tackle and I suspect he will fare fine for the most part against Jaguars defensive ends Travon Walker and Josh Hines-Allen. Walker and Hines-Allen also are very good pass rushers and I expect they will win their share of one-on-one battles against Robinson. I overall like Walker and Hines-Allen to make enough plays to impact games in this matchup.
Woody from Dunlap
KOAF: Ever listen to the group "Celtic Woman?" "Celtic Woman, A New Journey" is my favorite. Does listening to this type of music make me strange? On second thought, do not answer this second question.
You do you, Woody. Always do you.
Tom from The Mean Streets of Nocatee
I took Music Appreciation as one of my throwaway electives in college. The professor suggested using mnemonic devices to properly identify pieces of music. Beethoven's 5th, for example, was "Nobody's Home...Nobody's Home." The Mnemonic for Mozart's Symphony #40 was "it's a bird, it's a plane, it's a Mozart..." You're welcome.
This isn't a mnemonic device, exactly, but my good friend Towson Fraser liked to substitute "I think I smelled your pizza burnin'" for the first line of Beast of Burden by the Rolling Stones. He substituted "I checked the oven, and it was hurtin'" for the second line. To this day, I can never hear that song without hearing those damned lines.
