JACKSONVILLE - Let's get to it...
Mike from Neptune Beach, FL
The sky is falling, the sky is falling! Or was that just the last preseason game?
The Jaguars for the most part played fine in a 14-6 loss to the Miami Dolphins in a Preseason Week 3 game at Miami Gardens, Fla., Saturday night – with the defense perhaps playing better than many expected considering the Dolphins were playing their starters offensively and the Jaguars were playing mostly reserves. Very few players who played for the Jaguars offensively will play significant snaps this season. A few players who played defense will play significant snaps this season. Either way, fear nor. The sky is just fine. For now.
Art from Just shy of the ditch
Big O! Wondering who you see suffering the ax this week? Without trying to be unkind ... Muma certainly didn't add much on Saturday, was impressed with the motor overall, defensive line pressure was good – and against their one a plus. But typical lapses behind them. Key drops may also have some on the street?
I don't know that a particular play from Saturday will result in a particular player being released by the Jaguars this week. Teams take players' overall body of work into account more than a specific play in a preseason game. Linebacker Chad Muma was playing late Saturday, which often doesn't bode well for veterans in terms of making the roster.
Juan from Jax Beach
I call the time between the final preseason game and the regular season the Hope Zone. It's time to finish rereading Jags to Riches and daily chant "Don't count out the little Jaggies yet."
Good plan.
Brian from The California Desert
John. I am optimistic. For the first time in quarterback Trevor Lawrence's career, I think we have the needed support to elevate his game. I'm all in this year.
I'm not so much optimistic or pessimistic about this Jaguars season as much as I'm intrigued. Here's the reason for the intrigue. The Jaguars have a lot of really good weapons at the skill positions. Head Coach Liam Coen appears to be a very good play-caller and it seems he has skill at running back, wide receiver and tight end to do what he wants to do offensively. The offensive line is healthy entering the season and there is confidence this can be a better running team than was the case last season. There also is a lot of speed at the skill positions. If I'm reading those factors correctly, this offense could be a lot better. We haven't really seen Coen game plan with this group yet. That doesn't start until the regular season. I'm really interested to see how this offense looks early. It could be fascinating.
Charles from Riverside
The Jags face the regular season with what we would call a rebuild. We had maybe 44-to-46 players returning from the 2024 season to a 90-man roster. The Jags did not re-sign any of their own unrestricted free agents and brought in 15 new players through outside free agency. Additionally, nine selections in the draft plus 22 undrafted free agents signed. Can we assume that is significant roster turnover? We have a new general manager, and nine new coaches, including the head coach and defensive coordinator. Back in the day, a rebuild was an easy two-to-four years. However, today that could be a bit gray, at least our expectations are that it will happen much sooner. In my opinion we have had a decent draft, a good free agency, core of returning excellent players and a lackluster division we can hold our own in. Assuming the new coaches add to that potential success, I don't see why we can't be competitive down the stretch. Wondering if you see seven wins as a possibility?
I absolutely think the Jaguars can win at least seven games this season. This feels like a team that can be around .500 if it stays healthy and if the areas I expect to be improved – short-yardage running game, secondary and speed at the skill positions – produce on-field improvement. I also think this team will be more resilient with more belief in the first season under a new regime, and belief can make a big difference as November turns into December and January.
Keith from Saint Augustine, FL
Very few people get to realize their dreams. For most of us, life kills the dreams we dreamed. My heart goes out to the young men who played their last football game. A lot of people don't like to watch the non-starters play what is perceived as a "meaningless" exhibition game. I saw the Jaguars' second- and third-string defense play their hearts out during the first half against an almost totally unmotivated bunch of starters from Miami. It was inspiring to see. As a patron saint of mediocrity, I love to cheer for the underdog. I also keep up closely during the offseason with roster additions and it is the last time I will see most of them play. While I understand that it is an inevitable part of life and life in the NFL, it still makes me kind of sad. Do you really think these games are "meaningless"?
Preseason games are meaningless in the standings. They're pretty much meaningless when trying to project how a team will fare during the regular season. They're not remotely meaningless for players trying to pursue a dream.
Joe from JACKSONVILLE
Hey, Zone. Could we fans be relatively correct to assume most or all the players held out of Saturday's game make the 53?
Most of the players who didn't dress or play for the preseason finale will be on the 53-player roster. There are exceptions, with those exceptions typically related to injury.
John from Jacksonville
Liam Coen announced in advance that he would not be playing any starters. Do you think he knew the Dolphins were going to play their first team offense? Or was that a surprise?
I think Coen had a very good idea about Head Coach Mike McDaniel's general approach to Saturday's game before kickoff.
Bradley from Kansas City, MO
From afar, Liam Coen reminds me of Bruce Arians, the big difference being that Arians paid far more dues and probably 20 years before getting the chance to be a head coach in the NFL. You are far closer than me and better equipped to compare and contrast. Do you see any similarities in Coen and Arians?
I knew many people who knew former Arizona Cardinals and Tampa Bay Buccaneers Head Coach Bruce Arians well, and I have had many people tell me great things about Arians' approach. I admired his choices of assistant coaches as well as what I believed to be his strong grasp of what was important around a football team and what wasn't. I believe I would have enjoyed working around and covering Arians, but since I didn't cover him, I don't have a great grasp of any real similarities between he and Coen. My early sense is Coen is really smart and a very good play-caller. I would be surprised if he can't communicate well with players and I would therefore be surprised if he can't handle the adversity a head coach inevitably faces. I have a good feeling so far that he will succeed over the long term. Stay tuned.
Jim from Jagsonville
No mention of who called plays in yesterday's O-Zone? It's been known to be topic du jour around here. Can we even judge Grant Udinski given it was a preseason match?
People ask questions. I answer. That's the O-Zone rule. Offensive coordinator Grant Udinski indeed called plays for the Jaguars Saturday as opposed to Coen, who will call plays in the regular season. Considering the Jaguars were playing no starters, it would be a bit silly to judge Udinski on Saturday. I've seen sillier things, I suppose, but it would be silly nonetheless.
Scott from St. Johns
John: In a May 2025 O-Zone you mentioned that Marvin Harrison was one of the three most naturally gifted pro football players that you have covered. Concerning components of their athleticism, have you observed any similarities between Marvin Harrison and Brian Thomas Jr./Travis Hunter?
They're all very gifted. Former Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Marvin Harrison is in the Pro Football Hall of Hall of Fame because of his incredible drive and work ethic far more than his natural gifts. Thomas and Hunter have the gifts to be pretty much as good as they want. The next decade-plus will determine how much they want.
Don from Marshall NC
I have heard all the negative press about the Jaguars from coast to coast and I can say with certainty that my team – the Jacksonville Jaguars – are going to be dishing out some 40 bombs this year on someone! Get ready! Go Jaguars!
When it comes to correctly not caring about "negative press" nationally that is based far more on perception than reality, Don re-assuredly remains "all in."
