JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …
Fred from Naples, FL
It looks like the "respect" card is going to have to be put down, at least temporarily. CBS Sports just listed Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence as one of the three most underrated quarterbacks in the league along with Dak Prescott of the Dallas Cowboys and Jordan Love of the Green Bay Packers. I was very surprised; not that I don't agree with it, because I do. It is because, "JACKSONVILLE."
It's somewhat amusing that Lawrence could play at the level he played last season, when he finished fifth in the NFL Most Valuable Player voting – and when he was as good as pretty much any quarterback in the NFL over the last half of the season – and still be considered underrated. But that is probably true – and it's just as true that your point is a good one. While the Jaguars leaned heavily into "lack of respect" as a motivation last season, that can only last so long. There may be a time in the foreseeable future that enough national media – and others – "respect" the Jaguars that the team can no longer lean that direction. That time may even be this season. I don't think we're there yet, but someday. And maybe someday soon.
Bruce from St. Simons Island, FL
O, One last "dead zone" comment. Watching the World Cup final, it was clear that Spain totally dominated Argentina with its defense. The old saying that defense wins championships was evident in that game. So, O, as of now in your opinion, what NFL team has the best defense? And maybe the Jags are underrated in this aspect?
This likely isn't the last dead-zone comment of the 2026 offseason, though it might be the last World Cup reference here for a while – and Spain was absolutely impressive defensively in winning the title. That's true no matter how much you know about soccer – and a great man once said he knows enough about soccer to know he doesn't know much about soccer. As for your question, the Seattle Seahawks and Houston Texans were the best NFL defenses I saw last season. The Seahawks were imposing in terms of strength and physicality, and the Texans constantly put you in tough situations and made those tough situations tougher with an imposing pass rush. I might give the Texans the edge by a nose, but that's probably because I see the Texans more than the Seahawks. The Jaguars were ninth in the NFL in points allowed and 11th in yards allowed last season, also ranking No. 1 against the run and second in takeaways. I don't know where most people "rank" the Jaguars' defense, but if they're outside the Top 10, someone's underrating them. I can't put the Jaguars on par with the NFL's best defenses, but they're good enough defensively to complement a very good offense. How can the Jaguars reach elite status? With a more consistent, dominant pass rush. That's a big storyline entering the 2026 season.
Willis from Jax
Who was the most handsome Jaguar? For me, it's former linebacker Paul Posluszny, with a nod to former cornerback Jalen Ramsey.
/Raises hand.
Rog from STA
Thursday, July 24: Final Red Line for Dead Zone comments. Bring on Training Camp!
The so-called "dead zone" runs annually from the end of the offseason program through the beginning of training camp. While rookies and quarterbacks report for Jaguars 2026 Training Camp July 25 – Saturday – the first practice isn't until next Wednesday, July 29. The first padded practice is nearly a week later. It sometimes takes a padded practice or two before full life is breathed into the dead zone. But we shall see.
James from Titusville, NJ
Ready for the alive zone on Saturday, Mr. O-Zone? Or if you prefer to recognize the alive zone as starting on Tuesday, then as you wish.
Damned right.
Lane from Winter Garden, FL
Zone, for the Jag fans sweating Lawrence's No. 62 ranking in the all-important Top 100 list on NFL Network, fear not. If every NFL player immediately became a free agent and there was a draft to restock each NFL team, Lawrence would definitely get drafted higher than No. 62. That would make him a low second-round pick. I am not sure exactly where he would get drafted, but it would absolutely be in the first round – probably in the top 20, in fact.
For the fans sweating Lawrence's No. 62 ranking on the NFL's Top 100 list … well, I don't know exactly what to tell those people anymore, honestly. We are in a time when we are so inundated with lists and rankings that many people seem to forget that these things are unimportant. In fact, unimportant is understating this. They mean absolutely nothing and are usually nothing more than misleading and misinformed. The big reason is because they are usually compiled with little thought or seriousness. Even when players vote on such things, do we really think they spend significant amounts of times considering their vote? Seriously? This is OK, because these lists don't matter. Therefore, nobody is hurt if they are wrong. But the lists do is create and fuel perception, which is why perception of NFL players is so often dramatically different from reality. Lawrence's ranking at No. 62 is a vivid example of this. He was clearly one of the best players in the NFL late last season. Where would he be selected if the NFL held a draft of every player in the NFL? A lot sooner than late in the second round. Almost certainly in the Top 10 – and deservedly so.
Kenneth from Jacksonville
Who's the best player in Jaguars history to don No. 81?
This number in Jaguars history is more fascinating than it is given to greatness. Possibilities include wide receiver Torry Holt (2009), wide receiver Desmond Howard (1995), wide receiver Kassim Osgood (2010-2011), wide receiver Andre Rison (1996), wide receiver Bobby Shaw (2002), wide receiver Laurent Robinson (2012), wide receiver R. Jay Soward (2001), wide receiver Austin Trammell (2025) and wide receiver Bryan Walters (2015-2016). That's a lot of memorable names and stories. Perhaps I will go with Howard here – if only because he scored the game-winning touchdown in the first victory in franchise history, 17-16 over the Houston Oilers in 1995. Or Rison. Or Osgood. This one's tough, though. There's no clear "best" No. 81.
Marlin from Newberry, FL
Hey, Zone. When do the podcasts return? Apologies to those who dislike soccer or tennis talk, but not being able to listen to Jaguars talk on the way home from work has been the worst part of this dead zone. Will it be the same lineups as last year?
Jaguars Media's regular content will return beginning next week, with the first regular show – Jags A.M. – scheduled for Thursday morning, July 30. Jaguars Happy Hour will air in the afternoon the same day. Huddle Up will debut August 19. Kainani Stevens will again host Jags A.M., with Brian Sexton and myself the regular analysts. J.P. Shadrick will again host Happy Hour with Jeff Lageman and multiple other analysts. Shadrick also will host Huddle Up, with someone named Bucky Brooks and myself as the analysts. All of this is coming soon enough. I can't wait.
Mark from Jacksonville
The fact that you posted Scott's question, and your response only further solidify that this is the best daily read on any NFL team's official website. I have debated that lyric for decades. #wulad
That's where the fun is.
Eric from Saint Augustine, FL
Happy belated Birthday!! I work in the VIC and am frequently asked about admission to the fort. (Now I was drinking beer and smoking before you were born, so all you youngsters look young.) At 62, you can buy a senior pass which gets multiple people in. So, I ask if anyone in the group is 62. Many say they are just under, so I tell them that then they have two options: You can get there or not. I hope you get there and way beyond.
Jaguars Training Camp is scheduled to begin July 28 at the Miller Electric Center, with rookies and quarterbacks scheduled to report July 25.
Bruce from St Simons Island, GA
Belated Happy Birthday! You bring fun, laughter, and interesting facts to us fans. Much appreciated.
Much belated thanks.
Matt from Ponte Vedra Beach, FL
Happy Birthday and thank you for all your articles and insights on the Jags. Also check out US North. It is the last known Strummer/Jones song released.
Much belated thanks.
Not Smokin' Joe from Jax
How good is Carter Bradley?
Jaguars quarterback Carter Bradley is good enough to be on the practice squad, and the word around the Jaguars is he's good enough to be on an active roster in the right situation. He has a very strong arm and is very valuable as a practice-squad player. Stay tuned.
Chris from Mandarin
I just want to point out that your consistent mediocrity is admirable.
I am the king of all mediocrity.
